Take it easy ‘kiddo! Why are you in such a rush anyway?

Most people are rushing their way through life. They fail to take the time necessary to nurture their relationships, feed their mind, relax their body or get in touch with their soul's desire for freedom and peace.

Life moves relentlessly forward one day at a time, and there is nothing any of us can do to stop it or slow it down.

We are all getting older every day, but we don't have to grow older every day. Taking time to day-dream, visit a friend, or just have coffee with your significant other is time well-spent.

There is a rush to tomorrow by all of us. We are being prodded into the future by faster computers, shorter delivery times, and a general need to have it, do it, and see it all: NOW!

Take time today for yourself.

Take time to breathe in life, all of it: its color, splendor, smells, tastes, and sounds. From the smallest most insignificant event to the things you have taken for granted.

Tomorrow will be here before you know it.

Today will be a distant memory before you realize it. We create our futures and memories in the present. Go through life today, conscious of your surroundings.

Today is a gift of life.

Live it with gratitude and don't let the sun set today without seeing it, embracing it, and enjoying it.

Why are you in such a rush anyway?

You can't have it all, do it all, learn it all, see it all, become it all, teach it all, in one lifetime so why frustrate yourself and those who are in your immediate life circle with this relentless drive for whatever.

I am not suggesting "vegetable status" here. I am only asking you to evaluate your life philosophy and this need for something - that is missing in your life - and trying to make up for it by an over zealous push for something, anything.

One way to determine where you fit on this do nothing to trying to do everything continuum is to honestly get in touch with your ability to do NOTHING. Just sit or walk and reflect.

No agenda, no deadline, just a laid back approach to life once in a while.

Game Not Over

Life is not a spectator sport; win, lose or draw, the game is in progress whether we want it to be or not.

So go ahead, argue with the refs, change the rules, cheat a little, take a break and tend to your wounds.

But play hard.

Play fast.

Play loose and free.

Play as if there's no tomorrow.

Ok so, it’s not whether you win or lose its how you play the game, right?

Why Women Cry

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said.

His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said:

"When I made the woman she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

Kung totoong “Truth Hurts”, gusto mo pa bang malaman?

Katotohanan... masakit, mahirap marinig, nag iiwan ng kirot sa puso.

Kung iisipin, lahat ay gustong malaman ang totoo pero madalas din, walang gustong makadinig nito... lalo na kung alam mong masasaktan ka... kung hindi handa ang iyong kalooban... kung hindi matatag ang iyong damdamin.

Minsan, nagsasabi tayo ng totoo, dahil ang katotohanan lamang ang tanging mayroon tayo.

Minsan, nagsasabi tayo ng totoo, dahil kailangan natin itong ilabas, sabihin ng malakas, galing mismo sa ating sariling bibig.

Minsan, nagsasabi tayo ng totoo dahil hindi na natin mapigilan ang ating mga sarili.

At pagka minsan...

paminsan - minsan...

Nagsasabi tayo ng katotohanan, dahil alam natin, sa kaibituran ng ating mga puso, na karapat-dapat nilang marinig kung ano ang totoo mula sa atin at hindi mula sa iba...

Dahil ganun na lamang silang kaimportante sa atin.

Takot Ka Ba Sa Dilim?

Noong mga bata pa tayo, nakakatakot ang pagsapit ng gabi dahil sa mga multo sa ilalim ng ating mga kama. Sari-saring aswang ang naimbento ng mga matatanda para matakot tayo sa dilim. Sari-saring kababalaghan ang naipalabas na sa sampung instalments ng Shake, Rattle and Roll.

Habang tumatanda tayo at nagkakaisip, iba na ang mga multong ating kinakaharap.

Kalungkutan.

Pag-aalinlangan sa sariling kakayahan.

Panghihinayang sa mga bagay na hindi nagawa at nasabi.

Dalamhati.

Pighati.

At kahit na nasa sapat na tayong edad at marami-rami na din naming nalalaman, parati pa rin tayong natatakot sa dilim.

Pagtulog, ito ang pinaka madaling solusyon. Ang kailangan lang ay ipikit ang iyong mga mata. Pero para sa nakararami sa atin, maging ang pagtulog ay isang pagsubok. Gusto natin ito, pero may pagkakataong kahit pagtulog ay hindi natin makuhang magawa.

Subalit, kapag natutunan nating harapin ang ating mga kinatatakutan at bumaling sa iba para humingi ng tulong, ang pagsapit ng gabi ay hindi na gaanong nakakakilabot...

Dahil alam natin, na kahit sa dilim, hindi tayo nag-iisa.

Ikaw, takot ka ba sa dilim?

Baka Natutunaw Na Ang Ice Cream Mo

Nakakatuwang pagmasdan ang mga bata. Pala ngiti. Masiyahin. Malikot. Mapang masid. Tapat. Bata. Napaka inosente nila. Parang walang problema sa buhay. Hindi alintana ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin o ang recession na nangyayari sa Amerika. Madaling magparaya at laging puno ng pag asa.

Ang sarap maging bata. Totoo. Kung babalikan ko ang mga nagdaang taon sa aking buhay, ang kabataan ko na yata ang maituturing kong pinaka makulay... ang pinakamasaya. Walang deadlines na hinahabol. Walang assignments or exams. Ang tanging problema lamang noon ay ang pag-inom ng gatas at pagtulog sa tanghali. Walang nag eexpect at walang nag dedemand. Malaya kang gawin ang iyong nais. Malaya kang magkamali at matuto. Hindi na nakapagtataka kung bakit marami ang gustong manatili na lamang bata habambuhay.

Kanina ay ipinagdiwang ang araw ng batang Kristo, ang Sto Nino. Sabi ni Father, ang Pilipinas lang daw ang natatanging bansa sa Asya na mayroong Sto. Nino kung kaya’t mapalad tayo. Sabi pa nya, ang itsura daw ng mga Pilipino ay mas bata kumpara sa kanilang totoong edad. Sa palagay ko’y tama doon si Father. Dala na ito marahil ng ating pagiging masiyahin.

Sabi ng lola, iba na daw ang mga bata ngayon. Hi-tech na daw ang mga gamit at laruan. Nakikisabay na sila sa takbo ng siyensya at panahon. Maaaring totoo, subalit nakakatuwang isipin na ang mga simpleng bagay na nakapagdulot sa atin ng kasiyahan noon ay naghahatid pa rin ng kasiyahan sa kanila ngayon.

Pagkatapos ng misa kanina, pinagmasdan ko ang mga bata. May nag aayang kumain sa Jollibee (wala pang McDonald’s sa bayan namin), may nagpapabili ng ibon, may bugnot na at gusto ng umuwi at may nagpabili ng laruan sa plaza. Kapistahan na ng aming patrong Nuestra Senora de Candelaria sa Febuary 2, at gaya ng naka ugalian na, parating may baratillo sa bayan. Marami doong tindang kung ano ano na inaangkat pa yata mula sa Divisoria.

Kung tutuusin, wala naming nakakagulat sa tanawing ito. Ako man dati ay nagpapabili ng cotton candy sa tatay sa tuwing matatapos ang misa. Masaya na ako kapag may cotton candy ako. Dala dala ko ito hanggang sa bahay ng aking lola dahil dumadaan kami doon bago umuwi ng bahay para mag mano.

Sa gitna ng lahat ng ito ay may nakatawag ng aking pansin. Isang bata na may dala dala ng lobo. Nakakatuwa kung paanong hindi nya inaalis ang mga mata nya sa hawak nyang lobo na para bang kung titingin sya sa iba o di kaya’y pipikit man lang ay mawawala ito.

Mahilig din ako sa lobo noon. Simple lang ang mga lobo dati. Bilog lang. Ngayon kse ay kung ano ano na ang mga hugis. May hugis pagong, aso, buwaya, kuneho at pating. Hugis ni Godzilla ang hawak na lobo ng batang lalake. Tuwang tuwa sya habang pinagmamasdan ito.

Habang abalang abala ang bata sa pagtingin sa lobo at hindi nya namamalayan na natutunaw na pala ang dala dala nyang ice cream sa kabilang kamay. Mga ilang segundo pa siguro’y ice cream cone na lang ang hawak hawak nya.

Naisip ko, hindi nya kaya nararamdaman na tumutulo na ang ice cream? Bakit hindi nya ito pinapansin? Hindi ba pwedeng kumain ng ice cream at tingnan ang lobo ng sabay? Ano ba ang mas importante sa bata, ang ice cream o ang lobo?

Sa likod ng payak na tanawin na ito nagtatago ang mas malalim at mas mahalagang realidad ng buhay. Naisip ko, madalas ay gaya din tayo ng bata. Kalimitan ay abala din tayo sa pagtingin sa lobong hawak hawak ng ating isang kamay. Abala tayo sa pag abot ng ating mga pangarap. Abala sa mga bagay na sa ating palagay ay makapagbibigay sa atin ng lubos na kaligayahan sa buhay. Gaya ng mga lobo ngayon, iba’t ibang uri din ng lobo ang hawak ng bawat isa. May lobo ng pangarap, lobo ng trabaho, lobo ng kayamanan, lobo ng mga material na bagay, lobo ng panandaliang saya, lobo ng masamang bisyo, lobo ng bawal na gamot at ang napaka kulay na lobo ng pag ibig.

Ngunit hindi naman mahalaga kung anong lobo ang hawak natin. Ang mas importante ay kung paanong hindi natin napapabayaan ang mga bagay o mga tao sa ating paligid na sa huli’y siya namang tunay na mas mahalaga.

Ang sa akin lang, sana’y huwag natin mapabayaan ang ating mga pamilya dahil lamang sa kagustuhang abutin ang isang pangarap. Sana’y huwag nating isaalang alang ang ating mga prinsipyo sa buhay para lamang magkamit ng panandaliang kayamanan. Sana’y huwag mawala ang respeto natin sa ating mga sarili sa kagustuhang makuha ang lobo ng pag-ibig. Sana’y hindi maging huli ang lahat bago natin bigyang pansin ang ice cream na unti unti na palang natutunaw sa ating kabilang kamay.

Masuwerte tayo kung kagaya ng bata, pwede tayo ulit bumili ng panibagong ice cream. Masuwerte tayo kung pwedeng bumawi sa nawalang panahon. Masuwerte tayo kung may naghihintay pa sa ating bumalik dahil tunay silang nagmamahal sa atin. Masuwerte tayo kung hindi pa huli ang lahat.

Huwag na sana nating palagpasin ang pagkakataong makasama ang mga taong mahal natin sa buhay. I-enjoy natin ang bawat pagkakataong ibinibigay sa atin. Huwag sanang matunaw ang ice cream sa ating mga kamay dahil lamang abala tayo sa pagtingin sa hawak hawak nating lobo.

Ikaw? Natutunaw na ba ang ice cream mo?

The Curious Case of Marvin Garcia

The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. And what do you get at the end of it?

Death.

What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards.

You should die first, then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, you get a gold watch and you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol, you party, and you get ready for high school. You go to grade school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities. You become a little baby, you go back into the womb, spend your last nine months floating... and you finish off as an orgasm.

Now, that’s more like it. =)

Napanood ko ang “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” noong Sabado. Ang haba ng pelikula. Tatlong oras din yata akong nag isip kung paano ito matatapos. Kung ang katapusan nga ba ang simula o ang simula ang katapusan. Maraming nagsabi sa akin na ang pelikula daw ay tungkol sa kamatayan pero matapos ko itong mapanood, sa palagay ko’y mas tungkol ito sa buhay.

Madami-dami din naman akong nailuha habang pinapanood ko ito. Nakakahiya man sa nakakita o nakarinig sa akin ay wala na akong paki alam. Basta’t hinahayaan ko lang pumatak ang luha ko sa mga eksenang naisin nitong pumatak. Naisip ko, ano mang katapusan ay nagdudulot naman talaga sa atin ng kalungkutan. Kapag may nagpaalam, pag-ibig na natapos, kaibigang lumayo o di kaya’y mahal sa buhay na pumanaw. Ang tema ng paghihiwalay ay laging nag iiwan ng kurot sa ating mga puso.

Kung ako ang iyong tatanungin, maganda ang pelikula. Kung may panahon ka, panoorin mo ito. Ito ay sumasalamin sa katotohanan, pagpapatawad, pagmamahal at pagtanggap --- sa sarili at sa kapwa, sa mga kahinaan at lakas, sa mga kalabisan at mga pagkukulang.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pelikula, naisip ko, anong buhay nga ba ang mas may kabuluhan? Ang batang tumatanda sa paglipas ng panahon o ang matandang bumabata habang tumatakbo ang oras? May pagkaka iba kaya? Mas marami bang maaaring matutunan ang isang taong bumabata kaysa sa isang taong nag kaka edad?

Ipinanganak si Benjamin Button na isang sanggol na animo’y may kung anong karamdaman. Ang itsura nya ay maihahalintulad sa isang taong may edad na 70. Namatay ang kanyang ina habang sya ay isinisilang. At dahil nga sa hindi pangkaraniwan ang kanyang itsura ay iniwan sya ng kanyang sariling ama sa hagdanan ng isang gusaling kumukupkop sa mga taong matatanda. Dalawang uri ng pagmamahal ang makikita natin dito.

Una, pagmamahal ng isang ina sa kanyang anak na sukdulang ibigay ang sariling buhay para lamang mailabas sya sa mundong ibabaw. Napakaganda ng sinabi ng ina ni Benjamin sa asawa nito, “Please make sure you keep him safe.” Hanggang sa huling hininga ng kanyang ina ay kapakanan pa ng kanyang anak ang kanyang iniisip. Sa eksenang ito, masasabi kong si Benjamin na marahil ang pinaka swerteng sanggol na ipinanganak.

Pangalawa, ay ang pagmamahal na ipinakita ng kanyang ama. Naisip ko, mahal nya kaya talaga ang kanyang anak? Ginawa nya kaya talaga kung ano ang sa tingin nya ay makabubuti para dito? Hindi naman nya ito pinatay, subalit hindi rin naman nya ito inalagaan. Ang sa akin lang, ang pagmamahal ay laging katuwang ng pagtanggap. Nakakalungkot isipin na ang sarili nyang ama ay hindi sya natanggap sa simula pa lang. Nakakalungkot na hindi sya binigyan ng pagkakataong mapatunayan kung ano ang kaya nyang gawin. Nakakalungkot na sya ay hinusgahan base sa panlabas na kaanyuan. Paano natin maaasahang maintindihan tayo ng lipunan kung ang sarili nating mga tahanan, na syang dapat magtuturo sa atin ng pangunawa at pagmamahal, ay agad na tayong tinalikuran?

Kung binasa ko ang librong “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” marahil ay nabagot ako. May mga eksena kse dito tungkol sa World War II. Ewan ko ba, pero hindi lang siguro talaga ako ganun kainteresado sa mga giyera at digmaan.

Sa pag unawa sa buhay, naisip kong hindi naman importante kung tumanda ka o bumabata habang nagtatagal. Ang importante ay natuto kang magbigay, magmahal, magpatawad at magparaya. Ang mahalaga ay bumabangon ka sa bawat pagkakadapa at natututong mangarap muli sa bawat pagkabigo.

Sa huli, tumatanda man ang isang tao o bumabata, ang lahat ay mauuwi rin naman sa pinaka pinal na yugto ng buhay --- kamatayan. Pero ano nga ba ang kamatayan? Isang katapusan? Hindi ba’t ito ay panibagong simula rin lang naman. Panibagong simula para sa namaalam at panibagong simula para sa kanyang mga naiwan.

Ang lahat ay totoong hiram lamang --- ang oras, pamilya, kaibigan, kalusugan, karunungan, kayamanan. Lahat, pagdating ng takdang oras ay kukuhanin din sa atin. Ang mahalaga ay natuto tayong pahalagahan ang lahat ng ito habang tayo ay nabubuhay. Ang mahalaga ay naibahagi natin sa iba ang mga biyayang sa atin ay ipinagkaloob. At higit na mahalaga ay natuto tayong igalang at mahalin ang ating mga sarili gayun din ang ating kapwa.

Komplikado ang buhay. Habang higit mo itong pilit na iniintindi ay lalo mo itong hindi naiintindihan. Naisip ko lang, kapag nilisan na kaya natin ang mundong ito, baon kaya natin ang ating mga alala o maging iyon ay kukunin din sa atin? Kung kuhanin ang lahat sa atin, dapat ba tayong maging malungkot o dapat ba tayong maging masaya dahil minsan ito ay sa atin?

Napaka hiwaga talaga ng buhay. Lahat ng ating pinagdadaanan ay nagmumulat sa atin sa mga panibagong katanungan na pilit naman nating hahanapan ng mga bagong kasagutan.

Sa huli, lahat naman ay mauuwi rin talaga sa pagmamahal. At pwede lang tayong mangarap na totoong mahal nga natin ang ating mga sarili, na mahal natin kung ano tayo ngayon --- bunga ng lahat ng ating mga pinagdaanan.Kung totoong mahal natin an gating mga sarili, magawi man tayo sa dulo ng walang hanggan, hindi na natin kailangan pang matakot dahil sat nay na pagmamahal maaari na tayong lumipad.

One day at a time

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares,its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.

We cannot undo a single act we performed;we cannot erase a single word we said.

Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today.

Any person can fight the battle of just one day. It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad, it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time.

Set Yourself Free

Like a confused lost seagull out at sea
I wander through the streets
Like huge mazes of what makes up my life

Just as I think I have found my way
I am faced with yet another turn
Sometimes a dead end and I have to retrace my steps

It is the time to clean my thoughts of what I think is real
Look at life from a high and carried by the wind
Allowing me the freedom to fly

Set yourself free from anything that might hinder you in becoming the person you want to be. Free yourself from the uncertainties about your abilities or the worth of your dreams, from the fears that you may not be able to achieve them or that they won't be what you wanted.

Set yourself free from the past. The good things from yesterday are still yours in memory; the things you want to forget you will, for tomorrow is only a sunrise away. Free yourself from regret or guilt, and promise to live this day as fully as you can.

Set yourself free from the expectations of others, and never feel guilty or embarrassed if you do not live up to their standards. You are most important to yourself; live by what you feel is best and right for you. Others will come to respect your integrity and honesty.

Set yourself free to simply be yourself, and you will soar higher than you've ever dreamed.

Finding GOD

There are also sorts of experiences in life that we can't really put a name to --- the birth of a child, for one or the death of a parent. Falling in love and falling apart.

Words are like net. We hope they'll cover what we mean, but we know they can't possibly hold that much joy, or grief, or wonder.

Finding God is like that too.

If it's happened to you, you know what it feels like. But try to describe it to someone else - and language only takes you so far.

Snap shots of a tear-stained face

In the unchartable depths behind my eyes, wheels of colour dance, blown by some strange wind that would chill you to the marrow to feel it.

Images - snap shots - of things that have been or have yet to be flicker in and out in no discernable order. Strands of music buzz through the air like living rays of light; illuminating everything around them in a multitude of yellows and blues. Beams of the purest colours shine down from above, as if rent asunder by a giant diamond prism.

Some would look at this and see only chaos and madness. I look at this and see beauty that is wild and free, untamed by chisel or lute, paper or canvass. This purity inspires me. It gives me the strength to perservere.

I capture small portions of this to show others what I have seen, but I know not if my efforts are in vain.

Can you hear the mystery calling to you? Can you reach out and touch it, calling it to yourself, letting it envelop you and help you to find your way?

Maybe I'll be stuck like this forever, until my tears wear my body away like the ocean does a mountain. Until the darkness overcomes my heart and snuffs me out like a candle's pale flame, with a single gust of icy wind. Until my loneliness tears me in two and my anger consumes me like burning wood, leaving only ashes of what was before, a scant reminder of a ruined life. I burn even now. I burn with indecision.

Should I give up this fight that will eventually lead me to my downfall, or should I keep up the fight and endure the pain as a consequence?

Maybe some day I will find a way out of my personal darkness, my personal hell, but for now... now I will put on my mask and continue on with my back straight and my head up. I have nothing to fear but fear itself; which I won't let bother me. To be afraid of fear is a pointless waste of time, and I need all that I can find. Fear is just the unknown. Logical thinking dispels the gloom.

Maybe some day I will be able to tell my friends how much I truly need them and how much I rely on them being there for me. Maybe some day I can rejoin my friends in my make-believe world, and this one, to play on the green grass all day long.

Maybe some day I'll find the mysterious antidote that will clear this vicious poison from my senses and I can return home with a light heart and I won't have to hide my tear-stained face from the world any more.

Maybe some day I'll be free at last.

Despite everything, life goes on. Another silver tear rolls down my face in the lengthening silence.

Yes.

Life goes on.

Everything I need to know I learned from my mom

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning!"

My mother taught me RELIGION
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me LOGIC
"Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY
"Keep laughing and I'll *give* you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM
"Will you *look* at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about STAMINA
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is finished."

My mother taught me about WEATHER
"It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

My mother taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS
"If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you; would you listen then?"

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY
"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times - Don't Exaggerate!!!"

My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
"Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

THANKS, MOM!

Kung nasa iyo na ang lahat... anong meron ka?

When a man has everything, what is everything worth? Nothing. Everything loses meaning when one can't afford to dream.

Like wanderers that chart all frontiers conquered, where else can one go if all areas have already been mapped?

This leaves us with the choice to remain satisfied with what we have --- at least for now. Think of your current situation as just a passing phase.

Dream --- and reach for what you want.

The wait, the delay in gratification, will make the rewards sweeter. And victory will mean more than a dusty trophy on your living room shelf.