The Breakup Playlist.

Since it's love month, at least unofficially, let's talk about romance, it's bitter endings. Yeah. I'd like to delve into the emotion of sadness, particularly over a breakup. Here are songs I fancy listening to when I feel that [inevitable] sadness creeping in again. (I know I'm no expert in breakups. But these songs help, really. And no, I don't feel like listening to mellows whenever I'm sad. So Adele's not on this list.)

I Lived, OneRepublic

Best lines: [I] hope that you fall in love, and it hurts so bad | The only way you can learn is give it all you have | And I hope that you don't suffer, but take the pain

Also: They did this inspirational music video that enhances the song one hundred times.

Try, P!nk

Best lines: Just because it burns, doesn't mean you're gonna die | You gotta get up and try, try, try

Also: The music video is an artistic representation of your emotional struggle.

3 Things, Jason Mraz

Best lines: I go where I know the love is | and let it fill me up inside | Gathering new strength from sorrow | I'm glad to be alive

Also: There isn't an official music video for this song (sad), but you may sing along with this official audio.

Face Down, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Best lines: One day this world's goin' to end | As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

Also: I know right! Alternative punk rock for a breakup song, why not? The song about breaking away from an abusive relationship, along with the screamo at the bridge and coda part, is perfect. The music video is here.

One For the Pain, Lifehouse

Best lines: Coz the war is over now, now | Life is back in color now || Walk away from this madness that I crave

Also: For you folks who are having a long-term attachment to something you know you shouldn't. The official audio is here.

Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles

Best lines: Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces | Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

Also: Just the first few chords of this song are uplifting enough.

Refocus.

It's Valentine's Day again! As Raj of Big Bang Theory said, "What is it about this holiday that makes people so unhappy?"

Yeah, Raj, what?

I notice that in this holiday, not only are couples the ones who are all-mushy and showy in social media... The singles, oddly, are. They are the ones actively filling their social media accounts with motivational quotes such as "pizza is love" and "being single is awesome." Well, I'm not one to judge, it's probably their way of coping with this holiday, and they're probably as sick of these commercial stuff as I am.

Let's not fog our understanding; Valentine's Day is such a beautiful, wonderful celebration of an awesome saint. Valentine, a pious and courageous Christian of the early era, deserves this day of commemoration. Christians all over the world should imitate the strength of his faith, his undying Love of God.

Sadly, the focus has been lost on God, lost on Valentine and his good works, and has settled on chocolates, roses, dates, and all that romantic stuff. Love is a good thing, it is always good, because it comes from God; but romance is different, it's something you can't quite cling on to. It's fleeting. And some of us get bummed out by Vday for the lack of romance in our lives.

Let us refocus this lovely holiday by living out what it really stands for: LOVE. And by this love I mean God's love, the love that radiates to all our other relationships, the love that grows, hurts, waits, perseveres. Let us be happy to know that this love is plenty.

Happy Valentine's Day! God loves you!

St. Valentine, pray for us.

Some things can't be rushed.

I was so resolved to finally resume work last Friday.

I went to the office for an appointment with the company physician, determined to get that fit to work status, to finally get my life back on track. But when he saw me (still looking sickly thin, to my dismay) and checked my findings, he told me that apparently, my disease was in sort of "advanced" stage, and I need another month to rest. I was distraught, to be honest. Another month? I might as well be a monk and head to the mountains since I'll be gone for that long.

I bargained if I can work already when my lab tests get better. But what he said to me finally shut me up: take your time to heal.

I was so eager to get things back to normal, that I may have been rushing myself to heal. Once I felt there was no pain anymore, I hoped that was it: I'll be finally healed soon. But there is healing that takes place unseen by my eyes, the healing happening inside me that I know nothing about. And this kind of healing takes time.

This disease teaches me, among all things, the virtue of patience. I've been so impatient as to want to move the hands of the clock, if only I can; my sickness teaches me to just let this clock tick. It will tick in its own time, not in mine. I can do nothing but wait.

For some things can't be rushed.