On Relationship...ts #1

When you finally find yourself ready to fall,

you better be ready to fight as well.

karla

Q: Where the hell is Matt? A: Dancing with Me!

First of all, you might be asking, "WHO THE HELL IS MATT?". If you are, click the link below!

"I never thought of stopping." - Karla :)

Just the other day I found out that Matt of www.wherethehellismatt.com was coming to Manila. He was inviting people through his Facebook account to go to the University of the Philippines to dance with him. I did not think twice. I just knew I had to go and just do it... DANCE WITH MATT.

My younger brother and his friends were apparently going too. Yey! I was not going to look stupid alone... well, I mean with strangers. :)

I was pretty sure some will wear crazy outfits. I was planning to do a Filipiniana theme with my brother Kevin to represent the country. Hey, what's the sense of doing the dance if you won't be able to find yourself in the video, right? However, due to me waking up late and being my usual uber slow self in the morning, I ended up grabbing the brightest shirt I saw in my closet and wore it. I thought I can just say "I'm the itty bitty girl in red.". Although right now, I wish we prepared better. It would have been cool if were in costume. I would have brought my own kalabaw there if I had one, or be in an Igorot outfit just so the country is well-represented. The weather was pretty cold and wet though, so using my emergency bahag might not be a good idea anyway.

On our way, Kevin and I got lost and went two rounds around UP. I forgot how large it was, and I didn't know they close some roads on Sundays. He and I were starting to get annoyed at each other out of frustration. When we finally got to the venue, we squeezed in the crowd of people already dancing, and learned the steps in a snap. I guess we just forgot how pissed we were about getting lost because we had to focus on not making complete fools of ourselves - at least not more than everyone else there. Haha!

The gang. I love his straw hat!

So we danced... in the rain. No, not the romantic kind with violins or a piano playing in the background, Matt handing me a rose as we glide in harmony in front of the College of Fine Arts building. He gave out directions and I'd say he was awesome at teaching to a bunch of people with mixed backgrounds in dance. That's the way I like it! Simple and straight to the point. I followed Matt's fun and crazy steps, together with around 30 strangers, counting and shouting with everyone which side we had to be in just so there's a dose of "choreography" in the video. It was really fun!

With Matt, wet! Good thing I was wearing a dri-fit shirt!

Kevin with Matt. I think my brother's "Matt" pose is better than mine. BOO.

I tried not to put rhythm or grace in my moves too. I found that quite hard since moving to the beat is something I always try to do. However, making myself look "awkward" is very natural to me, so I guess that helped.

My favorite part was the last clip, where he asked us to just get crazy - AND WE DID. Well, at least I thought I did. It was epic. I can't remember when was the last time I let myself go like that, it was liberating. And before I forget, I want to apologize to the people beside me if I have splashed you with mud during the crazy, do-whatever-you-want dance. I get super excited sometimes. Okay fine... almost all the time.

Groupies

I wish you get really rich and take some fans with you to travel.  *wink wink! MY IDEA. Hence, SHOTGUN!

JR with Matt!

Some tips if Matt is in your area and you decided to be part of his journey (and him to be part of yours):

1. Know where the actual venue is, parking, etc. My brother and I missed the first 2 parts and I'm kind of sad about that because we got lost!

2. Get there early!

3. Wear cool outfits. It would be awesome if you can wear a traditional costume to represent your country / city.

4. Have extra clothes just in case it rains. Or in case you sweat profusely.

5. Bring cash so you can buy a shirt and his book! I wasn't able to buy a shirt :( We were rushing to get to the venue on time and didn't have time to stop by an ATM. That was so stupid.

6. Let him sign the shirt/book. He will take photos with you, even dance for you. He is such a cool guy!

7. Let go and DANCE!

Matt is just a simple man, who saw the opportunity to go around the world. He's also SUPER nice. I had to leave earlier than Kevin and his friends because I had other plans the same day. After a few minutes, my brother called and told me they were driving Matt and his friend to the airport! That's super cool! And to thank them, I guess he just gave free shirts away. My brother was awesomeenough to ask for an extra one for me! I love my brotha! Thank you Matt!!!

YEY!!! Coolest shirt ever, and it's free!

Why the hell did I dance with Matt?!

I danced for my family, for my friends, for those who I hated and those who hates me, for peace and forgiveness, for stress and relief, for the blessings and the losses, the pain and the pleasure, for my past, present and future. I danced to let go of the regret and instead be thankful for whatever I've received and will be receiving. I danced for the awesome opportunities ahead. I danced for love. I danced like a lunatic for my 2011, for all the years before it, and for the next 75. I danced for the years after that, just in case I'm still alive. I danced for the adventures and the risks I will be taking. I danced to scare the fear away. I danced as I was grateful for still being grateful in that very moment:  Wet, tired and cold but felt very BLESSED. Lastly, I danced for the love of dancing!

Here's a teaser of the 2011 video, starring (from left to right) Chris, JR, Matt the Dancing Man, Moi and Kevin!

"...and BIG FINISH!" - Matt 

Matt said the full video, with all his trips from 2011, will be out around March next year. So watch out for our debut!

Check out the Matt links!

MATT'S WEBSITE: http://www.wherethehellismatt.com 

MATT'S FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Where-the-Hell-is-Matt/369964540488

To Do: Load up on sunscreen. (I SWEAR, THIS IS A MUST READ!)

On my way home today from work, I heard this being played on the radio. I was about to change the station but then the music and the words made me curious so I continued to listen.

This is an essay written by Mary Schmich for the Chicago Tribune for the graduating class of 1997. The video was made by Baz Luhrmann in 1999. I highlighted lines I find most interesting, but I like everything she wrote.

Watch / Read on. SHARE. I can't believe I didn't know about this back then. It would have saved me A LOT of trouble and drama.

 

Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young

Mary Schmich

June 1, 1997

Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen. 

Sources:

YouTube Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

Article - http://tinyurl.com/schmich-sunscreen