Put the Glass Down (and Look Up)

Image from gfx9.com

I must confess, it's been awhile since I blogged. And here I am after several months about to dish out on personal, non-beauty stuff. Some comeback, huh? Anyway, this is something I feel I must get off my chest so that I can proceed with other things (a.k.a. get back to work. oh wow.)

Stress is killing me today. Stress management has never been my strongest competency; I'm not very good in coping with sudden changes and roadblocks have a way of really irritating me (making me go into whining instead of immediate problem solving). Combine that with crazy hormones and you get one stressed out person. Wow, that's thrice the use of the S word in one paragraph!

So anyway, today was extra difficult. Looming deadlines and a lot of obstacles sort of got into me. You know how you just feel so, so tired and that you just feel like crying? That's how I felt at the end of this day. I stewed over this feeling for a few hours and I realized, hey it's okay to admit that I am tired! I don't have to be superwoman and deny myself the right to feel tired. I AM tired.

Doesn't mean that I have to keep feeling sucky, though.

Divine intervention just made itself felt and I came across a Facebook post on stress management shared by my boss, hence the stock photo for this post. Nope, it's not about the glass being half-empty or half-full. It was about holding the glass for how long. For better appreciation, let me quote part of the anecdote.

"The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything." It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!"

It makes much sense, right? I realized, why have I been holding the glass the whole day? Why let myself feel paralyzed and overwhelmed? I can do this! And if I can't find a way, won't my God find the way for me for the work He has given me? It's not very original but hey, it's still a lightbulb moment! For every stressed out lady (and gents too) who may get to read this, please consider putting the glass down and it won't help to look up and ask for His help (or even just consolation, it helps ;>).

Be blessed!

Thursday Musings: Who Do You Say That I Am?

Another round of Thursday inspiration based on today's mass readings. :-)

Several points we can have in our prayer today:

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Who do we say that God is? Who is he in our life? Is our life an accurate reflection of who we say God is? If we say God is love, are we bringing love into others' lives? If we say God is our friend, do we spend time with and talk to Him? If we say He is our father, are we being obedient to Him?

And so I say to you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my Church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”Then he strictly ordered his disciplesto tell no one that he was the Christ.

Today's gospel reminds us of the beautiful story of Peter's faith - how The Lord changed him and how he loved The Lord, though imperfectly. From St. Peter, we can learn humility, sorrow for our sins and repentance. Through him, The Lord also shows the mercy he has for those who sin and repent.

Let's also offer prayers today for the Holy Father and his upcoming visit to the country on January. We pray that The Lord keeps him safe and well at all times.

Happy Thursday, folks! The week is about to end. Make it count.

Be blessed always!

OOTD: Sunday Best in Green

Hola chicas! Time for another Sunday Best post. I had tons of fun last Sunday; I was able to hear Mass, catch up a bit with a good friend, have lunch with the family, and spend the rest of the day with le boyfriend! My love tank is definitely filled up right now. :-) <3

Nope, I'm not a green girl!

I'm beginning to seriously consider wearing only skirts and dresses during Sundays. Apart from not being able to wear such as often during the weekdays, my feminine side is definitely loving the dress up part! Hihi. This week's Sunday best is a floral dress from Dorothy Perkins. I do have a love-hate relationship with it; it's comfortable but I always feel extra wide in it because of the garterized waist. Anyhoo, it was raining so I had the perfect excuse to layer with a cardigan. Voila! Concealed arms and tummy. :D

I didn't really plan on which pair of shoe to pair since we were in a hurry already. I just grabbed this pair of flats from Fioni (Payless) and realized later on how nicely it complemented my neutral outfit. Imagine if I paired it with neutral shoes? Would have been nice but not as fun. :-) I'm usually not an adventurous person even with colors (except for lipsticks!) but I definitely learned my lesson here that a little burst of color can definitely seal the deal with a plain outfit.

What was/will be your Sunday Best?

Be blessed always!

In the Potter's Hands

Funny how God can speak to you even when you're braving through crazy busy days. Thursday is usually my day for writing reflections but I missed it yesterday (boo me, I know!). I usually base my reflection on the day's readings and I had it prepared ahead; just didn't have the (mental) energy to write my thoughts down. Even so, here I am preparing for the Sunday mass Powerpoint presentations and He speaks to me through different verses. 

Yesterday's verse from the First Reading,

I went down to the potter's house
and there he was, working at the wheel.
Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand,
he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased."
Jeremiah 18:3-4

It struck me so well that it kept ringing through my hand since yesterday. It may sound a little cliche - the imagery of a potter, of being like clay molded into something beautiful - but what particularly struck me is 

'Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased.'

It reminded me so much of how often we do mess up as humans with weaknesses and tendencies. Wrong choices, bad decisions, words that should not have been spoken, I think we've all been there at some point in our earthly journeys. But it's not just that we have a merciful and compassionate God, we actually have a God who can create beauty out of dark and messy things in our lives! I think it is just so awesome to have a God who can create beautiful things out of my wrong choices, bad decisions and poisonous words. 

What I've realized so far is that these beautiful things:

1) don't just come out overnight, and

2) come out when we cooperate with the Lord's will

In most, if not all, cases, this requires sorrow for sins committed and the firm resolution to avoid the sin later on. This can mean differently to many people. It can mean avoiding shopping sites for the shopaholic, cutting off bad friendships, installing filters to stop oneself from visiting porn sites, skipping on 50 Shades of Grey despite your FB feed being flooded with its trailer, holding off on relationships for right reasons, and lots more. Difficult feats, yes, but nonetheless doable. Out of obedience fueled by love. As cliche as it may sound, there is great power in true love and what can be stronger than the one who is love Himself? Coincidentally, we are reminded of this in this Sunday's Second Reading,

"What will separate us from the love of Christ? 

Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? 
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us." 
Romans 8: 35, 37

Honestly, it is not easy to obey at all times. It can be frightening at times. We fear disappointment and sadness. But they also say that to obey the Lord's will brings one a sense of peace and inner joy. I think it's possible to feel disappointment as humans but there can also be a sense of submission and trust that a better plan awaits. 

Image credit: gerrymkaye.org

Now if you're already walking the road of submission, obedience and trust, congratulations! God didn't promise an easy road though, just one where you will always be walking with Him. From personal experience, there can be bumpy roads ahead and expect to feel discouraged and down at certain points. It's part of the spiritual warfare! Someone wants us to feel unworthy and to eventually give up. But don't! 

The Lord reminds us, 

Image Credit: Amanda Sherlin, Pinterest

We are all clay in the potter's hands but He needs our patience and cooperation. If you find it hard to obey and trust, pray for the grace to love Him more. 

How are you  being molded right now by God? How have you responded so far?

Be blessed always!

OOTD: Sunday Best

Sundays are chill days not just because it's unofficially Family Day for many families but more so because it's our special time to 'chill' with God. It can be tempting to dress down (as in really down) during Sundays especially since we always dress up 5x a week in the office. But Sundays are actually a great day to dress up because it's the day of the Lord's banquet! Think of it as the new week's kick-off party with the Lord and of course with the community. :-)

Hear, hear? :-)

So what's this week's pick for Sunday best? My ever reliable Uniqlo maxi dress! I like this dress because it has sleeves (Church-friendly!), the fabric is thick enough but still cool enough to be worn in our tropical weather and it's easy enough to be dressed up or down. I paired it with white d'orsay flats from Payless (sale price! yeah!), a vintage beaded necklace and a sling bag from E.G.G.

Sorry for the awkward pose at the grocery, haha! Not a fashion blogger, obviously. :-P But there you go. Sundays can be dress up days without sacrificing modesty and comfort. Looking forward to the next Sunday Best!

Have a great weekend ahead of you!

Chasing Happiness Part 2

Remember my previous post on Chasing Happiness? Just a day after posting, I came across this video of Chris Stefanick, a renowned Catholic speaker, talking about happiness and its connection to our faith.

"I feel the deep longing in your heart. You WANT to be HAPPY."

I'd like to share this with you and I hope Chris inspires you to take a look at how your faith is right now because it "has everything to do with why you're on this journey". 

Be blessed always. :)

P.S. Funny coincidence that exactly a year ago on this same day, I retweeted this from the Holy Father, "There is a deeper hunger for happiness that only God can satisfy."

Chasing Happiness

"Two evils have my people done: they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water." 

Read today's liturgical readings here.

When I was a small girl, I would play with water in the bathroom by trying to transfer the water from the pail to the water dipper by cupping the water into my hands. Not even halfway and all the water has spilled; even so, I'd still keep doing it. Silly, no? I wanted to tell my young self, "That's a futile exercise! Use something else other than your hands."

I find myself smiling at this memory and feeling sheepish just thinking how I did the same as an adult except that it's no longer water but happiness and material things. I believe that happiness is a fundamental thing that man is drawn to; our nature dislikes discomfort and we are drawn to what is pleasurable and comfortable. But what is happiness? Is it the same for everyone? For many, if not all, happiness is finding fulfillment in our lives.

For us Catholics, we find our happiness when we fulfill our mission in this earthly journey, that is to know, love and serve God. Sounds like a simple formula for happiness, right? KNOWING. LOVING. SERVING. But personally, I've found that to do all three is not as easy as it sounds. There's a considerable amount of struggle and I'd be one to say that there are really times that it can feel arduous. And very often, there's a large amount of temptation to turn to the easy, comfortable way out in search of happiness. It's different for many people - it can be drugs, alcohol, food, shopping, money, work (yes!) etc. Frequently, it's really material things and we think it will give us lasting happiness.

But my personal experience has shown me otherwise. I've had struggles with shopping and spending. It certainly wasn't because I had a lot of money (I wish!) but I felt a certain high when I'd get myself different pairs of shoes, lipsticks of various colors, and clothes that I'd eventually get to wear only a few times. The catch is that the high lasts for a very short time. Until the next purchase, they'd say.

 At a certain point, it all felt pointless. Indeed, it was. It hit me hard, though, that all I was doing was buying and nothing else really. I was in search of happiness - one that doesn't fade; I'd feel a tinge of it after a shopping spree but it didn't last long.

It was a wake-up call for me on different levels. In a way, it led me to a deeper hunger to develop my relationship with God. The journey has certainly not been smooth and paved. There's really a certain struggle felt and it really feels like a constant battle. The experience has taught me to look to God and to trust in His grace. So far, what have I learned? There's a different joy in placing oneself in God's hands, in getting to know Him and struggling to live a life pleasing to Him (this last one can be really tough at times). I won't say it's a high; rather, it's a steady stream of joy. It doesn't mean my life is smooth sailing and that I don't have problems but that these challenges are met with strength and courage knowing that you are leaning on the big man up there.

In the end, material things are not evil in themselves. I still enjoy a good round of shopping but I now moderate myself - asking myself why I want to buy something, not buying it immediately, etc. But the happiness that my heart looks to cannot be found in any store. That happiness is held by God and my heart has to constantly meet Him until I get to that day when I will have to meet Him face to face.

I still find myself transferring water through cupped hands at times. Hey, life's a constant struggle to live a good one. But maybe I'm a year older by now and I try to remind myself more often,

'Happiness that's not of Him will slip through your hands very easily; keep the faith and keep your heart's gaze towards Him.'

I pray you find your happiness for in our joy, we get to bless others as well. Be blessed always. 

My Loom Love: Mama-Mary Inspired bracelet

I always seem to find a new hobby every few months or so and this time it's looming! I'm fairly new in it and am still learning the ropes as well as a few tricks here and there. There's just something about creating with one's own hands that gives me a happy fulfillment; probably explains my fascination with makeup as well, hehe.

Anyways, don't let me bother you with my blah-blahs. I just wanted to share my latest loom bracelet creation which is also my favorite among the rest.

Isn't she lovely?

Since it's the month of May, I thought why not design something inspired by the Blessed Virgin Mary? Love the color combination of royal blue, light blue and white. :)

I have other loom bracelets but have always decided against wearing it. Now this is something I can wear often because it definitely holds a different meaning to me. Reminds me to be more Mary-like too, haha.

Expect more posts, though intermittently, as I have quite a few drafts to publish in the coming weeks.

Have a blessed day! :) 

#BetterAndBlessed2014: No to NEGAtron!

Haven't really posted a Christmas wishlist. I thought it might be better to purposefully start thinking of resolutions for the next year instead of cram on the 31st of December, not have enough time, haphazardly decide then revert back to the old ways by the 5th day of the start of the year.

2013 has been ripe with many lessons, all valuable in themselves. And this is a good starting point for me to think of the things I want to improve for the next year. My motto for 2014 is  

#BetterAndBlessed2014

Be careful of your thoughts; it might become you!

As I was doing my usual Facebook feed check, I came across an interesting article entitled, '20 Things to Let Go of Before the New Year'. The author listed quite a lot and if you ask me, if you have all 20 at the same time inside you, man, that's a pretty heavy load to carry! I'm grateful to pass up on the other items but yes, I did find myself wanting to cross out some things in the list while reading for the monitor (hehe).

•  Let go of all thoughts that don't make you feel empowered and strong.  (This includes comparing myself with others!)
• Let go of the fear of the unknown; take one small step and watch the path reveal itself.  (Baby steps...baby steps...baby steps...)
• Let go of blaming anyone for anything; be accountable for your own life. If you don’t like something, you have two choices, accept it or change it. (Your emotions are your accountability. How people act is their responsibility but how you react is yours.)
• Let go of thinking you are damaged; you matter, and the world needs you just as you are. 
• Let go of thinking everyone else is happier, more successful or better off than you. You are right where you need to be. Your journey is unfolding perfectly for you. 
• Let go of thinking your dreams are not important; always follow your heart. (Your dreams are important. <3)
• Let go of thinking you have to know how to make it happen; we learn the way on the way. (which is how I pretty much coasted through this year, maybe I just need to gain more confidence.)
• Let go of self-hate. You are not the shape of your body or the number on the scale. Who you are matters, and the world needs you as you are. Celebrate you! (Focus on fitness!!!)

Quite a lot, no? But alas, next year will be better. New and improved, 'ika nga. Hehehe.

And the first step after crossing things out? Keep positive that all these changes are possible for the 2014. #BetterAndBlessed #BawalAngNEGAtron

So for the first part of my #BetterAndBlessed2014, here's to oodles of optimism and tons of control for (negative) thoughts for the next year!

Despite the challenges and trials, I still believe that I have been immensely blessed this 2013 and I believe that God's grace will never run out. Next year will still overflow with His blessings and the year after and so on it goes.

My Lord, sustain me in my journey to self-improvement. 

You have made me in Your image and likeness; 

help me to hold on to that especially in times of self-doubt and disappointment.

The Advent of change: How wilI I prepare for Christmas?

Have you noticed the weather getting chillier and nighttime seems to settle in earlier? Yup, we're definitely getting closer to Christmas! Lights are being strewn over trees, parols hung in streets and windows, holiday jingles playing, queues getting longer in malls, Divisoria getting busier and traffic getting crazier. Yes, it's definitely the Christmas season, folks.

While Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays (the cheerfulness in the air, presents wrapped beautifully, family-get togethers and the relaxing weather), I've come to have a newfound appreciation for it over the recent years. Cliche as it may sound, it has something to do with remembering the real reason for the season.

As much as Christmas is universally understood to be a time for celebration, Christmas is also the perfect time for change. With the coming of the infant Jesus, we now have the perfect excuse to make changes!

Like a house servant awaiting the return of the master or a house owner anticipating the arrival of an esteemed guest, so I make the necessary preparations. Our nativity scene (Christmas belen) at home is a lovely sight but apart from that, I'd truly be happier if I can receive the infant Jesus with a renewed heart come the 25th. :)

Our home's modest belen

In the Sunday Mass homily, the priest reminded of the Advent season as an opportunity for intense preparation for the coming of our Lord. I like that word, intense. I feel a Katniss Everdeen-intense level of focus and concentration. Not because I want to win a game but because I want to be able to give a worthy reception to the most important figure in my life. :)

 We all have different ways to prepare ourselves. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. Just the same, let me share with you how I'll be preparing for Christmas during this Advent season.

1. Daily mass and prayer - yes, it's a good habit to get ourselves into :)
2. Strengthen my Marian devotion - ask for Our Lady's intercession to help us especially during this period and show us the things we need to change in ourselves
3. Confession - let this season be the season of grace to learn humility as we confess our sins and resolve to do better

4. Set up an Advent wreath - I'm not sure if I can actually do this but I really do want to be able to set up one for our house. :)
5. Little acts of love and sacrifice - to continue reminding my heart that it's not alone and that it beats to serve God, family and country.
6. Kick the bad habits! 

7. Attend an Advent recollection -  without actually 'disappearing' for several days on retreat, a recollection gives us a few hours to get our bearings and think things through. Let me know if you want to attend one. ;)

Lovely how this season of Advent can be spiritually meaningful and can usher in new changes. :)
For more tips and ideas, I found this nice article online from Catholic Fire: 12 Tips to Make Advent A More Spiritual Season.

Lastly, let's not forget to seek guidance from God this whole season, that we may always have the will, courage and strength to do His will.

"Lord, make me know your ways. 

Lord, teach your paths. 

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my Saviour."

May you mark a meaningful Advent season and welcome a merry Christmas with a renewed heart. :)

Beautiful. Fall in love again and again.

Linked from Cassie Pease Designs

Beautiful and awe-inspiring. 

I don't think any human words would be enough to respond to this 

and to describe the depth of love contained in this statement.

Jesus thirsts for your love. 

He longs to hear about how your day went. 

He's ready to listen to your hopes and dreams.

His heart will weep with you as you weep for the disappointments and failures.

He will take your heart wholly if only You will let Him.

Will you quench that thirst and let Him love you?

Cassie Pease Designs makes awesome posters, wallpapers and cover photos. 

Check out her website for more breathtaking and inspiring artworks.

Why I Will Most Likely Attempt Again to Read Lord of the Rings This 2013

Who has read all books from the Lord of the Rings series? 
Who has sat through all movie adaptations of it?
Who has actually watched/read all movies/books from the series in one sitting? 

I wish I did but I haven't even gotten past the first 5 pages of The Hobbit! I know that Lord of the Rings series is a classic in itself; not to mention that there are many Christian themes in the stories. I just wish sometimes that Tolkien wasn't so good with words. In other words, na-nosebleed lang naman ako ng bongga!

The first time I tried reading the series is way back in high school but I got frustrated at the first two pages. I closed the book and quietly put it back in the shelf. My interest was rekindled when I got into college and movie adaptations came out. To my dismay, frustration set in after the fifth page and I've never taken it out of the shelf from then on.

LOL at this meme!

Finishing the series (both books and movies) remain to be in my bucket list, though. Never say never, as Bieber sings. LOL. I will, once again, attempt to the finish the series this year. Ok fine, read one book from the series this year and that is being realistic. ;)

This renewed interest came after listening to a podcast of Peter Kreeft's lecture on '10 Insights on Evil from Lord of the Rings' at the MacLaurin Institute. This was delivered ten years ago but still hold to be true. From the description, this lecture 'calls attention to Tolkien's great words reminding us about forgotten wisdom on evil'. And indeed, there are many great insights to be picked up and reflected on Kreeft's talk. Here are his 10 insights. I won't include further descriptions anymore as he just said it all.

1. We are at war, not at peace. Evil is real.
2. Evil is very big. In fact, immortal.
3. Knowing the difference between good and evil is very easy and clear.
4. Knowledge is not always a good.
5. What defeats evil is evil itself.
6. Evil works for good.
7. Sacrifice, 
8. Humility
9. Friendship
10. Words (7-10 as the four most powerful weapons against evil)

I highly recommend that you listen to Peter Kreeft's lecture. You may check it out here: http://www.peterkreeft.com/audio/04_insights-into-evil.htm. He has several other lectures that sound very interesting. I'll be checking one out again this month. He has also written a book on the series, The Philosophy of Tolkien, so Tolkien fans out there may want to take a look at it too.

That's it, pansit! Have a blessed week ahead of you.☆

JenThoughts: Carlos Celdran and Religious Feelings

Taking a break from beauty posts, allow me to share with you my thoughts on the current court decision founding Carlos Celdran guilty of offending religious feelings after interrupting a celebration of "May They Be One" campaign in 2010. The decision has expectedly caused a ruckus in social media. The hashtag "#freecarlosceldran" and various tweets on turning the other cheek, amusement over legal law on religious feelings and the debate on what is offensive or not were all over my Twitter feed.

Honestly, my first reaction was of frustration and a little bit of anger. And then sadness.

It is quite sad that a lot of reactions show people's acceptance of Carlos Celdran's act as 'normal'. To those who may have missed it, he went in front of the altar wearing a black suit and raised a placard with 'DAMASO' written on it. He was escorted a little after people realized that his act is not part of the ongoing ecumenical service that was being held in the Cathedral. Rappler posted a copy of the court decision here for everyone's reference.

Photo credits to Philstar website

For me, it's not as much as the DAMASO placard or the fact that what he interrupted was not a mass (he has made a specific attempt in Twitter to point out this fact) but about respect. Protests can be made in a separate venue; heck, even rallyists do their protest outside. Why do it inside the church during an ecumenical celebration with many important people present? Surely, he wants to get a strong message across but is it worth trampling on others' feelings and sensibilities? That is a food for thought for everyone, I guess.

What saddens me more is that the more I read people's comments, thoughts and reactions, the more I am left with the impression that all of this stems from people's dislike (to put it mildly) for the Church, especially proclaimed Catholics. It's truly saddening. :( I will not pretend that we have a perfect Church; it is not and its human members will fall time and again. Now I remember this, "remember that the Church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners". I really feel bad how we can just talk badly about our bishops and priests.

At this point, I digress. Let's get back on track.

There has been a lot of talk about the Church forgiving Mr. Celdran for his stunt. Last Wednesday, the CBCP released a report refuting that the Church is behind the case filed against him. I have no doubt that forgiveness is in order and our bishops surely know this. It is not completely surprising at all to know that they have forgiven him back in 2010 and have even prayed for him. According to the CBCP release, the charge was not filed by the Church and there was even express instructions to not pursue the case. How's that for magnanimity?

Photo credits to Dr Diva website

 The question burning in my mind, should forgiveness be equated with taking things astride and forgetting the wrong done? What about justice?

My friend, Richmond, answers this very succinctly in a Facebook status of his. We are thinking in the same line and let me just quote him as I cannot say this any more better,

"People are asking for the Church to forgive Mr. Celdran. We have to qualify this. What is our perception of forgiveness? Are we equating forgiveness with simply taking the entire thing astride, charges and all? I want to believe the Church has forgiven him, but there is also the other facet of charity, and it is called justice. The decision was not rendered by the Church, this we have to be clear. The decision was rendered by the court of law. [emphasis mine] If what we are calling is that the Church forgives him according to the notion of completely brushing it all aside, why raise it now when this matter should have been raised even before the charge was pressed?"

This leaves me realizing that there is so much, so much things to pray for. I hope whatever side you are on in this issue, you will also pray for the persons/groups/issues involved.

Jenspiration: Lessons for the Week on Anger and Magnanimity

Some emotional events have happened this week. I can blame it on my period and a bajillion other things but that doesn't really help solve anything. Haha. 

Someone wrote before that certain things/mistakes keep happening in life because we never learn the things/virtues that we ought to learn and practice. Hmmm, the author may actually have a point there. Good or bad, I know that there are lessons to be picked up in this week's events (the week is not over yet but I hope there won't be any more emotionally charged events!) and so here's my poor attempt to write down the lessons and hopefully learn from them. 

I would say hit 'like' if you can relate but we're not in Facebook (even though I wrote down a shorter version in Facebook just 5 minutes ago) so how about you say a short prayer after reading through and agreeing even with just one little thing I wrote down? :)

1. If you have nothing good to say, keep quiet.  

It will be a monstrous struggle inside to contain all the negative things you want to say but it'll be worth it. Just think that 10 years from now, when your speech is more refined and your disposition way calmer, no angry words (that came out of your mouth in the past) will haunt you.