some phrases that touched me while reading the book.. :

• i used to think that a fairytale relationship would fill the emptiness that i feel inside of me.

• i thought if only a guy would accept and approve of me. somehow my life would seem less vacant.

• i was certain that dates and kisses would make me feel worthwile, valuable and whole.

• today, rather than seeking satisfaction in a relationship that could fade, i'm learning how to fill my life with things that can bring true contentment. -- things that will last forever. instead of defining myself by the number of boyfriends, dates, of kisses that i had (or, haven't had), i'm finding that my true identity comes from being a daughter of GOD.

• at an early age i had began dreaming that an amazing guy would came along for me someday. if only that would happen, i thought everything would turn out right! my sky would be forever blue. the negative feelings inside me would fade away and i wouldn't lonely anymore. with his hand with mine, i would feel beautiful. and, surely, if he would just kiss me life would be glorious.

• ...so day after day, i dreamed about the time when my prince will finally find me. i pictured my future in the arms of my ideal guy, and i really liked the things i saw in the fantasy world. so, i allowed myself to dream much, to dream often. what i didn't realize was i was dreaming with a wrong perspective...

**aw.. ganda talaga ng book! i learned many things! :D**

where in the world can you find
a loving mother to her child
where in the world can you see
a sweet mother she could be.

you don't need to search from place to place
or look at the stars and gaze
all you have to do is to look around
and you will discover her love abound.

she will be there and never leave
in you she will believe
never will she wish for something else
‘coz everything she does means she cares.

having a child is more than enough
for she believes you are a blessing from above
trials and difficulties may stir her faith
but your presence brings her back to her feet.

So you've finally gotten past the old relationship, licked your wounds, and sworn you've learned your lessons. You've starting dating again and you're even taking it slowly. Though you've healed, the hurt from the past is still vivid in your memory.

And then, suddenly, there he or she is! There's just something about this person that feels right. For all the people you've been going out with, this person seems different -- there's a comfort level you don't experience with the others. And so, you start to shun the others and make a more definitive commitment to this person.

And you're happy. Yes, this could be "the one"!

But then, a few months into the relationship, you start to realize that though your new partner seemed different from your last one, he/she really isn't different at all. The more you get to know the person, the more you recognize the same underlying traits. Maybe he/she isn't generous with money or not emotionally expressive or makes unilateral decisions.

And you ask yourself, "How could this happen again?"

Patterns from the past

The truth is, we tend to be drawn to the same types over and over again. That's because they remind us of someone in our family of origin, which accounts for the initial feeling of comfort. Generally, there's an unresolved issue you're hoping to resolve in the relationship. Please note that all of this is happening at a sub-awareness level.

Here are some examples: Let's say you had a very strict upbringing. You might be attracted to someone who's controlling, so you can replay this earlier issue and no longer feel restricted. Or, if you had a parent who was emotionally shut down, you might be drawn to someone who gets upset when you're emotional, so you can rework feeling comfortable when you do express your feelings.

I believe that part of the reason this happens is because we have learned certain patterns in our childhood to help us adapt to our family of origin -- these are our survival tools. If they work -- that is, we feel we are loved by our parents -- we continue to use them. Using the examples above, we become compliant to a controlling father or try to hide our feelings from a non-expressive mother.

And, we continue to do them, without thinking. We start to function mindlessly, as if we are on "automatic pilot."

How to avoid "dating déjà vu"

So, how can you stop this pattern? The key is awareness. Here are five tips to help you steer clear of another hurtful relationship:

1. Be self-observant. Ask yourself, after you've gotten to know someone, what are the traits in them that you were initially drawn to? It's likely that these are the very aspects of the person that bother you -- ones that you say you don't want in another relationship.

2. Be analytical. What issues from your childhood does this person reflect?

3. Consider doing some personal work. By working on whatever the unresolved issue is for you, it will no longer need as much attention through someone else.

4. Be aware. Everything you want to know about someone is there right in the beginning. You just have to pay close attention and not be blinded by your emotions. That's why your friends can see a trait that you might not.

5. Work it through. Is the overall relationship a good one? Remember that everyone has issues. If each of you learns to accept and respect the issues of the other person, the relationship can be quite healing for both of you.

waah! good bye na! panu ba yan? d ko na din kc kaya. akala ko pa naman ikaw na talaga! d pala! kasi naman. ewan ko kung ano bang ginawa ko para iwan mo ako! tapos, ngayon? ano?! babalik ka din! ngayong nakapag desisyon na ako na ayoko na talaga! sobrang sakit na eh! ayoko na. i had enough! this is now the end.. i can't say that i don't want you back, because, i love you! i love you so madly! kea, d ko na napansin na sobrang nasasaktan na pala ako. i really thought you were the one. but, i was wrong! you were just tha same as the other guys who hurt and broke my heart! ang sakit! d ko lang masabi xeo lahat ng mga hinanakit ko, kasi, sobrang mahal kita! at alam kong iisipin mong nagdadrama lang ako! pero, hindi! mahal talaga kita! ayokong isipin mong mahna ako, kaya hindi ako umiyak! ='( i want to show you that i am strong! and i won't get hurt!

haAy,. fRom this day on, i will not think of you anymore.. goodbye.