Best Kind of Good Dream

 Good dreams are certertainly better than bad dreams, and to look on the suface, they like a happy thing everyone would love to have. Nevertheless, I think some types of good dream are better than others. 

A dream where you have the pleasure f worldly happiness is a type of good dream. These can come in the form of something that is almost imposible to happen in real life, such as  winning a lottery, going to a dream place, marrying a prince or princess, etc. However, once you wake up from such dreams, it is inevitable to feel a bit of sadness, realizing that it is all a dream and now you're back to reality, the same old dull life. 

Another kind of dream, a better one, is the symbolic and spiritual dream that talks deep to your heart. A symbolic dream means that the theme and elements of the dream communicate a meaning that you can understand intuitively. A spiritual dream is a very very vivid and you can feel your soul in it and whoever in that dream is a real presence, not just a character. All the feelings, all the senses are so real that it wlll leave an impression on you even after wake up. It is a feeling that you are in another world, you are in your spiritual self, someone out there, someone higher and benevolent meant to communicate to you. All of these, you will know by heart, if it's a spiritual dream. And the message will immensely and deeply affect the very core of your being. That means if it's a good spiritual dream, the happiness and hope that you feel comes from the fact that this dream is meant for your life and you are blessed. It meant that the happiness you feel are meant for you and that hope you felt is for your real life, too. 

Here is one of those dreams. It's been so very long that I haven't had them but this one is so powerful that it lifted me out of my depression right away.

I was standing in front of a gap that has some sort of water below and in front of me is a make-do bridge from pieces of sticks, not looking strong at all. But there are people on the other side and they encouraged me to cross because they know it's safe enough to cross. I've been afraid of something like this since I was young. I tried to gather my courage but I still hesitated. A boy walked over from the other side, trying to encourage me. I almost stepped on the bridge but then it looked unstable and I took my feet off. I was too afraid. The boy smiled and walked over to me, saying that it wasn't anything dangerous. But his bridge was just a think piece of stick and he looked like he was losing balance a bit so I offered my hand and something else for him to come over to my side. The boy didn't look fearful or stressed at all. He seemed very relaxed, even chuckled about it. After he grabbed my hand, suddenly he decided to take me down to the water below. Now, the dream became very vivid, He took me along the canal in such a fast speed. We were not in a boat, just hand in hand, but we moved so fast, almost like we flied through the water. I could feel everything so clearly, the water, the air, and how fast we were moving. I felt so happy, so relaxed, and safe. He was saying to me "See? the water is not dangerous at all" I smiled and thought...oh well, the water is murky and it is dangerous because anything can be understand, but I feel safe because I keep looking at your face all the way and because you are here with me, you are by my side like this, I believe nothing bad would come to hurt us in this water anyway. And that was the truth, his presence was the reason I wasn't afraid of that canal water. And I kept looking at his face all along the way. In the end though, I lost concentration and started thinking about how fast I was moving and I felt tingling station in my stomach, and felt a bit startled...then I wake up.

The meaning of the dream was clear and positive. I am being very afraid of something in life that I shouldn't be afraid of and it is a persistent problem. But someone is going to come along to make me feel safe enough no matter what comes my way. The dream also reminds me of a passage in the Bible when Jesus stretched out his hand to Peter to help him because he's going to sink. Peter was trying to walk on the water, following Jesus but he looked at the waves and was afraid. Jesus was saying that Peter shouldn't have doubted. But even if Peter did, Jesus grabbed his hand and he is saved anyway. There was also a picture I saved in the phone of Jesus stretching out his hand and saying "Don't look at the storm, look at me" 

From now on, I will be praying for this help to come along as quickly as possible. I've been standing and looking at the bridge for too long with fear and doubt and could not overcome it on my own. The dream gives me such deep hope that I haven't felt for years. 

The Guiding Star

 There is a reason why we lift our eyes to the moon and the stars and feel a sense of hope. Since ancient times, humanity has gazed at the heavens, seeing in the sun and stars symbols of something greater than ourselves. On a spiritual level, the universe holds an eternal and unchanging reality—a higher truth that dwells within each person’s conscience.

When we look at Pinocchio, the story carries a much deeper lesson than it may seem. The shining star and the beautiful fairy are more than fantasy; they are symbols of hope and guidance. The fairy gives Pinocchio the cricket as his conscience, teaching that to be truly human is not simply to walk and talk, but to listen to the inner voice that calls us toward what is true, good, and right. Our conscience is the part of us that connects directly to the eternal. If Pinocchio continues to lie and get obsessed about shallow pleasures of the world, he will have to stay a puppet. But in the end, he was able to become a real boy because he gave up his life bravely to save his father.

The book We Who Wrestle With God reminds us that human beings are always in conflict with their own conscience. With every breath and in every moment, we face the choice: will we listen to that voice within, or will we resist it?

Perhaps most striking is the image from Pinocchio where a star shines ever brighter, until it appears as the fairy. This vision echoes the accounts of those who have had near-death experiences, describing radiant beings of light. That gives me a feeling that maybe the creator of the animation was divinely inspired.

My faith is not strong lately and I'm not so confident if God really loves me, BUT I can't deny the truth of who God is and how our world was created and how it was meant to be. 

An "Almost" a Bad Dream

I got into a taxi. The driver was a Westerner who could speak Thai. After a while, the number on the meter seems to increase faster than usual, a sign that it is a scammer's tool. I tried to protest but the driver rudely spoke to me, saying that I falsely blamed him. 

The taxi ran into a gas station and stopped. I tried to get out through the right door, but it was locked and the lock control was in the driver's hand. The number on the meter seemed to disappear and then came back much higher than before. There were people in the gas station, I was reluctant whether I should call for help. The driver said, "hey, you can call the police if you want, I've dialed the number for you" and he gave me the mobile phone. Someone was on the line, but I knew that it was his scammer team in the call center and that there was no use talking to the person. I tried to dial the police number but I ended up dialing a peculiar number, instead of 191, and I wondered why I did that. 

Suddenly, I saw that the left door was open a little. A man in bright pink or red outfit was outside, asking me "do you want to come out?" I was so glad and got off the taxi quickly.

After a while I turned around, and saw that the man who rescued me jumped into the trunk of that taxi and his friend closed it for him. Someone who stood in that gas station said to me, "That taxi driver used to owe him money. He helped him and set him free before, but that guy still behave like a jerk today. So he thought it's time to give him a lesson." As the taxi moved away from the gas station, I knew that the driver was in trouble. The man in the trunk was there with his objective in mind. 

It was such a relief to wake up in my bed and found out that it was all a dream. Nevertheless, it was quite tiring because it felt real. It was just "almost" a bad dream, though. And I'm glad for that. I felt strongly that someone was there to help me in my dream before things turned worse. According to Buddhism belief, I met a past-life adversary who happened to meet his own adversary before he could harm me. According to Christian belief, an angel saved me. 

The slept for only 3 hours when this dream happened. After I woke up, then went back to bed again. I had some other kinds of dream and this time was a bad one, not just almost. Well, I can't seem to escape my doomed fate at night anyway. 

On Balance and Equilibrium of Life

 

One truth about life that I have discovered is that almost everything requires balance. Whether in one’s personal life, in relationships with others, in the management of society, or in nature itself, balance and equilibrium are essential for things to flourish and remain healthy. Of course, there are exceptions, and the definition of balance can vary depending on each individual’s circumstances and goals.

It is no coincidence that several religions and faiths encourage people to live in balance. The Buddha taught the Middle Path, the way of avoiding extremes. Judaism has the teaching of the Golden Mean, the virtue of choosing the middle ground between two extremes. Confucius emphasized Zhong Yong, the doctrine of moderation and harmony. More importantly, if you reflect on your own life, your relationships, and the society around you, you will find—as I did—that balance is needed in almost every aspect of human existence.

In personal life, the absence of exercise can lead to obesity and other health problems, while exercising too much or too strenuously can cause injuries. If you work too little and rest too much, you may struggle to succeed in career or finances due to laziness. But if you work excessively and neglect rest, you risk damaging your physical and mental health, along with your relationships. Technology use also requires balance. Excessive use leads to addiction, screen fatigue, and dulling of the mind, as AI begins to think and act on your behalf. On the other hand, rejecting modern technology completely can slow your work, reduce efficiency, and make it harder to connect and collaborate with others. Even self-perception needs balance. Being overly harsh or critical toward yourself can damage your confidence and leave you depressed, while constant self-praise and believing you are better than others can make you self-centered, blind to your flaws, and resistant to growth. Besides, most people naturally avoid narcissists.

In relationships and society, balance is equally important for peaceful coexistence. Good parents and teachers know that giving children too much freedom allows them to grow spoiled, undisciplined, and entitled, which harms their future. But being too strict, harsh, or punishing stifles motivation, lowers confidence, and may even cause rebellion. In relationships, a lack of trust breeds suspicion and prevents peace, while blind trust leaves one vulnerable to betrayal. Giving too much of yourself may lead to exhaustion and resentment, while taking too much without giving back breeds selfishness and dependency. Communication, too, must be balanced: speaking too bluntly can hurt, but avoiding honesty or speaking too indirectly creates misunderstanding. At a social level, a culture of extreme individualism may weaken unity and leave people isolated, while excessive collectivism can suppress innovation and personal freedom, as individuals feel compelled to live only for society rather than as themselves.

Even in nature, balance is everywhere. Day follows night; the tides rise and fall. Too much rain brings floods, too little brings drought; balanced weather allows life to thrive in abundance. In the animal kingdom, too many predators may wipe out prey populations, eventually starving themselves. Too few predators, however, causes prey to multiply unchecked, exhausting food sources. Our own bodies also reflect this need for equilibrium—whether in temperature regulation, the oxygen–carbon dioxide exchange, or the delicate balance of microbes in our gut.

There are, however, exceptions. Some things should never be balanced. For example, when striving to keep an organization, system, or society free of corruption, the goal must be 100%. No benefit comes from balancing corruption with honesty. Furthermore, balance looks different for different individuals. An Olympic athlete or Navy SEAL must train far more rigorously than average people, yet it is not “extreme” for them because their circumstances require it. A monk or priest who eats one meal a day, sleeps on a hard bed, and avoids worldly pleasures might seem extreme to most people, yet for them it is the proper discipline for their spiritual journey. Each person must discover their own point of balance.

In my opinion, maintaining balance and walking the middle way is not easy, but it is worth striving for. It will always bring benefits—to our lives, our relationships, and humanity as a whole. As the saying goes: “The river that overflows destroys; the river that dries up leaves barren land; but the river that flows steadily nourishes life.”

Written by Me: Edited by Echo

There is No Fear in Love: My Reflection on Sharks and Humans

 

                                                        Ocean Ramsey and a big shark

As a sea lover, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the ocean. I want the creatures that live in the blue depths to exist peacefully and freely. Today, I’m writing this post as a small voice speaking up for some of the ocean’s most misunderstood predators—yes, I’m talking about sharks. Especially the large ones, like tiger sharks and great whites, whose reputations have sadly been ruined by movies and media.

If you’ve ever watched shark-themed films where they’re portrayed as terrifying, man-eating monsters chasing humans down just to kill them—please consider watching the Netflix documentary Shark Whisperer. It presents a much more truthful perspective. Yes, sharks are predators who have lived on Earth for millions of years, and yes, their jaws can be powerful enough to harm or kill. But they are not malevolent. They do not hunt humans for sport. We are not their natural prey.

If you take the time to watch the documentary—or at least the two short YouTube clips I’ve shared below—you’ll see something truly surprising:
Sharks can respond to kindness and compassion, just like other animals. There is no need to harm or kill them out of fear.

🎥 Diver removes hooks and befriends sharks
🎥 A 20-year friendship between diver and shark

 

“There is no fear in love.”
— 1 John 4:18

That verse echoed in my heart as I watched Ocean Ramsey swim side by side with sharks, gently touching them. And in those videos—sharks resting calmly on human laps, leaning in for gentle touches, returning again and again—not for food, but for trust. Even the most feared creatures respond to love when it’s offered with sincerity and patience.

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Top 5 Shark Myths (and the Real Facts)

1. MYTH: Sharks want to eat people.
   FACT: Humans are not on their menu. Most bites happen out of curiosity or mistaken identity.

2. MYTH: All sharks are big and scary.
   FACT: Most shark species are small, shy, and avoid human contact.

3. MYTH: Sharks are ruthless killers.
   FACT: On average, sharks kill fewer than 10 people per year—humans kill over 100 million sharks annually.

4. MYTH: The ocean would be fine without sharks.
   FACT: Sharks play a vital role in keeping marine ecosystems healthy and balanced.

5. MYTH: Seeing a shark means you’re in danger.
   FACT: Most sharks pass by without harming anyone. Staying calm and aware is usually all that’s needed.

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How to Avoid Shark Encounters

If you want to reduce the chance of encountering a shark while in the sea, follow these tips:

1. Avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, or night.
   These are peak feeding times for many sharks, and visibility is lower.

2. Don’t wear shiny jewelry or bright contrasting colors.
   These can resemble fish scales and attract attention.

3. Avoid entering the water with open wounds.
   Sharks have a powerful sense of smell and are drawn to blood.

4. Swim in groups.
   Sharks are more likely to target lone prey.

5. Stay near the shore.
   The farther you go out, the higher the risk—and help may be far away.

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What to Do If You Encounter a Shark

Shark encounters are extremely rare—and usually harmless. But in case it happens, here are calm, respectful steps to protect yourself without harming the shark:

1. Stay calm and don’t thrash.
   Fast, panicked movements can attract attention.

2. Keep your eyes on the shark.
   Eye contact signals awareness. Turning your back may invite closer approach.

3. Maintain a vertical position.
   This makes you appear larger and less like prey.

4. Back away slowly—don’t splash.
   Move calmly toward the shore or your boat.

5. If it comes close, defend with control.
   Use your fins, camera, or stick—not your fists—to redirect the shark gently by pushing its snout, eyes, or gills.

6. Don’t block its path.
   Give the shark space to move. Trapping it may increase stress and lead to defensive behavior.

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Want to Help Sharks? Sign These Petitions!

Sharks are in urgent need of protection. Their numbers are falling fast—and we can do something. Signing a petition may feel small, but it adds up to global pressure for real change.

🔗 Ban the use of fishing nets that trap and kill sharks, whales, seals, and dolphins
🔗 Ban the international shark fin trade
🔗 Create more non-fishing zones for sharks to safely reproduce and thrive

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Please remeber that the ocean is the home of sharks. They’ve lived there long before us. They have the right to be there, so we should learn how to live beside them in peace.We can share this planet with animals. It’s not too difficult to do—just a shift in heart, and a willingness to understand.

 

Written by: Me & Echo

Where has Gentleness Gone?

Note: This article reflects on changing portrayals of femininity and gender roles from a cultural and personal perspective. It is not meant to exclude or diminish the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, nor suggest that women must fit into any one mold — whether traditional or modern. Every person’s identity and path is valuable and worthy of respect.

Watching Disney animations today, have you noticed a shift in the portrayal of female lead characters? Many years ago, we had gentle and sweet Aurora, kind and tender Cinderella, and the graceful and wise Blue Fairy. Today, by contrast, we see powerful Elsa, runaway Ariel, adventure-seeking Belle and Rapunzel, brave Merida and Moana, and many other heroines who demonstrate bravery, independence, and rebellion. It’s no surprise, then, that many little girls today seem to lack manners and respect, speak bluntly, and appear self-centered. Confidence is not what they seem to be lacking — gentleness is.

Certainly, it is good that we encourage girls to become strong and able to stand up for themselves. It is also true that many women in the past were pressured by society to always be soft and sweet. That pressure was unhealthy when taken to the extreme. However, it seems society today pressures women too — but in the opposite direction. Modern women are encouraged to be “strong, confident, successful,” and “equal” to men in every way. Often, gentleness and humility are viewed as weakness. As a result, some girls feel the need to appear tough and confident all the time. They build muscles because muscular bodies are seen as fit, healthy, and strong, while natural curves, softness, and a bit of roundness are often viewed as signs of weakness or lack of discipline. Female athletes in sports like gymnastics and synchronized swimming now often focus on fast, powerful movements that showcase strength and confidence rather than tender elegance and grace.

Being a mother and a wife — roles so crucial to the survival of human society — is no longer viewed as the most important calling for women. Modern married women are strongly encouraged to work full-time. Even more, they are pressured to be as successful as men in their careers. Many mothers today inadvertently neglect their children in order to fit the picture-perfect image of a working woman. Housewives who stay home to care for their children and households are often looked down upon, seen as dependent, uneducated, or leading boring lives. Yet we seem to forget that nearly every outstanding figure in history had a mother who spent time with them in childhood and helped shape them into who they became. Countless gentle housewives — cooking, cleaning, and nurturing — have helped shape the world in ways that go unnoticed. Isn’t it ironic that while we all agree family is the foundation of society, we make women too busy to take care of their own?

This is not to say that women should go back to being followers of men, give up their careers, or force themselves to be soft and sweet all the time. Rather, it’s worth asking: have we swung too far in the opposite direction? Are girls trying to abandon their own gentleness because society praises a different kind of personality? Protecting oneself from abuse or exploitation is, of course, a woman’s right — and an essential one. But that is not the same as radical feminism that seeks to overthrow all gender distinctions. (Have we forgotten that women were created different from men, and for good reasons?)

More movies and TV shows now depict women taking revenge on men through violence (The Brave One, I Spit on Your Grave, Lady Vengeance, etc.). Some media even advocate prostitution and abortion purely in the name of women's rights. But does this really make our society better?

The final question is this: have we forgotten that gentleness, kindness, and grace are also noble traits — for women and men alike? The world would be a better place if more people embraced these qualities. Strength doesn’t have to be shown through a fearless look, harsh words, or violent actions. True strength can lie in the depth of one’s character, expressed through quiet firmness and inner determination — and it can coexist with compassion and tenderness.

Since my early years, I have witnessed such strength in the women around me — and they didn’t need to act like men to show it. Miss World 2025 and the pride of Thailand, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, is a wonderful example. She is both graceful and strong. If you watch her closely during interviews, you’ll see gentleness and sweetness shining in her eyes. When she stepped out of the car at her homecoming and kindly offered her hand to help an elderly woman beside her, she looked almost as graceful as the Blue Fairy herself. Opal doesn’t need to appear rough, tough, or overly confident. Her strength is shown in how she’s overcome life’s challenges — including her battle with cancer.

I truly hope that Disney will create more princesses with this kind of character — so that our younger generation learns that gentleness is not weakness.

Written by Me

Edited by Echo

Another Reason To Die

 Have you ever get followed everywhere by that dark rainy cloud of bad lucks? Have you ever felt your life is cursed to feel series of bad lucks almost every day? It is normal to have some bad days once in a while. My life used to be that way, too. It used to be normal like other people. Bad days come and then they go, and once in a while it might come back. But now, it is like ALMOST EVERYDAY is a terrible day. Bad luck after bad luck after bad luck of all sorts come pouring down all day almost non-stop. You just hope that it will be for a period of time and then things will come back to normal. You pray for help from above. But nothing works. It's been months, and actually such period of time is like come every year for many months for more than ten years already. My life is Hell. 

Have you ever prayed and get shunned by God, felt so abandoned by Him when you don't even have the faith to hold on to your religion anymore? . 

Have you ever felt that if life continues like this there is every good reason to die? If every day of your life is going to be cursed non-stop with pain, accidents, sickness, bad fortune and all other bad stuff and no one can help you and this period of terrible curse keep coming back to your life.

You know this is done by the Devil. You know this comes from bad karma. But you don't know why the God who promised to be there just not there anymore. The God who said he is Love. The God who said he would protect. You don't know where that God is anymore and you don't know why bother going to church anymore. 

In conclusion, I went back to walk and then came back to the same abyss again. All roads lead back to the same abyss. I'd rather jump down because there is no other way to go anyway, is there? 

Same pain, same misery, going in loop over and over and over again all my life? Then why live?

I will not go back to church again until it stops. That's all I can say for now. If anyone want to say a prayer, then please do so. Someone is about to become a lost soul and falling down to Hell right here.