The Whole Of The Moon

dedicated to a fraternity brod who first shared this song with me three weeks ago.

you stretched for the stars
and you know how it feels
to reach too high
too far
too soon
you saw the whole of the moon
from: the whole of the moon, by the Waterboys


2012 started out with anticipation, like all Januaries do. The year also started with three times the usual number of people wanting to sound me out on a range of things. That has been the norm as far back as I can remember. The significance of the sheer number of consults over the years was lost to me perhaps because I had gotten used to it already. Until I heard this song. And then it hit me.

I started going through the recent consults and most of it was about over-reaching, or over-reacting. And here I was, telling them the outcome of their actions far far beyond what they could see. Or conversely, I would realign their proposed actions if I knew that the backlash would be so intense, possibly even life-changing, should it proceed unaltered. Then I would keep quiet and wait for things to unfold.

Although through the years the theme would mostly be the same, what changes would be the situations they find themselves in. Work. Career. Family. Friends. Relationships. And although my advice is rarely followed, or followed to the letter, the outcome is almost always as predicted. And I end up with the pleasure of using my favorite line. "I Told You So".

And inevitably another consult begins again.

Seeing the whole of the moon is easier if you move back a bit. Anyone immersed in a situation will usually be so busy looking at all the details to ever see the big picture. And that applies to everyone.

Now, where do I find someone who can see the whole of the moon for me?


Jesus Paul C. Yan
for The Paul Yan Chronicles

site updates

It has been a long four months since my last post.

If you are among those who visit regularly, you will have probably chanced upon a message splashed across your screen that the blog "is not available" anymore. This was an offshoot of what was probably a brute-force attack. And although I still cannot fathom why anyone would want to break into my blog, I, along with some hard-core followers, were shaken by the incident.

The Paul Yan Chronicles, my blog, has been my preferred forum to talk out loud about the things and situations that have in some way affected me. My blog has no target audience except myself; for me to occasionally hear my brain talk (or write) in a medium that others can peep into, should they wish to try to get to know me deeper. What would someone get for hacking in to a well-viewed but personal site? I still cannot comprehend.

The site has since been restored.

Perhaps I should again start writing. there is such a thing as inertia of the mind.

To everyone, most especially the people I do not personally know, and those who insist on maintaining their anonymity by just regularly browsing but not posting, I thank you. The number of hits you regularly give my non-commercial site has been flattering. But as I am a social animal that thrives on your comments, please please make it a point to leave one behind, each time you pass by. so that even if we will never ever meet, i will know that you passed by, simply by looking at the flower petals you left behind.

Jesus Paul C. Yan
for The Paul Yan Chronicles