"Do You Have CORRUPT Friends?"

Two weeks ago, I went for a minor climb with my friends in South Cotabato. We climbed this mountain called Mount Parker and the hike going up was a long 4-hour assault. My knees almost touches my chin as we battled our way up towards this beautiful view, the peak of Mount Parker. When we reached the victory we saw the majestic crater lake of Mount Parker called Lake Holon. Lake Holon means PORTAL TO HEAVEN and I couldn't agree more. Indeed it was like a new world hidden to preserve its splendor and beauty! Peaceful, serene but its personality is as bold as the calm deep waters. Looking from above, the view was just beyond description.

As I was enjoying the scenery, I also noticed how my friends who I went hiking with were taking photos. They were so happy taking selfies, groufies and solos. Someone even dared to do a dangerous jumpshot. All of the sudden, I had this epiphany! I realized that I wouldn't probably enjoy this beautiful view as much if I am not in the same company.

The same idea is something I can relate to when choosing circle of friends. Sometimes we forget how important it is to be wise in choosing the people who will be influencing us. Some friends will be there at our greatest moments BUT will they be there too in our darkest? And did you know some are also meant to be LET GO?

They say that 'IF YOU LIE DOWN WITH DOGS YOU'LL WAKE UP WITH FLEAS' and I couldn't agree more for I believe that whoever you are with will definitely impact or influence you in some way or form. When we hang out with bad company, it corrupts our good character and lowers our moral. Eventually, you develop a palate on THINGS YOU DISLIKED. The thing YOU'VE PROMISED never to do it now becomes 'I'LL THINK ABOUT IT'. Black turns gray and SUDDENLY you crumbled in a day.

I'm not saying that we should look for perfection for we will never find it. I am in no way teaching anyone to be the judge of someone's character for I myself is also guilty of it. All I'm trying to put on the table here is the REALIZATION of how important it is to remember that GOOD COMPANY IGNITES GOOD CHARACTER, same as BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER.

People around us have different roles in our life. It is US WHO DECIDE what they'll going to be for us and how much we allow them to influence us. I just hope that we CHOOSE WISELY who we lie down with, for the same spirit will be inflected and will definitely influenced.

Thank you for reading❤️