🌺 Why We Wear the Red Poppy on ANZAC Day 🇦🇺🇳🇿
🔥 Amid the silence of remembrance, the red poppy speaks. It tells the story of courage, sacrifice, and deep loss—blooming after the battles of Flanders, where thousands of ANZAC soldiers fell.
✨ Each April 25, people across Australia and New Zealand wear poppies over their hearts, place them at memorials, and teach children to make them by hand—not just as tradition, but as a quiet act of gratitude.
The red poppy doesn’t just honour the past. It reminds us to never forget. ⭐
A TRUE HERO
Lifted from Gladwire
This is the boy who quenched the thirst of half a million Africans. His name is Ryan, and he was born in Canada in May 1991.
When he was a child, just six years old, his teacher told the class about how children live in Africa. Deeply moved by the fact that some even die of thirst—while he could simply go to the tap and drink clean water—Ryan asked the teacher how much it would cost to bring water to Africa. She mentioned an organization called “WaterCan,” which could build wells for about $70.
When he got home, he went straight to his mother, Susan, and told her he needed $70 to buy a well for African children. His mother told him he would have to earn the money through hard work and gave him chores that allowed Ryan to earn a few dollars each week.
Eventually, he saved up the $70 and went to WaterCan, where they told him the actual cost of drilling a well was $2,000. Susan made it clear she couldn’t give him all that money, but Ryan didn’t give up—he promised he would come back with the full $2,000.
He continued doing chores around the neighborhood to raise money, inspiring his brothers, neighbors, and friends to join in and help until they raised the necessary funds. In January 1999, the well was drilled in a village in northern Uganda.
Once the well was ready, Ryan’s school started to help, and they established contact with the school near the well. That’s how Ryan met Akana, a boy who fought to go to school every day. Ryan was so moved that he asked his parents to take him to meet Akana. In 2000, he arrived in the village, where hundreds of people greeted him, forming a corridor and chanting his name.
“They even know my name?” Ryan asked the guide, surprised.
“Everyone within 100 kilometers knows,” the guide replied.
Today, Ryan is 33 years old, runs his own foundation, and has brought over 400 wells to Africa. He is also responsible for providing education and teaching locals how to take care of the wells and manage water.
While we go through so many meaningless things, nothing is more righteous than paying tribute to a true hero.
20 April 2025
THE LAST LEG OF LIFE !!!*
(Unattributed)
This is one of the nicest and most gentle articles I’ve read in a while: No politics, No religion and No racial issues - just food for thought.
You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.
It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet, in a way, it seems like years ago, and I wonder where all the years went ?
I know that I lived them all.
I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
However, here it is, the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise !!!
How did I get here so fast ??
Where did the years go and where did my youth go??
I remember well, seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualise it or imagine fully what it would be like.
Yet, here it is !! My friends are retired and getting grey, they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me, but I see the great change. They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant. But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day and taking a nap is not a treat anymore !! It's mandatory because if I don't of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit.
And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done, but never did. At least now I know that, though I’m on the last quarter and I'm not sure how long it will last, that when it's over on this earth, it's all over. A new adventure will begin, I feel !!
Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done; things I should have done, but truly there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.
So, if you're not on the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly.
Don't put things off too long. Life goes by so quickly.
So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you're on the last quarter or not.
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life. So, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember - and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the past years.
‘Life’ is a gift to you. Be Happy !!
Have a great day !!
Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold, silver or printed Notes or even property.
You may think:
Going out is good - but coming back home is much better !!!
You forget names - but it's okay because some people forgot they even knew you !!!
You realize, you are never going to be really good at anything like golf - but you like the outdoors. So, do it.
The things you used to care to do, you aren't as interested in anymore - but, you really don't care that you aren't as interested.
You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’ !!! If you enjoy it, just do it.
You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch !!!
You tend to use more 4 letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’ ?
You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe, more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case !!
Old is good -
• Old is comfortable.
• Old is safe.
• Old songs.
• Old movies.
• and - best of all,
• Friends of old !!
So, stay well, ‘Old friend.’
Have a fantastic day.
Have an awesome Quarter, whichever one you’re in !!!
Take care.
*Send this on to other "Old Friends" and let them be smiling in agreement.*
*It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.*
A dawn of reality.
WHEN YOU LOVE AN ANCIENT SOUL
There is a special kind of person in this world who is often misunderstood. These people tend to be the loners, the free spirits, the innocent lovers. They see the world for all they can – and should be – although the world rarely sees them.
They are the old souls, the dreamers, the people in tune with life, so intuitive of emotions that they frighten us. They frighten us not because of who they are, but because of who we are not, what we lack.
Ancient souls reach depths we cannot understand. They have a connection with God, with the Universe, with Nature, and that's why they are the people who will change the world.
We often feel inferior, as if we have to strive to stay remotely close to their level, to be worthy of their love.
It takes a confident person to love an old soul. But it's worth it. It will change your life.
They are romantic, they are loyal, they help us grow, they are not materialistic, they understand the deep connections in life, they are grateful, they are examples of bravery.
They walk the most painful roads of this life, and yet somehow they find the courage to smile, often selfless. Supporting others.
Loving an old soul and being loved by one is a gift from the Universe!
~Luiza Fletcher
(Book: The Land of Beginning Again [ad] https://amzn.to/3GT36AV)
(Art: Painting by Alice Ruggles Sohier)
END OF 2023
BE IN LOVE
Be in love
with your life
every minute of it
it’s your trail
blaze it and blaze it brightly.
Be in love
with yourself
think of how you’d like to be loved
and make that happen
show the way for others.
Be in love
with your partner
really love them
as if there were no tomorrow
and all you had was
right here right now.
Be in love
with your home
never mind the mess
or the things you don’t like
pour some sparkle
on what you have.
Be in love
with your family
none are perfect
but they are your blood and history
and a vital part of your life
Be in love
with your job
look at all the positives
and be thankful you have it
if you can’t
then change it
life’s too short.
Be in love
with being in love
create that life
full of friendships
soppy kisses
and unnecessary hugs
it’s food for the soul.
Donna Ashworth
From my book ‘love’ ♥
Art by Bettina Baldassari
"IN THE LAST QUARTER OF LIFE"
A lot of us are in the last quarter of life and I share without politics, religion, race cards. Just gentle thoughts:
You know, time has a way of catching you off-guard about how quickly it travels.
It feels like just yesterday that I was young and ready to start adult-life. And in a way it feels like eons ago, and I wonder where the years have gone.
I know I lived them all.
I remember all my hopes and dreams. I remember the plans I made.
And suddenly, here I am in the last quarter.
How did I get here so fast?
Where have the years gone and where did my youth go?
I can recall looking at older people, thinking how long it will take for me to get where they are. That I am still in my youth, that I have many years ahead. At that time I could not even think of being where I am now.
And yet, here I am.
My friends are retired, they all have grey hair, they move much slower than they did and when I look at them, I see older people. Some are in a better and some a worse condition than me. But I see the big difference. They are no longer the youthful, carefree, full-of-life friends.
Just like me, age shows. And we are now the older people we used to look at and thought it was still a long way off.
I find that these days, taking a shower takes its toll on my breath and energy levels. And an afternoon nap is not just a treat, it’s become a necessity. And if I don’t, I find myself sleeping in the same chair I started reading or watching television in.
Now I have entered this new season of my life, totally unprepapred for the discomfort, aches and pains, loss of energy and strength and ability to do what I could, yet sometimes didn’t. At least I know that, even though I am in the last quarter and I have no idea how long this quarter will be, when my time on earth is over, a new adventure awaits too.
Yes, I do have things I wish I I had never done. Yet so thankful for those I did. It is all in a lifetime.
And if you are not in the last quarter yet, I want to remind you that it comes faster than you could anticipate. Do the things you still want to do as soon as possible. Do not procrastinate. Life runs on fast legs.
Do today what you can.
There is no promise that we will all see the seasons of life. Live for today. For now.
Say the words to the ones you love. Often.
Hopefully some will appreciate the things you did for them. And if they don’t, it is also okay.
Life is truly a gift. Just be happy. It is afterall your choice.
And remember that health is a treasure, not wealth, gold and silver, property or your bank balance.
You may think that going out is the best, but believe me – coming home is better.
You may forget names and that is okay, because some have already forgotten that they knew you.
The things you cared about previously, you may lose interest in.
If you fall asleep in your favourite chair, stay there.
Growing older is wonderful. It is comfortable. It is loaded with memories that you never grow tired of. It is an absolute treasure.
Look after yourself.
Love and Light
❤❤❤
When Parents Grow Old!
Let them grow old with the same love that they let you grow...
Let them speak and tell repeated stories with the same patience and interest that they heard yours as a child...
Let them overcome, like so many times when they let you win...
Let them enjoy their friends just as they let you…
Let them enjoy the talks with their grandchildren, because they see you in them...
Let them enjoy living among the objects that have accompanied them for a long time, because they suffer when they feel that you tear pieces of this life away...
Let them be wrong, like so many times you have been wrong and they didn’t embarrass you by correcting you...
LET THEM LIVE and try to make them happy the last stretch of the path they have left to go; give them your hand, just like they gave you their hand when you started your path!
❤❤❤
Matt and Irene Mountain Garden
1 September 2023
SPEAK GOOD THINGS - WORDS HAVE WINGS
"If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to humans can do." ~Anon
We don't need to imagine, we know what it's like when people speak kindly to us. We know how it feels. We know the connected feeling kind speech creates within us and between us.
Let's speak kindly to our plants, our babies and children, our partners and colleagues, and last - though certainly not least - let's speak kindly to ourselves. That helps us grow.
Author Unattributed
Message of Ray Bradbury.
"When I was 19 years old I couldn't go to college because I came from a poor family. We had no money, so I went to the library at least. Three days a week I read every possible book. At the age of 27 I have actually completed almost the entire library instead of university. So I got my education in the library and for free. When a person wants something, they will find a way to achieve it.
I would like to remind you one thing:
Humans should never forget that we have been assigned only a very small place on earth, that we live surrounded by nature that can easily take back everything that has ever given to man.
It costs absolutely nothing in her way to one day blow us all off the face of the earth or flood the waters of the ocean with her single breath, just to remind man once again that he is not as all-powerful as he still foolishly thinks. "
Ray Bradbury
American writer
♡♧◇♤♡◇♧♤
SEPTEMBER 2023
A WISDOM THAT IS CALLED EMPTY
By Rado Gatchalian
The cliché “as you age you become wise” only fits in a context where maturity is synonymous to supreme omniscient knowledge. But behold — when we accept this saddest (yet glorifying) truth that we shall all succumb to deterioration — and death — we become a free spirit. One way or another every one of us will come to a demented stage when our minds can no longer recognise our own offspring or remember our last sip of coffee. This omniscient mind returns to infancy where decay becomes a new habit. Everything is a cycle of a life in a journey from here to there and from beginning to end, end to beginning.
Life becomes empty.
But such emptiness reminds us on man’s great contribution to humanity — we only live once, and it is short, but we shall still make it beautiful.
Everything that we have achieved in our prime lives and everything that we have known as facts and truth during our rebellious and adventurous years — becomes an empty vessel when we are about to face our own death.
We realise that life is more than what we see. It is elusive that even the meaning of life itself suddenly changes the moment our feet can no longer move or our eyes become blurry. Man is both a product of power — and losing… And we only retain such power when we find the meaning of losing it."
When we learn from the elders who are at the twilight of their lives: every morning is a state of happiness; a smell of flower, a paradise; one flickering star is a billion constellation; a touch of a child is a sweet embrace of all great people combined; and a swim on an afternoon sea, a playtime for the remaining hours.
We pity those elders who continue to live, in the remaining fragile years of their lives — full of bitterness and hate. They sit in a cold sad chair looking at everyone’s lives, only to compare, criticise, and complain. They should exert their last energy to a life worth remembering: not for themselves but for the people they will leave behind.
Because one day when we can no longer move our body or remember our own names, there is no turning back but only “memories.” We will be remembered by our families and friends not on the basis of how rich we are or of what we have achieved in life but of how kind and humane we were to people.
The only precious thing that people will cherish is our values.
With all the victories and medals in our lives — it is the defeat that makes us a man. And we learn to submit ourselves to a higher duty: it doesn’t matter if we fail.
Thus, this intellectual arrogance in our midst shall soon be defeated by an intellectual honesty and humility. When we accept our own ignorance we open a wisdom that is called empty.
And this emptiness will fill all the voids and discontents in our lives. Life, then, becomes a wonder, every minute and every day. Life, then, becomes beautiful — no matter who we are and where we are.
Because that wisdom which is called empty will take us to a place where everything becomes beautiful — complete and full.
#TheFILOsopher
#Wisdom
#philosophy
#Inspiration
PAUSE: MOMENTS TO REMEMBER
By Rebone Sewela Makgato
Have you ever thought about this?
In 100 years like in 2123 we will all be buried with our relatives and friends.
Strangers will live in our homes we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today. All our possessions will be unknown and unborn, including the car we spent a fortune on, and will probably be scrap, preferably in the hands of an unknown collector.
Our descendants will hardly or hardly know who we were, nor will they remember us. How many of us know our grandfather's father?
After we die, we will be remembered for a few more years, then we are just a portrait on someone's bookshelf, and a few years later our history, photos, and deeds disappear in history's oblivion. We won't even be memories.
If we paused one day to analyze these questions, perhaps we would understand how ignorant and weak the dream to achieve it all was.
If we could only think about this, surely our approaches, our thoughts would change, we would be different people.
Always having more, no time for what's really valuable in this life. I'd change all this to live and enjoy the walks I've never taken, these hugs I didn't give, these kisses for our children and our loved ones, these jokes we didn't have time for. Those would certainly be the most beautiful moments to remember, after all they would fill our lives with joy.
And we waste it day after day with greed, greed, and intolerance.
Source:
Mindfulness in Daily Life
(Margie Lincoln)
AND THEN IT IS WINTER...
Author Anon
Author Anon
THIS IS RIGHT ON THE NOSE. .......READ IT SLOWLY... I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE IT, BUT I AM GUESSING IT WAS A SENIOR!!! I FIRST STARTED READING THIS AND WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD. THIS IS VERY THOUGHT-PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK.
AND THEN IT IS WINTER...
You know. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.
It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...
How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
But, here it is... my friends are retired and getting grey... they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change.... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!
And so... now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!
But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last... this I know, that when it's over on this earth... it's NOT over. A new adventure will begin!
Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done... things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.
So, if you're not in your winter yet... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!
Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember... and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!
"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.
LIVE IT WELL!
ENJOY TODAY!
DO SOMETHING FUN!
BE HAPPY!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
REMEMBER:....
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.
"LIVE HAPPY IN THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR!
LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE SO - ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.
~Your kids are becoming you.......
~Going out is good.. Coming home is better!
~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything
~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.
~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... "what?" . ???
~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.
~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers.
~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.
~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!!
It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
Source: FB
I WISH YOU ENOUGH
Recently overheard was a father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'
The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'
They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'
'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'..
'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.
'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough..' May I ask what that means?'
He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone...'
He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."
He then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.
Only if you wish, send this to the people you will never forget. If you don't send it to anyone it may mean that you are in such a hurry that you have forgotten your friends.
*TAKE TIME TO LIVE....*
To all my Friends and Family -
*I WISH YOU ENOUGH*
THE 3 TYPES OF PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE..
1. The Leaf people
2. The Branch people
3. The Root people
LEAF PEOPLE:
These are people who come into your life just for a season. You can't depend on them because they are weak. They only come to take what they want, but if the wind comes they will leave.
You need to be careful of these people because they love you when things are okay, but when the wind comes they will leave you.
BRANCH PEOPLE:
They are strong, but you need to be careful with them too. They break away when life becomes tough and they can't handle too much weight. They may stay with you in some seasons, but they will go when it becomes harder.
ROOT PEOPLE:
These people are very important because they don't do things to be seen. They are supportive even if you go through a difficult time they will water you and they are not moved by your position they just love you like that ...
It's not all people you meet or are your friends, that will stay with you.
Only the root type of people will stay no matter the season.
Identify people accordingly and remember, not everyone comes to permanently stay. Therefore, never make permanent decisions with temporary people. It may affect you big time in the future.
©️
Accounting Knowledge Concepts
HEALING THE WORLD
By Hedda Tady
What Does It Take To Be a Shen Yun Dancer
It takes a mind of steel and limbs of rubber.
Mother Earth is currently rejuvenating, even though you may not see it. There WILL be growth, and greenery, and trees, and plants, and animals. They WILL come back. Our fire occurred in September. The picture (sic)posted here was taken in July. I despaired that I would never see another beautiful Loblolly pine. It took a full ten months but it happened. Mother Earth was at work, even though I could not see it.
LOVE. It is found in those who come to help. It is found in your family and friends.
To me the most beautiful part of the aftermath of the fire was the love I received from complete strangers. Our community came together as never before. People wanted to help. They wanted to share. They wanted to be there for all the fire survivors. Much of our small community was destroyed, but the love was bigger than ever before.
Because my husband was in the hospital, neighbors whose losses were much greater than mine rallied around to help me. I felt so blessed.
FAITH. This may be the hardest thing right now.
For me, my world was changing rapidly. Some neighbors were moving on. Some were rebuilding. Life was never going to be the same.
Oftentimes it is in retrospect that we see and find the blessings in our lives. Right now there are blessings, but you may not see them until later. That is perfectly okay.
Eight years after the fire life IS different. My husband passed away after an 18 month battle with cancer. I moved from the area three years ago. I published a book. My business is thriving. I recently met and married another wonderful man. Life is different, but it is full and beautiful.
As I write this, tears are springing to my eyes. Living through the fire was such a difficult time in my life, yet there were so many beautiful things that happened after it. I want you to have FAITH that you WILL be okay. That you WILL move on. Life will look different, but it WILL be GOOD.
I am sending you so much love.
Kathy
Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13
Source: Kathy Mursch, Writer/Author
From the Shared Post of Mr. Paul Boynton, author of Begin with Yes/FB
January 29, 2020
THE ARTIST AND THE WRITER
By George Daniel Anos
A Tribute to the Artist: Sheryll Umagtang
Last February I posted this on Instagram: “(Friends, wish me luck as I begin the tender steps, filled with trepidation, on a new endeavor I am about to pursue. I look forward to really putting my all to this, try to get it mind-blowingly Liiiiit.😎 Prayers are much appreciated. 😊)” This words accompanied a photo art of people watching fireworks light the sky. The very first person who commented and wished me well was Sheryll. And little did she know she played and will play a huge part in this.
A former classmate of mine in Olongapo City Science HS, we lost contact for a long time before reconnecting on Facebook. We weren’t particularly close back then, and she was, as I remember, an introvert person who spoke a few words and wasn’t an active participant to any mayhem whatsoever. When she became my socmed friend, I was filled with wonder how her life turned out because she was in the fascinating phase of her travels.
I saw her pictures going from one country to another as she recounted her immersion into the local culture and the moments of walking the trails on her own. She was with the Alpacas in Isla del Sol, Bolivia, where the first Incas were born. The breathtaking photos of Cañon del Sumidero’s towering 900-meter walls, with one crocodile basking on a riverbank to boot, were awesome. She took the long and challenging trek to get to the ancient ruins of Ciudad Perdida, braving through rivers, forests, muddy trails, steep hills, and a daunting 1200 plus stone steps, just so she can strike the perfect meditative, albeit smiling, pose. Captioned, “the seat of the Shaman,” I must say that amongst the rocks and moss, she really rocked it.
In Thailand, she drank in the magnificent vista of the forest, the sheer cliffs, and the rolling vastness of a green horizon atop Wat Phu Tok’s wooden staircase to heaven, smiling and sitting as if in a lounge even as under her lies a precipitous drop.
In Kyoto’s imperial palace, she stood as a radiant backdrop amidst the tranquil grounds of the OikeNiwa garden. These are just a few of the places she’s been as she went out and took a shot in seeing the world.
But the most captivating of her experiences, at least for me, that filled me with gladness for her, is the place she still highlights in her current cover photo: the pilgrimage to Machu Pichu. “The” Machu Pichu. She looked giddy and exhilarated. Her smile was ear to ear as behind her sprawls the most famous of all archeological wonders, a mecca to many tourists from all over the world. Damn, she’s a lucky one, I thought!
But her traveling photos aren’t the only thing that stood out. It began with a spattering of her art works, where every once in a while she would post her drawings. The style is called pointillism or dot art. The form is only for those who are extremely patient and talented, as it entails hours and hours of work jotting down the most excruciating of details to create a picture. I was enthralled!
A few years passed and the day came when I made a fateful decision: I will no longer delay a dream. It was time. And many of you already know what that is, when I finally brought “You Bleed” to life. When I sought out her help for some of the artworks I needed, she was accommodating and enthused, expressed her belief in me. We exchanged stories while communicating in messenger and it was revealing in many ways. I was baffled at first with the connection between her being a chemical engineer and traveling all sorts of places, I was thinking she was being sent to represent the company. Then she told me it wasn’t so and she merely decided to end her corporate career in a big company, used her savings, and then packed the hell up. She was in the point of burning out and other personal reasons and finally decided to have a go and took off from the familiar firm footing she knew for a long time, took a plunge head straight towards the precipice, with full unyielding faith that it will turn out ok and a cheery resolve that said: “BUT FIRST, I’ll see the Old Mountain and feel the wind on my face up there!”
That is actually the main reason I am writing this tribute. Her help is a crucial element in this pursuit, of course, but her example is something I am utterly, unabashedly, in awe of. She helped bring me to the realization that sometimes we can overcome the many things that hold us back, like say, dread at the cost it takes or pressure from external expectations, IF WE BUT FOLLOW OUR FUCKING HEARTS. That we fail to envision whatever potential gains of happiness and satisfaction we may have someday because it’s always about the loss. Always the fucking loss!
And when I finally saw her in person again after 25 long years, I saw serenity there, a deep sense of peace and contentment, a tempered sense of pride from her achievements that emanates from deep within. In fact, I was the one who’s being all hyper, even took the mic to sing a slow acoustic rendition of Despacito inside the artsy and artistic tableau of Exhibit C which she gamely took a video of. And when time we discussed in full details how I wanted the cover of #DosCientos to be, her weigh-ins were astounding, truly an artistic soul who can see what can make something more stunning.
The encounter definitely wouldn’t be the last, as we will still run through a few more things to bring about artwork for my Alma Mater worthy of her 200th birthday. And these I look forward to.
I would like to leave this poem by Jonathan Lockwood Huie, whose full breadth and depth you Sheryll reminds me of. And may its profound message continue to ring true not only for me and you but for every single one of us, the dreamers and round pegs in wooden holes-- who believe that there is more to life out there than the confines society mentally conditioned us to believe exist.
"May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity.
May your heart sing sweet lullabies of timelessness.
May your spirit soar throughout the vast cathedral of your being..."
Desde el fondo de este corazón harapiento y cansado, yo y mi Alma Mater le damos las gracias a mi querida compañera de clase Sheryll.
Mi mas profundo agradecimiento!
Los mejores pensamientos!
Source: FB/ September 8, 2019
THE LAST WISHES OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
On his death bed, Alexander summoned his army generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin.
2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery.
3. His hands should be let loose, so they hang outside the coffin for all to see.
One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain. Here is what Alexander the Great had to say:
1. 'I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal.'
2. 'I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, will stay on earth.'
3. 'I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty-handed and we leave this world empty-handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is: TIME.'
We do not take to our grave any material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.
When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back. Our time is our life!
The best present that you can give to your family and friends is your TIME.
Source:FB/Nene Que
REPOST FROM A BLOGGER's NARRATIVE OF FIRE EVENTUATED IN MALLACOOTA, VICTORIA, January 3, 2020
WHEN FIRE RAVAGED OUR COUNTRY, IT BEGAN THE PLIGHT OF MAN
The day war came to Australia
Was when it all began
When fire ravaged our country
It began the plight of man.
Our leaders all forgot to lead
And people left alone
On Mallacoota beach they swarmed
To escape the fires scorn.
And Firies? They became the heroes
Of Australia’s war
They worked until they couldn’t stand
With hoses, bits and more.
They had to buy a mask to escape
The fumes and ashes shed
And no other bastard would ever go
It made our leaders scared.
The navy it was finally brought
To save those left alone
And people they just tried to survive
Without water, food or home.
But those brave Firies kept at it
Without pay, or thanks or hope
When every other place was lost
They kept on with their hose.
Cobargo, Bermaguie and Batemans Bay
Wollondilly, I’ve just lost count
The fires even met up with
Victoria, no doubt.
And those to the north who lost their home?
Koalas and Kangaroos bare
Half a million animals
Lost their lives just where,
No others would go to save them, no
They had no hope in hell.
Some couldn’t even find their bones
The fire was straight from hell.
And many people lost their lives
As families live to say
Of how they braved the fire’s scorn
And died on that sad day.
The war it came to Australia
Is one history will never forget.
It changed the world, the atmosphere
With climate change and yet
We will live on, just differently
It may not be the same.
You see we’ll all become hermits now
Stuck inside our home.
And Firies, we’ll always remember them
On that fateful day
When war came to Australia
And fire became man’s prey.
Source: Blogger: Guest Contributor, January 8, 2020/Starts at 60/FB
Wikipedia: Mallacoota
Town in Australia
Mallacoota is a small town in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. At the 2016 census, Mallacoota had a population of 1,063. At holiday times, particularly Easter and Christmas, the population increases by about 8,000. It is the last official township on Victoria's east coast before the border with New South Wales. Mallacoota has a regional airport YMCO consisting of a gravel runway for light planes and an asphalt runway for commercial planes flying from Melbourne.
I'M DOING MY PART!!!
G’day Mr Morrison, I trust that you are fine,
Sorry to be bothering you, but there’s something on my mind
I listened to a bloke last week; he had a bit to say
You lot may have heard of him? He delivers all that hay?
He spoke of countless hours and the distances they drive
Feeding starving stock, to keep bush hopes alive
They do not get assistance from your tax funded hat
They do it on their own, all off their own bat
I’m not politically minded and I don’t have any clout
And I know you’ve done a tour, to learn about the drought
But there’s just some burning questions, that have left us feeling beat
Why did we fund a foreign land, to learn to cut up meat?
And what about those soccer boys, who went and got all lost
You pulled out all the bloody stops, plain just showing off
You’ve bigger problems here at home, there’s drought up to our necks
So what does your mob go and do? Give them big fat cheques!
Don’t they have a government to deal with all this stuff?
Why should it be up to us, what’s with all your fuss?
Should we not be reigning in and look after our own
Have you never heard the phrase “charity starts at home”?
I realise there’s many things, that need an allocation
And I also can appreciate, complex trade relations
I’m not sure if you realise, but if our stock all die,
There won’t be any trade you see, your deals will all run dry
As a rule we’re not a whinging lot, our requests are but a few
Most of us who work the land, are tested, tried and true
We respect that we are guardians, and sustain it for the kids
But I often have to wonder, what future will it bring?
I guess all that I’m wondering, is “where’s the Aussie aid”?
Wrapped up in a swag of tape, only then to be repaid!
There’s Aussie blokes and chicks out there, putting you to shame
Helping fellow Australians, in their time of pain
I’m just a simple farmer, grazier, wife and mum
And even though we’re feeding stock, we’re better off than some
I’ve never had to shoot a cow, who could no longer stand
But many have before me, and I pray, I’m not dealt that hand
So will you take another look; admit that we’re in strife?
And do more than bloody empathise, before another farmer takes their life?
I’d like to think you’ll do what’s right and put Australia first
And help your own damn country, before this drought gets any worse.
Joanna Collett
Wee Waa NSW
If you would like to spread this message wider, please copy it and share it. Don't let those who are doing it tough in rural areas just get forgotten in the news cycle.
Charity starts at home!
Source: FB/Lee Tate
19-20 September 2019
YOU!!!"
“Here's the thing about people with good hearts:
They give you excuses when you don't explain yourself.
They accept the apologies you don't give.
They see the best in you.
They always lift you up, even if that means putting their own priorities aside.
They will never be too "busy" for you.
They make time, even when you don't.
And you wonder why they're the most sensitive people, the most caring people, why they are willing to give so much of themselves with no expectation in return.
You wonder why their existence is not so essential to your well-being.
It's because they don't make you work hard for the attention they give you.
They accept the love they think they deserve- and you accepted the love you think you're entitled to.
Don't take them for granted.
Fear the day when a good heart gives up on you. Our skies don't become grey out of nowhere, our sunshine does not allow the darkness to take over for no reason.
A heart does turn cold unless it's been treated with coldness for a while.”
~Najwa Zebian
THE BENEFITS OF A HUG
A famous quote by psychotherapist Virginia Satir goes, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”
Whether those exact numbers have been scientifically proven remains to be seen, but there is a great deal of scientific evidence related to the importance of hugs and physical contact. Here are some reasons why we should hug::
1. STIMULATES OXYTOCIN
Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that acts on the limbic system, the brain’s emotional centre, promoting feelings of contentment, reducing anxiety and stress, and even making mammals monogamous. It is the hormone responsible for us all being here today. You see this little gem is released during childbirth, making our mothers forget about all of the excruciating pain they endured expelling us from their bodies and making them want to still love and spend time with us. New research from the University of California suggests that it has a similarly civilising effect on human males, making them more affectionate and better at forming relationships and social bonding. And it dramatically increased the libido and sexual performance of test subjects. When we hug someone, oxytocin is released into our bodies by our pituitary gland, lowering both our heart rates and our cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
2. CULTIVATES PATIENCE
Connections are fostered when people take the time to appreciate and acknowledge one another. A hug is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation and acknowledgement of another person. The world is a busy, hustle-bustle place and we’re constantly rushing to the next task. By slowing down and taking a moment to offer sincere hugs throughout the day, we’re benefiting ourselves, others, and cultivating better patience within ourselves.
3. PREVENTS DISEASE
Affection also has a direct response on the reduction of stress which prevents many diseases. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine says it has carried out more than 100 studies into touch and found evidence of significant effects, including faster growth in premature babies, reduced pain, decreased autoimmune disease symptoms, lowered glucose levels in children with diabetes, and improved immune systems in people with cancer.
4. STIMULATES THYMUS GLAND
Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.
5. COMMUNICATION WITHOUT SAYING A WORD
Almost 70 percent of communication is nonverbal. The interpretation of body language can be based on a single gesture and hugging is an excellent method of expressing yourself nonverbally to another human being or animal. Not only can they feel the love and care in your embrace, but they can actually be receptive enough to pay it forward to others based on your initiative alone.
6. SELF-ESTEEM
Hugging boosts self-esteem, especially in children. The tactile sense is all-important in infants. A baby recognizes its parents initially by touch. From the time we’re born our family’s touch shows us that we’re loved and special. The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.
7. STIMULATES DOPAMINE
Everything everyone does involves protecting and triggering dopamine flow. Low dopamine levels play a role in the neurodegenerative disease Parkinson’s as well as mood disorders such as depression. Dopamine is responsible for giving us that feel-good feeling, and it’s also responsible for motivation! Hugs stimulate brains to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. Dopamine sensors are the areas that many stimulating drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine target. The presence of a certain kinds of dopamine receptors are also associated with sensation-seeking.
8. STIMULATES SEROTONIN
Reaching out and hugging releases endorphins and serotonin into the blood vessels and the released endorphins and serotonin cause pleasure and negate pain and sadness and decrease the chances of getting heart problems, helps fight excess weight and prolongs life. Even the cuddling of pets has a soothing effect that reduces the stress levels. Hugging for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.
9. PARASYMPATHETIC BALANCE
Hugs balance out the nervous system. The skin contains a network of tiny, egg-shaped pressure centres called Pacinian corpuscles that can sense touch and which are in contact with the brain through the vagus nerve. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system – parasympathetic.
Source: Sacred Dreams
15 April 2018
FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS
Once upon a time all Feelings and Emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was to have a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advise to evacuate the island.
The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.
Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realized it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, 'Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?'
'No', replied Prosperity, 'my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.'
A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, 'Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a life. Please take me with you.'
Vanity responded haughtily, 'No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.'
Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. 'No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.'
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.
Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, 'Come Love, I will take you with me.' Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.
On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled Love inquired, 'Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?'
Knowledge smiled, 'Oh, that was Time.'
'And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?' Love wondered.
Knowledge smiled with deep Wisdom and replied, 'Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring Peace and great Happiness in this world.
~~~~
The important message of this Sufi story is that when we feel important, we forget Love. Even in Happiness and Sorrow we forget Love. Only with Time do we realize the importance of Love. So, why wait that long? Why not make Love a part of our life today?
Source: FB/via Nnie Que
7 HABITS 0F INCREDIBLY SMART PEOPLE
1. Focus less on yourself and more on the people around you.
Many people go through life thinking mostly about themselves. Sure, there are truly altruistic people, but most are relatively self-centered.
Incredibly smart people understand that it's the people around you that generate support and opportunities, provided you show them your capacity to make it about them.
In any given situation, listen first and consider how you can improve the lives of those in your purview. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the positive force you create for your own objectives.
2. Consider yourself the least informed in the room.
When you walk into the room thinking you are the smartest, your mind is closed to infinite possibilities. Incredibly smart people love to position themselves as ignorant. That way they are open to the learning adventure ahead.
If you start by thinking that you don't have the right answers, in the best case you'll gain the truth and in the worst case you'll verify your accuracy.
3. Always be questioning.
Many people think they can show their smartness by providing answers all the time. Incredibly smart people know that people can truly assess your intelligence by the questions you ask. The trick is to make sure the questions you ask are truly inquisitive, looking for new answers — not just a ploy to make a statement or get your point across.
4. Look for something new every day.
It's easy to stagnate and get into a rut thinking you have seen it all before. Incredibly smart people know that the world is way too large and too complex to master in a single lifetime. Just the act of looking for one new thing to learn each day will increase your sensitivity to all that you never before considered.
5. Concentrate on the knowledge you lack instead of the knowledge you have.
It's fascinating how seemingly learned people can appear so dense at times. They like to make people think they are smart by readily quoting facts and figures or pontificating over a given subject. But often they lack the nuance that means the difference between competence and brilliance.
Incredibly smart people see any obtained knowledge merely as a bridge to learning even more. They know the learning process is a never-ending journey to be enjoyed over a lifetime. Congratulate yourself briefly on each step in the journey, then bear down and learn more.
6. Explore the origin of everything.
Everything, no matter how simple, has a most wondrous story. Incredibly smart people find fascination in the most mundane of items and industries. Explore the world with open eyes and you'll gain incredibly useful knowledge from the most surprising places.
7. Hang out with the smartest people you can comprehend.
For many, it's wonderfully ego-satisfying to be the smartest person in the room. Incredibly smart people prefer to be in the company of those who can share powerful insights. Find people who challenge you and stretch your thinking. The joy of learning far outweighs the praise of being right.
Source: Business Insider/FB/via George Daniel Anos
LAKOTA CODE OF ETHICS:
1. Get up with the sun to pray. Pray alone.
2. Be tolerant of those who have lost their way. Ignorance, presumption, anger, jealousy and greed come from a lost soul. Pray for them to find guidance.
3. Find yourself, by your own means. Do not let others make your path for you. It is your path, and only yours. Others may walk with you, but no one can make your way (or walk your path) for you.
4. Treat guests in your home with great consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours, whether from a person, a community, from the jungle or from a culture. It was not given or won. It is not yours.
6. Respect all the things that are on this earth, be they people, plants and animals.
7. Honor the thoughts, desires and words of all people. Never break them in, or make fun of them, or imitate them rudely. It gives each person the right to their personal expression.
8. Never talk about others in a bad way. The negative energy you put into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
9. All people make mistakes. And all the mistakes can be forgiven.
10. Bad thoughts cause illness to the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us. It is PART of us. She's part of your family in the world.
12. Children are the seeds of our future. Sow love in your hearts and water them with wisdom and life lessons. When they grow up, just give them space to grow up.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of their suffering will return to you.
14. Be true (transparent ) all the time. Honesty is the test of one's will in this universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental person, your Spiritual person, your Emotional person, and your Physical person: they all have the need to be strong, pure and healthy.
Source: Native American Wisdom and Beauty Page
15 SIMPLE TRAITS OF A TRULY GOOD PERSON
By Kyle Robbins
Being a good person is not hard, but it doesn’t just happen. As much as anything else, you have to want to be a good person and make choices that correspond with your beliefs. No matter where you are in your life, you can make the choice to change. Here are 15 simple traits of a truly good person.
1. They are honest in relationships.
Relationships can put an amazing amount of stress and stain on a person, especially when things are going wrong. A nice person may try to stay in a relationship for too long, attempting to force something that isn’t there. But a truly good person will be honest in their relationship and move it forward when things are going well and end it when the time comes. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to live up to your lofty potential when your relationship is dragging you down. Be honest about how you feel and stay loyal when you’ve committed.
2. They compliment others when deserved.
Good people understand that others need praise. Complimenting is not only a good thing to do, but a sign that you can be excited for other people’s triumphs. A truly good person will compliment when deserved and offer constructive criticism when warranted.
3. They call their parents regularly.
It’s simple, but being respectful and grateful for your parents is a truly great thing. It’s easy to get to busy and let life get in your way, but truly good people find time to make sure they check in with mom and dad regularly.
4. They are polite.
Good people are polite. They show respect and mind their manners. It’s not to be a showoff or to seem better; they just truly respect individuals and want to treat them how they want to be treated. You don’t have to be formal or walk on eggshells to be polite. It’s more a function of ensuring you act in a way that is fitting for your present location.
5. They are kind to everyone.
A good person doesn’t have to like everyone, but they are at least kind. They look at people for the person they can be and can look past the present to see the person’s positives.
6. They are generous with their belongings.
While you don’t physically have to give the shirt off your back, a truly good person is be willing to be generous. A good person understands that the things we collect and the money we accumulate are not worth anything without people to share it with. You don’t have to be a bleeding heart, giving away your life fortune; rather, be open and generous to those less fortunate in a time of need.
7. They remember their manners.
Whether it’s waiting until everyone has their food to eat or opening the door when others walk through, proper manners are definitely not out of style. Truly good people understand the importance of their actions and always remember their manners.
8. They think of others.
It’s easy to be selfish and do what’s best for yourself. Yet, truly good people consider others in their decisions. They understand that what’s good for them may not always be the best for others. They don’t have to cater exclusively to others; rather, they understand and take into consideration how their actions will affect others and are comfortable with the decision to move forward.
9. They go the extra mile.
A truly good person makes sure the task gets done and always goes the extra mile. Whether it’s staying to help clean up after an event or spending their own time ensuring things get done properly, a good person understands the importance of finishing what they start.
10. They are kind to loved ones.
Sometimes you can be great to others but treat the ones who love you the most the worst. A truly good person doesn’t take out their problems on their loved ones and is as pleasant at home as in the public eye.
11. They smile.
A smile can light up a room, and truly good people smile often—not just when things are going well.
12. They make the best out of every situation.
In every situation, there are positives and negatives. A truly good person will find and focus the positives. That’s not to say they don’t take the negatives; rather, they find ways to improve and become better because of the bad things.
13. They make friends easily.
A truly good person is one who people want to be around. People are drawn to them. By being positive and finding the best in others, they can make and keep friends easily.
14. They don’t take things for granted.
Being a truly good person is an ongoing pursuit. They understand that what they’ve done in the past doesn’t ensure results in the future.
15. They are consistent.
A first impression is a lasting impression. By being consistent in what they do, a truly good person will ensure they always put their best foot forward and treat every person and situation the same.
Being a good person isn’t hard, but it does take a consistent approach. By using the traits above, you too can be a truly good person.
Source: Life Hack/Communication
KNOW YOUR WORTH
A father, before he died, said to his son: “This is the watch your grandfather gave me and this is more than 200 years old. Before I give it to you, go to the watch shop on First street, and tell him I want to sell it, and ask how much they'd offer”.
The son went and after several minutes, he came back to his father and said, "The watchmaker offered to pay $5 because it's old and has a lot of scratches.” He then asked him to go to the coffee shop.
The son went and after an hour or so, he came back and said: “The coffee shop owner offered $5, father.”
“Go to the museum and show them that watch”. He went ahead and then came back happily. “ They offered me a million dollars for this piece.”
The father said: “I wanted to let you know that the right place values you in the right way. Don't put yourself in the wrong place and get angry if you get treated like trash. Those who know your value are the ones who appreciate you, don't ever stay in a place that doesn't suit you."
Know your worth.
Source: FB
HERE IS A COMMENT FROM A PSYCHOLOGIST REGARDING THE STATE OF THE PHILIPPINES
On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which 150 years back were insignificant, today are developed and rich countries.
The difference between the poor and rich nation does not also depend on the available natural resources.
Japan has limited territory, 80% mountainous, unsuitable for agriculture or farming, but is the second in worlds economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw material from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.
Second example is Switzerland, it does not grow cocoa but produces the best chocolates in the world. In her small territory she rears animals and cultivates the land only for four month in a year, nevertheless manufactures the best milk products. A small country which is an image of security which has made it the strongest world bank.
Executives from rich countries who interact with their counterparts from poor countries show no significant intellectual differences.
The racial or colour factors also do not evince importance: migrants heavy in laziness in their country of origin are forcefully productive in rich European countries.
WHAT THEN IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The difference is the attitude of the people, moulded for many years by education and culture.
When we analyse the conduct of the people from the rich and developed countries, it is observed that a majority abide by the following principles of life:
1. Ethics, as basic principles.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. The respect for Laws and Regulations.
5. The respect from majority of citizens by right.
6. The love for work.
7. The effort to save and invest.
8. The will to be productive.
9. Punctuality.
In the poor countries a small minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.
We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel towards us.
We are poor because we lack attitude. We lack the will to follow and teach these principles of working of rich and developed societies.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE SEE SOMETHING DONE WRONG AND SAY - “LET IT BE”
WE SHOULD HAVE A SPIRITED MEMORY AND ATTITUDE…
ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR PRESENT STATE.
If you love your COUNTRY take time to REFLECT on this.
Source: FB/Edward Soliangco
400 Years Ago A Samurai Wrote 20 Pieces Of Timeless Wisdom That Are Still Applicable Today
The Inagaki directed Samurai Trilogy starring Toshiro Mifune is based on his life.
Shortly before dying, the samurai wrote a book, The Way of Walking Alone, where he encapsulated his life philosophy and his ideals when it came to living a healthy life.
Confucian and Taoist in its essence, the book is still studied today.
We have listed 20 of the most relevant pieces from the book which are so essential that their truth still holds true today:
1. Learn to accept life as it comes
If you keep worrying about the distant future you will just succumb to more and more stress, despair and anxiety. So for the sake of your mental health, try to take life as it comes, one day at a time.
Accepting life as it unfolds will help you cope better with the daily struggles for survival.
2. Abandon obsessive pursuits for pleasure
Pleasure is best enjoyed when it arrives serendipitous. If you keep looking for it obsessively, you will invariably lose out on the joy of being happy.
With our times where every worldly pleasure is shallow, momentary and more unfulfilling, it only makes sense to not look for them. The best things in life arrive unexpected, no matter how small they are, like the chirp of a bird or a ray of sunshine through the window.
3. Do not be impulsive
Yes, following your gut can be helpful at times, but it is always best to chalk out a course of action, considering all possible consequences and sticking to it.
4. Stop obsessing over yourself
We live in a time when we spend hours and hours trying to take a perfect selfie or think of the beauty of a hill station in terms Instagram likes it will fetch. All in the pursuit of a certain online image we want to make for ourselves.
Stop doing this and you will have freed both time and space in your mind for the higher pursuits of life.
5. Never allow jealousy to run your life for you
Jealousy in any form is bound to cause obsession and obsession makes your thoughts biased and your opinions impure. It is best to not allow this negative impulse to rule you.
6. Abandon attachment to desire
This is where Musashi’s Buddhism came into play.
Any attachment can in the end lead to obsession and obsessing over any thing is the key to your ruin.
7. Never live in regret
As soon as you come to terms with the fact that things (once done) cannot be changed and that everything happens for a reason no matter how hard it is to see the reason immediately, you stop thinking about them obsessively.
Regret ruins your chances of seeing what you have gained and instead makes you focus on what you have lost.
8. Do not dwell on a sad separation
This is similar to the previous point: There are things that happen and can’t be changed like certain separations from loved ones.
Only consolation: things always get better. If not, well, you do get used to them and they stop being SO painful.
9. Do not complain
Count your blessings instead and try and be happy with your station or alternatively work harder to change it.
10. Do not let lust rule your life
Humans are sexual beings yes, but the master samurai advises one to look for the long-lasting and uplifting instead of running after fleeting pleasures.
11. Keep your options open
Keeping your mind closed to possibilities other than the one you prefer is something unwise; keeping options open instead, makes the journey to success smoother.
12. Don’t be a slave to your surroundings
Do not get attached to anything too much; be it a person or a certain way of life or a luxurious house. Life and its pleasures are fleeting and one would be wise to not obsessively chase them.
13. Learn not to be gluttonous
Musashi like his spiritual master, the Buddha advised a life of moderation; food was sustenance and should be treated like the same.
As soon as you start treating something as fundamental as food as a luxury/pleasure, you will invariably start chasing it obsessively.
14. Be minimal in your possessions
No worldly possession or asset (not even your body) is everlasting and you won’t be leaving with anything when you go either.
So again, it is best to not horde things like a glutton.
15. Do not believe things because others ask you to
Believe something only when things seem true to you… those things should satisfy your intellectual and spiritual questions.
16. Respect the gods but don’t depend on them
“God helps those who help themselves”, remember?
God(s) are but figures of guidance and inspiration; in the journey of life, one must row oneself.
17. Don’t fear death
There is another famous samurai guidebook on life called Hagakure.
It says in a very chilling turn of words: "Go into battle wishing to die and you shall come out victorious.”
In simpler terms, be aware of death as a truth and don’t fear it; as it is there is no escape from it.
18. Do not draw your sword unless you absolutely need to
Killing the defenceless and weak or attacking without reason is sin.
19. Retiring with riches is not the aim in life
If all one thought of all day were ways of leaving the game richer, then society would fail to function.
No future, no matter how prosperous is worth obsessing over.
20. Protect your honour
You are your greatest friend and honour is your armour. And when one’s honour comes into question, its defence brings out the best in a man.
We hope these help you on your way to living a better and fuller life.
Source: DAILY POSITIVE INFORMATION
Random thoughts...
By Rose Marie Natoza Santos
July 27, 2019
Family is the first unit of our social structure and it is where we ought to satisfy our primordial needs, where we are taught to abide to rules and learn values. Parental roles were highly regarded as important to the rearing and molding the children. How the children behave or act will be the gauge of how they were raised. Extended family were expected to give moral support or sometimes more....
Those were the days my generation experienced. Sad to say that those were now just memories of the past... And yet I am not discounting the presence of such families today...
The lure of easy life, the hunger for power and fame, the salivating greed for wealth and this incurable disease called envy had all degraded our nation and its people for decades of deterioration.
Separation of family members due to work relocation or broken homes have produced a different breed of younger generation and kindled social indifference.
But God must have loved the Philippines to hear the prayers of His faithful crying for relief, for change and for betterment.
Our God is really an answering God...though His ways are not our ways.
He gave us an obscure, foul-mouthed and often misunderstood leader. A city mayor berated by seasoned political honchos, someone they could never believe would be a statesman, would be a respectable leader representing the country. Rodrigo Roa Duterte proved them wrong... President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the only president in our political history who is consistently being prayed for not only because of his competence and popularity...but because he is well-loved.
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
by Lachlan Brown
March 6, 2019
Source: Hack Spirit dot com
The world is in turmoil, in chaos, in never unending troublesome state...
It is bedridden with lies, dishonesty, and cancerous lack of INTEGRITY. I stumbled upon this article by chance, and, inasmuch as it is most applicable in today's present upheavals, I thought it is worth sharing in this page of LESSONS TO LIVE. … with due respect to the author.
THE DEATH OF INTEGRITY
04th February 2016
J. Davy Crockett III
Have you noticed? Something has changed in the basic fabric of our society. Bedrock moral principles of conduct for orderly, successful entities seem to have evaporated. Brazen lies are commonplace at the highest levels of government. It's not just yearning for the good old days—integrity is going extinct. Is there hope for a better world?
Integrity, or what the Merriam-Webster On-line Dictionary defines as “the quality of being honest and fair” is dying, and the positive traits that keep it alive are in very short supply. In politics, economics, medicine and more, the “story” seems to change from day to day, on any number of important issues. Powerful regulatory bureaucracies “bend” the rules of operation. Then, when confronted, those in charge often respond with arrogant refusals to explain their actions—or they dissimulate and try to minimize the issue altogether, or just simply pass the buck without admitting any wrongdoing.
When the current social climate or moral standards shift and principles or laws are no longer popular, long established legal principles are ignored and existing laws are not enforced. Elected officials in local, state and national offices are often caught violating their oath of office, using their fiduciary positions for their own personal gain, to the detriment of their constituents. In my home state, the Lieutenant Governor recently had to resign his office for ethical violations. The State Treasurer, responsible for the stewardship of hundreds of millions of dollars of state funds, was recently convicted on several counts of bribery and malfeasance in office.
We see high-ranking military officers being disciplined or removed for violations of the military code of honorable conduct.
In our colleges and universities, we often learn of the lack of integrity in sports programs or academia with coaches, professors and students being involved in dishonest conduct.
Dishonesty is not a new phenomenon, but the prevalence of such conduct on so many levels, and the acceptance of it, is a definite indication of the death of integrity. For many, in all walks of life, being scrupulously honest in all dealings does not seem to be important.
What is the result of this pervasive untruthfulness? Confidence in our governing institutions is shattered. A sense of skepticism hangs like a pall over the population. Most people simply do not know what or who to believe any more. There is a deep divide politically, ethnically, economically, with troubling racial tensions mixed in.
While mankind in general and our nation specifically wallow in confusion and uncertainty on shifting moral ground, there are bedrock, eternal truths that bring clarity, stability, and equity to society. These truths are found in the Holy Bible, which very few read and even fewer put in to practice. It contains revealed truths and instruction for living. For example, one of the basic Ten Commandments states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). A few verses later a different facet of this important principle is emphasized: “You shall not circulate a false report” (Exodus 23:1).
When Jesus was on trial, Pilate demanded to know, “What is truth?” It’s a question that everyone should ask. The answer, found in John 17:17, is very plain,”…Your word is truth.” Once that concept is accepted, a wonderful thing happens, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Yes, free from the heartache and pain caused by failing to follow our Creator’s instructions which lead to a happy, productive life while looking forward to the world to come referred to as the Kingdom of God.
Where do lies originate? Jesus Christ gave a very plain explanation in His dealings with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He told them “You are from your father the devil…when he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
So, while integrity in society may be comatose, it is not yet dead, if one knows where to look.
Source: Tomorrow’s World
HOW EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE POWER OF NICENESS
By Ricky Derisz
February 21, 2019
Nice people are supportive, caring, considerate, empathetic, loving. They’re who you want by your side on life’s journey, the ones with open hearts and tamed egos. Nice people are a blessing. However, without developing relevant skills, nice people are hindered by a fundamental flaw — people pleasing.
People pleasers overextend themselves, they give and keep giving, at the expense of themselves. Being gracious and giving is the highest form of human connection, a powerful, life-affirming force. Like all forces, balance is necessary. No one can consistently give without recuperation, or the support of others.
Before we continue, an unexpected plot twist — there’s no such thing as a nice person. I’d argue all humans are inherently good. Qualities such as love, compassion, and empathy are the core of humanity. These qualities are synonymous with “nice people,” but they’re not mutually exclusive. Each of us has the choice, every day, to act with kindness.
For the purpose of this article, a “nice person” is someone who displays these qualities in abundance, but struggles with balance. Someone with plenty of compassion for others, but little for themselves. Someone who regularly puts the needs of others ahead of their own. As you’re reading this article, I’ll assume this is you.
Niceness as a label, not an act
On the surface, the solution looks easy. You may be aware you need to take more time for yourself, with stress and burnout making caring for others a difficulty. So why is it so difficult? A barrier between intellectual understanding and action is an imbalanced perception of kindness. I refer to this as “the prison of niceness,” when a natural tendency to care for others leads to self-neglect.
To understand this, let’s examine the beliefs you hold about yourself. We all develop beliefs throughout different stages of life. Some serve us, but due to the negativity bias of the mind, most restrict us. Common examples of limiting beliefs include “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not worthy of love,” “I’ll never fit in.” Beliefs can be summarised with a label — incapable, unlovable, imposter.
Without conscious exploration, we see these labels as truth, inseparable from who we are. These labels form our self-image. The prison of niceness is hard to escape due to the deceptive nature of labels. When becoming aware of a label such as incapable, there’s clear motivation to change. But nice, friendly, happy? These terms can be just as damaging.
The prison of niceness
Anger, jealousy, resentment, frustration… None of these universal emotions are considered nice. This is an issue. If the label “nice” is attached to your self-image, dissonance is caused when experiencing emotions sitting outside of your concept of self-image. A belief — “nice people don’t get angry” — leads to repression, denial or guilt.
Carl Rogers, the influential humanistic psychologist, notes the importance of self-acceptance in On Becoming A Person. Rogers uses the term incongruence to describe “a discrepancy between the actual experience of the organism and the self-picture of the individual insofar as it represents that experience.” In this example, the actual experience is anger. The self-picture is “nice person.”
Part of becoming a person, of self-actualizing, is leading a life of congruence (or authenticity). It’s easy to see how incongruence leads to people pleasing. A people pleaser will reject their own needs and desires, believing “the needs of others are more important than my own” or “I don’t want to let people down.” Behaviour is adjusted accordingly.
A life spent pleasing others is damaging. Many traits of a meaningful life — alignment with values, self-acceptance, authenticity — aren’t compatible with people pleasing. Personal values contradict others’ needs, daily. Rather than healthy balance or compromise, people pleasing sacrifices personal desire.
Skilled niceness
This is where skilled niceness comes in. It’s the ability to be loving, caring, and compassionate — without losing oneself in the act. It’s the balance of self-compassion, and compassion for others. Of respecting one’s own boundaries. Of discerning when to give, and when to step back. It’s niceness as authentic expression, not a label. It’s a self-image better matched to reality.
I’ve personally fell for the above traps; I was concerned at upsetting others, and I believed putting others’ first was a sign of being nice. I lost myself in the act of giving. As my self-awareness and self-compassion increased, I realised this behaviour was damaging. When training as a coach, I learned the value of boundary setting.
Boundary setting is frequently misunderstood — by nice people. The motivation isn’t to exclude others, stop caring, building barriers around the heart while exclaiming “it’s me against the world!.” With skilled niceness, boundary setting is a way to care more, be more inclusive, more open-hearted. Conscious boundary setting is done with compassion and honesty.
Honesty is essential when assessing how much you can truly give. For example, I require above-average alone time. I need at least one full day in the week to reflect, journal, process, or just be. Generally, I socialise twice in the week, and have one busier social day over the weekend. I spent a long time resisting my zest for solitude, identifying with the label “boring,” saying yes more than I was comfortable and pushing through low energy. Only with honesty did I accept my level of social energy, and align my schedule accordingly.
It’s one step to take honest self-assessment and realise the need for more alone time. But what if, one Wednesday evening, your social health bar is low and you have plans to read, drink tea and spoon-feed yourself peanut butter, and a friend invites you to socialise? Honesty is also required to say no with clarity and compassion.
Skilled kindness cultivates quality giving
We need each other to flourish. Serving others is an essential ingredient of a fulfilling life, an expression of the heart, a loving act. However, focusing on quantity of giving leads to burnout, stress, frustration. At worst, a lack of healthy boundaries leads to resentment, blame, or a sense of losing control of your own life.
By cultivating skilled niceness, we take responsibility for our boundaries, take control of our lives, and preserve our energy with compassion and honesty. In doing this, we sow the seeds for quality giving. This is unconditional giving, provided with joy, not obligation.
Being fully present, and engaging in quality giving, is a rarity in this world. And that makes it the nicest gift we can give.
Source: Goalcast
About the author Ricky Derisz, writer and coach, Mind that Ego Blog
4 WAYS TO IMPRESS PEOPLE DURING A CONVERSATION
By Joshua Weisner
December 27, 2016
… Most people would admit that they have a desire, at some level, to impress others. The most effective and longer lasting way of making a good impression on others is through engaging in a meaningful dialogue with them.
Think for a moment and make a list of the people that have impressed you in the past. I’m sure that in most cases your list does not include the people with the most material wealth, but those that are intelligent, smart, or even funny especially when they’re engaged in a conversation.
Here are four surefire ways to impress the interviewer to get a job, the boss to get a raise, or simply to make better friends.
1. Remain confident in your beliefs
The fact is that no one can be right all the time. We may be wrong about some fact, belief, or judgment. But if you always suspect yourself, and shy away from standing up for your beliefs, you will not be able to create a good impression on others.
There is nothing more impressive that a person that boldly states one’s conviction that is backed by sound reasoning. People that have an opinion on issues are more respected by others than those that doubt their own reasoning and intelligence. So, in order to impress others, you must speak with conviction but without sounding arrogant in any way.
2. Give compliments freely
Self-help expert Dale Carnegie in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People
had stated that almost every one of us craves recognition and praise. It is an innate feeling that is present in almost everyone.
By giving compliments when due you will make the person feel good about him or herself. Whether you like the shoes or the earrings, you must not shy away from giving positive remarks. But avoid buttering up a person by giving lots of praises. A simple and honest compliment will go a long way in making a good impression on the other person.
3. Maintain eye contact
During conversations, it is a good idea to gaze at the eyes as you are more likely to connect on a personal level.
You might appear cold by the other person if you avert eye connection when addressing a person. The eye is said to be the window to the heart of a person. So, if you want to impress the other person make sure to look straight in the eyes during the conversation.
4. Smile!
People that don’t smile during a conversation are considered untrustworthy, according to a postdoctoral researcher in psychology at NYU, Peter Mede-Siedlecki. When you smile when speaking, you will have a better chance of influencing the other person. But avoid overdoing the smile part particularly with the opposite sex as it may appear flirtatious, pretentious and unprofessional.
Source: Goalcast
IN THE SHADOW OF MY FATHER
By Crispulo Bacud Tappa
December 26, 2018
I was brought forth and raised in a farmer's family. And I am proud to have had a father who was a great farmer, and who greatly influenced my life. Who I am today, I owe it to him.
His life revolved around the land and his carabaos. Oftentimes, I envied our farm animals for he had more time bonding with them, pastured them in the green meadows and bathed them in the banks of the Cagayan River. This was a daily routine, and there were no holidays, and I joined him when I was free from my school activities. I brought him his breakfast as he often left the house before the break of dawn while we were still curled up on our woven mat laid on the bamboo floor. They were my father's special assistants on whose shoulders laid the heavy burden of plowing the fields. I clearly understood my father's devotion to them for tractors were never heard of then.
My father did all he can to keep food on our dining table for that was his primary concern. And just like any other Cagayano farmer, he looked forward to every planting season, gazed at the horizon, and looked for signs when rain would come. And when it did, off he went to the field to prepare it so we can plant what was in season, be it tobacco, corn, mongo, beans or peanuts, and some vegetables planted in between the furrows. Talk about multi-cropping, he did it all.
Aside from tilling his own land, he was a tenant of Mrs. Catabay, who owned a piece of land in "Labbang", a patch of alluvial land which evolved into farm lands through the years with the constant flooding of the Cagayan River. He tilled the fertile land even though he knew that Labbang, and all the plains alongside the river, were always subject to the vagaries of nature, when crops ready for harvest would be wiped out in an instant by flood brought about by unpredictable torrential rains and strong typhoons.
And it was in one big flood that happened during my youth when my father impressed upon me an enduring life lesson that has guided me throughout my life. It was all about honesty, and "palabra de honor", the unwritten contract between two parties agreeing to comply with the terms of a verbal agreement reached by both of them.
Many years ago, I was about ten years old then, heavy rain incessantly poured for three days and showed no sign of letting-up, and threatened to flood the whole of Labbang which, when viewed from a promontory called "Gatag", was a picturesque monochromatic landscape of brown and green cornfields, and corn ears which jutted out from their stems were just about ready to be harvested in one or two weeks. My father figured out that the rain would not stop, and he was alarmed that the river level had risen and could overflow into the fields anytime soon. Flood would put to waste everything that he had worked for. He then hastily assembled a crew of harvesters, just him, my brother, and I. We rode on our carabao-drawn "kareta", a two wooden-wheeled hauler, and raced to the field that afternoon to harvest the mature corn ears, even if it was not yet dry enough, before it got inundated. For if we failed to harvest on that fateful day, and left the corn ears submerged under murky flood waters, it could have been rendered a total waste that even a hungry carabao would not want to eat them.
I felt pain as raindrops bigger than corn bits pelted on my skin, as I struggled to stand on my bare feet already submerged ankle-deep, under the rushing rainwater which liquified the slippery mud of loom soil. I cried in silence as my small soft hands suffered cuts from the sharp edges of corn husks as I plucked out the corn ears from their stem. I hid my face away from my father, as I did not want him to see my tears which blended with raindrops as they cascaded down my cheeks. I forced upon myself to carry on my bony shoulders the "balulang", a flexible woven container made of rattan, filled to its brim with corn ears which was almost twice the weight of my puny body then. I didn't have the temerity to complain, much less dillydally, for we raced against a raging river at that time.
We were able to gather a mound of corn ears, missed a few pieces here and there, and darkness crept in as the sun faded away behind the Caraballo Mountains in the west. Being a tenant, my father divided the fruits of his labor using the "balulang" as a measuring instrument. He dutifully adhered to the sharing agreement between him and his landlord, the latter getting the bigger share.
The frenzy of the harvesting activity took its heavy toll on all of us, as we all got tired, cold, and hungry. But my father relentlessly barked his orders, "palyanan nu ko anac ko ira" (move fast, my sons) like a commander would order his troop of soldiers, as we transferred the share of Mrs Catabay to the "kareta". The sorry sight of the three of us, corn gatherers, as our teeth chattered and our bodies shivered for having been exposed under the rain for more than two hours already, could have led my brother to question my father why we got less for all the hard work that we had done. He even suggested that he could have easily added a few more "balulang" of corn ears to his share and his landlord would have not noticed it.
Under normal circumstances, a representative of Mrs. Catabay, she was about 60 years old or so then, would have been invited to partition the harvest. As we always did, even with any other produce that came from her land, that everytime my mother and I gathered them, placed them in a "labba", a bamboo and rattan-framed container, and carried it on my head, and we brought it to her residence, a good three-kilometer walk from the farm. She would partition tomatoes, and other root crops, whichever plant was in season, while my mother and I sipped coffee, and nibbled some biscuits she always prepared for us, something that I had always looked forward to.
My father replied in a quiverring voice, "Afu ko anac ku, yan yo nakka ergowan mi kanni Mrs. Catabay. Yan yo vulunang ku. Pasensiyan tera laman nin" (My son, this was the verbal agreement between me and Mrs. Catabay and I am bound to honor it. Let us bear with it.) His words of wisdom reverberated in the recesses of my mind that left no room for further debate as my father was focused on saving the harvest and bring us home to safety and to rest our weary bodies.
To make the long story short, we accomplished what my father wanted to achieve, and we packed up our things, hurriedly left "Labbang", and headed home with our share of the harvest, and as we reached the "Gatag ", we met some of our barrio mates, all geared-up with their carabaos and "kareta" on their way down to harvest their cornfields, too. But as much as they wanted to, as I looked back from where we came from, I could see that they could no longer cross beyond the base of the promontory. As "Lalug", a small lake separated from the river by a patch of dry land, had been conjoined like twins with the Cagayan River and merged as one vast expanse of a body of water. From that vantage point, I could see uprooted corn plants coming from upstream Isabela province, which floated together with an assorted debris of tree foliage and branches, logs, and timber from the Sierra Madre mountain range, and some dead animals probably overpowered and drowned by its strength as it had overflowed beyond my imagination. I felt a pall of gloom, and I saw the sadness etched on their faces as they realized their big mistake and miscalculated heaven's warning of an impending disaster, and gazed at the river which had become a watery grave of what was Labbang two hours ago.
We got home safe but not exactly sound, and quickly changed into dry clothes, pressed by my sister, Flora, with our "plancha", an iron heated by burning charcoal, and my brother and I gathered around the earthen stove to warm up our cold bodies, rubbing our palms together over glowing embers from a woodfire my mother used in cooking a piping hot "binatug", a thick porridge with simple ingredients composed of milled glutinous corn bits and coconut which we imbibed to recharge our tired bodies. All these gave us warmth and saved us from falling into a creeping hypothermia. And later on, as soon as my father arrived, after he delivered the share of Mrs. Catabay, we had dinner which consisted of "tinolang manok," served with steaming "inafi", cooked corn grits, to restore our energy. My father had always believed that eating corn grits had given him the staying power to make him last a whole day of fieldwork, and we always fought over the "assit", that semi-burnt crust at the bottom of the kettle but we always ended up dividing it equally between the two of us.
As we sat down with him for dinner, that particular scene where he divided the produce, and not succumbing to the devil's temptation to cheat on his landlord, flashed back in my memory as I gazed at his weather-beaten face. That defining actor's act was like the highlight of a movie which was all that I clearly remembered from that frenetic rush of harvesting activity that afternoon, and impressed upon my young and malleable mind the values of honesty and being able to keep one's "palabra de honor". Values that up to this day have guided me in my life. My father did not preach, as a priest would do in the pulpit, on this time-honored values but instead, he impressed it so deeply in my mind and showed it to me by way of a living example which hit me like a flaming hot iron stencil, a farmer's tool to mark ownership, that seared the hide of a cow or carabao, and left an indelible impression on my being.
The following day, the able-bodied men of our barrio of Cataggaman came back to the river and swarmed around the thick floating debris and salvaged the branches of trees, logs, and timber that have found their way to the riverbanks, as if God brought them there to placate the aggrieved farmers who were deprived of their harvest.
Some men rode on their boats, but the more intrepid ones swam like Olympians, a number of young swimmers have represented our barrio in some athletic meets, outracing each other towards the middle of the river to recover logs and timber which must have broken away from a concessioner's timber depot or from some pond of small-time illegal loggers who surreptitiously hid their timber under the "balsa", pieces of bamboo and boho clamped together, and floated through tributaries and found their way to the Cagayan River.
I joined the fray, too, and rode on the floating debris to find anything of value, unmindful of the danger, as I knew how to swim as the boys of my age learned how to swim as we made the river our longest swimming pool during summer. I have crossed the river a few times, tailing behind our carabao, swimming our way to "fuduk", the plains on the side of the river in the town of Enrile. But the child in me cast my eyes for some toys or things I could assemble into toys.
The men used their abaca ropes as they harnessed valuable logs and timber and struggled hard to anchor them to the bamboo patch by the riverbank. The sheer power expended by the farmers brought cheers from a crowd that filled the promontory each time a log or timber was succesfully landed. And later, they loaded their precious finds in their "kareta", with the ubiquitous carabao dragging the heavy load towards home to be cut into timber when dry or chopped into firewood to last for a year or so. It was a finder's keeper that ruled the game. Sadly, one or two lives were lost leaving a sad memory of a Cagayan River gone wild.
Every planting season, my father patiently waited for his corn field to turn dark green, and tended to them to make sure that grass would not overcome them, then when it turned yellow-green and corn ears began to mature, he would bring home some for us to cook by simply boiling it and added a dash of salt into the pot until the corn bits became soft, or broiled it with the glowing embers in the "kalan" to our heart's delight, especially if it is the glutinous variety, "lufug"', bursting into its gummy and soft texture, a gift to those with dental problems. He would then trim the leaves, dried and saved them as a fodder for our carabaos during the dry season, to expose the mature corn ears directly under the sunlight and accelerate its natural drying process, and when leaves turned dry and crisp that indicated that it was harvest time. A good harvest filled the heart of a farmer with so much joy, and in thanksgiving he would look forward to the celebration of our barrio fiesta held every 4th of August, for which he would share his bounty with friends and relatives and thank the Lord for the blessings, and at the same time celebrate the birthday of his youngest son.
It is not very often though that the farmer reaped a good harvest for sometimes the scorching sun of summer dried up the land and stunted the growth of his crops. He got nothing at all when heavy rains fell, and filled the Cagayan River, and if flood waters reached the floor of the Buntun Bridge, that meant that no crop planted in the plains alongside the Cagayan River, from upland Isabela to the mouth of the river in Aparri, was spared and would have even placed the residential areas of the Tuguegarao and other low-lying towns of Cagayan Valley in great danger.
The economic loss from damages caused by natural calamities broke his heart, for his toils were rendered to naught, but this Cagayano farmer never cursed the heavens for the indomitable spirit lived in him. For I knew that he understood that the weather was not within his control and he had learned to live with it all. He had accepted the fact that floods are not that bad afterall, for as rain water cascaded down from the boondocks of Sierra Madre, it brought soil nutrients with it which became natural fertilizers that conditioned the loom soil to perfection which helped grow bigger corn ears. He worked silently under the heat of the sun with his bare hands that have turned callous and his sun-kissed skin has turned almost golden brown.
This I say unto you young man,
that you should eat every morsel
on your platter
because a farmer had worked so hard
so that something could be served
on the table.
Say it again? You paid for it?
Young man, young man,
do understand that others
have none, and you don't want
to learn it the hard way
when your plate is empty
and food is gone.
Source: I KEEP WHAT I READ
6 January 2019
~•✿•~ ~•✿•~
Catriona Gray and Daragang Mayon
MISS UNIVERSE 2018
Bangkok, Thailand
December 17, 2018
By Crispulo Bacud Tappa
You dazzled the world, the universe rather, like
the majestic Daragang Mayon wrapped in glowing and fiery embers, cascading down your voluptuous body contoured to perfection.
Therein lies the difference, however, when you spewed wisdom that melted the hearts of the judges in particular and all beauty-pageant loving men and women, searing their callous hearts to remind us that we can all make a difference when we do something for the downtrodden.
Tondo is a grim symbol of the inhumanity of men, the apathy of the rich, the negligence of our government officials, the indolence of parents, the inefficiency of our bureaucracy, and the wastefullness of men.
Thank you for reminding us that we need to do something for children, who are still powerless to change their world, and who need every care that they can possibly get, and bring back the smile in their faces. That their dreams can become a reality if we work together to make a positive change in their environment, and create better living conditions that could bring about the best in them. A child borne out of love, and nurtured in a caring home and a healthy community, sans drugs, can become our greatest asset and a source of joy for their respective families, like you have just done.
Every child needs nurturing and we can all make that happen if we impose that responsibility among ourselves. Let everything we do in our lives be aimed at strengthening our families, our community, our government. For the quality of children we raise will determine the fate of our country.
Thank you Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, for putting back the smile in our faces.
Be the Daragang Mayon that will not only mesmerize us with your beauty but your beautiful presence be a constant reminder that we are all our brother's keeper....
Source: Facebook
Acknowledgement:
Thank you so much Cris for this very timely tribute in touching the compassionate advocacy of Miss Universe 2018 in her desire to help the underprivileged, the children who have no access to quality of education, the women's health for they are the source of life of our future citizens, just to name a few. She excels in everything, a smart, and brainy all rounder with a big heart. Another that impressed me about her was when she made emphasis about her being "grounded that keep her humble". That my friend is a very powerful message to the world, to our LEADERS and other ENTITIES whose greedy ambition is to destroy OUR CHILDREN's FUTURE and HUMANITY as a whole. She strongly sends A MESSAGE of HUMILITY. She's a perfect epitome of what true beauty means. She has an attitude that surely makes everyone SMILE. Her attitude of grace enfolded in GRATITUDE.
Blog Administrator
THE WONDER OF LIFE
By Caloy Bueno
October 12, 2018
Mankind is a marvel of creation. It is perhaps at the zenith of all life, because not only does man possess sentience, we also embody the supreme intelligence of reason and creativity.
When life first began on earth, it was just one-celled organisms swimming in vast oceans of water rich in nutritive elements and conditions conducive to supporting life. Human life as we now know it begins with the union of two singular cells, to form the human embryo that contains within its potentiality a whole new life. Developing through time, space and enduring the implacable forces of life that forge the different pathways to our individual destinies, while somehow intersecting and interacting with those of other human beings.
This is the reality of our world, the whole environment of man, in which we have built our civilization that is designed to carry our lives and care for our needs toward the inevitable future. Mankind is a continuing paradox unto itself, reflecting the broad spectrum of its experiences, but also very acutely focused on a single lifetime goal: Survival. Man is the only specie capable of saving not just itself from extinction, but also of perhaps preserving the other forms of life on earth — which therefore may incidentally give meaning and substance to the whole context of earthly life…
Because we have within us the power of life and death, man developed moral and ethical constructs for social behavior that emanate from an inner force that is our conscience, which may even be the virtual bridge between our conscious awareness and our subconscious — where the unknown secrets from the beginning of our mortal existence are stored as perhaps the guarantors of our future as the dominant specie of life on earth. The choice between good and evil resides within our souls, locked into our individual destinies and future as a civilization of sentient beings — seemingly alone and abandoned in the sheer immensity of the cosmos.
Whatever that future may ultimately be, we march toward it inexorably but willingly, to the beat of our human hearts and by the guiding light of our intelligence, always affected by but nevertheless courageously dealing with the consequences of our individual choices between good and evil in our shared existence on this earth. We marvel at everything else around us, and at our own physical lives and enduring presence that always seem to be able to find new and ever-changing ways to amaze, enrich and improve our human condition and reality…
This is our unbroken legacy since the dawn of man’s history — the survival of our species, and the still unfolding story of the meaning and purpose of our human life. We may not fully grasp nor comprehend what it really is — but we know that wherever life may bring us, we shall ensure that our legacy will go on, because we know and believe that life always finds a way from among the infinite possibilities of what is, and is yet to come.
And that is the wonder of life…
~ ‘pag may time
LESSONS FROM A FATHER
A personal story gleaned from Xi JinPing of China:
When I was a small child, I was very selfish, always grab the best for myself. Slowly, everyone left me and I had no friends. I didn’t think it was my fault but criticize others. .
My father gave me 3 sentences to help me in life. .
One day, my father cooked 2 bowls of noodles put the 2 bowls on the table. One bowl has one egg on top and the other bowl does not have any egg on top. He said ”My child. You choose. Which bowl do you want”. Eggs were hard to come by those days! Only get to eat eggs during festivals or New Year. Of course I chose the bowl with egg! As we started eating, I was congratulating myself on my wise choice/decision and walloped up the egg. Then to my surprise as my father ate his noodles, there were TWO eggs at the bottom of his bowl beneath the noodles! I regretted so much! And scolded myself for being too hasty in my decision. My father smiled and said to me, ”My child. You must remember what your eyes see may not be true. If you intend on taking advantage of people, you will end up losing!”
The next day, my father again cooked 2 bowls of noodles: one bowl with an egg on top and the other bowl with no egg on top. Again, he put the two bowls on the table and said to me, ”My child. You choose. Which bowl do you want?” This time I am smarter. I chose the bowl without any egg on top. To my surprise, as I separated the noodles on top, there was not even a single egg at the bottom of the bowl! Again my father smiled and said to me, ”My child, you must not always rely on experiences because sometimes, life can cheat you or play tricks on you. But you must not be too annoyed or sad, just treat this as learning a lesson. You cannot Learn this from textbooks. .
The third day, my father again cooked 2 bowls of noodles, again one bowl with an egg on top and the other bowl with no egg on top. He put the 2 bowls on the table and again said to me, ”My child. You choose. Which bowl do you want?”. This time, I told my father, ”Dad, you choose first. You are the head of the family and contributed the most to the family. ”My father did not decline and chose the bowl with one egg on top. As I eat my bowl of noodles, sure in my heart that there is no egg inside the bowl. To my surprise! There were TWO eggs at the bottom of the bowl. .
My father smiled at me with love in his eyes, ”My child, you must remember! When you think for the good of others, good things will always naturally happen to you!" .
I always remember these 3 sentences of my father and lived and do my business accordingly. True enough, my business was a roaring success. .
Xi JinPing
Now the President of Republic of China
From the post of:
Basali Baniaga Baybay, FB
November 22, 2018
6 WIVES' TALES THAT ARE ACTUALLY TRUE
1. An apple a day keeps the doctor away – According to a 2013 study, when English test subjects over the age of 50 ate an apple per day, they prevented 8500 heart attacks and strokes each year. It’s time to stock up on those apples.
2. Counting sheep will help you sleep – Counting sheep, or more specifically, visualisation can help you sleep by distracting you from anxiety and stress-laden thoughts, allowing you to drift off sooner.
3. Eat chicken soup when you have a cold – It’s common practise to eat chicken soup when you have a cold, and there’s good reason behind it: according to studies, chicken soup helps to reduce inflammation by means of slowing down the white blood cell activity that causes it.
4. The hair of the dog that bit you – It’s commonly said that after a big night out, having a drink the next day can alleviate your hangover, and it’s not wrong. According to studies, consuming small amounts of alcohol can reduce the hangover symptoms caused from withdrawal.
5. Eat chocolate during your period – There’s a reason woman notoriously reach for chocolate during their menstrual cycle, and it isn’t just because it’s delicious. Chocolate, which contains antioxidants called anandamide, can calm the consumer while reducing anxiety and moderating moods.
6. Eating cheese before bed gives you weird dreams – According to research, bacterial and fungal properties of cheese are considered “psychoactive” ingredients, which can affect the lucidity and vividness of your dreams, but do not necessarily equal nightmares.
Source: Over 60
BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE
He said, Thank GOD I'm not poor.
The poor man looked around and saw a naked man misbehaving on the street ...
He said, Thank GOD I'm not mad.
The mad man looked ahead and saw an ambulance carrying a patient ...
He said, Thank GOD I am not sick.
Then a sick person in hospital saw a trolley taking a dead body to the mortuary ...
He said, Thank GOD I'm not dead.
Only a dead person cannot thank God.
Why don't you thank GOD today for all your blessings and for the gift of life ... for another beautiful day!
What is LIFE?
To understand life better, you have to go to 3 locations :
1. Hospital 2. Prison 3. Cemetery
At the Hospital, you will understand that nothing is more beautiful than HEALTH.
In the Prison, you will see that FREEDOM is the most precious thing.
At the Cemetery, you will realize that LIFE is worth nothing.
Sad Truth* : We all come with Nothing and we will go with Nothing ...
Let us, therefore, remain humble and be thankful and grateful to God at all times for everything.
Lifted from the post of:
Ed Accad, FB 2018
TO LIVE LONG LIFE
(The 10 years from 70 to 79 years old are crucial)
Israeli scholars have found that 70-79 years old is a dangerous period. During this period, various organs decline rapidly. It is a frequent period of various geriatric diseases, and it is often prone to hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes.
After entering the age of 80, these diseases will decline, and the mental and physical health may return to the level of 60-69 years old.
Thus, the age of 70 to 79 years old is called the “dangerous age group”. As people grow older many people want to have a good healthy life. They realise that “Health is Wealth”.
The 10-year health care of 70 to 79 years old is crucial. Here are some simple steps called "Doing *ten ones * every day”
This will help you to navigate more smoothly through the "dangerous age group" stage of your life.
1. A pot of water - Water is "the best and cheapest health drink".
You must drink a glass of water during the following three times/occasions each day:
First cup:
After getting out of bed, you can drink a glass of water on an empty stomach.
Because of our invisible sweating and urination. Even if we don't feel thirsty after getting up, the body liquids will still be thick due to lack of water. Therefore, after getting out of bed, you must slowly add water as soon as possible.
Second cup:
A glass of water after exercise - The right amount of exercise is one of the cornerstones of longevity. However, after exercise, special attention should be paid to replenishing water, it is recommended that the old people drink water.
Third cup:
A glass of water before going to bed can effectively reduce the blood viscosity and may even slow down the appearance of aging. Helps against Angina, myocardial infarction and other diseases.
2. A bowl of porridge - If you feel sick, drink a bowl of porridge! Wang Shixiong, a famous medical scientist in the Qing Dynasty, called porridge "the first complement of the world" in his book.
China Daily Online published a 14-year study conducted by Harvard University on 100,000 people. It found that a bowl of about 28 grams of whole grain cereal porridge per day can reduce 5% mortality and 9% can reduce the chance of getting cardiovascular disease.
Each volunteer was in good physical condition when he participated in the study in 1984, but in the 2010 feedback survey, more than 26,000 volunteers have passed away.
It was found that those volunteers who regularly eat whole grains such as porridge, brown rice, corn and buckwheat seem to have avoided all diseases, especially heart disease.
3. A cup of milk - Milk is known as "white blood" and is to the human body. Its nutritional value is well known with a lot of calcium, fat and protein.
The recommended daily intake of milk and dairy products is 300 grams. For an ordinary 200 ml bottle of milk, it is enough to drink one or two 200 -ml - bottles or packets of milk a day.
4. An egg - Eggs can be said to be the most suitable food for human consumption. The body's absorption rate of egg protein can be as high as 98%.
5. An apple - Modern research believes that apples have the effects of lowering cholesterol, losing weight, preventing cancer, preventing aging, enhancing memory, and making the skin smooth and soft.
The health benefits of different color apples are different:
Red apples have the effect of lowering blood lipids and softening blood vessels
Green apple has the effect of nourishing liver and detoxifying, and can fight depression, so it is more suitable for young people to eat.
Yellow apples have a good effect on protecting vision.
6. An onion - The Onion has a very high nutritional value and has many functions, including helping to lower blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, preventing cancer, protecting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and also anti- bacteria, preventing colds, and supplementing calcium and bones. Eat onions at least three or four times a week.
7. A piece of fish - Chinese Nutritionists have warned that “eating "four legs" is worse than eating "two legs", eating "two legs" is worse than eating "no legs."
"No legs" mainly refers to fish and various vegetables. The protein contained in fish is easily digested and absorbed. The amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the fat, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, is relatively good for the body.
8. Gentle walking - This has a magical anti-aging effect. When adults walk (about 1 kilometre or less) regularly for more than 12 weeks, they will achieve the effect of correct posture and waist circumference, and the body becomes strong and not easily tired.
In addition, walking exercise is also beneficial to treat headache, back pain, shoulder pain, etc., and can promote sleep.
Experts believe that a 30-minute walk a day can get rid of the danger of “adult disease”. People who take 10,000 steps a day will have a lower chance of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
9. A hobby
Having a hobby, whether it is raising flowers, raising birds, collecting stamps, fishing, or painting, singing, playing chess, and traveling, can help the elderly to maintain extensive contact with society and nature. This broadens the horizons of interest of the elderly. They will love and cherish life.
10. Good mood - Old people should maintain good emotions as these are extremely important to their health.
Common chronic diseases which affect the elderly are closely related to the negative emotions of the elderly:
Many patients with coronary heart disease have angina and myocardial infarction due to stimulation of adverse emotions, resulting in sudden death;
"Bad" temper leads to high blood pressure. In prolonged and severe cases, this can cause stroke, heart failure, sudden death, etc.;
Negative Emotions such as anger, anxiety, and grief can cause blood sugar levels to rise, causing metabolic disorders in the body.
This shows how important it is to have a good mood!
Physical aging is a natural phenomenon, and it is the most sensible choice to fully devote yourself to life and to live the best of the day!
Source: FB via Ed Alvendia
November 20, 2018
MANY OF US ARE BETWEEN 65 AND DEATH
by Old Techo » Wed Jun 06, 2018
(My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . )
1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.
4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.
5. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”
7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.
8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.
9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age
10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.
11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.
13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.
14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
15 Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.
16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.
17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.
18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone - apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.
19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.
20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.
21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!
REMEMBER: Life is too short to drink bad wine or warm beer.
Source: http://www.candm.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21076/June 6, 2018
: Via Benson Bautista shared post from Greg Howard/April 22, 2018
THE WATER LILY PRINCIPLE
By Duoi Ampilan
28 March 2013
Many believe that people whose principles are easily bended by persuasions and pressures are likened to a water lily. This water plant goes along with the current. It just follows the natural flow. It sways left and right depending on the water current.
But look, perfection is just an illusion among creatures. Every form of life including human being has its up and down sides. A creature may have some outstanding characteristics though weaknesses are also common.
Just like any other person, you may be have outstanding trait of being intelligent, compassionate or having that great looks. But, beyond that, you also share some flaws and faults. Nature will not give you everything or make you a perfect individual.
We can build on our strong points, our talents and capacities. We can also improve our weak points and even make them as our stepping stones to do better, achieve more or make a difference.
One thing I like most about water lily is its ability to reinvent itself and make a difference in a world full of imperfections. Water lily’s adaptation is so powerful. We do not even see how this wonderful plant defies circumstances because we are blinded by its magnificent flowers.
I like to adapt the principle of water lily when it comes to fitting itself into its world. In the face of a filthy environment, the water lily blooms to be one of the most stunning things in the natural world. Look at the kind of environment it thrives, mostly in messy water, but this plant does not look mucky at all. There is a big difference and contrast between the plant and its environment.
We all have the options, we all have the will to be the kind of individuals we want to be. The environment we have may not be so supportive or inspiring but we can still make a difference just like the water lily.
We all have the power to survive any circumstances. Our inner motivation can move mountains. We can always be the best of whatever we have and whoever we are. We must believe in the power within us.
Source: Duoipedia/Random Thoughts
"Live with one foot raised and make the world your house." ~St. Ignatius of Loyola
JOHN GOKONGWEI SPEECH: A RIPPLING INSPIRATION
As shared by Edwin Jamora
August 11, 2018
Mei Li WRITES THAT THE PHILIPPINES EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM TEACHES STUDENTS TO BE EMPLOYEES
That's right. We were taught how to ace licensure tests to make sure we get a job. At one point, there's nursing schools at every corner and every year, nurses are shipped all over the world. TESDA trains people to have skills to be an employee. But there's no school equivalent to be an entrepreneur. In fact, even our government does not have the United States equivalent of Small Business Administration. Nada.
I was reminded of John Gokongwei's speech at Ateneo.
Here it is...
-----
John Gokongwei Speech before Ateneo 2004 Graduates
I wish I were one of you today, instead of a 77-year-old man, giving a speech you will probably forget when you wake up from your hangover tomorrow.
You may be surprised I feel this way. Many of you are feeling fearful and apprehensive about your future. You are thinking that, perhaps, your Ateneo diploma will not mean a whole lot in the future in a country with too many problems. And you are probably right.
You are thinking that our country is slipping-no, sliding. Again, you may be right.
Twenty years ago, we were at par with countries like Thailand,Malaysia, and Singapore. Today, we are left way behind. You know the facts.
Twenty years ago, the per capita income of the Filipino was 1,000 US dollars. Today, it's 1,100 dollars. That's a growth of only ten percent in twenty years.
Meanwhile, Thailand's per capita income today is double ours; Malaysia, triple ours; and Singapore, almost twenty times ours.
With globalization coming, you know it is even more urgent to wake up. Trade barriers are falling, which means we will have to compete harder. In the new world, entrepreneurs will be forced to invest their money where it is most efficient. And that is not necessarily in the Philippines. Even for Filipino entrepreneurs, that can be the case.
For example, a Filipino brand like Maxx candy can be manufactured in Bangkok --where labor, taxes, power and financing are cheaper and more efficient -- and then exported to other ASEAN countries.
This will be a common scenario if things do not change. Pretty soon, we will become a nation that buys everything and produces practically nothing. We will be like the prodigal son who took his father's money and spent it all. The difference is that we do not have a generous father to run back to. But despite this, I am still very excited about the future. I will tell you why later.
You have been taught at the Ateneo to be "a person for others." Of course, that is noble: To serve your countrymen. Question is: How? And my answer is: Be an entrepreneur!
You may think I am just a foolish man talking mundane stuff when the question before him is almost philosophical. But I am being very thoughtful here, and if I may presume this about myself, being patriotic as well. Entrepreneurship is the answer. We need young people who will find the idea, grab the opportunity, take the risk, and set aside comfort to set up businesses that will provide jobs.
But why? What are jobs? Jobs are what allow people to feel useful and build their self-esteem. Jobs make people productive members of the community. Jobs make people feel they are worthy citizens. And jobs make a country worthy players in the world market.
In that order of things, it is the entrepreneurs who have the power to harness the creativity and talents of others to achieve a common good. This should leave the world a better place than it was.
Let me make it clear: Job creation is a priority for any nation to move forward. For example, it is the young entrepreneurs of Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore who created the dynamic businesses that have propelled their countries to the top. Young people like yourselves.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, progress is slow. Very little is new. Hardly anything is fresh. With a few exceptions, the biggest companies before the war -- like PLDT, Ayala, and San Miguel -- are still the biggest companies today.
All right, being from the Ateneo, many of you probably have offers from these corporations already. You may even have offers from JG Summit. I say: Great!
Take these offers, work as hard as you can, learn teverything these companies can teach and then leave! If you dream of creating something great, do not let a 9-to-5 job-even a high-paying one-lull you into a complacent, comfortable life. Let that high-paying job propel you toward entrepreneurship instead.
When I speak of the hardship ahead, I do not mean to be skeptical but realistic. Even you Ateneans, who are famous for your eloquence, you cannot talk your way out of this one. There is nothing to do but to deal with it. I learned this lesson when, as a 13-year-old, I lost my dad.
Before that, I was like many of you: a privileged kid. I went to Cebu's best school; lived in a big house; and got free entrance to the Vision, the largest movie house in Cebu, which my father owned.
Then my dad died, and I lost all these. My family had become poor -- poor enough to split my family. My mother and five siblings moved to China where the cost of living was lower. I was placed under the care of my Grand Uncle Manuel Gotianuy, who put me through school. But just two years later, the war broke out, and even my Uncle Manuel could no longer see me through. I was out in the streets -- literally.
Looking back, this time was one of the best times of my life. We lost everything, true, but so did everybody! War was the great equalizer. In that setting, anyone who was willing to size up the situation, use his wits, and work hard, could make it!
It was every man for himself, and I had to find a way to support myself and my family. I decided to be a market vendor. Why? Because it was something that I, a 15-year-old boy in short pants, could do.
I started by selling simple products in the palengke half an hour by bike from the city. I had a bicycle. I would wake up at five in the morning, load thread, soap and candles into my bike, and rush to the palengke. I would rent a stall for one peso a day, lay out my goods on a table as big as this podium, and begin selling. I did that the whole day. I sold about twenty pesos of goods every day.
Today, twenty pesos will only allow you to send twenty text messages to your crush, but 63 years ago, it was enough to support my family. And it left me enough to plow back into my small, but growing, business. I was the youngest vendor in the palengke, but that didn't faze me. In fact, I rather saw it as an opportunity.
Remember, that was 63 years and 100 pounds ago, so I could move faster, stay under the sun more, and keep selling longer than everyone else. Then, when I had enough money and more confidence, I decided to travel to Manila from Cebu to sell all kinds of goods like rubber tires.
Instead of my bike, I now traveled on a batel -- a boat so small that on windless days, we would just float there. On bad days, the trip could take two weeks! During one trip, our batel sank! We would have all perished in the sea were it not for my inventory of tires.
The viajeros were happy because my tires saved their lives, and I was happy because the viajeros, by hanging on to them, saved my tires. On these long and lonely trips I had to entertain myself with books, like Gone With The Wind.
After the war, I had saved up 50,000 pesos. That was when you could buy a chicken for 20 centavos and a car for 2,000 pesos. I was 19 years old.
Now I had enough money to bring my family home from China. Once they were all here, they helped me expand our trading business to include imports.
Remember that the war had left the Philippines with very few goods. So we imported whatever was needed and imported them from everywhere-includin g used clothes and textile remnants from the United States. We were probably the first ukay-ukay dealers here.
Then, when I had gained more experience and built my reputation, I borrowed money from the bank,and got into manufacturing. I saw that coffee was abundant, and Nescafe of Nestle was too expensive for a country still rebuilding from the war, so my company created Blend 45.
That was our first branded hit. And from there, we had enough profits to launch Jack and Jill. From one market stall, we are now in nine core businesses-includin g retail, real estate, publishing, petrochemicals, textiles, banking, food manufacturing, Cebu Pacific Air and Sun Cellular.
When we had shown success in the smaller businesses, we were able to raise money in the capital markets -- through IPOs and bond offerings -- and then get into more complex, capital-intensive enterprises. We did it slow, but sure. Success doesn't happen overnight. It's the small successes achieved day by day that build a company.
So, don't be impatient or focused on immediate financial rewards. I only started flying business class when I got too fat to fit in the economy seats. And I even wore a used overcoat while courting my wife-it came from my ukay-ukay business. Thank God Elizabeth didn't mind the mothball smell of my overcoat or maybe she wouldn't have married me.
Save what you earn and plow it back. And never forget your families! Your parents denied themselves many things to send you here. They could have traveled around the world a couple of times with the money they set aside for your education, and your social life, and your comforts. Remember them -- and thank them.
When you have families of your own, you must be home with them for at least one meal everyday. I did that while I was building my company. Now, with all my six children married, I ask that we spend every Sunday lunch together, when everything under the sun is discussed. As it is with business, so it is with family. There are no short cuts for building either one. Remember, no short cuts.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, your patron saint, and founder of this 450-year old organization I admire, described an ideal Jesuit as one who "lives with one foot raised."
I believe that means someone who is always ready to respond to opportunities. Saint Ignatius knew that, to build a successful organization, he needed to recruit and educate men who were not afraid of change but were in fact excited by it. In fact, the Jesuits were one of the earliest practitioners of globalization.
As early as the 16th century, upon reaching a foreign country, they compiled dictionaries in local languages like Tamil and Vietnamese so that they could spread their message in the local language. In a few centuries, they have been able to spread their mission in many countries through education.
The Jesuits have another quote. "Make the whole world your house" which means that the ideal Jesuit must be at home everywhere. By adapting to change, but at the same time staying true to their beliefs, the Society of Jesus has become the long-lasting and successful organization it is today and has made the world their house.
So, let live with one foot raised in facing the next big opportunity: globalization. Globalization can be your greatest enemy. It will be your downfall if you are too afraid and too weak to fight it out. But it can also be your biggest ally.
With the Asian Free Trade agreement and tariffs near zero, your market has grown from 80 million Filipinos to half a billion Southeast Asians. Imagine what that means to you as an entrepreneur if you are able to find a need and fill it. And imagine, too, what that will do for the economy of our country!
Yes, our government may not be perfect, and our economic environment not ideal, but true entrepreneurs will find opportunities anywhere. Look at the young Filipino entrepreneurs who made it. When I say young-and I'm 77, remember-I am talking about those in their 50s and below.
Tony Tan of Jollibee, Ben Chan of Bench, Rolando Hortaleza of Splash, and Wilson Lim of Abensons. They're the guys who weren't content with the 9-to-5 job, who were willing to delay their gratification and comfort, and who created something new, something fresh.
Something Filipinos are now very proud of. They all started small but now sell their hamburgers, T-shirts and cosmetics in Asia, America, and the Middle East. In doing so, these young Filipino entrepreneurs created jobs while doing something they were passionate about.
Globalization is an opportunity of a lifetime-for you. And that is why I want to be out there with you instead of here behind this podium-perhaps too old and too slow to seize the opportunities you can.
Let me leave you with one last thought. Trade barriers have fallen. The only barriers left are the barriers you have in your mind. So, Ateneans, Class of 2004, heed the call of entrepreneurship. With a little bit of will and a little bit of imagination, you can turn this crisis into your patriotic moment-and truly become a person for others.
"Live with one foot raised and make the world your house."
To this great University, my sincerest thanks for this singular honor conferred on me today.
To the graduates, congratulations and Godspeed.
"Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam".
Thank you.
Source: FB
WHAT DEFINES YOU
By Cindy Ching
One has said that you are defined by three things: your PATIENCE when you have nothing, your ATTITUDE when you have everything, and how you TREAT OTHERS in both situations.
We have seen and read success stories of many people who have overcome and risen above the most difficult circumstances, but yet to see people who are able to successfully handle fame, and opulence.
Most failed after having experienced too much, too soon. Many still find themselves wanting something that they themselves find hard to identify.
At the end of the day, what you carry in your heart is all you are left. The problem is, when the heart is empty, you have nowhere to draw from. That’s tragic. And as history has constantly shown us, it could be fatal.
Source: FB, 2018
"OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER IS SHORT"
A beautiful message for all of us....
Take a minute please...
A young lady sat in a bus. At the next stop a loud and grumpy old lady came and sat by her. She squeezed into the seat and bumped her with her numerous bags.
The person sitting on the other side of the young lady got upset, asked her why she did not speak up and say something.
The young lady responded with a smile:
"It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant, the journey together is so short. I get off at the next stop."
This response deserves to be written in golden letters:
*"It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant, our journey together is so short"*
If each one of us realized that our time here is so short; that to darken it with quarrels, futile arguments, not forgiving others, discontentment and a fault finding attitude would be a waste of time and energy.
Did someone break your heart?
*Be calm, the journey is so short.*
Did someone betray, bully, cheat or humiliate you?
*Be calm, forgive, the journey is so short.*
Whatever troubles anyone brings us, let us remember that *our journey together is so short.*
No one knows the duration of this journey. No one knows when their stop will come. *Our journey together is so short.*
Let us cherish friends and family.
Let us be respectful, kind and forgiving to one another.
Let us be filled with gratitude and gladness.
If I have ever hurt you, I ask for your forgiveness.
If you have ever hurt me, you already have my forgiveness.
After all, Our Journey Together is so Short!
☘Sey Boon Ho
Source: FB/Benson Bautista
July 17, 2018
"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." ~Bruce Lee
THE WORLD NEEDS MEN...
1. who cannot be bought;
2. whose word is their bond;
3. who put character above wealth;
4. who possess opinions and a will;
5. who are larger than their vocations;
6. who do not hesitate to take chances;
7. who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
8. who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
9. who will make no compromise with wrong;
10. whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
11. who will not say they do it” because everybody else does it”;
12. who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
13. who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
14. who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
15. who can say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes.”
By Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity
Source: Dr. Ethel Pineda
THE BUNDLE OF STICKS
By Sherry Zimmer
When I was a little girl, my Mother bought me a book called Aesop’s Fables and that is where this story comes from. Books were treasured in my home because, as a widow with 4 children, she didn’t have a lot of money to buy books. This story had an impact on me as a child and when my own sons would fuss I remember doing the same thing, with a bundle of pencils. They were able to break one in half but could not break a bundle. It was my way of showing them that they should stick together.
At this time, when I see President Duterte supporters fussing and fighting amongst themselves, I wish I could have them all in my kitchen and tell them the same thing. I don’t care what other politicians you support – everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
At his time, President Duterte needs all of us – we are the pieces of his "walis tingting" - in his desire to sweep the Philippines clean of the corruption, of prior administrations.
In unity is strength.
Source: FB, May 2018
THE ADVOCACY OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: "TAPANG AT MALASAKIT"
(Courage and Compassion)
IN this world of grab and greed, selfishness, lies and deceit; comes a whirlpool of egos and whims where values, virtues and human dignity are almost extinct, if not, non existent. Not in a sense of political correctness ala Philippines style.
As Rosemarie Natosa Santos puts it, "But for decades these were seemed lost: abandoned? ignored? or just forgotten".
Not until the provincial Mayor from Davao City won in a landslide presidential election in May 9, 2016, all that have changed.
TAPANG AT MALASAKIT was the core value of then Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte's political platform during his election campaign. He had no machinery, no connection, no money when he was compelled to run for the presidency; driven by the lack of apathy for the Filipino people, their well-being and for the country as a whole by past administrations and political opponents who did nothing but drained the coffer of the nation leaving its constituents bone dry.
The people themselves were hopeless; ready to surrender their fate in the hands of the oppressors and transgressors as each time they get a new leader, all promises made to them went to the sinkhole. They became nonchalant and despondent that they couldn't care less anymore.
So "after decades of 'walang pakialam' attitude, of being complacent, of being indifferent to what was happening around us - a strong jolt of realization awakened us," said Mrs Santos.
In Adam Garrie's words: ".... before Duterte, The Philippines was a country that was failing to live up to its potential. Many had given up, settled for less, thought to themselves nothing will change. Duterte has replaced this attitude with one of optimism and passion. It’s much better now than before," during his recent interview with Rado Gatchalian, one of the lead initiators of various DDS global events.
CRIME AND WAR ON DRUGS
President Duterte's war on drugs was a nightmare to consider that is impossible to win overnight. His 6-months promised to eradicate this problem turned futile when he realised that his country was already a narco state. Politicians became the protectors of the drug lords with rings of connections all over the country. Obviously their hideous activity has the consent of the CBCP who runs the Catholic Church with legions of religious fanatics and zealots who abide by their words as their spiritual leader. As a religious emissary, the Catholic Church is supposed to be the spiritual guide and the vanguard of moral compass within the society. But they failed their duty to their people; and instead they contrived inasmuch as they connived with the crooks in the former government to fatten up their treasury.
Deeply infiltrated and penetrated by the demon of drugs ruining the very foundation of the family, community, society and the country; it's almost like the country was in the "verge of genocide."
"Drugs can destroy an entire groups of people and in so doing, they can destroy an entire country. They turn people into monsters, streets into blood-baths, cities into what Donald Trump might call a “shit hole. Drugs are as big a danger to human rights as living under a terrorist regime. Duterte’s war on drugs is for human rights because in a drug free world, everyone can live safely and in peace with their neighbours. This is REAL human rights," Adam Garrie added.
Without delay Duterte mobilised the police units under PNP Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa in implementing the purging of the country from the vicious killers. Thus, resulting in mass surrender by the drug addicts who were given a new lease of life to reform and to turn away from their demonic vices. In return, they were rehabilitated and underwent counselling and training so they can go back to their family and live a normal life. That's because of our compassionate President whose primary concern is for the welfare of the people.
In effect, the crime rate has reduced, but the war on drugs still continues. As witnessed by the balikbayan expats, they have seen a huge change in the country; clean and orderly as compared to the chaotic ambience of the past government.
FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
As what he promised during the election campaign, Duterte is now chasing after the scoundrels that plunged the country into bankruptcy and extreme poverty - the oligarchs, the Catholic Church in particular, the public and private agencies, business entrepreneurs, the Judiciary and the Legislative body. He's facing an enormous challenge to cleanse the rotten system that crippled the country. His enemies are people coming from different influential sectors of the society, and they still remain high and untouchable. Other than that, he's also fighting long and hard with the outsiders from meddling in the internal affairs of the country, and demanding respect for our sovereignty and telling the intervening powerful leaders off to mind their own business.
All these, because President Duterte has a strong political will and power of steel to work for his people who gave him the mandate on that day his fate was sealed on Election Day in 2016. He also has carefully chosen his cabinets who have the same ardour of Tapang and Malasakit to work side by side with him, and, by his noble influence follow his lead in serving the people.
He not only lead the country to the unknown chartered seas, but he has proven his critics wrong that a leader can still lead in the absence of money which corrupted many government officials many times before. His (build, build, build) programs are straightforward as he lifted the face of the country towards the unprecedented economic growth within a span of less than two years. And as the survey showed, the people stay strong in their support to him, and with the exception of 6%, all the rest are very happy with his performance and leadership.
OFW'S AND MIGRANTS ADVOCACY
The Overseas Filipino Workers are scattered all over the world. So are the migrants who left their motherland in pursuit of the green pasture. When these two groups combined saw this man and heard his bravery and concern driven by his unconditional love for the Filipino people; this lone voice in the desert was not left on his own when without hesitation, they reached out to help him with their fists pointing forward and pledged him their love and support in the spirit of TAPANG AT MALASAKIT.
A STRONG SENTIMENT FROM A CITIZEN OF CEBU
The people are awakened and invigorated by their renewed patriotism and nationalism:
Here's one leader that set out a phenomenon of the era when "The Desire for CHANGE emerged and so with the lookout for someone to lead that change. People suddenly began to notice corruptions, drugs proliferation and the crimes associated with it. People started to recognize the decay in the justice system, the obvious incompetence of public officials and feel the miserable state of our economy and society.
This desire for change is now the popular clamor from the citizenry- as they got more involved in the political affairs voicing their sentiments, their discontent, even disgust. This hunger for change paved for the search for the right leader.
People are now more vocal in their concern for the country. People for the first time in our political history are openly praying for their President, for their government and for their country.
TAPANG AT MALASAKIT, the forlorn virtues for decades, now recovered, shared and practised by every God-fearing patriots of today", echoed in a strong sentiment by MRS. ROSE MARIE NATOSA SANTOS of Cebu.
DDS IN AUSTRALIA
As what Adam Garrie cut out in his advice to the Filipino people in particular:
"NEVER LISTEN to critics who want you to be like someone else. Be the best for yourselves. Learn from positive examples, but use this to develop a better society that reflects your own characteristics. REMEMBER that in the future, the countries that thought less of you, are now diminishing themselves while you are rising. Never be afraid and always be proud."
Adam Garrie's words of wisdom are as applicable to all DDS members and groups all over the world as they are to our people back in our home country.
The April30FORDU30 Australia Global Movement, lead by Rado Gatchalian, remains strong in continuing the TAPANG AT MALASAKIT Advocacy of President Rodrigo Duterte, who willfully lay his life for his country and boldly said:
Contributors' Credits:
Rose Marie Natosa Santos, FB,
Adam Garrie of Eurasia Future - Rado Gatchalian Interview
Link: (http://www.eurasiafuture.com/…/rado-gatchalian-interviews-…/)
FOR DU30 CORRESPONDENT
April30FORDU30 Australia Global Movement
By Leah C. Dancel aka JP
Copyright@2018
All rights reserved
March 23, 2018
(Published in Lessons To Live 25 April 2018 in commemoration to the approaching 2nd Anniversary of April30forDU30 Australia Global Movement).
WHAT MAKES HUMAN RELATIONS FRAGILE AND TENUOUS?
A MAN's VIEW
By Carlos Silverio Bueno
27 April 2018
At the most basic level, the human sense of Self cannot help but cling to the rule of survival — self-preservation. However, at the social level, people need to adjust the ego, to tolerate others' ambivalence and ambiguities, idiosyncrasies and even foolhardiness — to make way for social cohesion and group identity, a shared culture, norms of behavior, ethics and morality. But how about one-on-one relationships which are supposedly mediated by the concept and modus vivendi of Love (Eros)?
People may easily fall in love — and just as easily fall out of love. Or they may just behave in a "civil" manner, which is to say they're just minding their own business. Decorum, politeness, sensitivity, sensibility, tact, solicitousness, even unctuousness — these are just the modifiers of the actual state of relations between individuals at any given time. In love relationships, there is of course caring, kindness, trust, intimacy, even sacrifice and selflessness — as well as anger or hate, indifference, boredom, and finally escape and estrangement, among other negative or undesirable characteristics.
All these are within the scope and capabilities of the human condition. Great compassion and great ruthlessness. Irrevocable sacrifice and being utterly self-centered. Resolute closeness and absolute separation. The dualities of human nature just mirror nature's uncompromising duality. In the logic of digital technology, there are simply 1's and/or 0's...
So, what is the secret of a truly lasting relationship — a marriage, a friendship, a partnership, an alliance, and what-have-you? There really is no secret — every human being recognizes just what it is — inherent in each consciousness, incessantly emerging from the subconscious depths of the human psyche.
It is HOPE — hope in the enduring persistence of human aspirations, as expressed in love, motivations, goals... or simply life in general. But of course, always subject to the vicissitudes of human frailties and shortcomings; or strengthened by firm commitment and reinforced by full dedication; or perhaps neglected and consigned to the oblivion of indifference and unresponsiveness, like watching from the side of the river of life one’s destiny floating past…
The human condition — the essential loneliness of the individual, being affected or mitigated by the temporal events of life, but buoyed and sustained by hope that “springs eternal from men’s hearts.” Until the final arbiter that is Time dictates the end of one life, and the beginning of another...
Reposted (from 2015) ~ ‘pag may time
THE OLD WOMAN and THE OLD MULE
An Old Woman walked up and tied her old Mule to the hitching post.
As she stood there, brushing some of the dust from her face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The young gunslinger looked at the old woman and laughed, "hey Old Woman, have you ever danced?"
The Old Woman looked up at the gunslinger and said, "No, ... I never did dance...Never really wanted to."
A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "well, you Old Bag, you're gonna dance now," and started shooting at the Old Woman's feet.
The Old Woman Prospector -- not wanting to get her toe blown off -- started hopping around. Everybody was laughing. When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.
The Old Woman turned to her pack Mule, pulled out a double-barrelled shotgun, and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks çarried clearly through the desert air, and the crowd stopped laughing immediately.
The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly. The silence was almost deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the Old Woman and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels.
The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the Old Woman's hands, as she quietly said, "Son, have you ever kissed a Mule's ass?"
The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, "No Ma'am... But I've always wanted to.
THERE ARE FIVE LESSONS HERE FOR ALL OF US:
1 - Never be arrogant. 2 - Don't waste ammunition. 3 - Whiskey makes you think you're smarter than you are. 4 - Always make sure you know who has the power. 5 - Don't mess with old people; they didn't get old by being stupid.
Source: FB
4 CHEMICALS of HAPPINESS
Why am I still not happy?
“I am rich, fit, and I have mastered almost everything I wanted to master. Why am I still not happy and still not satisfied?" ~Anonymous
▪DOPAMINE
▪ENDORPHINS
▪SEROTONIN
▪OXYTOCIN
🔹On your journey to become fit, your body released endorphins to cope with the pain of physical exercise. You probably began to enjoy exercise as you got into it, and the endorphins made you happy - temporarily.
🔹On your journey to become rich, you probably completed many tasks and goals.
You probably bought all the things you’ve ever wanted. Nice cars, beautiful clothes, and a perfect home. This released dopamine in your brain when you achieved your goals and bought these things, which once again contributed to your happiness - temporarily.
So what about the other two chemicals?
It turns out that human happiness is incomplete without all 4 chemicals constantly being released in the brain.
So now you need to work on releasing serotonin and oxytocin.
“How do I do that?"
🔹Serotonin is released when we act in a way that benefits others. When we give to causes beyond ourselves and our own benefit. When we connect with people on a deep, human level.
Writing this Quora answer is releasing serotonin in my brain right now because I’m using my precious time on the weekend to give back to others for free.
Hopefully I’m providing useful information that can help other people, like yourself.
That’s why you often see billionaires turning to charity when they have already bought everything they wanted to, and experienced everything they wanted to in life.
They’ve had enough dopamine from material pleasures, now they need the serotonin.
🔹Oxytocin on the other hand, is released when we become close to another human being.
When we hug a friend, or shake someone’s hand, oxytocin is released in varying amounts.
Oxytocin is easy to release. It’s all about becoming more social!
Share your wealth with your friends and family to create amazing experiences.
Laugh, Love, Cooperate, and Play with others.
That’s it my friend!!!
I think it all comes down to the likelihood that you are missing two things : "contribution and social connection”
Source: Benson Bautista
FB Via E Ho
CHARITY WRAPPED WITH DIGNITY
She asked him, 'How much are you selling the eggs for?'
The old seller replied, 'Rs.5/- an egg, Madam.'
She said to him, 'I will take 6 eggs for Rs.25/- or I will leave.'
The old seller replied, 'Come take them at the price you want. May be, this is a good beginning because I have not been able to sell even a single egg today.'
She took the eggs and walked away feeling she has won. She got into her fancy car and went to a posh restaurant with her friend. There, she and her friend, ordered whatever they liked. They ate a little and left a lot of what they ordered. Then she went to pay the bill. The bill costed her Rs.1,400/-. She gave Rs. 1,500/- and asked the owner of the restaurant to keep the change.
This incident might have seemed quite normal to the owner but, very painful to the poor egg seller.
The point is,
Why do we always show we have the power when we buy from the needy ones? And why do we get generous to those who do not even need our generosity?
I once read somewhere:
'My father used to buy simple goods from poor people at high prices, even though he did not need them. Sometimes he even used to pay extra for them. I got concerned by this act and asked him why does he do so? Then my father replied, "It is a charity wrapped with dignity, my child”
Source: Contento Days
Bloggers Note: I must admit without being guilty that sometimes I am generous to those who do not need charity. But in moment of reverie, I often asked myself if those whom I'd been generous with, do they ever practice how to pass the bucket? By personal experience, I knew a few who never do.
EATING ALONE WHEN TRAVELLING SOLO
By Leon Della Bosco
16 July 2015
Travelling alone can be one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable, however, one of the biggest drawbacks can be the awkwardness you may feel when eating alone.
And if you feel that the discomfort of eating alone is enough for you to put off travelling solo, then fear not – because our suggestions will help you to meeting new people or dine with your best travel partner in years –you.
1. Have a virtual lunch date
You may feel uncomfortable about the idea of sitting down to a meal by yourself, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Your mobile phone can keep you connected with all your friends back on home soil so, in theory you never need eat alone. Smart phones are a great way to keep in touch at all times, so why not use this time to stay connected?
There’s nothing wrong with chatting to friends via text message or social media whilst waiting for your meal. It may seem rude, but hey, it’s your holiday. And if it makes you feel more comfortable, then go ahead and enjoy a virtual lunch date with anyone, anywhere in the world.
And if you don’t like the idea of using your phone at the dinner table, then why not dine with your favourite author and take along a book?
2. Chat with the staff
Take the opportunity to get to know the locals and have a chat with the bar or waiting staff. They’re usually quite friendly and no one knows the lie of the land better than the people who live there. You may even find yourself surprised by the hospitality of strangers. Once you become acquainted, you will feel more comfortable returning to the same café or restaurant because, in a sense, you’ll be visiting friends.
3. Take in your surroundings
If you find yourself eating alone, take a look around. Chances are, there are others that are dining solo just like you. Either way, why not spend the time taking in your surroundings? Take notice of the architecture and nature around you. Stare at the birds, watch people at play and lovers in love. People watching can be a fun way to pass the time. You can make up stories about the people around you, or check out the latest fashions in a foreign land. Take stock of your surroundings and have a much more rewarding experience getting to know the land, and people, that you are visiting.
4. Sit at the bar
Dining solo offers you the chance to be that mysterious person sitting at the bar drinking some exotic cocktail. You’d be surprised at how enigmatic this can be and you may even find that people want to talk to you to find out your story. Sitting at the bar gives you a captive audience – the bar staff, so you’ll have fairly constant stream of chat to help pass the time.
5. You don’t have to eat alone
It’s not uncommon when dining alone to be asked by staff if you’d mind joining another table. Also, don’t be surprised if someone comes up and asks you to join them, or asks to join you – you’re most likely not the only one dining alone. Just remember, you can always say no.
Or why not extend the hand of friendship to a fellow solo diner? It’s easy. All you have to do is approach someone and say, “Hi, my name is xxxx, I’m from Australia, do you mind if I join you?”
Who knows, you may just make a few friends with whom you can share your experiences.
Have you ever had the opportunity to eat alone in a restaurant or café? Why not share you solo dining suggestions for our members?
Blog Author's Note: I'm not practically a social butterfly, but when I travel solo which I often do, anywhere; I have no problem fitting myself in any place at a given time. Eating alone for me has its own rewarding experiences. Rules #2,3, and 4 are pretty much handy for me.
Source: You Life's Choice
HOW DO YOU STAY 'SAFE' AT OLD AGE
If you are 60 years old and above you really have to read and consider these realities of life.
(Remember only you can save yourself safely at old age).
1. DO NOT RETIRE
If you're over-aged, retire and get all the benefits but find another income-generating job or open a business that will keep you active physically and mentally.
Travel and bond with true friends, play a sport, learn a new hobby and volunteer in your community or parish.
Don't loaf around. Your spouse will hate you because you've become a sloppy, listless bum with nothing good to say about the household and things that you never bothered about before.
Solve crossword puzzles, play Scrabble, write your memoirs, and above all, read ...this will keep you alert and keep Alzheimer's at bay.
2. LIVE IN YOUR OWN PLACE TO ENJOY INDEPENDENCE, PRIVACY AND A SOLO LIFE
If you move in with your children, your rank or degree of importance is reduced to that of a bed spacer who has no place of honor or, worse, like crumbling furniture merely displayed with no added value.
Maybe, you have to 'kowtow' to conform to their own rules that are not kind, considerate or mindful of you?
If you witness your children engaged in a war of will and wits with your grandchildren, whom will you side with? Will they even appreciate your arbitration?
Remind your children that silence is not a sign of weakness; you are merely processing data that is taking longer to complete.
3. HOLD ON TO YOUR NEST EGG, BANK DEPOSITS AND ASSETS
If you want to help your children, do give, but not to the extent that you wipe out your life's earnings, singing heroically not a shirt on my back nor a penny to my name.
Staying solvent and in the black is a good hedge against all kinds of tempests. You will sleep better, you will not be afraid to express your opinion and you will be confident about yourself.
4. DON'T BELIEVE YOUR CHILDREN'S PROMISE TO CARE FOR YOU WHEN YOU GROW OLD - PRIORITIES CHANGE
Many children are not guilt- ridden or filled with a sense of moral obligation when the wife and offspring take top billing in their lives.
There are still children who would consider it a privilege to show compassion, genuine love and deep concern for their parents but be warned that not all children think alike.
5. EXPAND YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS TO INCLUDE YOUNG FRIENDS WHO WILL DEFINITELY OUTLIVE YOUR OLD BFF's
Keep up with new inventions, trends, music and lifestyle including all the scams and schemes you should guard against.
Remember that when you mix with the young, you also open a fresh avenue to channel your thoughts, experiences and values through so that the lessons you learned are not lost, forgotten or buried with you.
6. BE WELL-GROOMED AND SMELLING "SPRING FRESH" ALL THE TIME
There's nothing more depressing than seeing people exhale when you walk by because you reek of baul (camphor chest) or lupa (dirt). Old age or bust, don't look and smell like a corpse when you're not one yet.
7. DO NOT MEDDLE IN THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN
If they ask for your counsel, give it, but be ready to accept that they may not take it.
Their situations in life cannot be compared to the situations that you experienced in your life.
The playing field has changed and they need to develop their own set of survival skills.
If you raised them to be street smart, they can handle themselves in tough situations and be able to read people. Champion and encourage their dreams and desires but on their own terms.
8. DO NOT USE "OLD AGE" AS YOUR SHIELD AND JUSTIFICATION FOR TURNING GRUMPY
There's nothing more annoying than an arrogant, old fool.
Welcome each day as another chance to be kind and forgiving, to yourself and to others.
9. LISTEN TO WHAT OTHERS MAY SAY
Do not throw your weight around just because you are a septuagenarian or a nonagenarian.
You are not a depository of knowledge. Even if the roles have been reverse mode, make growing old a fun-filled, pleasant experience for you and your brood.
10. PRAY ALWAYS AND FOCUS ON YOUR ETERNAL LIFE
You will definitely leave everything behind, a final journey detached from burden and care.
Be more accepting that, sooner, not later, you will croak.
Prepare your swan song with a humble and contrite heart. If you believe in a merciful and loving God, there is no need to strut like a star. Nobody is.
MONEY --- Your last power at old age!
If you are broke at old age, nobody, not even your children will come close to you. You are a parasite. Yes, Money buys you power when you needed it most at old age.
Source and Author: Anon
LOVE LETTER TO FILIPINOS
By David H. Harwell, PhD
(A sentimental open letter from an American teacher to the Filipino people Please take time to read this)
I am writing to thank Filipinos for the way you have treated me here, and to pass on a lesson I learned from observing the differences between your culture and mine over the years.
I am an expatriate worker. I refer to myself as an OAW, an overseas American worker, as a bad joke. The work I do involves a lot of traveling and changing locations, and I do it alone, without family. I have been in 21 countries now, not including my own. It was fun at first. Now, many years later, I am getting tired. The Philippines remains my favorite country of all, though, and I’d like to tell you why before I have to go away again.
I have lived for short periods here, traveled here, and have family and friends here.
My own family of origin in the United States is like that of many Americans—not much of a family. Americans do not stay very close to their families, geographically or emotionally, and that is a major mistake. I have long been looking for a home and a family, and the Philippines is the only place I have lived where people honestly seem to understand how important their families are.
I am American and hard-headed. I am a teacher, but it takes me a long time to learn some things. But I’ve been trying, and your culture has been patient in trying to teach me.
In the countries where I’ve lived and worked, all over the Middle East and Asia, it is Filipinos who do all the work and make everything happen. When I am working in a new company abroad, I seek out the Filipino staff when I need help getting something done, and done right. Your international reputation as employees is that you work hard, don’t complain, and are very capable. If all the Filipinos were to go home from the Middle East, the world would stop. Oil is the lifeblood of the world, but without Filipinos, the oil will not come from the ground, it will not be loaded onto the ships, and the ships will not sail. The offices that make the deals and collect the payments will not even open in the morning. The schools will not have teachers, and, of course, the hospitals will have no staff.
What I have seen, that many of you have not seen, is how your family members, the ones who are overseas Filipino workers, do not tell you much about how hard their lives actually are. OFWs are very often mistreated in other countries, at work and in their personal lives. You probably have not heard much about how they do all the work but are severely underpaid, because they know that the money they are earning must be sent home to you, who depend on them. The OFWs are very strong people, perhaps the strongest I have ever seen. They have their pictures taken in front of nice shops and locations to post on Facebook so that you won’t worry about them. But every Pinoy I have ever met abroad misses his/her family very, very much.
I often pity those of you who go to America. You see pictures of their houses and cars, but not what it took to get those things. We have nice things, too many things, in America, but we take on an incredible debt to get them, and the debt is lifelong.
America’s economy is based on debt. Very rarely is a house, car, nice piece of clothing, electronic appliance, and often even food, paid for. We get them with credit, and this debt will take all of our lifetime to pay. That burden is true for anyone in America—the OFWs, those who are married to Americans, and the Americans themselves.
Most of us allow the American Dream to become the American Trap. Some of you who go there make it back home, but you give up most of your lives before you do. Some of you who go there learn the very bad American habits of wanting too many things in your hands, and the result is that you live only to work, instead of working only to live. The things we own actually own us. That is the great mistake we Americans make in our lives. We live only to work, and we work only to buy more things that we don’t need. We lose our lives in the process.
I have sometimes tried to explain it like this: In America, our hands are full, but our hearts are empty.
You have many problems here, I understand that. Americans worry about having new cars, Filipinos worry about having enough food to eat. That’s an enormous difference. But do not envy us, because we should learn something from you. What I see is that even when your hands are empty, your hearts remain full.
I have many privileges in the countries where I work, because I am an expat. I do not deserve these things, but I have them. However, in every country I visit, I see that you are there also, taking care of your families, friends, bosses, and coworkers first, and yourselves last. And you have always taken care of me, in this country and in every other place where I have been.
These are places where I have been very alone, very tired, very hungry, and very worried, but there have always been Filipinos in my offices, in the shops, in the restaurants, in the hospitals, everywhere, who smile at and take good care of me. I always try to let you know that I have lived and traveled in the Philippines and how much I like your country. I know that behind those smiles of yours, here and abroad, are many worries and problems.
Please know that at least one of us expats has seen what you do for others and understands that you have a story behind your smiles. Know that at least one of us admires you, respects you, and thanks you for your sacrifices. Salamat po. Ingat lagi. Mahal ko kayong lahat.
Bio
David H. Harwell, PhD, is a former professor and assistant dean in the United States who now travels and works abroad designing language training programs. He is a published author and a son of a retired news editor.
Source: FB
Circulated in 16 February 2016
KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AND MOVE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION
"Some people are meant to stay in your heart, but not in your life."
Some relationships are like glass. It’s better to leave it broken, than to hurt yourself more by trying to put it back together.
Just because one person doesn’t seem to care for you, doesn’t mean you should forget about everyone else who does.
Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right.
It is okay to be angry. It is never okay to be cruel.
Never do something permanently foolish just because you are temporarily upset.
Silence is often the loudest cry. Pay attention to those you care about.
We don’t always need advice. Sometimes all we need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand.
It’s not so much what you say that counts, it’ how you make people feel.
A silent hug means a thousand words to the unhappy heart.
Don’t mess with someone’s feelings just because you’re unsure of yours.
If you’re having a tough time letting go of someone who left you, realize that if they wanted to stay they would still be there. Sometimes you have to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next. It sucks when you know that you need to let go, but you can’t because you’re still hoping for the impossible to happen. Yes, it will hurt for awhile, but you have to forget about the person who forgot about you, and move on.
Source: Positive Thoughts
LIVE YOUR OWN JOURNEY
By Thomas Plummer
February 26, 2018
You are not like everyone else.
You were born unique and you will die unique.
Your uniqueness in life means you have no choice but to find your own path.
Because you are unique means you will never find happiness living someone else's dream. You were born in spirit and intelligence to seek your own way, and to create your own journey living your dreams, chasing your own goals and living up to your unique talent.
We become trapped and lose our own essence of who we could be in life when we give up our life to carry others. If you want to be all you can be in life, then start with yourself.
If you are not happy, why would you believe for a second you could ever help someone else be happy?
Want to spend your life serving others? Then start with yourself, because if you can't carry your own load you will worthless trying to get someone else to carry his.
There has never been anyone born like you, and when you are gone, there will never another like you, so why not understand now that you are special in this world and why not celebrate everyday finding out how far in life you can take your own unique self?
Sadly, most of the world resents anyone trying to live his own journey.
There are people who spend their lives trying to force the rest of the world to be exactly like themselves, mirroring their beliefs, their values and their lives; but then there is you, the one strong enough to realize there is no one in the world ever like you and all that resentment against you finding your own unique self just makes you stronger.
Being the best you can ever be is you accepting your uniqueness in the world.
Celebrate you; quirks, insecurities, personal weirdness, strengths and all, because the world is a better place when you are happily chasing your own dreams instead of wasting your life trying to someone you were never meant to be.
Source: FB
Quotes:
"Don't expect everyone to understand your journey, especially if they've never had to walk your path." ~Zig Ziglar
"Don’t forget to pack your courage for your journey to greatness." ~David Weinbaum
"It is in the journey that God makes you strong.” ~Anon
BASIC EMOTIONS
By Caloy Bueno
February 27, 2018
Among our basic emotions, fear is the most primitive, the most primordial human emotion. However, it is also responsible for enabling us to act toward, among others, ensuring our biological survival -- by any and all means humanly possible at any given time. Although many of our fears are only illusory, illusions do become integral parts of our reality -- because the mind is capable of imposing a belief so strongly that it can effectively blur the boundaries between illusions and reality...
Consider how many of our people who are hopelessly mired in squalor and poverty can never see the realization of attaining their own freedom from want. For them, life is a constant struggle for the biological need of the next life-sustaining meal, for example, and can't resist suffering various fears that always hound them, including any and all possible threats to life that could terminate their fragile existence at any instant. But ironically, this precarious kind of life also engenders a desperate hope -- commonly expressed and sustained as faith in the possibility of an absolution from their human failings and shortcomings, and perhaps even salvation from the dire conditions that characterize and of course limit their human potentials severely. However, the real irony exists in the fact that in spite of the deplorable conditions of their situation, they can periodically experience happiness -- no matter how fleeting or even incongruous and bizarre -- seemingly an "equalizing" influence or neutralizing factor against their sad plight...
When such a status occurs, even temporarily, fear becomes somewhat a more 'malleable' factor, somehow becoming amenable to a certain degree of controllability -- even the possibility of banishment altogether. This condition is actually the threshold that defines a point of transcendence from the debilitating conditions they've always known, which may also just be illusions that kept them tethered to their dire status -- toward a new realization they could somehow create and actualize. This they can do by transcending, to conquer and control, or even to banish those same fears (whether by conscious choice or militated by the effects of fear). This could simply be the process of crossing over the threshold into a new level of consciousness that automatically comes from experiencing and surviving any kind of crisis in their already difficult lives.
But then again, this new consciousness of other potentials or available possibilities (previously blocked from them) encompasses a new set of illusions that accompany the new situation or status they find themselves realizing. Inevitably, new fears also grow, but again these fears will help them to formulate fresh hopes, adaptations -- as well as new opportunities to experience happiness, sooner or later. And the beat goes on and on....
~ 'pag may time
QUOTES
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'" ~Eleanor Roosevelt
"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ~Nelson Mandela
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." ~Mark Twain
A LIFE WORTH REMEMBERING
By Thomas Plummer
"Humility understands we are all people who may never have another tomorrow, so we must live the best we can today." ~TPlummer
Arrogance is a poor time keeper of your life.
Arrogance leads you to believe there is always a magic day called tomorrow where everything gets done.
Arrogance wants us to believe we can love the kids tomorrow, create time for the one we love most tomorrow, get our business moving tomorrow, start living our life tomorrow and maybe even repair that damaged relationship tomorrow.
People who truly live the insane life of one with no limits nor boundaries have no tomorrows.
You can plan for a forever, but you live and work in today.
There is only today to live, to love, to accomplish and to make a difference.
Arrogance says we can start living our lives tomorrow.
Humility understands we are all people who may never have another tomorrow, so we must live the best we can today.
If you want a life worth remembering, then learn that time is always against you, but it will grant you one concession if you ask… and that is let me live today as hard as I can.
Source: FB
I SEE DEAD PEOPLE
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal." ~Anon
I work as a physician in a tertiary psychiatry hospital. It is a huge referral center which includes 2 substance misuse units in addition to 7 psychiatric wards and a forensic ward.
It is here that I came to learn, know and respect what silence is. It is here that I came to respect time and its generosity for bodies and minds to heal and later cope.
It is here that I witness the lonely dignity of families in their anguish, seeing loved ones drift away, shutting them off. And families forced to see loved ones who have stopped wanting to go back. Those who have switched off. Not ever coming back as the persons they once were.
It is here that I have the privilege to see gentleness and kindness. Courtesy of patients towards us. The way hands reached out to cup your face whispering: "You are tired, Doctor. Go! We will be fine. Rou baith!"
Some patients had left us or should I say, the happy bunch who had been freed and "had gone home."
And I see them sometimes in corridors as I grapple with demon and ghosts and spirits. How do I know they are ours, our hospital dearies? Because of their warmth and comfort.
"Inta zaina, Tabiba?" (Are you well, Doctor?)
To which I'd reply, "Là, ana mafi zain. Ana marid. Ana mhuk marid." (No. I'm not well. I am sick. Sick in the head.)
And we'd chuckle conspiratorly.
Be well, Akho, Ukti, Mama, Baba! (Be well, brother, sister, mother, father). See you again, soon.
Source: FB
By Rolaiza Mimi Singayao
February 17, 2018
MY PEACE, MY SHIELD"
By Thomas Plummer
"Reading opens the doors to the way forward"
Books are my peace against the noise.
They are my shields against the uneducated,
but overly opinionated.
Reading is my warmth late at night protecting me
from the coldness of life.
Books have shaped the path of my life.
The way forward, the answers, and even the questions,
are found studying those who have lived lives that matter,
that achieved, that made a difference to others.
Books add reason to a mind
seeking answers to the big questions in life.
Without books, arrogance, self-righteousness and blind belief replace thought and self-awareness.
People who change the world read, and often write,
about the potential of life.
Those who don't read never think and live
trapped by beliefs without foundation.
The vastly unread fall prey to those who scream the loudest,
yet never question what they hear or even if it might not be true.
Education is not what you learned in a school
Education is what you allow yourself to learn
after the formal learning stops.
You chose to be a person who seeks
learning and mastery for a lifetime.
Or you chose to live in a limited dark world with a head filled full of the nonsense of others without every questioning why you think you know what you know.
There is nothing more dangerous in life than someone with a strong opinion, but without the education, study and thought that shaped that opinion.
There will be no debate on this because those that understand read it, and those who don't already know everything they will ever know without a single thought for themselves.
Read people; study, learn educate yourself, challenge your mind and what you think you know.
Ask yourself, "Why do I believe what I believe?"
Reading opens the doors to the way forward.
Refusing to think limits you to a very small, dark world
constantly arguing what you never understood and angry over what you failed to question.
Read!
Source: FB
LOYAL TO THE END
For the past 6 years, a dog named Capitan has slept in the grave of his owner every night. His owner, Miguel Guzman died in 2006 and Capitan disappeared shortly after the family attended the funeral services. They searched everywhere and put out flyers to try and find him. But no one had seen him.
A week later, some people who were at the cemetery late one evening spotted Capitan laying on the grave and they contacted the grounds keeper at the cemetery. The cemetery notified the family who promptly came to pick him up and take him home. But each night he would cry and scratch frantically at the door to go out and he wouldn't return home until morning. It was later discovered that Capitan would walk the 3 miles back to the cemetery each night to guard his master's grave.
It has been 7 years now. The cemetery does not close the gates until he arrrives each night promptly at 6 pm. He sleeps there all night guarding the grave until the ground keeper opens the gate in the morning.
This is a true picture of Capitan here.
Source: NTD Australia/FB
ON EMOTIONS
By Alex Zander
31 January 2018
"Emotions are the language of the heart, sending us vital messages about our state of being. Whilst it is favourable to avoid negative emotions, we must not forcefully shut them down once they have already arisen. Doing so only leads to them returning with greater tenacity, as we have not addressed the root cause. When we opt for a quick means of escape, we bypass the process required to work through our pain.
It serves us better to listen to our emotions when they surface and express these emotions to their fullest. If you feel angry then vent, if you feel sad, then cry. If you feel frustrated, then have a little moan. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as you are not negatively impacting someone else with your energy or over-dramatising (in which case you need to reign in your excess emotions).
If we don’t release our emotions, they become trapped within our body and this can manifest in all kinds of illness and dis-ease. Let's be honest with how we are feeling!
The same applies to positive emotions. If you feel happy, laugh. If you feel overjoyed then scream with joy! This will do wonders for your overall state of being.
There are numerous ways in which people artificially block out their pain, primarily through alcoholic, narcotic, erotic and material means. Compulsively spending, eating, exercising, socialising and even promiscuity often indicate an avoidance of internal issues. People tend to prioritise immediate gratification, with no regard for long term consequences. For most people, dealing with a hangover is preferable to facing internal issues.
The key is in befriending our darker emotions and surrendering to them mindfully, but without becoming too attached. That way we can work out what the emotions are trying to tell us and make the necessary changes. When negative emotions arise, focus on being fully aware of that emotion. That way, our focus is split between feeling the emotion and being aware of it. The part which is aware is not anxious, fearful or frightened. It is simply just aware. By applying mindfulness in this way, the negative emotion no longer dominates our mental focus and begins to diminish.
With Love,
Alex Zander
GETTING PAST DIFFERENCES AND IDIOSYNCRACIES
"Life is complicated. We all know that. Among the issues and problems we have to contend and grapple with, is that we need to ensure our own survival by any and all means at our disposal. But this admittedly selfish instinct is sometimes modified and mitigated by the incongruous desire to sacrifice oneself or one's interests to enable others to survive or advance themselves instead. Morality plays a role in such basic dilemmas -- for when we are convinced and persuaded by our full and unequivocal belief in the moral superiority or necessity of our own sacrifice, we do it willingly and deliberately.
But we also know that human history, however, is replete with the accounts of man's inhumanity to man, where the sacrifices of many others are what provided the advantages or benefits to only a few or the chosen. Morality is therefore perverted to serve the needs of only some, and not the many -- because for any moral precept to be acceptable and binding, it has to serve everyone's interests and welfare equally and impartially. For a few to have a monopoly on what is good and beneficial isn't morally defensible, but reprehensible and would never stand the test of time. And yet, time and again, we encounter both in history and contemporary times the victory of selfish interests of a few, over and above the interests of the many.
Governments are the basic engine of all countries to pursue socioeconomic progress that redounds substantially and substantively to human development. Technology and science advance the boundaries of human knowledge and capabilities in pursuit of such development. Beyond the legal frameworks of government and within the context of the sovereignty of each country to provide their respective citizens the capacity for properly exercising individual rights and privileges as well as duties and responsibilities of citizenship, morality (as usually propounded by various religions) allows for a parallel measure of equality and the expression of self-worth and dignity of our humanity. For those who profess an atheistic worldview of existence, morality is still no less imperative for human survival and posterity.
Because not all people are able to comprehend and grasp the basic truths of life, but instead tend to exchange its simplicity and stark beauty for a complicated and chaotically unpredictable existence that is neither assured of survival nor of true merit and worth, all kinds of issues, problems, troubles, and hardships arise to bedevil human existence. Compound that with the disinclination (i.e., selfishness) of human free will to harmonize self-interests with those of others, then we see the continuing human tragedy throughout history and in our own time that is shown by human society/civilization.
Medical practice attempts to save us from sickness and premature death one life at a time. On the other hand, our immense modern capabilities for warfare and destruction can readily terminate all human existence within the space of even only a few precious breaths. Seemingly, morality and human laws are powerless against it -- unless those who have such power can exercise their moral beliefs and elect to save mankind from mutually-assured destruction. At our own levels, our daily lives proceed along according to how we understand and grasp our moral duties and responsibilities within our own individual contexts. We make mistakes and fall, we triumph and transcend our limitations, we realize our potentials and dream of a better future for ourselves and for all mankind -- in spite of the possibilities for all of it to end up in smoke and suddenly we are all goners...
In other words, if we can just get past our differences and idiosyncracies (deal with it positively), we should just stop our petty and senseless quarrels and debates and help one another to become better versions of our own selves from day to day. We have the opportunity to do so now. We should not waste it..."
~ 'pag may time
Source: Caloy Bueno
FB, December 26, 2017
PS. "Imprimi Potest," "Nihil Obstat" 😉
REFLECTION: THE POWER TO CHANGE
By Carlos Silverio Bueno
8 July 2017
Once you're old enough to realize that you have within you the power to change your own situation and conditions in life, that's when you begin to mature into your own person. And as you discover that you get better and better at facing and overcoming the challenges of life (and particularly other people who have exactly the same idea -- to dominate!), you realize that you actually can determine your own fate in almost every situation or problem you encounter. And that's when you begin to think about your responsibilities -- not just to yourself, but to others as well -- especially those who you really care about, perhaps even more than just your own self...
What we know and call "fate" is something that has always been with us, since the beginning of our lives. When we were young and still powerless, our fate was in the hands of those who cared for and sustained us. Just like how a child learns to walk, we take 'baby steps' -- but soon enough as we developed, we would be making bigger and bigger strides in the world with our own lives and capabilities...
That being so, it would appear that our fate is mostly in our own hands -- that we determine our own destiny. While that could be true, we are certainly not omnipotent nor omniscient, and many things in and around our lives which we cannot control also affect whether we can actually reach what we wanted or hoped for. Not to mention other people, who always seem to get in the way if they're not helping or encouraging you...
But, however you look at it, life is certainly always a continuing challenge -- to all our faculties, all our capabilities, all our dreams and aspirations. Sometimes, life throws you 'curve ball', which you may hit or miss (these could be opportunities, or some other possibilities). But the same thing can also be said about real danger and serious problems -- sometimes you get lucky enough (or sensible enough) to avoid those things that could perhaps end your life, or make it unimaginably miserable...
Thus -- 'ceteris paribus' ("all other things being equal" in Latin) -- we go through life, and some may stumble or bungle through, but nevertheless still going forward, no matter what; with more or less the same measure of probabilities as others have that either we make good, or have bad luck; do well, even excel, or grow badly and become despondent or desperate; become happy or turn sad, each in its own time; etc., etc. And still, the power to change all or most of what happens to us remains deep inside, turning itself into the hope for better things to come when conditions are unfavorable; or if everything is going well, a gratefulness that may lead us to be more charitable and understanding of others who are having a hard time, or are unable to cope as well as others...
That is life -- as it is said, our lives are what we make it. When we realize that we can't really blame others for whatever happens in our own lives, then that's when you look inwards and ask yourself some hard questions about how you managed your own life, how you developed and nurtured it up to the present situation you are in; or on the other hand perhaps you may congratulate and pat yourself on the back for doing well, maybe despite previous failings or shortcomings. Our own fate is inside us -- perhaps it takes the form of instinct or intuition, helping to guide us on life's choices...
But the choices are ours to make -- not for others to make for us. Because if that happens, you have defaulted on your responsibility to yourself. Abnegation or denial is usually convenient or expedient to use and hide behind -- but you can't really hide from your own conscience. It's right there inside you, perhaps even right beside the sense of your own fate -- impelling you through your own life to face everything and do what it takes to make the best of it. Because that's the only way you can get the best for your life -- to always strive to better yourself, so that any and all situations you may find yourself in or be involved with, you're prepared to do the best you can -- and thus be able to also achieve the best possible for and in accordance with your efforts. You always have to earn it yourself -- and in doing so, you become worthy of true satisfaction and contentment with your own life and accomplishments...
Reflecting on my life, it is really as simple as that -- which is why my tastes have always been simple... I ONLY WANT THE BEST!!! (What could be simpler?!)
~ 'pag may time
“If you’re feeling frightened
about what comes next,
don’t be.
Embrace the uncertainty.
Allow it to lead you places.
Be brave
as it challenges you
to exercise both
your heart and your mind
as you create
your own path
toward happiness;
don’t waste time with regret.
Spin wildly
into your next action.
Enjoy the present,
each moment,
as it comes,
because you’ll never
get another one
quite like it.
And if you should
ever look up and
find yourself lost,
simply take a breath
and start over.
Retrace your steps
and go back
to the purest place
in your heart…
where your hope lives.
You’ll find your way
again.”
~Everwood
From Trust Your Journey
A JOURNEY TO NATURE
“A young man asked his teacher: ‘What makes us happy?’”
The teacher replied: ‘There is no one absolute answer to this eternal question. But if only we can teach ourselves to appreciate Nature — with its incomparable Beauty, and to take a Journey worth remembering — together with our friends and loved ones: perhaps we can all be happy. If not all the time but most of the time.
Then, the young man embraced the teacher and asked him to go with him on his Journey. The two walked smiling at each other.”
Source: From Rado Gatchalian, FB
7 Steps to Dealing with Criticism
Here are 7 things to do when you're being criticized.
When it comes to criticism, it is surely better to give than to receive. No one enjoys being criticized, and we're bound to respond badly to it. We're all wired for defensiveness; it's normal and almost universal response to criticism, but it's also the archenemy of intimacy and connection. Our personal power rests on our dialing it down.
Following these 7 steps can help you keep your response from escalating, and turn your relationships around, but each requires motivation, goodwill, and practice.
1. Recognize your defensiveness
We listen defensively when we listen for what we don’t agree with. Under fire? Catch yourself when you see that you are focusing only on the inaccuracies, distortions, and exaggerations that will inevitably be there.
2. Breathe
Defensiveness starts in the body. It makes us tense and on guard, unable to listen and take in new information. Take slow, deep breaths, and do what you can to calm yourself.
3. Listen only to understand
Listen only to discover what you can agree with. Do not interrupt, argue, refute, or correct facts, or bring up your own criticisms and complaints. If your points are legitimate, that’s all the more reason to save them for a different time, when they can be a focus of the conversation and not a defense strategy.
3. Apologize for your part
The ability to apologize indicates to the critical party that you’re capable of taking responsibility, not just evading it. It will also help shift the exchange out of combat mode and into collaboration. Save your thoughts about their part until later.
4. Let the critical or angry person know that you will continue to think about the conversation
Even if nothing has been resolved, tell the other person that you take his or her thoughts and feelings seriously: “It’s not easy to hear what you’re telling me, but I want you to know that I’m going to give it a lot of thought.”
5. Don’t listen when you can’t
It’s fine to tell the other person that you want to have the conversation and that you recognize its importance, but you can’t have it right now: “I’m too tired and preoccupied to really listen.” Offer a specific time to re-open the conversation, so that you can give it your best attention.
6. Speak your own truths
You need to tell the critical person how you see things differently. It won’t help your relationship to get into the pattern of being an overly accommodating, peace-at-any-price type of individual who avoids conflict at any cost. Still, timing and tact are everything. It’s usually best to save your different point of view for a future conversation, when you’ll have a better chance of being heard. Remember that even the most difficult things can be said with kindness.
7. Draw the line at insults
There may be a time to sit through an initial blast, but not if rudeness has become a pattern in your relationship, rather than an uncommon occurrence. Exit from rudeness, while offering the possibility of another conversation: “I want to hear what bothers you, but I need you to approach me with respect.”
A wholehearted listening is at the heart of the good apology — and essential for repairing big betrayals and everyday hurts. Wholehearted listening is also at the heart of relationship success, at home and at work. We're generally more interested in sharpening our talking skills rather than our listening skills. But here’s what four decades of studying relationships has taught me: How we listen is the defining factor in how our relationships go, and whether the other person is happy to see us at the end of the day.
Source: Roman Demkiv/Shutterstock
MINDFULNESS OF BREATH
Try these directions for mindfulness of breathing, a basic concentration practice:
When you’re ready to meditate, close your eyes and bring your attention to the motion of your breath as it enters and leaves your nostrils. Keep your focus at the nostrils, noting the full passage of each in-breath and out-breath from beginning to end. Don’t follow the breath into your lungs or out into the air; just watch its flow in and out of the nostrils. If you can, notice the subtle sensations of the breath as it comes and goes. Be aware of each in-breath and out-breath as it passes by the nostrils, just as the doorman watches each person who comes and goes through a door.
Attend to the feeling of the breath. Don’t try to imagine it or visualize it. Note the sensation of the breath just as it is, exactly as you feel it. You may feel the breath at the rim of the nostrils, or just inside the nose, or on the upper lip beneath the nose. The sensations you feel will change – you may sometimes feel the breath like the light touch of a feather, like a dull throb, or as an intense point of pressure on your lip, or in countless other ways. There is no “right” way for the breath to feel; just be aware of what it is. Each time you notice your mind has wandered to other thoughts, or is caught by background noises, bring your attention back to the easy, natural rhythm of your breathing.
Don’t try to control your breath. Simply watch it. Fast or slow, shallow or deep, the nature of the breath does not matter. Your full attention to it is what counts. If you have trouble keeping your mind on the breath, count each one up to ten, then start over again at one. Or, to anchor your mind on your breath, you can occasionally make a strong, deliberate inhalation and exhalation. Then let your breath return to its normal rate.
Whenever you realize you’re thinking about something else, return your awareness to your breath. Don’t try to fight off thoughts. Just let them go.
If sounds distract you, do the same: Let them be and simply start watching your breath again. If aches or itches bother you, slowly move or shift to ease them if you must. But keep your mind on breathing while you do it.
Your mind will wander, and when you first start to meditate you may be acutely aware of how active it is. Don’t worry about it. Just keep returning your attention to your breath, letting go of whatever the mind wanders to. This is the essence of meditation: Letting go of your thoughts.
– Ram Dass
June 26, 2015
Source: https://www.ramdassdotorg
6 Special Personality Traits of People Who Prefer To Be Alone
When someone who prefers having a smaller circle of friends and do not mind spending time alone, they are called loners. People perceive them as individuals who are very lonely and depressed. Unlike those who actually feel lonely, these types of individuals never actually feel lonely.
In fact, being with their own company is exactly what makes them feel fulfilled. They feel more in touch with themselves and do their best thinking, making them more self-aware of things. This is probably why they prefer to be alone.
It’s not often that people get to become friends with a loner, mainly because they are very picky with whom they choose become close with.
Firm Boundaries:
A loner always emphasizes healthy, strong boundaries. They always realize that they’re never alone, even if they were the last person living on earth.
Because of this, they always respect the boundaries of others, and expect that same respect in return. If others cross those boundaries, they will be the first to let you know. They believe that if you cannot be faithful to yourself, then you cannot be faithful to others.
Loyalty:
Unlike those who need to be in the spotlight, a loner does not crave attention. But, once they find someone they want to become close friends with, they become the most loyal friend you’ll ever have.
They know their worth, and if they find you to also be worthy of being in their life, they will give you everything whenever you need it. This goes for all fields of life, relationships, family, friends, and work.
Keeps an Open Mind:
Just because they enjoy the company of themselves over others, this does not mean that they are rigid and close minded, it’s the total opposite. They are very open-minded, and are constantly up for new adventures and activities.
Even though they enjoy new and exciting things, they will always make sure they have their alone time to collect their thoughts before taking up things with new people.
Level-Headed:
When adversity and challenges come into play, loners do not panic or run, they are strong willed individuals. Their self-reflection time is what has prepared them for situations like this.
They may feel stressed and overwhelmed in some situations, but rather than waste time with distractions, they will spend some time alone and recharge their batteries.
Self-Awareness:
While many people are frightened by their emotions, loners choose to focus on them and be aware of them. Become aware of one’s self is a very difficult task to achieve.
Because of this, no one knows them better than they do and this allows them to understand people around them better. Granted, there will be times of depression and anxiety, but loners always have the ability to get through them and learn their lesson.
They Value Time:
If there is one thing that is extremely important to a loner, it’s time. The most important asset for success in life is time, and loners are well aware of that.
They are never late, they never waste anyone’s time and never let anyone waste theirs. Because of their ability to sniff out a fake person, they will never tolerate someone who they feel will try and play with their emotions.
They Know No One is Perfect:
Everyone has flaws and ways to improve those flaws. So rather than make a big fuss about them, they know to just go with the flow.
Loners always do what they feel is right for themselves and for others and always make sure that they do whatever they can to address each flaw. They are always completely honest with themselves and with others and will try and help improve those flaws.
Very Empathetic:
Loners are able to feel and sympathize with others on the same level that they are. Being able to feel everyone’s sorrow can be a curse to have, but loners know how to handle it.
Because they are so empathetic, it’s very easy for them to find the bright side out of any negative situation. Rather than beat around the bush and feed their friends some wisdom, they would much rather find an immediate
By Brandon Marji
Staff Writer
September 28, 2017
Source: providr dot com
THERE ARE 14 WAYS TO CATCH A LIAR
1. Liars usually make too much or too little eye contact. If someone is incapable to look you in the eyes or is staring you down, that person may be trying to cover his skeletons
2. Liars tend to speak without using contractions: “I DID NOT” have an affair with another woman
3. A deceiver will often show signs of discomfort by turning away from you
4. The body language of a phony is revealed by: rapid blinking, dilated pupils, pitch changes, less smiling, shrugging shoulders, fidgeting, and crossed arms
5. Unless they’re professional actors or psychopaths, liars tend to stutter and hesitate when they are speaking
6. Liars often provide additional information without really need to do so
7. A liar will use your words to answer a question
8. A guilty person will get defensive, whereas an innocent person will often go on the offensive
9. A liar might unconsciously place objects (book, coffee cup, a drink, etc.) between themselves and you
10. A liar’s timing tends to lag between gestures/expressions and words
11. Oftentimes liars give inconsistent explanations
12. They also over-emphasize details. When people are trying to avoid telling the truth, they often focus on an obscure point instead of the key issue
13. Watch out for frequent touching of the face, throat, and mouth. For example, a liar might scratch his/her nose or behind the ear
14. Be wary of pursed mouths. While lying, a person may set his or her mouth in a narrow line
Below are 10 reasons why you should not ever get involved with an empath if you can’t handle their intense personality.
1. They are natural lie-detectors
You may have read somewhere by now about ways to detect lies. There are many signs revealed: from looking you straight into your eyes and giving way more unnecessary details to the story – to their bodily subconscious movements. You can learn all these tactics. However, empaths don’t need them because they are born with this gift to spot liars and lies immediately. They can’t tell how, they just feel it in their gut.
2. They can sense jealousy
Empaths know when you are jealous, even if you try your best to hide it. They may act like they don’t see your jealousy, but they do. Empaths sense when you are jealous because of them, but they won’t confront you because they don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. They may even be more humble around you in order to not trigger your jealousy.
3. You cannot fool them
As we said before, empaths perceive other people’s feelings, so there is no way you can fool them. They know a faker once they see it. When they sense that something is not right with a person, they just distance themselves as prevention.
4. They can sense hatred
One of the most powerful emotions that an empath can sense is hatred. This emotion transmits such a strong negative energy that empaths can’t stand it. They will just distance themselves because they don’t want to be affected by negativity. However, they will not be hurt by your hatred, because they are comfortable in their own skin and want to be surrounded only by positive energy and good people.
5. They see your prejudices
If you have any hidden prejudice towards people with different skin color, or sexual orientation – empaths can see this even if you, yourself, are not aware of it. Empaths doesn’t like shallow people full of prejudices and hatred towards people who are different than them.
6. They know when you are not okay
I think everyone is familiar, or had a conversation when someone asked you if you were okay, and you said you were okay, even if deep down you were not. Maybe you wanted to hide your emotions in order to not have to explain why you are distressed, but an empath will know that you lied. And, they will ask why are you feeling that way and will offer you a listening ear and will try everything they can to help you.
7. They hate insincere flattery
Empaths can sense when someone is giving them false compliments and affection to gain something from them. Even if they don’t react to this, empaths see what you are trying to do. They also hate small talk and nothing annoys them more than flatterers.
8. They know when someone is on the wrong path
If you are lucky to have an empath as a friend, and they are trying to warn you about something that you are doing – listen to them. If they feel that something doesn’t add up, or feels strange to them – it is. Their intuition is so developed that they get this feeling usually when something is wrong.
9. They know when you pretend to be someone you are not
Empaths know when someone is acting around them, trying hard to be someone they are not. Empaths hate this. They hate split personalities. If you want to have an empath in your life you should always be yourself. They will accept your flaws without doubt as long as you are not pretending.
10. They can identify exploitation
Empaths are not naïve. They can see when someone is using them. They don’t tolerate any form of exploitation. If they see they are being used – they remove themselves quickly from the situation.
Source: FB, July 7, 2017
13 Characteristics of People Who Have True Integrity
1. They value other people’s time.
They value their own time so they also value the time of other people. They know you have plenty of other places you need to be and won’t hold you up. If you spend time with them, it is likely they will thank you for that as well.
2. They give credit where it is due.
They do not take credit for things they did not do. They will always credit those who deserve it. If you help this person with a project he or she will likely mention your name so you can take credit for your work.
3. They are authentic.
They are their truest forms. You won’t catch them in a lie or being fake.
4. They are always honest.
They are honest people that feel no need to lie as it is important for them to get to where they need to get in life honestly.
5. They never take advantage of others.
They are not the kind of people who will take advantage of someone else. They love to build people up and help them get where they need to be. Taking too much from someone else will never be an issue with someone who has a lot of integrity.
6. They do not argue over disagreements.
They will talk through things in a civil manner or not talk at all. You cannot and will not force this person into arguing over something completely ridiculous. I find this to be a very respectable trait.
7. They give most people the benefit of the doubt.
They try to see the good in everyone. I think this is because they feel like maybe there are more people in this world that also have integrity. That being said, if you take advantage of them too much they will get rid of you.
8. They know when something is bothering someone.
They have a great intuition that lets them know when something is going on. If someone is down in the dumps they will notice. Chances are they will actually do what they can to cheer you up.
9. They believe others.
They accept your word as truth until it is disproven. That being said, they do not take lying well. And once you lie to them, it is unlikely that they will ever take your word again.
10. They apologize first.
If they have done something wrong they will come to you and apologize. This is just how they are. They own up to their mistake and try to make things right.
11. They are humble.
They do not quite know their own worth. While they are very important and do so much good they don’t quite see it. You should remind them of it.
12. They do good when they can.
They are always helping other people. They love to know that they have improved someone’s life. It gives their lives meaning.
13. They are always kind to those who need it.
Giving kindness can go a long way. When someone looks like they need a little pick me up these people deliver. They can brighten up almost anyone’s day.
If you are someone who has true integrity, thank you for being who you are and thank you for all that you do. You really do actually make a difference in society, please keep up the good work. If you feel no one else is proud of you, know that I am.
Source: Awareness Act dot com
Psychologists Reveal 9 Tricks To Attract All People Around You
Some people simply ooze unfathomable appeal which pulls everyone to them. People flock to such people.
The best part about this is that your looks are irrelevant.
9 ways to become a well-liked attractive person, proven by Psychology:
1. INDIVIDUAL IMAGE – SELF CONCEPT
Baumeister (1999) provides the following self concept definition: "The individual’s belief about himself or herself, including the person’s attributes and who and what the self is”.
If you see yourself in a positive and healthy light, your life experiences will be positive and healthy. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your life will be free of challenges and adversity, just that you will have a healthier approach to dealing with them.
To be remembered in a crowd, you must stand out. For that, you need to create a unique image – an image which isn’t easy to forget. It can be anything. The way you walk. Your gestures, posture, the way of speaking or dressing sense – it can be anything. It could be an amazing hairstyle like Marilyn Monroe’s or Salvador Dali’s facial expressions (and his mustache). It’s up to you.
2. YOU NEED A BIG DREAM
As a result of a psychological phenomenon called the Einstellung effect, executing a familiar solution blinds us to other, more creative possibilities. But new problems present new opportunities.
A fellow graduate of Harvard Business School, Salman Khan is well-versed in turning good ideas into potential business opportunities. He states in his Edge interview:
“Instead of it just being a one-off collection of videos or a one-off software app that I tried to do as a venture-backed business, maybe [Khan Academy] could be the next Stanford, the next Harvard, this new type of institution that people haven’t visualized quite yet, but it could help empower millions or billions of students for the next 500 years.
And as soon as you start thinking on those scales, you go after a bigger problem and you phrase things differently and, frankly, you inspire more people. More amazing people are going to want to be part of that audacious goal.”
3. BE CONFIDENT
Confidence is alluring. People admire strong and independent people. But first, what does confidence even mean?
As Mark D. White, chair of the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY describes on Psychology Today:
“There are two ways to portray it. The first, more formal version of confidence is similar to faith: it’s based on believing something you don’t know with certainty. If you were aware that you possessed a certain quality, you wouldn’t need confidence in it—it’s only when you can’t be sure that you need confidence.
The other sense of confidence, the one that’s invoked in articles on dating and attractiveness, is more substantive. It’s an awareness of who you are, regardless of how you compare or measure up to others. It shows people that you’re comfortable with yourself, which grants you a certain poise, charm, or assertiveness. It also implies that you don’t need to compete with anyone or belittle anyone else to lift yourself up; as a result, confident people are more willing to praise others because they aren’t worried about making themselves look worse. All of this clearly accounts for the general attractiveness of confidence, if for no other reason than its general positivity.
The best kind of confidence is like a classical virtue: it strikes the “golden mean” between self-doubt and arrogance, allowing a person to embody his or her positive traits without bragging about them. (And in the spirit of wei wu wei, this may broadcast a person’s positive traits more effectively!)”
Also, a short tip: avoid using uncertain speech form such as “I guess, I hope, maybe, etc.”
4. FORGET ABOUT COMPLAINTS
You can’t be charismatic with a negative streak in you. To be liked by most, you need to avoid gossip, criticizing and complaining.
As Lisa Juliano, Psy.D. writes on Psychology Today:
“For chronic complainers, each situation becomes an opportunity to find fault. Eventually, this drains life of pleasure. Chronic complaining can also affect mood by producing a negative mood state. Thus the chronic complainer falls into a perpetual cycle of finding fault, feeling negative, and then being unable to face the next situation with an open mind. Eventually, the capacity for feeling joy is compromised.”
Even during hard times, try to avoid topics that bring you down. Focus on what you already have and be grateful.
5. USE BODY GESTURES
Your body plays an important role to exhibit your level of confidence. Slouching, fumbling, avoiding eye contact can affect your personality negatively whereas smiling more often and keeping an open posture can improve your persona drastically.
There’s ample evidence that eye contact is highly compelling: We’re more attuned to faces whose eyes are trained on us than faces whose eyes are looking elsewhere.
Adoree Durayappah-Harrison, a graduate of three masters programs, including Buddhist practices from Harvard states:
“According to a recent study published in the January 2011 issue of Psychological Science, “posture expansiveness”—using one’s posture to open up the body and occupy space—activates a sense of power in the mind, making people feel and behave as if they are in charge.”
6. BECOME A GREAT STORYTELLER
Storytelling is a skill. If you want to learn it, you need to exude confidence.
Gregory Ciotti writes on Psychology Today:
“Philip Pullman once said: “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
"Being a great storyteller is also useful as an Average Joe interacting with other people. Being able to communicate your ideas and stories in a clear and captivating way allows for better social interactions.”
7. DON’T LOOK AWAY
Eye contact is one of the surest ways to declare your undivided attention. Depending on the situation, it can be a piercing look, or a kind, understanding glance. Above everything, don’t break a conversation by checking a text or looking at something else while people talk you.
Art of Manliness, one of my favorite educational websites explains it clearly:
“Making greater eye contact with others can increase the quality of all of your face-to-face interactions; there’s no area of your life where being seen as more attractive, confident, and trustworthy wouldn’t be a boon. Being able to look people in the eye and hold their gaze can help you better network with others, land a job, pitch an idea, make a moving speech, woo the ladies, and intimidate your enemies. It can help a lawyer win over a jury, a boxer psych out his opponent, and a minister connect with his congregants. It can even aid a musician in winning over new fans; studies have shown that the more eye contact a musician makes with his audience, the more they enjoy his music—take note ye members of struggling bands!”
Next time you talk to someone and move your eyes elsewhere, think of the statement above.
8. LEARN TO LISTEN TO OTHERS
Learn to give importance to others. Everyone has their own problem and you could make a huge difference just by listening to them. It shows that you genuinely care about them. They will really appreciate it and feel special.
Take a look at this from your point of view: do you want people jumping over your phrases just to tell their opinion, thoughts and emotions, or you want someone with whom you can fully express yourself without being interrupted?
And let’s not forget, Jeff Thompson Ph.D. clearly adds another great importance of listening to others:
“According to Bernard Ferrari, author of Power Listening: Mastering the Most Critical Business Skill of All, good listening is the key to developing fresh insights and ideas that fuel success. Ferrari says that although most people focus on learning how to communicate and how to present their own views more effectively, this approach is misguided and represents missed opportunities.”
9. USE THE MIRROR EFFECT}
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. It makes the other person to get along with you better. It’s easier to get in tune with people who have similar habits and style.
By mirroring their gestures, facial expressions and style, the interlocutor starts feeling comfortable. This is mostly effective because humans are by nature narcissistic. They’re bound to admire someone who is so much like themselves!
As described on Wikipedia:
“The concept often affects other individuals’ notions about the individual that is exhibiting mirroring behaviors, which can lead to the individual building rapport with others.
Mirroring can establish rapport with the individual who is being mirrored, as the similarities in nonverbal gestures allow the individual to feel more connected with the person exhibiting the mirrored behavior. As the two individuals in the situation display similar nonverbal gestures, they may believe that they share similar attitudes and ideas as well. Mirror neurons react to and cause these movements, allowing the individuals to feel a greater sense of engagement and belonging within the situation.”
Source: SELF-IMPROVEMENT
www.simplecapacity dot com
Are You Bound to Get Shaky Hands as You Age?
Occasional trembling and shaky hands can occur at any age, but are more likely the older you get. If you notice this sign in yourself or a loved one, you may fear the worst.
When people see shaking and tremor in older adults, they think of Parkinson’s disease, a chronic movement disorder that can lead to other problems.
But neurologist Michal Gostkowski, DO, says you shouldn’t jump to this conclusion. “The biggest misconception about shaking and aging is that it means a person has Parkinson’s disease,” he says.
There are five things to keep in mind when you or a loved one notice a tremor.
1. When the tremor occurs is important
If shaking occurs during an action —- reaching for something, writing, steadying a cup of coffee — that’s called an active tremor. Active tremors do not usually point to a serious neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
Even so, Dr. Gostkowski says it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor, who will look for underlying causes. For example, essential tremor, another much more common movement disorder, frequently occurs after age 50. Once the cause of an active tremor is identified, doctors can treat it.
If shaking occurs when the hands are at rest — for example, folded in your lap — that’s called a resting tremor. If a resting tremor develops suddenly or worsens over time, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Resting tremor may be a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
2. Some tremors run in families
Some people are more likely than others to develop shakiness as they get older. Essential tremor is commonly passed down genetically through families, for example.
“Active tremors are not necessarily inevitable as we age,” Dr. Gostkowski says. “But if your parents had age-related shakiness, you’re more likely to have it too.”
3. Knowing tremor triggers is important
Anxiety, stress, fatigue, low blood sugar and/or too much caffeine can cause or worsen a tremor.
So can many types of drugs. Shakiness may be more intense or occur more often if you or a loved one are taking:
* Mood stabilizers such as lithium
* Seizure medications such as Depakote® (frequently used for other conditions, including migraine and neuropathy)
* Bronchodilators for asthma, such as albuterol or theophylline
Talk to your doctor about making a change if you suspect a prescription is causing active tremor.
4. A range of treatments is available
The drugs used to treat tremor tend to be sedating. Ask whether it’s safe to drive a car or perform work duties while taking them. Sedatives also may not interact well with other drugs, which you’re more likely to take as you age. So ask about potential problem drug interactions.
At best, medications can slow tremor but rarely stop it completely. When drugs are unable to control an active tremor, other treatment options are deep brain stimulation or a Gamma Knife(R) procedure.
In deep brain stimulation, a neurosurgeon implants electrodes in the brain. The electrode uses a small amount of electricity to normalize brain circuity and reduce tremor.
“Many patients are reluctant to consider surgery at first, but after the procedure, they wish they’d done it sooner,” says Dr. Gostkowski.
5. The sooner you seek help, the better
Whether you or your loved one has occasional shaking or it happens all the time, it’s best to talk to your doctor about your concerns. The sooner you address the issue, the better. Your doctor can identify ways to treat it immediately.
And if it turns out there is no cause for concern at all, you’ll have peace of mind — and that’s priceless.
Source: January 25, 2016 / By Brain and Spine Team
THE WISDOM IN HOT CHOCOLATE
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.
During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups — porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He then told them all to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they each had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:
"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."
"The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink."
"What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup ... but you consciously went for the BEST cups.
And then you began eyeing each other's cups."
"Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life."
"The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate."
The happiest people don't need the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
And enjoy your hot chocolate!!
~Author Anon
David Nye: POPULIST and ELITIST
A true populist is not one who sinks to and addresses the baser animal instincts of society to incite hatred and animosity.
A true populist is one who inspires society to do better, to be better—both on a visceral and moral level.
A true populist bridges the gap in significant terms between those who have been blessed with more and those who struggle just to survive.
A true populist sends a clear message to the topmost 1% of society that the 99% below them must get a more significant and tangible piece of the pie, and that he should do everything in his power to get that done, and to make sure both sides understand and appreciate why he must do it.
This is not inconsistent with what a true elitist is.
A true elitist understands and recognizes he has been blessed by the Almighty with a better life, including the capacity to see things from a broader and deeper perspective.
... a true elitist should apply compassion in putting his blessings to good use for the greater public interest, because that is what is expected of him—nothing less.
"The perfect storm would be when true populists and true elitists unite and lead our society forward."
This is sacrosanct.
For too long a time our society has been run by pseudo-elitists and pseudo-populists, the Gordon Geckos (“greed is good”) among us on both sides of the spectrum.
It’s time to clean up a mess which has reached alarming proportions, and let’s tell the Gordon Geckos among us to go to hell.
Source: Repost from Jon T Hermosisima
The Native American Code of Ethics
1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.
6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth – whether it be people or plant.
7. Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.
10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. Animals, plants and other living creatures are all part of your worldly family.
12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of one’s will within this universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react.Be responsible for your own actions.
17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others – especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.
18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.
20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
Source: Life Coach Code dot com
12 Reasons Why Old Souls Have Such A Hard Time Finding Love
1. They have a strong sense of identity.
They know who they are, which means they also know – specifically – what they do and do not want in a partner, what works and what doesn’t. While this is fantastic in terms of being able to choose wisely, it ultimately diminishes their pool of prospects pretty significantly.
2. Left unchecked, their hyper-intuitiveness can wreck relationships.
Often prone to overthinking because of how deeply sensitive they are, their capacity to worry and make assumptions can break relationships that don’t have a perfectly strong foundation.
3. Many are in the throes of twin flame relationships.
They’re attached or are with people who are not their “forever” people, rather, intense connections they’re meant to learn, and rapidly expand, from.
4. They often have a greater purpose that must be attended to first – one that love would distract them from.
They usually have to accomplish quite a bit on their own before they find love – this is because old souls love deeply, and completely. To be given love too soon would keep them from the other important things they are here to do.
5. They will not settle for anything less than soulmate love.
They require a lot more than just a surface-level, “average” relationship. They absolutely will not settle, and sometimes, that means biting the bullet and being alone for longer than what’s “average” as well.
6. While many people can bring them passion, few can bring compatibility.
Because they feel so deeply and others find them so fascinating, it’s easy for them to find infatuation, but to be with someone who is truly their best friend, deepest confidant *and* lover is a challenge.
7. They’re less inclined to go out and meet people in modern ways.
Even if they have nothing against online dating, it doesn’t always come naturally for them, nor does finding a random hookup at a bar or being set up blindly seem appealing.
8. They’re natural healers, and often attract people who need help, not love.
And that attraction is reciprocated. There’s almost nothing that feels better to an old soul than being able to help someone who truly needs it. However, at some point in time, it’s crucial for them to realize that they have to choose a partner, not a student, or a charity case.
9. They dislike the “game.”
Dating is inherently exhausting to an older-spirited person. Feigning disinterest for the sake of looking “cool” or knowing which faux pas other people find off-putting (how long after the first date do you text again?) isn’t instinctive to them, and can stress them out more than they ever find it “fun.”
10. Their standards are sky-high.
They expect a lot from themselves, so likewise, they expect a lot from their partners. While this is a great thing, it’s another quality that has to be kept in check: it’s more important to be able to accept the qualities that aren’t deal-breakers than it is to just write a person off because they’re imperfect.
11. They have baggage.
People who developed their inner selves quickly did so for a reason: they had to cope, they had to grow, or they had to learn from some challenging experiences that life set up for them. While this is a great thing on its own, unresolved issues can often re-manifest in close relationships.
12. They feel fear as intensely as they feel love.
The degree to which they love something is proportionate to how much they fear losing it, or not being “good enough” for it. They don’t just love intensely, they feel everything else intensely, too, and sometimes, that gets in the way of the really good things in front of them.
By Brianna Wiest of thoughtcatalogu.com
SOCIAL BEINGS
We are social beings. This, of course, is an obvious statement. What is not so obvious, however, is that often we forget it -- or going to the other extreme -- we take it for granted. When we forget that we are social beings, we become disconnected from others, or exhibit anti-social behavior and easily get into misunderstandings, even arguments and fights. When we take it for granted, we may easily offend others by being too familiar (without the express permission to act or decide on something that others should have a say upon in the first place), or simply not being considerate of their feelings and thoughts on anything, even to the extent of being overbearing. Most people probably stay or 'inhabit' the middle zone between these two extremes -- "civil" or "proper" with the correct etiquette or being appropriately friendly could describe how people behave in this zone, which may also be represented as the "Goldilocks" zone (from the well-known story of Goldilocks and the Bears) -- thus, the "just right" or generally acceptable social behavior.
As social beings, acting and behaving accordingly, we are in harmony with nature. Our basic social nature enables us to be cohesive and optimally functional in our society settings (a.k.a.. human civilization), our circles -- filial/personal, professional, social/community (our clubs and associations). When we go to either extremes of becoming anti-social or taking it for granted, we may become dysfunctional beings and out of balance in our own milieu. There are many ways or reasons that such extreme conditions may occur in individuals -- after all, most human beings may have tough exteriors or facades, but invariably we are all 'soft' inside (figuratively and literally speaking).
Even animals such as dogs react to us humans accordingly, because dogs are also social animals -- their society is called the pack, and most species of dogs prefer to be in such packs simply because it ensures their survival. (As far as pet dogs are concerned, those that are alone, their "pack" automatically consists of their human masters.) "Man's best friend" is the label for dogs because man and dog often relate to each other on this particular level -- precisely as social beings, although their relationship is based more on the instinctual level rather than what is normal for humans -- i.e., on the intellectual, emotional and physical levels.
In our human society, another obvious observation is that there are so many things that could and indeed do go wrong. The aforementioned two extremes may begin to explain why this is so, but also included is the complexity of our modern existence -- which contribute a lot to our being imbalanced and dysfunctional in this modern era -- the "postmodern" age. We content ourselves by being 'safe' in our own enclaves or close circles, where the problems and challenges we encounter are often more manageable or 'normal'. These are our "comfort zones", and seldom do we stray from these "safe harbors" which we have established and nurtured over most of our personal, professional and social lives. Even then, at some time or another, various crises may arise from misunderstandings, maybe bad luck, or perhaps from external interventions and events.
Some people are just more adept or effective than ordinary people in making others feel and believe in whatever they say or represent -- our political leaders, for example. In our particular case, however, we are more wary now of our political leaders because our political system itself has become so messed up, with so many glaring wrongs and dysfunctional areas that clearly cry out for reforms. But, obviously, politicians are still human beings acting on their social instincts and motivations that function at a level that is usually above those of the average people -- which is why it is said that they usually possess "charisma" or the ability to get people to support their side or beliefs or advocacy and whatever.
However, politicians always have their own political agendas that are tied closely to their personalities (which include their desires and aspirations) -- but supposedly based on the needs of their constituents. Such characterization can still be applied to everyone, even the average or ordinary folks just like you and me. We also have our own individual capacities or capabilities, political agendas, personal agendas and motivations, social aspirations, etc., and others who depend on us -- the difference lies in the magnitude and scope, depending upon the individual. Every individual may be thought of as having the capacity to use his/her own 'sphere of influence and span of control' through interpersonal relationships with others -- Gandhi said that "Politics begins with the next person."
On this social foundation, therefore, the trappings of human civilization (religions, politics, professions/work or livelihood pursuits, vocations or avocations, and what-have-you) exist and function as adjuncts to the individual existence of everyone on the planet. Were we to exist as reclusive and solitary persons or hermits, probably many of the problems and ills of human society (including politics) would disappear completely. But as the popular saying goes: "No man is an island." By becoming anti-social, a man may be characterized as an 'island' unto himself -- but this is clearly an unsustainable functionality, because in the end, nature always wins (our need for interdependence).
On the other hand, the social conditions and circumstances normally arise where the self-regulating nature of the human psyche and instincts more or less enable people to attain a common level of understanding (consensus) as well as "belongingness" (communal unity and solidarity) -- thus restoring cohesiveness and social equilibrium. Many philosophers since ancient times (Greeks, Chinese, Indian, etc.) have sought to explain the human condition with relevant insights and observations, which allow us to put such knowledge to good use -- providing that we are aware of and can really understand their wisdom...
By Carlos Silverio Bueno, FB
Source: FB, 4 August 2017
10 LESSONS RUNNING TEACHES YOU ABOUT LIFE
1. When things get tough, just keep going.
When most people encounter a rough patch, they quit. The truly successful people in the world keep going no matter what. Never let your setbacks win.
2. Consistency creates habit.
To incorporate anything into your life, you have to make it a habit. To make something a habit, you have to be consistent. Whatever it is you’re aiming for, make it a part of your life.
3. You’ll have to get through hell before you get to heaven.
Like all things worth pursuing, you are going to get knocked down, stepped on, and rejected along the way. Consider this to be part of the path to your goals. Sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination.
4. Reaching your goals will take a lot of work.
If it doesn’t, it’s either not a goal, not worth pursuing, or will not have any fulfillment. Never expect to not put in work and get somewhere.
5. Every aspect of life is mental.
It’s not about what you do or what happens to you, it’s about how to respond to it. It’s how you decide to carry on. Your power comes from inside your head.
6. You do have time– you just have to make it.
If something is important to you, you’ll make time for it. If not, you’ll make excuses.
7. You define your own limits.
Your limits aren’t put unto you by your parents, other people, or the universe. You are in total control of it. You decide whether or not to shoot for the moon or stay right where you are.
8. If you wait for the right conditions, you’ll never get anything done.
Don’t wait for anything or anybody. You know what you have to do to reach your goals and get things done. Just go do them!
9. Go beyond your limits every day and watch the magic happen.
You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve if you just push yourself a little further.
10. There is peace even in the most chaotic times.
No matter now grueling, stressful, sorrowful, or painful your situation is, there is always a silver lining and something positive to be found. Seek it out, learn from it, and keep moving on.
Source: Gibson's Daily Running Quotes
16 October 2013
(b>Lesson Learned From a Wise Man
A father left 17 ducks as asset for his Three Sons.
When the Father passed away, his sons opened up the will.
The Will of the Father stated that the Eldest son should get Half of 17 ducks,
The Middle Son should be given 1/3rd of 17 ducks,
Youngest Son should be given 1/9th of the 17 ducks.
As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the sons started to fight with each other. So, they decided to go to a wise man who lives in a cave.
The wise man listened patiently about the Will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one duck of his own and added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 ducks.
Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will.
Half of 18 = 9. So he gave 9 ducks to the eldest son.
1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave 6 ducks to the middle son.
1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave 2 ducks to the youngest son.
Now add this up: 9 + 6 + 2 = 17 and....
This leaves 1 duck which the wise man took back.
MORAL: The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the 18th duck that is, the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times.
However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able to reach any!
Source: Shared by Dennis Peter Kintanar Laniez, FB
SUCCESS STORY: Shannon Satonori Lytle
Repost From FB dated 26 May 2017
"In high school, I flipped burgers at McDonald’s so I could afford the privilege of taking the SAT. I fed and cared for my three baby siblings until they went to sleep and stayed up until 4am to do my homework. I walked home through a dangerous part of the city after extracurriculars because I couldn’t afford a car. I stuck my laptop out of my window at night to steal my neighbor’s wifi and finish my schoolwork. I was scoffed at and told, “from this part of Ohio, only the children of doctors and lawyers get to go to Ivy League Schools.” In college, I panicked when my laptop broke because I had worked 150 minimum wage hours to buy it. I scrubbed toilets, shelved books, and sold clothing so I could chase my dreams and travel the world. Throughout my life, I have maneuvered and begged for every kind of subsidy and coupon. I'm the son of a warehouse worker and an immigrant; a first generation student. Today, I graduated from Harvard."
A LETTER FROM AN ORDINARY CITIZEN OF MARAWI CITY
I am not a leader.
I am not a politician.
I am not an activist.
I am certainly not a somebody.
I am just a Moro who grew from the peaceful city of Marawi. Now an evacuee.
And although it may not be important to you,
I have a message to tell.
28 May 2017:
The first day of Ramadhan I woke up staring blankly into the air. I was lying on a different bed at a different room in a strange place. I didn't want to wake up and wished I was dreaming. Tears flowed as I recalled the horrible days that transpired in my home Marawi City. "I wanna come home, I wanna come home!"
Tuesday, 24 May 2017, was the start of hellish days for the Maranaos in my hometown. Never in our lives did we imagine that such a day will come that would tear our hearts to pieces every day for the rest of our lives. My husband came home early 3 in the afternoon carrying the horrible news that a firefight was then ongoing in Basak Malutlut, Marawi City between the Maute group (MG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that prompted him to come home early after visiting a wake. My jaws dropped I remembered my two siblings were there at AKIC-SLS near the area for enrollment and immediately texted them to come home. But they couldn't. They are all trapped in the city because another firefight ensued at Dansalan College which was the usual route to get home. We waited hoping the firefight would stop. It didn't. Where can they escape? "Yaa Allah, yaa rabbi, protect my siblings and keep them safe!"
Wednesday, 25 May 2017:
Woke up during fajr to realize that yesterday was not a dream. The whole city went blackout Tuesday night. Our phones were ringing nonstop as our parents who were then in Manila kept on monitoring our situation, hoping that my siblings who were trapped in Basak Malutlut could go home. I was helpless. I couldn't risk crossing the center of the city to get to my siblings and save them. "I can't do it, mommy. I am sorry, Tintin.. I am sorry, Biboy.. I am sorry, Jimboy.."
Thursday, 26 May 2017:
Almost 50% of the Maranaos evacuated from their homes yesterday. Some reached the nearby city of Iligan after 4 hours. Some 6 hours. Some 13 hours. Some 19 hours! By foot or by wheels they all ran away. I was with my siblings at home as they comfort themselves repeating the tragic experiences they had. Yes, they got home yesterday after braving the city and passing by some heavily armed MG members to get home. The electricity didn't resume. "We wanna flee. We wanna evacuate. We wanna be safe!"
Friday, 27 May 2018:
While in total darkness in the early dawn, my ears couldn't forget the sound of falling bombs from several jets of yesterday. The scary noise of too many helicopters that passed by our roof. Not to mention the loud firing of guns and tanks nearby our barangay. I stayed my calm by the thought that at least I am safe with my three siblings, husband and baby and was welcomed by relatives in their home outside the city after yesterday's trauma. "I am sorry, papa and mommy, we have to leave our house. I am sorry that we left our car on the highway because it couldn't start.. We know how you sacrificed blood and tears for providing us comfort in our home and other properties. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiuun."
As of now, my home Marawi City is in total wreck. Burnings and killings in every corner. No more Dansalan College. No more PMTC. No more Rasheda Pharmacy. No more Landbank. No more Al-Khawthar. No more ancestral homes. No more taraweehs at our masjids near our homes. No more ina or ama. No more bapa or babo. No more ma'am or sir. "Stop! Please, no more!"
I wished I could have been a leader, or a politician, or an activist, or a somebody. Just so my voice would matter. Just so they will listen to me.
I wished I could tell our dear Mayor to fight for Marawi to stop the bombings and airstrikes of our homes and buildings because this is our land and its the people who suffers. "Marawi will rise again, mayor, in shaa Allah! Call out your constituents, where are your men? Contact the media and tell the President to please stop those dalling bombs. Innocent lives are at stake. It only destroys the city, not the MG. This is our home! This is your city being destroyed! But please stay safe while guarding it."
I wished I could tell the excellency PRRD (thru MOCHA USON BLOG) to change the military strategy and stop airstrikes and be sensitive enough not to utter an offensive joke out if this situation. "You didn't hear us rally or complain about your ML declaration. We trusted you, you had our full support. We expected you'd care for us of all people. You visited and encouraged your soldiers and promised them immunity and assistance, but did you also visit the Maranao victims and those families who lost their families and houses after you've given well-wishes to your soldiers, tatay Digong?
Several children, pregnant women, old men and women and others walked miles in hunger and thirst (rain and shine) just to get to a safe city. Their bravery after the terror from leaving their shelters, hearing bombs explode and gunfires (not to mention meeting MG members in flesh!) are beyond comparable than your men hiding behind their tanks and jets. They too deserve a salute."
I wished I could tell our senators to stop criticizing and start making solutions for the reliefs of the victims. "Let's put first the safety of our people rather than dwelling on the legalities of the declaration of Martial law. Food and water are scarce. The victims survived the bombs and bullets but will die of hunger or thirst."
I wished I could tell the media to report the truth to the people and to the world for our cries and pleas to be heard. "Marawi City has fallen. Call for help. We need your help!"
I wished I could explain to my fellow Filipinos who do not have any idea of Maranaos and of Marawi City that we are humans too and we deserve sympathy and instead of generalizing us they lend help and offer prayers to save Marawi. "We are the one affected by Martial law but you complain more than anything. It would be best not to treat our situation as a subject matter for debates in your rallies and social media rants."
I wished I could have voiced out everything since Day 1. Will it be heard? No. Will it save those victims? No. Will it raise the dead? No. Will it stop the gunfires and airstrikes? No. Will it bring Marawi back to normal?
Certainly NO!
So, listen...
This is the saddest month of Ramadhan for all of us from Marawi City. Fasting away from our beloved city when we anticipated for weeks that it will be the happiest among the Ramadhans that came before (Yes, people, we still managed to fast in spite of all these. We don't eat and drink while our minds are tortured by all these events).
The food became tasteless knowing some victims may not be eating any right now. Sleep too became a battle every night. We can only pray. I bleed for Marawi, I bleed for my people. And if you are not interested to listen, at least
#PrayforMarawi #SaveMarawi #NoToDiscrimination#YestoUnityLovePeace
#Repost from Al'zilzalah...
Native American Spirituality and Thoughts, shared on FB
Congregation Shames Cowboy
One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged.
In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and a equally worn out Bible. The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories.
As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.
As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor: “Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.”
The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.
But the next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots and hat.
Once again he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the man and said, “I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church.”
“I did,” replied the old cowboy.
“If you spoke to God, what did he tell you proper attire should be for worshiping in here?” asked the preacher.
“Well, sir, God told me that He didn’t have a clue what I should wear. He said He’d never been in here before.”
Grandparents Never Die, They Become Invisible…
(Everyone Must Read This, It’s Heartwarming!)
Grandparents never die, they become invisible and they sleep forever deep in our heart. And even today, we miss them and we would give anything to hear their stories, to feel their caresses and look at those eyes full of infinite tenderness.
While grandparents have the joy to see us being born and growing, as a fact of life, we must witness how they age and say goodbye to this world. The death of a grandparent is usually the first farewell that we will have to face in our childhood.
Grandparents, who assume the active role of raising their grandchildren, leave traces in their spirits, legacies that will accompany them for life as seeds of everlasting love during the days when they become invisible.
Nowadays it is very common to see grandparents participating in raising their grandchildren. They represent an invaluable support network in today’s families. Children however sense very well that the role of grandparents is different from that of their parents.
It is common that grandparents and grandchildren develop a very special, a deep and intimate bond, so the loss of the grandparents can be very shocking and delicate in the personality of a child or adolescent. We wish to reflect on this subject with you.
Saying good bye to Grandparents: the first experience dealing with loss
For some of us who have reached adulthood having our grandparents by our side, we have been truly privileged, however others, had to face their death when they were still in the early childhood, when children still don’t understand a loss like this in all the magnitude. Commonly adults are not able to fully explain what happened and try to soften the death as if it “does not hurt”.
Adults should explain things clearly to their children and they should tell them the truth, this is the advice of Psych pedagogues. Of course it’s necessary to know how to adapt the news according their age. One must, however, avoid making the mistake of many parents in preventing a last farewell of the child with his grandfather in the hospital, or beat around the bush with metaphors such as that “the grandfather is in a star or he is sleeping in the sky”.
Source: Fully Aware Mind dot com
March 12, 2017
A PROMISE I CANNOT KEEP
Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun.
For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They noticed that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about its business with its friends. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily, it gradually climbed out of sight and was never seen again.
“Look!” said one of the water bugs to another. “One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you suppose she is going?” Up, up, up it went slowly. Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return. “That’s funny!” said one water bug to another. “Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second water bug. “Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third. No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.
Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered them all together. “I have an idea”, he said. “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why.” “We promise,” they said solemnly.
One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broken through the surface of the water, and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.
He was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided to take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he awoke, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.
He couldn’t believe the startling change he saw in his body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings. The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly.
Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in his new environment. By and by, the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were, scurrying about, just as he had been doing some time before. Then the dragonfly remembered the promise: “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.”
Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water. “I can’t return!” he said in dismay. “At least I tried, but I can’t keep my promise.
Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I’ll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they’ll understand what happened to me, where I went, and this wonderful new life I’ve been given.” And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air.
And that’s the story of the dragonfly. So, I’ll ask again… is there a Heaven?
Source: Begin with Yes
SIGNS YOU ARE ARGUING WITH A PSYCHOPATH
They’re manipulative people who intentionally cause harm to others without any sense of remorse or responsibility.
Psychopaths are social chameleons who can fit perfectly into any situation. They are experts at morphing their identities to get what they want and mirroring others for money, sex, and — most commonly — attention. Because of their ability to idealize others, psychopaths are often perceived as charming, innocent, and fun to unsuspecting onlookers and casual acquaintances.
But there is another side to them.
When they’re feeling threatened or bored, a psychopath’s true colors start to come out. They draw you into arguments that are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. The argument usually stems from something hurtful or inappropriate they’ve done, but you’ll quickly find that you’re the one defending yourself.
It’s sort of like good cop, bad cop, demented cop, stalker cop, scary cop, baby cop.
Here are 6 warning signs that the person you’re arguing with is a psychopath and it’s time to disengage.
1. They lie and make excuses.
Everyone messes up every now and then, but psychopaths recite excuses more often than they follow through with promises. Their actions never match up with their words and their lies disappoint you so frequently that you actually feel relieved when they do something halfway decent. They’ve conditioned you to become grateful for mediocre treatment.
2. Their tone is condescending and patronizing.
Psychopaths often try to make you unhinged in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Throughout the entire argument, you’ll notice that they keep a calm and cool demeanor. It’s almost as if they’re mocking you — gauging your reactions to see how much further they can push. When you finally react emotionally, that’s when they’ll raise their eyebrows, smirk, tell you to calm down, or feign disappointment.
3. They employ mind-blowing hypocrisy.
In heated arguments, psychopaths have no shame and will often begin labeling you with their own horrible qualities. It goes beyond projection, because most people project unknowingly. Psychopaths know they are smearing you with their own flaws, because they are seeking a reaction. The point is to lure you in so that you react and seem “crazy” to onlookers.
4. They seem to have multiple personalities.
When arguing with a psychopath, you’re likely to notice a variety of their personas. It’s sort of like good cop, bad cop, demented cop, stalker cop, scary cop, baby cop. Once you begin pulling away from their manipulation and lies, they’ll start apologizing and flatter you. If that doesn’t work, they’ll suddenly start insulting the qualities they just flattered two minutes ago. As they struggle to regain control, you’ll be left wondering who you’re even talking to.
5. They play the eternal victim.
Somehow, their bad behavior will always lead back to a conversation about their abusive past or a crazy ex or an evil boss. You’ll end up feeling bad for them, even when they’ve done something horribly wrong. And once they’ve successfully diverted your attention, everything will get messy again. Psychopaths cry “abuse,” but, in the end, you’re the only one being abused.
6. You feel the need to explain basic human emotions to them.
You’ll find yourself attempting to explain emotions like empathy and kindness, guided by the thought that if they understand why you’re hurt, they’ll stop hurting you. You are not the first person who has attempted to see the good in them, and you will not be the last. They behave this way because they know that it hurts you.
There’s only one way out of these arguments. You need to disengage!
Arguments with psychopaths leave you drained. You might spend hours, even days, obsessing over the argument. If you think you have the perfect response to their latest outrageous comment, they planted it there on purpose. They’retrying to provoke you. They’re trying to draw you in.
In professional environments, they want you to blow up so that coworkers and superiors see you as unstable. In romantic settings, they want you to lash out so that they can use your “hysterical” reactions to show potential partners and exes how crazy you’ve become. Until we understand this, we’ll continue to fall into their trap.
Source: Jackson McKenzie, from The Mind's Journal, FB
Four things you should always keep secret."
1. Your Goals
Your goals are more intimate than you think, especially when it comes to creative or intellectual property. You shouldn’t make your goals known until the path is clear for you to achieve them.........................
(Keeping them secret will ensure that they’re truly yours, and you’ll keep other people from taking your ideas or your work. Your goals are yours; don’t let any outside influence change or disrupt that.)
2. Family Struggle or Strife
Never come to another person with stories of your family’s most recent struggles. Not only is it disrespectful to your family, but you may not realize how much power that information can have in the hands of an outside party. Problems with your family need to be resolved within your family, not with anyone else. Sharing your family’s dirt will only devalue you as a person.
3. Your Philanthropic Endeavors
Helping others is a great way to spend your free time, but talking about helping others really isn’t.
As soon as you start telling the people in your life how charitable you are, it becomes about how you portray yourself to the public, not about the actual work that you do. Although you may not mean to come across as a showoff, that’s how it will look to those around you.
4. Physical Fitness or Activities
This is a big one. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of people in this world who value physical fitness or being healthy, which means talking about it can be tricky. There’s nothing wrong with being physically fit or spending time on your overall health, but if you talk about it too much, especially to people who aren’t necessarily physically fit, it can come across as conceited.
Source: FB
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Positive and Negative People’s Outlooks Have These 5 Predominant Differences
There are some pretty major differences between positive and negative people, and they become more evident the more you pay attention. Check out these five differences to see if you need an attitude adjustment.
6 Surprising Characteristics of Intimidating People
1. Ignorance is Not Bliss
Those of you who have strong personalities know that there is nothing more repulsive than ignorance.
2. Opportunities Are Created
Strong people don’t wait around for opportunities to fall in their lap. This applies to every aspect of life, including personal relationships and career goals.
3. Simplistic Conversations Aren’t Worth It
Almost like your no-tolerance policy for ignorance, you hate simple conversations. Small talk seems like a waste of time, and you aren’t willing to get into any conversation with someone who isn’t willing to dive deep.
4. Attention isn’t Important
If you have a strong personality, securing the attention of others isn’t important. Some people do things simply to be recognized by their peers, this isn’t you at all.
You only do things that are important to you or that you feel are worth doing, it doesn’t matter how anyone else feels.
5. Excuses Aren’t Excusable
As a strong person, you do what needs to be done. If you accept a responsibility, you get it done when it needs to be done. If for some reason you fail in your commitments, you don’t offer any excuses, you accept the consequences and move on.
6. Integrity is Everything
As a strong person, your integrity means a great deal.
Source: Daily Vibes dot org
12 SIGNS YOU ARE DOING WELL IN LIFE
1. You got up this morning.
Do you know how important that is? Getting up is the first step to starting your day and I know there are times when that is the last thing you want to do. And if it was easy to get up today, that's even more amazing because the good days are to be cherished.
2. You have a place to live.
Whether it's a house or an apartment, you're living at home, you have a roommate, or a partner, you have a place to keep your things and go to sleep. Even if you're struggling, you can say that you have something and a place to go at night.
3. You have a dream.
It can be big or small. Maybe you only have one or maybe you have too many to count. Having dreams means having hope and there are some people who have given up. Hold on to your dreams: you have no idea when they might start coming true.
4. You've been heartbroken.
If you've been heartbroken it means you have loved and experienced powerful emotions. Remember: from heartbreak also comes the opportunity to grow and become stronger.
5. You are loved.
Even if it's by one person, even if it's you, you are loved. Love gives us the power and strength to do anything. You are here because of love and we make our way through life because of it.
6. You have a hobby.
Any hobby. Maybe you love to cook or bake, or maybe you spend your free time in a library or drawing.
7. You can afford little expenses.
You could get that cup of coffee or buy a packet of gum. You may not be able to afford everything your heart desires but you can pick up those few items you want today.
8. You know what you DON'T want.
So maybe you don't know exactly what you want but you have an idea of what you don't want in life. This is so much better than being stuck in the middle and unable to make up your mind.
9. You have a job.
Maybe you're not at your dream job but you have something that a lot of people don't have. Even if you're somewhere you are looking to get out of, that means you have the opportunity to move up.
10. You ate today.
We take food for granted. Once you step outside your home, there are more food establishments than anything else it seems. So if you had the chance to eat even a little something today, that is huge.
11. You have a safe place to go.
Whether it's your home, a friend's, or your favorite spot at the park, you have a place you can go to and feel safe and at peace.
12. You are trying to be better.
Maybe you're not where you want to be just yet but you are determined to keep working towards the things you want. Life is a marathon and as long as you keep a steady pace and strive for the finish line, you can get there. You haven't given up yet and you have survived your life so far. You can keep going and you're going to.
Source: FB
IF
"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world.
If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, you are among the top 80 percent of the world's wealthy.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not." ~Anon
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5 Essentials To Creating a Peaceful Lifestyle
1. Simplify your schedule: Take a look at how jam-packed your schedule is and all the commitments you have. Then consider how often you under estimate how long activities will take to complete and how often you feel overwhelmed and frazzled. And then assess what is actually filling up your day. Do you really need to be doing all these things, are they serving you and are they in alignment with your values and what is most important to you? If not, cut them out immediately and think about how you’d prefer to spend more of your time. Sure we all have responsibilities and things we have to do but we’re talking about the other stuff – the decisions and commitments that are driven more by our ego than our soul. Start focusing more on what energizes you and puts a bounce in your step and dedicate more time to those things.
2. Simplify your goals: Now I’m all about setting goals but I also know that only having two or three goals or projects that you are intentionally working on at any one time will dramatically improve your focus, commitment and success rate. So identify which goals are most important to you NOW! Get them complete and then start the next ones. This will not only simplify your life, but your schedule as well.
3. Simplify your words: What? Simplify my words! How is that going to make my life more peaceful and happy you may ask? Well, there are two aspects to keeping your words simple. The first is about keeping your words honest, sincere and clear. Say what you mean and mean what you say. And as my mother always used to say: “if you don’t have anything kind to say, say nothing.” The second aspect is to listen more than you speak – a valuable discipline to master and one which will help you connect better with those around you and also help limit misunderstandings! Now that for sure will simplify your life.
4. Simplify your thoughts: We literally have thousands of thoughts every single day and for most people, they are generally not empowering, positive or helpful. In addition they are mentally draining ultimately affect your performance, creativity and problem solving abilities. The bottom line – they are of no use. So take responsibility for your mind. Pay attention to your thoughts and when you notice they are not positive or helpful, simply choose to change them. Have a go-to mantra or question you can ask yourself to focus your mind and thoughts in a more positive direction. It could be as simple as saying: “I choose to be positive and happy in this moment”. Bamm! You’ve cut that negative self-talk dead in its tracks and refocused your mind!
5. Simplify your connections to the world: Having meaningful relationships and friendships is not only healthy but also essential to our emotional well-being. However the key here is meaningful – relationships that energize you, support you, lift you up and you leave feeling better and not worse. Evaluate your relationships and simplify your life by distancing yourself from those people that do not bring out the best in you. Again this is about quality not quantity. In fact in this case ‘quantity’ – whether in person or via technology and social media, although may give you a sense of connection and being needed, will ultimately distract you from what is truly important in your life. As you simplify your life and connections you will see how your remaining relationships strengthen and deepen. And also never dismiss the importance of time alone to reflect on where you are at and to recharge so that you remain in alignment and true to who you truly want to be.
Source: Internet
❤❤❤ TEN COMMANDMENTS OF HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE
Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what you say.
Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs you.
Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging thing to or about somebody.
Praise good work done, regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.
Be interested in others: interested in their welfare, their homes, their families. Make merry with those who rejoice; with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him as one of importance.
Be cheerful; keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Hide your pains, worries, and disappointments under a smile. Laugh at good stories and learn to tell them.
Preserve an open mind on all debatable. Discuss, but don’t argue. It is a mark of superior minds to disagree and yet to be friendly.
Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves, and refuse to talk of another’s vices. Discourage gossip. Make it a rule to say nothing of another unless it is something good.
Be careful of another’s feelings. Wit and humor at the other fellow’s expense are rarely worth the effort and may hurt when least expected.
Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Simply live so that nobody will believe them. Disordered nerves and a bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.
Don’t be too anxious about your dues. Do your work, be patient and keep your disposition sweet. Forget self, and you will be rewarded.
~Anon
Source: FB
LEAVING A MARK
Source: SimpleReminders.com
TAKE PRIDE
"There is no such thing as victory and defeat. There is only movement.
There are neither winners nor losers. There are only stages that must be gone through.
When your heart understands this, it can be free, and accept the difficult times.
And not be deceived by the moments of glory
Both will pass.
If your love is rejected, this does not put an end to your ability to love.
If you lose everything, be ready to face sadness, but when this will pass, you will be stronger.
Take pride in your scars. Scars speak more loudly than the sword that caused them."
~Paulo Coelho
THINGS YOU NEED TO START DOING FOR YOURSELF
Start --
*Spending time with the right people.
*Facing your problems head-on.
*Being honest with yourself about everything.
*Making your own happiness a priority.
*Being yourself. Genuinely and proudly.
*Noticing and living in the present.
*Valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you.
*Being more polite to yourself.
*Enjoying the things you already have.
*Creating your own happiness.
*Giving your ideas and dreams a chance.
*Believing that you are ready for the next step.
*Being in new relationships for the right reasons.
*Giving new people you meet a chance.
*Competing against an earlier version of yourself.
*Cheering for other people’s victories.
*Looking for the silver lining in tough situations.
*Forgiving yourself and others.
*Helping those around you.
*Listening to your own inner voice.
*Being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks.
*Noticing the beauty of small moments.
*Accepting things when they are less than perfect.
*Working towards your goals every single day.
*Being more open about how your feel.
*Taking full accountability for your own life.
*Actively nurturing your most important relationships.
*Concentrating on the things you can control.
*Focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes.
*Noticing how wealthy you are right now.
Source: FB, I Love My Family
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Quote: INTERDEPENDENCE
"Interdependence is a fundamental law of nature. Even tiny insects survive by cooperating with each other. Our own survival is so dependent on the help of others that a need for love lies at the very core of our existence. This is why we need to cultivate a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others." ~Anon
SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE
(MARRIED OR NOT - A MUST READ)
“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. If you are not in a relationship now, remember this for the second (or third) time around. It's never too late.
If you don’t share this, nothing will happen to you.
If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up
Source: FB Via "social meems "
HOW TO FIND YOUR COURAGE TO LIVE PASSIONATELY
By Dr. Barbara De Angelis
Most of us associate passion with love or relationships, but passion is actually the life force that pulsates within us, bringing energy, vitality and meaning to everything it touches. Passion is not something we are only supposed to experience in romance, or on a special occasion. It is not found in escaping from our usual life in a search for some high-charged experience.
We rediscover our passion when we open ourselves fully to every experience, and learn to see the world with passionate eyes. Reclaiming our passion means choosing to fully inhabit our days, living our lives so that no moment goes unlived, no delight goes unnoticed, no sweetness goes untasted.
Right now, all around you, there are a thousand things for you to be passionate about. But it takes courage to live passionately. The choice to live with passion is the choice to open yourself fully to each moment and to each situation. You give everything. You hold nothing back.
Learning to live with passion is a profound spiritual experience, because you learn to see and experience the marvelous and miraculous in everything. TODAY is the day for you to rediscover your passion. When you do, you'll feel fully alive and deeply grateful.
Source: Heal Your Life, FB
LESSONS LEARNED FROM POPE FRANCIS
1. DON'T GOSSIP.
“When we gossip, we “are doing what Judas did,” and “begin to tear the other person to pieces. Every time we judge our brother in our hearts or worse when we speak badly of them with others, we are murdering Christians,” Francis says. “There is no such thing as innocent slander.”
2. FINISH YOUR MEAL.
“Throwing food away is like stealing from the tables of the poor, the hungry! I encourage everyone to reflect on the problem of thrown away and wasted food to identify ways and means that, by seriously addressing this issue, are a vehicle of solidarity and sharing with the needy.”
3. MAKE TIME FOR OTHERS.
“If the Pope can find time to be kind to others, if he can pause to say thank you, if he can take a moment make someone feel appreciated, then so can I. So can we.” Fr James Martin
4. CHOOSE THE 'MORE HUMBLE' PURCHASE.
“Certainly, possessions, money, and power can give a momentary thrill, the illusion of being happy, but they end up possessing us and making us always want to have more, never satisfied. ‘Put on Christ’ in your life, place your trust in him, and you will never be disappointed!”
5. MEET THE POOR 'IN THE FLESH'.
“Hospitality in itself isn't enough. It's not enough to give a sandwich if it isn't accompanied by the possibility of learning to stand on one’s own feet. Charity that does not change the situation of the poor isn't enough.”
6. STOP JUDGING OTHERS.
“If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?”
“Let us not forget that hatred, envy, and pride defile our lives!”
7. BEFRIEND THOSE WHO DISAGREE.
“When leaders in various fields ask me for advice, my response is always the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. It is the only way for individuals, families, and societies to grow, the only way for the life of peoples to progress, along with the culture of encounter, a culture in which all have something good to give and all can receive something good in return. Others always have something to give me, if we know how to approach them in a spirit of openness and without prejudice.”
8. MAKE COMMITMENTS, SUCH AS MARRIAGE.
“I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of responsibility, that you are incapable of true love. I have confidence in you and I pray for you. Have the courage ‘to swim against the tide.’ Have the courage to be happy,”
9. MAKE IT A HABIT TO 'ASK THE LORD'.
“Dear young people,” he says, “some of you may not yet know what you will do with your lives. Ask the Lord, and he will show you the way. The young Samuel kept hearing the voice of the Lord who was calling him, but he did not understand or know what to say, yet with the help of the priest Eli, in the end he answered: 'Speak, Lord, for I am listening' (cf. 1 Sam 3:1-10). You too can ask the Lord: What do you want me to do? What path am I to follow?”
10. BE HAPPY.
“Joy cannot be held at heel: it must be let go. Joy is a pilgrim virtue. It is a gift that walks, walks on the path of life, that walks with Jesus: preaching, proclaiming Jesus, proclaiming joy, lengthens and widens that path.”
Source: FB
COMMITMENT
Commitment defined:
1. the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
2. an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.
Many unions become until death do us part unions because both parties are fully committed to the number ONE definition. Those unions are a rare breed of people.
Commitment phobia falling in the number 2 definition is very common.
A relationship is a union where certain freedoms are sacrificed for the common good. If one individual sacrifices more than the other, the relationship is unbalanced and eventually implodes.
Are the sacrifices worth the long term goals?
Having a partner sleeping in your bed may satisfy the hormonal drive. When the hormones are balanced, life's interests and goals still need attention.
In many cases giving up freedoms, making sacrifices, are not harmonious with a person's creative psyche. It means finding one who shares a core harmonious psyche without having to make sacrifices.
Therefore; walk into a singles venue with the attitude you are not willing to sacrifice your core values and interests to appease another. The right person will accept another for who they are, not their ideal of who another is.
By Mr Chivas
Source: Internet
APPRECIATING REAL BLESSINGS of LIFE
"We often take so many things for granted. It is important to learn about the art of looking for and appreciating the real blessings of life, great and small. There is an old saying that "a donkey may carry a heavy load of sandlewood on its back without ever knowing its value; all the donkey knows is the weight of its load!" Often we, too, may go through life, feeling only the weight of circumstances, unable to know the precious nature of life, simply because we may have a chronically negative attitude. Cultivating the attitude of gratitude can lead to self-appreciation and a more positive mental perception of life.
The law of gratitude and thanksgiving is considered an aspect of the universe that deals with the flow of energy. That is, as you give out energy it returns to you. This works in almost every department of life. As one gives love, love can be magnetized toward you. It may come back in a different form, but it can return when it is given without manipulation. This law of life is about combining the expectations of the mind with the power of the heart. You create a "mold" for something good in your life, and with the power of gratitude, good things continue to be drawn to you as to a magnet.
This can also be true with the law of forgiveness. The lack of self-forgiveness in any single area of life can fester like a poison within and may bring anger, pain, and illness. Psychologists and sociologists often infer that the damage from childhood experiences can set patterns into motion that may follow an adult through life, being projected outward, unless forgiveness is attained.
Have you ever wondered what it might be like if we couldn't appreciate the good things of life, such as spirituality, music, art, drama, literature, friends, dance, sports, nature, and all that makes life worth living? Have you ever considered the possibility that gratitude, thanksgiving, and the power of forgiving could be as creative as other works achieved in the world? Every person may not be great according to the terms of the world, but we can be grateful! Perhaps true appreciation is a fantastic kind of creativity that can lead to spiritual growth. Let us choose our lives with love and gratitude. Let us use the laws of thanksgiving and forgiving to bless ourselves and others and make our lives more complete." ~John Marks Templeton
Source: Positive Thoughts
OUR HEART IS OUR HOME:
When we let people enter our heart, we let them enter the house of our soul. Each room is full of memories, secrets, thoughts, ideas and emotions, which we are willing to share by speaking the truth and offer our trust.
Once a person enters our soul, this human leaves his/her trace. The deeper this person walks into our heart, the more rooms he/she finds and the deeper the trace of this person becomes.
When we get hurt, people often have a chance to clean up this bad trace and improve the inside of our home. So, we can allow them to stay.
However some traces of some persons hurt too much and reach too deep to improve and we must take this person out of our home. But we cannot take out this person's trace. Never.
So, we should take care and be careful everytime we enter someone's heart in order not to lose the right to come back one day.
By: Deniz Inan
Composer, Musician, Poet, FB
═══════════════ HOW TO BE A BETTER HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER HUMAN BEING:
"Never touch anything with half your heart, be present, endlessly loving and compassionate towards other, confront any challenging situation first with a deep breath, wander, remember that your own happiness comes before all things, before reacting - understand, eat breakfast every morning, find the faces in the flowers, remember what is important to you, treat your body kindly, be honest, get to know yourself, take things at your own pace, don’t feel embarrassed to feel, laugh, cry, sing or love, remember what is right for someone else may not be what is right for you (and that’s okay), never be ashamed or afraid to ask for help, do what you love, remember that you always have a choice, find joy in what life really is - living." ~Anon
═══════════════ QUOTE
"Your life has PURPOSE.
Your story is IMPORTANT.
Your dreams COUNT.
Your voice MATTERS.
You were born to make
an IMPACT."
~Anon
═══════════════ Ten Rules for Being Human
1. You will receive a body.
You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons.
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called "Life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons.
Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned.
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end.
There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better a place than "here."
When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you.
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you.
You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you.
The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
═══════════════ SILENCE
"Silence is the sublime refuge of your divine. Silence exposes the highest potential for clarity. In silence there is a perfection which any toil injures. Silence is more than observation; it informs from non-observation. Only in stillness does the imperceivable become discernible. You will only find the profoundly inexpressible in profound silence.
When we keep our silence we gather our power; when we speak we let loose the concentration of quiet reverie. Words are the fallen ruins of silent majesty. Beyond the words and ideas, there is a perfect space of total completeness called silence. Silence is another language beneath words. The language of nature is silence. Silence is so profound that it is like another dimension into which one can travel.
When you cannot cultivate the meditative space of your own silence, your existence is tormented by endless interruption and distraction. Silence is the true center of your strongest self. Connection with yourself only comes in moments of silence. Once you connect with yourself, it is impossible to be lonely or desperate. Peace is the friend we find in silence.
There is a simple path to follow that appears only when you calm your mind. On the still calm waters of surrender, the reflections of clarity appear. Inner-calm will lead you on a beautiful journey back to your original self; the perfect, beautiful you."
Author: Byrant McGill
Source: Simple Reminders
═══════════════ How Do You See The World?
By Eldon Taylor
Once a wise master had four students who exceeded all others in ability. One day the five gathered, and the master spoke to the first student, “Tell me what you see when you look into the world.”
“I see savagery. The planet is raped. The world hides from the truth. Contaminating material is released everywhere. There is particulate matter in the heavens and acid rain. The rain forests are being destroyed, and so is the ozone. There is such ignorance and selfishness. The world needs so much correction.” The master replied, “You are right, and I shall call you Correction, for you by your vision have committed to a world of need.” To his second student, the master put the same question, “Tell me what you see when you look into the world.”
The second student replied, “Master, I see futility. Nothing can be done to change the ways of the world, though some will repent and call for change. Still, the world is condemned by the acts of man. The sciences teach us that too many people are coming onto the planet, too much destruction has already been done, too little money is provided for science to adequately assist, and there is too little concern for ethics and values. Crime escalates while families decay. Law is lost.
“You too are right, and I shall call you Righteous, for your indignation beholds a corrupt world beyond repair while your heart suffers its pain. You shall be known for your words, and your works will express the sadness of your heart.”
The master turned his gaze to the third student. “And you, what do you see?” “I see a world needing the restoration of Law. I do not believe hope is lost. I find encouragement in the words of my brothers, for they too recognize the need the world has for a change of ways. It is with confidence that I sense the willingness of man to change. All good government is government of the people and for the people. It is through law and government that change can be effected. The mass will follow the right action and attitude of government. The agent for change exists and is law and government.” “You also are right. I shall call you Government, for your words forge your observations and become what you teach. You will therefore be committed to a work of law and order through government.”
Finally, to the fourth student, the master put the same question, “And what do you see?” “Master, I behold only miracles. Life is a miracle. All being is a miracle. Consciousness is a miracle. I behold God in all creation. I sense the beauty of Love in the fragrance of the flower, in the smile of a child, in the warmth of lovers, in the glow of the stars. When I look onto the world, I am greeted with its mysteries. It is with awe and reverence that each day unfolds its beauty. I know that all things are good and that each expresses their good in their own appropriate manner for the moment. I know that which my brothers speak about is but illusion, for only the eternal is real. I will give no power to thoughts of scarcity, of limitation, of need, for all that is truly needed is here for us to behold, to recognize, and to accept. I wish only to give to the world the sight I have been given. For with these modest eyes and senses, my heart is quickened by the glory of being.”
The master smiled before he spoke. “And you, my chosen student, I will call Truth, for your vision is of Truth, and its reward is the reality it sees. You shall go unto man and teach from what you see, for yours is the vision of what is, and all that is possible rests in this peace. You shall be known by all men by your garments of serenity and peace.”
The master, speaking to all, added these words, “To each of you is the blessing of your vision. As you see the world, so the world reveals itself to you. You will know the world by your vision of it. To each of you will go the works of your sight. You will experience life according to your vision.”
Not only is our reality a matter of choice, but so is the power we give it. Only the eternal is incorruptible. Only the eternal is therefore true. All else is inherently false by definition. To be a master, one must begin by acting like a master. To grow, we must give. The old saying “You cannot receive if the cup is full” is absolutely true of the human condition. As we sow, so do we reap. The first step then in self-actualization, is to give forgiveness and care. The old deep mind link memories disappear; the new memories become both the process and the goal.
Source: Positive Thoughts
═══════════════ A BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM
"There's a tribe in Africa that has a very beautiful custom. When one of the members makes a mistake, the entire tribe surrounds him/her and for two days, they speak of the great things that member has done. It is their belief that humans are good at heart and that we all seek security, love, peace and happiness. However, in this pursuit, we sometimes make mistakes and when that happens, the tribe unites to reconnect that member with his/her real nature. This tribe's greeting is SAWUBONA, or I value you, I respect you, you are important to me. And the reply is SIKHONA or so I exist for you."
Source: CT Psychic Development Workshops (FB)
═══════════════ GOD IS GOOD AND PERFECT
"A King had a male servant who, in all circumstances always said to him; My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes. One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the servant managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his majesty from losing a finger. Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said; if God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger. The servant replied, 'despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good and everything He does is perfect, He is never wrong'. Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his servant. While being taken to prison, he told the king again, God is Good and Perfect. Another day, the king left alone for another hunt and was captured by savages who use human beings for sacrifice. On the altar, the savages found out that the king didn't have one finger in place, he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the gods. On his return to the palace, he ordered the release of his servant and said; My friend, God was really good to me. I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger, I was let go. But I have a question; If God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in prison? His servant replied; My king, if I had not been put in prison, I would have gone with you, and would have been sacrificed, because I have no missing finger. Everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong. Often we complain about life, and the negative things that happen to us, forgetting that everything happens for a purpose."
Source: FB
═══════════════ IN MEMORY of 1976 TSUNAMI
(Personal Note: then I was in my third year at Cebu City studying a Pharmacy course. I recall that this was mentioned to me in a letter sent by my late mother reminding me that there was an earthquake on the day I was born. Thankfully, my family were all safe.)
Today, August 17, we commemorate the 38th year of the Moro Gulf 7.9 magnitude Earthquake spawning a Tsunami which hit the Island of Mindanao - the largest tsunamigenic earthquake to have occurred in the Island of Mindanao. It was an earthquake that resulted in massive destruction of properties and great loss of lives.
In that violent tsunami, almost 5,000 people died, more than 2, 000 missing, 10,000 plus injured, and thousands and thousands were left homeless and displaced.
The tsunami happened just after midnight (12:11 am) when most people were already sleeping in their houses and were unaware that a tsunami will ever hit.
'Just after the earthquake stopped, the sea, stirred by the powerful movement of the earthquake, swelled and moved away from the coastline for about three kilometers. About ten minutes later, it roared back to the shore and beyond in three succeeding waves soaring as high as the treetops according to some reports.
The sea unloaded its fury on everything near the shore. Houses and properties along the coastal beaches of Lanao del Sur and Pagadian were practically washed out. Bits of houses littered the sea and bodies littered the shore. The casualties and victims of the earthquake and tsunami numbered thousands just in Regions 9 and 12 (Region 9 that time, covers Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, Basilan, and Sulu while Region 12 covers the areas of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.).
Source: Faye Reyes, FB
═══════════════ CONDITIONED TO BELIEVE
"As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime can break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?
Moral: Failure is a part of learning. We should never give up the struggle in life. You Fail not because you are destined to fail, but because there are lessons which you need to learn as you move on with your life." ~Anon
Source: Quotes & Motivation
═══════════════ LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP
"Long Distance Relationship aren’t always ideal. In fact, they’re really tough. You spend countless of hours just talking through a phone or through a screen. You can’t see the person when you want to or when you most need them.. You can’t hug, you can’t hold hands, you can’t kiss. You lose the intimacy in a physical sense. But then, your relationship becomes based on each other and nothing else.
You learn to communicate, because a long-distance relationship without communication is nothing.
You learn to trust, because you can’t always see or know everything the person is doing.
You learn to sacrifice, because someone’s always going to lose a bit of sleep from the time difference.
And lastly, you learn to appreciate.
So often, we take for granted the people and relationships in our lives because we think they’ll always be there.
But when you only have a limited amount of time with a person, you learn to appreciate and cherish every single moment you have with them.
When you finally see that person after weeks or months of seeing them only through a computer screen, it is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
When you’ve waited for something so long and you finally have it, you cherish it. The key to a long-distance relationship is faith.
If both of you are not willing to give up, if both of you are willing to stand up and still try after every time one of you or both of you fall.
“Distance isn’t for the fearful, it’s for the bold ."
It’s for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for the little time with the one they love.
It’s for knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don’t see it nearly enough.
Source: Pinoy Rap Radio
═══════════════ CLARITY IN VISION
"I wish you clarity--clarity in your vision of who you want to be, clarity in your vision of what you want out of life, and clarity in your vision of how you can contribute to this world. With a clear sense of who you are and what you're doing, you can contribute truly wonderful things to your community and to the world as a whole, as long as you're willing to put yourself out there and take the risks necessary to do so.
With a clear vision, there's no limit to the amount that you can accomplish for the good of all people, as well as for your own good. Clarity gives us the advantage of knowing exactly what our goals are, and allowing us to work towards them in ways that will ensure that we attain them. Clarity allows us to avoid the confusion of uncertainty, and it helps us to make decisions that are realistic, practical, and helpful. I wish you the ability to see clearly in all aspects of your life--in your relationships, in your profession, in your hobbies, in the ways that you can help other people to see clearly in their lives.
I wish you clarity in your vision of right and wrong, of proper and improper, of helpful and harmful, so that you may make decisions and take actions that will be a tribute to who you are and that will help others to see through your example just how positive life can be when we care about how our actions affect others. When you can walk through life and sleep at night with a clear conscience, then life has a quality that it does not have when we are agonizing over something that we've done or something that we must do. May your clarity of vision also extend always to a clear view of just how valuable you are as a human being who is sharing this planet with so many other human beings, and just how important you are to so many of us."
Source: Living Life Fully from POSITIVE THOUGHTS
═══════════════ From Joseph Abraham V. Bibalo
Eat to live, not live to eat.
Exercise daily.
Have enough rest.
Save before spending.
Live below your means and only on the essentials.
Be friendly and you will have friends.
Help someone in need; their problems will humble you.
Find your purpose and enjoy it.
Life is most beautiful when there is a reason.
-Joseph Abraham V. Bibalo
═══════════════ WRINKLED HANDS
One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.
The director discovered from his CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent. He asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "no".
" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.
" Where did your mother work?"
"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"
"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, when he asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered," I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.
The director said, "This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”
“You are hired.”
This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, they may be successful for a while, but eventually they would not feel a sense of achievement. They will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead?
You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
Try to forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate.
Source: FB
═══════════════ FEAR OF REJECTION
From Hollie Holden - Notes on Living And Loving
A conversation I had many years ago came to my mind this morning. I was chatting to a friend who had just asked a girl out on the platform at a train station.
'It was amazing Hols!' he said.
'Oh wow, so she said yes?'
'No!' he said, 'That's the amazing bit, she said no and I'm still alive! I'm fine, in fact I feel great! I'm totally going to do that again...'
It was SO sweet. We continued to chat and he told me he had been terrified for so many years to ask anyone out for fear of being rejected. But when that girl said no at the station, he felt a freedom he hadn't known before.
And just now, there was a woman behind me in the queue at the supermarket. A really fun song came on the loud speakers and she could barely contain herself. Her body wanted to move - she was squirming around trying to keep herself together.
And why didn't she break out into the dance that was bursting out of her skin? My guess is fear of others' view of her - essentially of being rejected in some way, thought of as strange, stared at.
We hold ourselves back from dancing when our bodies want to dance, from asking people out, from taking risks, from speaking our truth, from saying that thing that is squirming to be released.
And what if leaning fearlessly into the thing that we are scared of is precisely the thing that would bring that station-platform experience of total freedom and blissful, soaring joy?
What if we could get past our fear of rejection - and the judgments of others and our own internal judges - and just make the leap? Or even a tiny step.
The truth is that you are whole, complete, beautiful, unique, part of everything, totally valuable and deeply loveable. And NONE of this depends on the world, or how anyone receives you or anything you do or say. Whether you are received positively or negatively - there is a level on which that is just irrelevant.
When you make the shift towards this validation coming from your own heart, your own wisdom - from the stillness that is available to you in your soul - you can start dancing and asking people out knowing that Love is on your side. And guess what... Love digs all your dance moves - even the really awkward ones.
We need more of us to be willing to break out. We need to show the fullness of our beauty. We need to start dancing in inappropriate situations. We need to follow our hearts even at the risk of experiencing a few 'no thanks' moments along the way.
I am writing to you right now from post-rejection expanded blissfulness. You need to try it. Homecoming and heart fireworks await you.
Source: Robert Holden FB Page
═══════════════ PRECIOUS THAN DIAMONDS AND PEARLS
The Nation Newspaper:
Muhammed Ali's advice to his daughters...
An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing.
Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:
“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.
My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.
Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell.
Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.”
He looked at me with serious eyes.
“Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”
From the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes.
═══════════════ TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,'
She said.
'What?' Mom asked.
'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.
'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.
This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain..'
'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.
'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'
'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ' If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ' '
The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
If you've read this all and it's touched you... share it.
༺♥༻༺♥༻༺♥༻༺♥༻
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Try everything twice ...
Once seen on a tombstone epitaph: "Tried everything twice — loved it both times!"
2. Spend time with cheerful friends ...
The grouches and complainers will pull you down.
3. Keep learning ...
Learn more about crafts, computers, gardening, whatever.
"An idle mind is the devil's workshop" — and the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
4. Enjoy the simple things ...
When the children are young, that is all that you can afford.
When they are in college, that is all that you can afford.
When you are on retirement, that is all that you can afford!
5. Laugh often, long and loud — laugh until you gasp for breath ...
If you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots of time with him or her.
6. The tears happen — endure, grieve, and move on ...
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love ...
Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever — your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health ...
If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips ...
Take a trip to the mall, to the next state, or even to another country, but NOT to Guilt City.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them ... at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER ...
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away. ~Anon~
Source: Inspiration Line
༺♥༻༺♥༻༺♥༻༺♥༻
50 Simple Ways To Reduce Stress at Home or at Work
1. Breathe, when you feel tense, take 10 slow, deep breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth.
2. Touch, hug someone, hold hands, stroke a pet, make non-sexual physical contact with people, brush your hair.
3. Communicate, be honest with your Self and others. Ask for what you want. Express your true feelings when they occur.
4. Drink at least eight, 8 oz. glasses of good water a day. This flushes toxins out of our body.
5. See the humor in life. Laugh at your self and life. Have fun and "play" at life.
6. Meditation 15 minutes a day. Take time to relax, sit, breathe deeply, quiet your mind. Record In-sights and dreams in a journal.
7. Be Human. Let up on yourself. Forgive your self and others. Slow down and enjoy being alive.
8. Communicate with friends. Spend time with each other. Share the good stuff.
9. Hug three people each day. Relax and enjoy the feeling of
10. Quit worrying about the Future. Concentrate on what you can do NOW.
11. Make a TO DO list of your agreements for each month. Schedule both play time and free time, and do both activities.
12. Write it down. Make notes to yourself. Make a list. Write special dates down on your calendar. Put it on tape.
13. Say "NO" Allow yourself to say "NO" to some requests. Don't over commit yourself. Put yourself first; say YES to you.
14. Clean it up Recycle old junk and papers. Clean your physical and mental house of old garbage.
15. Wear comfortable, clean clothes, that make you feel good about yourself.
16. Avoid doing anything to excess, even having fun.
18. Express and receive love as often as possible to yourself and others.
19. You always have choices in life. Re-Order your priorities. If you are not happy, choose some- thing new.
20. Express your anger to the person involved the moment it's experienced.
21. Be honest with yourself con- cerning your fears. Ask for more information or assistance.
22. Crying is nature's way of releasing toxins from the body, releasing stress, or expressing joy.
23. Change is constant. You can choose to change your choice anytime you want to do so.
24. Trust your Self, and value your needs and choices. Follow your own intuition.
25. Live in the moment. Stop fanta- sizing about "What If ". Choose from what IS available, Now.
26. Feel good about yourself and your choices in life. Value what you Believe in. Walk your Talk.
27. Forgive yourself and others. Withholding Love does not nur- ture relationships.
28. When you do not love yourself first, you can not be satisfied by loving and doing for others.
29. Make a commitment to expand your Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical well-being.
30. Your most valuable and limited resource is your time. Value it, so others will.
31. Obtain a written job description from your boss. Make any changes needed to keep your agreements.
32. Take pride in your work. You only get One First Impression!
33. Be responsible for your work. Do your best with every opportunity.
34. Only do your job. Do not get conned into permanently assuming another person's job responsibilities.
35. Do not play office politics. Be open and above board in all your relationships. Honor your Integrity.
36. Do not listen to, encourage, or spread gossip. It damages your credibility and others.
37. Talk with your co-workers about how to work together to solve problems.
38. Don't be a "fix it " person for people's problems.
39. When you have a problem, go to the person who can solve that specific problem. Ask questions.
40. Ask questions. When you are not sure, or don't know, get information before taking action.
41. Contribute Become a solution provider for problems, not just a problem discoverer.
42. Leave work. When you go home, Go Home ! Work can be a part of your life, not your whole life.
43. Put your family, career, and Self in perspective; know which is most important and nourish it.
44. Value your emotions. Feel your feelings. Allow yourself to express them appropriately as they occur.
45. Express your anger directly with clarity. Indirect or covert anger only prolongs distress and distrust.
46. When asked, always tell the whole truth to yourself and to others.
47. Respect your own ideas, and have respect for other people's feelings, ideas, and choices.
48. Exercise, walk, stretch, move about. Staying physically fit keeps you mentally fit, emotionally calm, and at peace.
49. Eat healthy foods and chew well. Don't eat just because you are bored, unhappy, or angry.
50. Experience and express joy at being alive, at having choices, and at the opportunity to explore loving relationships.
Source: The Mind Unleashed
✻ღ♥*✿*•♥ღ✻
A STORY OF TWO TREES
“My kids are starting to notice I'm a little different from the other dads. "Why don't you have a straight job like everyone else?" they asked me the other day.
I told them this story:
In the forest, there was a crooked tree and a straight tree. Every day, the straight tree would say to the crooked tree, "Look at me...I'm tall, and I'm straight, and I'm handsome. Look at you...you're all crooked and bent over. No one wants to look at you." And they grew up in that forest together. And then one day the loggers came, and they saw the crooked tree and the straight tree, and they said, "Just cut the straight trees and leave the rest." So the loggers turned all the straight trees into lumber and toothpicks and paper. And the crooked tree is still there, growing stronger and stranger every day.” ~Tom Waits
Source: Goodreads
LOVE, WEALTH and SUCCESS
A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognise them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.” “Is the man of the house home?”, they asked. “No”, she said. “He’s out.” “Then we cannot come in”, they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in. “We do not go into a House together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she wanted to know.
One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”
The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!”, he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”
“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”
The woman went out and asked the three old men, “which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.” Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, why are you coming in?”
The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him.
Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success! Be wise
Source: Emotional Filmtricks, FB
5 THINGS YOU MUST NOT SLEEP WITH
1. DONT SLEEP WITH WATCH - Watches emit a cetain level of radioactivity. Though small but if you wear them to bed for a long time it might have adverse effects to your health.
2. DONT SLEEP WITH BRA - Scientist in Mecca have discovered that those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have higher risk of getting breast cancer.
3. DONT SLEEP WITH PHONE - Putting your phone beside you is not encouraged. Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks but please put The phones as far as possible. Scientists prove that electrical items including mobile television emit magnetic waves when used. These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system. Therefore if You need to put your mobilephone near you switch it off first.
4. DONT SLEEP WITH MAKE-UP - People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run. Sleeping with make up will cause the skin To have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring. You will also need a much longer time To go into deep sleep.
Lastly and most importantly
5. DONT SLEEP WITH OTHER PEOPLES HUSBAND OR WIVES- YOU MIGHT NEVER WAKE UP AGAIN
Source: Emotional Filmtricks, FB
THE TREASURE IN CLAY VESSELS
"A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay vessels. It was like someone had rolled balls of clay and left them out in the sun to bake.
They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.
He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!
Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay vessels. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him.
He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!
It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.
We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay." ~Anon~
Source: Inspiration Line
SOMETHING THAT REMINDS ME OF
Having a bad day? It’s okay. YOU are okay. But now you’re a little stronger than you were yesterday.
Put your hand on your heart. Feel that? That’s called ‘a purpose. You’re here today for a reason. Don’t give up and don’t give in. And above all, don’t let one or two dark clouds cover the entire sky. The sun is always shining on some part of your life. Sometimes you just have to forget how you feel, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.
Keep in mind that we’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all made absolute fools of ourselves. We’ve let people take advantage of us, and we’ve accepted way less than we deserve. And sometimes, we too have given others way less than they deserve. Sometimes we let our priorities and our boundaries get ravished by the chaos of the day. But if you think about it, we’ve learned a lot from our bad choices, and even though there are some things we can never recover, and people who will never be sorry, we now know better for next time. We now have more power to shape our future.
~marcandangel.com
Source:
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MOTIVATIONAL MOMENT
The Five W’s of Life:
WHO you are is what makes you special. Do not change for anyone.
WHAT lies ahead will always be a mystery. Do not be afraid to explore.
WHEN life tries to push you over, you push back harder.
WHERE there are choices to make, make the one you won’t regret.
WHY things happen will never be certain. Take it in stride, move forward and ENJOY THE RIDE.
~Anon~
Source: The Horse Mafia, FB
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BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
Family Hosts 200 Homeless People for Dinner After Daughter's Wedding Gets Called Off
By Mia Fitzharris
When an engaged couple calls off the wedding, it is usually a time of sadness and anger. But one family in Atlanta found a way to turn a terrible situation into a beautiful one. Carol and Willie Fowler's daughter Tamara was set to get married at the Villa Christina catering hall, when the wedding was called off just 40 days before the event. Initially the Fowlers were upset to hear that the lavish gathering they had planned and paid for was not going to happen. Then they had a genius and generous idea: They invited 200 of the city's homeless to feast on the four-course meal that would have been part of Tamara's wedding reception.
The Fowler family called Elizabeth Omilami from the Hosea Feed the Hungry organization for her help in getting the group together. At first Omilami thought she was being pranked! Carol Fowler said that even daughter Tamara attended the event, adding, "She was also very delighted to see and know that others had an opportunity to enjoy something, rather than just allow it to go to waste." Children make up about 70 percent of Atlanta's homeless, so to make the dinner more fun for them, a clown was hired for their entertainment. The event was titled "The First Annual Fowler Family Celebration of Love," and the family says it plans on hosting another charity dinner next year. It's a great example of how you can turn any bad situation into a positive one.
Source: news.yahoo.com via FB
MEMORY KEEPERS
When we see the work of an accomplished artist that we admire, it can awaken a longing to create art of our own. So stirred, we may rush home and gather tools and prepare to throw ourselves into a dance with our muse. After the initial rushes of passion, it may be that the first efforts bear little resemblance to the great art that was shimmering in the mind. At this point, things may get a little prickly.
Once you get past the romantic notions of being an artist and go deep into the practice of your craft, the truth of making is revealed; Art is hard bloody work. There is the physical effort of training your body to shape raw material into new forms. Then the hundreds of hours of study and skill building, and the less tangible, emotional labours.
Making can lay bare all of your deepest insecurities, and send you running time and time again. Your most vulnerable secrets can be revealed in the cutting of stone, wood and clay. It can make you doubt yourself and question whether you have a right to make art in the first place.
The secret is not to confuse these times with failure or inability, but to see them as a necessary companion to inspiration. When creativity opens a deep wound, the task is not to run away at first sight, but to stay put and look at it deeply. If your pain is a part of you, can you include it in the sculpture of your life? I say that with the eyes of a master carver, each knot of the soul and every crack of the heart has the potential to be sanded and polished with our loving kindness into a bright jewel. With a combination of bravery and gentleness, we can use our art to shine our hearts, making us a little more patient, tender, and able to press on and share our gifts with the world.
It has become clear to me that the function of art is not only for beauty making, but for soul making. For every creative effort we make, we work a little bit upon ourselves, shaping the raw material of our beingness into something unique and staggeringly beautiful.
So if you ever doubt your worth as an artist, or if the ups and downs of the creative life become too exhausting, hold fast. Take a breath and remember that with some patience and presence, your present difficulty will soon be smoothed into a perfect part of your living masterpiece." ~Craig Paterson of Temple Wind Flutes (www.templewindflutes.com)
Source: Dreamwork with Toko-pa (FB)
THE NEW MACHO
He cleans up after himself. He cleans up the planet. He is a role model for young men. He is rigorously honest and fiercely optimistic.
He holds himself accountable. He knows what he feels. He knows how to cry and he lets it go. He knows how to rage without hurting others. He knows how to fear and how to keep moving. He seeks self-mastery.
He has let go of childish shame. He feels guilty when he's done something wrong. He is kind to men, kind to women, kind to children. He teaches others how to be kind. He says he's sorry.
He stopped blaming women or his parents or men for his pain years ago. He stopped letting his defenses ruin his relationships. He stopped letting his penis run his life. He has enough self-respect to tell the truth. He creates intimacy and trust with his actions. He has men that he trusts and that he turns to for support. He knows how to roll with it. He knows how to make it happen. He is disciplined when he needs to be. He is flexible when he needs to be. He knows how to listen from the core of his being.
He's not afraid to get dirty. He's ready to confront his own limitations. He has high expectations for himself and for those he connects with. He looks for ways to serve others. He knows he is an individual. He knows that we are all one. He knows he is an animal and a part of nature. He knows his spirit and his connection to something greater.
He knows that the future generations are watching his actions. He builds communities where people are respected and valued. He takes responsibility for himself and is also willing to be his brother's keeper.
He knows his higher purpose. He loves with fierceness. He laughs with abandon, because he gets the joke.
This is the Mature Masculine - the New Warrior - a re-definition of masculinity for the 21st century. By no means is this list complete. You are welcome to come and add your gifts to this community. --Boysen Hodgson
Source: www.mkp.org via FB (The ManKind Project)
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THE SHOEBOX
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.
In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.
He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she said, 'my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.'
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two Precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two Times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with Happiness.
'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?'
'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.'
Source: Judy Key
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Each person was meant to blossom into their own unique signature of greatness. Not being great is a form of extreme arrogance. If you were really humble you would be great, because humility would never squander the magnificent gift of life. It takes humility to accept responsibility for the mantle of greatness in your birthright and to become all you can be in life. Real humility is graceful power, not a mandate to be victimized and abused. If you are really humble you will put yourself first when you need to take care of you. Quit pretending to be humble when you are really just a self-abusing, emotional, drama junkie. It seems that some people are so addicted to their misery that they will destroy anything that gets in the way of their fix. A person who is humble would never be abusive or selfish; so don't abuse yourself or withhold self-love or self-care. You are the first person who you should treat with humility. Respect yourself and let it overflow to others.
Humility puts others first because "first" takes on new meaning through the practice of humility. Humility is patient because it is neither past nor forward seeking — it is content. When we are touched by humility we awaken to a moment of gratitude where we are free from our unpleasant pasts, and free from the torture of future expectations. Humility feels like a thankful-awareness of the present moment. Accept your present opportunities; the pleasant and painful, which are seeking to perfect you. Humility adds lessons to our pain and suffering, turning the seemingly senseless into meaning. You only have a chance right now, in this moment — but only through humility.
Source: Ups, Downs & Roundabouts
Refe: http://bryantmcgill.com/20140215193216.html
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The Suitcase (Reflection)
A man died, when he realized it, he saw God coming closer with a suitcase in His hand.
God said: Alright son its time to go.
Surprised, the man responded: Now? So soon? I had a lot of plans...
I'm sorry but its time to go.
What do you have in that suitcase? the man asked.
God answered: Your belongings.
My belongings?
You mean my things, my clothes, my money?
God answered: Those things were not yours. They belonged to the Earth.
Is it my memories? the man asked.
God answered: those never belonged to you. They belonged to Time.
Is it my talents?
God answered: those were never yours. They belonged to the Circumstances.
Is it my friends and family?
God answered: I'm sorry they were never yours. They belonged to the Path.
Is it my wife and son?
God answered: They were never yours. They belonged to your Heart.
Is it my body?
God answered: that was never yours. It belonged to the Dust.
Is it my soul?
God answered: No that is Mine.
Full of fear, the man took the suitcase from God and opened it just to find out the suitcase was empty.
With a tear coming down his cheek the man said: I never had anything???
God answered: that is correct, every moment you lived were only yours. Life is just a moment, a moment that belongs to you. For this reason enjoy this time while you have it. Don't let anything that you think you own stop you from doing so.
Live Now
Live your life
Don't forget to be happy, that is the only thing that matters.
Material things and everything else that you fought for stay here.
YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING!
Share this reflection with anyone you love or appreciate. Enjoy every second you live.
Source: FB via Daydee V.
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BIRTHSTONES
(January)
GARNET: A good match for leaders and achievers, this gem’s fiery color represents power, strength, love, and excitement. Garnets are believed to offer guidance during tough times and also protect against nightmares.
(February)
AMETHYST: Because purple is the color of royalty, this precious quartz is perfect for people who epitomize elegance, grace, and tranquility. It is also famous for being a stress reliever, bringing peace of mind and emotional well-being to the wearer.
(March)
AQUAMARINE:
Brave, adventurous souls, deep thinkers, and peace-loving individuals are represented by this pale blue stone. The aquamarine was used by ancient mariners as a talisman on long ocean voyages. As a gemstone of purification and cleansing, it clears the mind of negative thoughts and fears and promotes meditation.
(April)
DIAMOND:
If you’re strong and virtuous, no other precious gem represents you better. As the hardest substance known to man, this gem is the symbol of perfection, durability, and invincibility.
(May)
EMERALD:
Nature lovers and health buffs will feel a kinship with this brilliant green stone, as it is said to represent peace, harmony, and balance. It is believed to soothe the mind, body, and soul, but it also serves to sharpen intellect and wit.
(June)
ALEXANDRITE:
Elegant individuals who find joy and beauty in simplicity. Embodies the virtues of chastity and modesty. In some cultures, like that of the Chinese, it is believed to promote health, prosperity, and long life and has been used as medicine.
(July)
RUBY:
Natural-born leaders and hopeless romantics both have this gem to thank for their personalities. Traditionally given as a gift on the 15th and 40th anniversaries, this intense red gem signifies power, authority, and unbridled passion.
(August)
PERIDOT:
A symbol of strength and vitality, peridots can also help nurture personal growth and relationships, and promote new beginnings, something that has served those who claim this birthstone for their own.
(September)
SAPPHIRE:
Loyalty, truthfulness, honesty, and all the qualities that make you a true friend and life partner are embodied by this beautiful blue stone.
(October)
PINK TOURMALINE:
Love and spirituality, encouraging compassion and gentleness during periods of growth and changes as humanity works toward enlightenment. A person sensitive to others.
OPAL:
Those gifted with a vivid imagination or a knack for healing others in both mind and body are compatible with this delicate iridescent gem. Opals are thought to represent innocence, friendship, and purity in thought and deed.
(November)
TOPAZ:
Strong, sensible individuals who possess the ability to turn dreams into reality are best represented by this glowing gem. The topaz promotes sanity, healing, friendship, and fidelity; it also serves to provide emotional balance and modulate passion.
TURQUOISE:
Creative, free-spirited people whose luck never seems to run out. The cool blue turquoise is said to bring good fortune for the wearer and increase one’s chances of having a happy and prosperous life.
(December)
ZIRCON:
Prosperity, success, happiness and good fortune
Open communication. Zircon is also known to protect against diseases, regeneration, and strengthening.
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MEMORY LOSS
"My father developed signs of dementia in his mid seventies, many years ago.
I'm not quite sure what the difference is between dementia and Alzheimer's disease is, but when the McCuster foundation Alzheimer research (Perth) were seeking volunteers for a new treatment, I applied. Hoping to ward off any chances of possibly getting dementia.
The treatment involves having regular doses of testosterone and taking fish oil supplements.
I attended their meeting and put my name down as a potential guineapig.
Several weeks later I was asked to complete and in depth questioner on-line and informed they would get back to me as soon as possible.
Well, I never heard from them again so I when I emailed them a few weeks later, I was told they had a lot of applicants but they would get back to me soon.
That was well over a year ago. I'm Still waiting to hear from them.
Perhaps they have Alzheimer's ." ~Alpha
Source: Your Life's Choices
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WORDS TO A GRANDCHILD
Perhaps there will be a day you will want to sit by my side asking for counsel. I hope I will be there but you see I am growing old.
There is no promise that life will live up to our hopes especially to the hopes of the aged. So I write of what I know and some day our hearts will meet in these words, -if you let it happen.
In the midst of a land without silence you have to make a place for yourself.
Those who have worn out their shoes many times know where to step. It is not their shoes you can wear only their footsteps you may follow, -if you let it happen.
You come from a shy race. Ours are the silent ways. We have always done all things in a gentle manner, so much as the brook that avoids the solid rock in its search for the sea and meets the deer in passing. You too must follow the path of your own race. It is steady and deep, reliable and lasting. It is you, -if you let it happen.
You are a person of little, but it is better to have little of what is good, than to possess much of what is not good. This your heart will know, -if you let it happen.
Heed the days when the rain flows freely, in their greyness lies the seed of much thought.
The sky hangs low and paints new colors on the earth.
After the rain the grass will shed its moisture, the fog will lift from the trees, Xa new light will brighten the sky and play in the drops that hang on all things.
Your heart will beat out a new gladness, -if you let it happen.
Each day brings an hour of magic.
Listen to it!
Things will whisper their secrets.
You will know what fills the herbs with goodness,
makes days change into nights,
turns the stars and brings the change of seasons.
When you have come to know some of nature's wise ways beware of your complacency for you cannot be wiser than nature. You can only be as wise as any man will ever hope to be, -if you let it happen.
Our ways are good but only in our world. If you like the flame on the white man's wick learn of his ways, so you can bear his company, yet when you enter his world, you will walk like a stranger. For some time bewilderment will, like an ugly spirit torment you. Then rest on the holy earth and wait for the good spirit. He will return with new ways as his gift to you, -if you let it happen.
Use the heritage of silence to observe others.
If greed has replaced the goodness in a man's eyes see yourself in him so you will learn to understand and preserve yourself.
Do not despise the weak, it is compassion that will make you strong.
Does not the rice drop into your basket whilst your breath carries away the chaff?
There is good in everything, -if you let it happen.
When the storms close in and the eyes cannot find the horizon you may lose much.
Stay with your love for life for it is the very blood running through your veins.
As you pass through the years you will find much calmness in your heart.
It is the gift of age, and the colors of the fall will be deep and rich, -if you let it happen.
As I see beyond the days of now I see a vision:
I see the faces of my people,
your sons' sons,
your daughters' daughters,
laughter fills the air that is no longer yellow and heavy,
the machines have died,
quietness and beauty have returned to the land.
The gentle ways of our race have again put us in the days of the old.
It is good to live!
It is good to die!
-This will happen.
~ Chief Dan George ~
NATIVE AMERICAN WISDOM
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ANGER
"Anger is one of those emotions that's been long-stricken from the social palette of acceptability. Especially for women, who are taught that being angry makes you unlikeable, and being unlikeable is a kind of rejection from Femininity itself.
So many set about a lifetime of unspoken penance to becoming 'a nice person.' You turn down your volume, soften your step, retract your talons and acquiesce. But a terrible thing is lost in the suppression of anger - your relationship with one of your greatest allies: Instinct.
Anger arises when your heart has been offended, your values have been wronged, your beloveds are threatened, or somewhere, justice has been denied.
Anger is the catalyst to the impotence you may feel in these situations. It sets your heart racing, elevates your blood pressure and quickens your breath. Adrenaline surges through your veins and poises you for action.
This profound physical transformation can make you feel out of control, but that may mostly be because the incisiveness of power has become a stranger to us.
When we suppress our anger, it often results in one of two ways: It turns inward and takes the form of Depression and/or somaticizes into disease. Or it bursts out of us in an exaggerated and inappropriate way.
Next time you find yourself in this mode, try taking a moment to yourself where you can 'run your anger,' which is to say amplify and befriend it! Let it course through your veins - feel the power of its presence in your body - let it invigorate you. Give it a voice and listen to what it has to say.
Once you know what your instincts are telling you, you can begin to make the necessary changes in your life. You can set limits against other people's rude or inconsiderate behavior, defend yourself or others in a constructive way. You can finally speak the unspeakable." ~Dreamwork
Birda Rose: "Anger is the guardian sentry of an individuals soul. When an energy is misqualified it's power will rise to protect the heart of all that is qualified to be treasured. It is to be embraced and utilised for righteous reasons against negativity. The art of flowing with the energy of anger is indeed an 'art form' one which can take a life time to be a mistress of. Energies of Peace and anger work together well as we rediscover our karmic lessons. Through anger we remember them as they are re initiated within the present and when we delve into the fire of our hearts we can accept angers presence in absolute respect for ourselves to peacefully work through our karmic retribution. Anger is to be embraced as such a driving force to bring about the change we need to find peace and find love in equilibrium in our hearts reflecting the unity of all that is divine."
Source: Dreamwork with Toko-pa ♌ www.toko-pa.com
Native Americans
... the american nightmare ...
A white man and an elderly Native man became pretty good friends, so the white guy decided to ask him: “What do you think about Indian mascots?” The Native elder responded, “Here’s what you’ve got to understand. When you look at black people, you see ghosts of all the slavery and the rapes and the hangings and the chains.
When you look at Jews, you see ghosts of all those bodies piled up in death camps. And those ghosts keep you trying to do the right thing. “But when you look at us you don’t see the ghosts of the little babies with their heads smashed in by rifle butts at the Big Hole, or the old folks dying by the side of the trail on the way to Oklahoma while their families cried and tried to make them comfortable, or the dead mothers at Wounded Knee or the little kids at Sand Creek who were shot for target practice. You don’t see any ghosts at all.
“Instead you see casinos and drunks and junk cars and shacks. “Well, we see those ghosts. And they make our hearts sad and they hurt our little children. And when we try to say something, you tell us, ‘Get over it. This is America. Look at the American dream.’ But as long as you’re calling us Redskins and doing tomahawk chops, we can’t look at the American dream, because those things remind us that we are not real human beings to you. And when people aren’t humans, you can turn them into slaves or kill six million of them or shoot them down with Hotchkiss guns and throw them into mass graves at Wounded Knee. “No, we’re not looking at the American dream. And why should we? We still haven’t woken up from the American nightmare..
www.ya-native.com
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A WOMAN
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked,
"God, why do women cry so easily?"
God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.
I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.
I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.
I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart the place where love resides."
Source: Via Forward
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Those of you who have heard me speak on Emotional Intelligence know that many times, I talk about my mom. I did so on Tuesday, with a group of Human Resources professionals from a variety of industries in NW IA and SW MN.
The short version of the story is that my mom, who has never been a "career woman" per se, has some of the best honed people skills of anyone I've ever met in my life. I can guarantee that if you ask those who know her best--close friends, family, children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren--they will share a consistent belief about my mom: that when you are with her, you feel valued, appreciated, warmly welcomed, and simply put, loved. She has humor, charm, immense kindness, and humility--all of those qualities that make her a classy and endearing woman to all who know her.
Unfortunately, the reality is that it is a pretty slim portion of the human population that we interact with on a regular basis who make us feel as valued as my mom does. Many of us interact daily with people who criticize, demean, insult, manipulate, or otherwise, make us feel "less than". And many of those people are forced upon us, in that we must interact closely with them through our jobs or close familial relationships.
That said, I think each of us owes it to ourselves to ask to what extent we CAN make choices about with whom we spend our time. For it is during those precious times that we must make conscious choices for our own well-being...we owe it to ourselves.
Ask yourself, for those with whom you CHOOSE to spend time, the following questions:
--After I interact with this person, how do I feel?
--Does this person make me feel truly valued?
--Does this person add positive energy to my life?
--Is this person truly looking out for my well-being?
--Does this person lead me closer to being who I truly want to be in my life?
If the answers to the above questions are "yes," chances are that this person is worthy of your time, energy, and attention.
If not, please realize that you have a choice about how close you will let this person into your inner circle of acquaintances, close family, and friends. You owe it to yourself, and to those who love you, to create physical and/or emotional distance for yourself from those who, consciously or not, are not looking out for your personal well-being.
Only YOU can become the best, and ultimate, protector of yourself. Please make wise and thoughtful choices in that regard.
PS to Mom--What a gift it has been to be your "baby" daughter. Your never-ending kindness, warmth, and love have profoundly impacted my life and so many others. We all love you so much!!!
By Brenda Clark Hamilton, MA Ed.,
Source: FB via My Renewed Mind
25/12/2013
ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY
The Moon Cannot Be Stolen
Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal.
Ryokan returned and caught him. "You may have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you shoud not return emptyhanded. Please take my clothes as a gift."
The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away.
Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow, " he mused, "I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."
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THE FENCE
There once was a young boy with a very bad temper. The boy's father wanted to teach him a lesson, so he gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper he must hammer a nail into their wooden fence.
On the first day of this lesson, the little boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. He was really mad! Over the course of the next few weeks, the little boy began to control his temper, so the number of nails that were hammered into the fence dramatically decreased. It wasn't long before the little boy discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Then, the day finally came when the little boy didn't lose his temper even once, and he became so proud of himself, he couldn't wait to tell his father. Pleased, his father suggested that he now pull out one nail for each day that he could hold his temper.
Several weeks went by and the day finally came when the young boy was able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. Very gently, the father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
The things of old, the things crafted with tons of love by the hands of man… may we hold them dear… realize they are a testament that once, we lived here.
Values, traditions, ways of old that helped us navigate the world from centuries past until today, may we find the path to go back…recapture who we once were when we had more dignity, compassion and love for humanity… when we were less lonely, when we didn’t find ourselves alone in a crowd.
To touch each other’s lives with love and an intention of peace… to see the soul of others with eyes that truly see, hearts that truly listen and hands that wish to give others itself… those are what heals the world.
Does the world turn?
Or are we imagining it does?
We spend too much time dreaming what’s out in the cosmos… we don’t see the children that walk the streets with outstretched palms… asking for a meager something from you to sustain life.
We scour the earth, trying to dig deeper, perhaps reach the core… swim to the deepest of depths to test man… fly to outside of the skies to watch the earth … our home.
Yet in here, yet around us, we can’t touch each other enough to heal others of their scars.
We endeavor to do all things grand to be seen, heard, make a difference we say… yet when confronted with the most basic of relarionships, we turn puny. We quarrel, we argue… always wanting to be right…. Why?
Does it all make us feel any better?
Does it all make earth, our only home, any more healthy and strong?
Moments of weakness.
Moments when we forget…
This earth is ours to hold, to keep, to see it as our own destiny.
Many have crafted songs, a dance, poetry… painted art, and so on it goes….
Is it in the doing that we heal each other’s wounds?
Is it in our quiet that we make the world go round especially for those whose battle scars are much deeper, greater than our own.
How do we heal the world?
SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF THE EAGLE
PRINCIPLE 1
Eagles fly alone at high altitude and not with sparrows or other small birds. No other bird can get to the height of the eagle.
"Stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with Eagles."
PRINCIPLE 2
Eagles have strong vision. They have the ability to focus on something up to five kilometers
away. When an eagle sites his prey, he narrows his focus on it and set out to get it. No matter
the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.
"Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed."
PRINCIPLE 3
Eagles do not eat dead things. They feed only on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals, but eagles will not.
"Be careful with what you feed your eyes and ears with, especially in movies and on TV.
Steer clear of outdated and old information. Always do your research well."
PRINCIPLE 4
Eagles love the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the storm's wind to lift it higher. Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagles uses the raging storm to lift him above the clouds. This gives the eagle an opportunity to glide and rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees.
"We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights.
Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably."
PRINCIPLE 5
The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she
flies down to earth with the male pursuing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air
with the male pursuing her. Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and
watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases it.
He has to catch it before it falls to the ground. He then brings it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a higher altitude and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of catching the twig which shows commitment. Then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her.
"Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership."
PRINCIPLE 6
When ready to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach. The male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth and picks thorns laying them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest, runs back to get grass it on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest.
Because they are scared, they jump into the nest again. Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving the thorns bare When the scared eaglets again jump into the nest, they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air. As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and catches them up on his back before they fall and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their
wings. They get excited at this new found knowledge that they can fly.
"The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes;
The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners leads to success;
The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life, not progressing and not learning at all.
The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow, get out of the nest and live on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns.
The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper.
Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us."
PRINCIPLE 7
When an Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out
"Learn to keep your plans to yourself. Build in silence and let your results announce you in public."
Source:
From Whispers of Experience:
THE BANANA BOY
Moral Story Of The Day.
A frail old man stopped a young boy carrying a bunch of bananas, and said to him.
"Can I get some bananas for free? I'm really tired and hungry"
The young boy dropped his bunch of bananas, pulled three off it and offered them to the old man.
But the man frowned his face, as if they were some pieces of crap.
"Oh, no! They aren't ripe!" he grumbled. "How I'm I supposed to eat these?"
The boy was taken aback by the old man's attitude, but said humbly.
"I'm so sorry sir... Uhm, I've got some ripe bananas at home. Why not wait here while I get you some?"
"Hurry up then" the old man said.
The young boy carried his banana bunch and dashed off. He returned shortly with three big ripe bananas. He smiled as he handed them to the old man.
But the ungrateful old man had a look of discontent flashing across his face. He wasn't impressed at all.
"Good grief! Why would you bring me over ripped bananas...? Boy, you should know I'm an old man and these will upset my stomach"
The boy became confused and worried about the nagging old man. He said.
"I feel sorry that I'm unable to please you sir. But what else would I do?"
"Just bring back the unripe bananas. I'll have to keep them until tomorrow. Hurry up, my legs are hurting" he croaked.
In the hope of pleasing him, the young boy left in a hurry. He came back in few minutes with the first bananas. But the old man became angry.
"You really are a slow kid! I've lost my cravings already and I no longer need bananas. Just go with your bananas!"
The boy shuddered. But he was surprised at what the old man did next. His wrinkled face broke into a smile, then he tapped his shoulder and said calmly.
"Boy, the most valuable lessons in life cannot be taught, they must be experienced. You should know that all the bananas you presented to me were perfect but my ungrateful attitude was an act I put on to teach you a valuable lesson of life, something I learnt too late. In life, people are like that and they will make you feel like you're not good enough. It is important to know that you can not please everyone no matter how hard you try, and it can run havoc in your life, rob your peace of mind and the courage to follow your goals and dreams. Even if you lie on the ground for people to walk on you, they still will complain that you aren't flat enough. So, don't live your life to please anyone. Be yourself and do what you know is right"
Author: Chima_Dickson Official.
"There will always be someone in this life who just doesn’t like you, no matter how hard you try to please them.
There will always be something that you say, or do, which causes offence or division.
Whether you meant to or not.
There will always be someone who finds fault in you, your life or your words.
You may never find out why, please don’t waste your precious time trying to.
You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
Then there will be those who like you on impact.
A little fizz of energy that passes between you.
Silently, unseen, bonding.
Those people will not only like you but they will like you fiercely.
They are your people.
Whatever spare time you have, spend it on them.
You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can be someone’s first sip of a cold drink on a warm sunny day…
Or a warming hot chocolate when you come in from the rain
or the pop of a long awaited champagne cork
or a stiff shot of tequila when things go awry
Find your people,
love them hard."
The above is from the work of Donna Ashworth, the best selling author of 'Life - Poems to help navigate life's many twists & turns'
Doesn't it resonate with most of our life experiences.
The earlier we reconcile with the fact that we can't be 'Everyone's Cup of Tea', the better it is.
[This is beautiful. Donna Ashworth's writings are all about Women Empowerment and her thoughts reverberate throughout the four corners of the world. She speaks of life women live, feel, think, do, experience and everything under the sun that described you and me. That person who unconditionally and unselfishly spend time with me in every facet of my activities whether I'm on here, or in my absence, is Tess and those who incredibly are loyal to me for reasons they alone can know, though I am understandably undeserving. Thank you Tess. ❤️😘🌹. Good morning. your people, love them hard & stay blessed forever.] ~Admin., 21 May 2023
There was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn. Every year he won the award for the best grown corn. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.
“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”
So is with our lives... Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.
Author Unknown
Source: Human Psychology and Relations
THE BEST LOVE STORY IN THE WORLD ♥️
Mother: Son, what if I lose my vision?
Son: I'll take you to the best eye hospital in the country.
Mother: But what if I don't get my vision cured there?
Son: I'll take you to the best eye hospital in the world.
Mother: What if they are still unable to treat me there?
Son: I will take care of you for the rest of your life, Mom.
Mother: I love you, son.
Son: Mom? What if I lose my vision?
Mother: I'll give my eyes to you.
{PS}
Lifted from Nenita YU Garcia, youngest daughter of my First Employer in Marawi City ( Nang Perla Yu Garcia - owner of Eva's Pharmacy)
"Dance is not just about jumping high, but also how you hold your ground. Roy shows you the rich nuances of classical Chinese dance. One of the most athletic and expressive art forms in the world." ~Shen Yun
What Does It Take To Be a Shen Yun Dancer
It takes a mind of steel and limbs of rubber.
It takes pushing the body to its limits
to know that the only limitis on our minds
It takes repeating the same move over, and over, and over again
It takes facing your deepest fearsto conquer them.
It takes falling a hundred times only
to get back up a thousand more.
And though the journey may be long, the toughest challenges bring the greatest rewards.
You need to delve into the past to inspire the future.You need a head devoid of doubts and a heart full of humility.
You need to learn to speak without saying a word.
It takes knowing that Greatness isn't achieved alone, but by the spirit of the team.It takes filling our hearts with Truth, Compassion and Tolerance, for the outer form embodies the inner spirit.
It takes changing ourselves first to change the world.
No matter what it takes, it's worth it.
Message On Lost Christian Values
By Dr. Imelda Deinla
Bubu woke me up so early and alerted me to the knocking on my door. Surprise! These two 'naughty' girls in my neighborhood gave me Easter eggs. They are 'pariahs' in the complex and no kiddo would even come near them. But every occasion, Bubu and I would deliver them something and would greet them when we see them - despite leaving a running hose in my garden basically flooding it at one time. But I believe all children are precious and need to be cared for and helped. They are mostly products of their environment, not free will, that they turn 'bad'. Thats why we shouldn't treat juveniles or persons in conflict with the law as 'criminals' needing severe punishment. Many of us are Catholics but the lessons of Christianity is lost in many of us. I hope Easter brings us back to what is to be Christian - compssionate to those whom society has turned a blind eye to, kind to those who have less, and loving to those who don't agree with us. Happy Easter!
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Finding Happiness ... 🌟
🎨 Artist : Jungsuk Lee
"A beautiful woman in an expensive dress came to her psychiatrist, saying that she was depressed and her life was meaningless.
'I'm going to ask Mary here to tell you how she found happiness. All I want you to do is listen to her.'
The psychiatrist called the old lady who cleaned the office floors and asked her to share her story with his client.
So the old lady put down her broom, sat on a chair and told her story...
'My husband died of cancer. Three months later, my only son was killed by a car..
I had nobody. I had nothing left. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn't eat, I never smiled at anyone. I even thought of taking my own life.
Then one evening, a little kitten followed me home from work.
Somehow I felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to let the kitten in. I got it some milk, and the kitten licked the plate clean.
Then it rubbed against my leg and, for the first time in months, I smiled.
Then I stopped to think ... If helping a little kitten could make me smile, maybe doing something for people could make me happy.
So the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbour who was sick in bed.
Every day I tried to do something nice for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy.
Today I don't know of anybody, who sleeps better than I do. I have found happiness by giving it to others.'
When she heard that, the rich lady cried. She had everything money could buy, but she had lost the things money cannot buy.
The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are, but on how happy others can be because of you.
Happiness is not a destination. It's a journey. Happiness is not tomorrow, it's now.
Happiness is not a dependency, it's a decision. Happiness is who you are, not what you have."
🖋️~Unknown~
Source: A FRIEND
BURNT BISCUITS
Lifted BURNT from FB
Please enjoy this little story I got from a friend:
"When I was a kid, Mum liked to make food for dinner and I remember one night in particular when she had made dinner after a long, hard day at work. On that evening, Mum placed a plate of bread, jam and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet, all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smiled at my Mum and asked me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember hearing my Mum apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your mum had a long hard day at work today and she's really tired. And besides... A burnt biscuit never hurt anyone but harsh words do!" You know, life is full of imperfect things...and imperfect people. I'm not the best. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each others differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing and lasting relationship. So...please pass me a biscuit. And yes, the burnt one will do just fine! And please pass this along to someone who has enriched your life...I just did! Life is too short to wake up with regrets... Love the people who treat you right and have compassion for the ones who don't.
SUNSET BALLAD
Benjamin Ang - Insurance Industry Speaker and Advocate
Founding Editor | Head of Financial…
Published Sep 11, 2020
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Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's richest man, wrote the "Sunset Ballad".
He is now 92 years old.
One of the richest men in the world, he was ranked the 30th richest person in the world as of June 2019 with an estimated net wealth of US$29.4 billion.
Hong Kong business magnate, investor, and philanthropist, he is one of Asia’s wealthiest and most influential businessman, famous for being a workaholic.
He retired only in 2018 at the age of 90 years old.
After retirement, he began to enjoy life.
And he wrote this "Sunset Ballad" which I feel is so full of life’s wisdom, I decided to share in this newsletter.
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1
We are born with nothing, no more and no less, and finally to return to nothing. Be as natural, normal and at ease as possible.
2
Don’t aspire to acquire surplus wealth at sunset years. Those who have such intention are rather confused or crazy. Just consider what belongs to you before and after death. One has to wake up and stop fooling ourselves.
3
Be contented. Have fun and enjoy the sunset years. Do not be exalted if you’re rich neither too worried if poor. Take it along as naturally and savor the freedom.
4
Don’t forcibly demand, neither compete. Life is like a dream or a fleeting cloud or smoke. Look at the vast and empty sky and land; we are just a speck drifting within.
5
The sun is empty, so is the moon. River water forever flows eastward (in China). Farm and house too are empty, continually changing owners.
6
Love becomes naught, relationship too disappears. Finally, all will go into the crematorium. Even gold and silver, one does not grasp to take along after death.
7
Reputation, honours and profits disappear into sweet dreams once the eyes shut down for good. Whatever gains or losses dissipate, life is like a drama.
8
No more minister status, no more power that came with it. No one can remain in the ministry for life. Rich or poor, the final is void. That is nothingness when the curtain of life drops, be aware of that.
9
The four seasons will rotate, so will the high and low tides. Every family has their own troubles. Do not burden unnecessarily with worries.
10
Raising and educating children is responsibility and duty. It is a blessing to be able to help. Children and grandchildren shall build their own future, do not be duty-bound by them. It is far more a blessing to take good care of our own wellbeing during the sunset years.
11
Man hustle and bustle about earning a living like bees collecting honey. Who is the sweetness of honey for, life-long hard work would still end up in naught. Be more liberal and accommodative, think rationally to avoid disputes.
12
From a distance, hospitals are like heaven, curing countless patients. Viewing from close range hospitals are like banks, raking in a lot of cash. Getting inside the hospital is like getting into prison, it is far better to take preventive measure well in advance.
13
Health is an invisible asset, health enhancement is bank saving, contracting a disease is a bank loan and re-payment, serious illness can cause bankruptcy. These are earnest facts of life and to be regarded seriously. Do not let this happen, it will be too late to regret.
14
It is better to stand alone to enhance immunity rather than to lie down and be cheated. If you don’t take care of your health, you will be supporting doctors and hospitals. Love the family must start with loving yourself. Loving yourself is thinking ahead.
15
A life span is too short. Do not get bogged down with money worries. Tons of cash wouldn’t buy a sun which doesn’t set. Loads of silver and gold can’t exchange for health. Life and death is fated and wealth too. If it has been fated that we will be wealthy, it will be. But if it’s fated otherwise, it is pointless to crave for it.
A point worth reiterating is that the children and grandchildren will and should carve out the path for their future, there is no need to slog like buffalo and horse for them. A life span is really too short; it is advisable to take life plainly and light-heartedly.
Fame and gain are just like drifting cloud, extravagance and luxury are momentary exuberance, in rapid glimpses of fleeting time, hair will turn grey to white, churning all past events into smoke and cloud, what for let them linger in the heart, to pester and bugger us deeper into the bull’s horn.
Disclaimer:
*** Received this from a friend and I’ve seen this around on social media. I’ve tried to source for the original to find out whether Li Ka-shing wrote this, but I didn’t manage to. In any case, these are still great pearls of wisdom to approaching life.
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Long Read...
TO UNDERSTAND versus TO BE UNDERSTOOD?
By David A2J
Is It Better to Understand Than to Be Understood?
Imagine the ripple affect the shift to seeking to understand rather than fighting to be understood could have on racial, cultural, religious understandings, on our understanding each other in our communities.
In a world where so many people have strong opinions, how do we as a collective group seek to understand someone’s point of view, instead of having a burning desire to be understood and even have the attitude of winning a conversation?
By engaging in the simple question — Is it better to understand than to be understood, I have miraculously have shifted my focus from being understood to understanding. I have a purpose to have others elaborate, clarify and to give examples so I can truly hear what the other is saying. Yes, at times I engage in the humor of this new behavior — “Help me understand?” has become my mantra and I giggle when I say it. As cute or trite as this sounds it has taken me to a deeper understanding of others and consequently my conversations are more meaningful and fun!
This experience moved me to explore this question more broadly. I asked my dear friends and colleagues and I posted the question on my Facebook. Once again I was surprised by the responses, people really thought about this question — they struggled with it. While everyone I talked with valued being understood, most expressed that they valued understanding more. A few of the comments:
“Dave I have to say that in this new era of hate and me against them in many political circles, I have to admit I have fallen into this trap of screaming so loud to get my point across that I have failed to walk in love and to hear anyone’s point of view.”
“I want to say that you posing this question has caused me to look at everyone differently and many people that I fought with in the past to get my point understood now says that having a conversation with me is delightful and on many issues we have met in the middle.”
“You know that I have a ride or die attitude and that attitude has caused me grief in my own family and it has caused me and my daughter not to speak for over a year. Since I have been putting in the effort to make sure to understand and not worry with me being understood, I have been able to have a meaningful conversation with my daughter.”
“If everyone valued understanding over being understood eventually we would all be understood.”
Imagine if we approach our most precious relationships with our focus on understanding over being understood.
By searching to understand another, we validate them and that validation creates trust. Trust allows us to be open and vulnerable with the other person opening the door to our being truly understood and loved.
I often hear people say they love someone because “They see me," "They get me.”
Rarely do I hear people say I love him or her because I understand them. Maybe the first and most important step in falling in love is to understand the other.
I believe that the only way our country will ever heal is to practice understanding people and stop pushing hard to be understood.
We need to remember that we have been called to walk in love and not to foster hate.
I think too often when our goal is to be understood, we inadvertently cause hate and strife in the hearts of our brothers and sisters.
And imagine a world where the first thought was to understand and not to be understood…sounds like a great place to me!
Love David A2J
Keynotes:
"By searching to understand another ... we validate them and that create trust."
"The first and most important step in falling in love is to understand the other."
"We are called to walk in love and not to foster hate."
Source: One Spark Foundation
October 22, 2018
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WINDOW of LIFE
A young couple moved into a new neighbourhood.
The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the washing outside.
“That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”
Her husband looked on, remaining silent.
Every time her neighbour hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.
A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”
The husband replied, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”
And so it is with life…
What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.
So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.
“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”
By Paulo Coelho
Source : Lifted from Jack Aquino/FB
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"Here is the TRUE SPIRIT of a CHAMPION
That is what OLYMPICS is all about. To keep one’s integrity despite the odds of winning a competition." ~Mike FW Waldorf
IVAN FERNANDEZ: A TRUE CHAMPION'S STORY
"My dream is that one day we can have some sort of community life where we push ourselves and also others to win."
"A Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was only a few meters from the finish line, but got confused with the signage and stopped, thinking he had completed the race.
A Spanish runner, Iván Fernández, was right behind him and, realizing what was happening, started shouting to the Kenyan to keep running. Mutai did not know Spanish and did not understand.
Realizing what was taking place, Fernandez pushed the Kenyan runner to victory.
A reporter asked Iván, "Why did you do that?"
Iván replied, "My dream is that someday we can have a community life where we push and help each other to win."
The reporter insisted "But why did you let the Kenyan win?"
Iván replied, "I didn't let him win, he was going to win. The race was his."
The reporter insisted and asked again, "But you could have won!"
Iván looked at him and replied:
"But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor of that medal? What would my Mother think of it?"
Values are passed on from generation to generation. What values are we teaching our children? Let us not teach our kids the wrong ways and means to win. Instead, let us pass on the beauty and humanity of a helping hand.
Because honesty and ethics are WINNING!
Most of us take advantage of people's weaknesses instead of helping to strengthen them."
Source: YouTube/Life With Goals
June 2020
BIO
A brief sneak peek into the life of Iván Fernández according to Wikipedia:
Born on 10 June 1988, Iván Fernández is a Spanish athlete who competes for Spain internationally. He competes in long-distance running events, mostly cross country and marathon and has been coached by Martín Fiz, and Santi Pérez.
LESSON IN TIME
We can all stay calm and weather this storm. ~Chak V Walker
Hopi Indian Chief White Eagle commented a few days ago on the Kov id situation:
"This moment that humanity is living through can be considered a door or a hole. The decision to fall into the hole or go through the door is yours.
If you consume information 24 hours a day, with negative energy, constantly nervous, with pessimism, you will fall into this hole.
But if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to rethink life and death, to take care of yourself and others, you will go through the door.
Take care of your home, take care of your body. Connect with your spiritual home. When you take care of yourself, you take care of others at the same time.
Do not underestimate the spiritual dimension of this crisis. Adopt the perspective of an eagle that sees everything from above with a broader vision.
There is a social demand in this crisis, but also a spiritual demand. The two go hand in hand. Without the social dimension, we fall into fanaticism. Without the spiritual dimension, we fall into pessimism and futility.
You are prepared to go through this crisis.
Grab your toolbox and use all the tools at your disposal. Learn to resist by the example of the Indian and African peoples: we have been and continue to be exterminated.
* But we never stopped singing, dancing, lighting fires and having joy.
Don't feel guilty for feeling lucky in these difficult times. Being sad and without energy doesn't help at all.
* Resilience is resilience through joy!
You have the right to be strong and positive. You have to maintain a beautiful, cheerful and bright posture.
This has nothing to do with alienation (ignorance of the world). It is a strategy of resistance.
When we walk in the door, we have a new view of the world because we have faced our fears and difficulties.
This is what you can do now:
- Serenity in the storm,
- Keep calm, meditate daily,
- Make a habit of encountering the sacred every day.
Demonstrate resilience through art, joy, trust and love. "
Source: FB/Bas Ha
July 7, 2021
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HAPPINESS FOUND IN A CHILD
When Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola was asked in a telephone interview by the radio presenter,
"Sir what can you remember made you a happiest man in life?"
Femi said:
"I have gone through four stages of happiness in life and finally I understood the meaning of true happiness."
The first stage was to accumulate wealth and means. But at this stage I did not get the happiness I wanted.
Then came the second stage of collecting valuables and items. But I realised that the effect of this thing is also temporary and the lustre of valuable things does not last long.
Then came the third stage of getting big projects. That was when I was holding 95% of diesel supply in Nigeria and Africa. I was also the largest vessel owner in Africa and Asia. But even here I did not get the happiness I had imagined.
The fourth stage was the time a friend of mine asked me to buy wheelchair for some disabled children. Just about 200 kids.
At the friend's request, I immediately bought the wheelchairs.
But the friend insisted that I go with him and hand over the wheelchairs to the children. I got ready and went with him.
There I gave these wheel chairs to these children with my own hands. I saw the strange glow of happiness on the faces of these children. I saw them all sitting on the wheelchairs, moving around and having fun.
It was as if they had arrived at a picnic spot where they are sharing a jackpot winning.
I felt REAL joy inside me. When I decided to leave one of the kids grabbed my legs. I tried to free my legs gently but the child stared at my face and held my legs tightly.
I bent down and asked the child: Do you need something else?
The answer this child gave me not only made me happy but also changed my attitude to life completely. This child said:
"I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I will be able to recognise you and thank you once again."
What would you be remembered for after you leave that office or place?
Will anyone desire to see your face again where it all matters?
*It got me thinking. I hope it does same to everyone.*
♿♿♿♿♿♿♿♿♿
A LESSON FROM A MOVIE
Foreword by Rado Gatchalian
"Perhaps one of the best monologues and speeches of all time — this is my favorite too — here’s Charlie Chaplin’s speech which still resonates today, reminding us that we are not machines but human beings. Sadly, we think too much, with so much pride and arrogance, that we become people without compassion and love.
The Dictator is the first movie of Charlie Chaplin with dialogues."
~•✿•~ ✳✳✳~•✿•~
THE FINAL SPEECH FROM THE DICTATOR
by Charlie Chaplin
I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.
To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. …..
Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!
In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!
Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!
June 6, 2021
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A True Story of Survival of the Fittest
An Old Man and a Bucket of Shrimp... a true story... a wonderful story and it is true. You will be glad that you read it. This happened every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the blue ocean.
Old Ed came strolling along the beach to his favorite pier. Clutched in his bony hand was a bucket of shrimp. Ed walks out to the end of the pier, where it seems he almost has the world to himself. The glow of the sun is a golden bronze now.
Everybody's gone, except for a few joggers on the beach. Standing out on the end of the Pier, Ed is alone with his thoughts ... and his bucket of shrimp. Before long, however, he is no longer alone. Up in the sky, a thousand white dots come screeching and squawking, winging their way toward that lanky frame standing there on the end of the pier.
Before long, dozens of seagulls have enveloped him, their wings fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed stands there tossing shrimp to the hungry birds. As he does, if you listen closely, you can hear him say with a smile, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you”
In a few short minutes, the bucket is empty. But Ed doesn't leave. He stands there lost in thought, as though transported to another time and place. When he finally turns around and begins to walk back toward the beach, a few of the birds hop along The Pier with him until he gets to the stairs, and then they, too, fly away. And old Ed quietly makes his way down to the end of the beach and on home.
If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the water, Ed might seem like a 'funny old duck,' as my Dad used to say. Or, to onlookers, he's just another old codger, lost in his own weird world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of shrimp.
To the onlooker, rituals can look either very strange or very empty. They can seem altogether unimportant, maybe even a lot of nonsense. Old folks often do strange things, at least in the eyes of Boomers and Busters. Most of them would probably write Old Ed off, down there in Florida. That's too bad. They'd do well to know him better.
His full name: Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero in World War I, and then he was in WWII. On one of his flying missions across the Pacific, he and his seven-member crew went down. Miraculously, all of the men survived, crawled out of their plane and climbed into a life raft.
Captain Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most of all, they fought hunger and thirst. By the eighth day, their rations ran out. No food. No water. They were hundreds of miles from land and no one knew where they were or even if they were alive.
Every day across America millions wondered and prayed that Eddie Rickenbacker might somehow be found alive.
The men adrift needed a miracle. That afternoon they had a simple devotional service and prayed for a miracle.
They tried to nap. Eddie leaned back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged on. All he could hear was the slap of the waves against the raft. Suddenly Eddie felt something land on the top of his cap. It was a seagull!
Old Ed would later describe how he sat perfectly still, planning his next move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk from the gull, he managed to grab it and wring its neck. He tore the feathers off, and he and his starving crew made a meal of it - a very slight meal for eight men. Then they used the intestines for bait. With it, they caught fish, which gave them food and more bait...and the cycle continued. With that simple survival technique, they were able to endure the rigors of the sea until they were found and rescued after 24 days at sea.
Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, but he never forgot the sacrifice of that first life-saving seagull... And he never stopped saying, 'Thank you.' That's why almost every Friday night he would walk to the end of the pier with a bucket full of shrimp and a heart full of gratitude.
Reference: (Max Lucado, "In The Eye of the Storm", pp...221, 225-226)
PS: Eddie Rickenbacker was the founder of Eastern Airlines.
Source: FB/Ron Hastings
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THE TRIP IS SHORT
Proverbs 14:29, ESV: "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly."
"Each of us must understand that our time in this world is so short, that darkening it with useless arguments, jealousy, not forgiving others, discontentment and bad attitudes are a ridiculous waste of time and energy."
Did someone break your heart?
Stay calm.
The trip is too short.❤️
Did someone betray you, intimidate, cheat or humiliate you?
Relax - Don't be Stressed
The trip is too short.❤️
Did someone insult you without reason?
Stay calm. Ignore it.
The trip is too short.❤️
Did a neighbor make a comment that you didn't like?
Stay calm. Ignore him. Forgive that.
The trip is too short.❤️
Whatever the problem someone has brought us, remember that our journey together is too short.❤️❤️
No one knows the length of our trip. Nobody knows when it will arrive at its stop.
Our trip together is too short.❤️❤️
Let us appreciate friends and family.
Let us be respectful, kind and forgiving.🙌🏻
Because we will be filled with gratitude and joy, after all
Our trip together is very short.❤️
Share your smile to everyone....
Our trip is Very Short!❤️
~Author Anon~
Source: FB
~•✿•~ ~•✿•~
Shared by ANTHONY HOPKINS
An essay written by Brianna Wiest from the book 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think
′′Let go the people who are not prepared to love you. This is the hardest thing you will have to do in your life and it will also be the most important thing. Stop having hard conversations with people who don't want change.
Stop showing up for people who have no interest in your presence. I know your instinct is to do everything to earn the appreciation of those around you, but it's a boost that steals your time, energy, mental and physical health.
When you begin to fight for a life with joy, interest and commitment, not everyone will be ready to follow you in this place. This doesn't mean you need to change what you are, it means you should let go of the people who aren't ready to accompany you.
If you are excluded, insulted, forgotten or ignored by the people you give your time to, you don't do yourself a favor by continuing to offer your energy and your life. The truth is that you are not for everyone and not everyone is for you.
That's what makes it so special when you meet people who reciprocate love. You will know how precious you are.
The more time you spend trying to make yourself loved by someone who is unable to, the more time you waste depriving yourself of the possibility of this connection to someone else.
There are billions of people on this planet and many of them will meet with you at your level of interest and commitment.
The more you stay involved with people who use you as a pillow, a background option or a therapist for emotional healing, the longer you stay away from the community you want.
Maybe if you stop showing up, you won't be wanted. Maybe if you stop trying, the relationship will end. Maybe if you stop texting your phone will stay dark for weeks. That doesn't mean you ruined the relationship, it means the only thing holding it back was the energy that only you gave to keep it. This is not love, it's attachment. It's wanting to give a chance to those who don't deserve it. You deserve so much, there are people who should not be in your life.
The most valuable thing you have in your life is your time and energy, and both are limited. When you give your time and energy, it will define your existence.
When you realize this, you begin to understand why you are so anxious when you spend time with people, in activities, places or situations that don't suit you and shouldn't be around you, your energy is stolen.
You will begin to realize that the most important thing you can do for yourself and for everyone around you is to protect your energy more fiercely than anything else. Make your life a safe haven, in which only ′′compatible′′ people are allowed.
You are not responsible for saving anyone. You are not responsible for convincing them to improve. It's not your work to exist for people and give your life to them! If you feel bad, if you feel compelled, you will be the root of all your problems, fearing that they will not return the favours you have granted. It's your only obligation to realize that you are the love of your destiny and accept the love you deserve.
Decide that you deserve true friendship, commitment, true and complete love with healthy and prosperous people. Then wait and see how much everything begins to change. Don't waste time with people who are not worth it. Change will give you the love, the esteem, happiness and the protection you deserve."
Brianna Wiest
Source: FB
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WHEN YOUR PARENTS GET OLD
Let them grow old with the same love that they let you grow ...
Let them speak and tell repeated stories with the same patience and interest that they heard yours as a child ...
Let them overcome, like so many times when they let you win ...
Let them enjoy their friends just as they let you …
Let them enjoy the talks with their grandchildren, because they see you in them ...
Let them enjoy living among the objects that have accompanied them for a long time, because they suffer when they feel that you tear pieces of this life away ...
Let them be wrong, like so many times you have been wrong and they didn’t embarrass you by correcting you ...
LET THEM LIVE and try to make them happy the last stretch of the path they have left to go; give them your hand, just like they gave you their hand when you started your path!
“HONOUR your Mother and Father and your days shall be long upon the earth." ~God of The Bible
Source: David Pemberton via Walter's 60+ and Laughing/FB
AN EPITOME OF A TRUE LEADER IN THE FACE OF COVID19 PANDEMIC
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0ou5px2Ts5IfwgJH9sujcKgMjAh5jUD5br3EOa_5eq6GhvGJRNuiAvF9c&v=NdaL8_yocAY
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
PRAYER FOR THE NATION
Late President Ferdinand E. Marcos
(1965-1986)
Father of all mankind, we ask you to look down upon your people, and fill our hearts with your spirit, that we may have the grace and the wisdom to look into ourselves, and in so doing see our weaknesses and our strengths.
So many of us have lived in corruption, greed and violence, forgetting that this nation - or any other nation - cannot survive and grow and prosper unless we learn to live as brothers, striving not for our selfish ends, but for the common good.
Give us strength to rebuild our lives, leaving forever our selfish, corrupt and derelict ways.
Make us see what we are and what we could be, open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to do the things that need to be done, and the things that we can do to make this rich and beautiful land a joy and comfort to all our people.
We have set for ourselves great and never-ending tasks; stand by us in our labors and teach us not to weary nor to lose faith, neither to seek rewards beyond what is just but rather to see in our work the full measures of our own reward and to see in it the full expressions of ourselves.
When the day's toil is ended, teach us to look to the morrow's labor as a part of our continuing sacrifice; bring us not to the temptation of luxury, ease, nor privilege; nor to the blandishments of power or comfort that corrupt, but make of us a sturdy race, self-reliant, cheerful and upright.
Teach those who lead to act with firmness but with humility, with humility but with wisdom, with wisdom but with justice, and with justice but with compassion, and teach those who follow the true duties of being men and being members of a community of men.
Cleanse us of our anger, our bitterness, and our recriminations of the past, spare us the doubts and anxieties of the present, and purify us for our sacrifice so that we may raise a people who will be their own strength today, and their own warranty against the future.
Source: Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte/FB
April 29, 2020
Office of the Presidential Spokesperson
March 28, 2020
On PRRD’s Birthday
In the midst of a global health crisis and under a cloud of gloom that looms in the horizon in this beautiful country of ours, the President is to mark his 75th birthday today, March 28.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will self-quarantine himself on his birthday following the advice of the Presidential Security Group as well as doctors for his protection following his exposure to some officials who themselves may have been exposed to a confirmed Covid-19 victim. He will continue with his work while on quarantine. His only birthday wish is for our countrymen to stay home and the total eradication of the coronavirus.
At times the President expresses regrets for allowing himself to respond to the clamor of the people to run for President, as having been placed in the highest post of the land, he carries the responsibility of serving and protecting the Filipino people at all cost. The enormity, magnitude and the complexity of such task can go beyond the capability of even the most prepared and formidable individual.
Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s presidency has been characterised with his unwavering war against drugs, criminality, corruption, rebellion and terrorism. In between those unrelenting aggression against the enemies of the state and order, his mettle as a leader was tested by powerful typhoons, rampaging floods, thundering earthquakes, and terrifying volcano eruptions that wreak havoc and destruction to the towns and cities, as well as to edges of the archipelago.
As if these human and natural monstrosities were not enough to test the nerves and leadership of this President, our country is now in the precipice of annihilation as he leads us to face this Armageddon of an unseen lethal invader of a disease that is creeping into our people’s lifeblood, killing them slowly and painfully into their graves.
Under these foreboding and grim circumstances how can we greet him with a hearty Happy Birthday!?
But the birth of a person is an event that can not pass without recognizing it as a gift from the Almighty. We take therefore this occasion to thank God for giving life to this maverick of a President, and for lending us his time and his indefatigable spirit to serve and protect the people with his unorthodox ways and selfless brand of public service that puts to risk his life, honor and the presidency.
The nation’s prayers for your good health and well being go to you Mr. President on this day of your birth. Long life! We pray that the Almighty continue to give you enough good health and divine guidance as you safely navigate our people through the rampaging waves of this treacherous ocean of a dreadful disease. God bless.
Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
And Presidential Spokesperson
"THE PRESIDENT AND THE FUTURE PRESIDENT"
He was humble enough to say that he would adopt the good proposals of his rivals, and bold enough to say that his Presidency will be bloody.
He often said, “gusto ko komportable lang ang buhay ninyo. Di masyadong mayaman, di naman pobre. Yung sakto lang, at makalakad inyong mga anak ng maayos kahit madaling araw.”
In other words, a comfortable life for all Filipinos. This is an all encompassing vision that includes Daang Matuwid, Strong Republic, Angat Pinoy.
NARRATOR
I have watched and listened to most of his speeches. He is not an orator like past politicians, rather he is a narrator.
He narrates the travails of his life, his experience, his pains as President, his love for the Philippines.
And we all know that in a narration, one part does not equate to the entire narrative.
Here, media and the Opposition would force certain issues by taking one part and leaving everything else behind. Thereby, inciting hatred where the “intelligent” wokes are willing victims.
But as Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin said in Vienna in March 2019, “we wouldn’t mind a little understanding.”
THE DUTERTE BRAND
The first half of the President’s term was focused on laying out the blueprint, correcting the mistakes of the past, focusing on short-term goals while working on the long-term solutions to our decades old problems.
The Duterte brand is not complex. It is pragmatism. And to an extent, practical and practicable.
The Duterte brand essence: Tapang at malasakit.
All his promises, semi-fulfilled, fulfilled despite the noisy opposition led by the Liberal Party and some alums of the Ateneo de Manila.
Independent foreign policy was pursued to assure stability and consistency in both trade and geopolitics. This has made the wokes and the pussyfoots very uncomfortable, them being so accustomed to Hollywood propaganda.
THE FINAL 2 YEARS, WITH COVID-19
This is the most challenging part. Any leader who has done well must outdo himself.
This is the situation of the President and the Government today.
Economy, fighting despite the pandemic. Military, stable. Foreign policy, consistent. Basic services, enabled.
Trust and approval ratings, record breaking.
Expectations are rising. A good problem.
The Opposition is making a last push to stay relevant in 2022.
This is what I see: The President, though sometimes hurt and bruised, will continue to do his best to fulfill his vision of a comfortable life for all.
This is what I say: We are behind you, Mr. President. It is a great honor and privilege to be one of your soldiers fighting for a better Philippines.
HAPPY 4 YEARS, MR. PRESIDENT..
#Credittotheowner
June 28, 2020
Source: FB/ Friends of Sara Duterte
YOU ARE HIRED
BEST STORY THAT WILL MAKE YOU CRY
⊰✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•*ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•* ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•*ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.
One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.
The director discovered from his CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent.
He asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "no".
" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.
" Where did your mother work?"
"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"
"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, when he asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered," I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.
The director said, "This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”
“You are hired.”
This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, they may be successful for a while, but eventually they would not feel a sense of achievement. They will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead?
You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
Try to forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate.
Source: FB
July 1, 2014
HEADLINES
"When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution." ~Andy Andrews
"Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of covid, protests, looting, brutality. I lose my way. Become convinced that this "new normal" is real life. … But, then I meet an 87 years old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam, protests; and yet is still enchanted with life. He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him.
"No", he said slowly looking at me straight in the eyes, "I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines. I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realisation that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines."
HUSBAND LOVE WIFE TODAY", "FAMILY DROPS EVERYTHING TO COME TO GRANDPA'S BEDSIDE." He patted my hand, OLD MAN MAKES NEW FRIEND."
His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight. They float away. I am left with a renewed spirit. My headline now reads, "WOMAN OVERWHELMED BY SPIRIT OF KINDNESS" (and the reminder that our capacity to love is never ending).
Author Anon
Source: FB shared poster
July 6, 2020
YOUR THOUGHTS PAINT THE PICTURE OF THE WORLD YOU SEE
"If your thoughts are imprisoning you in a world where judgment, anxiousness, sadness, anger and resentment reside, then know that it is also your own thoughts that can set you free. It is only your thoughts that can hold you captive. Once you realize this, you will stop directing your attacks outward, and start looking within for solutions.
You are Love’s creation, a part of All That Is, eternal and eternity. You as Love’s creation, because Love is All, can never be imprisoned. Love’s creation can only feel imprisoned when it is buying into the ego’s dream as real.
The ego is a very limited belief system within the sleeping mind. Thus, it is possible to feel imprisoned when you are dreaming. When you feel trapped, know that this is simply a symbol of a mind that is asleep to its true nature.
Today, let us pay close attention to how our own thoughts paint the picture of the world we see. If your thoughts seems to be painting a negative picture of the world, then know that it is only within you where you can begin to change your world. When we find ourselves using negative judgment filled thoughts, let us not judge ourselves for this.
Instead, let us use such situations as a sort of alarm bell that awakens us to the realization, that we are currently asleep to our true loving nature.
Then let us use forgiving thoughts to help us awaken and re-connect to The Divine. As we do, we begin to experience this world as it was meant to be experienced, through Love’s thoughts and eyes. Today, let us align with Love, with the Mind of God, and begin to create through our thoughts, a Heaven on Earth.
Peace, Health, Happiness, Love, Laughter, and Light."
James Blanchard Cisneros
Author of the book "You Have Chosen to Remember"
Source: FB
A REPOST FROM Karina Larson
From the Admin's Desk:
I'm honestly feeling sick of this covid shit stuff. Needless, I feel a need to help disseminate favourable information that might save OUR SANITY … After all we do come face to face with all kinds of VIRAL TOXICITIES day in, day out, year after year. And in this life of DOG EAT DOG, SURVIVAL OF THE FETTISH is the name of the game under the administration of human government with a tad of inhumanity. When I went out to the mountain top one day after an order of easing quarantine restrictions was released, boy! I can tell how the people longed for fresh mountain air, the outdoor freedom, let alone of wanting to get out from their prison house!" ~Leah C. Dancel, May 26, 2020 on C-19 Issue
2 Timothy 3:13
… while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This is a VERY INTERESTING READ! A BIG LESSON ON TRUTH Revealed! Karina posted:
"THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG... THE CDC (Centres for Disease Control), THE WHO (World Health Organisation) AND ALL THE SO-CALLED EXPERTS LIED TO YOU!!!
HERE'S THE LIST:
⚠️ EVERYONE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY NEEDS TO READ THIS AND ABSORB IT... THOSE STILL ASLEEP, YOU BETTER WAKE UP BECAUSE THIS SHAM/DRESS REHEARSAL WILL CERTAINLY BE THE LAST CHANCE; THOSE CHOOSING TO REMAIN IN DENIAL, GIVING THE FINGER TO REALITY, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN ...
🔺"CDC admitted they screwed up COVID19 infection counts and intentionally misled the public and have apologized, clarifying that the amount of people truly infected is much lower than what was originally reported -- an error so egregious it made the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute say “how could the CDC make this mistake? This is a mess."
🔺The American Coronavirus Task Force also admitted to fudging the National COVID19 death count when Dr. Birx said the deaths are people who died “with” COVID19 not “from” COVID19, thus making the real death count much lower than what is currently being reported.
🔺Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted masks won’t help against the virus and mask manufacturers are now including warnings that their products do not deter COVID19.
🔺Fauci also said that continuing to close the country could cause irreparable damage.
🔺CDC backtracked their initial claim that led governors to shutdown their states and clarified that COVID19 does not spread easily on surfaces.
🔺Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo confirmed a recent health study showing that 70% of new infections actually originate at home, thus making stay at home orders one of the most dangerous mandates currently in place.
🔺Trump stopped funding the WHO and threatened to cut off money permanently until they can prove they are no longer corruptly influenced by communist China after they lied to our country about human to human transmission of COVID19 in January.
🔺The curve is flattened, the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, our governors, and many more were completely wrong about the potential threat of this virus.
🔺Even California is opening up sooner than anyone expected because the evidence contradicts the long standing and inaccurate narrative still upheld by the extremely dishonest and corrupt media.
🔺If you are still living in fear, Don’t be. The media, global organizations, the government, and its agencies “mislead” the public.
🔺People called those of us who knew this all along conspiracy theorists, but it turns out we were just following the facts!
🔺Open up your businesses, churches, and homes. Don’t fall for the lies any longer. If you fell for the lies this time, wake up and join the army of truth seekers fighting on the front lines.
🔺 WHO have just admitted that transmission of the virus from an asymptomatic carriers - the whole reason for the lockdown, is rare!! That is, you could not spread it before showing any symptoms!!
⚠️ The CDC just confirmed a .4 to .26% death-rate for Covid 19. The death rate for the flu shot is .6. Twice as high as Covid!
For that, we have:
• Added nearly 6 trillion to national debt
• Laid-off or furloughed 50 million workers
• Placed 60 million on food stamps
• Gone from 3.5%to 14.7% unemployment
• Crippled the petroleum industry
• Ruined the tourism industry
• Bankrupted the service industry
• Caused an impending meat and protein crisis
• Threatened, fined, and arrested church leaders
• Exacerbated mental health problems
• Shut down schools and colleges
• Given unbridled power to unelected officials
• Increased suicides higher than COVID deaths
• Delayed surgeries and treatments for profound illnesses
• Infringed upon countless important civil liberties
• Placed 300 million Americans on house arrest
Bill Gates has placed himself in such a position of influence by heavily funding all corners to make this lie happen.
We need to start treating it as the lie it is.
Seriously our whole way of life is at stake, and they have plans to make it much worse now introducing it as "the grand reset", "the beginning of the 4th revolution" (ie, a surveillence state of control, where everyone lives in what is essentially a strick open air prison where you are tracked, nothing is private, and everything is decided for you, and you have no rights whatsoever, and there can be no resistance.
Welcome to their "new world order".
Don't forget, we can imagine and bring about our own future.
So let's together make it much different from their plan for us and get these people involved, jailed for fraud and terrorism and inducing sheer boredom!!
Let's share the riches of this beautiful world to make it a beautiful place where everyone can live together in abundance, peace, harmony and celebration!!
Source: FB/via Emilio Laxamana Aguinaldo
June 14, 2020 at 6:17 AM
🔵 I want you to know that I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.
🔵 No, I don’t “live in fear” of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.
🔵 I don’t feel like the “government is controlling me;” I feel like I’m being a contributing adult to society and I want to teach others the same.
🔵 The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s not all about me and my comfort.
🔵 If we all could live with other people's consideration in mind, this whole world would be a much better place.
🔵 Wearing a mask doesn’t make me weak, scared, stupid, or even “controlled.” It makes me considerate.
🔵 When you think about how you look, how uncomfortable it is, or what others think of you, just imagine someone close to you - a child, a father, a mother, grandparent, aunt, or uncle - choking on a respirator , alone without you or any family member allowed at bedside.
Thank God for your protection🙏🙏🙏
Source:FB/Real Talk , discussion that matters
REPOST FROM FACEBOOK
Psalm 71:9 - DO not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
"*THE SKY GETS DARK, SLOWLY*"
Mao Dun literary prize winner Zhou Daxin’s latest novel to be published, “The Sky Gets Dark, Slowly”, is a sensitive exploration of old age and the complex, hidden emotional worlds of the elderly in a rapidly ageing population.
In it he writes:
“…Many elderly speak as though they know everything, but of old age they are in fact as ignorant as children. Many elderly are in fact, completely unprepared for what they are to face when it comes to getting old and the road that lays ahead of them.
In the time between a person turning 60 years old, as they begin to age, right until all the lights go out and the sky gets dark, there are some situations to keep in mind, so that you will be prepared for what is to come, and you will not panic.
ONE
The people by your side will only continue to grow smaller in number. People in your parents’ and grandparents’ generation have largely all left, whilst many your peers will increasingly find it harder to look after themselves, and the younger generations will all be busy with their own lives. Even your wife or husband may depart earlier than you, or than you would expect, and what might then come are days of emptiness. You will have to learn how to live alone, and to enjoy and embrace solitude.
TWO
Society will care less and less for you. No matter how glorious your previous career was or how famous you were, ageing will always transform you into a regular old man and old lady. The spotlight no longer shines on you, and you have to learn to contend with standing quietly in one corner, to admire and appreciate the hubbub and views that come after you, and you must overcome the urge to be envious or grumble.
THREE
The road ahead will be rocky and full of precarity. Fractures, cardio-vascular blockages, brain atrophy, cancer… these are all possible guests that could pay you a visit any time, and you would not be able to turn them away. You will have to live with illness and ailments, to view them as friends, even; do not fantasize about stable, quiet days without any trouble in your body. Maintaining a positive mentality and get appropriate, adequate exercise is your duty, and you have to encourage yourself to keep at it consistently.
FOUR
Prepare for bed-bound life, a return to the infant state. Our mothers brought us into this world on a bed, and after a journey of twists and turns and a life of struggle, we return to our starting point – the bed – and to the state of having to be looked after by others. The only difference being, where we once had our mothers to care for us, when we prepare to leave, we may not have our kin to look after us. Even if we have kin, their care may never come close to that of your mother’s; you will, more likely than not, be cared for by nursing staff who bear zero relation to you, wearing smiles on their faces all whilst carrying weariness and boredom in their hearts. Lay still and don’t be difficult; remember to be grateful.
FIVE
There will be many swindlers and scammers along the way. Many of them know that the elderly have lots of savings, and will endlessly be thinking of ways to cheat them of their money: through scam phone calls, text messages, mail, food and product samples, get-rich-quick schemes, products for longevity or enlightenment… basically, all they want is to get all the money. Beware, and be careful, hold your money close to you. A fool and his money are soon parted, so spend your pennies wisely.
Before the sky gets dark, the last stretches of life’s journey will gradually get dimmer and dimmer; naturally, it will be harder to see the path ahead that you are treading towards, and it will be harder to keep going forward. As such, upon turning 60, it would do us all well to see life for what it is, to cherish what we have, to enjoy life whilst we can, and to not take on society’s troubles or your children’s and grandchildren’s affairs on for yourself.
Stay humble, don’t act superior on account of your own age and talk down to others – this will hurt yourself as much as it will hurt others. As we get older, all the better should we be able to understand what respect is and what it counts for.
In these later days of your lives, you have to understand what it means, to let go of your attachments, to mentally prepare yourself. The way of nature is the way of life; go with its flow, and live with equanimity.
Source: Golden Years Gallery, I Am A Hobbyist
FB, February 25, 2020
A GOOD COMMUNICATOR UNDERSTANDS THAT…
Too Good Not To Share ✌
I do not consent to being told that I am not taking a virus seriously simply because I question and challenge arbitrary laws that revoke my basic human rights.
I do not consent to the tracking and tracing of any citizens. And if we can easily track law abiding citizens, then why haven't we made pedophiles and dangerous criminals a priority for this technology?
I do not consent to limiting free speech under the guise of protecting people from the spread of misinformation. No government has a monopoly on information.
I do not consent to the extreme censorship that is taking place on social media platforms toward doctors, scientists, political scientists and activists who uphold data about a possible differing outcome than the MSM would have us believe. This is modernized book burning, and concerns me far more than the virus. What if your current beliefs are being chosen for you?
I do not consent to closing down our wild spaces when the big box corporations and franchises, the liquor store, and the dollar store are deemed essential. There is absolutely nothing more essential on this Earth than Earth itself.
I do not consent to the closing of small businesses while multi-million dollar companies remain open. This will (and has) undoubtedly contributed to rising rates of suicide, depression, drug and alcohol dependency, and domestic violence.
I do not consent to being prevented from freely travelling while the politicians who impose these laws break them to visit their cottages or fly across borders.
I do not consent to my tax dollars being used for bailouts on major corporations while heart-centered small business owners and their employees fall into poverty.
I do not consent to being told that all these decisions are for my safety when people peacefully sitting on park benches are fined $1300 for "not social distancing", and convicted criminals are simultaneously released from prison for their own "protection."
I do not consent to violating the Commonwealth Rights and Freedoms which states that my body is sovereign, and that no medical procedure can be mandated.
I do not consent to mandatory v@ccination, or forcible injection of any kind. Period! 💉
I do not consent to the label 'anti-v@xxer' simply because I have concerns about MANDATORY, enforced v@ccines or medical procedures - especially high risk ones with limited testing that are deemed highly profitable to the most questionable of interests.
I do not consent to being labelled a conspiracy theorist simply because I question certain government, corporate and industrial motives.
I do not consent to the amount of division and hatred that so many have fallen into between your fellow man, simply for upholding opposing beliefs, or for speaking openly about what THEY believe. A gentle reminder that: You don't have to be unkind to someone just because you disagree with them, or because you lead a different lifestyle than them. United we stand, divided we fall.
I do not consent to the idea that pharmaceutical companies are the ONLY way to prevent or heal from illness, and the outright dismissal of this side of the conversation is highly questionable from my perspective.
I do not consent to the media only covering the death count when the survival rate is immensely higher! Fear cripples immunity. Why aren't we talking about both?
I do not consent to forced testing, or laws changing based upon statistics gathered from PCR testing. This testing is largely inaccurate, producing so many false positives that a suspicious president tested a fruit. It tested positive for the virus.
I do not consent to the cen$orship of healthcare practitioners for educating on how to promote healthy immunity through lifestyle modification and the utilization of nutrients, herbs and botanicals 🌱 which have served us for thousands of years.
I do not consent to mad scientists and corporations who ignore the divine intelligence of our physiology and our Earth. 🌍
I do not consent to the lack of discussion on how the exploitation and destruction of our planet by the very powers in charge of handling our current "crisis," has increased illness globally - everything from heart disease to depression, autoimmunity, cancer and autism, for decades.
I do not consent.
Do you?
Here's what I DO consent to:
Source: Farcue R Sole/Understand the Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth/FB
═══════════════ GRATITUDE COMES AFTER APPRECIATION
When you appreciate life you become grateful enough to be thankful. Sadly, it's not a virtue possess by everyone. Someone out there outlined these following reminders with the hope to jog our memory in case it fails to function.
NEVER BREAK THE POT that once gave you WATER.
NEVER BITE THE HANDS that once FED you.
NEVER DESPISE THE HOME that once gave you SHELTER.
NEVER PUNCH HOLES in the UMBRELLA that once gave you COVER.
NEVER INSULT THE BREASTS that once gave you PLEASURE.
And NEVER MALIGN THE CHURCH that once gave you FIRE. (That church is categorically your own body, the TEMPLE).
IF, for now, you have outgrown their usefulness, LEAVE THEM INTACT, and GO quietly and honourably. For it may be the time and BREAKTHROUGH SEASON for OTHERS also.
BE CAREFUL how you close a DOOR.
NEVER ever BANG it, you may need to WALK through that same door TOMORROW.
~Anon~
I'm honestly sick of this sheety stuff. Needless, I feel a need to help disseminate favourable information that might save OUR SANITY … After all we do come face to face with all kinds of VIRAL TOXICITIES day in, day out, year after year. And in this life of DOG EAT DOG, SURVIVAL OF THE FETTISH is the name of the game under the administration of human government with a tad of inhumanity somewhere along the line. When I went out to the mountain top one day after an order of easing restrictions was released, boy! I can tell how the people longed for fresh mountain air, let alone of wanting to get out from their prison house!
Finally something practical and honest wisdom from Dr. Faheem Younus, the Chief of the Infectious Diseases Clinic, University of Maryland, USA:
1. We may have to live with COVID-19 for months or years. Let's not deny it or panic. Let's not make our lives useless. Let's learn to live with this fact.
2. You can't destroy coronaviruses that have penetrated cell walls, drinking gallons of hot water - you'll just go to the bathroom more often.
3. Washing hands, wearing face mask/face shield and maintaining a two-meter physical distance is the best method for your protection.
4. If you don't have a COVID-19 patient at home, there's no need to disinfect the surfaces at your house.
5. Packaged cargo, gas pumps, shopping carts and ATMs do not cause infection. Wash your hands, live your life as usual.
6. You cannot catch COVID-19 from the packaging of food or from ordering take-out food. COVID-19 is not a food-borne infection like Salmonella. It is a droplet-related infection like the ‘flu. There is no demonstrated risk that C19 is transmitted by food.
7. You can temporarily lose your sense of smell with a lot of allergies and viral infections. It's a non-specific symptom that may or may not happen with COVID-19.
8. Taking hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin preemptively is NOT a good idea to prevent COVID. These experimental drugs for coronavirus should only be used in selected COVID patients. They can sometimes cause fatal heart rhythm problems plus other side effects.
9. Once at home, you don't need to change your clothes urgently and go shower! Cleanliness is a virtue, paranoia isn't! Let's not SCARE people. Our biggest return on investment is in handwashing, staying 6 feet away from people, avoiding large crowd and wearing face mask.
10. The C19 virus doesn't hang in the air for long. This is a respiratory droplet infection that requires close contact.
11. The air is clean, you can walk through the gardens (just keeping your physical protection distance), through parks.
12. It is sufficient to use normal soap against C19, not antibacterial soap. This is a virus, not a bacteria.
13. You don't have to worry about your food orders. But you can heat it all up in the microwave, if you wish.
14. The chances of bringing C19 home with your shoes is like being struck by lightning twice in a day. I've been working against viruses for 20 years - droplet infections don't spread like that!
15. You can't be protected from the virus by taking vinegar, sugarcane juice and ginger! These are for immunity not a cure.
16. Wearing a mask for long periods interferes with your breathing and oxygen levels. Wear it only in crowds.
17. Wearing face shield is a better option than face mask. It protects the eyes and is less suffocating.
18. Wearing gloves is also a bad idea; the virus can accumulate into the glove and be easily transmitted if you touch your face. Better just to wash your hands regularly.
Immunity is greatly weakened by always staying in a sterile environment. Even if you eat immunity boosting foods, please go out of your house regularly to any park/beach.
Immunity is increased by EXPOSURE TO PATHOGENS, not by sitting at home and consuming fried/spicy/sugary/junk foods and aerated drinks.
Live life sensibly and to the fullest. Be smart and stay informed!
Source: Lagalag Juan
May 26, 2020
A SMALL SERVICE
A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought his paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him.
While painting, he noticed a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it.
When he finished painting, he received his money and left.
The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice check, much higher than the payment for painting.
The painter was surprised and said “You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!”
"But this is not for the paint job. It's for repairing the hole in the boat.”
"Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”
"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened:
“When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention the hole.
“When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.
“They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time.
“When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole.
“Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.
“Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole!
“You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed.”
So no matter who, when or how, continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, and carefully repair all the 'leaks' you find. You never know when one is in need of us, or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.
Along the way, you may have repaired numerous 'boat holes' for several people without realizing how many lives you've save.
Make a difference....be the best you...
THE GOOD TEACHER
An old man met a young man who asked, "Do you remember me?”
And the old man said no. Then the young man told him he was his student, and the teacher asked, "What do you do, what do you do in life?”
The young man answered, "Well, I became a teacher.”
“Ah, how good, like me?” asked the old man. "Well, yes", came the answer. "In fact, I became a teacher because you inspired me to be like you.”
The old man, curious, asked the young man at what time he decided to become a teacher. And the young man told him a story.
“One day, a friend of mine, also a student, came in with a nice new watch, and I decided I wanted it and I stole it, I took it out of his pocket.
Shortly after, my friend noticed the flight and immediately complained to our teacher, who was you.
Then you went to the class; 'This student's watch was stolen during classes today. Whoever stole it, please return it.’
I didn't give it back because I didn't want to. Then you closed the door and told us all to get up and you were going to search our pockets one by one until the watch was found. But you told us to close our eyes, because you would only look for his watch if we all had our eyes closed.
So we did, and you went from pocket to pocket, and when you went through my pocket, you found the watch and took it. You kept searching everyone's pockets, and when you were done you said, 'open your eyes. We have the watch.’
You didn't tell me and you never mentioned the episode. You never said who stole the watch either. That day, you saved my dignity forever. It was the most shameful day of my life. You never said anything, nor you chided me; or took me aside to give me a moral lesson. I received your message clearly.
And here I am feeling grateful to you. Now I understood what a real educator needs to do. Do you remember this episode, Professor?
The professor answered, 'I remember the situation, the stolen watch, which I was looking for in everyone’s pocket. But I didn't remember you because I also closed my eyes while checking everyone's pocket.’"
This is the essence of teaching: If to correct you humiliate; then you don't know how to teach."
Source: Hilaria Hamm Rogers
FB/February 3, 2020
Quote
"Every human being deserves his dignity and respect despite our flaws." ~Kidze Richard Nyah
By David Whyte
April 16, 2016
(Lifted from Facebook)
Hiding is a way of staying alive. Hiding is a way of holding ourselves until we are ready to come into the light. Even hiding the truth from ourselves can be a way to come to what we need in our own necessary time.
Hiding is one of the brilliant and virtuoso practices of almost every part of the natural world: the protective quiet of an icy northern landscape, the held bud of a future summer rose, the snow bound internal pulse of the hibernating bear.
Hiding is underestimated. We are hidden by life in our mother’s womb until we grow and ready ourselves for our first appearance in the lighted world; to appear too early in that world is to find ourselves with the immediate necessity for outside intensive care.
Hiding done properly is the internal faithful promise for a proper future emergence, as embryos, as children or even as emerging adults in retreat from the names that have caught us and imprisoned us, often in ways where we have been too easily seen and too easily named.
We live in a time of the dissected soul, the immediate disclosure; our thoughts, imaginings and longings exposed to the light too much, too early and too often, our best qualities squeezed too soon into a world already awash with too easily articulated ideas that oppress our sense of self and our sense of others.
What is real is almost always to begin with, hidden, and does not want to be understood by the part of our mind that mistakenly thinks it knows what is happening. What is precious inside us does not care to be known by the mind in ways that diminish its presence.
Hiding is an act of freedom from the misunderstanding of others, especially in the enclosing world of oppressive secret government and private entities, attempting to name us, to anticipate us, to leave us with no place to hide and grow in ways unmanaged by a creeping necessity for absolute naming, absolute tracking and absolute control.
Hiding is a bid for independence, from others, from mistaken ideas we have about our selves, from an oppressive and mistaken wish to keep us completely safe, completely ministered to, and therefore completely managed.
Hiding is creative, necessary and beautifully subversive of outside interference and control. Hiding leaves life to itself, to become more of itself. Hiding is the radical independence necessary for our emergence into the light of a proper human future.
...
‘HIDING’
From CONSOLATIONS: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words.
2015 © David Whyte
LIFE LESSONS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME
What did your mum teach you? Jacqui has written down some of the things she learnt from her mother in a comical recount …
1. My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that this will come out of the carpet.”
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
“Because I said so, that’s why.”
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
7. My mother taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that soup is all gone.”
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”
What did your mum teach you? Did she have sayings that have stuck with you throughout your life?
Source: Start at 60
By Jacqui Lee
April 14, 2017
STORY: BEAUTIFUL HANDS
A sequel to Admin's quote: Beautiful hands are the hands that work
I have read a legend about three fair maids who lived in a royal palace. One morning they were strolling in the gardens among the beautiful red roses and the trees loaded with luscious fruits. One of the maids raised the question as to which of them had the most beautiful hands.
Eleanor was gathering the fleshy ripe strawberries and her hands were stained with the crimson juice of her berries. She thought her hands the most beautiful. Antoinette thought hers were the most beautiful as the fragrance of the roses lingered on her hands. Joan seated beside the stream had dipped her hands in cool crystal waters. Looking at the clear sparkling drops on her dainty fingers, she thought her hands were the most beautiful.
A beggar happened to be passing by; seeing the maidens, she stopped and asked for alms. The royal maidens swished their flowing skirts and turned away from the beggar in ragged cloths. The beggar girl moved on with a forlorn face. In front of a nearby cottage sat an old woman with a sub-burned face and toil-stained hands. Filled with compassion on seeing the beggar girl, she gave her some bread.
The legend says that the beggar was immediately transformed into an angel and appeared at the garden gate, saying to the palace maids, the most beautiful hands are those which are found ready to bless and help their fellowmen.
Source: Beautiful Hands as told by Garry … from Turnback To God website
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTE
March - April 2020
I've personally known Rado Gatchalian, the author. He's a prolific writer, poet, leader, educator, and relentless advocator for love of our country of birth, the Philippines. His time is consumed in reading, writing poetry, an unhesitant penman of philosophic morale as such, and a person with unquestionable esprit de corps. His mindset in patriotism is aligned to that of our great national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. As a citizen of Australia, he too is loyal to this country that embraces us. A country that gives us a fair go. A country that freely gives us a platform to express our ideas, thoughts, views and opinions about our concerns for this great country.
Australia in all its entirety had been for months endured the longest summer burn-out from bushfires that ran the country aground, exacerbated by unending drought. Many have lost their homes and properties, with death toll to contain, and billions of wildlife lost to uncontrollable conflagration set by nature and some on purpose by human insanity. This too had left a negative impact on the economy, not to mention the health of the people.
And as if it wasn't enough, NOW THIS! It is maybe geographically far from the clustered and crowded continents in the world, as it stands alone down the slope of Southern Hemisphere , it too has been lately plagued with the recent controversial corona virus strain whose word spreads throughout the entire globe like wildfire.
With deaths here and there and a host of thousand suspects (I guess in this polluted earth nobody is actually immune from it being great social animals), UN-WHO declared CV aka covid19 pandemic (which incidentally is so closed to pandemonic). It's quite spread out, one that would never be palatable.
The WORLD is run in fears. A warfare of its own. The military are working in full force, this time with doctors, nurses, government in the front lines. The enemy? It's one powerful and INVISIBLE one! The virus!
I get to live to witness this era of the fulfilment of the prophetic times unfolding before our human eyes. The era of confusion and misinformation. An era where untruth is the order of the day, and human extinction is still carried out as part of the agenda of the emerging New World Order. The system which is certainly not governed by the Supreme Being, the Great Creator.
Interestingly, a Hollywood Actor turned the 40th President of the United States, the Late Ex-President Ronald Wilson Reagan had these to say, and I quote:
"Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders." ~Ronald Reagan (b. 1911), U.S. Republican politician, president. Guardian (London, June 14, 1989).
"Let us be aware that while they preach the supremacy of the state, declare its omnipotence over individual man, and predict its eventual domination of all peoples of the earth—they are the focus of evil in the modern world." ~Ronald Reagan (b. 1911), U.S. Republican politician, president. Statement, March 8, 1983. quoted in "Focus of Evil," Reagan's Reign of Error, eds. Mark Green and Gail MacColl (1987).
Below is Rado Gatchalian's Letter To The World!!
Rado Gatchalian writes:
My friends and fellow citizens of the world — May we find time to read this and examine our values as part of what we call “Humanity.”
The letter is for all of us. It’s free to share.
A LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH
(WE ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN A DEADLY VIRUS)
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE WORLD,
It was told that terrible events in our lives bring out the best in us. But it also brings out the worst in us.
When there is a calamity — it gives us opportunity to show compassion to people. We gather as one to support and care for each other. We comfort the poor. We embrace people who are in need.
But mundane as we are, there are people who belong to our species that show the innermost character of who we are: EVIL.
We become irrational. More so, we become naive to what is right. We lose our sense of humanity. All of a sudden we lose the sight of our moral lens. We become merciless.
When people become selfish and greedy — just for plain toilet papers: that we lose our sense of respect to elders, to people who are in need, to others — it shows the saddest fate of our future.
Join me for a few minutes to think about what’s happening. It sounds funny and ridiculous that people will be careless just for a toilet paper BUT on a deeper thought — this is a serious matter for all of us to contemplate.
Imagine tomorrow will be a disastrous moment for all of us — when there will be a scarcity of food and basic supplies. Imagine a World War 3 is about to unfold...
What kind of people are we going to exercise?
People might “kill” each other just for basic things like food (or toilet papers for that matter). People will think for themselves first than others.
We have lost our sense of Compassion.
Looking at what’s happening now: this could be the fate of our future, our humanity.
With this pandemic corona virus crisis — we become so irrational. We panic. We lose Logic. We lose COMMON SENSE.
If you are not feeling well and you have a flu: do the the right thing. Go to the doctor. Do not spread the virus.
This virus has reminded everyone to be hygienic like regularly washing our hands and covering our mouth when we cough and sneeze. BUT this is BASIC. We should have been doing this ever since. We don’t need corona virus for us to know that we should do this.
Perhaps, this is one “good side” of this corona. It reminded us to be clean and considerate of others.
Let us follow the guidelines and instructions given by the authorities. Let us support and help instead of causing further problems.
Listen to the experts, scientists, and doctors. Be cautious of what we read. Other than virus — we need to be mindful of another worse “virus” — FAKE NEWS. This INFODEMIC caused this pandemic!
We shall also exercise our own personal decision. If you think it is better to avoid the crowd, then, do it because you think you are doing the right thing. We shall remember to think for ourselves as well.
Now that we have come to this unfortunate events of our lives: it is the perfect time to reconsider our values and priorities. It is the perfect time to examine ourselves as part of this world.
We are bigger than the virus. Humanity is more powerful than any disease. Compassion is stronger than all fears.
Let us not lose our Humanity. We can prevail and overcome this disease if we will care for each other. This is the only way. There is no other way.
Our survival as species is in our hands. In our caring hands.
Let us prove to the word that there is a good reason to save our Humanity. We are better than who we are. Let us evolve positively. Let us not regress back like stupid species. We are a higher animal equipped with reason. But we are also a species with a soul, with a loving heart.
Let us choose the right path.
To end, I really want to share these lines from the play “Antigone” written by Greek Sophocles in or before 441 BCE. It has been written thousand years ago — but a good reminder of who we are as a “People.” It is long but I pray you will have time to read and reflect.
“Many the wonders but nothing walks stranger than man.
The thing crosses the sea in the winter’s storm,
Making his path through the roaring waves,
And she, the greatest of gods, the Earth —
Ageless she is and unwearied — he wears her away
As the ploughs go up and down from year to year
And his mules turn up the soil.
Gay nations of birds he snares and leads,
Wild beast tribes and the salty brood of the sea
With the twisted mesh of his nets, this clever man.
He controls with his craft the beasts of the open air,
Walkers on hills. The horse with his shaggy mane
He holds and harnesses, yoked about the neck.
And the strong bull of the mountain.
Language, and thought like the wind
And the feelings that make the town
He has taught himself, and shelter against the cold,
Refuge from rain. He can always help himself.
He faces no future helpless. There’s only death
That he cannot find an escape from.”
I believe there is still hope for our Humanity. I am a dreamer, will always be.
Sincerely,
Rado Gatchalian
(March 24, 2020)
AN INVISIBLE CAME AND PUT EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
I don't know if you agree, but something invisible came and put everything in its place.
Suddenly the gasoline went down, pollution went down, people started to have more time - so much time that they do not know what to do with it - parents are spending time with their kids as a family, work is no longer a priority, or traveling or social life either.
Suddenly we silently see within ourselves and understand the value of the words "solidarity", "love", "strength", "empathy" and "faith".
In an instant we realized that we are all in the same boat; rich and poor. That the supermarket shelves are empty and the hospitals are full.
New cars and old cars also stand in the garages, simply because nobody can get out.
Empty streets, less pollution, clean air, the land also breathes.
The human returns to his origins, realizing that with or without money, the important thing is to survive.
Today, health is the main thing, even in spite of wanting to have or possessing.
It took 6 days for the universe to establish the social equality that was said to be impossible.
Fear invaded everyone.
At least this happened to realize the vulnerability of the human being.
Nature is forcing us to clean up the mess made by ourselves.
Our overthrown gods:
-Money
-Sports
-Fame
-Politics
What the coronavirus is teaching us:
-Our best protection: GOD
-Our best refuge: HOME
- Our best company: FAMILY
- Our real time: TODAY
- Nature's call: STOP US
- Its message: WAIT, RESPECT
We are not kings, we do not have the power of controlling everything.
We are part of a whole, fragile, brittle and vulnerable something.
Part of a whole something that we wanted to dominate and today is telling us:
Stop, breathe, respect.
Go back to the basics, to the essentials, that the peace of your soul guide you towards what you are:a CREATION.
… indeed this is the reflection that we must have TODAY!!!
Source: Saida Lapasaran/FB, March 28, 2020
BEST SERMON
By Gregg Braden
February 12, 2013
A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.'
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
AN OPEN LETTER TO AUSTRALIANS WHO WERE HIT BY BUSHFIRES
To my friends in Australia,
There are many things I wish I had known when the largest fire in Texas history swept across our property. The aftermath was almost too much to bear. The devastation. The ashes. The darkness. It all seemed so cruel.
The fires in our lives don’t come at convenient times. I first learned about it when I was at the airport coming home from my father’s funeral. My husband was in the hospital fighting for his life. I didn’t have time to deal with this too, and yet here it was.
From one fire survivor to another here is what I wish I had known.
HOPE. You will find it in the first seedling that sprouts. And it WILL sprout.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0ou5px2Ts5IfwgJH9sujcKgMjAh5jUD5br3EOa_5eq6GhvGJRNuiAvF9c&v=NdaL8_yocAY
~•✿•~ ~•✿•~
"All that true prayer seeks is God Himself, for with Him we get all we need." ~The Kneeling Christian
PRAYER FOR THE NATION
Late President Ferdinand E. Marcos
(1965-1986)
Father of all mankind, we ask you to look down upon your people, and fill our hearts with your spirit, that we may have the grace and the wisdom to look into ourselves, and in so doing see our weaknesses and our strengths.
So many of us have lived in corruption, greed and violence, forgetting that this nation - or any other nation - cannot survive and grow and prosper unless we learn to live as brothers, striving not for our selfish ends, but for the common good.
Give us strength to rebuild our lives, leaving forever our selfish, corrupt and derelict ways.
Make us see what we are and what we could be, open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to do the things that need to be done, and the things that we can do to make this rich and beautiful land a joy and comfort to all our people.
We have set for ourselves great and never-ending tasks; stand by us in our labors and teach us not to weary nor to lose faith, neither to seek rewards beyond what is just but rather to see in our work the full measures of our own reward and to see in it the full expressions of ourselves.
When the day's toil is ended, teach us to look to the morrow's labor as a part of our continuing sacrifice; bring us not to the temptation of luxury, ease, nor privilege; nor to the blandishments of power or comfort that corrupt, but make of us a sturdy race, self-reliant, cheerful and upright.
Teach those who lead to act with firmness but with humility, with humility but with wisdom, with wisdom but with justice, and with justice but with compassion, and teach those who follow the true duties of being men and being members of a community of men.
Cleanse us of our anger, our bitterness, and our recriminations of the past, spare us the doubts and anxieties of the present, and purify us for our sacrifice so that we may raise a people who will be their own strength today, and their own warranty against the future.
Source: Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte/FB
April 29, 2020
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Office of the Presidential Spokesperson
March 28, 2020
On PRRD’s Birthday
In the midst of a global health crisis and under a cloud of gloom that looms in the horizon in this beautiful country of ours, the President is to mark his 75th birthday today, March 28.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will self-quarantine himself on his birthday following the advice of the Presidential Security Group as well as doctors for his protection following his exposure to some officials who themselves may have been exposed to a confirmed Covid-19 victim. He will continue with his work while on quarantine. His only birthday wish is for our countrymen to stay home and the total eradication of the coronavirus.
At times the President expresses regrets for allowing himself to respond to the clamor of the people to run for President, as having been placed in the highest post of the land, he carries the responsibility of serving and protecting the Filipino people at all cost. The enormity, magnitude and the complexity of such task can go beyond the capability of even the most prepared and formidable individual.
Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s presidency has been characterised with his unwavering war against drugs, criminality, corruption, rebellion and terrorism. In between those unrelenting aggression against the enemies of the state and order, his mettle as a leader was tested by powerful typhoons, rampaging floods, thundering earthquakes, and terrifying volcano eruptions that wreak havoc and destruction to the towns and cities, as well as to edges of the archipelago.
As if these human and natural monstrosities were not enough to test the nerves and leadership of this President, our country is now in the precipice of annihilation as he leads us to face this Armageddon of an unseen lethal invader of a disease that is creeping into our people’s lifeblood, killing them slowly and painfully into their graves.
Under these foreboding and grim circumstances how can we greet him with a hearty Happy Birthday!?
But the birth of a person is an event that can not pass without recognizing it as a gift from the Almighty. We take therefore this occasion to thank God for giving life to this maverick of a President, and for lending us his time and his indefatigable spirit to serve and protect the people with his unorthodox ways and selfless brand of public service that puts to risk his life, honor and the presidency.
The nation’s prayers for your good health and well being go to you Mr. President on this day of your birth. Long life! We pray that the Almighty continue to give you enough good health and divine guidance as you safely navigate our people through the rampaging waves of this treacherous ocean of a dreadful disease. God bless.
Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
And Presidential Spokesperson
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"THE PRESIDENT AND THE FUTURE PRESIDENT"
"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." ~Douglas MacArthurWhen Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared his candidacy for the Presidency in 2015, and in the bruising election campaign that followed from February to May 2016, he was very candid. The most genuine candidate amongst traditional politicians.
He was humble enough to say that he would adopt the good proposals of his rivals, and bold enough to say that his Presidency will be bloody.
He often said, “gusto ko komportable lang ang buhay ninyo. Di masyadong mayaman, di naman pobre. Yung sakto lang, at makalakad inyong mga anak ng maayos kahit madaling araw.”
In other words, a comfortable life for all Filipinos. This is an all encompassing vision that includes Daang Matuwid, Strong Republic, Angat Pinoy.
NARRATOR
I have watched and listened to most of his speeches. He is not an orator like past politicians, rather he is a narrator.
He narrates the travails of his life, his experience, his pains as President, his love for the Philippines.
And we all know that in a narration, one part does not equate to the entire narrative.
Here, media and the Opposition would force certain issues by taking one part and leaving everything else behind. Thereby, inciting hatred where the “intelligent” wokes are willing victims.
But as Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin said in Vienna in March 2019, “we wouldn’t mind a little understanding.”
THE DUTERTE BRAND
The first half of the President’s term was focused on laying out the blueprint, correcting the mistakes of the past, focusing on short-term goals while working on the long-term solutions to our decades old problems.
The Duterte brand is not complex. It is pragmatism. And to an extent, practical and practicable.
The Duterte brand essence: Tapang at malasakit.
All his promises, semi-fulfilled, fulfilled despite the noisy opposition led by the Liberal Party and some alums of the Ateneo de Manila.
Independent foreign policy was pursued to assure stability and consistency in both trade and geopolitics. This has made the wokes and the pussyfoots very uncomfortable, them being so accustomed to Hollywood propaganda.
THE FINAL 2 YEARS, WITH COVID-19
This is the most challenging part. Any leader who has done well must outdo himself.
This is the situation of the President and the Government today.
Economy, fighting despite the pandemic. Military, stable. Foreign policy, consistent. Basic services, enabled.
Trust and approval ratings, record breaking.
Expectations are rising. A good problem.
The Opposition is making a last push to stay relevant in 2022.
This is what I see: The President, though sometimes hurt and bruised, will continue to do his best to fulfill his vision of a comfortable life for all.
This is what I say: We are behind you, Mr. President. It is a great honor and privilege to be one of your soldiers fighting for a better Philippines.
HAPPY 4 YEARS, MR. PRESIDENT..
#Credittotheowner
June 28, 2020
Source: FB/ Friends of Sara Duterte
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BE NOT A BURDEN
DON'T LEAVE IT AFTER NOR LATER
"I didn’t write this - but WOW does it speak to my heart!!! Worth the read." ~Larry Masterson
Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.
... and the month is already over.
... and the year is almost over.
... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.
... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it's too late to go back...
So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...
Let's keep looking for activities that we like...
Let's put some color in our grey...
Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...
I'm doing it after...
I'll say after...
I'll think about it after...
We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.
Because what we don't understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...
afterwards, priorities change...
Afterwards, the charm is broken...
afterwards, health passes...
Afterwards, the kids grow up...
Afterwards parents get old...
Afterwards, promises are forgotten...
afterwards, the day becomes the night...
afterwards life ends...
And then it's often too late....
So... Let's leave nothing for later...
Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
best friends,
the best family...
The day is today... The moment is now...
We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.
So let's see if you have time to read this message and then share it.
Or maybe you'll leave it for "later"...
Source: Larry Masterson/FB
Shared by Cynthia Smith via Fabulous Fifties
⊰✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•*ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•* ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•*ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.
BEST STORY THAT WILL MAKE YOU CRY
WRINKLED HANDS: "The hands that work are the most beautiful."
SCRIPTURAL PARENTING: PROVERBS 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
⊰✿ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•*ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•* ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.•*ღ¸╭•⊰✿¸.
One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.
The director discovered from his CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent.
He asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "no".
" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.
" Where did your mother work?"
"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"
"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, when he asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered," I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.
The director said, "This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”
“You are hired.”
This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, they may be successful for a while, but eventually they would not feel a sense of achievement. They will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead?
You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
Try to forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate.
Source: FB
July 1, 2014
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HEADLINES
"When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution." ~Andy Andrews
"Learned to not see the world through the printed headlines…"
"Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of covid, protests, looting, brutality. I lose my way. Become convinced that this "new normal" is real life. … But, then I meet an 87 years old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam, protests; and yet is still enchanted with life. He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him.
"No", he said slowly looking at me straight in the eyes, "I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines. I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realisation that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines."
HUSBAND LOVE WIFE TODAY", "FAMILY DROPS EVERYTHING TO COME TO GRANDPA'S BEDSIDE." He patted my hand, OLD MAN MAKES NEW FRIEND."
His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight. They float away. I am left with a renewed spirit. My headline now reads, "WOMAN OVERWHELMED BY SPIRIT OF KINDNESS" (and the reminder that our capacity to love is never ending).
Author Anon
Source: FB shared poster
July 6, 2020
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YOUR THOUGHTS PAINT THE PICTURE OF THE WORLD YOU SEE
The ego is a very limited belief system within the sleeping mind.
"If your thoughts are imprisoning you in a world where judgment, anxiousness, sadness, anger and resentment reside, then know that it is also your own thoughts that can set you free. It is only your thoughts that can hold you captive. Once you realize this, you will stop directing your attacks outward, and start looking within for solutions.
You are Love’s creation, a part of All That Is, eternal and eternity. You as Love’s creation, because Love is All, can never be imprisoned. Love’s creation can only feel imprisoned when it is buying into the ego’s dream as real.
The ego is a very limited belief system within the sleeping mind. Thus, it is possible to feel imprisoned when you are dreaming. When you feel trapped, know that this is simply a symbol of a mind that is asleep to its true nature.
Today, let us pay close attention to how our own thoughts paint the picture of the world we see. If your thoughts seems to be painting a negative picture of the world, then know that it is only within you where you can begin to change your world. When we find ourselves using negative judgment filled thoughts, let us not judge ourselves for this.
Instead, let us use such situations as a sort of alarm bell that awakens us to the realization, that we are currently asleep to our true loving nature.
Then let us use forgiving thoughts to help us awaken and re-connect to The Divine. As we do, we begin to experience this world as it was meant to be experienced, through Love’s thoughts and eyes. Today, let us align with Love, with the Mind of God, and begin to create through our thoughts, a Heaven on Earth.
Peace, Health, Happiness, Love, Laughter, and Light."
James Blanchard Cisneros
Author of the book "You Have Chosen to Remember"
Source: FB
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A REPOST FROM Karina Larson
"Let's share the riches of this beautiful world to make it a beautiful place where everyone can live together in abundance, peace, harmony and celebration!!
From the Admin's Desk:
I'm honestly feeling sick of this covid shit stuff. Needless, I feel a need to help disseminate favourable information that might save OUR SANITY … After all we do come face to face with all kinds of VIRAL TOXICITIES day in, day out, year after year. And in this life of DOG EAT DOG, SURVIVAL OF THE FETTISH is the name of the game under the administration of human government with a tad of inhumanity. When I went out to the mountain top one day after an order of easing quarantine restrictions was released, boy! I can tell how the people longed for fresh mountain air, the outdoor freedom, let alone of wanting to get out from their prison house!" ~Leah C. Dancel, May 26, 2020 on C-19 Issue
2 Timothy 3:13
… while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This is a VERY INTERESTING READ! A BIG LESSON ON TRUTH Revealed! Karina posted:
"THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG... THE CDC (Centres for Disease Control), THE WHO (World Health Organisation) AND ALL THE SO-CALLED EXPERTS LIED TO YOU!!!
HERE'S THE LIST:
⚠️ EVERYONE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY NEEDS TO READ THIS AND ABSORB IT... THOSE STILL ASLEEP, YOU BETTER WAKE UP BECAUSE THIS SHAM/DRESS REHEARSAL WILL CERTAINLY BE THE LAST CHANCE; THOSE CHOOSING TO REMAIN IN DENIAL, GIVING THE FINGER TO REALITY, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN ...
🔺"CDC admitted they screwed up COVID19 infection counts and intentionally misled the public and have apologized, clarifying that the amount of people truly infected is much lower than what was originally reported -- an error so egregious it made the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute say “how could the CDC make this mistake? This is a mess."
🔺The American Coronavirus Task Force also admitted to fudging the National COVID19 death count when Dr. Birx said the deaths are people who died “with” COVID19 not “from” COVID19, thus making the real death count much lower than what is currently being reported.
🔺Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted masks won’t help against the virus and mask manufacturers are now including warnings that their products do not deter COVID19.
🔺Fauci also said that continuing to close the country could cause irreparable damage.
🔺CDC backtracked their initial claim that led governors to shutdown their states and clarified that COVID19 does not spread easily on surfaces.
🔺Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo confirmed a recent health study showing that 70% of new infections actually originate at home, thus making stay at home orders one of the most dangerous mandates currently in place.
🔺Trump stopped funding the WHO and threatened to cut off money permanently until they can prove they are no longer corruptly influenced by communist China after they lied to our country about human to human transmission of COVID19 in January.
🔺The curve is flattened, the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, our governors, and many more were completely wrong about the potential threat of this virus.
🔺Even California is opening up sooner than anyone expected because the evidence contradicts the long standing and inaccurate narrative still upheld by the extremely dishonest and corrupt media.
🔺If you are still living in fear, Don’t be. The media, global organizations, the government, and its agencies “mislead” the public.
🔺People called those of us who knew this all along conspiracy theorists, but it turns out we were just following the facts!
🔺Open up your businesses, churches, and homes. Don’t fall for the lies any longer. If you fell for the lies this time, wake up and join the army of truth seekers fighting on the front lines.
🔺 WHO have just admitted that transmission of the virus from an asymptomatic carriers - the whole reason for the lockdown, is rare!! That is, you could not spread it before showing any symptoms!!
⚠️ The CDC just confirmed a .4 to .26% death-rate for Covid 19. The death rate for the flu shot is .6. Twice as high as Covid!
For that, we have:
• Added nearly 6 trillion to national debt
• Laid-off or furloughed 50 million workers
• Placed 60 million on food stamps
• Gone from 3.5%to 14.7% unemployment
• Crippled the petroleum industry
• Ruined the tourism industry
• Bankrupted the service industry
• Caused an impending meat and protein crisis
• Threatened, fined, and arrested church leaders
• Exacerbated mental health problems
• Shut down schools and colleges
• Given unbridled power to unelected officials
• Increased suicides higher than COVID deaths
• Delayed surgeries and treatments for profound illnesses
• Infringed upon countless important civil liberties
• Placed 300 million Americans on house arrest
Bill Gates has placed himself in such a position of influence by heavily funding all corners to make this lie happen.
We need to start treating it as the lie it is.
Seriously our whole way of life is at stake, and they have plans to make it much worse now introducing it as "the grand reset", "the beginning of the 4th revolution" (ie, a surveillence state of control, where everyone lives in what is essentially a strick open air prison where you are tracked, nothing is private, and everything is decided for you, and you have no rights whatsoever, and there can be no resistance.
Welcome to their "new world order".
Don't forget, we can imagine and bring about our own future.
So let's together make it much different from their plan for us and get these people involved, jailed for fraud and terrorism and inducing sheer boredom!!
Let's share the riches of this beautiful world to make it a beautiful place where everyone can live together in abundance, peace, harmony and celebration!!
"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the TRUTH!" ~Buddha
"…we need to go back to the earth and live with the earth spiritually." ~Floyd Red Cow Westerman
Source: FB/via Emilio Laxamana Aguinaldo
June 14, 2020 at 6:17 AM
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"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." ~AnonWHEN I WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC:
🔵 I want you to know that I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.
🔵 No, I don’t “live in fear” of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.
🔵 I don’t feel like the “government is controlling me;” I feel like I’m being a contributing adult to society and I want to teach others the same.
🔵 The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s not all about me and my comfort.
🔵 If we all could live with other people's consideration in mind, this whole world would be a much better place.
🔵 Wearing a mask doesn’t make me weak, scared, stupid, or even “controlled.” It makes me considerate.
🔵 When you think about how you look, how uncomfortable it is, or what others think of you, just imagine someone close to you - a child, a father, a mother, grandparent, aunt, or uncle - choking on a respirator , alone without you or any family member allowed at bedside.
Thank God for your protection🙏🙏🙏
Source:FB/Real Talk , discussion that matters
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REPOST FROM FACEBOOK
Psalm 71:9 - DO not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
"*THE SKY GETS DARK, SLOWLY*"
The way of nature is the way of life; go with its flow, and live with equanimity.
Mao Dun literary prize winner Zhou Daxin’s latest novel to be published, “The Sky Gets Dark, Slowly”, is a sensitive exploration of old age and the complex, hidden emotional worlds of the elderly in a rapidly ageing population.
In it he writes:
“…Many elderly speak as though they know everything, but of old age they are in fact as ignorant as children. Many elderly are in fact, completely unprepared for what they are to face when it comes to getting old and the road that lays ahead of them.
In the time between a person turning 60 years old, as they begin to age, right until all the lights go out and the sky gets dark, there are some situations to keep in mind, so that you will be prepared for what is to come, and you will not panic.
ONE
The people by your side will only continue to grow smaller in number. People in your parents’ and grandparents’ generation have largely all left, whilst many your peers will increasingly find it harder to look after themselves, and the younger generations will all be busy with their own lives. Even your wife or husband may depart earlier than you, or than you would expect, and what might then come are days of emptiness. You will have to learn how to live alone, and to enjoy and embrace solitude.
TWO
Society will care less and less for you. No matter how glorious your previous career was or how famous you were, ageing will always transform you into a regular old man and old lady. The spotlight no longer shines on you, and you have to learn to contend with standing quietly in one corner, to admire and appreciate the hubbub and views that come after you, and you must overcome the urge to be envious or grumble.
THREE
The road ahead will be rocky and full of precarity. Fractures, cardio-vascular blockages, brain atrophy, cancer… these are all possible guests that could pay you a visit any time, and you would not be able to turn them away. You will have to live with illness and ailments, to view them as friends, even; do not fantasize about stable, quiet days without any trouble in your body. Maintaining a positive mentality and get appropriate, adequate exercise is your duty, and you have to encourage yourself to keep at it consistently.
FOUR
Prepare for bed-bound life, a return to the infant state. Our mothers brought us into this world on a bed, and after a journey of twists and turns and a life of struggle, we return to our starting point – the bed – and to the state of having to be looked after by others. The only difference being, where we once had our mothers to care for us, when we prepare to leave, we may not have our kin to look after us. Even if we have kin, their care may never come close to that of your mother’s; you will, more likely than not, be cared for by nursing staff who bear zero relation to you, wearing smiles on their faces all whilst carrying weariness and boredom in their hearts. Lay still and don’t be difficult; remember to be grateful.
FIVE
There will be many swindlers and scammers along the way. Many of them know that the elderly have lots of savings, and will endlessly be thinking of ways to cheat them of their money: through scam phone calls, text messages, mail, food and product samples, get-rich-quick schemes, products for longevity or enlightenment… basically, all they want is to get all the money. Beware, and be careful, hold your money close to you. A fool and his money are soon parted, so spend your pennies wisely.
Before the sky gets dark, the last stretches of life’s journey will gradually get dimmer and dimmer; naturally, it will be harder to see the path ahead that you are treading towards, and it will be harder to keep going forward. As such, upon turning 60, it would do us all well to see life for what it is, to cherish what we have, to enjoy life whilst we can, and to not take on society’s troubles or your children’s and grandchildren’s affairs on for yourself.
Stay humble, don’t act superior on account of your own age and talk down to others – this will hurt yourself as much as it will hurt others. As we get older, all the better should we be able to understand what respect is and what it counts for.
In these later days of your lives, you have to understand what it means, to let go of your attachments, to mentally prepare yourself. The way of nature is the way of life; go with its flow, and live with equanimity.
Source: Golden Years Gallery, I Am A Hobbyist
FB, February 25, 2020
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A GOOD COMMUNICATOR UNDERSTANDS THAT…
"MAN IS NOT FREE, UNLESS GOVERNMENT IS LIMITED." ~Pres. RW Reagan …
AND that, THE
"GOVERNMENT's FIRST DUTY IS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE, NOT RUN THEIR LIVES." ~Ronald Reagan
Too Good Not To Share ✌
I do not consent to being told that I am not taking a virus seriously simply because I question and challenge arbitrary laws that revoke my basic human rights.
I do not consent to the tracking and tracing of any citizens. And if we can easily track law abiding citizens, then why haven't we made pedophiles and dangerous criminals a priority for this technology?
I do not consent to limiting free speech under the guise of protecting people from the spread of misinformation. No government has a monopoly on information.
I do not consent to the extreme censorship that is taking place on social media platforms toward doctors, scientists, political scientists and activists who uphold data about a possible differing outcome than the MSM would have us believe. This is modernized book burning, and concerns me far more than the virus. What if your current beliefs are being chosen for you?
I do not consent to closing down our wild spaces when the big box corporations and franchises, the liquor store, and the dollar store are deemed essential. There is absolutely nothing more essential on this Earth than Earth itself.
I do not consent to the closing of small businesses while multi-million dollar companies remain open. This will (and has) undoubtedly contributed to rising rates of suicide, depression, drug and alcohol dependency, and domestic violence.
I do not consent to being prevented from freely travelling while the politicians who impose these laws break them to visit their cottages or fly across borders.
I do not consent to my tax dollars being used for bailouts on major corporations while heart-centered small business owners and their employees fall into poverty.
I do not consent to being told that all these decisions are for my safety when people peacefully sitting on park benches are fined $1300 for "not social distancing", and convicted criminals are simultaneously released from prison for their own "protection."
I do not consent to violating the Commonwealth Rights and Freedoms which states that my body is sovereign, and that no medical procedure can be mandated.
I do not consent to mandatory v@ccination, or forcible injection of any kind. Period! 💉
I do not consent to the label 'anti-v@xxer' simply because I have concerns about MANDATORY, enforced v@ccines or medical procedures - especially high risk ones with limited testing that are deemed highly profitable to the most questionable of interests.
I do not consent to being labelled a conspiracy theorist simply because I question certain government, corporate and industrial motives.
I do not consent to the amount of division and hatred that so many have fallen into between your fellow man, simply for upholding opposing beliefs, or for speaking openly about what THEY believe. A gentle reminder that: You don't have to be unkind to someone just because you disagree with them, or because you lead a different lifestyle than them. United we stand, divided we fall.
I do not consent to the idea that pharmaceutical companies are the ONLY way to prevent or heal from illness, and the outright dismissal of this side of the conversation is highly questionable from my perspective.
I do not consent to the media only covering the death count when the survival rate is immensely higher! Fear cripples immunity. Why aren't we talking about both?
I do not consent to forced testing, or laws changing based upon statistics gathered from PCR testing. This testing is largely inaccurate, producing so many false positives that a suspicious president tested a fruit. It tested positive for the virus.
I do not consent to the cen$orship of healthcare practitioners for educating on how to promote healthy immunity through lifestyle modification and the utilization of nutrients, herbs and botanicals 🌱 which have served us for thousands of years.
I do not consent to mad scientists and corporations who ignore the divine intelligence of our physiology and our Earth. 🌍
I do not consent to the lack of discussion on how the exploitation and destruction of our planet by the very powers in charge of handling our current "crisis," has increased illness globally - everything from heart disease to depression, autoimmunity, cancer and autism, for decades.
I do not consent.
Do you?
Here's what I DO consent to:
"Being able to be a free and critical thinker, who wants to share my views with others to prevent further sufferering in the world without being silenced."
Source: Farcue R Sole/Understand the Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth/FB
When you appreciate life you become grateful enough to be thankful. Sadly, it's not a virtue possess by everyone. Someone out there outlined these following reminders with the hope to jog our memory in case it fails to function.
NEVER BREAK THE POT that once gave you WATER.
NEVER BITE THE HANDS that once FED you.
NEVER DESPISE THE HOME that once gave you SHELTER.
NEVER PUNCH HOLES in the UMBRELLA that once gave you COVER.
NEVER INSULT THE BREASTS that once gave you PLEASURE.
And NEVER MALIGN THE CHURCH that once gave you FIRE. (That church is categorically your own body, the TEMPLE).
IF, for now, you have outgrown their usefulness, LEAVE THEM INTACT, and GO quietly and honourably. For it may be the time and BREAKTHROUGH SEASON for OTHERS also.
BE CAREFUL how you close a DOOR.
NEVER ever BANG it, you may need to WALK through that same door TOMORROW.
~Anon~
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I'm honestly sick of this sheety stuff. Needless, I feel a need to help disseminate favourable information that might save OUR SANITY … After all we do come face to face with all kinds of VIRAL TOXICITIES day in, day out, year after year. And in this life of DOG EAT DOG, SURVIVAL OF THE FETTISH is the name of the game under the administration of human government with a tad of inhumanity somewhere along the line. When I went out to the mountain top one day after an order of easing restrictions was released, boy! I can tell how the people longed for fresh mountain air, let alone of wanting to get out from their prison house!
Finally something practical and honest wisdom from Dr. Faheem Younus, the Chief of the Infectious Diseases Clinic, University of Maryland, USA:
1. We may have to live with COVID-19 for months or years. Let's not deny it or panic. Let's not make our lives useless. Let's learn to live with this fact.
2. You can't destroy coronaviruses that have penetrated cell walls, drinking gallons of hot water - you'll just go to the bathroom more often.
3. Washing hands, wearing face mask/face shield and maintaining a two-meter physical distance is the best method for your protection.
4. If you don't have a COVID-19 patient at home, there's no need to disinfect the surfaces at your house.
5. Packaged cargo, gas pumps, shopping carts and ATMs do not cause infection. Wash your hands, live your life as usual.
6. You cannot catch COVID-19 from the packaging of food or from ordering take-out food. COVID-19 is not a food-borne infection like Salmonella. It is a droplet-related infection like the ‘flu. There is no demonstrated risk that C19 is transmitted by food.
7. You can temporarily lose your sense of smell with a lot of allergies and viral infections. It's a non-specific symptom that may or may not happen with COVID-19.
8. Taking hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin preemptively is NOT a good idea to prevent COVID. These experimental drugs for coronavirus should only be used in selected COVID patients. They can sometimes cause fatal heart rhythm problems plus other side effects.
9. Once at home, you don't need to change your clothes urgently and go shower! Cleanliness is a virtue, paranoia isn't! Let's not SCARE people. Our biggest return on investment is in handwashing, staying 6 feet away from people, avoiding large crowd and wearing face mask.
10. The C19 virus doesn't hang in the air for long. This is a respiratory droplet infection that requires close contact.
11. The air is clean, you can walk through the gardens (just keeping your physical protection distance), through parks.
12. It is sufficient to use normal soap against C19, not antibacterial soap. This is a virus, not a bacteria.
13. You don't have to worry about your food orders. But you can heat it all up in the microwave, if you wish.
14. The chances of bringing C19 home with your shoes is like being struck by lightning twice in a day. I've been working against viruses for 20 years - droplet infections don't spread like that!
15. You can't be protected from the virus by taking vinegar, sugarcane juice and ginger! These are for immunity not a cure.
16. Wearing a mask for long periods interferes with your breathing and oxygen levels. Wear it only in crowds.
17. Wearing face shield is a better option than face mask. It protects the eyes and is less suffocating.
18. Wearing gloves is also a bad idea; the virus can accumulate into the glove and be easily transmitted if you touch your face. Better just to wash your hands regularly.
Immunity is greatly weakened by always staying in a sterile environment. Even if you eat immunity boosting foods, please go out of your house regularly to any park/beach.
Immunity is increased by EXPOSURE TO PATHOGENS, not by sitting at home and consuming fried/spicy/sugary/junk foods and aerated drinks.
Live life sensibly and to the fullest. Be smart and stay informed!
Source: Lagalag Juan
May 26, 2020
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A SMALL SERVICE
"People reveal their character even in the simplest things they do." ~Jean de la Bruyere
In doing so, came the reward out of the blue!Here's a lesson to learn from Lisa York that I have lifted from FB:
A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought his paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him.
While painting, he noticed a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it.
When he finished painting, he received his money and left.
The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice check, much higher than the payment for painting.
The painter was surprised and said “You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!”
"But this is not for the paint job. It's for repairing the hole in the boat.”
"Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”
"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened:
“When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention the hole.
“When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.
“They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time.
“When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole.
“Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.
“Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole!
“You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed.”
So no matter who, when or how, continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, and carefully repair all the 'leaks' you find. You never know when one is in need of us, or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.
Along the way, you may have repaired numerous 'boat holes' for several people without realizing how many lives you've save.
Make a difference....be the best you...
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THE GOOD TEACHER
This story teaches us that being objective in judgement is the perfect and most effective way to give a moral lesson to someone who has done wrong.~Tess Dimaano
An old man met a young man who asked, "Do you remember me?”
And the old man said no. Then the young man told him he was his student, and the teacher asked, "What do you do, what do you do in life?”
The young man answered, "Well, I became a teacher.”
“Ah, how good, like me?” asked the old man. "Well, yes", came the answer. "In fact, I became a teacher because you inspired me to be like you.”
The old man, curious, asked the young man at what time he decided to become a teacher. And the young man told him a story.
“One day, a friend of mine, also a student, came in with a nice new watch, and I decided I wanted it and I stole it, I took it out of his pocket.
Shortly after, my friend noticed the flight and immediately complained to our teacher, who was you.
Then you went to the class; 'This student's watch was stolen during classes today. Whoever stole it, please return it.’
I didn't give it back because I didn't want to. Then you closed the door and told us all to get up and you were going to search our pockets one by one until the watch was found. But you told us to close our eyes, because you would only look for his watch if we all had our eyes closed.
So we did, and you went from pocket to pocket, and when you went through my pocket, you found the watch and took it. You kept searching everyone's pockets, and when you were done you said, 'open your eyes. We have the watch.’
You didn't tell me and you never mentioned the episode. You never said who stole the watch either. That day, you saved my dignity forever. It was the most shameful day of my life. You never said anything, nor you chided me; or took me aside to give me a moral lesson. I received your message clearly.
And here I am feeling grateful to you. Now I understood what a real educator needs to do. Do you remember this episode, Professor?
The professor answered, 'I remember the situation, the stolen watch, which I was looking for in everyone’s pocket. But I didn't remember you because I also closed my eyes while checking everyone's pocket.’"
This is the essence of teaching: If to correct you humiliate; then you don't know how to teach."
Source: Hilaria Hamm Rogers
FB/February 3, 2020
Quote
"Every human being deserves his dignity and respect despite our flaws." ~Kidze Richard Nyah
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From a Poet's Perspective: “A creature that hides and “withdraws into its shell,” is preparing a “way out.” This is true of the entire scale of metaphors, from the resurrection of a man in his grave, to the sudden outburst of one who has long been silent. If we remain at the heart of the image under consideration, we have the impression that, by staying in the motionlessness of its shell, the creature is preparing temporal explosions, not to say whirlwinds, of being.” ~Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space"HIDING"
On a Scriptural Dimension: "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word” ~Psalm 119:114
By David Whyte
April 16, 2016
(Lifted from Facebook)
Hiding is a way of staying alive. Hiding is a way of holding ourselves until we are ready to come into the light. Even hiding the truth from ourselves can be a way to come to what we need in our own necessary time.
Hiding is one of the brilliant and virtuoso practices of almost every part of the natural world: the protective quiet of an icy northern landscape, the held bud of a future summer rose, the snow bound internal pulse of the hibernating bear.
Hiding is underestimated. We are hidden by life in our mother’s womb until we grow and ready ourselves for our first appearance in the lighted world; to appear too early in that world is to find ourselves with the immediate necessity for outside intensive care.
Hiding done properly is the internal faithful promise for a proper future emergence, as embryos, as children or even as emerging adults in retreat from the names that have caught us and imprisoned us, often in ways where we have been too easily seen and too easily named.
We live in a time of the dissected soul, the immediate disclosure; our thoughts, imaginings and longings exposed to the light too much, too early and too often, our best qualities squeezed too soon into a world already awash with too easily articulated ideas that oppress our sense of self and our sense of others.
What is real is almost always to begin with, hidden, and does not want to be understood by the part of our mind that mistakenly thinks it knows what is happening. What is precious inside us does not care to be known by the mind in ways that diminish its presence.
Hiding is an act of freedom from the misunderstanding of others, especially in the enclosing world of oppressive secret government and private entities, attempting to name us, to anticipate us, to leave us with no place to hide and grow in ways unmanaged by a creeping necessity for absolute naming, absolute tracking and absolute control.
Hiding is a bid for independence, from others, from mistaken ideas we have about our selves, from an oppressive and mistaken wish to keep us completely safe, completely ministered to, and therefore completely managed.
Hiding is creative, necessary and beautifully subversive of outside interference and control. Hiding leaves life to itself, to become more of itself. Hiding is the radical independence necessary for our emergence into the light of a proper human future.
...
‘HIDING’
From CONSOLATIONS: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words.
2015 © David Whyte
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LIFE LESSONS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME
Admin's Note: Raising kids is a no easy feat, if you take it that way instead of a calling. It takes a tough mother to survive by outsmarting their smart-aleck kids. But I admire mothers who can do it with firmness and gentleness, yet, no nonsense approach to doing their job. I admire them more if they possess a humorous tone to put their hard-shelled kids in place. I love it better if your child will give you the highest distinction of being "AS TOUGH AS A WARRIOR, BUT LOVING AS A LION" parental report. Boy! That stoked me to bits! My eldest would have something to look back when her own daughter will turn into a teenage sweet, still at a far off distance yet.
What did your mum teach you? Jacqui has written down some of the things she learnt from her mother in a comical recount …
1. My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that this will come out of the carpet.”
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
“Because I said so, that’s why.”
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
7. My mother taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that soup is all gone.”
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”
What did your mum teach you? Did she have sayings that have stuck with you throughout your life?
Admin's Response: Yes, she told me that "beautiful hands are the hands that work", a passage she learned from reading. Apparently, she detested young girls who were whimsicals in my time as a growing teen.
Source: Start at 60
By Jacqui Lee
April 14, 2017
STORY: BEAUTIFUL HANDS
A sequel to Admin's quote: Beautiful hands are the hands that work
I have read a legend about three fair maids who lived in a royal palace. One morning they were strolling in the gardens among the beautiful red roses and the trees loaded with luscious fruits. One of the maids raised the question as to which of them had the most beautiful hands.
Eleanor was gathering the fleshy ripe strawberries and her hands were stained with the crimson juice of her berries. She thought her hands the most beautiful. Antoinette thought hers were the most beautiful as the fragrance of the roses lingered on her hands. Joan seated beside the stream had dipped her hands in cool crystal waters. Looking at the clear sparkling drops on her dainty fingers, she thought her hands were the most beautiful.
A beggar happened to be passing by; seeing the maidens, she stopped and asked for alms. The royal maidens swished their flowing skirts and turned away from the beggar in ragged cloths. The beggar girl moved on with a forlorn face. In front of a nearby cottage sat an old woman with a sub-burned face and toil-stained hands. Filled with compassion on seeing the beggar girl, she gave her some bread.
The legend says that the beggar was immediately transformed into an angel and appeared at the garden gate, saying to the palace maids, the most beautiful hands are those which are found ready to bless and help their fellowmen.
Source: Beautiful Hands as told by Garry … from Turnback To God website
"Beautiful hands are those that do
Work in earnest and brave and true
Moment to Moment
All day through”
~APJ Abdul Kalam and Arun K. Tiwari
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ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTE
March - April 2020
I've personally known Rado Gatchalian, the author. He's a prolific writer, poet, leader, educator, and relentless advocator for love of our country of birth, the Philippines. His time is consumed in reading, writing poetry, an unhesitant penman of philosophic morale as such, and a person with unquestionable esprit de corps. His mindset in patriotism is aligned to that of our great national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. As a citizen of Australia, he too is loyal to this country that embraces us. A country that gives us a fair go. A country that freely gives us a platform to express our ideas, thoughts, views and opinions about our concerns for this great country.
Australia in all its entirety had been for months endured the longest summer burn-out from bushfires that ran the country aground, exacerbated by unending drought. Many have lost their homes and properties, with death toll to contain, and billions of wildlife lost to uncontrollable conflagration set by nature and some on purpose by human insanity. This too had left a negative impact on the economy, not to mention the health of the people.
And as if it wasn't enough, NOW THIS! It is maybe geographically far from the clustered and crowded continents in the world, as it stands alone down the slope of Southern Hemisphere , it too has been lately plagued with the recent controversial corona virus strain whose word spreads throughout the entire globe like wildfire.
With deaths here and there and a host of thousand suspects (I guess in this polluted earth nobody is actually immune from it being great social animals), UN-WHO declared CV aka covid19 pandemic (which incidentally is so closed to pandemonic). It's quite spread out, one that would never be palatable.
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." ~Anon
The WORLD is run in fears. A warfare of its own. The military are working in full force, this time with doctors, nurses, government in the front lines. The enemy? It's one powerful and INVISIBLE one! The virus!
I get to live to witness this era of the fulfilment of the prophetic times unfolding before our human eyes. The era of confusion and misinformation. An era where untruth is the order of the day, and human extinction is still carried out as part of the agenda of the emerging New World Order. The system which is certainly not governed by the Supreme Being, the Great Creator.
Interestingly, a Hollywood Actor turned the 40th President of the United States, the Late Ex-President Ronald Wilson Reagan had these to say, and I quote:
"Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders." ~Ronald Reagan (b. 1911), U.S. Republican politician, president. Guardian (London, June 14, 1989).
"Let us be aware that while they preach the supremacy of the state, declare its omnipotence over individual man, and predict its eventual domination of all peoples of the earth—they are the focus of evil in the modern world." ~Ronald Reagan (b. 1911), U.S. Republican politician, president. Statement, March 8, 1983. quoted in "Focus of Evil," Reagan's Reign of Error, eds. Mark Green and Gail MacColl (1987).
Below is Rado Gatchalian's Letter To The World!!
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Rado Gatchalian writes:
My friends and fellow citizens of the world — May we find time to read this and examine our values as part of what we call “Humanity.”
The letter is for all of us. It’s free to share.
'Let us not lose our Humanity. We can prevail and overcome this disease if we will care for each other. This is the only way. There is no other way. Our survival as species is in our hands. In our caring hands." ~RG
A LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH
(WE ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN A DEADLY VIRUS)
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE WORLD,
It was told that terrible events in our lives bring out the best in us. But it also brings out the worst in us.
When there is a calamity — it gives us opportunity to show compassion to people. We gather as one to support and care for each other. We comfort the poor. We embrace people who are in need.
But mundane as we are, there are people who belong to our species that show the innermost character of who we are: EVIL.
We become irrational. More so, we become naive to what is right. We lose our sense of humanity. All of a sudden we lose the sight of our moral lens. We become merciless.
When people become selfish and greedy — just for plain toilet papers: that we lose our sense of respect to elders, to people who are in need, to others — it shows the saddest fate of our future.
Join me for a few minutes to think about what’s happening. It sounds funny and ridiculous that people will be careless just for a toilet paper BUT on a deeper thought — this is a serious matter for all of us to contemplate.
Imagine tomorrow will be a disastrous moment for all of us — when there will be a scarcity of food and basic supplies. Imagine a World War 3 is about to unfold...
What kind of people are we going to exercise?
People might “kill” each other just for basic things like food (or toilet papers for that matter). People will think for themselves first than others.
We have lost our sense of Compassion.
Looking at what’s happening now: this could be the fate of our future, our humanity.
With this pandemic corona virus crisis — we become so irrational. We panic. We lose Logic. We lose COMMON SENSE.
If you are not feeling well and you have a flu: do the the right thing. Go to the doctor. Do not spread the virus.
This virus has reminded everyone to be hygienic like regularly washing our hands and covering our mouth when we cough and sneeze. BUT this is BASIC. We should have been doing this ever since. We don’t need corona virus for us to know that we should do this.
Perhaps, this is one “good side” of this corona. It reminded us to be clean and considerate of others.
Let us follow the guidelines and instructions given by the authorities. Let us support and help instead of causing further problems.
Listen to the experts, scientists, and doctors. Be cautious of what we read. Other than virus — we need to be mindful of another worse “virus” — FAKE NEWS. This INFODEMIC caused this pandemic!
We shall also exercise our own personal decision. If you think it is better to avoid the crowd, then, do it because you think you are doing the right thing. We shall remember to think for ourselves as well.
Now that we have come to this unfortunate events of our lives: it is the perfect time to reconsider our values and priorities. It is the perfect time to examine ourselves as part of this world.
We are bigger than the virus. Humanity is more powerful than any disease. Compassion is stronger than all fears.
Let us not lose our Humanity. We can prevail and overcome this disease if we will care for each other. This is the only way. There is no other way.
Our survival as species is in our hands. In our caring hands.
Let us prove to the word that there is a good reason to save our Humanity. We are better than who we are. Let us evolve positively. Let us not regress back like stupid species. We are a higher animal equipped with reason. But we are also a species with a soul, with a loving heart.
Let us choose the right path.
To end, I really want to share these lines from the play “Antigone” written by Greek Sophocles in or before 441 BCE. It has been written thousand years ago — but a good reminder of who we are as a “People.” It is long but I pray you will have time to read and reflect.
“Many the wonders but nothing walks stranger than man.
The thing crosses the sea in the winter’s storm,
Making his path through the roaring waves,
And she, the greatest of gods, the Earth —
Ageless she is and unwearied — he wears her away
As the ploughs go up and down from year to year
And his mules turn up the soil.
Gay nations of birds he snares and leads,
Wild beast tribes and the salty brood of the sea
With the twisted mesh of his nets, this clever man.
He controls with his craft the beasts of the open air,
Walkers on hills. The horse with his shaggy mane
He holds and harnesses, yoked about the neck.
And the strong bull of the mountain.
Language, and thought like the wind
And the feelings that make the town
He has taught himself, and shelter against the cold,
Refuge from rain. He can always help himself.
He faces no future helpless. There’s only death
That he cannot find an escape from.”
I believe there is still hope for our Humanity. I am a dreamer, will always be.
Sincerely,
Rado Gatchalian
(March 24, 2020)
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The world is in a standstill. An unseen hand has pushed the PAUSE button.
Hello!!! Is anybody HOME? ~LCD, Adm.
AN INVISIBLE CAME AND PUT EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
I don't know if you agree, but something invisible came and put everything in its place.
Suddenly the gasoline went down, pollution went down, people started to have more time - so much time that they do not know what to do with it - parents are spending time with their kids as a family, work is no longer a priority, or traveling or social life either.
Suddenly we silently see within ourselves and understand the value of the words "solidarity", "love", "strength", "empathy" and "faith".
In an instant we realized that we are all in the same boat; rich and poor. That the supermarket shelves are empty and the hospitals are full.
New cars and old cars also stand in the garages, simply because nobody can get out.
Empty streets, less pollution, clean air, the land also breathes.
The human returns to his origins, realizing that with or without money, the important thing is to survive.
Today, health is the main thing, even in spite of wanting to have or possessing.
It took 6 days for the universe to establish the social equality that was said to be impossible.
Fear invaded everyone.
At least this happened to realize the vulnerability of the human being.
Nature is forcing us to clean up the mess made by ourselves.
Our overthrown gods:
-Money
-Sports
-Fame
-Politics
What the coronavirus is teaching us:
-Our best protection: GOD
-Our best refuge: HOME
- Our best company: FAMILY
- Our real time: TODAY
- Nature's call: STOP US
- Its message: WAIT, RESPECT
We are not kings, we do not have the power of controlling everything.
We are part of a whole, fragile, brittle and vulnerable something.
Part of a whole something that we wanted to dominate and today is telling us:
Stop, breathe, respect.
Go back to the basics, to the essentials, that the peace of your soul guide you towards what you are:a CREATION.
… indeed this is the reflection that we must have TODAY!!!
Source: Saida Lapasaran/FB, March 28, 2020
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BEST SERMON
By Gregg Braden
February 12, 2013
The best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.'
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
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AN OPEN LETTER TO AUSTRALIANS WHO WERE HIT BY BUSHFIRES
Oftentimes it is in retrospect that we see and find the blessings in our lives. ~Kathy Mursch
To my friends in Australia,
There are many things I wish I had known when the largest fire in Texas history swept across our property. The aftermath was almost too much to bear. The devastation. The ashes. The darkness. It all seemed so cruel.
The fires in our lives don’t come at convenient times. I first learned about it when I was at the airport coming home from my father’s funeral. My husband was in the hospital fighting for his life. I didn’t have time to deal with this too, and yet here it was.
From one fire survivor to another here is what I wish I had known.
HOPE. You will find it in the first seedling that sprouts. And it WILL sprout.
Mother Earth is currently rejuvenating, even though you may not see it. There WILL be growth, and greenery, and trees, and plants, and animals. They WILL come back. Our fire occurred in September. The picture (sic)posted here was taken in July. I despaired that I would never see another beautiful Loblolly pine. It took a full ten months but it happened. Mother Earth was at work, even though I could not see it.
LOVE. It is found in those who come to help. It is found in your family and friends.
To me the most beautiful part of the aftermath of the fire was the love I received from complete strangers. Our community came together as never before. People wanted to help. They wanted to share. They wanted to be there for all the fire survivors. Much of our small community was destroyed, but the love was bigger than ever before.
Because my husband was in the hospital, neighbors whose losses were much greater than mine rallied around to help me. I felt so blessed.
FAITH. This may be the hardest thing right now.
For me, my world was changing rapidly. Some neighbors were moving on. Some were rebuilding. Life was never going to be the same.
Oftentimes it is in retrospect that we see and find the blessings in our lives. Right now there are blessings, but you may not see them until later. That is perfectly okay.
Eight years after the fire life IS different. My husband passed away after an 18 month battle with cancer. I moved from the area three years ago. I published a book. My business is thriving. I recently met and married another wonderful man. Life is different, but it is full and beautiful.
As I write this, tears are springing to my eyes. Living through the fire was such a difficult time in my life, yet there were so many beautiful things that happened after it. I want you to have FAITH that you WILL be okay. That you WILL move on. Life will look different, but it WILL be GOOD.
I am sending you so much love.
Kathy
Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13
Source: Kathy Mursch, Writer/Author
From the Shared Post of Mr. Paul Boynton, author of Begin with Yes/FB
January 29, 2020
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THE ARTIST AND THE WRITER
By George Daniel Anos
A Tribute to the Artist: Sheryll Umagtang
Last February I posted this on Instagram: “(Friends, wish me luck as I begin the tender steps, filled with trepidation, on a new endeavor I am about to pursue. I look forward to really putting my all to this, try to get it mind-blowingly Liiiiit.😎 Prayers are much appreciated. 😊)” This words accompanied a photo art of people watching fireworks light the sky. The very first person who commented and wished me well was Sheryll. And little did she know she played and will play a huge part in this.
A former classmate of mine in Olongapo City Science HS, we lost contact for a long time before reconnecting on Facebook. We weren’t particularly close back then, and she was, as I remember, an introvert person who spoke a few words and wasn’t an active participant to any mayhem whatsoever. When she became my socmed friend, I was filled with wonder how her life turned out because she was in the fascinating phase of her travels.
I saw her pictures going from one country to another as she recounted her immersion into the local culture and the moments of walking the trails on her own. She was with the Alpacas in Isla del Sol, Bolivia, where the first Incas were born. The breathtaking photos of Cañon del Sumidero’s towering 900-meter walls, with one crocodile basking on a riverbank to boot, were awesome. She took the long and challenging trek to get to the ancient ruins of Ciudad Perdida, braving through rivers, forests, muddy trails, steep hills, and a daunting 1200 plus stone steps, just so she can strike the perfect meditative, albeit smiling, pose. Captioned, “the seat of the Shaman,” I must say that amongst the rocks and moss, she really rocked it.
In Thailand, she drank in the magnificent vista of the forest, the sheer cliffs, and the rolling vastness of a green horizon atop Wat Phu Tok’s wooden staircase to heaven, smiling and sitting as if in a lounge even as under her lies a precipitous drop.
In Kyoto’s imperial palace, she stood as a radiant backdrop amidst the tranquil grounds of the OikeNiwa garden. These are just a few of the places she’s been as she went out and took a shot in seeing the world.
But the most captivating of her experiences, at least for me, that filled me with gladness for her, is the place she still highlights in her current cover photo: the pilgrimage to Machu Pichu. “The” Machu Pichu. She looked giddy and exhilarated. Her smile was ear to ear as behind her sprawls the most famous of all archeological wonders, a mecca to many tourists from all over the world. Damn, she’s a lucky one, I thought!
But her traveling photos aren’t the only thing that stood out. It began with a spattering of her art works, where every once in a while she would post her drawings. The style is called pointillism or dot art. The form is only for those who are extremely patient and talented, as it entails hours and hours of work jotting down the most excruciating of details to create a picture. I was enthralled!
A few years passed and the day came when I made a fateful decision: I will no longer delay a dream. It was time. And many of you already know what that is, when I finally brought “You Bleed” to life. When I sought out her help for some of the artworks I needed, she was accommodating and enthused, expressed her belief in me. We exchanged stories while communicating in messenger and it was revealing in many ways. I was baffled at first with the connection between her being a chemical engineer and traveling all sorts of places, I was thinking she was being sent to represent the company. Then she told me it wasn’t so and she merely decided to end her corporate career in a big company, used her savings, and then packed the hell up. She was in the point of burning out and other personal reasons and finally decided to have a go and took off from the familiar firm footing she knew for a long time, took a plunge head straight towards the precipice, with full unyielding faith that it will turn out ok and a cheery resolve that said: “BUT FIRST, I’ll see the Old Mountain and feel the wind on my face up there!”
That is actually the main reason I am writing this tribute. Her help is a crucial element in this pursuit, of course, but her example is something I am utterly, unabashedly, in awe of. She helped bring me to the realization that sometimes we can overcome the many things that hold us back, like say, dread at the cost it takes or pressure from external expectations, IF WE BUT FOLLOW OUR FUCKING HEARTS. That we fail to envision whatever potential gains of happiness and satisfaction we may have someday because it’s always about the loss. Always the fucking loss!
And when I finally saw her in person again after 25 long years, I saw serenity there, a deep sense of peace and contentment, a tempered sense of pride from her achievements that emanates from deep within. In fact, I was the one who’s being all hyper, even took the mic to sing a slow acoustic rendition of Despacito inside the artsy and artistic tableau of Exhibit C which she gamely took a video of. And when time we discussed in full details how I wanted the cover of #DosCientos to be, her weigh-ins were astounding, truly an artistic soul who can see what can make something more stunning.
The encounter definitely wouldn’t be the last, as we will still run through a few more things to bring about artwork for my Alma Mater worthy of her 200th birthday. And these I look forward to.
I would like to leave this poem by Jonathan Lockwood Huie, whose full breadth and depth you Sheryll reminds me of. And may its profound message continue to ring true not only for me and you but for every single one of us, the dreamers and round pegs in wooden holes-- who believe that there is more to life out there than the confines society mentally conditioned us to believe exist.
"May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity.
May your heart sing sweet lullabies of timelessness.
May your spirit soar throughout the vast cathedral of your being..."
Desde el fondo de este corazón harapiento y cansado, yo y mi Alma Mater le damos las gracias a mi querida compañera de clase Sheryll.
Mi mas profundo agradecimiento!
Los mejores pensamientos!
Source: FB/ September 8, 2019
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THE LAST WISHES OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Sober thoughts about our life. ~Nene Que
On his death bed, Alexander summoned his army generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin.
2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery.
3. His hands should be let loose, so they hang outside the coffin for all to see.
One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain. Here is what Alexander the Great had to say:
1. 'I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal.'
2. 'I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, will stay on earth.'
3. 'I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty-handed and we leave this world empty-handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is: TIME.'
We do not take to our grave any material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.
When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back. Our time is our life!
The best present that you can give to your family and friends is your TIME.
Source:FB/Nene Que
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REPOST FROM A BLOGGER's NARRATIVE OF FIRE EVENTUATED IN MALLACOOTA, VICTORIA, January 3, 2020
Bushfires have been burning across Australia. ~Starts at 60 quote per viewing the photos of Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
"From the perspective of Bible prophecy, these fires offer a glimpse into the future. The Bible has long warned nations descended from ancient Israel—which includes Australia—that if they turn away from God, He will curse them with a lack of rain, drought, and associated problems (see Leviticus 26:14–20, 31–32; Hosea 8:14). While God has blessed the Israelite nations abundantly, the continuation of those blessings comes with a responsibility to obey the laws of God. When nations fail in that responsibility, there will be consequences." ~AUSTRALIA IS ON FIRE!, Tomorrow's World, 06th January 2020 (Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters? is an update of our classic booklet Who Controls the Weather? By Gerald Weston)
WHEN FIRE RAVAGED OUR COUNTRY, IT BEGAN THE PLIGHT OF MAN
The day war came to Australia
Was when it all began
When fire ravaged our country
It began the plight of man.
Our leaders all forgot to lead
And people left alone
On Mallacoota beach they swarmed
To escape the fires scorn.
And Firies? They became the heroes
Of Australia’s war
They worked until they couldn’t stand
With hoses, bits and more.
They had to buy a mask to escape
The fumes and ashes shed
And no other bastard would ever go
It made our leaders scared.
The navy it was finally brought
To save those left alone
And people they just tried to survive
Without water, food or home.
But those brave Firies kept at it
Without pay, or thanks or hope
When every other place was lost
They kept on with their hose.
Cobargo, Bermaguie and Batemans Bay
Wollondilly, I’ve just lost count
The fires even met up with
Victoria, no doubt.
And those to the north who lost their home?
Koalas and Kangaroos bare
Half a million animals
Lost their lives just where,
No others would go to save them, no
They had no hope in hell.
Some couldn’t even find their bones
The fire was straight from hell.
And many people lost their lives
As families live to say
Of how they braved the fire’s scorn
And died on that sad day.
The war it came to Australia
Is one history will never forget.
It changed the world, the atmosphere
With climate change and yet
We will live on, just differently
It may not be the same.
You see we’ll all become hermits now
Stuck inside our home.
And Firies, we’ll always remember them
On that fateful day
When war came to Australia
And fire became man’s prey.
Source: Blogger: Guest Contributor, January 8, 2020/Starts at 60/FB
Wikipedia: Mallacoota
Town in Australia
Mallacoota is a small town in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. At the 2016 census, Mallacoota had a population of 1,063. At holiday times, particularly Easter and Christmas, the population increases by about 8,000. It is the last official township on Victoria's east coast before the border with New South Wales. Mallacoota has a regional airport YMCO consisting of a gravel runway for light planes and an asphalt runway for commercial planes flying from Melbourne.
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I'M DOING MY PART!!!
Charity starts at home!The poem that's gone viral after NSW farmer Joanna Collett posted it on the Prime Minister's facebook page:
G’day Mr Morrison, I trust that you are fine,
Sorry to be bothering you, but there’s something on my mind
I listened to a bloke last week; he had a bit to say
You lot may have heard of him? He delivers all that hay?
He spoke of countless hours and the distances they drive
Feeding starving stock, to keep bush hopes alive
They do not get assistance from your tax funded hat
They do it on their own, all off their own bat
I’m not politically minded and I don’t have any clout
And I know you’ve done a tour, to learn about the drought
But there’s just some burning questions, that have left us feeling beat
Why did we fund a foreign land, to learn to cut up meat?
And what about those soccer boys, who went and got all lost
You pulled out all the bloody stops, plain just showing off
You’ve bigger problems here at home, there’s drought up to our necks
So what does your mob go and do? Give them big fat cheques!
Don’t they have a government to deal with all this stuff?
Why should it be up to us, what’s with all your fuss?
Should we not be reigning in and look after our own
Have you never heard the phrase “charity starts at home”?
I realise there’s many things, that need an allocation
And I also can appreciate, complex trade relations
I’m not sure if you realise, but if our stock all die,
There won’t be any trade you see, your deals will all run dry
As a rule we’re not a whinging lot, our requests are but a few
Most of us who work the land, are tested, tried and true
We respect that we are guardians, and sustain it for the kids
But I often have to wonder, what future will it bring?
I guess all that I’m wondering, is “where’s the Aussie aid”?
Wrapped up in a swag of tape, only then to be repaid!
There’s Aussie blokes and chicks out there, putting you to shame
Helping fellow Australians, in their time of pain
I’m just a simple farmer, grazier, wife and mum
And even though we’re feeding stock, we’re better off than some
I’ve never had to shoot a cow, who could no longer stand
But many have before me, and I pray, I’m not dealt that hand
So will you take another look; admit that we’re in strife?
And do more than bloody empathise, before another farmer takes their life?
I’d like to think you’ll do what’s right and put Australia first
And help your own damn country, before this drought gets any worse.
Joanna Collett
Wee Waa NSW
If you would like to spread this message wider, please copy it and share it. Don't let those who are doing it tough in rural areas just get forgotten in the news cycle.
Charity starts at home!
Source: FB/Lee Tate
19-20 September 2019
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YOU!!!"
“Here's the thing about people with good hearts:
They give you excuses when you don't explain yourself.
They accept the apologies you don't give.
They see the best in you.
They always lift you up, even if that means putting their own priorities aside.
They will never be too "busy" for you.
They make time, even when you don't.
And you wonder why they're the most sensitive people, the most caring people, why they are willing to give so much of themselves with no expectation in return.
You wonder why their existence is not so essential to your well-being.
It's because they don't make you work hard for the attention they give you.
They accept the love they think they deserve- and you accepted the love you think you're entitled to.
Don't take them for granted.
Fear the day when a good heart gives up on you. Our skies don't become grey out of nowhere, our sunshine does not allow the darkness to take over for no reason.
A heart does turn cold unless it's been treated with coldness for a while.”
~Najwa Zebian
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THE BENEFITS OF A HUG
Embrace, embrace with your heart.The average length of a hug between two people is 3 seconds. But the researchers have discovered something fantastic. When a hug lasts 20 seconds, there is a therapeutic effect on the body and mind. The reason is that a sincere embrace produces a hormone called "oxytocin", also known as the love hormone. This substance has many benefits in our physical and mental health, helps us, among other things, to relax, to feel safe and calm our fears and anxiety. This wonderful tranquilizer is offered free of charge every time we have a person in our arms, who cradled a child, who cherish a dog or a cat, that we are dancing with our partner, the closer we get to someone or simply hold the Shoulders of a friend.
A famous quote by psychotherapist Virginia Satir goes, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”
Whether those exact numbers have been scientifically proven remains to be seen, but there is a great deal of scientific evidence related to the importance of hugs and physical contact. Here are some reasons why we should hug::
1. STIMULATES OXYTOCIN
Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that acts on the limbic system, the brain’s emotional centre, promoting feelings of contentment, reducing anxiety and stress, and even making mammals monogamous. It is the hormone responsible for us all being here today. You see this little gem is released during childbirth, making our mothers forget about all of the excruciating pain they endured expelling us from their bodies and making them want to still love and spend time with us. New research from the University of California suggests that it has a similarly civilising effect on human males, making them more affectionate and better at forming relationships and social bonding. And it dramatically increased the libido and sexual performance of test subjects. When we hug someone, oxytocin is released into our bodies by our pituitary gland, lowering both our heart rates and our cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
2. CULTIVATES PATIENCE
Connections are fostered when people take the time to appreciate and acknowledge one another. A hug is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation and acknowledgement of another person. The world is a busy, hustle-bustle place and we’re constantly rushing to the next task. By slowing down and taking a moment to offer sincere hugs throughout the day, we’re benefiting ourselves, others, and cultivating better patience within ourselves.
3. PREVENTS DISEASE
Affection also has a direct response on the reduction of stress which prevents many diseases. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine says it has carried out more than 100 studies into touch and found evidence of significant effects, including faster growth in premature babies, reduced pain, decreased autoimmune disease symptoms, lowered glucose levels in children with diabetes, and improved immune systems in people with cancer.
4. STIMULATES THYMUS GLAND
Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.
5. COMMUNICATION WITHOUT SAYING A WORD
Almost 70 percent of communication is nonverbal. The interpretation of body language can be based on a single gesture and hugging is an excellent method of expressing yourself nonverbally to another human being or animal. Not only can they feel the love and care in your embrace, but they can actually be receptive enough to pay it forward to others based on your initiative alone.
6. SELF-ESTEEM
Hugging boosts self-esteem, especially in children. The tactile sense is all-important in infants. A baby recognizes its parents initially by touch. From the time we’re born our family’s touch shows us that we’re loved and special. The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.
7. STIMULATES DOPAMINE
Everything everyone does involves protecting and triggering dopamine flow. Low dopamine levels play a role in the neurodegenerative disease Parkinson’s as well as mood disorders such as depression. Dopamine is responsible for giving us that feel-good feeling, and it’s also responsible for motivation! Hugs stimulate brains to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. Dopamine sensors are the areas that many stimulating drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine target. The presence of a certain kinds of dopamine receptors are also associated with sensation-seeking.
8. STIMULATES SEROTONIN
Reaching out and hugging releases endorphins and serotonin into the blood vessels and the released endorphins and serotonin cause pleasure and negate pain and sadness and decrease the chances of getting heart problems, helps fight excess weight and prolongs life. Even the cuddling of pets has a soothing effect that reduces the stress levels. Hugging for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.
9. PARASYMPATHETIC BALANCE
Hugs balance out the nervous system. The skin contains a network of tiny, egg-shaped pressure centres called Pacinian corpuscles that can sense touch and which are in contact with the brain through the vagus nerve. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system – parasympathetic.
Source: Sacred Dreams
15 April 2018
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FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS
Once upon a time all Feelings and Emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was to have a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advise to evacuate the island.
The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.
Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realized it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, 'Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?'
'No', replied Prosperity, 'my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.'
A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, 'Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a life. Please take me with you.'
Vanity responded haughtily, 'No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.'
Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. 'No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.'
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.
Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, 'Come Love, I will take you with me.' Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.
On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled Love inquired, 'Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?'
Knowledge smiled, 'Oh, that was Time.'
'And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?' Love wondered.
Knowledge smiled with deep Wisdom and replied, 'Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring Peace and great Happiness in this world.
~~~~
The important message of this Sufi story is that when we feel important, we forget Love. Even in Happiness and Sorrow we forget Love. Only with Time do we realize the importance of Love. So, why wait that long? Why not make Love a part of our life today?
Source: FB/via Nnie Que
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7 HABITS 0F INCREDIBLY SMART PEOPLE
…Incredibly smart people see any obtained knowledge merely as a bridge to learning even more. They know the learning process is a never-ending journey to be enjoyed over a lifetime.…
1. Focus less on yourself and more on the people around you.
Many people go through life thinking mostly about themselves. Sure, there are truly altruistic people, but most are relatively self-centered.
Incredibly smart people understand that it's the people around you that generate support and opportunities, provided you show them your capacity to make it about them.
In any given situation, listen first and consider how you can improve the lives of those in your purview. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the positive force you create for your own objectives.
2. Consider yourself the least informed in the room.
When you walk into the room thinking you are the smartest, your mind is closed to infinite possibilities. Incredibly smart people love to position themselves as ignorant. That way they are open to the learning adventure ahead.
If you start by thinking that you don't have the right answers, in the best case you'll gain the truth and in the worst case you'll verify your accuracy.
3. Always be questioning.
Many people think they can show their smartness by providing answers all the time. Incredibly smart people know that people can truly assess your intelligence by the questions you ask. The trick is to make sure the questions you ask are truly inquisitive, looking for new answers — not just a ploy to make a statement or get your point across.
4. Look for something new every day.
It's easy to stagnate and get into a rut thinking you have seen it all before. Incredibly smart people know that the world is way too large and too complex to master in a single lifetime. Just the act of looking for one new thing to learn each day will increase your sensitivity to all that you never before considered.
5. Concentrate on the knowledge you lack instead of the knowledge you have.
It's fascinating how seemingly learned people can appear so dense at times. They like to make people think they are smart by readily quoting facts and figures or pontificating over a given subject. But often they lack the nuance that means the difference between competence and brilliance.
Incredibly smart people see any obtained knowledge merely as a bridge to learning even more. They know the learning process is a never-ending journey to be enjoyed over a lifetime. Congratulate yourself briefly on each step in the journey, then bear down and learn more.
6. Explore the origin of everything.
Everything, no matter how simple, has a most wondrous story. Incredibly smart people find fascination in the most mundane of items and industries. Explore the world with open eyes and you'll gain incredibly useful knowledge from the most surprising places.
7. Hang out with the smartest people you can comprehend.
For many, it's wonderfully ego-satisfying to be the smartest person in the room. Incredibly smart people prefer to be in the company of those who can share powerful insights. Find people who challenge you and stretch your thinking. The joy of learning far outweighs the praise of being right.
Source: Business Insider/FB/via George Daniel Anos
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LAKOTA CODE OF ETHICS:
1. Get up with the sun to pray. Pray alone.
2. Be tolerant of those who have lost their way. Ignorance, presumption, anger, jealousy and greed come from a lost soul. Pray for them to find guidance.
3. Find yourself, by your own means. Do not let others make your path for you. It is your path, and only yours. Others may walk with you, but no one can make your way (or walk your path) for you.
4. Treat guests in your home with great consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours, whether from a person, a community, from the jungle or from a culture. It was not given or won. It is not yours.
6. Respect all the things that are on this earth, be they people, plants and animals.
7. Honor the thoughts, desires and words of all people. Never break them in, or make fun of them, or imitate them rudely. It gives each person the right to their personal expression.
8. Never talk about others in a bad way. The negative energy you put into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
9. All people make mistakes. And all the mistakes can be forgiven.
10. Bad thoughts cause illness to the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us. It is PART of us. She's part of your family in the world.
12. Children are the seeds of our future. Sow love in your hearts and water them with wisdom and life lessons. When they grow up, just give them space to grow up.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of their suffering will return to you.
14. Be true (transparent ) all the time. Honesty is the test of one's will in this universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental person, your Spiritual person, your Emotional person, and your Physical person: they all have the need to be strong, pure and healthy.
Source: Native American Wisdom and Beauty Page
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15 SIMPLE TRAITS OF A TRULY GOOD PERSON
By Kyle Robbins
Being a good person is not hard, but it doesn’t just happen. As much as anything else, you have to want to be a good person and make choices that correspond with your beliefs. No matter where you are in your life, you can make the choice to change. Here are 15 simple traits of a truly good person.
1. They are honest in relationships.
Relationships can put an amazing amount of stress and stain on a person, especially when things are going wrong. A nice person may try to stay in a relationship for too long, attempting to force something that isn’t there. But a truly good person will be honest in their relationship and move it forward when things are going well and end it when the time comes. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to live up to your lofty potential when your relationship is dragging you down. Be honest about how you feel and stay loyal when you’ve committed.
2. They compliment others when deserved.
Good people understand that others need praise. Complimenting is not only a good thing to do, but a sign that you can be excited for other people’s triumphs. A truly good person will compliment when deserved and offer constructive criticism when warranted.
3. They call their parents regularly.
It’s simple, but being respectful and grateful for your parents is a truly great thing. It’s easy to get to busy and let life get in your way, but truly good people find time to make sure they check in with mom and dad regularly.
4. They are polite.
Good people are polite. They show respect and mind their manners. It’s not to be a showoff or to seem better; they just truly respect individuals and want to treat them how they want to be treated. You don’t have to be formal or walk on eggshells to be polite. It’s more a function of ensuring you act in a way that is fitting for your present location.
5. They are kind to everyone.
A good person doesn’t have to like everyone, but they are at least kind. They look at people for the person they can be and can look past the present to see the person’s positives.
6. They are generous with their belongings.
While you don’t physically have to give the shirt off your back, a truly good person is be willing to be generous. A good person understands that the things we collect and the money we accumulate are not worth anything without people to share it with. You don’t have to be a bleeding heart, giving away your life fortune; rather, be open and generous to those less fortunate in a time of need.
7. They remember their manners.
Whether it’s waiting until everyone has their food to eat or opening the door when others walk through, proper manners are definitely not out of style. Truly good people understand the importance of their actions and always remember their manners.
8. They think of others.
It’s easy to be selfish and do what’s best for yourself. Yet, truly good people consider others in their decisions. They understand that what’s good for them may not always be the best for others. They don’t have to cater exclusively to others; rather, they understand and take into consideration how their actions will affect others and are comfortable with the decision to move forward.
9. They go the extra mile.
A truly good person makes sure the task gets done and always goes the extra mile. Whether it’s staying to help clean up after an event or spending their own time ensuring things get done properly, a good person understands the importance of finishing what they start.
10. They are kind to loved ones.
Sometimes you can be great to others but treat the ones who love you the most the worst. A truly good person doesn’t take out their problems on their loved ones and is as pleasant at home as in the public eye.
11. They smile.
A smile can light up a room, and truly good people smile often—not just when things are going well.
12. They make the best out of every situation.
In every situation, there are positives and negatives. A truly good person will find and focus the positives. That’s not to say they don’t take the negatives; rather, they find ways to improve and become better because of the bad things.
13. They make friends easily.
A truly good person is one who people want to be around. People are drawn to them. By being positive and finding the best in others, they can make and keep friends easily.
14. They don’t take things for granted.
Being a truly good person is an ongoing pursuit. They understand that what they’ve done in the past doesn’t ensure results in the future.
15. They are consistent.
A first impression is a lasting impression. By being consistent in what they do, a truly good person will ensure they always put their best foot forward and treat every person and situation the same.
Being a good person isn’t hard, but it does take a consistent approach. By using the traits above, you too can be a truly good person.
Source: Life Hack/Communication
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KNOW YOUR WORTH
Don't stay in a place that doesn't suit you.
A father, before he died, said to his son: “This is the watch your grandfather gave me and this is more than 200 years old. Before I give it to you, go to the watch shop on First street, and tell him I want to sell it, and ask how much they'd offer”.
The son went and after several minutes, he came back to his father and said, "The watchmaker offered to pay $5 because it's old and has a lot of scratches.” He then asked him to go to the coffee shop.
The son went and after an hour or so, he came back and said: “The coffee shop owner offered $5, father.”
“Go to the museum and show them that watch”. He went ahead and then came back happily. “ They offered me a million dollars for this piece.”
The father said: “I wanted to let you know that the right place values you in the right way. Don't put yourself in the wrong place and get angry if you get treated like trash. Those who know your value are the ones who appreciate you, don't ever stay in a place that doesn't suit you."
Know your worth.
Source: FB
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HERE IS A COMMENT FROM A PSYCHOLOGIST REGARDING THE STATE OF THE PHILIPPINES
The difference between the poor and rich nations is not the age of the Nation.This can be demonstrated by countries like India and Egypt, which are more than 2000 years old and are still poor countries.
On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which 150 years back were insignificant, today are developed and rich countries.
The difference between the poor and rich nation does not also depend on the available natural resources.
Japan has limited territory, 80% mountainous, unsuitable for agriculture or farming, but is the second in worlds economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw material from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.
Second example is Switzerland, it does not grow cocoa but produces the best chocolates in the world. In her small territory she rears animals and cultivates the land only for four month in a year, nevertheless manufactures the best milk products. A small country which is an image of security which has made it the strongest world bank.
Executives from rich countries who interact with their counterparts from poor countries show no significant intellectual differences.
The racial or colour factors also do not evince importance: migrants heavy in laziness in their country of origin are forcefully productive in rich European countries.
WHAT THEN IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The difference is the attitude of the people, moulded for many years by education and culture.
When we analyse the conduct of the people from the rich and developed countries, it is observed that a majority abide by the following principles of life:
1. Ethics, as basic principles.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. The respect for Laws and Regulations.
5. The respect from majority of citizens by right.
6. The love for work.
7. The effort to save and invest.
8. The will to be productive.
9. Punctuality.
In the poor countries a small minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.
We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel towards us.
We are poor because we lack attitude. We lack the will to follow and teach these principles of working of rich and developed societies.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE SEE SOMETHING DONE WRONG AND SAY - “LET IT BE”
WE SHOULD HAVE A SPIRITED MEMORY AND ATTITUDE…
ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR PRESENT STATE.
If you love your COUNTRY take time to REFLECT on this.
Future consists of time and secrets. It is the greatest mystery of all. The fear of the unknown is a precaution; not cowardice. It evokes faith, drives prudence and instills sedulity. The orderliness of attitude depends on it. ~Valentine Oduenyi
Source: FB/Edward Soliangco
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400 Years Ago A Samurai Wrote 20 Pieces Of Timeless Wisdom That Are Still Applicable Today
It might be a lot of insight to embrace all at once. Don’t rush. Reflect on each and let these words guide you.Musashi Miyamoto also known as Bennosuke Miyamoto was one of the greatest Japanese swordsmen who graced the 17th century. He was an expert Japanese swordsman and ronin who served no master and held the record for the highest number of undefeated duels, sixty to be precise.
The Inagaki directed Samurai Trilogy starring Toshiro Mifune is based on his life.
Shortly before dying, the samurai wrote a book, The Way of Walking Alone, where he encapsulated his life philosophy and his ideals when it came to living a healthy life.
Confucian and Taoist in its essence, the book is still studied today.
We have listed 20 of the most relevant pieces from the book which are so essential that their truth still holds true today:
1. Learn to accept life as it comes
If you keep worrying about the distant future you will just succumb to more and more stress, despair and anxiety. So for the sake of your mental health, try to take life as it comes, one day at a time.
Accepting life as it unfolds will help you cope better with the daily struggles for survival.
2. Abandon obsessive pursuits for pleasure
Pleasure is best enjoyed when it arrives serendipitous. If you keep looking for it obsessively, you will invariably lose out on the joy of being happy.
With our times where every worldly pleasure is shallow, momentary and more unfulfilling, it only makes sense to not look for them. The best things in life arrive unexpected, no matter how small they are, like the chirp of a bird or a ray of sunshine through the window.
3. Do not be impulsive
Yes, following your gut can be helpful at times, but it is always best to chalk out a course of action, considering all possible consequences and sticking to it.
4. Stop obsessing over yourself
We live in a time when we spend hours and hours trying to take a perfect selfie or think of the beauty of a hill station in terms Instagram likes it will fetch. All in the pursuit of a certain online image we want to make for ourselves.
Stop doing this and you will have freed both time and space in your mind for the higher pursuits of life.
5. Never allow jealousy to run your life for you
Jealousy in any form is bound to cause obsession and obsession makes your thoughts biased and your opinions impure. It is best to not allow this negative impulse to rule you.
6. Abandon attachment to desire
This is where Musashi’s Buddhism came into play.
Any attachment can in the end lead to obsession and obsessing over any thing is the key to your ruin.
7. Never live in regret
As soon as you come to terms with the fact that things (once done) cannot be changed and that everything happens for a reason no matter how hard it is to see the reason immediately, you stop thinking about them obsessively.
Regret ruins your chances of seeing what you have gained and instead makes you focus on what you have lost.
8. Do not dwell on a sad separation
This is similar to the previous point: There are things that happen and can’t be changed like certain separations from loved ones.
Only consolation: things always get better. If not, well, you do get used to them and they stop being SO painful.
9. Do not complain
Count your blessings instead and try and be happy with your station or alternatively work harder to change it.
10. Do not let lust rule your life
Humans are sexual beings yes, but the master samurai advises one to look for the long-lasting and uplifting instead of running after fleeting pleasures.
11. Keep your options open
Keeping your mind closed to possibilities other than the one you prefer is something unwise; keeping options open instead, makes the journey to success smoother.
12. Don’t be a slave to your surroundings
Do not get attached to anything too much; be it a person or a certain way of life or a luxurious house. Life and its pleasures are fleeting and one would be wise to not obsessively chase them.
13. Learn not to be gluttonous
Musashi like his spiritual master, the Buddha advised a life of moderation; food was sustenance and should be treated like the same.
As soon as you start treating something as fundamental as food as a luxury/pleasure, you will invariably start chasing it obsessively.
14. Be minimal in your possessions
No worldly possession or asset (not even your body) is everlasting and you won’t be leaving with anything when you go either.
So again, it is best to not horde things like a glutton.
15. Do not believe things because others ask you to
Believe something only when things seem true to you… those things should satisfy your intellectual and spiritual questions.
16. Respect the gods but don’t depend on them
“God helps those who help themselves”, remember?
God(s) are but figures of guidance and inspiration; in the journey of life, one must row oneself.
17. Don’t fear death
There is another famous samurai guidebook on life called Hagakure.
It says in a very chilling turn of words: "Go into battle wishing to die and you shall come out victorious.”
In simpler terms, be aware of death as a truth and don’t fear it; as it is there is no escape from it.
18. Do not draw your sword unless you absolutely need to
Killing the defenceless and weak or attacking without reason is sin.
19. Retiring with riches is not the aim in life
If all one thought of all day were ways of leaving the game richer, then society would fail to function.
No future, no matter how prosperous is worth obsessing over.
20. Protect your honour
You are your greatest friend and honour is your armour. And when one’s honour comes into question, its defence brings out the best in a man.
We hope these help you on your way to living a better and fuller life.
Source: DAILY POSITIVE INFORMATION
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Random thoughts...
By Rose Marie Natoza Santos
July 27, 2019
Family is the first unit of our social structure and it is where we ought to satisfy our primordial needs, where we are taught to abide to rules and learn values. Parental roles were highly regarded as important to the rearing and molding the children. How the children behave or act will be the gauge of how they were raised. Extended family were expected to give moral support or sometimes more....
Those were the days my generation experienced. Sad to say that those were now just memories of the past... And yet I am not discounting the presence of such families today...
The lure of easy life, the hunger for power and fame, the salivating greed for wealth and this incurable disease called envy had all degraded our nation and its people for decades of deterioration.
Separation of family members due to work relocation or broken homes have produced a different breed of younger generation and kindled social indifference.
But God must have loved the Philippines to hear the prayers of His faithful crying for relief, for change and for betterment.
Our God is really an answering God...though His ways are not our ways.
He gave us an obscure, foul-mouthed and often misunderstood leader. A city mayor berated by seasoned political honchos, someone they could never believe would be a statesman, would be a respectable leader representing the country. Rodrigo Roa Duterte proved them wrong... President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the only president in our political history who is consistently being prayed for not only because of his competence and popularity...but because he is well-loved.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
by Lachlan Brown
March 6, 2019
What’s the secret to dealing with negative energy and emotions?
It’s not an easy question to answer.
Some people say you should ignore negativity and focus on being positive. Other people advise you to try meditation or yoga or some sort of spiritual practice.
But according to Master Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, it’s actually more simple than that.
In a brilliant passage below, Thich Nhat Hanh explains how to use mindfulness to deal with negative emotions.
Thich Nhat Hanh Explains How to Deal With Negative Energy and Emotions
First, Thich Nhat Hanh talks about the function of mindfulness in recognizing your suffering and, surprisingly, why you should embrace it:
“The function of mindfulness is, first, to recognize the suffering and then to take care of the suffering. The work of mindfulness is first to recognize the suffering and second to embrace it. A mother taking care of a crying baby naturally will take the child into her arms without suppressing, judging it, or ignoring the crying. Mindfulness is like that mother, recognizing and embracing suffering without judgement.
So the practice is not to fight or suppress the feeling, but rather to cradle it with a lot of tenderness. When a mother embraces her child, that energy of tenderness begins to penetrate into the body of the child. Even if the mother doesn’t understand at first why the child is suffering and she needs some time to find out what the difficulty is, just her act of taking the child into her arms with tenderness can already bring relief. If we can recognize and cradle the suffering while we breathe mindfully, there is relief already.”
Facing our emotions and accepting them are different strategies than what we’re usually taught.
Most people prefer to hide from negative emotions because they’re too difficult to bare.
But what happens?
Negative emotions fester in the background and eventually bite you back even harder.
Thich Nhat Hanh says that we need to view our emotions as ever-changing, and as a result, we’ll see that they’re not as scary as we might think:
"When we are angry, what do we usually do? We shout, scream, and try to blame someone else for our problems. But looking at anger with the eyes of impermanence, we can stop and breathe. Angry at each other in the ultimate dimension, we close our eyes and look deeply. We try to see three hundred years into the future. What will you be like? What will I be like? Where will you be? Where will I be? We need only to breathe in and out, look at our future and at the other person’s future.
Looking at the future, we see that the other person is very precious to us. When we know we can lose them at any moment, we are no longer angry. We want to embrace her or him and say: “How wonderful, you are still alive. I am so happy. How could I be angry with you? Both of us have to die someday, and while we are still alive and together it is foolish to be angry at each other.
The reason we are foolish enough to make ourselves suffer and make the other person suffer is that we forget that we and the other person are impermanent. Someday when we die we will lose all our possessions, our power, our family, everything. Our freedom, peace, and joy in the present moment is the most important thing we have.”
This is incredible wisdom from the Buddhist Master. If there’s one thing that’s true, it’s that the universe is constantly changing.
So when we’re experiencing negative emotions, we need to understand that it won’t last forever.
And we can’t rely on possessions or status to make us happy because those things don’t last forever, either.
Thich Nhat Hanh says that happiness and suffering are like two opposite ends of a pole, and you can’t have one without the other.
"NO MUD, NO LOTUS. Both suffering and happiness are of an organic nature, which means they are both transitory; they are always changing. The flower, when it wilts, becomes the compost. The compost can help grow a flower again. Happiness is also organic and impermanent by nature. It can become suffering and suffering can become happiness again.”
Thich Nhat Hanh says that we can put an end to suffering by realizing that our suffering is not worth suffering for:
“The greatest miracle is to be alive. We can put an end to our suffering just by realizing that our suffering is not worth suffering for! How many people kill themselves because of rage or despair? In that moment, they do not see the vast happiness that is available. Mindfulness puts an end to such a limited perspective. The Buddha faced his own suffering directly and discovered the path of liberation. Don’t run away from things that are unpleasant in order to embrace things that are pleasant. Put your hands in the earth. Face the difficulties and grow new happiness.
One way of taking care of our suffering is to invite a seed of the opposite nature to come up. As nothing exists without its opposite, if you have a seed of arrogance, you have also a seed of compassion. Every one of us has a seed of compassion. If you practice mindfulness of compassion every day, the seed of compassion in you will become strong. You need only concentrate on it and it will come up as a powerful zone of energy. Naturally, when compassion comes up, arrogance goes down. You don’t have to fight it or push it down. We can selectively water the good seeds and refrain from watering the negative seeds.”
Source: Hack Spirit dot com
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The world is in turmoil, in chaos, in never unending troublesome state...
It is bedridden with lies, dishonesty, and cancerous lack of INTEGRITY. I stumbled upon this article by chance, and, inasmuch as it is most applicable in today's present upheavals, I thought it is worth sharing in this page of LESSONS TO LIVE. … with due respect to the author.
THE DEATH OF INTEGRITY
04th February 2016
J. Davy Crockett III
While mankind in general and our nation specifically wallow in confusion and uncertainty on shifting moral ground, there are bedrock, eternal truths that bring clarity, stability, and equity to society. These truths are found in the Holy Bible, which very few read and even fewer put in to practice.
Have you noticed? Something has changed in the basic fabric of our society. Bedrock moral principles of conduct for orderly, successful entities seem to have evaporated. Brazen lies are commonplace at the highest levels of government. It's not just yearning for the good old days—integrity is going extinct. Is there hope for a better world?
Integrity, or what the Merriam-Webster On-line Dictionary defines as “the quality of being honest and fair” is dying, and the positive traits that keep it alive are in very short supply. In politics, economics, medicine and more, the “story” seems to change from day to day, on any number of important issues. Powerful regulatory bureaucracies “bend” the rules of operation. Then, when confronted, those in charge often respond with arrogant refusals to explain their actions—or they dissimulate and try to minimize the issue altogether, or just simply pass the buck without admitting any wrongdoing.
When the current social climate or moral standards shift and principles or laws are no longer popular, long established legal principles are ignored and existing laws are not enforced. Elected officials in local, state and national offices are often caught violating their oath of office, using their fiduciary positions for their own personal gain, to the detriment of their constituents. In my home state, the Lieutenant Governor recently had to resign his office for ethical violations. The State Treasurer, responsible for the stewardship of hundreds of millions of dollars of state funds, was recently convicted on several counts of bribery and malfeasance in office.
We see high-ranking military officers being disciplined or removed for violations of the military code of honorable conduct.
In our colleges and universities, we often learn of the lack of integrity in sports programs or academia with coaches, professors and students being involved in dishonest conduct.
Dishonesty is not a new phenomenon, but the prevalence of such conduct on so many levels, and the acceptance of it, is a definite indication of the death of integrity. For many, in all walks of life, being scrupulously honest in all dealings does not seem to be important.
What is the result of this pervasive untruthfulness? Confidence in our governing institutions is shattered. A sense of skepticism hangs like a pall over the population. Most people simply do not know what or who to believe any more. There is a deep divide politically, ethnically, economically, with troubling racial tensions mixed in.
While mankind in general and our nation specifically wallow in confusion and uncertainty on shifting moral ground, there are bedrock, eternal truths that bring clarity, stability, and equity to society. These truths are found in the Holy Bible, which very few read and even fewer put in to practice. It contains revealed truths and instruction for living. For example, one of the basic Ten Commandments states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). A few verses later a different facet of this important principle is emphasized: “You shall not circulate a false report” (Exodus 23:1).
When Jesus was on trial, Pilate demanded to know, “What is truth?” It’s a question that everyone should ask. The answer, found in John 17:17, is very plain,”…Your word is truth.” Once that concept is accepted, a wonderful thing happens, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Yes, free from the heartache and pain caused by failing to follow our Creator’s instructions which lead to a happy, productive life while looking forward to the world to come referred to as the Kingdom of God.
Where do lies originate? Jesus Christ gave a very plain explanation in His dealings with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He told them “You are from your father the devil…when he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
So, while integrity in society may be comatose, it is not yet dead, if one knows where to look.
Source: Tomorrow’s World
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HOW EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE POWER OF NICENESS
By Ricky Derisz
February 21, 2019
Nice people are supportive, caring, considerate, empathetic, loving. They’re who you want by your side on life’s journey, the ones with open hearts and tamed egos. Nice people are a blessing. However, without developing relevant skills, nice people are hindered by a fundamental flaw — people pleasing.
People pleasers overextend themselves, they give and keep giving, at the expense of themselves. Being gracious and giving is the highest form of human connection, a powerful, life-affirming force. Like all forces, balance is necessary. No one can consistently give without recuperation, or the support of others.
Before we continue, an unexpected plot twist — there’s no such thing as a nice person. I’d argue all humans are inherently good. Qualities such as love, compassion, and empathy are the core of humanity. These qualities are synonymous with “nice people,” but they’re not mutually exclusive. Each of us has the choice, every day, to act with kindness.
For the purpose of this article, a “nice person” is someone who displays these qualities in abundance, but struggles with balance. Someone with plenty of compassion for others, but little for themselves. Someone who regularly puts the needs of others ahead of their own. As you’re reading this article, I’ll assume this is you.
Niceness as a label, not an act
On the surface, the solution looks easy. You may be aware you need to take more time for yourself, with stress and burnout making caring for others a difficulty. So why is it so difficult? A barrier between intellectual understanding and action is an imbalanced perception of kindness. I refer to this as “the prison of niceness,” when a natural tendency to care for others leads to self-neglect.
To understand this, let’s examine the beliefs you hold about yourself. We all develop beliefs throughout different stages of life. Some serve us, but due to the negativity bias of the mind, most restrict us. Common examples of limiting beliefs include “I’m not good enough,” “I’m not worthy of love,” “I’ll never fit in.” Beliefs can be summarised with a label — incapable, unlovable, imposter.
Without conscious exploration, we see these labels as truth, inseparable from who we are. These labels form our self-image. The prison of niceness is hard to escape due to the deceptive nature of labels. When becoming aware of a label such as incapable, there’s clear motivation to change. But nice, friendly, happy? These terms can be just as damaging.
The prison of niceness
Anger, jealousy, resentment, frustration… None of these universal emotions are considered nice. This is an issue. If the label “nice” is attached to your self-image, dissonance is caused when experiencing emotions sitting outside of your concept of self-image. A belief — “nice people don’t get angry” — leads to repression, denial or guilt.
Carl Rogers, the influential humanistic psychologist, notes the importance of self-acceptance in On Becoming A Person. Rogers uses the term incongruence to describe “a discrepancy between the actual experience of the organism and the self-picture of the individual insofar as it represents that experience.” In this example, the actual experience is anger. The self-picture is “nice person.”
Part of becoming a person, of self-actualizing, is leading a life of congruence (or authenticity). It’s easy to see how incongruence leads to people pleasing. A people pleaser will reject their own needs and desires, believing “the needs of others are more important than my own” or “I don’t want to let people down.” Behaviour is adjusted accordingly.
A life spent pleasing others is damaging. Many traits of a meaningful life — alignment with values, self-acceptance, authenticity — aren’t compatible with people pleasing. Personal values contradict others’ needs, daily. Rather than healthy balance or compromise, people pleasing sacrifices personal desire.
Skilled niceness
This is where skilled niceness comes in. It’s the ability to be loving, caring, and compassionate — without losing oneself in the act. It’s the balance of self-compassion, and compassion for others. Of respecting one’s own boundaries. Of discerning when to give, and when to step back. It’s niceness as authentic expression, not a label. It’s a self-image better matched to reality.
I’ve personally fell for the above traps; I was concerned at upsetting others, and I believed putting others’ first was a sign of being nice. I lost myself in the act of giving. As my self-awareness and self-compassion increased, I realised this behaviour was damaging. When training as a coach, I learned the value of boundary setting.
Boundary setting is frequently misunderstood — by nice people. The motivation isn’t to exclude others, stop caring, building barriers around the heart while exclaiming “it’s me against the world!.” With skilled niceness, boundary setting is a way to care more, be more inclusive, more open-hearted. Conscious boundary setting is done with compassion and honesty.
Honesty is essential when assessing how much you can truly give. For example, I require above-average alone time. I need at least one full day in the week to reflect, journal, process, or just be. Generally, I socialise twice in the week, and have one busier social day over the weekend. I spent a long time resisting my zest for solitude, identifying with the label “boring,” saying yes more than I was comfortable and pushing through low energy. Only with honesty did I accept my level of social energy, and align my schedule accordingly.
It’s one step to take honest self-assessment and realise the need for more alone time. But what if, one Wednesday evening, your social health bar is low and you have plans to read, drink tea and spoon-feed yourself peanut butter, and a friend invites you to socialise? Honesty is also required to say no with clarity and compassion.
Skilled kindness cultivates quality giving
We need each other to flourish. Serving others is an essential ingredient of a fulfilling life, an expression of the heart, a loving act. However, focusing on quantity of giving leads to burnout, stress, frustration. At worst, a lack of healthy boundaries leads to resentment, blame, or a sense of losing control of your own life.
By cultivating skilled niceness, we take responsibility for our boundaries, take control of our lives, and preserve our energy with compassion and honesty. In doing this, we sow the seeds for quality giving. This is unconditional giving, provided with joy, not obligation.
Being fully present, and engaging in quality giving, is a rarity in this world. And that makes it the nicest gift we can give.
Source: Goalcast
About the author Ricky Derisz, writer and coach, Mind that Ego Blog
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4 WAYS TO IMPRESS PEOPLE DURING A CONVERSATION
By Joshua Weisner
December 27, 2016
… Most people would admit that they have a desire, at some level, to impress others. The most effective and longer lasting way of making a good impression on others is through engaging in a meaningful dialogue with them.
Think for a moment and make a list of the people that have impressed you in the past. I’m sure that in most cases your list does not include the people with the most material wealth, but those that are intelligent, smart, or even funny especially when they’re engaged in a conversation.
Here are four surefire ways to impress the interviewer to get a job, the boss to get a raise, or simply to make better friends.
1. Remain confident in your beliefs
The fact is that no one can be right all the time. We may be wrong about some fact, belief, or judgment. But if you always suspect yourself, and shy away from standing up for your beliefs, you will not be able to create a good impression on others.
There is nothing more impressive that a person that boldly states one’s conviction that is backed by sound reasoning. People that have an opinion on issues are more respected by others than those that doubt their own reasoning and intelligence. So, in order to impress others, you must speak with conviction but without sounding arrogant in any way.
2. Give compliments freely
Self-help expert Dale Carnegie in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People
had stated that almost every one of us craves recognition and praise. It is an innate feeling that is present in almost everyone.
By giving compliments when due you will make the person feel good about him or herself. Whether you like the shoes or the earrings, you must not shy away from giving positive remarks. But avoid buttering up a person by giving lots of praises. A simple and honest compliment will go a long way in making a good impression on the other person.
3. Maintain eye contact
During conversations, it is a good idea to gaze at the eyes as you are more likely to connect on a personal level.
You might appear cold by the other person if you avert eye connection when addressing a person. The eye is said to be the window to the heart of a person. So, if you want to impress the other person make sure to look straight in the eyes during the conversation.
4. Smile!
People that don’t smile during a conversation are considered untrustworthy, according to a postdoctoral researcher in psychology at NYU, Peter Mede-Siedlecki. When you smile when speaking, you will have a better chance of influencing the other person. But avoid overdoing the smile part particularly with the opposite sex as it may appear flirtatious, pretentious and unprofessional.
Source: Goalcast
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…you should eat every morsel
on your platter
…
do understand that others
have none
…
learn it the hard way
…
when your plate is empty
and food is gone.
IN THE SHADOW OF MY FATHER
By Crispulo Bacud Tappa
December 26, 2018
I was brought forth and raised in a farmer's family. And I am proud to have had a father who was a great farmer, and who greatly influenced my life. Who I am today, I owe it to him.
His life revolved around the land and his carabaos. Oftentimes, I envied our farm animals for he had more time bonding with them, pastured them in the green meadows and bathed them in the banks of the Cagayan River. This was a daily routine, and there were no holidays, and I joined him when I was free from my school activities. I brought him his breakfast as he often left the house before the break of dawn while we were still curled up on our woven mat laid on the bamboo floor. They were my father's special assistants on whose shoulders laid the heavy burden of plowing the fields. I clearly understood my father's devotion to them for tractors were never heard of then.
My father did all he can to keep food on our dining table for that was his primary concern. And just like any other Cagayano farmer, he looked forward to every planting season, gazed at the horizon, and looked for signs when rain would come. And when it did, off he went to the field to prepare it so we can plant what was in season, be it tobacco, corn, mongo, beans or peanuts, and some vegetables planted in between the furrows. Talk about multi-cropping, he did it all.
Aside from tilling his own land, he was a tenant of Mrs. Catabay, who owned a piece of land in "Labbang", a patch of alluvial land which evolved into farm lands through the years with the constant flooding of the Cagayan River. He tilled the fertile land even though he knew that Labbang, and all the plains alongside the river, were always subject to the vagaries of nature, when crops ready for harvest would be wiped out in an instant by flood brought about by unpredictable torrential rains and strong typhoons.
And it was in one big flood that happened during my youth when my father impressed upon me an enduring life lesson that has guided me throughout my life. It was all about honesty, and "palabra de honor", the unwritten contract between two parties agreeing to comply with the terms of a verbal agreement reached by both of them.
Many years ago, I was about ten years old then, heavy rain incessantly poured for three days and showed no sign of letting-up, and threatened to flood the whole of Labbang which, when viewed from a promontory called "Gatag", was a picturesque monochromatic landscape of brown and green cornfields, and corn ears which jutted out from their stems were just about ready to be harvested in one or two weeks. My father figured out that the rain would not stop, and he was alarmed that the river level had risen and could overflow into the fields anytime soon. Flood would put to waste everything that he had worked for. He then hastily assembled a crew of harvesters, just him, my brother, and I. We rode on our carabao-drawn "kareta", a two wooden-wheeled hauler, and raced to the field that afternoon to harvest the mature corn ears, even if it was not yet dry enough, before it got inundated. For if we failed to harvest on that fateful day, and left the corn ears submerged under murky flood waters, it could have been rendered a total waste that even a hungry carabao would not want to eat them.
I felt pain as raindrops bigger than corn bits pelted on my skin, as I struggled to stand on my bare feet already submerged ankle-deep, under the rushing rainwater which liquified the slippery mud of loom soil. I cried in silence as my small soft hands suffered cuts from the sharp edges of corn husks as I plucked out the corn ears from their stem. I hid my face away from my father, as I did not want him to see my tears which blended with raindrops as they cascaded down my cheeks. I forced upon myself to carry on my bony shoulders the "balulang", a flexible woven container made of rattan, filled to its brim with corn ears which was almost twice the weight of my puny body then. I didn't have the temerity to complain, much less dillydally, for we raced against a raging river at that time.
We were able to gather a mound of corn ears, missed a few pieces here and there, and darkness crept in as the sun faded away behind the Caraballo Mountains in the west. Being a tenant, my father divided the fruits of his labor using the "balulang" as a measuring instrument. He dutifully adhered to the sharing agreement between him and his landlord, the latter getting the bigger share.
The frenzy of the harvesting activity took its heavy toll on all of us, as we all got tired, cold, and hungry. But my father relentlessly barked his orders, "palyanan nu ko anac ko ira" (move fast, my sons) like a commander would order his troop of soldiers, as we transferred the share of Mrs Catabay to the "kareta". The sorry sight of the three of us, corn gatherers, as our teeth chattered and our bodies shivered for having been exposed under the rain for more than two hours already, could have led my brother to question my father why we got less for all the hard work that we had done. He even suggested that he could have easily added a few more "balulang" of corn ears to his share and his landlord would have not noticed it.
Under normal circumstances, a representative of Mrs. Catabay, she was about 60 years old or so then, would have been invited to partition the harvest. As we always did, even with any other produce that came from her land, that everytime my mother and I gathered them, placed them in a "labba", a bamboo and rattan-framed container, and carried it on my head, and we brought it to her residence, a good three-kilometer walk from the farm. She would partition tomatoes, and other root crops, whichever plant was in season, while my mother and I sipped coffee, and nibbled some biscuits she always prepared for us, something that I had always looked forward to.
My father replied in a quiverring voice, "Afu ko anac ku, yan yo nakka ergowan mi kanni Mrs. Catabay. Yan yo vulunang ku. Pasensiyan tera laman nin" (My son, this was the verbal agreement between me and Mrs. Catabay and I am bound to honor it. Let us bear with it.) His words of wisdom reverberated in the recesses of my mind that left no room for further debate as my father was focused on saving the harvest and bring us home to safety and to rest our weary bodies.
To make the long story short, we accomplished what my father wanted to achieve, and we packed up our things, hurriedly left "Labbang", and headed home with our share of the harvest, and as we reached the "Gatag ", we met some of our barrio mates, all geared-up with their carabaos and "kareta" on their way down to harvest their cornfields, too. But as much as they wanted to, as I looked back from where we came from, I could see that they could no longer cross beyond the base of the promontory. As "Lalug", a small lake separated from the river by a patch of dry land, had been conjoined like twins with the Cagayan River and merged as one vast expanse of a body of water. From that vantage point, I could see uprooted corn plants coming from upstream Isabela province, which floated together with an assorted debris of tree foliage and branches, logs, and timber from the Sierra Madre mountain range, and some dead animals probably overpowered and drowned by its strength as it had overflowed beyond my imagination. I felt a pall of gloom, and I saw the sadness etched on their faces as they realized their big mistake and miscalculated heaven's warning of an impending disaster, and gazed at the river which had become a watery grave of what was Labbang two hours ago.
We got home safe but not exactly sound, and quickly changed into dry clothes, pressed by my sister, Flora, with our "plancha", an iron heated by burning charcoal, and my brother and I gathered around the earthen stove to warm up our cold bodies, rubbing our palms together over glowing embers from a woodfire my mother used in cooking a piping hot "binatug", a thick porridge with simple ingredients composed of milled glutinous corn bits and coconut which we imbibed to recharge our tired bodies. All these gave us warmth and saved us from falling into a creeping hypothermia. And later on, as soon as my father arrived, after he delivered the share of Mrs. Catabay, we had dinner which consisted of "tinolang manok," served with steaming "inafi", cooked corn grits, to restore our energy. My father had always believed that eating corn grits had given him the staying power to make him last a whole day of fieldwork, and we always fought over the "assit", that semi-burnt crust at the bottom of the kettle but we always ended up dividing it equally between the two of us.
As we sat down with him for dinner, that particular scene where he divided the produce, and not succumbing to the devil's temptation to cheat on his landlord, flashed back in my memory as I gazed at his weather-beaten face. That defining actor's act was like the highlight of a movie which was all that I clearly remembered from that frenetic rush of harvesting activity that afternoon, and impressed upon my young and malleable mind the values of honesty and being able to keep one's "palabra de honor". Values that up to this day have guided me in my life. My father did not preach, as a priest would do in the pulpit, on this time-honored values but instead, he impressed it so deeply in my mind and showed it to me by way of a living example which hit me like a flaming hot iron stencil, a farmer's tool to mark ownership, that seared the hide of a cow or carabao, and left an indelible impression on my being.
The following day, the able-bodied men of our barrio of Cataggaman came back to the river and swarmed around the thick floating debris and salvaged the branches of trees, logs, and timber that have found their way to the riverbanks, as if God brought them there to placate the aggrieved farmers who were deprived of their harvest.
Some men rode on their boats, but the more intrepid ones swam like Olympians, a number of young swimmers have represented our barrio in some athletic meets, outracing each other towards the middle of the river to recover logs and timber which must have broken away from a concessioner's timber depot or from some pond of small-time illegal loggers who surreptitiously hid their timber under the "balsa", pieces of bamboo and boho clamped together, and floated through tributaries and found their way to the Cagayan River.
I joined the fray, too, and rode on the floating debris to find anything of value, unmindful of the danger, as I knew how to swim as the boys of my age learned how to swim as we made the river our longest swimming pool during summer. I have crossed the river a few times, tailing behind our carabao, swimming our way to "fuduk", the plains on the side of the river in the town of Enrile. But the child in me cast my eyes for some toys or things I could assemble into toys.
The men used their abaca ropes as they harnessed valuable logs and timber and struggled hard to anchor them to the bamboo patch by the riverbank. The sheer power expended by the farmers brought cheers from a crowd that filled the promontory each time a log or timber was succesfully landed. And later, they loaded their precious finds in their "kareta", with the ubiquitous carabao dragging the heavy load towards home to be cut into timber when dry or chopped into firewood to last for a year or so. It was a finder's keeper that ruled the game. Sadly, one or two lives were lost leaving a sad memory of a Cagayan River gone wild.
Every planting season, my father patiently waited for his corn field to turn dark green, and tended to them to make sure that grass would not overcome them, then when it turned yellow-green and corn ears began to mature, he would bring home some for us to cook by simply boiling it and added a dash of salt into the pot until the corn bits became soft, or broiled it with the glowing embers in the "kalan" to our heart's delight, especially if it is the glutinous variety, "lufug"', bursting into its gummy and soft texture, a gift to those with dental problems. He would then trim the leaves, dried and saved them as a fodder for our carabaos during the dry season, to expose the mature corn ears directly under the sunlight and accelerate its natural drying process, and when leaves turned dry and crisp that indicated that it was harvest time. A good harvest filled the heart of a farmer with so much joy, and in thanksgiving he would look forward to the celebration of our barrio fiesta held every 4th of August, for which he would share his bounty with friends and relatives and thank the Lord for the blessings, and at the same time celebrate the birthday of his youngest son.
It is not very often though that the farmer reaped a good harvest for sometimes the scorching sun of summer dried up the land and stunted the growth of his crops. He got nothing at all when heavy rains fell, and filled the Cagayan River, and if flood waters reached the floor of the Buntun Bridge, that meant that no crop planted in the plains alongside the Cagayan River, from upland Isabela to the mouth of the river in Aparri, was spared and would have even placed the residential areas of the Tuguegarao and other low-lying towns of Cagayan Valley in great danger.
The economic loss from damages caused by natural calamities broke his heart, for his toils were rendered to naught, but this Cagayano farmer never cursed the heavens for the indomitable spirit lived in him. For I knew that he understood that the weather was not within his control and he had learned to live with it all. He had accepted the fact that floods are not that bad afterall, for as rain water cascaded down from the boondocks of Sierra Madre, it brought soil nutrients with it which became natural fertilizers that conditioned the loom soil to perfection which helped grow bigger corn ears. He worked silently under the heat of the sun with his bare hands that have turned callous and his sun-kissed skin has turned almost golden brown.
This I say unto you young man,
that you should eat every morsel
on your platter
because a farmer had worked so hard
so that something could be served
on the table.
Say it again? You paid for it?
Young man, young man,
do understand that others
have none, and you don't want
to learn it the hard way
when your plate is empty
and food is gone.
Source: I KEEP WHAT I READ
6 January 2019
~•✿•~ ~•✿•~
♥*✿*•♥💐💐💐♥*✿*•♥
END OF 2018Catriona Gray and Daragang Mayon
MISS UNIVERSE 2018
Bangkok, Thailand
December 17, 2018
By Crispulo Bacud Tappa
Photo: Credit to the Owner
...your beauty ... be a constant reminder that we are all our brother's keeper....
You dazzled the world, the universe rather, like
the majestic Daragang Mayon wrapped in glowing and fiery embers, cascading down your voluptuous body contoured to perfection.
Therein lies the difference, however, when you spewed wisdom that melted the hearts of the judges in particular and all beauty-pageant loving men and women, searing their callous hearts to remind us that we can all make a difference when we do something for the downtrodden.
Tondo is a grim symbol of the inhumanity of men, the apathy of the rich, the negligence of our government officials, the indolence of parents, the inefficiency of our bureaucracy, and the wastefullness of men.
Thank you for reminding us that we need to do something for children, who are still powerless to change their world, and who need every care that they can possibly get, and bring back the smile in their faces. That their dreams can become a reality if we work together to make a positive change in their environment, and create better living conditions that could bring about the best in them. A child borne out of love, and nurtured in a caring home and a healthy community, sans drugs, can become our greatest asset and a source of joy for their respective families, like you have just done.
Every child needs nurturing and we can all make that happen if we impose that responsibility among ourselves. Let everything we do in our lives be aimed at strengthening our families, our community, our government. For the quality of children we raise will determine the fate of our country.
Thank you Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, for putting back the smile in our faces.
Be the Daragang Mayon that will not only mesmerize us with your beauty but your beautiful presence be a constant reminder that we are all our brother's keeper....
Source: Facebook
Acknowledgement:
Thank you so much Cris for this very timely tribute in touching the compassionate advocacy of Miss Universe 2018 in her desire to help the underprivileged, the children who have no access to quality of education, the women's health for they are the source of life of our future citizens, just to name a few. She excels in everything, a smart, and brainy all rounder with a big heart. Another that impressed me about her was when she made emphasis about her being "grounded that keep her humble". That my friend is a very powerful message to the world, to our LEADERS and other ENTITIES whose greedy ambition is to destroy OUR CHILDREN's FUTURE and HUMANITY as a whole. She strongly sends A MESSAGE of HUMILITY. She's a perfect epitome of what true beauty means. She has an attitude that surely makes everyone SMILE. Her attitude of grace enfolded in GRATITUDE.
Blog Administrator
THE WONDER OF LIFE
By Caloy Bueno
October 12, 2018
… Whether pleasure or pain; every situation in your life serves a purpose. It is up to us to recognize what that purpose could be. ~Steve Maraboli
Mankind is a marvel of creation. It is perhaps at the zenith of all life, because not only does man possess sentience, we also embody the supreme intelligence of reason and creativity.
When life first began on earth, it was just one-celled organisms swimming in vast oceans of water rich in nutritive elements and conditions conducive to supporting life. Human life as we now know it begins with the union of two singular cells, to form the human embryo that contains within its potentiality a whole new life. Developing through time, space and enduring the implacable forces of life that forge the different pathways to our individual destinies, while somehow intersecting and interacting with those of other human beings.
This is the reality of our world, the whole environment of man, in which we have built our civilization that is designed to carry our lives and care for our needs toward the inevitable future. Mankind is a continuing paradox unto itself, reflecting the broad spectrum of its experiences, but also very acutely focused on a single lifetime goal: Survival. Man is the only specie capable of saving not just itself from extinction, but also of perhaps preserving the other forms of life on earth — which therefore may incidentally give meaning and substance to the whole context of earthly life…
Because we have within us the power of life and death, man developed moral and ethical constructs for social behavior that emanate from an inner force that is our conscience, which may even be the virtual bridge between our conscious awareness and our subconscious — where the unknown secrets from the beginning of our mortal existence are stored as perhaps the guarantors of our future as the dominant specie of life on earth. The choice between good and evil resides within our souls, locked into our individual destinies and future as a civilization of sentient beings — seemingly alone and abandoned in the sheer immensity of the cosmos.
Whatever that future may ultimately be, we march toward it inexorably but willingly, to the beat of our human hearts and by the guiding light of our intelligence, always affected by but nevertheless courageously dealing with the consequences of our individual choices between good and evil in our shared existence on this earth. We marvel at everything else around us, and at our own physical lives and enduring presence that always seem to be able to find new and ever-changing ways to amaze, enrich and improve our human condition and reality…
This is our unbroken legacy since the dawn of man’s history — the survival of our species, and the still unfolding story of the meaning and purpose of our human life. We may not fully grasp nor comprehend what it really is — but we know that wherever life may bring us, we shall ensure that our legacy will go on, because we know and believe that life always finds a way from among the infinite possibilities of what is, and is yet to come.
And that is the wonder of life…
~ ‘pag may time
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LESSONS FROM A FATHER
A personal story gleaned from Xi JinPing of China:
When I was a small child, I was very selfish, always grab the best for myself. Slowly, everyone left me and I had no friends. I didn’t think it was my fault but criticize others. .
My father gave me 3 sentences to help me in life. .
One day, my father cooked 2 bowls of noodles put the 2 bowls on the table. One bowl has one egg on top and the other bowl does not have any egg on top. He said ”My child. You choose. Which bowl do you want”. Eggs were hard to come by those days! Only get to eat eggs during festivals or New Year. Of course I chose the bowl with egg! As we started eating, I was congratulating myself on my wise choice/decision and walloped up the egg. Then to my surprise as my father ate his noodles, there were TWO eggs at the bottom of his bowl beneath the noodles! I regretted so much! And scolded myself for being too hasty in my decision. My father smiled and said to me, ”My child. You must remember what your eyes see may not be true. If you intend on taking advantage of people, you will end up losing!”
The next day, my father again cooked 2 bowls of noodles: one bowl with an egg on top and the other bowl with no egg on top. Again, he put the two bowls on the table and said to me, ”My child. You choose. Which bowl do you want?” This time I am smarter. I chose the bowl without any egg on top. To my surprise, as I separated the noodles on top, there was not even a single egg at the bottom of the bowl! Again my father smiled and said to me, ”My child, you must not always rely on experiences because sometimes, life can cheat you or play tricks on you. But you must not be too annoyed or sad, just treat this as learning a lesson. You cannot Learn this from textbooks. .
The third day, my father again cooked 2 bowls of noodles, again one bowl with an egg on top and the other bowl with no egg on top. He put the 2 bowls on the table and again said to me, ”My child. You choose. Which bowl do you want?”. This time, I told my father, ”Dad, you choose first. You are the head of the family and contributed the most to the family. ”My father did not decline and chose the bowl with one egg on top. As I eat my bowl of noodles, sure in my heart that there is no egg inside the bowl. To my surprise! There were TWO eggs at the bottom of the bowl. .
My father smiled at me with love in his eyes, ”My child, you must remember! When you think for the good of others, good things will always naturally happen to you!" .
I always remember these 3 sentences of my father and lived and do my business accordingly. True enough, my business was a roaring success. .
Xi JinPing
Now the President of Republic of China
From the post of:
Basali Baniaga Baybay, FB
November 22, 2018
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6 WIVES' TALES THAT ARE ACTUALLY TRUE
1. An apple a day keeps the doctor away – According to a 2013 study, when English test subjects over the age of 50 ate an apple per day, they prevented 8500 heart attacks and strokes each year. It’s time to stock up on those apples.
2. Counting sheep will help you sleep – Counting sheep, or more specifically, visualisation can help you sleep by distracting you from anxiety and stress-laden thoughts, allowing you to drift off sooner.
3. Eat chicken soup when you have a cold – It’s common practise to eat chicken soup when you have a cold, and there’s good reason behind it: according to studies, chicken soup helps to reduce inflammation by means of slowing down the white blood cell activity that causes it.
4. The hair of the dog that bit you – It’s commonly said that after a big night out, having a drink the next day can alleviate your hangover, and it’s not wrong. According to studies, consuming small amounts of alcohol can reduce the hangover symptoms caused from withdrawal.
5. Eat chocolate during your period – There’s a reason woman notoriously reach for chocolate during their menstrual cycle, and it isn’t just because it’s delicious. Chocolate, which contains antioxidants called anandamide, can calm the consumer while reducing anxiety and moderating moods.
6. Eating cheese before bed gives you weird dreams – According to research, bacterial and fungal properties of cheese are considered “psychoactive” ingredients, which can affect the lucidity and vividness of your dreams, but do not necessarily equal nightmares.
Source: Over 60
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BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE
The ground that we walk today will be our roof tomorrow.A rich man looked through his window and saw a poor man picking something from his dustbin ...
He said, Thank GOD I'm not poor.
The poor man looked around and saw a naked man misbehaving on the street ...
He said, Thank GOD I'm not mad.
The mad man looked ahead and saw an ambulance carrying a patient ...
He said, Thank GOD I am not sick.
Then a sick person in hospital saw a trolley taking a dead body to the mortuary ...
He said, Thank GOD I'm not dead.
Only a dead person cannot thank God.
Why don't you thank GOD today for all your blessings and for the gift of life ... for another beautiful day!
What is LIFE?
To understand life better, you have to go to 3 locations :
1. Hospital 2. Prison 3. Cemetery
At the Hospital, you will understand that nothing is more beautiful than HEALTH.
In the Prison, you will see that FREEDOM is the most precious thing.
At the Cemetery, you will realize that LIFE is worth nothing.
Sad Truth* : We all come with Nothing and we will go with Nothing ...
Let us, therefore, remain humble and be thankful and grateful to God at all times for everything.
Lifted from the post of:
Ed Accad, FB 2018
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TO LIVE LONG LIFE
(The 10 years from 70 to 79 years old are crucial)
Israeli scholars have found that 70-79 years old is a dangerous period. During this period, various organs decline rapidly. It is a frequent period of various geriatric diseases, and it is often prone to hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes.
After entering the age of 80, these diseases will decline, and the mental and physical health may return to the level of 60-69 years old.
Thus, the age of 70 to 79 years old is called the “dangerous age group”. As people grow older many people want to have a good healthy life. They realise that “Health is Wealth”.
The 10-year health care of 70 to 79 years old is crucial. Here are some simple steps called "Doing *ten ones * every day”
This will help you to navigate more smoothly through the "dangerous age group" stage of your life.
1. A pot of water - Water is "the best and cheapest health drink".
You must drink a glass of water during the following three times/occasions each day:
First cup:
After getting out of bed, you can drink a glass of water on an empty stomach.
Because of our invisible sweating and urination. Even if we don't feel thirsty after getting up, the body liquids will still be thick due to lack of water. Therefore, after getting out of bed, you must slowly add water as soon as possible.
Second cup:
A glass of water after exercise - The right amount of exercise is one of the cornerstones of longevity. However, after exercise, special attention should be paid to replenishing water, it is recommended that the old people drink water.
Third cup:
A glass of water before going to bed can effectively reduce the blood viscosity and may even slow down the appearance of aging. Helps against Angina, myocardial infarction and other diseases.
2. A bowl of porridge - If you feel sick, drink a bowl of porridge! Wang Shixiong, a famous medical scientist in the Qing Dynasty, called porridge "the first complement of the world" in his book.
China Daily Online published a 14-year study conducted by Harvard University on 100,000 people. It found that a bowl of about 28 grams of whole grain cereal porridge per day can reduce 5% mortality and 9% can reduce the chance of getting cardiovascular disease.
Each volunteer was in good physical condition when he participated in the study in 1984, but in the 2010 feedback survey, more than 26,000 volunteers have passed away.
It was found that those volunteers who regularly eat whole grains such as porridge, brown rice, corn and buckwheat seem to have avoided all diseases, especially heart disease.
3. A cup of milk - Milk is known as "white blood" and is to the human body. Its nutritional value is well known with a lot of calcium, fat and protein.
The recommended daily intake of milk and dairy products is 300 grams. For an ordinary 200 ml bottle of milk, it is enough to drink one or two 200 -ml - bottles or packets of milk a day.
4. An egg - Eggs can be said to be the most suitable food for human consumption. The body's absorption rate of egg protein can be as high as 98%.
5. An apple - Modern research believes that apples have the effects of lowering cholesterol, losing weight, preventing cancer, preventing aging, enhancing memory, and making the skin smooth and soft.
The health benefits of different color apples are different:
Red apples have the effect of lowering blood lipids and softening blood vessels
Green apple has the effect of nourishing liver and detoxifying, and can fight depression, so it is more suitable for young people to eat.
Yellow apples have a good effect on protecting vision.
6. An onion - The Onion has a very high nutritional value and has many functions, including helping to lower blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, preventing cancer, protecting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and also anti- bacteria, preventing colds, and supplementing calcium and bones. Eat onions at least three or four times a week.
7. A piece of fish - Chinese Nutritionists have warned that “eating "four legs" is worse than eating "two legs", eating "two legs" is worse than eating "no legs."
"No legs" mainly refers to fish and various vegetables. The protein contained in fish is easily digested and absorbed. The amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the fat, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, is relatively good for the body.
8. Gentle walking - This has a magical anti-aging effect. When adults walk (about 1 kilometre or less) regularly for more than 12 weeks, they will achieve the effect of correct posture and waist circumference, and the body becomes strong and not easily tired.
In addition, walking exercise is also beneficial to treat headache, back pain, shoulder pain, etc., and can promote sleep.
Experts believe that a 30-minute walk a day can get rid of the danger of “adult disease”. People who take 10,000 steps a day will have a lower chance of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
9. A hobby
Having a hobby, whether it is raising flowers, raising birds, collecting stamps, fishing, or painting, singing, playing chess, and traveling, can help the elderly to maintain extensive contact with society and nature. This broadens the horizons of interest of the elderly. They will love and cherish life.
10. Good mood - Old people should maintain good emotions as these are extremely important to their health.
Common chronic diseases which affect the elderly are closely related to the negative emotions of the elderly:
Many patients with coronary heart disease have angina and myocardial infarction due to stimulation of adverse emotions, resulting in sudden death;
"Bad" temper leads to high blood pressure. In prolonged and severe cases, this can cause stroke, heart failure, sudden death, etc.;
Negative Emotions such as anger, anxiety, and grief can cause blood sugar levels to rise, causing metabolic disorders in the body.
This shows how important it is to have a good mood!
Physical aging is a natural phenomenon, and it is the most sensible choice to fully devote yourself to life and to live the best of the day!
Source: FB via Ed Alvendia
November 20, 2018
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MANY OF US ARE BETWEEN 65 AND DEATH
by Old Techo » Wed Jun 06, 2018
(My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . )
Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough. ~Don Marquis
1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.
4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.
5. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”
7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.
8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.
9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age
10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.
11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.
13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.
14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
15 Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.
16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.
17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.
18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone - apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.
19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.
20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.
21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!
REMEMBER: Life is too short to drink bad wine or warm beer.
Source: http://www.candm.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21076/June 6, 2018
: Via Benson Bautista shared post from Greg Howard/April 22, 2018
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THE WATER LILY PRINCIPLE
By Duoi Ampilan
28 March 2013
"We must believe in the power within us."
Many believe that people whose principles are easily bended by persuasions and pressures are likened to a water lily. This water plant goes along with the current. It just follows the natural flow. It sways left and right depending on the water current.
But look, perfection is just an illusion among creatures. Every form of life including human being has its up and down sides. A creature may have some outstanding characteristics though weaknesses are also common.
Just like any other person, you may be have outstanding trait of being intelligent, compassionate or having that great looks. But, beyond that, you also share some flaws and faults. Nature will not give you everything or make you a perfect individual.
We can build on our strong points, our talents and capacities. We can also improve our weak points and even make them as our stepping stones to do better, achieve more or make a difference.
One thing I like most about water lily is its ability to reinvent itself and make a difference in a world full of imperfections. Water lily’s adaptation is so powerful. We do not even see how this wonderful plant defies circumstances because we are blinded by its magnificent flowers.
I like to adapt the principle of water lily when it comes to fitting itself into its world. In the face of a filthy environment, the water lily blooms to be one of the most stunning things in the natural world. Look at the kind of environment it thrives, mostly in messy water, but this plant does not look mucky at all. There is a big difference and contrast between the plant and its environment.
We all have the options, we all have the will to be the kind of individuals we want to be. The environment we have may not be so supportive or inspiring but we can still make a difference just like the water lily.
We all have the power to survive any circumstances. Our inner motivation can move mountains. We can always be the best of whatever we have and whoever we are. We must believe in the power within us.
Source: Duoipedia/Random Thoughts
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"Live with one foot raised and make the world your house." ~St. Ignatius of Loyola
JOHN GOKONGWEI SPEECH: A RIPPLING INSPIRATION
As shared by Edwin Jamora
August 11, 2018
Mei Li WRITES THAT THE PHILIPPINES EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM TEACHES STUDENTS TO BE EMPLOYEES
That's right. We were taught how to ace licensure tests to make sure we get a job. At one point, there's nursing schools at every corner and every year, nurses are shipped all over the world. TESDA trains people to have skills to be an employee. But there's no school equivalent to be an entrepreneur. In fact, even our government does not have the United States equivalent of Small Business Administration. Nada.
I was reminded of John Gokongwei's speech at Ateneo.
Here it is...
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John Gokongwei Speech before Ateneo 2004 Graduates
I wish I were one of you today, instead of a 77-year-old man, giving a speech you will probably forget when you wake up from your hangover tomorrow.
You may be surprised I feel this way. Many of you are feeling fearful and apprehensive about your future. You are thinking that, perhaps, your Ateneo diploma will not mean a whole lot in the future in a country with too many problems. And you are probably right.
You are thinking that our country is slipping-no, sliding. Again, you may be right.
Twenty years ago, we were at par with countries like Thailand,Malaysia, and Singapore. Today, we are left way behind. You know the facts.
Twenty years ago, the per capita income of the Filipino was 1,000 US dollars. Today, it's 1,100 dollars. That's a growth of only ten percent in twenty years.
Meanwhile, Thailand's per capita income today is double ours; Malaysia, triple ours; and Singapore, almost twenty times ours.
With globalization coming, you know it is even more urgent to wake up. Trade barriers are falling, which means we will have to compete harder. In the new world, entrepreneurs will be forced to invest their money where it is most efficient. And that is not necessarily in the Philippines. Even for Filipino entrepreneurs, that can be the case.
For example, a Filipino brand like Maxx candy can be manufactured in Bangkok --where labor, taxes, power and financing are cheaper and more efficient -- and then exported to other ASEAN countries.
This will be a common scenario if things do not change. Pretty soon, we will become a nation that buys everything and produces practically nothing. We will be like the prodigal son who took his father's money and spent it all. The difference is that we do not have a generous father to run back to. But despite this, I am still very excited about the future. I will tell you why later.
You have been taught at the Ateneo to be "a person for others." Of course, that is noble: To serve your countrymen. Question is: How? And my answer is: Be an entrepreneur!
You may think I am just a foolish man talking mundane stuff when the question before him is almost philosophical. But I am being very thoughtful here, and if I may presume this about myself, being patriotic as well. Entrepreneurship is the answer. We need young people who will find the idea, grab the opportunity, take the risk, and set aside comfort to set up businesses that will provide jobs.
But why? What are jobs? Jobs are what allow people to feel useful and build their self-esteem. Jobs make people productive members of the community. Jobs make people feel they are worthy citizens. And jobs make a country worthy players in the world market.
In that order of things, it is the entrepreneurs who have the power to harness the creativity and talents of others to achieve a common good. This should leave the world a better place than it was.
Let me make it clear: Job creation is a priority for any nation to move forward. For example, it is the young entrepreneurs of Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore who created the dynamic businesses that have propelled their countries to the top. Young people like yourselves.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, progress is slow. Very little is new. Hardly anything is fresh. With a few exceptions, the biggest companies before the war -- like PLDT, Ayala, and San Miguel -- are still the biggest companies today.
All right, being from the Ateneo, many of you probably have offers from these corporations already. You may even have offers from JG Summit. I say: Great!
Take these offers, work as hard as you can, learn teverything these companies can teach and then leave! If you dream of creating something great, do not let a 9-to-5 job-even a high-paying one-lull you into a complacent, comfortable life. Let that high-paying job propel you toward entrepreneurship instead.
When I speak of the hardship ahead, I do not mean to be skeptical but realistic. Even you Ateneans, who are famous for your eloquence, you cannot talk your way out of this one. There is nothing to do but to deal with it. I learned this lesson when, as a 13-year-old, I lost my dad.
Before that, I was like many of you: a privileged kid. I went to Cebu's best school; lived in a big house; and got free entrance to the Vision, the largest movie house in Cebu, which my father owned.
Then my dad died, and I lost all these. My family had become poor -- poor enough to split my family. My mother and five siblings moved to China where the cost of living was lower. I was placed under the care of my Grand Uncle Manuel Gotianuy, who put me through school. But just two years later, the war broke out, and even my Uncle Manuel could no longer see me through. I was out in the streets -- literally.
Looking back, this time was one of the best times of my life. We lost everything, true, but so did everybody! War was the great equalizer. In that setting, anyone who was willing to size up the situation, use his wits, and work hard, could make it!
It was every man for himself, and I had to find a way to support myself and my family. I decided to be a market vendor. Why? Because it was something that I, a 15-year-old boy in short pants, could do.
I started by selling simple products in the palengke half an hour by bike from the city. I had a bicycle. I would wake up at five in the morning, load thread, soap and candles into my bike, and rush to the palengke. I would rent a stall for one peso a day, lay out my goods on a table as big as this podium, and begin selling. I did that the whole day. I sold about twenty pesos of goods every day.
Today, twenty pesos will only allow you to send twenty text messages to your crush, but 63 years ago, it was enough to support my family. And it left me enough to plow back into my small, but growing, business. I was the youngest vendor in the palengke, but that didn't faze me. In fact, I rather saw it as an opportunity.
Remember, that was 63 years and 100 pounds ago, so I could move faster, stay under the sun more, and keep selling longer than everyone else. Then, when I had enough money and more confidence, I decided to travel to Manila from Cebu to sell all kinds of goods like rubber tires.
Instead of my bike, I now traveled on a batel -- a boat so small that on windless days, we would just float there. On bad days, the trip could take two weeks! During one trip, our batel sank! We would have all perished in the sea were it not for my inventory of tires.
The viajeros were happy because my tires saved their lives, and I was happy because the viajeros, by hanging on to them, saved my tires. On these long and lonely trips I had to entertain myself with books, like Gone With The Wind.
After the war, I had saved up 50,000 pesos. That was when you could buy a chicken for 20 centavos and a car for 2,000 pesos. I was 19 years old.
Now I had enough money to bring my family home from China. Once they were all here, they helped me expand our trading business to include imports.
Remember that the war had left the Philippines with very few goods. So we imported whatever was needed and imported them from everywhere-includin g used clothes and textile remnants from the United States. We were probably the first ukay-ukay dealers here.
Then, when I had gained more experience and built my reputation, I borrowed money from the bank,and got into manufacturing. I saw that coffee was abundant, and Nescafe of Nestle was too expensive for a country still rebuilding from the war, so my company created Blend 45.
That was our first branded hit. And from there, we had enough profits to launch Jack and Jill. From one market stall, we are now in nine core businesses-includin g retail, real estate, publishing, petrochemicals, textiles, banking, food manufacturing, Cebu Pacific Air and Sun Cellular.
When we had shown success in the smaller businesses, we were able to raise money in the capital markets -- through IPOs and bond offerings -- and then get into more complex, capital-intensive enterprises. We did it slow, but sure. Success doesn't happen overnight. It's the small successes achieved day by day that build a company.
So, don't be impatient or focused on immediate financial rewards. I only started flying business class when I got too fat to fit in the economy seats. And I even wore a used overcoat while courting my wife-it came from my ukay-ukay business. Thank God Elizabeth didn't mind the mothball smell of my overcoat or maybe she wouldn't have married me.
Save what you earn and plow it back. And never forget your families! Your parents denied themselves many things to send you here. They could have traveled around the world a couple of times with the money they set aside for your education, and your social life, and your comforts. Remember them -- and thank them.
When you have families of your own, you must be home with them for at least one meal everyday. I did that while I was building my company. Now, with all my six children married, I ask that we spend every Sunday lunch together, when everything under the sun is discussed. As it is with business, so it is with family. There are no short cuts for building either one. Remember, no short cuts.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, your patron saint, and founder of this 450-year old organization I admire, described an ideal Jesuit as one who "lives with one foot raised."
I believe that means someone who is always ready to respond to opportunities. Saint Ignatius knew that, to build a successful organization, he needed to recruit and educate men who were not afraid of change but were in fact excited by it. In fact, the Jesuits were one of the earliest practitioners of globalization.
As early as the 16th century, upon reaching a foreign country, they compiled dictionaries in local languages like Tamil and Vietnamese so that they could spread their message in the local language. In a few centuries, they have been able to spread their mission in many countries through education.
The Jesuits have another quote. "Make the whole world your house" which means that the ideal Jesuit must be at home everywhere. By adapting to change, but at the same time staying true to their beliefs, the Society of Jesus has become the long-lasting and successful organization it is today and has made the world their house.
So, let live with one foot raised in facing the next big opportunity: globalization. Globalization can be your greatest enemy. It will be your downfall if you are too afraid and too weak to fight it out. But it can also be your biggest ally.
With the Asian Free Trade agreement and tariffs near zero, your market has grown from 80 million Filipinos to half a billion Southeast Asians. Imagine what that means to you as an entrepreneur if you are able to find a need and fill it. And imagine, too, what that will do for the economy of our country!
Yes, our government may not be perfect, and our economic environment not ideal, but true entrepreneurs will find opportunities anywhere. Look at the young Filipino entrepreneurs who made it. When I say young-and I'm 77, remember-I am talking about those in their 50s and below.
Tony Tan of Jollibee, Ben Chan of Bench, Rolando Hortaleza of Splash, and Wilson Lim of Abensons. They're the guys who weren't content with the 9-to-5 job, who were willing to delay their gratification and comfort, and who created something new, something fresh.
Something Filipinos are now very proud of. They all started small but now sell their hamburgers, T-shirts and cosmetics in Asia, America, and the Middle East. In doing so, these young Filipino entrepreneurs created jobs while doing something they were passionate about.
Globalization is an opportunity of a lifetime-for you. And that is why I want to be out there with you instead of here behind this podium-perhaps too old and too slow to seize the opportunities you can.
Let me leave you with one last thought. Trade barriers have fallen. The only barriers left are the barriers you have in your mind. So, Ateneans, Class of 2004, heed the call of entrepreneurship. With a little bit of will and a little bit of imagination, you can turn this crisis into your patriotic moment-and truly become a person for others.
"Live with one foot raised and make the world your house."
To this great University, my sincerest thanks for this singular honor conferred on me today.
To the graduates, congratulations and Godspeed.
"Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam".
Thank you.
Source: FB
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WHAT DEFINES YOU
By Cindy Ching
...what you carry in your heart is all you are left.
One has said that you are defined by three things: your PATIENCE when you have nothing, your ATTITUDE when you have everything, and how you TREAT OTHERS in both situations.
We have seen and read success stories of many people who have overcome and risen above the most difficult circumstances, but yet to see people who are able to successfully handle fame, and opulence.
Most failed after having experienced too much, too soon. Many still find themselves wanting something that they themselves find hard to identify.
At the end of the day, what you carry in your heart is all you are left. The problem is, when the heart is empty, you have nowhere to draw from. That’s tragic. And as history has constantly shown us, it could be fatal.
Source: FB, 2018
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"OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER IS SHORT"
A beautiful message for all of us....
… a fault finding attitude is a waste of time and energy.
Take a minute please...
A young lady sat in a bus. At the next stop a loud and grumpy old lady came and sat by her. She squeezed into the seat and bumped her with her numerous bags.
The person sitting on the other side of the young lady got upset, asked her why she did not speak up and say something.
The young lady responded with a smile:
"It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant, the journey together is so short. I get off at the next stop."
This response deserves to be written in golden letters:
*"It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant, our journey together is so short"*
If each one of us realized that our time here is so short; that to darken it with quarrels, futile arguments, not forgiving others, discontentment and a fault finding attitude would be a waste of time and energy.
Did someone break your heart?
*Be calm, the journey is so short.*
Did someone betray, bully, cheat or humiliate you?
*Be calm, forgive, the journey is so short.*
Whatever troubles anyone brings us, let us remember that *our journey together is so short.*
No one knows the duration of this journey. No one knows when their stop will come. *Our journey together is so short.*
Let us cherish friends and family.
Let us be respectful, kind and forgiving to one another.
Let us be filled with gratitude and gladness.
If I have ever hurt you, I ask for your forgiveness.
If you have ever hurt me, you already have my forgiveness.
After all, Our Journey Together is so Short!
☘Sey Boon Ho
Source: FB/Benson Bautista
July 17, 2018
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"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." ~Bruce Lee
THE WORLD NEEDS MEN...
1. who cannot be bought;
2. whose word is their bond;
3. who put character above wealth;
4. who possess opinions and a will;
5. who are larger than their vocations;
6. who do not hesitate to take chances;
7. who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
8. who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
9. who will make no compromise with wrong;
10. whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
11. who will not say they do it” because everybody else does it”;
12. who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
13. who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
14. who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
15. who can say “no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says “yes.”
By Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity
Source: Dr. Ethel Pineda
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THE BUNDLE OF STICKS
By Sherry Zimmer
"In unity is strength."
A certain Father had a family of Sons, who were forever quarreling among themselves. No words he could say did the least good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example that should make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune.
One day when the quarreling had been much more violent than usual and each of the Sons was moping in a surly manner, he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his Sons in turn he told them to try to break it. But although each one tried his best, none was able to do so.
The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons to break one by one. This they did very easily.
"My Sons," said the Father, "do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle."
When I was a little girl, my Mother bought me a book called Aesop’s Fables and that is where this story comes from. Books were treasured in my home because, as a widow with 4 children, she didn’t have a lot of money to buy books. This story had an impact on me as a child and when my own sons would fuss I remember doing the same thing, with a bundle of pencils. They were able to break one in half but could not break a bundle. It was my way of showing them that they should stick together.
At this time, when I see President Duterte supporters fussing and fighting amongst themselves, I wish I could have them all in my kitchen and tell them the same thing. I don’t care what other politicians you support – everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
At his time, President Duterte needs all of us – we are the pieces of his "walis tingting" - in his desire to sweep the Philippines clean of the corruption, of prior administrations.
In unity is strength.
Source: FB, May 2018
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THE ADVOCACY OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: "TAPANG AT MALASAKIT"
(Courage and Compassion)
"LEARN FROM POSITIVE EXAMPLES"
IN this world of grab and greed, selfishness, lies and deceit; comes a whirlpool of egos and whims where values, virtues and human dignity are almost extinct, if not, non existent. Not in a sense of political correctness ala Philippines style.
As Rosemarie Natosa Santos puts it, "But for decades these were seemed lost: abandoned? ignored? or just forgotten".
Not until the provincial Mayor from Davao City won in a landslide presidential election in May 9, 2016, all that have changed.
TAPANG AT MALASAKIT was the core value of then Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte's political platform during his election campaign. He had no machinery, no connection, no money when he was compelled to run for the presidency; driven by the lack of apathy for the Filipino people, their well-being and for the country as a whole by past administrations and political opponents who did nothing but drained the coffer of the nation leaving its constituents bone dry.
The people themselves were hopeless; ready to surrender their fate in the hands of the oppressors and transgressors as each time they get a new leader, all promises made to them went to the sinkhole. They became nonchalant and despondent that they couldn't care less anymore.
So "after decades of 'walang pakialam' attitude, of being complacent, of being indifferent to what was happening around us - a strong jolt of realization awakened us," said Mrs Santos.
In Adam Garrie's words: ".... before Duterte, The Philippines was a country that was failing to live up to its potential. Many had given up, settled for less, thought to themselves nothing will change. Duterte has replaced this attitude with one of optimism and passion. It’s much better now than before," during his recent interview with Rado Gatchalian, one of the lead initiators of various DDS global events.
CRIME AND WAR ON DRUGS
President Duterte's war on drugs was a nightmare to consider that is impossible to win overnight. His 6-months promised to eradicate this problem turned futile when he realised that his country was already a narco state. Politicians became the protectors of the drug lords with rings of connections all over the country. Obviously their hideous activity has the consent of the CBCP who runs the Catholic Church with legions of religious fanatics and zealots who abide by their words as their spiritual leader. As a religious emissary, the Catholic Church is supposed to be the spiritual guide and the vanguard of moral compass within the society. But they failed their duty to their people; and instead they contrived inasmuch as they connived with the crooks in the former government to fatten up their treasury.
Deeply infiltrated and penetrated by the demon of drugs ruining the very foundation of the family, community, society and the country; it's almost like the country was in the "verge of genocide."
"Drugs can destroy an entire groups of people and in so doing, they can destroy an entire country. They turn people into monsters, streets into blood-baths, cities into what Donald Trump might call a “shit hole. Drugs are as big a danger to human rights as living under a terrorist regime. Duterte’s war on drugs is for human rights because in a drug free world, everyone can live safely and in peace with their neighbours. This is REAL human rights," Adam Garrie added.
Without delay Duterte mobilised the police units under PNP Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa in implementing the purging of the country from the vicious killers. Thus, resulting in mass surrender by the drug addicts who were given a new lease of life to reform and to turn away from their demonic vices. In return, they were rehabilitated and underwent counselling and training so they can go back to their family and live a normal life. That's because of our compassionate President whose primary concern is for the welfare of the people.
In effect, the crime rate has reduced, but the war on drugs still continues. As witnessed by the balikbayan expats, they have seen a huge change in the country; clean and orderly as compared to the chaotic ambience of the past government.
FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
As what he promised during the election campaign, Duterte is now chasing after the scoundrels that plunged the country into bankruptcy and extreme poverty - the oligarchs, the Catholic Church in particular, the public and private agencies, business entrepreneurs, the Judiciary and the Legislative body. He's facing an enormous challenge to cleanse the rotten system that crippled the country. His enemies are people coming from different influential sectors of the society, and they still remain high and untouchable. Other than that, he's also fighting long and hard with the outsiders from meddling in the internal affairs of the country, and demanding respect for our sovereignty and telling the intervening powerful leaders off to mind their own business.
All these, because President Duterte has a strong political will and power of steel to work for his people who gave him the mandate on that day his fate was sealed on Election Day in 2016. He also has carefully chosen his cabinets who have the same ardour of Tapang and Malasakit to work side by side with him, and, by his noble influence follow his lead in serving the people.
He not only lead the country to the unknown chartered seas, but he has proven his critics wrong that a leader can still lead in the absence of money which corrupted many government officials many times before. His (build, build, build) programs are straightforward as he lifted the face of the country towards the unprecedented economic growth within a span of less than two years. And as the survey showed, the people stay strong in their support to him, and with the exception of 6%, all the rest are very happy with his performance and leadership.
OFW'S AND MIGRANTS ADVOCACY
The Overseas Filipino Workers are scattered all over the world. So are the migrants who left their motherland in pursuit of the green pasture. When these two groups combined saw this man and heard his bravery and concern driven by his unconditional love for the Filipino people; this lone voice in the desert was not left on his own when without hesitation, they reached out to help him with their fists pointing forward and pledged him their love and support in the spirit of TAPANG AT MALASAKIT.
A STRONG SENTIMENT FROM A CITIZEN OF CEBU
The people are awakened and invigorated by their renewed patriotism and nationalism:
Here's one leader that set out a phenomenon of the era when "The Desire for CHANGE emerged and so with the lookout for someone to lead that change. People suddenly began to notice corruptions, drugs proliferation and the crimes associated with it. People started to recognize the decay in the justice system, the obvious incompetence of public officials and feel the miserable state of our economy and society.
This desire for change is now the popular clamor from the citizenry- as they got more involved in the political affairs voicing their sentiments, their discontent, even disgust. This hunger for change paved for the search for the right leader.
People are now more vocal in their concern for the country. People for the first time in our political history are openly praying for their President, for their government and for their country.
TAPANG AT MALASAKIT, the forlorn virtues for decades, now recovered, shared and practised by every God-fearing patriots of today", echoed in a strong sentiment by MRS. ROSE MARIE NATOSA SANTOS of Cebu.
DDS IN AUSTRALIA
As what Adam Garrie cut out in his advice to the Filipino people in particular:
"NEVER LISTEN to critics who want you to be like someone else. Be the best for yourselves. Learn from positive examples, but use this to develop a better society that reflects your own characteristics. REMEMBER that in the future, the countries that thought less of you, are now diminishing themselves while you are rising. Never be afraid and always be proud."
Adam Garrie's words of wisdom are as applicable to all DDS members and groups all over the world as they are to our people back in our home country.
The April30FORDU30 Australia Global Movement, lead by Rado Gatchalian, remains strong in continuing the TAPANG AT MALASAKIT Advocacy of President Rodrigo Duterte, who willfully lay his life for his country and boldly said:
"I HAVE BUILD A CITY,
I AM BUILDING A COUNTRY.
PEACEFUL. EQUAL. LONG-LASTING!
A NATION WORTHY OF FILIPINOS
FILIPINOS WORTHY OF THE NATION."
~President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Contributors' Credits:
Rose Marie Natosa Santos, FB,
Adam Garrie of Eurasia Future - Rado Gatchalian Interview
Link: (http://www.eurasiafuture.com/…/rado-gatchalian-interviews-…/)
FOR DU30 CORRESPONDENT
April30FORDU30 Australia Global Movement
By Leah C. Dancel aka JP
Copyright@2018
All rights reserved
March 23, 2018
(Published in Lessons To Live 25 April 2018 in commemoration to the approaching 2nd Anniversary of April30forDU30 Australia Global Movement).
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WHAT MAKES HUMAN RELATIONS FRAGILE AND TENUOUS?
A MAN's VIEW
By Carlos Silverio Bueno
27 April 2018
At the most basic level, the human sense of Self cannot help but cling to the rule of survival — self-preservation. However, at the social level, people need to adjust the ego, to tolerate others' ambivalence and ambiguities, idiosyncrasies and even foolhardiness — to make way for social cohesion and group identity, a shared culture, norms of behavior, ethics and morality. But how about one-on-one relationships which are supposedly mediated by the concept and modus vivendi of Love (Eros)?
People may easily fall in love — and just as easily fall out of love. Or they may just behave in a "civil" manner, which is to say they're just minding their own business. Decorum, politeness, sensitivity, sensibility, tact, solicitousness, even unctuousness — these are just the modifiers of the actual state of relations between individuals at any given time. In love relationships, there is of course caring, kindness, trust, intimacy, even sacrifice and selflessness — as well as anger or hate, indifference, boredom, and finally escape and estrangement, among other negative or undesirable characteristics.
All these are within the scope and capabilities of the human condition. Great compassion and great ruthlessness. Irrevocable sacrifice and being utterly self-centered. Resolute closeness and absolute separation. The dualities of human nature just mirror nature's uncompromising duality. In the logic of digital technology, there are simply 1's and/or 0's...
So, what is the secret of a truly lasting relationship — a marriage, a friendship, a partnership, an alliance, and what-have-you? There really is no secret — every human being recognizes just what it is — inherent in each consciousness, incessantly emerging from the subconscious depths of the human psyche.
It is HOPE — hope in the enduring persistence of human aspirations, as expressed in love, motivations, goals... or simply life in general. But of course, always subject to the vicissitudes of human frailties and shortcomings; or strengthened by firm commitment and reinforced by full dedication; or perhaps neglected and consigned to the oblivion of indifference and unresponsiveness, like watching from the side of the river of life one’s destiny floating past…
The human condition — the essential loneliness of the individual, being affected or mitigated by the temporal events of life, but buoyed and sustained by hope that “springs eternal from men’s hearts.” Until the final arbiter that is Time dictates the end of one life, and the beginning of another...
Reposted (from 2015) ~ ‘pag may time
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THE OLD WOMAN and THE OLD MULE
An Old Woman walked up and tied her old Mule to the hitching post.
As she stood there, brushing some of the dust from her face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The young gunslinger looked at the old woman and laughed, "hey Old Woman, have you ever danced?"
The Old Woman looked up at the gunslinger and said, "No, ... I never did dance...Never really wanted to."
A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "well, you Old Bag, you're gonna dance now," and started shooting at the Old Woman's feet.
The Old Woman Prospector -- not wanting to get her toe blown off -- started hopping around. Everybody was laughing. When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.
The Old Woman turned to her pack Mule, pulled out a double-barrelled shotgun, and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks çarried clearly through the desert air, and the crowd stopped laughing immediately.
The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly. The silence was almost deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the Old Woman and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels.
The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the Old Woman's hands, as she quietly said, "Son, have you ever kissed a Mule's ass?"
The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, "No Ma'am... But I've always wanted to.
THERE ARE FIVE LESSONS HERE FOR ALL OF US:
1 - Never be arrogant. 2 - Don't waste ammunition. 3 - Whiskey makes you think you're smarter than you are. 4 - Always make sure you know who has the power. 5 - Don't mess with old people; they didn't get old by being stupid.
Source: FB
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4 CHEMICALS of HAPPINESS
Why am I still not happy?
“I am rich, fit, and I have mastered almost everything I wanted to master. Why am I still not happy and still not satisfied?" ~Anonymous
▪DOPAMINE
▪ENDORPHINS
▪SEROTONIN
▪OXYTOCIN
🔹On your journey to become fit, your body released endorphins to cope with the pain of physical exercise. You probably began to enjoy exercise as you got into it, and the endorphins made you happy - temporarily.
🔹On your journey to become rich, you probably completed many tasks and goals.
You probably bought all the things you’ve ever wanted. Nice cars, beautiful clothes, and a perfect home. This released dopamine in your brain when you achieved your goals and bought these things, which once again contributed to your happiness - temporarily.
So what about the other two chemicals?
It turns out that human happiness is incomplete without all 4 chemicals constantly being released in the brain.
So now you need to work on releasing serotonin and oxytocin.
“How do I do that?"
🔹Serotonin is released when we act in a way that benefits others. When we give to causes beyond ourselves and our own benefit. When we connect with people on a deep, human level.
Writing this Quora answer is releasing serotonin in my brain right now because I’m using my precious time on the weekend to give back to others for free.
Hopefully I’m providing useful information that can help other people, like yourself.
That’s why you often see billionaires turning to charity when they have already bought everything they wanted to, and experienced everything they wanted to in life.
They’ve had enough dopamine from material pleasures, now they need the serotonin.
🔹Oxytocin on the other hand, is released when we become close to another human being.
When we hug a friend, or shake someone’s hand, oxytocin is released in varying amounts.
Oxytocin is easy to release. It’s all about becoming more social!
Share your wealth with your friends and family to create amazing experiences.
Laugh, Love, Cooperate, and Play with others.
That’s it my friend!!!
I think it all comes down to the likelihood that you are missing two things : "contribution and social connection”
Source: Benson Bautista
FB Via E Ho
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CHARITY WRAPPED WITH DIGNITY
She asked him, 'How much are you selling the eggs for?'
The old seller replied, 'Rs.5/- an egg, Madam.'
She said to him, 'I will take 6 eggs for Rs.25/- or I will leave.'
The old seller replied, 'Come take them at the price you want. May be, this is a good beginning because I have not been able to sell even a single egg today.'
She took the eggs and walked away feeling she has won. She got into her fancy car and went to a posh restaurant with her friend. There, she and her friend, ordered whatever they liked. They ate a little and left a lot of what they ordered. Then she went to pay the bill. The bill costed her Rs.1,400/-. She gave Rs. 1,500/- and asked the owner of the restaurant to keep the change.
This incident might have seemed quite normal to the owner but, very painful to the poor egg seller.
The point is,
Why do we always show we have the power when we buy from the needy ones? And why do we get generous to those who do not even need our generosity?
I once read somewhere:
'My father used to buy simple goods from poor people at high prices, even though he did not need them. Sometimes he even used to pay extra for them. I got concerned by this act and asked him why does he do so? Then my father replied, "It is a charity wrapped with dignity, my child”
Source: Contento Days
Bloggers Note: I must admit without being guilty that sometimes I am generous to those who do not need charity. But in moment of reverie, I often asked myself if those whom I'd been generous with, do they ever practice how to pass the bucket? By personal experience, I knew a few who never do.
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EATING ALONE WHEN TRAVELLING SOLO
By Leon Della Bosco
16 July 2015
Travelling alone can be one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable, however, one of the biggest drawbacks can be the awkwardness you may feel when eating alone.
And if you feel that the discomfort of eating alone is enough for you to put off travelling solo, then fear not – because our suggestions will help you to meeting new people or dine with your best travel partner in years –you.
1. Have a virtual lunch date
You may feel uncomfortable about the idea of sitting down to a meal by yourself, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Your mobile phone can keep you connected with all your friends back on home soil so, in theory you never need eat alone. Smart phones are a great way to keep in touch at all times, so why not use this time to stay connected?
There’s nothing wrong with chatting to friends via text message or social media whilst waiting for your meal. It may seem rude, but hey, it’s your holiday. And if it makes you feel more comfortable, then go ahead and enjoy a virtual lunch date with anyone, anywhere in the world.
And if you don’t like the idea of using your phone at the dinner table, then why not dine with your favourite author and take along a book?
2. Chat with the staff
Take the opportunity to get to know the locals and have a chat with the bar or waiting staff. They’re usually quite friendly and no one knows the lie of the land better than the people who live there. You may even find yourself surprised by the hospitality of strangers. Once you become acquainted, you will feel more comfortable returning to the same café or restaurant because, in a sense, you’ll be visiting friends.
3. Take in your surroundings
If you find yourself eating alone, take a look around. Chances are, there are others that are dining solo just like you. Either way, why not spend the time taking in your surroundings? Take notice of the architecture and nature around you. Stare at the birds, watch people at play and lovers in love. People watching can be a fun way to pass the time. You can make up stories about the people around you, or check out the latest fashions in a foreign land. Take stock of your surroundings and have a much more rewarding experience getting to know the land, and people, that you are visiting.
4. Sit at the bar
Dining solo offers you the chance to be that mysterious person sitting at the bar drinking some exotic cocktail. You’d be surprised at how enigmatic this can be and you may even find that people want to talk to you to find out your story. Sitting at the bar gives you a captive audience – the bar staff, so you’ll have fairly constant stream of chat to help pass the time.
5. You don’t have to eat alone
It’s not uncommon when dining alone to be asked by staff if you’d mind joining another table. Also, don’t be surprised if someone comes up and asks you to join them, or asks to join you – you’re most likely not the only one dining alone. Just remember, you can always say no.
Or why not extend the hand of friendship to a fellow solo diner? It’s easy. All you have to do is approach someone and say, “Hi, my name is xxxx, I’m from Australia, do you mind if I join you?”
Who knows, you may just make a few friends with whom you can share your experiences.
Have you ever had the opportunity to eat alone in a restaurant or café? Why not share you solo dining suggestions for our members?
Blog Author's Note: I'm not practically a social butterfly, but when I travel solo which I often do, anywhere; I have no problem fitting myself in any place at a given time. Eating alone for me has its own rewarding experiences. Rules #2,3, and 4 are pretty much handy for me.
Source: You Life's Choice
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HOW DO YOU STAY 'SAFE' AT OLD AGE
If you are 60 years old and above you really have to read and consider these realities of life.
(Remember only you can save yourself safely at old age).
1. DO NOT RETIRE
If you're over-aged, retire and get all the benefits but find another income-generating job or open a business that will keep you active physically and mentally.
Travel and bond with true friends, play a sport, learn a new hobby and volunteer in your community or parish.
Don't loaf around. Your spouse will hate you because you've become a sloppy, listless bum with nothing good to say about the household and things that you never bothered about before.
Solve crossword puzzles, play Scrabble, write your memoirs, and above all, read ...this will keep you alert and keep Alzheimer's at bay.
2. LIVE IN YOUR OWN PLACE TO ENJOY INDEPENDENCE, PRIVACY AND A SOLO LIFE
If you move in with your children, your rank or degree of importance is reduced to that of a bed spacer who has no place of honor or, worse, like crumbling furniture merely displayed with no added value.
Maybe, you have to 'kowtow' to conform to their own rules that are not kind, considerate or mindful of you?
If you witness your children engaged in a war of will and wits with your grandchildren, whom will you side with? Will they even appreciate your arbitration?
Remind your children that silence is not a sign of weakness; you are merely processing data that is taking longer to complete.
3. HOLD ON TO YOUR NEST EGG, BANK DEPOSITS AND ASSETS
If you want to help your children, do give, but not to the extent that you wipe out your life's earnings, singing heroically not a shirt on my back nor a penny to my name.
Staying solvent and in the black is a good hedge against all kinds of tempests. You will sleep better, you will not be afraid to express your opinion and you will be confident about yourself.
4. DON'T BELIEVE YOUR CHILDREN'S PROMISE TO CARE FOR YOU WHEN YOU GROW OLD - PRIORITIES CHANGE
Many children are not guilt- ridden or filled with a sense of moral obligation when the wife and offspring take top billing in their lives.
There are still children who would consider it a privilege to show compassion, genuine love and deep concern for their parents but be warned that not all children think alike.
5. EXPAND YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS TO INCLUDE YOUNG FRIENDS WHO WILL DEFINITELY OUTLIVE YOUR OLD BFF's
Keep up with new inventions, trends, music and lifestyle including all the scams and schemes you should guard against.
Remember that when you mix with the young, you also open a fresh avenue to channel your thoughts, experiences and values through so that the lessons you learned are not lost, forgotten or buried with you.
6. BE WELL-GROOMED AND SMELLING "SPRING FRESH" ALL THE TIME
There's nothing more depressing than seeing people exhale when you walk by because you reek of baul (camphor chest) or lupa (dirt). Old age or bust, don't look and smell like a corpse when you're not one yet.
7. DO NOT MEDDLE IN THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN
If they ask for your counsel, give it, but be ready to accept that they may not take it.
Their situations in life cannot be compared to the situations that you experienced in your life.
The playing field has changed and they need to develop their own set of survival skills.
If you raised them to be street smart, they can handle themselves in tough situations and be able to read people. Champion and encourage their dreams and desires but on their own terms.
8. DO NOT USE "OLD AGE" AS YOUR SHIELD AND JUSTIFICATION FOR TURNING GRUMPY
There's nothing more annoying than an arrogant, old fool.
Welcome each day as another chance to be kind and forgiving, to yourself and to others.
9. LISTEN TO WHAT OTHERS MAY SAY
Do not throw your weight around just because you are a septuagenarian or a nonagenarian.
You are not a depository of knowledge. Even if the roles have been reverse mode, make growing old a fun-filled, pleasant experience for you and your brood.
10. PRAY ALWAYS AND FOCUS ON YOUR ETERNAL LIFE
You will definitely leave everything behind, a final journey detached from burden and care.
Be more accepting that, sooner, not later, you will croak.
Prepare your swan song with a humble and contrite heart. If you believe in a merciful and loving God, there is no need to strut like a star. Nobody is.
MONEY --- Your last power at old age!
If you are broke at old age, nobody, not even your children will come close to you. You are a parasite. Yes, Money buys you power when you needed it most at old age.
Source and Author: Anon
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LOVE LETTER TO FILIPINOS
By David H. Harwell, PhD
(A sentimental open letter from an American teacher to the Filipino people Please take time to read this)
I am writing to thank Filipinos for the way you have treated me here, and to pass on a lesson I learned from observing the differences between your culture and mine over the years.
I am an expatriate worker. I refer to myself as an OAW, an overseas American worker, as a bad joke. The work I do involves a lot of traveling and changing locations, and I do it alone, without family. I have been in 21 countries now, not including my own. It was fun at first. Now, many years later, I am getting tired. The Philippines remains my favorite country of all, though, and I’d like to tell you why before I have to go away again.
I have lived for short periods here, traveled here, and have family and friends here.
My own family of origin in the United States is like that of many Americans—not much of a family. Americans do not stay very close to their families, geographically or emotionally, and that is a major mistake. I have long been looking for a home and a family, and the Philippines is the only place I have lived where people honestly seem to understand how important their families are.
I am American and hard-headed. I am a teacher, but it takes me a long time to learn some things. But I’ve been trying, and your culture has been patient in trying to teach me.
In the countries where I’ve lived and worked, all over the Middle East and Asia, it is Filipinos who do all the work and make everything happen. When I am working in a new company abroad, I seek out the Filipino staff when I need help getting something done, and done right. Your international reputation as employees is that you work hard, don’t complain, and are very capable. If all the Filipinos were to go home from the Middle East, the world would stop. Oil is the lifeblood of the world, but without Filipinos, the oil will not come from the ground, it will not be loaded onto the ships, and the ships will not sail. The offices that make the deals and collect the payments will not even open in the morning. The schools will not have teachers, and, of course, the hospitals will have no staff.
What I have seen, that many of you have not seen, is how your family members, the ones who are overseas Filipino workers, do not tell you much about how hard their lives actually are. OFWs are very often mistreated in other countries, at work and in their personal lives. You probably have not heard much about how they do all the work but are severely underpaid, because they know that the money they are earning must be sent home to you, who depend on them. The OFWs are very strong people, perhaps the strongest I have ever seen. They have their pictures taken in front of nice shops and locations to post on Facebook so that you won’t worry about them. But every Pinoy I have ever met abroad misses his/her family very, very much.
I often pity those of you who go to America. You see pictures of their houses and cars, but not what it took to get those things. We have nice things, too many things, in America, but we take on an incredible debt to get them, and the debt is lifelong.
America’s economy is based on debt. Very rarely is a house, car, nice piece of clothing, electronic appliance, and often even food, paid for. We get them with credit, and this debt will take all of our lifetime to pay. That burden is true for anyone in America—the OFWs, those who are married to Americans, and the Americans themselves.
Most of us allow the American Dream to become the American Trap. Some of you who go there make it back home, but you give up most of your lives before you do. Some of you who go there learn the very bad American habits of wanting too many things in your hands, and the result is that you live only to work, instead of working only to live. The things we own actually own us. That is the great mistake we Americans make in our lives. We live only to work, and we work only to buy more things that we don’t need. We lose our lives in the process.
I have sometimes tried to explain it like this: In America, our hands are full, but our hearts are empty.
You have many problems here, I understand that. Americans worry about having new cars, Filipinos worry about having enough food to eat. That’s an enormous difference. But do not envy us, because we should learn something from you. What I see is that even when your hands are empty, your hearts remain full.
I have many privileges in the countries where I work, because I am an expat. I do not deserve these things, but I have them. However, in every country I visit, I see that you are there also, taking care of your families, friends, bosses, and coworkers first, and yourselves last. And you have always taken care of me, in this country and in every other place where I have been.
These are places where I have been very alone, very tired, very hungry, and very worried, but there have always been Filipinos in my offices, in the shops, in the restaurants, in the hospitals, everywhere, who smile at and take good care of me. I always try to let you know that I have lived and traveled in the Philippines and how much I like your country. I know that behind those smiles of yours, here and abroad, are many worries and problems.
Please know that at least one of us expats has seen what you do for others and understands that you have a story behind your smiles. Know that at least one of us admires you, respects you, and thanks you for your sacrifices. Salamat po. Ingat lagi. Mahal ko kayong lahat.
Bio
David H. Harwell, PhD, is a former professor and assistant dean in the United States who now travels and works abroad designing language training programs. He is a published author and a son of a retired news editor.
Source: FB
Circulated in 16 February 2016
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KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AND MOVE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION
"Some people are meant to stay in your heart, but not in your life."
Some relationships are like glass. It’s better to leave it broken, than to hurt yourself more by trying to put it back together.
Just because one person doesn’t seem to care for you, doesn’t mean you should forget about everyone else who does.
Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right.
It is okay to be angry. It is never okay to be cruel.
Never do something permanently foolish just because you are temporarily upset.
Silence is often the loudest cry. Pay attention to those you care about.
We don’t always need advice. Sometimes all we need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand.
It’s not so much what you say that counts, it’ how you make people feel.
A silent hug means a thousand words to the unhappy heart.
Don’t mess with someone’s feelings just because you’re unsure of yours.
If you’re having a tough time letting go of someone who left you, realize that if they wanted to stay they would still be there. Sometimes you have to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next. It sucks when you know that you need to let go, but you can’t because you’re still hoping for the impossible to happen. Yes, it will hurt for awhile, but you have to forget about the person who forgot about you, and move on.
Source: Positive Thoughts
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LIVE YOUR OWN JOURNEY
By Thomas Plummer
February 26, 2018
You are not like everyone else.
You were born unique and you will die unique.
Your uniqueness in life means you have no choice but to find your own path.
Because you are unique means you will never find happiness living someone else's dream. You were born in spirit and intelligence to seek your own way, and to create your own journey living your dreams, chasing your own goals and living up to your unique talent.
We become trapped and lose our own essence of who we could be in life when we give up our life to carry others. If you want to be all you can be in life, then start with yourself.
If you are not happy, why would you believe for a second you could ever help someone else be happy?
Want to spend your life serving others? Then start with yourself, because if you can't carry your own load you will worthless trying to get someone else to carry his.
There has never been anyone born like you, and when you are gone, there will never another like you, so why not understand now that you are special in this world and why not celebrate everyday finding out how far in life you can take your own unique self?
Sadly, most of the world resents anyone trying to live his own journey.
There are people who spend their lives trying to force the rest of the world to be exactly like themselves, mirroring their beliefs, their values and their lives; but then there is you, the one strong enough to realize there is no one in the world ever like you and all that resentment against you finding your own unique self just makes you stronger.
Being the best you can ever be is you accepting your uniqueness in the world.
Celebrate you; quirks, insecurities, personal weirdness, strengths and all, because the world is a better place when you are happily chasing your own dreams instead of wasting your life trying to someone you were never meant to be.
Source: FB
Quotes:
"Don't expect everyone to understand your journey, especially if they've never had to walk your path." ~Zig Ziglar
"Don’t forget to pack your courage for your journey to greatness." ~David Weinbaum
"It is in the journey that God makes you strong.” ~Anon
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BASIC EMOTIONS
By Caloy Bueno
February 27, 2018
Among our basic emotions, fear is the most primitive, the most primordial human emotion. However, it is also responsible for enabling us to act toward, among others, ensuring our biological survival -- by any and all means humanly possible at any given time. Although many of our fears are only illusory, illusions do become integral parts of our reality -- because the mind is capable of imposing a belief so strongly that it can effectively blur the boundaries between illusions and reality...
Consider how many of our people who are hopelessly mired in squalor and poverty can never see the realization of attaining their own freedom from want. For them, life is a constant struggle for the biological need of the next life-sustaining meal, for example, and can't resist suffering various fears that always hound them, including any and all possible threats to life that could terminate their fragile existence at any instant. But ironically, this precarious kind of life also engenders a desperate hope -- commonly expressed and sustained as faith in the possibility of an absolution from their human failings and shortcomings, and perhaps even salvation from the dire conditions that characterize and of course limit their human potentials severely. However, the real irony exists in the fact that in spite of the deplorable conditions of their situation, they can periodically experience happiness -- no matter how fleeting or even incongruous and bizarre -- seemingly an "equalizing" influence or neutralizing factor against their sad plight...
When such a status occurs, even temporarily, fear becomes somewhat a more 'malleable' factor, somehow becoming amenable to a certain degree of controllability -- even the possibility of banishment altogether. This condition is actually the threshold that defines a point of transcendence from the debilitating conditions they've always known, which may also just be illusions that kept them tethered to their dire status -- toward a new realization they could somehow create and actualize. This they can do by transcending, to conquer and control, or even to banish those same fears (whether by conscious choice or militated by the effects of fear). This could simply be the process of crossing over the threshold into a new level of consciousness that automatically comes from experiencing and surviving any kind of crisis in their already difficult lives.
But then again, this new consciousness of other potentials or available possibilities (previously blocked from them) encompasses a new set of illusions that accompany the new situation or status they find themselves realizing. Inevitably, new fears also grow, but again these fears will help them to formulate fresh hopes, adaptations -- as well as new opportunities to experience happiness, sooner or later. And the beat goes on and on....
~ 'pag may time
QUOTES
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'" ~Eleanor Roosevelt
"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ~Nelson Mandela
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." ~Mark Twain
A LIFE WORTH REMEMBERING
By Thomas Plummer
"Humility understands we are all people who may never have another tomorrow, so we must live the best we can today." ~TPlummer
Arrogance is a poor time keeper of your life.
Arrogance leads you to believe there is always a magic day called tomorrow where everything gets done.
Arrogance wants us to believe we can love the kids tomorrow, create time for the one we love most tomorrow, get our business moving tomorrow, start living our life tomorrow and maybe even repair that damaged relationship tomorrow.
People who truly live the insane life of one with no limits nor boundaries have no tomorrows.
You can plan for a forever, but you live and work in today.
There is only today to live, to love, to accomplish and to make a difference.
Arrogance says we can start living our lives tomorrow.
Humility understands we are all people who may never have another tomorrow, so we must live the best we can today.
If you want a life worth remembering, then learn that time is always against you, but it will grant you one concession if you ask… and that is let me live today as hard as I can.
Source: FB
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I SEE DEAD PEOPLE
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal." ~Anon
I work as a physician in a tertiary psychiatry hospital. It is a huge referral center which includes 2 substance misuse units in addition to 7 psychiatric wards and a forensic ward.
It is here that I came to learn, know and respect what silence is. It is here that I came to respect time and its generosity for bodies and minds to heal and later cope.
It is here that I witness the lonely dignity of families in their anguish, seeing loved ones drift away, shutting them off. And families forced to see loved ones who have stopped wanting to go back. Those who have switched off. Not ever coming back as the persons they once were.
It is here that I have the privilege to see gentleness and kindness. Courtesy of patients towards us. The way hands reached out to cup your face whispering: "You are tired, Doctor. Go! We will be fine. Rou baith!"
Some patients had left us or should I say, the happy bunch who had been freed and "had gone home."
And I see them sometimes in corridors as I grapple with demon and ghosts and spirits. How do I know they are ours, our hospital dearies? Because of their warmth and comfort.
"Inta zaina, Tabiba?" (Are you well, Doctor?)
To which I'd reply, "Là, ana mafi zain. Ana marid. Ana mhuk marid." (No. I'm not well. I am sick. Sick in the head.)
And we'd chuckle conspiratorly.
Be well, Akho, Ukti, Mama, Baba! (Be well, brother, sister, mother, father). See you again, soon.
Source: FB
By Rolaiza Mimi Singayao
February 17, 2018
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MY PEACE, MY SHIELD"
By Thomas Plummer
"Reading opens the doors to the way forward"
Books are my peace against the noise.
They are my shields against the uneducated,
but overly opinionated.
Reading is my warmth late at night protecting me
from the coldness of life.
Books have shaped the path of my life.
The way forward, the answers, and even the questions,
are found studying those who have lived lives that matter,
that achieved, that made a difference to others.
Books add reason to a mind
seeking answers to the big questions in life.
Without books, arrogance, self-righteousness and blind belief replace thought and self-awareness.
People who change the world read, and often write,
about the potential of life.
Those who don't read never think and live
trapped by beliefs without foundation.
The vastly unread fall prey to those who scream the loudest,
yet never question what they hear or even if it might not be true.
Education is not what you learned in a school
Education is what you allow yourself to learn
after the formal learning stops.
You chose to be a person who seeks
learning and mastery for a lifetime.
Or you chose to live in a limited dark world with a head filled full of the nonsense of others without every questioning why you think you know what you know.
There is nothing more dangerous in life than someone with a strong opinion, but without the education, study and thought that shaped that opinion.
There will be no debate on this because those that understand read it, and those who don't already know everything they will ever know without a single thought for themselves.
Read people; study, learn educate yourself, challenge your mind and what you think you know.
Ask yourself, "Why do I believe what I believe?"
Reading opens the doors to the way forward.
Refusing to think limits you to a very small, dark world
constantly arguing what you never understood and angry over what you failed to question.
Read!
Source: FB
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LOYAL TO THE END
The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. ~Harriet Beecher Stowe
For the past 6 years, a dog named Capitan has slept in the grave of his owner every night. His owner, Miguel Guzman died in 2006 and Capitan disappeared shortly after the family attended the funeral services. They searched everywhere and put out flyers to try and find him. But no one had seen him.
A week later, some people who were at the cemetery late one evening spotted Capitan laying on the grave and they contacted the grounds keeper at the cemetery. The cemetery notified the family who promptly came to pick him up and take him home. But each night he would cry and scratch frantically at the door to go out and he wouldn't return home until morning. It was later discovered that Capitan would walk the 3 miles back to the cemetery each night to guard his master's grave.
It has been 7 years now. The cemetery does not close the gates until he arrrives each night promptly at 6 pm. He sleeps there all night guarding the grave until the ground keeper opens the gate in the morning.
This is a true picture of Capitan here.
Source: NTD Australia/FB
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ON EMOTIONS
By Alex Zander
31 January 2018
When emotions are in equanimity, then your life is smooth, comfortable, and at ease. ~Dr. Susan Shumsky
"Emotions are the language of the heart, sending us vital messages about our state of being. Whilst it is favourable to avoid negative emotions, we must not forcefully shut them down once they have already arisen. Doing so only leads to them returning with greater tenacity, as we have not addressed the root cause. When we opt for a quick means of escape, we bypass the process required to work through our pain.
It serves us better to listen to our emotions when they surface and express these emotions to their fullest. If you feel angry then vent, if you feel sad, then cry. If you feel frustrated, then have a little moan. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as you are not negatively impacting someone else with your energy or over-dramatising (in which case you need to reign in your excess emotions).
If we don’t release our emotions, they become trapped within our body and this can manifest in all kinds of illness and dis-ease. Let's be honest with how we are feeling!
The same applies to positive emotions. If you feel happy, laugh. If you feel overjoyed then scream with joy! This will do wonders for your overall state of being.
There are numerous ways in which people artificially block out their pain, primarily through alcoholic, narcotic, erotic and material means. Compulsively spending, eating, exercising, socialising and even promiscuity often indicate an avoidance of internal issues. People tend to prioritise immediate gratification, with no regard for long term consequences. For most people, dealing with a hangover is preferable to facing internal issues.
The key is in befriending our darker emotions and surrendering to them mindfully, but without becoming too attached. That way we can work out what the emotions are trying to tell us and make the necessary changes. When negative emotions arise, focus on being fully aware of that emotion. That way, our focus is split between feeling the emotion and being aware of it. The part which is aware is not anxious, fearful or frightened. It is simply just aware. By applying mindfulness in this way, the negative emotion no longer dominates our mental focus and begins to diminish.
With Love,
Alex Zander
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If we could but recognize our common humanity, that we do belong together, that our destinies are bound up in one another's, that we can be free only together, that we can be human only together, then a glorious world would come into being where all of us lived harmoniously together as members of one family, the human family. ~Desmond Tutu
GETTING PAST DIFFERENCES AND IDIOSYNCRACIES
"Life is complicated. We all know that. Among the issues and problems we have to contend and grapple with, is that we need to ensure our own survival by any and all means at our disposal. But this admittedly selfish instinct is sometimes modified and mitigated by the incongruous desire to sacrifice oneself or one's interests to enable others to survive or advance themselves instead. Morality plays a role in such basic dilemmas -- for when we are convinced and persuaded by our full and unequivocal belief in the moral superiority or necessity of our own sacrifice, we do it willingly and deliberately.
But we also know that human history, however, is replete with the accounts of man's inhumanity to man, where the sacrifices of many others are what provided the advantages or benefits to only a few or the chosen. Morality is therefore perverted to serve the needs of only some, and not the many -- because for any moral precept to be acceptable and binding, it has to serve everyone's interests and welfare equally and impartially. For a few to have a monopoly on what is good and beneficial isn't morally defensible, but reprehensible and would never stand the test of time. And yet, time and again, we encounter both in history and contemporary times the victory of selfish interests of a few, over and above the interests of the many.
Governments are the basic engine of all countries to pursue socioeconomic progress that redounds substantially and substantively to human development. Technology and science advance the boundaries of human knowledge and capabilities in pursuit of such development. Beyond the legal frameworks of government and within the context of the sovereignty of each country to provide their respective citizens the capacity for properly exercising individual rights and privileges as well as duties and responsibilities of citizenship, morality (as usually propounded by various religions) allows for a parallel measure of equality and the expression of self-worth and dignity of our humanity. For those who profess an atheistic worldview of existence, morality is still no less imperative for human survival and posterity.
Because not all people are able to comprehend and grasp the basic truths of life, but instead tend to exchange its simplicity and stark beauty for a complicated and chaotically unpredictable existence that is neither assured of survival nor of true merit and worth, all kinds of issues, problems, troubles, and hardships arise to bedevil human existence. Compound that with the disinclination (i.e., selfishness) of human free will to harmonize self-interests with those of others, then we see the continuing human tragedy throughout history and in our own time that is shown by human society/civilization.
Medical practice attempts to save us from sickness and premature death one life at a time. On the other hand, our immense modern capabilities for warfare and destruction can readily terminate all human existence within the space of even only a few precious breaths. Seemingly, morality and human laws are powerless against it -- unless those who have such power can exercise their moral beliefs and elect to save mankind from mutually-assured destruction. At our own levels, our daily lives proceed along according to how we understand and grasp our moral duties and responsibilities within our own individual contexts. We make mistakes and fall, we triumph and transcend our limitations, we realize our potentials and dream of a better future for ourselves and for all mankind -- in spite of the possibilities for all of it to end up in smoke and suddenly we are all goners...
In other words, if we can just get past our differences and idiosyncracies (deal with it positively), we should just stop our petty and senseless quarrels and debates and help one another to become better versions of our own selves from day to day. We have the opportunity to do so now. We should not waste it..."
~ 'pag may time
Source: Caloy Bueno
FB, December 26, 2017
PS. "Imprimi Potest," "Nihil Obstat" 😉
It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. ~Claude Monet
REFLECTION: THE POWER TO CHANGE
By Carlos Silverio Bueno
8 July 2017
Once you're old enough to realize that you have within you the power to change your own situation and conditions in life, that's when you begin to mature into your own person. And as you discover that you get better and better at facing and overcoming the challenges of life (and particularly other people who have exactly the same idea -- to dominate!), you realize that you actually can determine your own fate in almost every situation or problem you encounter. And that's when you begin to think about your responsibilities -- not just to yourself, but to others as well -- especially those who you really care about, perhaps even more than just your own self...
What we know and call "fate" is something that has always been with us, since the beginning of our lives. When we were young and still powerless, our fate was in the hands of those who cared for and sustained us. Just like how a child learns to walk, we take 'baby steps' -- but soon enough as we developed, we would be making bigger and bigger strides in the world with our own lives and capabilities...
That being so, it would appear that our fate is mostly in our own hands -- that we determine our own destiny. While that could be true, we are certainly not omnipotent nor omniscient, and many things in and around our lives which we cannot control also affect whether we can actually reach what we wanted or hoped for. Not to mention other people, who always seem to get in the way if they're not helping or encouraging you...
But, however you look at it, life is certainly always a continuing challenge -- to all our faculties, all our capabilities, all our dreams and aspirations. Sometimes, life throws you 'curve ball', which you may hit or miss (these could be opportunities, or some other possibilities). But the same thing can also be said about real danger and serious problems -- sometimes you get lucky enough (or sensible enough) to avoid those things that could perhaps end your life, or make it unimaginably miserable...
Thus -- 'ceteris paribus' ("all other things being equal" in Latin) -- we go through life, and some may stumble or bungle through, but nevertheless still going forward, no matter what; with more or less the same measure of probabilities as others have that either we make good, or have bad luck; do well, even excel, or grow badly and become despondent or desperate; become happy or turn sad, each in its own time; etc., etc. And still, the power to change all or most of what happens to us remains deep inside, turning itself into the hope for better things to come when conditions are unfavorable; or if everything is going well, a gratefulness that may lead us to be more charitable and understanding of others who are having a hard time, or are unable to cope as well as others...
That is life -- as it is said, our lives are what we make it. When we realize that we can't really blame others for whatever happens in our own lives, then that's when you look inwards and ask yourself some hard questions about how you managed your own life, how you developed and nurtured it up to the present situation you are in; or on the other hand perhaps you may congratulate and pat yourself on the back for doing well, maybe despite previous failings or shortcomings. Our own fate is inside us -- perhaps it takes the form of instinct or intuition, helping to guide us on life's choices...
But the choices are ours to make -- not for others to make for us. Because if that happens, you have defaulted on your responsibility to yourself. Abnegation or denial is usually convenient or expedient to use and hide behind -- but you can't really hide from your own conscience. It's right there inside you, perhaps even right beside the sense of your own fate -- impelling you through your own life to face everything and do what it takes to make the best of it. Because that's the only way you can get the best for your life -- to always strive to better yourself, so that any and all situations you may find yourself in or be involved with, you're prepared to do the best you can -- and thus be able to also achieve the best possible for and in accordance with your efforts. You always have to earn it yourself -- and in doing so, you become worthy of true satisfaction and contentment with your own life and accomplishments...
Reflecting on my life, it is really as simple as that -- which is why my tastes have always been simple... I ONLY WANT THE BEST!!! (What could be simpler?!)
~ 'pag may time
“If you’re feeling frightened
about what comes next,
don’t be.
Embrace the uncertainty.
Allow it to lead you places.
Be brave
as it challenges you
to exercise both
your heart and your mind
as you create
your own path
toward happiness;
don’t waste time with regret.
Spin wildly
into your next action.
Enjoy the present,
each moment,
as it comes,
because you’ll never
get another one
quite like it.
And if you should
ever look up and
find yourself lost,
simply take a breath
and start over.
Retrace your steps
and go back
to the purest place
in your heart…
where your hope lives.
You’ll find your way
again.”
~Everwood
From Trust Your Journey
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A JOURNEY TO NATURE
“A young man asked his teacher: ‘What makes us happy?’”
The teacher replied: ‘There is no one absolute answer to this eternal question. But if only we can teach ourselves to appreciate Nature — with its incomparable Beauty, and to take a Journey worth remembering — together with our friends and loved ones: perhaps we can all be happy. If not all the time but most of the time.
Then, the young man embraced the teacher and asked him to go with him on his Journey. The two walked smiling at each other.”
Source: From Rado Gatchalian, FB
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7 Steps to Dealing with Criticism
Here are 7 things to do when you're being criticized.
When it comes to criticism, it is surely better to give than to receive. No one enjoys being criticized, and we're bound to respond badly to it. We're all wired for defensiveness; it's normal and almost universal response to criticism, but it's also the archenemy of intimacy and connection. Our personal power rests on our dialing it down.
Following these 7 steps can help you keep your response from escalating, and turn your relationships around, but each requires motivation, goodwill, and practice.
1. Recognize your defensiveness
We listen defensively when we listen for what we don’t agree with. Under fire? Catch yourself when you see that you are focusing only on the inaccuracies, distortions, and exaggerations that will inevitably be there.
2. Breathe
Defensiveness starts in the body. It makes us tense and on guard, unable to listen and take in new information. Take slow, deep breaths, and do what you can to calm yourself.
3. Listen only to understand
Listen only to discover what you can agree with. Do not interrupt, argue, refute, or correct facts, or bring up your own criticisms and complaints. If your points are legitimate, that’s all the more reason to save them for a different time, when they can be a focus of the conversation and not a defense strategy.
3. Apologize for your part
The ability to apologize indicates to the critical party that you’re capable of taking responsibility, not just evading it. It will also help shift the exchange out of combat mode and into collaboration. Save your thoughts about their part until later.
4. Let the critical or angry person know that you will continue to think about the conversation
Even if nothing has been resolved, tell the other person that you take his or her thoughts and feelings seriously: “It’s not easy to hear what you’re telling me, but I want you to know that I’m going to give it a lot of thought.”
5. Don’t listen when you can’t
It’s fine to tell the other person that you want to have the conversation and that you recognize its importance, but you can’t have it right now: “I’m too tired and preoccupied to really listen.” Offer a specific time to re-open the conversation, so that you can give it your best attention.
6. Speak your own truths
You need to tell the critical person how you see things differently. It won’t help your relationship to get into the pattern of being an overly accommodating, peace-at-any-price type of individual who avoids conflict at any cost. Still, timing and tact are everything. It’s usually best to save your different point of view for a future conversation, when you’ll have a better chance of being heard. Remember that even the most difficult things can be said with kindness.
7. Draw the line at insults
There may be a time to sit through an initial blast, but not if rudeness has become a pattern in your relationship, rather than an uncommon occurrence. Exit from rudeness, while offering the possibility of another conversation: “I want to hear what bothers you, but I need you to approach me with respect.”
A wholehearted listening is at the heart of the good apology — and essential for repairing big betrayals and everyday hurts. Wholehearted listening is also at the heart of relationship success, at home and at work. We're generally more interested in sharpening our talking skills rather than our listening skills. But here’s what four decades of studying relationships has taught me: How we listen is the defining factor in how our relationships go, and whether the other person is happy to see us at the end of the day.
Source: Roman Demkiv/Shutterstock
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MINDFULNESS OF BREATH
Try these directions for mindfulness of breathing, a basic concentration practice:
When you’re ready to meditate, close your eyes and bring your attention to the motion of your breath as it enters and leaves your nostrils. Keep your focus at the nostrils, noting the full passage of each in-breath and out-breath from beginning to end. Don’t follow the breath into your lungs or out into the air; just watch its flow in and out of the nostrils. If you can, notice the subtle sensations of the breath as it comes and goes. Be aware of each in-breath and out-breath as it passes by the nostrils, just as the doorman watches each person who comes and goes through a door.
Attend to the feeling of the breath. Don’t try to imagine it or visualize it. Note the sensation of the breath just as it is, exactly as you feel it. You may feel the breath at the rim of the nostrils, or just inside the nose, or on the upper lip beneath the nose. The sensations you feel will change – you may sometimes feel the breath like the light touch of a feather, like a dull throb, or as an intense point of pressure on your lip, or in countless other ways. There is no “right” way for the breath to feel; just be aware of what it is. Each time you notice your mind has wandered to other thoughts, or is caught by background noises, bring your attention back to the easy, natural rhythm of your breathing.
Don’t try to control your breath. Simply watch it. Fast or slow, shallow or deep, the nature of the breath does not matter. Your full attention to it is what counts. If you have trouble keeping your mind on the breath, count each one up to ten, then start over again at one. Or, to anchor your mind on your breath, you can occasionally make a strong, deliberate inhalation and exhalation. Then let your breath return to its normal rate.
Whenever you realize you’re thinking about something else, return your awareness to your breath. Don’t try to fight off thoughts. Just let them go.
If sounds distract you, do the same: Let them be and simply start watching your breath again. If aches or itches bother you, slowly move or shift to ease them if you must. But keep your mind on breathing while you do it.
Your mind will wander, and when you first start to meditate you may be acutely aware of how active it is. Don’t worry about it. Just keep returning your attention to your breath, letting go of whatever the mind wanders to. This is the essence of meditation: Letting go of your thoughts.
– Ram Dass
June 26, 2015
Source: https://www.ramdassdotorg
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6 Special Personality Traits of People Who Prefer To Be Alone
When someone who prefers having a smaller circle of friends and do not mind spending time alone, they are called loners. People perceive them as individuals who are very lonely and depressed. Unlike those who actually feel lonely, these types of individuals never actually feel lonely.
In fact, being with their own company is exactly what makes them feel fulfilled. They feel more in touch with themselves and do their best thinking, making them more self-aware of things. This is probably why they prefer to be alone.
It’s not often that people get to become friends with a loner, mainly because they are very picky with whom they choose become close with.
Firm Boundaries:
A loner always emphasizes healthy, strong boundaries. They always realize that they’re never alone, even if they were the last person living on earth.
Because of this, they always respect the boundaries of others, and expect that same respect in return. If others cross those boundaries, they will be the first to let you know. They believe that if you cannot be faithful to yourself, then you cannot be faithful to others.
Loyalty:
Unlike those who need to be in the spotlight, a loner does not crave attention. But, once they find someone they want to become close friends with, they become the most loyal friend you’ll ever have.
They know their worth, and if they find you to also be worthy of being in their life, they will give you everything whenever you need it. This goes for all fields of life, relationships, family, friends, and work.
Keeps an Open Mind:
Just because they enjoy the company of themselves over others, this does not mean that they are rigid and close minded, it’s the total opposite. They are very open-minded, and are constantly up for new adventures and activities.
Even though they enjoy new and exciting things, they will always make sure they have their alone time to collect their thoughts before taking up things with new people.
Level-Headed:
When adversity and challenges come into play, loners do not panic or run, they are strong willed individuals. Their self-reflection time is what has prepared them for situations like this.
They may feel stressed and overwhelmed in some situations, but rather than waste time with distractions, they will spend some time alone and recharge their batteries.
Self-Awareness:
While many people are frightened by their emotions, loners choose to focus on them and be aware of them. Become aware of one’s self is a very difficult task to achieve.
Because of this, no one knows them better than they do and this allows them to understand people around them better. Granted, there will be times of depression and anxiety, but loners always have the ability to get through them and learn their lesson.
They Value Time:
If there is one thing that is extremely important to a loner, it’s time. The most important asset for success in life is time, and loners are well aware of that.
They are never late, they never waste anyone’s time and never let anyone waste theirs. Because of their ability to sniff out a fake person, they will never tolerate someone who they feel will try and play with their emotions.
They Know No One is Perfect:
Everyone has flaws and ways to improve those flaws. So rather than make a big fuss about them, they know to just go with the flow.
Loners always do what they feel is right for themselves and for others and always make sure that they do whatever they can to address each flaw. They are always completely honest with themselves and with others and will try and help improve those flaws.
Very Empathetic:
Loners are able to feel and sympathize with others on the same level that they are. Being able to feel everyone’s sorrow can be a curse to have, but loners know how to handle it.
Because they are so empathetic, it’s very easy for them to find the bright side out of any negative situation. Rather than beat around the bush and feed their friends some wisdom, they would much rather find an immediate
By Brandon Marji
Staff Writer
September 28, 2017
Source: providr dot com
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THERE ARE 14 WAYS TO CATCH A LIAR
1. Liars usually make too much or too little eye contact. If someone is incapable to look you in the eyes or is staring you down, that person may be trying to cover his skeletons
2. Liars tend to speak without using contractions: “I DID NOT” have an affair with another woman
3. A deceiver will often show signs of discomfort by turning away from you
4. The body language of a phony is revealed by: rapid blinking, dilated pupils, pitch changes, less smiling, shrugging shoulders, fidgeting, and crossed arms
5. Unless they’re professional actors or psychopaths, liars tend to stutter and hesitate when they are speaking
6. Liars often provide additional information without really need to do so
7. A liar will use your words to answer a question
8. A guilty person will get defensive, whereas an innocent person will often go on the offensive
9. A liar might unconsciously place objects (book, coffee cup, a drink, etc.) between themselves and you
10. A liar’s timing tends to lag between gestures/expressions and words
11. Oftentimes liars give inconsistent explanations
12. They also over-emphasize details. When people are trying to avoid telling the truth, they often focus on an obscure point instead of the key issue
13. Watch out for frequent touching of the face, throat, and mouth. For example, a liar might scratch his/her nose or behind the ear
14. Be wary of pursed mouths. While lying, a person may set his or her mouth in a narrow line
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Empaths are truly gifted people in many ways. They are masters of reading body language and have no trouble reading your mind too. They innately know what you are thinking but not telling, even if you are not aware of it.
It is a rare gift which makes them what they are – empaths. They sense the feelings of others as their own which makes them great listeners and trouble-solvers.
Empaths have one rare trait that makes them even more powerful – these people are experts in human psychology. They need just one look towards a person and they can tell immediately if that person is a liar, faker, or evil, so they can protect themselves before hand.
Below are 10 reasons why you should not ever get involved with an empath if you can’t handle their intense personality.
1. They are natural lie-detectors
You may have read somewhere by now about ways to detect lies. There are many signs revealed: from looking you straight into your eyes and giving way more unnecessary details to the story – to their bodily subconscious movements. You can learn all these tactics. However, empaths don’t need them because they are born with this gift to spot liars and lies immediately. They can’t tell how, they just feel it in their gut.
2. They can sense jealousy
Empaths know when you are jealous, even if you try your best to hide it. They may act like they don’t see your jealousy, but they do. Empaths sense when you are jealous because of them, but they won’t confront you because they don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. They may even be more humble around you in order to not trigger your jealousy.
3. You cannot fool them
As we said before, empaths perceive other people’s feelings, so there is no way you can fool them. They know a faker once they see it. When they sense that something is not right with a person, they just distance themselves as prevention.
4. They can sense hatred
One of the most powerful emotions that an empath can sense is hatred. This emotion transmits such a strong negative energy that empaths can’t stand it. They will just distance themselves because they don’t want to be affected by negativity. However, they will not be hurt by your hatred, because they are comfortable in their own skin and want to be surrounded only by positive energy and good people.
5. They see your prejudices
If you have any hidden prejudice towards people with different skin color, or sexual orientation – empaths can see this even if you, yourself, are not aware of it. Empaths doesn’t like shallow people full of prejudices and hatred towards people who are different than them.
6. They know when you are not okay
I think everyone is familiar, or had a conversation when someone asked you if you were okay, and you said you were okay, even if deep down you were not. Maybe you wanted to hide your emotions in order to not have to explain why you are distressed, but an empath will know that you lied. And, they will ask why are you feeling that way and will offer you a listening ear and will try everything they can to help you.
7. They hate insincere flattery
Empaths can sense when someone is giving them false compliments and affection to gain something from them. Even if they don’t react to this, empaths see what you are trying to do. They also hate small talk and nothing annoys them more than flatterers.
8. They know when someone is on the wrong path
If you are lucky to have an empath as a friend, and they are trying to warn you about something that you are doing – listen to them. If they feel that something doesn’t add up, or feels strange to them – it is. Their intuition is so developed that they get this feeling usually when something is wrong.
9. They know when you pretend to be someone you are not
Empaths know when someone is acting around them, trying hard to be someone they are not. Empaths hate this. They hate split personalities. If you want to have an empath in your life you should always be yourself. They will accept your flaws without doubt as long as you are not pretending.
10. They can identify exploitation
Empaths are not naïve. They can see when someone is using them. They don’t tolerate any form of exploitation. If they see they are being used – they remove themselves quickly from the situation.
Source: FB, July 7, 2017
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Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
13 Characteristics of People Who Have True Integrity
1. They value other people’s time.
They value their own time so they also value the time of other people. They know you have plenty of other places you need to be and won’t hold you up. If you spend time with them, it is likely they will thank you for that as well.
2. They give credit where it is due.
They do not take credit for things they did not do. They will always credit those who deserve it. If you help this person with a project he or she will likely mention your name so you can take credit for your work.
3. They are authentic.
They are their truest forms. You won’t catch them in a lie or being fake.
4. They are always honest.
They are honest people that feel no need to lie as it is important for them to get to where they need to get in life honestly.
5. They never take advantage of others.
They are not the kind of people who will take advantage of someone else. They love to build people up and help them get where they need to be. Taking too much from someone else will never be an issue with someone who has a lot of integrity.
6. They do not argue over disagreements.
They will talk through things in a civil manner or not talk at all. You cannot and will not force this person into arguing over something completely ridiculous. I find this to be a very respectable trait.
7. They give most people the benefit of the doubt.
They try to see the good in everyone. I think this is because they feel like maybe there are more people in this world that also have integrity. That being said, if you take advantage of them too much they will get rid of you.
8. They know when something is bothering someone.
They have a great intuition that lets them know when something is going on. If someone is down in the dumps they will notice. Chances are they will actually do what they can to cheer you up.
9. They believe others.
They accept your word as truth until it is disproven. That being said, they do not take lying well. And once you lie to them, it is unlikely that they will ever take your word again.
10. They apologize first.
If they have done something wrong they will come to you and apologize. This is just how they are. They own up to their mistake and try to make things right.
11. They are humble.
They do not quite know their own worth. While they are very important and do so much good they don’t quite see it. You should remind them of it.
12. They do good when they can.
They are always helping other people. They love to know that they have improved someone’s life. It gives their lives meaning.
13. They are always kind to those who need it.
Giving kindness can go a long way. When someone looks like they need a little pick me up these people deliver. They can brighten up almost anyone’s day.
If you are someone who has true integrity, thank you for being who you are and thank you for all that you do. You really do actually make a difference in society, please keep up the good work. If you feel no one else is proud of you, know that I am.
Source: Awareness Act dot com
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Psychologists Reveal 9 Tricks To Attract All People Around You
Some people simply ooze unfathomable appeal which pulls everyone to them. People flock to such people.
The best part about this is that your looks are irrelevant.
9 ways to become a well-liked attractive person, proven by Psychology:
1. INDIVIDUAL IMAGE – SELF CONCEPT
Baumeister (1999) provides the following self concept definition: "The individual’s belief about himself or herself, including the person’s attributes and who and what the self is”.
If you see yourself in a positive and healthy light, your life experiences will be positive and healthy. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your life will be free of challenges and adversity, just that you will have a healthier approach to dealing with them.
To be remembered in a crowd, you must stand out. For that, you need to create a unique image – an image which isn’t easy to forget. It can be anything. The way you walk. Your gestures, posture, the way of speaking or dressing sense – it can be anything. It could be an amazing hairstyle like Marilyn Monroe’s or Salvador Dali’s facial expressions (and his mustache). It’s up to you.
2. YOU NEED A BIG DREAM
As a result of a psychological phenomenon called the Einstellung effect, executing a familiar solution blinds us to other, more creative possibilities. But new problems present new opportunities.
A fellow graduate of Harvard Business School, Salman Khan is well-versed in turning good ideas into potential business opportunities. He states in his Edge interview:
“Instead of it just being a one-off collection of videos or a one-off software app that I tried to do as a venture-backed business, maybe [Khan Academy] could be the next Stanford, the next Harvard, this new type of institution that people haven’t visualized quite yet, but it could help empower millions or billions of students for the next 500 years.
And as soon as you start thinking on those scales, you go after a bigger problem and you phrase things differently and, frankly, you inspire more people. More amazing people are going to want to be part of that audacious goal.”
3. BE CONFIDENT
Confidence is alluring. People admire strong and independent people. But first, what does confidence even mean?
As Mark D. White, chair of the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY describes on Psychology Today:
“There are two ways to portray it. The first, more formal version of confidence is similar to faith: it’s based on believing something you don’t know with certainty. If you were aware that you possessed a certain quality, you wouldn’t need confidence in it—it’s only when you can’t be sure that you need confidence.
The other sense of confidence, the one that’s invoked in articles on dating and attractiveness, is more substantive. It’s an awareness of who you are, regardless of how you compare or measure up to others. It shows people that you’re comfortable with yourself, which grants you a certain poise, charm, or assertiveness. It also implies that you don’t need to compete with anyone or belittle anyone else to lift yourself up; as a result, confident people are more willing to praise others because they aren’t worried about making themselves look worse. All of this clearly accounts for the general attractiveness of confidence, if for no other reason than its general positivity.
The best kind of confidence is like a classical virtue: it strikes the “golden mean” between self-doubt and arrogance, allowing a person to embody his or her positive traits without bragging about them. (And in the spirit of wei wu wei, this may broadcast a person’s positive traits more effectively!)”
Also, a short tip: avoid using uncertain speech form such as “I guess, I hope, maybe, etc.”
4. FORGET ABOUT COMPLAINTS
You can’t be charismatic with a negative streak in you. To be liked by most, you need to avoid gossip, criticizing and complaining.
As Lisa Juliano, Psy.D. writes on Psychology Today:
“For chronic complainers, each situation becomes an opportunity to find fault. Eventually, this drains life of pleasure. Chronic complaining can also affect mood by producing a negative mood state. Thus the chronic complainer falls into a perpetual cycle of finding fault, feeling negative, and then being unable to face the next situation with an open mind. Eventually, the capacity for feeling joy is compromised.”
Even during hard times, try to avoid topics that bring you down. Focus on what you already have and be grateful.
5. USE BODY GESTURES
Your body plays an important role to exhibit your level of confidence. Slouching, fumbling, avoiding eye contact can affect your personality negatively whereas smiling more often and keeping an open posture can improve your persona drastically.
There’s ample evidence that eye contact is highly compelling: We’re more attuned to faces whose eyes are trained on us than faces whose eyes are looking elsewhere.
Adoree Durayappah-Harrison, a graduate of three masters programs, including Buddhist practices from Harvard states:
“According to a recent study published in the January 2011 issue of Psychological Science, “posture expansiveness”—using one’s posture to open up the body and occupy space—activates a sense of power in the mind, making people feel and behave as if they are in charge.”
6. BECOME A GREAT STORYTELLER
Storytelling is a skill. If you want to learn it, you need to exude confidence.
Gregory Ciotti writes on Psychology Today:
“Philip Pullman once said: “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
"Being a great storyteller is also useful as an Average Joe interacting with other people. Being able to communicate your ideas and stories in a clear and captivating way allows for better social interactions.”
7. DON’T LOOK AWAY
Eye contact is one of the surest ways to declare your undivided attention. Depending on the situation, it can be a piercing look, or a kind, understanding glance. Above everything, don’t break a conversation by checking a text or looking at something else while people talk you.
Art of Manliness, one of my favorite educational websites explains it clearly:
“Making greater eye contact with others can increase the quality of all of your face-to-face interactions; there’s no area of your life where being seen as more attractive, confident, and trustworthy wouldn’t be a boon. Being able to look people in the eye and hold their gaze can help you better network with others, land a job, pitch an idea, make a moving speech, woo the ladies, and intimidate your enemies. It can help a lawyer win over a jury, a boxer psych out his opponent, and a minister connect with his congregants. It can even aid a musician in winning over new fans; studies have shown that the more eye contact a musician makes with his audience, the more they enjoy his music—take note ye members of struggling bands!”
Next time you talk to someone and move your eyes elsewhere, think of the statement above.
8. LEARN TO LISTEN TO OTHERS
Learn to give importance to others. Everyone has their own problem and you could make a huge difference just by listening to them. It shows that you genuinely care about them. They will really appreciate it and feel special.
Take a look at this from your point of view: do you want people jumping over your phrases just to tell their opinion, thoughts and emotions, or you want someone with whom you can fully express yourself without being interrupted?
And let’s not forget, Jeff Thompson Ph.D. clearly adds another great importance of listening to others:
“According to Bernard Ferrari, author of Power Listening: Mastering the Most Critical Business Skill of All, good listening is the key to developing fresh insights and ideas that fuel success. Ferrari says that although most people focus on learning how to communicate and how to present their own views more effectively, this approach is misguided and represents missed opportunities.”
9. USE THE MIRROR EFFECT}
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. It makes the other person to get along with you better. It’s easier to get in tune with people who have similar habits and style.
By mirroring their gestures, facial expressions and style, the interlocutor starts feeling comfortable. This is mostly effective because humans are by nature narcissistic. They’re bound to admire someone who is so much like themselves!
As described on Wikipedia:
“The concept often affects other individuals’ notions about the individual that is exhibiting mirroring behaviors, which can lead to the individual building rapport with others.
Mirroring can establish rapport with the individual who is being mirrored, as the similarities in nonverbal gestures allow the individual to feel more connected with the person exhibiting the mirrored behavior. As the two individuals in the situation display similar nonverbal gestures, they may believe that they share similar attitudes and ideas as well. Mirror neurons react to and cause these movements, allowing the individuals to feel a greater sense of engagement and belonging within the situation.”
Source: SELF-IMPROVEMENT
www.simplecapacity dot com
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Are You Bound to Get Shaky Hands as You Age?
Occasional trembling and shaky hands can occur at any age, but are more likely the older you get. If you notice this sign in yourself or a loved one, you may fear the worst.
When people see shaking and tremor in older adults, they think of Parkinson’s disease, a chronic movement disorder that can lead to other problems.
But neurologist Michal Gostkowski, DO, says you shouldn’t jump to this conclusion. “The biggest misconception about shaking and aging is that it means a person has Parkinson’s disease,” he says.
There are five things to keep in mind when you or a loved one notice a tremor.
1. When the tremor occurs is important
If shaking occurs during an action —- reaching for something, writing, steadying a cup of coffee — that’s called an active tremor. Active tremors do not usually point to a serious neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
Even so, Dr. Gostkowski says it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor, who will look for underlying causes. For example, essential tremor, another much more common movement disorder, frequently occurs after age 50. Once the cause of an active tremor is identified, doctors can treat it.
If shaking occurs when the hands are at rest — for example, folded in your lap — that’s called a resting tremor. If a resting tremor develops suddenly or worsens over time, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Resting tremor may be a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
2. Some tremors run in families
Some people are more likely than others to develop shakiness as they get older. Essential tremor is commonly passed down genetically through families, for example.
“Active tremors are not necessarily inevitable as we age,” Dr. Gostkowski says. “But if your parents had age-related shakiness, you’re more likely to have it too.”
3. Knowing tremor triggers is important
Anxiety, stress, fatigue, low blood sugar and/or too much caffeine can cause or worsen a tremor.
So can many types of drugs. Shakiness may be more intense or occur more often if you or a loved one are taking:
* Mood stabilizers such as lithium
* Seizure medications such as Depakote® (frequently used for other conditions, including migraine and neuropathy)
* Bronchodilators for asthma, such as albuterol or theophylline
Talk to your doctor about making a change if you suspect a prescription is causing active tremor.
4. A range of treatments is available
The drugs used to treat tremor tend to be sedating. Ask whether it’s safe to drive a car or perform work duties while taking them. Sedatives also may not interact well with other drugs, which you’re more likely to take as you age. So ask about potential problem drug interactions.
At best, medications can slow tremor but rarely stop it completely. When drugs are unable to control an active tremor, other treatment options are deep brain stimulation or a Gamma Knife(R) procedure.
In deep brain stimulation, a neurosurgeon implants electrodes in the brain. The electrode uses a small amount of electricity to normalize brain circuity and reduce tremor.
“Many patients are reluctant to consider surgery at first, but after the procedure, they wish they’d done it sooner,” says Dr. Gostkowski.
5. The sooner you seek help, the better
Whether you or your loved one has occasional shaking or it happens all the time, it’s best to talk to your doctor about your concerns. The sooner you address the issue, the better. Your doctor can identify ways to treat it immediately.
And if it turns out there is no cause for concern at all, you’ll have peace of mind — and that’s priceless.
Source: January 25, 2016 / By Brain and Spine Team
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THE WISDOM IN HOT CHOCOLATE
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.
During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups — porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He then told them all to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they each had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:
"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."
"The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink."
"What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup ... but you consciously went for the BEST cups.
And then you began eyeing each other's cups."
"Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life."
"The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate."
The happiest people don't need the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
And enjoy your hot chocolate!!
~Author Anon
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David Nye: POPULIST and ELITIST
A true populist is not one who sinks to and addresses the baser animal instincts of society to incite hatred and animosity.
A true populist is one who inspires society to do better, to be better—both on a visceral and moral level.
A true populist bridges the gap in significant terms between those who have been blessed with more and those who struggle just to survive.
A true populist sends a clear message to the topmost 1% of society that the 99% below them must get a more significant and tangible piece of the pie, and that he should do everything in his power to get that done, and to make sure both sides understand and appreciate why he must do it.
This is not inconsistent with what a true elitist is.
A true elitist understands and recognizes he has been blessed by the Almighty with a better life, including the capacity to see things from a broader and deeper perspective.
... a true elitist should apply compassion in putting his blessings to good use for the greater public interest, because that is what is expected of him—nothing less.
"The perfect storm would be when true populists and true elitists unite and lead our society forward."
This is sacrosanct.
For too long a time our society has been run by pseudo-elitists and pseudo-populists, the Gordon Geckos (“greed is good”) among us on both sides of the spectrum.
It’s time to clean up a mess which has reached alarming proportions, and let’s tell the Gordon Geckos among us to go to hell.
Source: Repost from Jon T Hermosisima
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The Native American Code of Ethics
1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.
6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth – whether it be people or plant.
7. Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.
10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. Animals, plants and other living creatures are all part of your worldly family.
12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of one’s will within this universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react.Be responsible for your own actions.
17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others – especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.
18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.
20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
Source: Life Coach Code dot com
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12 Reasons Why Old Souls Have Such A Hard Time Finding Love
1. They have a strong sense of identity.
They know who they are, which means they also know – specifically – what they do and do not want in a partner, what works and what doesn’t. While this is fantastic in terms of being able to choose wisely, it ultimately diminishes their pool of prospects pretty significantly.
2. Left unchecked, their hyper-intuitiveness can wreck relationships.
Often prone to overthinking because of how deeply sensitive they are, their capacity to worry and make assumptions can break relationships that don’t have a perfectly strong foundation.
3. Many are in the throes of twin flame relationships.
They’re attached or are with people who are not their “forever” people, rather, intense connections they’re meant to learn, and rapidly expand, from.
4. They often have a greater purpose that must be attended to first – one that love would distract them from.
They usually have to accomplish quite a bit on their own before they find love – this is because old souls love deeply, and completely. To be given love too soon would keep them from the other important things they are here to do.
5. They will not settle for anything less than soulmate love.
They require a lot more than just a surface-level, “average” relationship. They absolutely will not settle, and sometimes, that means biting the bullet and being alone for longer than what’s “average” as well.
6. While many people can bring them passion, few can bring compatibility.
Because they feel so deeply and others find them so fascinating, it’s easy for them to find infatuation, but to be with someone who is truly their best friend, deepest confidant *and* lover is a challenge.
7. They’re less inclined to go out and meet people in modern ways.
Even if they have nothing against online dating, it doesn’t always come naturally for them, nor does finding a random hookup at a bar or being set up blindly seem appealing.
8. They’re natural healers, and often attract people who need help, not love.
And that attraction is reciprocated. There’s almost nothing that feels better to an old soul than being able to help someone who truly needs it. However, at some point in time, it’s crucial for them to realize that they have to choose a partner, not a student, or a charity case.
9. They dislike the “game.”
Dating is inherently exhausting to an older-spirited person. Feigning disinterest for the sake of looking “cool” or knowing which faux pas other people find off-putting (how long after the first date do you text again?) isn’t instinctive to them, and can stress them out more than they ever find it “fun.”
10. Their standards are sky-high.
They expect a lot from themselves, so likewise, they expect a lot from their partners. While this is a great thing, it’s another quality that has to be kept in check: it’s more important to be able to accept the qualities that aren’t deal-breakers than it is to just write a person off because they’re imperfect.
11. They have baggage.
People who developed their inner selves quickly did so for a reason: they had to cope, they had to grow, or they had to learn from some challenging experiences that life set up for them. While this is a great thing on its own, unresolved issues can often re-manifest in close relationships.
12. They feel fear as intensely as they feel love.
The degree to which they love something is proportionate to how much they fear losing it, or not being “good enough” for it. They don’t just love intensely, they feel everything else intensely, too, and sometimes, that gets in the way of the really good things in front of them.
By Brianna Wiest of thoughtcatalogu.com
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SOCIAL BEINGS
We are social beings. This, of course, is an obvious statement. What is not so obvious, however, is that often we forget it -- or going to the other extreme -- we take it for granted. When we forget that we are social beings, we become disconnected from others, or exhibit anti-social behavior and easily get into misunderstandings, even arguments and fights. When we take it for granted, we may easily offend others by being too familiar (without the express permission to act or decide on something that others should have a say upon in the first place), or simply not being considerate of their feelings and thoughts on anything, even to the extent of being overbearing. Most people probably stay or 'inhabit' the middle zone between these two extremes -- "civil" or "proper" with the correct etiquette or being appropriately friendly could describe how people behave in this zone, which may also be represented as the "Goldilocks" zone (from the well-known story of Goldilocks and the Bears) -- thus, the "just right" or generally acceptable social behavior.
As social beings, acting and behaving accordingly, we are in harmony with nature. Our basic social nature enables us to be cohesive and optimally functional in our society settings (a.k.a.. human civilization), our circles -- filial/personal, professional, social/community (our clubs and associations). When we go to either extremes of becoming anti-social or taking it for granted, we may become dysfunctional beings and out of balance in our own milieu. There are many ways or reasons that such extreme conditions may occur in individuals -- after all, most human beings may have tough exteriors or facades, but invariably we are all 'soft' inside (figuratively and literally speaking).
Even animals such as dogs react to us humans accordingly, because dogs are also social animals -- their society is called the pack, and most species of dogs prefer to be in such packs simply because it ensures their survival. (As far as pet dogs are concerned, those that are alone, their "pack" automatically consists of their human masters.) "Man's best friend" is the label for dogs because man and dog often relate to each other on this particular level -- precisely as social beings, although their relationship is based more on the instinctual level rather than what is normal for humans -- i.e., on the intellectual, emotional and physical levels.
In our human society, another obvious observation is that there are so many things that could and indeed do go wrong. The aforementioned two extremes may begin to explain why this is so, but also included is the complexity of our modern existence -- which contribute a lot to our being imbalanced and dysfunctional in this modern era -- the "postmodern" age. We content ourselves by being 'safe' in our own enclaves or close circles, where the problems and challenges we encounter are often more manageable or 'normal'. These are our "comfort zones", and seldom do we stray from these "safe harbors" which we have established and nurtured over most of our personal, professional and social lives. Even then, at some time or another, various crises may arise from misunderstandings, maybe bad luck, or perhaps from external interventions and events.
Some people are just more adept or effective than ordinary people in making others feel and believe in whatever they say or represent -- our political leaders, for example. In our particular case, however, we are more wary now of our political leaders because our political system itself has become so messed up, with so many glaring wrongs and dysfunctional areas that clearly cry out for reforms. But, obviously, politicians are still human beings acting on their social instincts and motivations that function at a level that is usually above those of the average people -- which is why it is said that they usually possess "charisma" or the ability to get people to support their side or beliefs or advocacy and whatever.
However, politicians always have their own political agendas that are tied closely to their personalities (which include their desires and aspirations) -- but supposedly based on the needs of their constituents. Such characterization can still be applied to everyone, even the average or ordinary folks just like you and me. We also have our own individual capacities or capabilities, political agendas, personal agendas and motivations, social aspirations, etc., and others who depend on us -- the difference lies in the magnitude and scope, depending upon the individual. Every individual may be thought of as having the capacity to use his/her own 'sphere of influence and span of control' through interpersonal relationships with others -- Gandhi said that "Politics begins with the next person."
On this social foundation, therefore, the trappings of human civilization (religions, politics, professions/work or livelihood pursuits, vocations or avocations, and what-have-you) exist and function as adjuncts to the individual existence of everyone on the planet. Were we to exist as reclusive and solitary persons or hermits, probably many of the problems and ills of human society (including politics) would disappear completely. But as the popular saying goes: "No man is an island." By becoming anti-social, a man may be characterized as an 'island' unto himself -- but this is clearly an unsustainable functionality, because in the end, nature always wins (our need for interdependence).
On the other hand, the social conditions and circumstances normally arise where the self-regulating nature of the human psyche and instincts more or less enable people to attain a common level of understanding (consensus) as well as "belongingness" (communal unity and solidarity) -- thus restoring cohesiveness and social equilibrium. Many philosophers since ancient times (Greeks, Chinese, Indian, etc.) have sought to explain the human condition with relevant insights and observations, which allow us to put such knowledge to good use -- providing that we are aware of and can really understand their wisdom...
By Carlos Silverio Bueno, FB
Source: FB, 4 August 2017
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10 LESSONS RUNNING TEACHES YOU ABOUT LIFE
1. When things get tough, just keep going.
When most people encounter a rough patch, they quit. The truly successful people in the world keep going no matter what. Never let your setbacks win.
2. Consistency creates habit.
To incorporate anything into your life, you have to make it a habit. To make something a habit, you have to be consistent. Whatever it is you’re aiming for, make it a part of your life.
3. You’ll have to get through hell before you get to heaven.
Like all things worth pursuing, you are going to get knocked down, stepped on, and rejected along the way. Consider this to be part of the path to your goals. Sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination.
4. Reaching your goals will take a lot of work.
If it doesn’t, it’s either not a goal, not worth pursuing, or will not have any fulfillment. Never expect to not put in work and get somewhere.
5. Every aspect of life is mental.
It’s not about what you do or what happens to you, it’s about how to respond to it. It’s how you decide to carry on. Your power comes from inside your head.
6. You do have time– you just have to make it.
If something is important to you, you’ll make time for it. If not, you’ll make excuses.
7. You define your own limits.
Your limits aren’t put unto you by your parents, other people, or the universe. You are in total control of it. You decide whether or not to shoot for the moon or stay right where you are.
8. If you wait for the right conditions, you’ll never get anything done.
Don’t wait for anything or anybody. You know what you have to do to reach your goals and get things done. Just go do them!
9. Go beyond your limits every day and watch the magic happen.
You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve if you just push yourself a little further.
10. There is peace even in the most chaotic times.
No matter now grueling, stressful, sorrowful, or painful your situation is, there is always a silver lining and something positive to be found. Seek it out, learn from it, and keep moving on.
Source: Gibson's Daily Running Quotes
16 October 2013
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(b>Lesson Learned From a Wise Man
A father left 17 ducks as asset for his Three Sons.
When the Father passed away, his sons opened up the will.
The Will of the Father stated that the Eldest son should get Half of 17 ducks,
The Middle Son should be given 1/3rd of 17 ducks,
Youngest Son should be given 1/9th of the 17 ducks.
As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the sons started to fight with each other. So, they decided to go to a wise man who lives in a cave.
The wise man listened patiently about the Will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one duck of his own and added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 ducks.
Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will.
Half of 18 = 9. So he gave 9 ducks to the eldest son.
1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave 6 ducks to the middle son.
1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave 2 ducks to the youngest son.
Now add this up: 9 + 6 + 2 = 17 and....
This leaves 1 duck which the wise man took back.
MORAL: The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the 18th duck that is, the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times.
However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able to reach any!
Source: Shared by Dennis Peter Kintanar Laniez, FB
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SUCCESS STORY: Shannon Satonori Lytle
Repost From FB dated 26 May 2017
"In high school, I flipped burgers at McDonald’s so I could afford the privilege of taking the SAT. I fed and cared for my three baby siblings until they went to sleep and stayed up until 4am to do my homework. I walked home through a dangerous part of the city after extracurriculars because I couldn’t afford a car. I stuck my laptop out of my window at night to steal my neighbor’s wifi and finish my schoolwork. I was scoffed at and told, “from this part of Ohio, only the children of doctors and lawyers get to go to Ivy League Schools.” In college, I panicked when my laptop broke because I had worked 150 minimum wage hours to buy it. I scrubbed toilets, shelved books, and sold clothing so I could chase my dreams and travel the world. Throughout my life, I have maneuvered and begged for every kind of subsidy and coupon. I'm the son of a warehouse worker and an immigrant; a first generation student. Today, I graduated from Harvard."
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A LETTER FROM AN ORDINARY CITIZEN OF MARAWI CITY
I am not a leader.
I am not a politician.
I am not an activist.
I am certainly not a somebody.
I am just a Moro who grew from the peaceful city of Marawi. Now an evacuee.
And although it may not be important to you,
I have a message to tell.
28 May 2017:
The first day of Ramadhan I woke up staring blankly into the air. I was lying on a different bed at a different room in a strange place. I didn't want to wake up and wished I was dreaming. Tears flowed as I recalled the horrible days that transpired in my home Marawi City. "I wanna come home, I wanna come home!"
Tuesday, 24 May 2017, was the start of hellish days for the Maranaos in my hometown. Never in our lives did we imagine that such a day will come that would tear our hearts to pieces every day for the rest of our lives. My husband came home early 3 in the afternoon carrying the horrible news that a firefight was then ongoing in Basak Malutlut, Marawi City between the Maute group (MG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that prompted him to come home early after visiting a wake. My jaws dropped I remembered my two siblings were there at AKIC-SLS near the area for enrollment and immediately texted them to come home. But they couldn't. They are all trapped in the city because another firefight ensued at Dansalan College which was the usual route to get home. We waited hoping the firefight would stop. It didn't. Where can they escape? "Yaa Allah, yaa rabbi, protect my siblings and keep them safe!"
Wednesday, 25 May 2017:
Woke up during fajr to realize that yesterday was not a dream. The whole city went blackout Tuesday night. Our phones were ringing nonstop as our parents who were then in Manila kept on monitoring our situation, hoping that my siblings who were trapped in Basak Malutlut could go home. I was helpless. I couldn't risk crossing the center of the city to get to my siblings and save them. "I can't do it, mommy. I am sorry, Tintin.. I am sorry, Biboy.. I am sorry, Jimboy.."
Thursday, 26 May 2017:
Almost 50% of the Maranaos evacuated from their homes yesterday. Some reached the nearby city of Iligan after 4 hours. Some 6 hours. Some 13 hours. Some 19 hours! By foot or by wheels they all ran away. I was with my siblings at home as they comfort themselves repeating the tragic experiences they had. Yes, they got home yesterday after braving the city and passing by some heavily armed MG members to get home. The electricity didn't resume. "We wanna flee. We wanna evacuate. We wanna be safe!"
Friday, 27 May 2018:
While in total darkness in the early dawn, my ears couldn't forget the sound of falling bombs from several jets of yesterday. The scary noise of too many helicopters that passed by our roof. Not to mention the loud firing of guns and tanks nearby our barangay. I stayed my calm by the thought that at least I am safe with my three siblings, husband and baby and was welcomed by relatives in their home outside the city after yesterday's trauma. "I am sorry, papa and mommy, we have to leave our house. I am sorry that we left our car on the highway because it couldn't start.. We know how you sacrificed blood and tears for providing us comfort in our home and other properties. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiuun."
As of now, my home Marawi City is in total wreck. Burnings and killings in every corner. No more Dansalan College. No more PMTC. No more Rasheda Pharmacy. No more Landbank. No more Al-Khawthar. No more ancestral homes. No more taraweehs at our masjids near our homes. No more ina or ama. No more bapa or babo. No more ma'am or sir. "Stop! Please, no more!"
I wished I could have been a leader, or a politician, or an activist, or a somebody. Just so my voice would matter. Just so they will listen to me.
I wished I could tell our dear Mayor to fight for Marawi to stop the bombings and airstrikes of our homes and buildings because this is our land and its the people who suffers. "Marawi will rise again, mayor, in shaa Allah! Call out your constituents, where are your men? Contact the media and tell the President to please stop those dalling bombs. Innocent lives are at stake. It only destroys the city, not the MG. This is our home! This is your city being destroyed! But please stay safe while guarding it."
I wished I could tell the excellency PRRD (thru MOCHA USON BLOG) to change the military strategy and stop airstrikes and be sensitive enough not to utter an offensive joke out if this situation. "You didn't hear us rally or complain about your ML declaration. We trusted you, you had our full support. We expected you'd care for us of all people. You visited and encouraged your soldiers and promised them immunity and assistance, but did you also visit the Maranao victims and those families who lost their families and houses after you've given well-wishes to your soldiers, tatay Digong?
Several children, pregnant women, old men and women and others walked miles in hunger and thirst (rain and shine) just to get to a safe city. Their bravery after the terror from leaving their shelters, hearing bombs explode and gunfires (not to mention meeting MG members in flesh!) are beyond comparable than your men hiding behind their tanks and jets. They too deserve a salute."
I wished I could tell our senators to stop criticizing and start making solutions for the reliefs of the victims. "Let's put first the safety of our people rather than dwelling on the legalities of the declaration of Martial law. Food and water are scarce. The victims survived the bombs and bullets but will die of hunger or thirst."
I wished I could tell the media to report the truth to the people and to the world for our cries and pleas to be heard. "Marawi City has fallen. Call for help. We need your help!"
I wished I could explain to my fellow Filipinos who do not have any idea of Maranaos and of Marawi City that we are humans too and we deserve sympathy and instead of generalizing us they lend help and offer prayers to save Marawi. "We are the one affected by Martial law but you complain more than anything. It would be best not to treat our situation as a subject matter for debates in your rallies and social media rants."
I wished I could have voiced out everything since Day 1. Will it be heard? No. Will it save those victims? No. Will it raise the dead? No. Will it stop the gunfires and airstrikes? No. Will it bring Marawi back to normal?
Certainly NO!
So, listen...
This is the saddest month of Ramadhan for all of us from Marawi City. Fasting away from our beloved city when we anticipated for weeks that it will be the happiest among the Ramadhans that came before (Yes, people, we still managed to fast in spite of all these. We don't eat and drink while our minds are tortured by all these events).
The food became tasteless knowing some victims may not be eating any right now. Sleep too became a battle every night. We can only pray. I bleed for Marawi, I bleed for my people. And if you are not interested to listen, at least
#PrayforMarawi #SaveMarawi #NoToDiscrimination#YestoUnityLovePeace
#Repost from Al'zilzalah...
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Native American Spirituality and Thoughts, shared on FB
"Neither anger nor fear shall find lodging in your mind" ~ Dekanawidah, CherokeeThe mind is like a bag with a drawstring. When the string is pulled so tight that nothing can go into the bag or come out---that is nervous tension. The problem is held in and the solution is kept out. At these times it helps to walk---at least far enough to detach from everything that reminds a worrier that she/he is hemmed in. While the feet are busy, the mind relaxes---maybe not to the point of being tranquil but at least to be able to adav tesgv, think clearly or work things out mentally. And during the walk, deliberately turn thoughts to vision---seeing every detail, every sunflower. Look at the shape of a leaf, the spider's web, and look for color, and be grateful for the ears to hear and the eyes to see. Nothing heals the spirit and opens the way like turning loose of a problem.
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Congregation Shames Cowboy
One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged.
In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and a equally worn out Bible. The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories.
As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.
As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor: “Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.”
The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.
But the next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots and hat.
Once again he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the man and said, “I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church.”
“I did,” replied the old cowboy.
“If you spoke to God, what did he tell you proper attire should be for worshiping in here?” asked the preacher.
“Well, sir, God told me that He didn’t have a clue what I should wear. He said He’d never been in here before.”
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Grandparents Never Die, They Become Invisible…
(Everyone Must Read This, It’s Heartwarming!)
Grandparents never die, they become invisible and they sleep forever deep in our heart. And even today, we miss them and we would give anything to hear their stories, to feel their caresses and look at those eyes full of infinite tenderness.
While grandparents have the joy to see us being born and growing, as a fact of life, we must witness how they age and say goodbye to this world. The death of a grandparent is usually the first farewell that we will have to face in our childhood.
Grandparents, who assume the active role of raising their grandchildren, leave traces in their spirits, legacies that will accompany them for life as seeds of everlasting love during the days when they become invisible.
Nowadays it is very common to see grandparents participating in raising their grandchildren. They represent an invaluable support network in today’s families. Children however sense very well that the role of grandparents is different from that of their parents.
It is common that grandparents and grandchildren develop a very special, a deep and intimate bond, so the loss of the grandparents can be very shocking and delicate in the personality of a child or adolescent. We wish to reflect on this subject with you.
Saying good bye to Grandparents: the first experience dealing with loss
For some of us who have reached adulthood having our grandparents by our side, we have been truly privileged, however others, had to face their death when they were still in the early childhood, when children still don’t understand a loss like this in all the magnitude. Commonly adults are not able to fully explain what happened and try to soften the death as if it “does not hurt”.
Adults should explain things clearly to their children and they should tell them the truth, this is the advice of Psych pedagogues. Of course it’s necessary to know how to adapt the news according their age. One must, however, avoid making the mistake of many parents in preventing a last farewell of the child with his grandfather in the hospital, or beat around the bush with metaphors such as that “the grandfather is in a star or he is sleeping in the sky”.
We must help the child understand death simply and without metaphors so that misconceptions are not formed.Even if they are not, they are very present.
If we tell it that the grandfather has left, it is likely that the child’s question is, when he will return.
If we are trying to explain to the child the death from a religious perspective it is necessary to emphasize in the fact that the deceased is not going to “come back”. The explanations must be very brief, simple and to the point, remember that a young mind can only absorb limited amounts of information.
It is also important that adults don’t hide their feelings and tears before the eyes of children. We must teach them that death is not taboo. It is necessary to vent ourselves for the loss of a loved one, we should suffer and we speak of it freely. Children will do it at the right time and when they get a better understanding of such unfortunate events, meanwhile we must be their facilitators.
We have to be attentive to the fact that children will ask us many questions and these requests require of intelligent and precise answers. The loss of grandparents in childhood or adolescence will always be a very complex matter, and the best thing to do at this moment is to grieve with the whole family and be very careful to any question or needs of your children.
Even if they are not, grandparents are always in our lives, in those common locations we share with our family and even in the oral heritage we offer to the new generations. To new grandchildren or great-grandchildren who were not able to meet grandfather or grandmother.
Grandparents held our hands during the times while they taught us how to walk, but then, what they held forever were our hearts, where they will reside eternally giving us their light and their memory.
The grandfather’s presence is in those yellowed photos that are in a frame and not in the mobile memory. The grandfather is present in the tree that he once sowed with his own hands or in the dress that we still keep and that grandmother sewed it.
They are still present in the smells of cakes that remain in our emotional memory. Their memory is also in each of the wise advice we received from them, in the stories they shared with us, in the way we make the knots of our shoes and even in that dimple in the chin that we inherited from them.
Grandparents are present in our feelings in a deep and delicate mode. They never die, they are more than simple genetics. They show us how to walk at their own pace, a little slower, how to enjoy an afternoon in the country, to learn that a good book has a different and special smell, because they have a language that goes beyond words.
It is a hug language, a gentle caress, a complicit smile and an afternoon walk sharing in silence as we watch the sunset. All of this will last forever and here is where real eternity of people takes place.
In the affectionate heritage of those who really love us and who honor us by remembering us every day.
Source: Fully Aware Mind dot com
March 12, 2017
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A PROMISE I CANNOT KEEP
Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun.
For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They noticed that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about its business with its friends. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily, it gradually climbed out of sight and was never seen again.
“Look!” said one of the water bugs to another. “One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you suppose she is going?” Up, up, up it went slowly. Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return. “That’s funny!” said one water bug to another. “Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second water bug. “Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third. No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.
Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered them all together. “I have an idea”, he said. “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why.” “We promise,” they said solemnly.
One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broken through the surface of the water, and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.
He was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided to take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he awoke, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.
He couldn’t believe the startling change he saw in his body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings. The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly.
Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in his new environment. By and by, the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were, scurrying about, just as he had been doing some time before. Then the dragonfly remembered the promise: “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.”
Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water. “I can’t return!” he said in dismay. “At least I tried, but I can’t keep my promise.
Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I’ll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they’ll understand what happened to me, where I went, and this wonderful new life I’ve been given.” And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air.
And that’s the story of the dragonfly. So, I’ll ask again… is there a Heaven?
Source: Begin with Yes
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SIGNS YOU ARE ARGUING WITH A PSYCHOPATH
"It's that time to disengaged."Psychopaths make up one percent of the general population and, contrary to popular belief, most of them aren’t serial killers.
They’re manipulative people who intentionally cause harm to others without any sense of remorse or responsibility.
Psychopaths are social chameleons who can fit perfectly into any situation. They are experts at morphing their identities to get what they want and mirroring others for money, sex, and — most commonly — attention. Because of their ability to idealize others, psychopaths are often perceived as charming, innocent, and fun to unsuspecting onlookers and casual acquaintances.
But there is another side to them.
When they’re feeling threatened or bored, a psychopath’s true colors start to come out. They draw you into arguments that are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. The argument usually stems from something hurtful or inappropriate they’ve done, but you’ll quickly find that you’re the one defending yourself.
It’s sort of like good cop, bad cop, demented cop, stalker cop, scary cop, baby cop.
Here are 6 warning signs that the person you’re arguing with is a psychopath and it’s time to disengage.
1. They lie and make excuses.
Everyone messes up every now and then, but psychopaths recite excuses more often than they follow through with promises. Their actions never match up with their words and their lies disappoint you so frequently that you actually feel relieved when they do something halfway decent. They’ve conditioned you to become grateful for mediocre treatment.
2. Their tone is condescending and patronizing.
Psychopaths often try to make you unhinged in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Throughout the entire argument, you’ll notice that they keep a calm and cool demeanor. It’s almost as if they’re mocking you — gauging your reactions to see how much further they can push. When you finally react emotionally, that’s when they’ll raise their eyebrows, smirk, tell you to calm down, or feign disappointment.
3. They employ mind-blowing hypocrisy.
In heated arguments, psychopaths have no shame and will often begin labeling you with their own horrible qualities. It goes beyond projection, because most people project unknowingly. Psychopaths know they are smearing you with their own flaws, because they are seeking a reaction. The point is to lure you in so that you react and seem “crazy” to onlookers.
4. They seem to have multiple personalities.
When arguing with a psychopath, you’re likely to notice a variety of their personas. It’s sort of like good cop, bad cop, demented cop, stalker cop, scary cop, baby cop. Once you begin pulling away from their manipulation and lies, they’ll start apologizing and flatter you. If that doesn’t work, they’ll suddenly start insulting the qualities they just flattered two minutes ago. As they struggle to regain control, you’ll be left wondering who you’re even talking to.
5. They play the eternal victim.
Somehow, their bad behavior will always lead back to a conversation about their abusive past or a crazy ex or an evil boss. You’ll end up feeling bad for them, even when they’ve done something horribly wrong. And once they’ve successfully diverted your attention, everything will get messy again. Psychopaths cry “abuse,” but, in the end, you’re the only one being abused.
6. You feel the need to explain basic human emotions to them.
You’ll find yourself attempting to explain emotions like empathy and kindness, guided by the thought that if they understand why you’re hurt, they’ll stop hurting you. You are not the first person who has attempted to see the good in them, and you will not be the last. They behave this way because they know that it hurts you.
There’s only one way out of these arguments. You need to disengage!
Arguments with psychopaths leave you drained. You might spend hours, even days, obsessing over the argument. If you think you have the perfect response to their latest outrageous comment, they planted it there on purpose. They’retrying to provoke you. They’re trying to draw you in.
In professional environments, they want you to blow up so that coworkers and superiors see you as unstable. In romantic settings, they want you to lash out so that they can use your “hysterical” reactions to show potential partners and exes how crazy you’ve become. Until we understand this, we’ll continue to fall into their trap.
Source: Jackson McKenzie, from The Mind's Journal, FB
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Four things you should always keep secret."
1. Your Goals
Your goals are more intimate than you think, especially when it comes to creative or intellectual property. You shouldn’t make your goals known until the path is clear for you to achieve them.........................
(Keeping them secret will ensure that they’re truly yours, and you’ll keep other people from taking your ideas or your work. Your goals are yours; don’t let any outside influence change or disrupt that.)
2. Family Struggle or Strife
Never come to another person with stories of your family’s most recent struggles. Not only is it disrespectful to your family, but you may not realize how much power that information can have in the hands of an outside party. Problems with your family need to be resolved within your family, not with anyone else. Sharing your family’s dirt will only devalue you as a person.
3. Your Philanthropic Endeavors
Helping others is a great way to spend your free time, but talking about helping others really isn’t.
As soon as you start telling the people in your life how charitable you are, it becomes about how you portray yourself to the public, not about the actual work that you do. Although you may not mean to come across as a showoff, that’s how it will look to those around you.
4. Physical Fitness or Activities
This is a big one. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of people in this world who value physical fitness or being healthy, which means talking about it can be tricky. There’s nothing wrong with being physically fit or spending time on your overall health, but if you talk about it too much, especially to people who aren’t necessarily physically fit, it can come across as conceited.
Source: FB
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Positive and Negative People’s Outlooks Have These 5 Predominant Differences
There are some pretty major differences between positive and negative people, and they become more evident the more you pay attention. Check out these five differences to see if you need an attitude adjustment.
Positive People Look on the Bright Side, Negative People ComplainSource: Daily Vibes
(If you’re a positive person, looking on the bright side of every situation comes naturally, but a negative person’s first instinct is to complain.
There is always a bright side to a situation, no matter how unfortunate it seems at first. Take the time to figure out how you can learn and grow from an experience instead of dwelling on how terrible it is. Complaining gets you nowhere.)
Positive People Accept Responsibility, Negative People Pass the Blame
(Positive people are always willing to accept the responsibility that comes with their actions. That’s because they want to figure out what went wrong and how they can improve in the future.
Negative people are ready to pass the blame to pretty much anyone nearby. By not taking responsibility for a mistake or decision, they don’t have to learn from the consequences, which means they never improve.)
Positive People Accept Change, Negative People Don’t Want to Adapt
(Change is something that happens throughout our lives whether we want it to or not.
Sure, it can be avoided for a time, but it’s going to happen either way. Positive people understand and accept this, negative people will put off change for as long as possible. Change is a good thing; it means we’re able to adapt to a new environment, meet new people, or start a new job. Don’t avoid it, embrace it.)
Positive People Can Let Things Go, Negative People Dwell on the Past
(We can’t hold onto things forever. At some point, we need to bring the focus back to ourselves and the present in order to let go and move on. This is a major difference between positive and negative people because it causes so much unnecessary stress in a person’s life.
Positive people let go of the past because they can better themselves from a bad experience, but negative people simply dwell on their mistakes without accepting them.)
Positive People Are Grateful, Negative People Take it All for Granted
(Positive people are always grateful because they think of the things that they have, not what they want. Negative people take what they have for granted because they think they need something else that’s better. Take stock of what you have for a change, it might surprise just how awesome your life really is.)
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6 Surprising Characteristics of Intimidating People
1. Ignorance is Not Bliss
Those of you who have strong personalities know that there is nothing more repulsive than ignorance.
Strong personality types generally seek out education; not only do they want to know what they don’t already, but they learn it on their own. Accepting the ignorance of others, even for the sake of peacekeeping, isn’t worth it. You put in the time and the effort to know what you know, which gives you the right to talk about it. If someone else isn’t willing to do that, they shouldn’t be able to comment.
2. Opportunities Are Created
Strong people don’t wait around for opportunities to fall in their lap. This applies to every aspect of life, including personal relationships and career goals.
If you have a strong personality and you want something, you’re going to figure out a way to get it, without the help of another person. Some people go through life waiting for handouts, this doesn’t apply to you, and it infuriates you.
3. Simplistic Conversations Aren’t Worth It
Almost like your no-tolerance policy for ignorance, you hate simple conversations. Small talk seems like a waste of time, and you aren’t willing to get into any conversation with someone who isn’t willing to dive deep.
Again, you’ve worked hard in order to understand certain aspects of the world, human nature, or any other subject, so you want to enter into conversations that reflect that hard work. You don’t have a simple mind, so you won’t insult your own intellect by talking simply.
4. Attention isn’t Important
If you have a strong personality, securing the attention of others isn’t important. Some people do things simply to be recognized by their peers, this isn’t you at all.
You only do things that are important to you or that you feel are worth doing, it doesn’t matter how anyone else feels.
As a strong person, you probably didn’t even notice you behaved this way because it simply doesn’t matter. Trust me, the people around you definitely noticed, and you might have made some weaker people a little angry.
5. Excuses Aren’t Excusable
As a strong person, you do what needs to be done. If you accept a responsibility, you get it done when it needs to be done. If for some reason you fail in your commitments, you don’t offer any excuses, you accept the consequences and move on.
This means that you aren’t willing to accept anyone else’s excuses either. You turn those away who complain, deflect, or try to excuse their own failures.
6. Integrity is Everything
As a strong person, your integrity means a great deal.
You aren’t willing to compromise what you believe in simply to satisfy another person’s needs. It doesn’t matter the situation, you could even lose your job over it, but your integrity will always be more important than physical pleasures. If someone wants you to do something you believe is beneath your abilities or goes against your moral code, you won’t do it.
Source: Daily Vibes dot org
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12 SIGNS YOU ARE DOING WELL IN LIFE
1. You got up this morning.
Do you know how important that is? Getting up is the first step to starting your day and I know there are times when that is the last thing you want to do. And if it was easy to get up today, that's even more amazing because the good days are to be cherished.
2. You have a place to live.
Whether it's a house or an apartment, you're living at home, you have a roommate, or a partner, you have a place to keep your things and go to sleep. Even if you're struggling, you can say that you have something and a place to go at night.
3. You have a dream.
It can be big or small. Maybe you only have one or maybe you have too many to count. Having dreams means having hope and there are some people who have given up. Hold on to your dreams: you have no idea when they might start coming true.
4. You've been heartbroken.
If you've been heartbroken it means you have loved and experienced powerful emotions. Remember: from heartbreak also comes the opportunity to grow and become stronger.
5. You are loved.
Even if it's by one person, even if it's you, you are loved. Love gives us the power and strength to do anything. You are here because of love and we make our way through life because of it.
6. You have a hobby.
Any hobby. Maybe you love to cook or bake, or maybe you spend your free time in a library or drawing.
7. You can afford little expenses.
You could get that cup of coffee or buy a packet of gum. You may not be able to afford everything your heart desires but you can pick up those few items you want today.
8. You know what you DON'T want.
So maybe you don't know exactly what you want but you have an idea of what you don't want in life. This is so much better than being stuck in the middle and unable to make up your mind.
9. You have a job.
Maybe you're not at your dream job but you have something that a lot of people don't have. Even if you're somewhere you are looking to get out of, that means you have the opportunity to move up.
10. You ate today.
We take food for granted. Once you step outside your home, there are more food establishments than anything else it seems. So if you had the chance to eat even a little something today, that is huge.
11. You have a safe place to go.
Whether it's your home, a friend's, or your favorite spot at the park, you have a place you can go to and feel safe and at peace.
12. You are trying to be better.
Maybe you're not where you want to be just yet but you are determined to keep working towards the things you want. Life is a marathon and as long as you keep a steady pace and strive for the finish line, you can get there. You haven't given up yet and you have survived your life so far. You can keep going and you're going to.
Source: FB
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IF
"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world.
If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, you are among the top 80 percent of the world's wealthy.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not." ~Anon
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5 Essentials To Creating a Peaceful Lifestyle
1. Simplify your schedule: Take a look at how jam-packed your schedule is and all the commitments you have. Then consider how often you under estimate how long activities will take to complete and how often you feel overwhelmed and frazzled. And then assess what is actually filling up your day. Do you really need to be doing all these things, are they serving you and are they in alignment with your values and what is most important to you? If not, cut them out immediately and think about how you’d prefer to spend more of your time. Sure we all have responsibilities and things we have to do but we’re talking about the other stuff – the decisions and commitments that are driven more by our ego than our soul. Start focusing more on what energizes you and puts a bounce in your step and dedicate more time to those things.
2. Simplify your goals: Now I’m all about setting goals but I also know that only having two or three goals or projects that you are intentionally working on at any one time will dramatically improve your focus, commitment and success rate. So identify which goals are most important to you NOW! Get them complete and then start the next ones. This will not only simplify your life, but your schedule as well.
3. Simplify your words: What? Simplify my words! How is that going to make my life more peaceful and happy you may ask? Well, there are two aspects to keeping your words simple. The first is about keeping your words honest, sincere and clear. Say what you mean and mean what you say. And as my mother always used to say: “if you don’t have anything kind to say, say nothing.” The second aspect is to listen more than you speak – a valuable discipline to master and one which will help you connect better with those around you and also help limit misunderstandings! Now that for sure will simplify your life.
4. Simplify your thoughts: We literally have thousands of thoughts every single day and for most people, they are generally not empowering, positive or helpful. In addition they are mentally draining ultimately affect your performance, creativity and problem solving abilities. The bottom line – they are of no use. So take responsibility for your mind. Pay attention to your thoughts and when you notice they are not positive or helpful, simply choose to change them. Have a go-to mantra or question you can ask yourself to focus your mind and thoughts in a more positive direction. It could be as simple as saying: “I choose to be positive and happy in this moment”. Bamm! You’ve cut that negative self-talk dead in its tracks and refocused your mind!
5. Simplify your connections to the world: Having meaningful relationships and friendships is not only healthy but also essential to our emotional well-being. However the key here is meaningful – relationships that energize you, support you, lift you up and you leave feeling better and not worse. Evaluate your relationships and simplify your life by distancing yourself from those people that do not bring out the best in you. Again this is about quality not quantity. In fact in this case ‘quantity’ – whether in person or via technology and social media, although may give you a sense of connection and being needed, will ultimately distract you from what is truly important in your life. As you simplify your life and connections you will see how your remaining relationships strengthen and deepen. And also never dismiss the importance of time alone to reflect on where you are at and to recharge so that you remain in alignment and true to who you truly want to be.
Source: Internet
Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what you say.
Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs you.
Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging thing to or about somebody.
Praise good work done, regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.
Be interested in others: interested in their welfare, their homes, their families. Make merry with those who rejoice; with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him as one of importance.
Be cheerful; keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Hide your pains, worries, and disappointments under a smile. Laugh at good stories and learn to tell them.
Preserve an open mind on all debatable. Discuss, but don’t argue. It is a mark of superior minds to disagree and yet to be friendly.
Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves, and refuse to talk of another’s vices. Discourage gossip. Make it a rule to say nothing of another unless it is something good.
Be careful of another’s feelings. Wit and humor at the other fellow’s expense are rarely worth the effort and may hurt when least expected.
Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Simply live so that nobody will believe them. Disordered nerves and a bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.
Don’t be too anxious about your dues. Do your work, be patient and keep your disposition sweet. Forget self, and you will be rewarded.
~Anon
Source: FB
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LEAVING A MARK
"The mark you leave in another's heart is always left in yours; for better or worse." ~Bryant McGill"When you are generous, sometimes people will take advantage. You may be respectful and yet people will be unkind. You may be a good person, and people will nonetheless treat you terribly. We don't always get what we give, but that's fine, because you aren't giving it for them anyway, at least not exclusively. It's really all a statement by, about and for you. How you treat others is really about who you choose to be in this life. The repayment for your good acts are the good acts themselves. When you act honorably, even if others don't, your honourable actions are your irretractable reward to yourself. Who you chose to be — decision by decision and act by act — is the great reward you receive by doing good. What is well done is well received."
Source: SimpleReminders.com
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TAKE PRIDE
"There is no such thing as victory and defeat. There is only movement.
There are neither winners nor losers. There are only stages that must be gone through.
When your heart understands this, it can be free, and accept the difficult times.
And not be deceived by the moments of glory
Both will pass.
If your love is rejected, this does not put an end to your ability to love.
If you lose everything, be ready to face sadness, but when this will pass, you will be stronger.
Take pride in your scars. Scars speak more loudly than the sword that caused them."
~Paulo Coelho
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THINGS YOU NEED TO START DOING FOR YOURSELF
Start --
*Spending time with the right people.
*Facing your problems head-on.
*Being honest with yourself about everything.
*Making your own happiness a priority.
*Being yourself. Genuinely and proudly.
*Noticing and living in the present.
*Valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you.
*Being more polite to yourself.
*Enjoying the things you already have.
*Creating your own happiness.
*Giving your ideas and dreams a chance.
*Believing that you are ready for the next step.
*Being in new relationships for the right reasons.
*Giving new people you meet a chance.
*Competing against an earlier version of yourself.
*Cheering for other people’s victories.
*Looking for the silver lining in tough situations.
*Forgiving yourself and others.
*Helping those around you.
*Listening to your own inner voice.
*Being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks.
*Noticing the beauty of small moments.
*Accepting things when they are less than perfect.
*Working towards your goals every single day.
*Being more open about how your feel.
*Taking full accountability for your own life.
*Actively nurturing your most important relationships.
*Concentrating on the things you can control.
*Focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes.
*Noticing how wealthy you are right now.
Source: FB, I Love My Family
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Quote: INTERDEPENDENCE
"Interdependence is a fundamental law of nature. Even tiny insects survive by cooperating with each other. Our own survival is so dependent on the help of others that a need for love lies at the very core of our existence. This is why we need to cultivate a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others." ~Anon
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SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE
(MARRIED OR NOT - A MUST READ)
“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. If you are not in a relationship now, remember this for the second (or third) time around. It's never too late.
If you don’t share this, nothing will happen to you.
If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up
Source: FB Via "social meems "
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HOW TO FIND YOUR COURAGE TO LIVE PASSIONATELY
By Dr. Barbara De Angelis
Most of us associate passion with love or relationships, but passion is actually the life force that pulsates within us, bringing energy, vitality and meaning to everything it touches. Passion is not something we are only supposed to experience in romance, or on a special occasion. It is not found in escaping from our usual life in a search for some high-charged experience.
We rediscover our passion when we open ourselves fully to every experience, and learn to see the world with passionate eyes. Reclaiming our passion means choosing to fully inhabit our days, living our lives so that no moment goes unlived, no delight goes unnoticed, no sweetness goes untasted.
Right now, all around you, there are a thousand things for you to be passionate about. But it takes courage to live passionately. The choice to live with passion is the choice to open yourself fully to each moment and to each situation. You give everything. You hold nothing back.
Learning to live with passion is a profound spiritual experience, because you learn to see and experience the marvelous and miraculous in everything. TODAY is the day for you to rediscover your passion. When you do, you'll feel fully alive and deeply grateful.
Source: Heal Your Life, FB
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LESSONS LEARNED FROM POPE FRANCIS
1. DON'T GOSSIP.
“When we gossip, we “are doing what Judas did,” and “begin to tear the other person to pieces. Every time we judge our brother in our hearts or worse when we speak badly of them with others, we are murdering Christians,” Francis says. “There is no such thing as innocent slander.”
2. FINISH YOUR MEAL.
“Throwing food away is like stealing from the tables of the poor, the hungry! I encourage everyone to reflect on the problem of thrown away and wasted food to identify ways and means that, by seriously addressing this issue, are a vehicle of solidarity and sharing with the needy.”
3. MAKE TIME FOR OTHERS.
“If the Pope can find time to be kind to others, if he can pause to say thank you, if he can take a moment make someone feel appreciated, then so can I. So can we.” Fr James Martin
4. CHOOSE THE 'MORE HUMBLE' PURCHASE.
“Certainly, possessions, money, and power can give a momentary thrill, the illusion of being happy, but they end up possessing us and making us always want to have more, never satisfied. ‘Put on Christ’ in your life, place your trust in him, and you will never be disappointed!”
5. MEET THE POOR 'IN THE FLESH'.
“Hospitality in itself isn't enough. It's not enough to give a sandwich if it isn't accompanied by the possibility of learning to stand on one’s own feet. Charity that does not change the situation of the poor isn't enough.”
6. STOP JUDGING OTHERS.
“If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?”
“Let us not forget that hatred, envy, and pride defile our lives!”
7. BEFRIEND THOSE WHO DISAGREE.
“When leaders in various fields ask me for advice, my response is always the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. It is the only way for individuals, families, and societies to grow, the only way for the life of peoples to progress, along with the culture of encounter, a culture in which all have something good to give and all can receive something good in return. Others always have something to give me, if we know how to approach them in a spirit of openness and without prejudice.”
8. MAKE COMMITMENTS, SUCH AS MARRIAGE.
“I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of responsibility, that you are incapable of true love. I have confidence in you and I pray for you. Have the courage ‘to swim against the tide.’ Have the courage to be happy,”
9. MAKE IT A HABIT TO 'ASK THE LORD'.
“Dear young people,” he says, “some of you may not yet know what you will do with your lives. Ask the Lord, and he will show you the way. The young Samuel kept hearing the voice of the Lord who was calling him, but he did not understand or know what to say, yet with the help of the priest Eli, in the end he answered: 'Speak, Lord, for I am listening' (cf. 1 Sam 3:1-10). You too can ask the Lord: What do you want me to do? What path am I to follow?”
10. BE HAPPY.
“Joy cannot be held at heel: it must be let go. Joy is a pilgrim virtue. It is a gift that walks, walks on the path of life, that walks with Jesus: preaching, proclaiming Jesus, proclaiming joy, lengthens and widens that path.”
Source: FB
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COMMITMENT
Commitment defined:
1. the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
2. an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.
Many unions become until death do us part unions because both parties are fully committed to the number ONE definition. Those unions are a rare breed of people.
Commitment phobia falling in the number 2 definition is very common.
A relationship is a union where certain freedoms are sacrificed for the common good. If one individual sacrifices more than the other, the relationship is unbalanced and eventually implodes.
Are the sacrifices worth the long term goals?
Having a partner sleeping in your bed may satisfy the hormonal drive. When the hormones are balanced, life's interests and goals still need attention.
In many cases giving up freedoms, making sacrifices, are not harmonious with a person's creative psyche. It means finding one who shares a core harmonious psyche without having to make sacrifices.
Therefore; walk into a singles venue with the attitude you are not willing to sacrifice your core values and interests to appease another. The right person will accept another for who they are, not their ideal of who another is.
By Mr Chivas
Source: Internet
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APPRECIATING REAL BLESSINGS of LIFE
"We often take so many things for granted. It is important to learn about the art of looking for and appreciating the real blessings of life, great and small. There is an old saying that "a donkey may carry a heavy load of sandlewood on its back without ever knowing its value; all the donkey knows is the weight of its load!" Often we, too, may go through life, feeling only the weight of circumstances, unable to know the precious nature of life, simply because we may have a chronically negative attitude. Cultivating the attitude of gratitude can lead to self-appreciation and a more positive mental perception of life.
The law of gratitude and thanksgiving is considered an aspect of the universe that deals with the flow of energy. That is, as you give out energy it returns to you. This works in almost every department of life. As one gives love, love can be magnetized toward you. It may come back in a different form, but it can return when it is given without manipulation. This law of life is about combining the expectations of the mind with the power of the heart. You create a "mold" for something good in your life, and with the power of gratitude, good things continue to be drawn to you as to a magnet.
This can also be true with the law of forgiveness. The lack of self-forgiveness in any single area of life can fester like a poison within and may bring anger, pain, and illness. Psychologists and sociologists often infer that the damage from childhood experiences can set patterns into motion that may follow an adult through life, being projected outward, unless forgiveness is attained.
Have you ever wondered what it might be like if we couldn't appreciate the good things of life, such as spirituality, music, art, drama, literature, friends, dance, sports, nature, and all that makes life worth living? Have you ever considered the possibility that gratitude, thanksgiving, and the power of forgiving could be as creative as other works achieved in the world? Every person may not be great according to the terms of the world, but we can be grateful! Perhaps true appreciation is a fantastic kind of creativity that can lead to spiritual growth. Let us choose our lives with love and gratitude. Let us use the laws of thanksgiving and forgiving to bless ourselves and others and make our lives more complete." ~John Marks Templeton
Source: Positive Thoughts
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OUR HEART IS OUR HOME:
When we let people enter our heart, we let them enter the house of our soul. Each room is full of memories, secrets, thoughts, ideas and emotions, which we are willing to share by speaking the truth and offer our trust.
Once a person enters our soul, this human leaves his/her trace. The deeper this person walks into our heart, the more rooms he/she finds and the deeper the trace of this person becomes.
When we get hurt, people often have a chance to clean up this bad trace and improve the inside of our home. So, we can allow them to stay.
However some traces of some persons hurt too much and reach too deep to improve and we must take this person out of our home. But we cannot take out this person's trace. Never.
So, we should take care and be careful everytime we enter someone's heart in order not to lose the right to come back one day.
By: Deniz Inan
Composer, Musician, Poet, FB
"Never touch anything with half your heart, be present, endlessly loving and compassionate towards other, confront any challenging situation first with a deep breath, wander, remember that your own happiness comes before all things, before reacting - understand, eat breakfast every morning, find the faces in the flowers, remember what is important to you, treat your body kindly, be honest, get to know yourself, take things at your own pace, don’t feel embarrassed to feel, laugh, cry, sing or love, remember what is right for someone else may not be what is right for you (and that’s okay), never be ashamed or afraid to ask for help, do what you love, remember that you always have a choice, find joy in what life really is - living." ~Anon
"Your life has PURPOSE.
Your story is IMPORTANT.
Your dreams COUNT.
Your voice MATTERS.
You were born to make
an IMPACT."
~Anon
1. You will receive a body.
You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons.
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called "Life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons.
Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned.
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end.
There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better a place than "here."
When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you.
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you.
You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you.
The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
"Silence is the sublime refuge of your divine. Silence exposes the highest potential for clarity. In silence there is a perfection which any toil injures. Silence is more than observation; it informs from non-observation. Only in stillness does the imperceivable become discernible. You will only find the profoundly inexpressible in profound silence.
When we keep our silence we gather our power; when we speak we let loose the concentration of quiet reverie. Words are the fallen ruins of silent majesty. Beyond the words and ideas, there is a perfect space of total completeness called silence. Silence is another language beneath words. The language of nature is silence. Silence is so profound that it is like another dimension into which one can travel.
When you cannot cultivate the meditative space of your own silence, your existence is tormented by endless interruption and distraction. Silence is the true center of your strongest self. Connection with yourself only comes in moments of silence. Once you connect with yourself, it is impossible to be lonely or desperate. Peace is the friend we find in silence.
There is a simple path to follow that appears only when you calm your mind. On the still calm waters of surrender, the reflections of clarity appear. Inner-calm will lead you on a beautiful journey back to your original self; the perfect, beautiful you."
Author: Byrant McGill
Source: Simple Reminders
By Eldon Taylor
Once a wise master had four students who exceeded all others in ability. One day the five gathered, and the master spoke to the first student, “Tell me what you see when you look into the world.”
“I see savagery. The planet is raped. The world hides from the truth. Contaminating material is released everywhere. There is particulate matter in the heavens and acid rain. The rain forests are being destroyed, and so is the ozone. There is such ignorance and selfishness. The world needs so much correction.” The master replied, “You are right, and I shall call you Correction, for you by your vision have committed to a world of need.” To his second student, the master put the same question, “Tell me what you see when you look into the world.”
The second student replied, “Master, I see futility. Nothing can be done to change the ways of the world, though some will repent and call for change. Still, the world is condemned by the acts of man. The sciences teach us that too many people are coming onto the planet, too much destruction has already been done, too little money is provided for science to adequately assist, and there is too little concern for ethics and values. Crime escalates while families decay. Law is lost.
“You too are right, and I shall call you Righteous, for your indignation beholds a corrupt world beyond repair while your heart suffers its pain. You shall be known for your words, and your works will express the sadness of your heart.”
The master turned his gaze to the third student. “And you, what do you see?” “I see a world needing the restoration of Law. I do not believe hope is lost. I find encouragement in the words of my brothers, for they too recognize the need the world has for a change of ways. It is with confidence that I sense the willingness of man to change. All good government is government of the people and for the people. It is through law and government that change can be effected. The mass will follow the right action and attitude of government. The agent for change exists and is law and government.” “You also are right. I shall call you Government, for your words forge your observations and become what you teach. You will therefore be committed to a work of law and order through government.”
Finally, to the fourth student, the master put the same question, “And what do you see?” “Master, I behold only miracles. Life is a miracle. All being is a miracle. Consciousness is a miracle. I behold God in all creation. I sense the beauty of Love in the fragrance of the flower, in the smile of a child, in the warmth of lovers, in the glow of the stars. When I look onto the world, I am greeted with its mysteries. It is with awe and reverence that each day unfolds its beauty. I know that all things are good and that each expresses their good in their own appropriate manner for the moment. I know that which my brothers speak about is but illusion, for only the eternal is real. I will give no power to thoughts of scarcity, of limitation, of need, for all that is truly needed is here for us to behold, to recognize, and to accept. I wish only to give to the world the sight I have been given. For with these modest eyes and senses, my heart is quickened by the glory of being.”
The master smiled before he spoke. “And you, my chosen student, I will call Truth, for your vision is of Truth, and its reward is the reality it sees. You shall go unto man and teach from what you see, for yours is the vision of what is, and all that is possible rests in this peace. You shall be known by all men by your garments of serenity and peace.”
The master, speaking to all, added these words, “To each of you is the blessing of your vision. As you see the world, so the world reveals itself to you. You will know the world by your vision of it. To each of you will go the works of your sight. You will experience life according to your vision.”
Not only is our reality a matter of choice, but so is the power we give it. Only the eternal is incorruptible. Only the eternal is therefore true. All else is inherently false by definition. To be a master, one must begin by acting like a master. To grow, we must give. The old saying “You cannot receive if the cup is full” is absolutely true of the human condition. As we sow, so do we reap. The first step then in self-actualization, is to give forgiveness and care. The old deep mind link memories disappear; the new memories become both the process and the goal.
Source: Positive Thoughts
"There's a tribe in Africa that has a very beautiful custom. When one of the members makes a mistake, the entire tribe surrounds him/her and for two days, they speak of the great things that member has done. It is their belief that humans are good at heart and that we all seek security, love, peace and happiness. However, in this pursuit, we sometimes make mistakes and when that happens, the tribe unites to reconnect that member with his/her real nature. This tribe's greeting is SAWUBONA, or I value you, I respect you, you are important to me. And the reply is SIKHONA or so I exist for you."
Source: CT Psychic Development Workshops (FB)
"A King had a male servant who, in all circumstances always said to him; My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes. One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the servant managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his majesty from losing a finger. Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said; if God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger. The servant replied, 'despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good and everything He does is perfect, He is never wrong'. Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his servant. While being taken to prison, he told the king again, God is Good and Perfect. Another day, the king left alone for another hunt and was captured by savages who use human beings for sacrifice. On the altar, the savages found out that the king didn't have one finger in place, he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the gods. On his return to the palace, he ordered the release of his servant and said; My friend, God was really good to me. I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger, I was let go. But I have a question; If God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in prison? His servant replied; My king, if I had not been put in prison, I would have gone with you, and would have been sacrificed, because I have no missing finger. Everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong. Often we complain about life, and the negative things that happen to us, forgetting that everything happens for a purpose."
Source: FB
(Personal Note: then I was in my third year at Cebu City studying a Pharmacy course. I recall that this was mentioned to me in a letter sent by my late mother reminding me that there was an earthquake on the day I was born. Thankfully, my family were all safe.)
Today, August 17, we commemorate the 38th year of the Moro Gulf 7.9 magnitude Earthquake spawning a Tsunami which hit the Island of Mindanao - the largest tsunamigenic earthquake to have occurred in the Island of Mindanao. It was an earthquake that resulted in massive destruction of properties and great loss of lives.
In that violent tsunami, almost 5,000 people died, more than 2, 000 missing, 10,000 plus injured, and thousands and thousands were left homeless and displaced.
The tsunami happened just after midnight (12:11 am) when most people were already sleeping in their houses and were unaware that a tsunami will ever hit.
'Just after the earthquake stopped, the sea, stirred by the powerful movement of the earthquake, swelled and moved away from the coastline for about three kilometers. About ten minutes later, it roared back to the shore and beyond in three succeeding waves soaring as high as the treetops according to some reports.
The sea unloaded its fury on everything near the shore. Houses and properties along the coastal beaches of Lanao del Sur and Pagadian were practically washed out. Bits of houses littered the sea and bodies littered the shore. The casualties and victims of the earthquake and tsunami numbered thousands just in Regions 9 and 12 (Region 9 that time, covers Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, Basilan, and Sulu while Region 12 covers the areas of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.).
Source: Faye Reyes, FB
"As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime can break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?
Moral: Failure is a part of learning. We should never give up the struggle in life. You Fail not because you are destined to fail, but because there are lessons which you need to learn as you move on with your life." ~Anon
Source: Quotes & Motivation
"Long Distance Relationship aren’t always ideal. In fact, they’re really tough. You spend countless of hours just talking through a phone or through a screen. You can’t see the person when you want to or when you most need them.. You can’t hug, you can’t hold hands, you can’t kiss. You lose the intimacy in a physical sense. But then, your relationship becomes based on each other and nothing else.
You learn to communicate, because a long-distance relationship without communication is nothing.
You learn to trust, because you can’t always see or know everything the person is doing.
You learn to sacrifice, because someone’s always going to lose a bit of sleep from the time difference.
And lastly, you learn to appreciate.
So often, we take for granted the people and relationships in our lives because we think they’ll always be there.
But when you only have a limited amount of time with a person, you learn to appreciate and cherish every single moment you have with them.
When you finally see that person after weeks or months of seeing them only through a computer screen, it is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
When you’ve waited for something so long and you finally have it, you cherish it. The key to a long-distance relationship is faith.
If both of you are not willing to give up, if both of you are willing to stand up and still try after every time one of you or both of you fall.
“Distance isn’t for the fearful, it’s for the bold ."
It’s for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for the little time with the one they love.
It’s for knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don’t see it nearly enough.
Source: Pinoy Rap Radio
"I wish you clarity--clarity in your vision of who you want to be, clarity in your vision of what you want out of life, and clarity in your vision of how you can contribute to this world. With a clear sense of who you are and what you're doing, you can contribute truly wonderful things to your community and to the world as a whole, as long as you're willing to put yourself out there and take the risks necessary to do so.
With a clear vision, there's no limit to the amount that you can accomplish for the good of all people, as well as for your own good. Clarity gives us the advantage of knowing exactly what our goals are, and allowing us to work towards them in ways that will ensure that we attain them. Clarity allows us to avoid the confusion of uncertainty, and it helps us to make decisions that are realistic, practical, and helpful. I wish you the ability to see clearly in all aspects of your life--in your relationships, in your profession, in your hobbies, in the ways that you can help other people to see clearly in their lives.
I wish you clarity in your vision of right and wrong, of proper and improper, of helpful and harmful, so that you may make decisions and take actions that will be a tribute to who you are and that will help others to see through your example just how positive life can be when we care about how our actions affect others. When you can walk through life and sleep at night with a clear conscience, then life has a quality that it does not have when we are agonizing over something that we've done or something that we must do. May your clarity of vision also extend always to a clear view of just how valuable you are as a human being who is sharing this planet with so many other human beings, and just how important you are to so many of us."
Source: Living Life Fully from POSITIVE THOUGHTS
Eat to live, not live to eat.
Exercise daily.
Have enough rest.
Save before spending.
Live below your means and only on the essentials.
Be friendly and you will have friends.
Help someone in need; their problems will humble you.
Find your purpose and enjoy it.
Life is most beautiful when there is a reason.
-Joseph Abraham V. Bibalo
"The hands that work are the most beautiful."BEST STORY THAT WILL MAKE YOU CRY
One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.
The director discovered from his CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent. He asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "no".
" Was it your father who paid for your school fees?"
"My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.” he replied.
" Where did your mother work?"
"My mother worked as clothes cleaner.”
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
" Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?"
"Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.
The director said, "I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched it.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, when he asked: "Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"
The youth answered," I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
“I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. And I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.
The director said, "This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”
“You are hired.”
This young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and worked as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.
A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, they may be successful for a while, but eventually they would not feel a sense of achievement. They will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead?
You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.
Try to forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate.
Source: FB
From Hollie Holden - Notes on Living And Loving
A conversation I had many years ago came to my mind this morning. I was chatting to a friend who had just asked a girl out on the platform at a train station.
'It was amazing Hols!' he said.
'Oh wow, so she said yes?'
'No!' he said, 'That's the amazing bit, she said no and I'm still alive! I'm fine, in fact I feel great! I'm totally going to do that again...'
It was SO sweet. We continued to chat and he told me he had been terrified for so many years to ask anyone out for fear of being rejected. But when that girl said no at the station, he felt a freedom he hadn't known before.
And just now, there was a woman behind me in the queue at the supermarket. A really fun song came on the loud speakers and she could barely contain herself. Her body wanted to move - she was squirming around trying to keep herself together.
And why didn't she break out into the dance that was bursting out of her skin? My guess is fear of others' view of her - essentially of being rejected in some way, thought of as strange, stared at.
We hold ourselves back from dancing when our bodies want to dance, from asking people out, from taking risks, from speaking our truth, from saying that thing that is squirming to be released.
And what if leaning fearlessly into the thing that we are scared of is precisely the thing that would bring that station-platform experience of total freedom and blissful, soaring joy?
What if we could get past our fear of rejection - and the judgments of others and our own internal judges - and just make the leap? Or even a tiny step.
The truth is that you are whole, complete, beautiful, unique, part of everything, totally valuable and deeply loveable. And NONE of this depends on the world, or how anyone receives you or anything you do or say. Whether you are received positively or negatively - there is a level on which that is just irrelevant.
When you make the shift towards this validation coming from your own heart, your own wisdom - from the stillness that is available to you in your soul - you can start dancing and asking people out knowing that Love is on your side. And guess what... Love digs all your dance moves - even the really awkward ones.
We need more of us to be willing to break out. We need to show the fullness of our beauty. We need to start dancing in inappropriate situations. We need to follow our hearts even at the risk of experiencing a few 'no thanks' moments along the way.
I am writing to you right now from post-rejection expanded blissfulness. You need to try it. Homecoming and heart fireworks await you.
Source: Robert Holden FB Page
The Nation Newspaper:
Muhammed Ali's advice to his daughters...
An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing.
Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:
“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.
My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.
Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell.
Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.”
He looked at me with serious eyes.
“Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”
From the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,'
She said.
'What?' Mom asked.
'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.
'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.
This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain..'
'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.
'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'
'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ' If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ' '
The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
If you've read this all and it's touched you... share it.
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HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Try everything twice ...
Once seen on a tombstone epitaph: "Tried everything twice — loved it both times!"
2. Spend time with cheerful friends ...
The grouches and complainers will pull you down.
3. Keep learning ...
Learn more about crafts, computers, gardening, whatever.
"An idle mind is the devil's workshop" — and the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
4. Enjoy the simple things ...
When the children are young, that is all that you can afford.
When they are in college, that is all that you can afford.
When you are on retirement, that is all that you can afford!
5. Laugh often, long and loud — laugh until you gasp for breath ...
If you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots of time with him or her.
6. The tears happen — endure, grieve, and move on ...
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love ...
Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever — your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health ...
If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips ...
Take a trip to the mall, to the next state, or even to another country, but NOT to Guilt City.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them ... at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER ...
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away. ~Anon~
Source: Inspiration Line
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50 Simple Ways To Reduce Stress at Home or at Work
1. Breathe, when you feel tense, take 10 slow, deep breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth.
2. Touch, hug someone, hold hands, stroke a pet, make non-sexual physical contact with people, brush your hair.
3. Communicate, be honest with your Self and others. Ask for what you want. Express your true feelings when they occur.
4. Drink at least eight, 8 oz. glasses of good water a day. This flushes toxins out of our body.
5. See the humor in life. Laugh at your self and life. Have fun and "play" at life.
6. Meditation 15 minutes a day. Take time to relax, sit, breathe deeply, quiet your mind. Record In-sights and dreams in a journal.
7. Be Human. Let up on yourself. Forgive your self and others. Slow down and enjoy being alive.
8. Communicate with friends. Spend time with each other. Share the good stuff.
9. Hug three people each day. Relax and enjoy the feeling of
10. Quit worrying about the Future. Concentrate on what you can do NOW.
11. Make a TO DO list of your agreements for each month. Schedule both play time and free time, and do both activities.
12. Write it down. Make notes to yourself. Make a list. Write special dates down on your calendar. Put it on tape.
13. Say "NO" Allow yourself to say "NO" to some requests. Don't over commit yourself. Put yourself first; say YES to you.
14. Clean it up Recycle old junk and papers. Clean your physical and mental house of old garbage.
15. Wear comfortable, clean clothes, that make you feel good about yourself.
16. Avoid doing anything to excess, even having fun.
18. Express and receive love as often as possible to yourself and others.
19. You always have choices in life. Re-Order your priorities. If you are not happy, choose some- thing new.
20. Express your anger to the person involved the moment it's experienced.
21. Be honest with yourself con- cerning your fears. Ask for more information or assistance.
22. Crying is nature's way of releasing toxins from the body, releasing stress, or expressing joy.
23. Change is constant. You can choose to change your choice anytime you want to do so.
24. Trust your Self, and value your needs and choices. Follow your own intuition.
25. Live in the moment. Stop fanta- sizing about "What If ". Choose from what IS available, Now.
26. Feel good about yourself and your choices in life. Value what you Believe in. Walk your Talk.
27. Forgive yourself and others. Withholding Love does not nur- ture relationships.
28. When you do not love yourself first, you can not be satisfied by loving and doing for others.
29. Make a commitment to expand your Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical well-being.
30. Your most valuable and limited resource is your time. Value it, so others will.
31. Obtain a written job description from your boss. Make any changes needed to keep your agreements.
32. Take pride in your work. You only get One First Impression!
33. Be responsible for your work. Do your best with every opportunity.
34. Only do your job. Do not get conned into permanently assuming another person's job responsibilities.
35. Do not play office politics. Be open and above board in all your relationships. Honor your Integrity.
36. Do not listen to, encourage, or spread gossip. It damages your credibility and others.
37. Talk with your co-workers about how to work together to solve problems.
38. Don't be a "fix it " person for people's problems.
39. When you have a problem, go to the person who can solve that specific problem. Ask questions.
40. Ask questions. When you are not sure, or don't know, get information before taking action.
41. Contribute Become a solution provider for problems, not just a problem discoverer.
42. Leave work. When you go home, Go Home ! Work can be a part of your life, not your whole life.
43. Put your family, career, and Self in perspective; know which is most important and nourish it.
44. Value your emotions. Feel your feelings. Allow yourself to express them appropriately as they occur.
45. Express your anger directly with clarity. Indirect or covert anger only prolongs distress and distrust.
46. When asked, always tell the whole truth to yourself and to others.
47. Respect your own ideas, and have respect for other people's feelings, ideas, and choices.
48. Exercise, walk, stretch, move about. Staying physically fit keeps you mentally fit, emotionally calm, and at peace.
49. Eat healthy foods and chew well. Don't eat just because you are bored, unhappy, or angry.
50. Experience and express joy at being alive, at having choices, and at the opportunity to explore loving relationships.
Source: The Mind Unleashed
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A STORY OF TWO TREES
“My kids are starting to notice I'm a little different from the other dads. "Why don't you have a straight job like everyone else?" they asked me the other day.
I told them this story:
In the forest, there was a crooked tree and a straight tree. Every day, the straight tree would say to the crooked tree, "Look at me...I'm tall, and I'm straight, and I'm handsome. Look at you...you're all crooked and bent over. No one wants to look at you." And they grew up in that forest together. And then one day the loggers came, and they saw the crooked tree and the straight tree, and they said, "Just cut the straight trees and leave the rest." So the loggers turned all the straight trees into lumber and toothpicks and paper. And the crooked tree is still there, growing stronger and stranger every day.” ~Tom Waits
Source: Goodreads
LOVE, WEALTH and SUCCESS
A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognise them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.” “Is the man of the house home?”, they asked. “No”, she said. “He’s out.” “Then we cannot come in”, they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in. “We do not go into a House together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she wanted to know.
One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”
The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!”, he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”
“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”
The woman went out and asked the three old men, “which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.” Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, why are you coming in?”
The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him.
Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success! Be wise
Source: Emotional Filmtricks, FB
5 THINGS YOU MUST NOT SLEEP WITH
1. DONT SLEEP WITH WATCH - Watches emit a cetain level of radioactivity. Though small but if you wear them to bed for a long time it might have adverse effects to your health.
2. DONT SLEEP WITH BRA - Scientist in Mecca have discovered that those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have higher risk of getting breast cancer.
3. DONT SLEEP WITH PHONE - Putting your phone beside you is not encouraged. Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks but please put The phones as far as possible. Scientists prove that electrical items including mobile television emit magnetic waves when used. These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system. Therefore if You need to put your mobilephone near you switch it off first.
4. DONT SLEEP WITH MAKE-UP - People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run. Sleeping with make up will cause the skin To have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring. You will also need a much longer time To go into deep sleep.
Lastly and most importantly
5. DONT SLEEP WITH OTHER PEOPLES HUSBAND OR WIVES- YOU MIGHT NEVER WAKE UP AGAIN
Source: Emotional Filmtricks, FB
THE TREASURE IN CLAY VESSELS
"A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay vessels. It was like someone had rolled balls of clay and left them out in the sun to bake.
They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.
He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!
Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay vessels. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him.
He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!
It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.
We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay." ~Anon~
Source: Inspiration Line
SOMETHING THAT REMINDS ME OF
Having a bad day? It’s okay. YOU are okay. But now you’re a little stronger than you were yesterday.
Put your hand on your heart. Feel that? That’s called ‘a purpose. You’re here today for a reason. Don’t give up and don’t give in. And above all, don’t let one or two dark clouds cover the entire sky. The sun is always shining on some part of your life. Sometimes you just have to forget how you feel, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.
Keep in mind that we’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all made absolute fools of ourselves. We’ve let people take advantage of us, and we’ve accepted way less than we deserve. And sometimes, we too have given others way less than they deserve. Sometimes we let our priorities and our boundaries get ravished by the chaos of the day. But if you think about it, we’ve learned a lot from our bad choices, and even though there are some things we can never recover, and people who will never be sorry, we now know better for next time. We now have more power to shape our future.
~marcandangel.com
Source:
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MOTIVATIONAL MOMENT
The Five W’s of Life:
WHO you are is what makes you special. Do not change for anyone.
WHAT lies ahead will always be a mystery. Do not be afraid to explore.
WHEN life tries to push you over, you push back harder.
WHERE there are choices to make, make the one you won’t regret.
WHY things happen will never be certain. Take it in stride, move forward and ENJOY THE RIDE.
~Anon~
Source: The Horse Mafia, FB
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BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
Family Hosts 200 Homeless People for Dinner After Daughter's Wedding Gets Called Off
By Mia Fitzharris
When an engaged couple calls off the wedding, it is usually a time of sadness and anger. But one family in Atlanta found a way to turn a terrible situation into a beautiful one. Carol and Willie Fowler's daughter Tamara was set to get married at the Villa Christina catering hall, when the wedding was called off just 40 days before the event. Initially the Fowlers were upset to hear that the lavish gathering they had planned and paid for was not going to happen. Then they had a genius and generous idea: They invited 200 of the city's homeless to feast on the four-course meal that would have been part of Tamara's wedding reception.
The Fowler family called Elizabeth Omilami from the Hosea Feed the Hungry organization for her help in getting the group together. At first Omilami thought she was being pranked! Carol Fowler said that even daughter Tamara attended the event, adding, "She was also very delighted to see and know that others had an opportunity to enjoy something, rather than just allow it to go to waste." Children make up about 70 percent of Atlanta's homeless, so to make the dinner more fun for them, a clown was hired for their entertainment. The event was titled "The First Annual Fowler Family Celebration of Love," and the family says it plans on hosting another charity dinner next year. It's a great example of how you can turn any bad situation into a positive one.
Source: news.yahoo.com via FB
MEMORY KEEPERS
"It has become clear to me that the function of art is not only for beauty making, but for soul making. For every creative effort we make, we work a little bit upon ourselves, shaping the raw material of our beingness into something unique and staggeringly beautiful." -Temple Wind Flutes"My hands are memory keepers. With the right attention, I can see the stories of hundreds of objects, nearly all of which now live out in the world far away from me. From three days ago, traces of glue and shellac coat my fingers from an afternoon of flutemaking. A closer look reveals a myriad of tiny scars from slipped chisels and wayward saws. On my left index finger, a memory of my very first instrument order, a wicked saw cut that opened to the bone. Art will do that to you.
When we see the work of an accomplished artist that we admire, it can awaken a longing to create art of our own. So stirred, we may rush home and gather tools and prepare to throw ourselves into a dance with our muse. After the initial rushes of passion, it may be that the first efforts bear little resemblance to the great art that was shimmering in the mind. At this point, things may get a little prickly.
Once you get past the romantic notions of being an artist and go deep into the practice of your craft, the truth of making is revealed; Art is hard bloody work. There is the physical effort of training your body to shape raw material into new forms. Then the hundreds of hours of study and skill building, and the less tangible, emotional labours.
Making can lay bare all of your deepest insecurities, and send you running time and time again. Your most vulnerable secrets can be revealed in the cutting of stone, wood and clay. It can make you doubt yourself and question whether you have a right to make art in the first place.
The secret is not to confuse these times with failure or inability, but to see them as a necessary companion to inspiration. When creativity opens a deep wound, the task is not to run away at first sight, but to stay put and look at it deeply. If your pain is a part of you, can you include it in the sculpture of your life? I say that with the eyes of a master carver, each knot of the soul and every crack of the heart has the potential to be sanded and polished with our loving kindness into a bright jewel. With a combination of bravery and gentleness, we can use our art to shine our hearts, making us a little more patient, tender, and able to press on and share our gifts with the world.
It has become clear to me that the function of art is not only for beauty making, but for soul making. For every creative effort we make, we work a little bit upon ourselves, shaping the raw material of our beingness into something unique and staggeringly beautiful.
So if you ever doubt your worth as an artist, or if the ups and downs of the creative life become too exhausting, hold fast. Take a breath and remember that with some patience and presence, your present difficulty will soon be smoothed into a perfect part of your living masterpiece." ~Craig Paterson of Temple Wind Flutes (www.templewindflutes.com)
Source: Dreamwork with Toko-pa (FB)
THE NEW MACHO
He cleans up after himself. He cleans up the planet. He is a role model for young men. He is rigorously honest and fiercely optimistic.
He holds himself accountable. He knows what he feels. He knows how to cry and he lets it go. He knows how to rage without hurting others. He knows how to fear and how to keep moving. He seeks self-mastery.
He has let go of childish shame. He feels guilty when he's done something wrong. He is kind to men, kind to women, kind to children. He teaches others how to be kind. He says he's sorry.
He stopped blaming women or his parents or men for his pain years ago. He stopped letting his defenses ruin his relationships. He stopped letting his penis run his life. He has enough self-respect to tell the truth. He creates intimacy and trust with his actions. He has men that he trusts and that he turns to for support. He knows how to roll with it. He knows how to make it happen. He is disciplined when he needs to be. He is flexible when he needs to be. He knows how to listen from the core of his being.
He's not afraid to get dirty. He's ready to confront his own limitations. He has high expectations for himself and for those he connects with. He looks for ways to serve others. He knows he is an individual. He knows that we are all one. He knows he is an animal and a part of nature. He knows his spirit and his connection to something greater.
He knows that the future generations are watching his actions. He builds communities where people are respected and valued. He takes responsibility for himself and is also willing to be his brother's keeper.
He knows his higher purpose. He loves with fierceness. He laughs with abandon, because he gets the joke.
This is the Mature Masculine - the New Warrior - a re-definition of masculinity for the 21st century. By no means is this list complete. You are welcome to come and add your gifts to this community. --Boysen Hodgson
Source: www.mkp.org via FB (The ManKind Project)
REACTORSThanks for all the comments - and I AGREE fully with what's being offered. To me, this is a practice, a striving. I fail, every day. I don't expect that others will be perfect - and I hold high expectations. The role models that have given me the most in my life are those that held me to high standards ... and offered me a hand when I fell. Blessings." ~Boysen Hodgson
"And he does none of the above perfectly or even consistently, but is instead honest about - and embraces - his own imperfections and limitations." ~Joe Shoemaker
"I have seen this posted by MKP a number of times now, and each time I am struck by two truths. The first is the intuitive genius of the message contained in these words regarding the true nature of man, the nature that has been freed from the soul crippling influence of modern conditioning. And by that I mean the ego based, gender biased rhetoric and portrayal of hyper-masculinity in media and society at large (Secondary to this is the objectification of and portrayal of women as being submissive to men...a whole other issue). The second, is the realization of how blatant the ignorance is in some who choose to comment. Words like testosterone and gay, thrown around with a dash of humor (Ie: ego defense). Clearly, MKP and the new warriors, as defined here, have much work to do by setting their example and accepting this responsibility of leadership. Or as we might call it, integrity. And I am thankful for those that do so. To me, these people can rightly be called heroes. It takes great moral strength to speak the truth among peers and to call them out. As a great man and leader once said, "it is not the words of our enemies that hurt us, but the silence of our friends." Battle on warriors. You give me hope." ~Jenn McIvor
"He accepts his woman as a unique manifestation of Goddess and Nature. Allows her the space to change and flow like the weather without being pulled off-center by her emotional tides. He knows that "flow" is her MO, and he no longer tries to stifle her, repress her, or change her. He enjoys the dance of life that she brings into his life." ~Kathryn Loar Green
" I think the female version would be exactly the same. This isn't some "new masculinity." This is simply a good human being." ~Janet Cotgrave
"Rather than form himself into impossible images and ideals, he accepts his weaknesses, his imperfections, and his struggle, pain, and humanity as part of his and everyone's uniqueness. And rather than strive to be a plastic, perfect image of expectation, he is truly wild, flawed in ways that are sometimes unpleasant, inconvenient and completely human." ~Jeff Coté
"Mine can cook too and makes coffee each morning. He secretly keeps the wild flowers that I picked when we were first together in a field of flowers to place in a frame with the photo he took of me in that same field staring at the sun. He has admitted all past mistakes and it has taught him different lessons. He understands Divine timing and that everything happens for a reason. He sees when unveiled women try to manipulate one that is pure and good. He doesn't give in to their lies and jealousy and stands strong with his woman "it's us against the world." He's always standing up to bullies and helps the underdog. He isn't afraid to show anyone his sensitivities anymore. This new man and one like I have is called an EMPATH. Read about it. It is finally allowed. To be proud of being balanced in male and female. We all are both. We all are these things. It's finding inside yourself, if you truly want to be, simply a good and positive respectful person to yourself, the world and others. I AM blessed. Thank you for writing this. I hope many many see it!" ~Kim Leaman
"He can heal with only the touch of his hands. Turn the tide of evil with a few words. No matter how big the problem may seem, dispite himself he finds the resolution and puts it into action in due time. He looks up to the sky so that he may radiate the light of life and warm those cast down acknowledging our frailties as men of a fallen age and remind them of their eternal spirit, and the hope in which that holds but also the terror; for Truth is a double edged sword. The skilled warrior wields it with gentle finesse so that wounds may be avoided but that every enemy be struck down." ~Richard Raffenot
"To aspire and be inspired by this post Is laudable yes but note the common shout in modern society that perfection is not a destination. Humanity is in danger of being sucked into a common materialistic state where we say to the future partner "you have to change to fit my needs and ideals and are resilient enough to hold me". Expectations are resentments waiting to happen and help us to stay in our very enclosed space and small world when we expect others to meet our needs. Integrity, honour, compassion, love and gratitude are traits that we should all encourage in ourselves and others but not at the cost of them filling our needs.Revel in your imperfections , own them and love them and then transformation shall happen. Enjoy the journey." ~Jason Jay
"Your thread attracts many interesting perspectives about how we "Women" should understand "Men". Many reactions are provocative, nevertheless informative and educational. I would say, same applies to women too. If both genders look at each other EYE to EYE openly and honestly express their views in candid frankness, I don't think there will be relationship breakdowns to experience by many, including myself. Excellent theme!" ~Yours Truly. L
THE SHOEBOX
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.
In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.
He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she said, 'my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.'
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two Precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two Times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with Happiness.
'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?'
'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.'
Source: Judy Key
"Live in the present, or die in your past; it's your choice." ~Bryant McGill"In your tragedies you will find your most magnificent opportunities for rebirth. It is through our pain that we emerge. Change comes from confrontation. You have to be confronted or confront yourself. The timidness some people call "humility" is really just a fear of confronting painful inner-truths, but honest and painful self-dialogue is essential for growth. Real spirituality is about getting the bullshit out of your life and getting real. Real humility knows how to slam a door closed and say no more. You can't be humble without self-love. Humility is not weak, powerless, faint, a pushover, a punching bag or an abuse magnet, because above all — humility cares.
Each person was meant to blossom into their own unique signature of greatness. Not being great is a form of extreme arrogance. If you were really humble you would be great, because humility would never squander the magnificent gift of life. It takes humility to accept responsibility for the mantle of greatness in your birthright and to become all you can be in life. Real humility is graceful power, not a mandate to be victimized and abused. If you are really humble you will put yourself first when you need to take care of you. Quit pretending to be humble when you are really just a self-abusing, emotional, drama junkie. It seems that some people are so addicted to their misery that they will destroy anything that gets in the way of their fix. A person who is humble would never be abusive or selfish; so don't abuse yourself or withhold self-love or self-care. You are the first person who you should treat with humility. Respect yourself and let it overflow to others.
Humility puts others first because "first" takes on new meaning through the practice of humility. Humility is patient because it is neither past nor forward seeking — it is content. When we are touched by humility we awaken to a moment of gratitude where we are free from our unpleasant pasts, and free from the torture of future expectations. Humility feels like a thankful-awareness of the present moment. Accept your present opportunities; the pleasant and painful, which are seeking to perfect you. Humility adds lessons to our pain and suffering, turning the seemingly senseless into meaning. You only have a chance right now, in this moment — but only through humility.
Source: Ups, Downs & Roundabouts
Refe: http://bryantmcgill.com/20140215193216.html
The Suitcase (Reflection)
A man died, when he realized it, he saw God coming closer with a suitcase in His hand.
God said: Alright son its time to go.
Surprised, the man responded: Now? So soon? I had a lot of plans...
I'm sorry but its time to go.
What do you have in that suitcase? the man asked.
God answered: Your belongings.
My belongings?
You mean my things, my clothes, my money?
God answered: Those things were not yours. They belonged to the Earth.
Is it my memories? the man asked.
God answered: those never belonged to you. They belonged to Time.
Is it my talents?
God answered: those were never yours. They belonged to the Circumstances.
Is it my friends and family?
God answered: I'm sorry they were never yours. They belonged to the Path.
Is it my wife and son?
God answered: They were never yours. They belonged to your Heart.
Is it my body?
God answered: that was never yours. It belonged to the Dust.
Is it my soul?
God answered: No that is Mine.
Full of fear, the man took the suitcase from God and opened it just to find out the suitcase was empty.
With a tear coming down his cheek the man said: I never had anything???
God answered: that is correct, every moment you lived were only yours. Life is just a moment, a moment that belongs to you. For this reason enjoy this time while you have it. Don't let anything that you think you own stop you from doing so.
Live Now
Live your life
Don't forget to be happy, that is the only thing that matters.
Material things and everything else that you fought for stay here.
YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING!
Share this reflection with anyone you love or appreciate. Enjoy every second you live.
Source: FB via Daydee V.
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BIRTHSTONES
(January)
GARNET: A good match for leaders and achievers, this gem’s fiery color represents power, strength, love, and excitement. Garnets are believed to offer guidance during tough times and also protect against nightmares.
(February)
AMETHYST: Because purple is the color of royalty, this precious quartz is perfect for people who epitomize elegance, grace, and tranquility. It is also famous for being a stress reliever, bringing peace of mind and emotional well-being to the wearer.
(March)
AQUAMARINE:
Brave, adventurous souls, deep thinkers, and peace-loving individuals are represented by this pale blue stone. The aquamarine was used by ancient mariners as a talisman on long ocean voyages. As a gemstone of purification and cleansing, it clears the mind of negative thoughts and fears and promotes meditation.
(April)
DIAMOND:
If you’re strong and virtuous, no other precious gem represents you better. As the hardest substance known to man, this gem is the symbol of perfection, durability, and invincibility.
(May)
EMERALD:
Nature lovers and health buffs will feel a kinship with this brilliant green stone, as it is said to represent peace, harmony, and balance. It is believed to soothe the mind, body, and soul, but it also serves to sharpen intellect and wit.
(June)
ALEXANDRITE:
Elegant individuals who find joy and beauty in simplicity. Embodies the virtues of chastity and modesty. In some cultures, like that of the Chinese, it is believed to promote health, prosperity, and long life and has been used as medicine.
(July)
RUBY:
Natural-born leaders and hopeless romantics both have this gem to thank for their personalities. Traditionally given as a gift on the 15th and 40th anniversaries, this intense red gem signifies power, authority, and unbridled passion.
(August)
PERIDOT:
A symbol of strength and vitality, peridots can also help nurture personal growth and relationships, and promote new beginnings, something that has served those who claim this birthstone for their own.
(September)
SAPPHIRE:
Loyalty, truthfulness, honesty, and all the qualities that make you a true friend and life partner are embodied by this beautiful blue stone.
(October)
PINK TOURMALINE:
Love and spirituality, encouraging compassion and gentleness during periods of growth and changes as humanity works toward enlightenment. A person sensitive to others.
OPAL:
Those gifted with a vivid imagination or a knack for healing others in both mind and body are compatible with this delicate iridescent gem. Opals are thought to represent innocence, friendship, and purity in thought and deed.
(November)
TOPAZ:
Strong, sensible individuals who possess the ability to turn dreams into reality are best represented by this glowing gem. The topaz promotes sanity, healing, friendship, and fidelity; it also serves to provide emotional balance and modulate passion.
TURQUOISE:
Creative, free-spirited people whose luck never seems to run out. The cool blue turquoise is said to bring good fortune for the wearer and increase one’s chances of having a happy and prosperous life.
(December)
ZIRCON:
Prosperity, success, happiness and good fortune
Open communication. Zircon is also known to protect against diseases, regeneration, and strengthening.
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MEMORY LOSS
"My father developed signs of dementia in his mid seventies, many years ago.
I'm not quite sure what the difference is between dementia and Alzheimer's disease is, but when the McCuster foundation Alzheimer research (Perth) were seeking volunteers for a new treatment, I applied. Hoping to ward off any chances of possibly getting dementia.
The treatment involves having regular doses of testosterone and taking fish oil supplements.
I attended their meeting and put my name down as a potential guineapig.
Several weeks later I was asked to complete and in depth questioner on-line and informed they would get back to me as soon as possible.
Well, I never heard from them again so I when I emailed them a few weeks later, I was told they had a lot of applicants but they would get back to me soon.
That was well over a year ago. I'm Still waiting to hear from them.
Perhaps they have Alzheimer's ." ~Alpha
Source: Your Life's Choices
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WORDS TO A GRANDCHILD
Perhaps there will be a day you will want to sit by my side asking for counsel. I hope I will be there but you see I am growing old.
There is no promise that life will live up to our hopes especially to the hopes of the aged. So I write of what I know and some day our hearts will meet in these words, -if you let it happen.
In the midst of a land without silence you have to make a place for yourself.
Those who have worn out their shoes many times know where to step. It is not their shoes you can wear only their footsteps you may follow, -if you let it happen.
You come from a shy race. Ours are the silent ways. We have always done all things in a gentle manner, so much as the brook that avoids the solid rock in its search for the sea and meets the deer in passing. You too must follow the path of your own race. It is steady and deep, reliable and lasting. It is you, -if you let it happen.
You are a person of little, but it is better to have little of what is good, than to possess much of what is not good. This your heart will know, -if you let it happen.
Heed the days when the rain flows freely, in their greyness lies the seed of much thought.
The sky hangs low and paints new colors on the earth.
After the rain the grass will shed its moisture, the fog will lift from the trees, Xa new light will brighten the sky and play in the drops that hang on all things.
Your heart will beat out a new gladness, -if you let it happen.
Each day brings an hour of magic.
Listen to it!
Things will whisper their secrets.
You will know what fills the herbs with goodness,
makes days change into nights,
turns the stars and brings the change of seasons.
When you have come to know some of nature's wise ways beware of your complacency for you cannot be wiser than nature. You can only be as wise as any man will ever hope to be, -if you let it happen.
Our ways are good but only in our world. If you like the flame on the white man's wick learn of his ways, so you can bear his company, yet when you enter his world, you will walk like a stranger. For some time bewilderment will, like an ugly spirit torment you. Then rest on the holy earth and wait for the good spirit. He will return with new ways as his gift to you, -if you let it happen.
Use the heritage of silence to observe others.
If greed has replaced the goodness in a man's eyes see yourself in him so you will learn to understand and preserve yourself.
Do not despise the weak, it is compassion that will make you strong.
Does not the rice drop into your basket whilst your breath carries away the chaff?
There is good in everything, -if you let it happen.
When the storms close in and the eyes cannot find the horizon you may lose much.
Stay with your love for life for it is the very blood running through your veins.
As you pass through the years you will find much calmness in your heart.
It is the gift of age, and the colors of the fall will be deep and rich, -if you let it happen.
As I see beyond the days of now I see a vision:
I see the faces of my people,
your sons' sons,
your daughters' daughters,
laughter fills the air that is no longer yellow and heavy,
the machines have died,
quietness and beauty have returned to the land.
The gentle ways of our race have again put us in the days of the old.
It is good to live!
It is good to die!
-This will happen.
~ Chief Dan George ~
NATIVE AMERICAN WISDOM
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ANGER
"Anger is one of those emotions that's been long-stricken from the social palette of acceptability. Especially for women, who are taught that being angry makes you unlikeable, and being unlikeable is a kind of rejection from Femininity itself.
So many set about a lifetime of unspoken penance to becoming 'a nice person.' You turn down your volume, soften your step, retract your talons and acquiesce. But a terrible thing is lost in the suppression of anger - your relationship with one of your greatest allies: Instinct.
Anger arises when your heart has been offended, your values have been wronged, your beloveds are threatened, or somewhere, justice has been denied.
Anger is the catalyst to the impotence you may feel in these situations. It sets your heart racing, elevates your blood pressure and quickens your breath. Adrenaline surges through your veins and poises you for action.
This profound physical transformation can make you feel out of control, but that may mostly be because the incisiveness of power has become a stranger to us.
When we suppress our anger, it often results in one of two ways: It turns inward and takes the form of Depression and/or somaticizes into disease. Or it bursts out of us in an exaggerated and inappropriate way.
Next time you find yourself in this mode, try taking a moment to yourself where you can 'run your anger,' which is to say amplify and befriend it! Let it course through your veins - feel the power of its presence in your body - let it invigorate you. Give it a voice and listen to what it has to say.
Once you know what your instincts are telling you, you can begin to make the necessary changes in your life. You can set limits against other people's rude or inconsiderate behavior, defend yourself or others in a constructive way. You can finally speak the unspeakable." ~Dreamwork
Birda Rose: "Anger is the guardian sentry of an individuals soul. When an energy is misqualified it's power will rise to protect the heart of all that is qualified to be treasured. It is to be embraced and utilised for righteous reasons against negativity. The art of flowing with the energy of anger is indeed an 'art form' one which can take a life time to be a mistress of. Energies of Peace and anger work together well as we rediscover our karmic lessons. Through anger we remember them as they are re initiated within the present and when we delve into the fire of our hearts we can accept angers presence in absolute respect for ourselves to peacefully work through our karmic retribution. Anger is to be embraced as such a driving force to bring about the change we need to find peace and find love in equilibrium in our hearts reflecting the unity of all that is divine."
Source: Dreamwork with Toko-pa ♌ www.toko-pa.com
Native Americans
... the american nightmare ...
A white man and an elderly Native man became pretty good friends, so the white guy decided to ask him: “What do you think about Indian mascots?” The Native elder responded, “Here’s what you’ve got to understand. When you look at black people, you see ghosts of all the slavery and the rapes and the hangings and the chains.
When you look at Jews, you see ghosts of all those bodies piled up in death camps. And those ghosts keep you trying to do the right thing. “But when you look at us you don’t see the ghosts of the little babies with their heads smashed in by rifle butts at the Big Hole, or the old folks dying by the side of the trail on the way to Oklahoma while their families cried and tried to make them comfortable, or the dead mothers at Wounded Knee or the little kids at Sand Creek who were shot for target practice. You don’t see any ghosts at all.
“Instead you see casinos and drunks and junk cars and shacks. “Well, we see those ghosts. And they make our hearts sad and they hurt our little children. And when we try to say something, you tell us, ‘Get over it. This is America. Look at the American dream.’ But as long as you’re calling us Redskins and doing tomahawk chops, we can’t look at the American dream, because those things remind us that we are not real human beings to you. And when people aren’t humans, you can turn them into slaves or kill six million of them or shoot them down with Hotchkiss guns and throw them into mass graves at Wounded Knee. “No, we’re not looking at the American dream. And why should we? We still haven’t woken up from the American nightmare..
www.ya-native.com
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A WOMAN
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked,
"God, why do women cry so easily?"
God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.
I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.
I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.
I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart the place where love resides."
Source: Via Forward
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"Truly loving people make you feel valued, energised, and closer to being who you truly want to be." ~Brenda Clark Hamilton, MA Ed.Thought for the Day: DO THE PEOPLE YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND TIME WITH MAKE YOU FEEL TRULY VALUED AND ENERGIZED?
Those of you who have heard me speak on Emotional Intelligence know that many times, I talk about my mom. I did so on Tuesday, with a group of Human Resources professionals from a variety of industries in NW IA and SW MN.
The short version of the story is that my mom, who has never been a "career woman" per se, has some of the best honed people skills of anyone I've ever met in my life. I can guarantee that if you ask those who know her best--close friends, family, children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren--they will share a consistent belief about my mom: that when you are with her, you feel valued, appreciated, warmly welcomed, and simply put, loved. She has humor, charm, immense kindness, and humility--all of those qualities that make her a classy and endearing woman to all who know her.
Unfortunately, the reality is that it is a pretty slim portion of the human population that we interact with on a regular basis who make us feel as valued as my mom does. Many of us interact daily with people who criticize, demean, insult, manipulate, or otherwise, make us feel "less than". And many of those people are forced upon us, in that we must interact closely with them through our jobs or close familial relationships.
That said, I think each of us owes it to ourselves to ask to what extent we CAN make choices about with whom we spend our time. For it is during those precious times that we must make conscious choices for our own well-being...we owe it to ourselves.
Ask yourself, for those with whom you CHOOSE to spend time, the following questions:
--After I interact with this person, how do I feel?
--Does this person make me feel truly valued?
--Does this person add positive energy to my life?
--Is this person truly looking out for my well-being?
--Does this person lead me closer to being who I truly want to be in my life?
If the answers to the above questions are "yes," chances are that this person is worthy of your time, energy, and attention.
If not, please realize that you have a choice about how close you will let this person into your inner circle of acquaintances, close family, and friends. You owe it to yourself, and to those who love you, to create physical and/or emotional distance for yourself from those who, consciously or not, are not looking out for your personal well-being.
Only YOU can become the best, and ultimate, protector of yourself. Please make wise and thoughtful choices in that regard.
PS to Mom--What a gift it has been to be your "baby" daughter. Your never-ending kindness, warmth, and love have profoundly impacted my life and so many others. We all love you so much!!!
By Brenda Clark Hamilton, MA Ed.,
Source: FB via My Renewed Mind
25/12/2013
POSITIVE THOUGHTS༺♥༻༺♥༻༺♥༻༺♥༻
How to be Happy ...
1 -Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
2- Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything , and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.
3 -Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.
4 -You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.
5 -Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
6 -Do the things you enjoy doing , but stay out of debt.
7- Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.
8- Since hate poisons the soul , do not cherish jealously , enmity , grudges . Avoid people who make you unhappy.
9 -Have many interests. If you can't travel , read about new places.
10 -Don't hold postmortems. Don't spend your time brooding over sorrows or mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.
11- Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
12 -Keep busy at something . A busy person never has time to be unhappy.
ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY
The Moon Cannot Be Stolen
Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal.
Ryokan returned and caught him. "You may have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you shoud not return emptyhanded. Please take my clothes as a gift."
The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away.
Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow, " he mused, "I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."
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THE FENCE
There once was a young boy with a very bad temper. The boy's father wanted to teach him a lesson, so he gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper he must hammer a nail into their wooden fence.
On the first day of this lesson, the little boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. He was really mad! Over the course of the next few weeks, the little boy began to control his temper, so the number of nails that were hammered into the fence dramatically decreased. It wasn't long before the little boy discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Then, the day finally came when the little boy didn't lose his temper even once, and he became so proud of himself, he couldn't wait to tell his father. Pleased, his father suggested that he now pull out one nail for each day that he could hold his temper.
Several weeks went by and the day finally came when the young boy was able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. Very gently, the father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
"You have done very well, my son," he smiled, "but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same."The little boy listened carefully as his father continued to speak.
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WHAT MAKES A GREAT TEACHER?
"Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude, and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. With all these qualities required, it's no wonder that it's hard to find great teachers."
Here are some characteristics of great teachers:
•Great teachers set high expectations for all students. They expect that all students can and will achieve in their classroom, and they don't give up on underachievers.
•Great teachers have clear, written-out objectives. Effective teachers have lesson plans that give students a clear idea of what they will be learning, what the assignments are and what the grading policy is. Assignments have learning goals and give students ample opportunity to practice new skills. The teacher is consistent in grading and returns work in a timely manner.
•Great teachers are prepared and organized. They are in their classrooms early and ready to teach. They present lessons in a clear and structured way. Their classrooms are organized in such a way as to minimize distractions.
•Great teachers engage students and get them to look at issues in a variety of ways. Effective teachers use facts as a starting point, not an end point; they ask "why" questions, look at all sides and encourage students to predict what will happen next. They ask questions frequently to make sure students are following along. They try to engage the whole class, and they don't allow a few students to dominate the class. They keep students motivated with varied, lively approaches.
•Great teachers form strong relationships with their students and show that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Teachers with these qualities are known to stay after school and make themselves available to students and parents who need them. They are involved in school-wide committees and activities, and they demonstrate a commitment to the school.
•Great teachers are masters of their subject matter. They exhibit expertise in the subjects they are teaching and spend time continuing to gain new knowledge in their field. They present material in an enthusiastic manner and instill a hunger in their students to learn more on their own.
•Great teachers communicate frequently with parents. They reach parents through conferences and frequent written reports home. They don't hesitate to pick up the telephone to call a parent if they are concerned about a student."
Source: Great Schools dot org
As shared at FB by M. Wilson
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KINDNESS of a STRANGER
I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless man who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner. I took out my wallet, extracted ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead of dinner?" "No, I had to stop drinking years ago," the homeless man replied. "Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?" I asked. "No, I don't waste time fishing," the homeless man said.."I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive." "Will you spend this on hunting equipment?" I asked. "Are you NUTS!" replied the homeless man. "I haven't gone hunting in 20 years!" "Well," I said, "I'm not going to give you money. Instead, I'm going to take you home for a shower and a terrific dinner cooked by my wife." The homeless man was astounded. "Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that? I replied, "Don't worry about that. It's important for her to see what a man looks like after he has given up drinking, fishing and hunting." ~from Duck Hunter via Patricia O'Daniel MacDonald
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ON SHARING
"Before we can share with others, we must have something to share. And all of us do have something to give. Not material things, but we can share our peace and our love and our loyalty.
Before we can share with others, there must be others with whom to share. For if we are selfish and self-centered enough, we will never have to worry about sharing anything. We will be alone.
Before we can expect others to share with us, we must be capable of accepting. We must be worthy of others who desire to share with us; we must deserve their love.
Before the two of us can ever find anything in this world of mutual interest, we must have enough concern and enough love to feel a need within to produce something good enough to offer; not only to others, but to ourselves. If we have abused our own nature with thoughts of bitterness, harboring painful experiences, self-condemnation for little progress regardless of circumstances, then we have nothing to offer.
"Some people think that all the world should share their misfortunes, though they do not share in the sufferings of anyone else." ~Achilles Poincelot, French philosopherSource: Native American Spirituality and Thoughts
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Profound Thought
"In my spiritual journey I've found that no conditioning of the mind will give you joy without an open heart to life and those around you. Loneliness comes as the companion to spiritual development in this world because we are not the same but unique expressions. The idea of no self is a twisting of selfless. Without difference there can be no acceptance, no choice, no freedom, no beauty. In physics without difference there is no dynamism, no creation, no destruction, no contrast. The end of suffering doesn't come from a muting of your mind and emotions but as a strengthening of the heart where love comes above all things. There is no creativity in the absence of the dynamics of emotion, there is no courage without the potential for fear, what makes us divine is the condition of your hearts. The spirit of man doesn't truly say there I am, it says there I am not so I can look upon it and love. Falseness of self leads to suffering, not just the self, untruth in spirit leads to suffering not separation. We live in the same sea and so we are one but we are different, you can no more be me than I can be you or else there would be no love, because it would lie static in your heart without a point to express it to." ~Jared Semik
Source: FB, 21 November 2013
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“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess
"Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from becoming too talkative, and especially from the unfortunate habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and at every opportunity.
Release me from the idea that I must straighten out other peoples' affairs. With my immense treasure of experience and wisdom, it seems a pity not to let everybody partake of it. But thou knowest, Lord, that in the end I will need a few friends.
Keep me from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.
Grant me the patience to listen to the complaints of others; help me to endure them with charity. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains -- they increase with the increasing years and my inclination to recount them is also increasing.
I will not ask thee for improved memory, only for a little more humility and less self-assurance when my own memory doesn't agree with that of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.
Keep me reasonably gentle. I do not have the ambition to become a saint -- it is so hard to live with some of them -- but a harsh old person is one of the devil's masterpieces.
Make me sympathetic without being sentimental, helpful but not bossy. Let me discover merits where I had not expected them, and talents in people whom I had not thought to possess any. And, Lord, give me the grace to tell them so.
Amen” ~Margot Benary-Isbert
Source: Small Things are God's Blessings, FB
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RELATIONSHIPS
Some relationships will be blessings, others will serve as lessons.– Either way, never regret knowing someone. Everyone you encounter teaches you something important. Some people will test you, some will use you, and some will teach you; but most importantly some will bring out the best in you.
When times get tough, some people will leave you. – When you are up in life, your friends get to know who you are. When you are down in life, you get to know who your true friends are. There will be lots of people around when times are easy, but take note of who remains in your life when times get tough, especially the people who sacrifice the resources they have in their life to help you improve yours when you need it most. These people are your real friends.
Life is full of FAKE PEOPLE. – Sometimes the person you’d take a bullet for ends up being the one behind the gun. It’s so easy to believe someone when they TELL you exactly what you want to hear. But when a person SHOWS you who they really are, believe them the first time. Some people are only nice for their own convenience – the type of people who only call when they need something or come around when it’s beneficial to them. Not everyone has your best interests at heart. But sometimes you have to be tricked and mislead by the wrong lovers and friends once or twice in your life in order to find and appreciate your soul mate and real friends when they arrive.
People can easily be INSINCERE with their words. – When someone truly loves you, they don’t have to say a word. You will be able to tell simply by the way they treat you over the long-term. Remember, actions speak much louder than words. A person can say sorry a thousand times, and say “I love you” as much as they want. But if they’re not going to prove that the things they say are true, then they’re not worth listening to. Because if they can’t show it, their words are not sincere.
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. – Don’t settle to just be someone’s downtime, spare time, part time, or sometime. If they can’t be there for you all of the time, especially when you need them most, then they’re not worth your time.
HARSH WORDS can hurt a person more than physical pain.– Taste your own words before you spit them out. Words hurt and scar more than you think, so THINK before you speak. And remember, what you say about others also says a whole lot about YOU.
A mistake is an accident. Cheating and lying are not mistakes.– They are intentional choices. Stop hiding behind the words “mistake” and “sorry” and stop putting up with those who do.
Excessive jealousy doesn’t tell someone how much you love them.– It tells them how much you dislike yourself. And no amount of love, or promises, or proof from them will ever be enough to make you feel better. For those broken pieces you carry, are pieces you must mend for yourself.
When people get nasty with you, it’s usually best to walk away.– When someone treats you like dirt, don’t pay attention and don’t take it personally. They’re saying nothing about you and a lot about themselves. And no matter what they do or say, never drop down to their level and sling dirt back. Just know you’re better than that and walk away.
People will treat you the way you let them treat you.– You can’t control them, but you can control what you tolerate. Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from negative people. Doing so does not mean you hate them, it simply means you respect yourself.
One of the most difficult tasks in life is removing someone from your heart. – But remember, no relationship is a waste of time. The wrong ones teach you the lessons that prepare you for the right ones.
Resentment hurts you, not them. – Whisper a small prayer of gratitude for the people who have stuck by your side, and send a prayer of good will for those who didn’t. For should these people hear your prayers, those who have been there will know how much you appreciate them, and those who left will know that you appreciate your own happiness enough to not let resentment destroy your capacity to live with a compassionate heart.
By Marc and Angel Hack Life
Source: Positive Thoughts
Contentment
Some years ago a man set out for a country walk and lost his way. On a lonely track he came upon a cottage and decided to ask for directions. With quiet courtesy an elderly woman invited him in for a cup of tea and a home-baked scone.
He was taken aback to see how simply she lived and how barely her room was furnished--just a table, two wooden chairs and an old iron bedstead in the corner.
"You seem so content, yet you have so little," he said. "Where is all your furniture?"
"Where is yours?" She said with a smile.
"Mine?" echoed the traveller in surprise. "Why should I have any here? I'm just passing through!"
The old woman smiled again. "So am I," she said quietly.
Source: The Friendship Book of Francis Gay 1980
Meaningful Life
"Having a meaningful life and being content doesn't come from being rich. It doesn't come from being popular. It doesn't come from being highly educated or thinking you're perfect.
Being content and having a meaningful life comes from being honest, humble and real. It comes from being strong and standing up for your beliefs. It comes from fighting for what is right. It comes from sharing our lives by loving and serving and touching the lives of others." ~Doug Gonser
Grandfather's Table and the Wooden Bowl
"A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in- law, and four-year old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in- law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about Grandfather,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” Therefore, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?”
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb.
If they see us patiently, provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child’s future. Let us be wise builders and role models."
Source: Christian Stories
How Do You Forgive?
F - feel your hurt
O - Open your mind
R - Release your anger
G - Give love a chance
I - Inquire within your heart
V - Venture into dialogue
E - Embrace the other person
N - Nudge yourself to keep at it, even when you don't want to.
E - Enjoy new possibilities and freedom
S - Seek Divine guidance and help
S - Savour your new serenity and peace.
Source: Everything I Need To Know I Learned from Other Women by BJ Gallagher
The Paradoxical Commandments
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
Kent M. Keith
Source: Positive Thoughts
Living in the Moment by Paul Bauer
"Now, in this moment is the only moment we have - as you're reading this wisdom now - this is the only moment you have. This is the place where God is, in this space of time, a time like no other - a time to listen to your Heart, not just your mind - and trusting your Heart's wisdom like you would a trusted friend or loved one.
As you read this, think of all the wonderful things you have to be grateful for today. Your health, your job, your intellect, your physical body (your own temple), your home, your friends. . . the list is as infinite as you are.
Take a moment to reflect. . . to embrace the real you, the True you that honors people and is creative, the True you that is sacred, as are your Dreams in life. . .
Pause for a moment. .
Breathe. . .
Listen to the song inside you. . . that wonderful resonance inside you that longs to be heard...
And when you listen to its sweet call, you are present, you are loved, you are infinite, you are divine. Allow this magnificent feeling to wash over you. . . to move through you. . . as if you were on a beautiful sandy beach of your Dreams. . . smelling the salt sea air. . . feeling the gentle trade winds move through your hair. . . feeling the soft sand at your feet. . . feeling grounded. . .
Allowing any stress you may have to just effortlessly wash away with with flow of the tides. . . Remembering that you are part of the azure ocean before you. . . it is your Source and you are its beginning. . .
Feeling present. . . feeling grounded. . . allowing this moment to be you. . .
And you are better for this. . .
And so it is. . .
As you make your way today, remember this feeling. This feeling that you have all you need to create what you desire already inside you. Knowing that you are on purpose. . . embracing each moment for its sweetness and beauty - even when it seems difficult. As you do this, you will attract what you most passionately desire.
Source: Positive Thoughts
"Why We Shout In Anger"
"Learning to use anger is no easy task. Yet the alternative—letting anger use us—makes us prisoners of our own minds." ~Mark EpsteinA Hindu saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.
'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'
Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'
'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner, ' asked the saint
Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples. Finally the saint explained: .
'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.
What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'
The saint continued,' When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'
He looked at his disciples and said.
'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.'
Source: FB, General Knowledge Page
Empowering Quotes to Help You Get Things Done.
"Just because you are struggling does NOT mean you are failing. Every great success requires some kind of struggle to get there.
"It doesn’t matter if you’ve failed or if you’ve been beaten. All that matters is that you learn something, get back up, and try again. Because winning is a good feeling, but winning when nobody else thought you could is an awesome feeling."
"Stop beating yourself up. You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once."
"'Finished last’ will always be better than ‘Did not finish’, which always trumps ‘Did not start.’"
"Don’t think too much, or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place."
"Thinking too long about doing something is often the reason it never gets done."
"If you truly want to change your life, you must first change your mind."
"Most great things in your life won’t happen by chance, they will happen by choice.
"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect."
"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."
"There are seven days in the week and someday isn’t one of them."
"You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great."
"Sitting on the right track is equivalent to racing down the wrong track."
"Procrastinators who say, "There’s always tomorrow!" deny the reality that one day, they will be wrong."
"Do something today that your future self will thank you for."
"It’s easier to take a small action now instead of a big action ’some day.’"
"What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while."
"The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done."
"If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse."
"The best way to prepare for the future is to take care of the present."
Motivational tips for those hard times when you need a quick dose of inspiration.
People never do anything that is out of character. They may do things that go against your expectations, but what people do reveals exactly who they are. Never have expectations on people other than the expectations that they will be exactly who they are. Who they are is not what they say nor what you have come to expect, it is who they reveal themselves to be.
Be honest. Kiss those you love. Say ''thank you'', ''I love you'' and ''great job'' to someone each day. Love your life and what you have been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it the best you can. Dreaming does matter - it allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Forgive - it frees the soul! Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know.
Surround yourself with those who make you happy, those who make you better, and those who would help you in the time of need. These are the people who never take advantage of you and genuinely care about your well being. They are the ones worth keeping in your life. Everyone else is just passing through.
Learning to hold your tongue at the right moment, at the right time, could be the very thing that saves a meaningful relationship. When you're upset, the thing that you'd like to say about or to that person is not true. This is nor easy, but patience is a fruit of the spirit.
At some point you will realize that you have done too much for someone - that the only next possible step is to stop pursuing them - to leave them alone and walk away. It's not like you're giving up, and it's not like you shouldn't try to a certain point. It's just that you have to distinguish determination from desperation. What is truly yours will eventually be yours with a reasonable amount of effort,and what is not yours, no matter how hard you try, never will be.
It’s always too early to quit. You must continue breathing, even if it’s just a series of short, shallow breaths. Continue putting forth even the smallest efforts to sustain your dreams. Accept the fact that if you fight through the challenges, there is always a chance you might lose, but if you do not fight at all, you have already lost.
Inspirational Thoughts
You write your own destiny through the choices you make. You become what you repeatedly do. It is more important to know where you are going and why, than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement. Every time you are tempted to react to the same old circumstances in the same old way, ask yourself, “Do I want to be a prisoner of the past, or a pioneer of the future?”
True happiness comes from within, not from someone else. Don’t make the mistake of waiting on someone or something to come along and make you happy.
Don’t choose the one who is beautiful to the world, choose the one who makes your world beautiful.
If you feel like your ship is sinking, it might be a good time to throw out the stuff that’s been weighing it down. Let go of people who bring you down, and surround yourself with those who bring out the best in you.
Just because it didn’t last forever, doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth your while.
Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t expect others to read your mind, and don’t play games with their heads and hearts. Don’t tell half-truths and expect people to trust you when the full truth comes out. Half-truths are no better than lies. And don’t ignore someone you care about, because lack of concern hurts more than angry words.
Lies help no one in the long run. So… 1) Don’t say “I love you” if you don’t mean it. 2) Don’t say “I understand” if you have no clue. 3) Don’t say “I’m sorry” if you’re not. 4) Be honest with yourself and your loved ones.
Tell the truth, or eventually someone will tell it for you.
Good relationships don’t just happen; they take time, patience and two people who truly want to work to be together.
Falling in love is not a choice. To stay in love is.
Love doesn’t hurt. Lying, cheating and screwing with people’s feelings and emotions hurts.
When it comes to relationships, remaining faithful is never an option but a priority. Loyalty is everything.
A great relationship is about two things: First, appreciating the similarities, and second, respecting the differences.
Source: Positive Thoughts
A Repost to Share
Burned Biscuits - A lesson we all should learn.
When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!
All my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing...never made a face nor uttered a word about it!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides--a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"
As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.
I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today...that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband- wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket--keep it in your own."So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.
"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point"
Source: FB, Jan W. Nahorski Page
Something wonderful, and with substance!
There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live.
So as she was getting her things "in order", she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.
"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!"
"So, I just want people to see me there in the casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder, "What's with the fork?"
Then, I want you to tell them:
"Keep your fork....The best is yet to come".
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye.
He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did.
She KNEW that something better was coming. At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand.
Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?"
And over and over he smiled.
During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died.
He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.
He was right.
So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that the best is yet to come.
Author Unknown
Source: Positive Thoughts
Repost from FB
"A Connecticut man purchased a 17-pound lobster at a Waterford restaurant, then released the crustacean back into Long Island Sound. The lobster would have to be about 80-years-old to reach his current size and he felt he deserved to live.
"It takes seven years for him to even become a lobster big enough to keep," MacKenzie said.
"For a lobster to live this long and avoid lobster traps, nets, lobster pots, he doesn't deserve a bib and butter."
He took the lobster back to sea Tuesday, releasing him in a secret location, where he said it would be almost impossible for fishermen to drag their nets. MacKenzie received a send-off from a group of children chanting "Let Larry Live" and the lobster was given a salute from the Niantic River Bridge operator who sounded the lift bridge's siren as the boat carrying him headed to sea.
It would be great if one day lobster would be omitted from the menu. Let's hope this story has a ripple effect for the sake of other lobsters destined for the pot. (Ascen Scion)
Image: Alex Nunes / The Day of New London / via AP. Source: nydailynews.com)/ via FB Ascen Sion Page"
Note: For goodness sake, leave them alone. Is it a wonder why some sea creatures are now turning to humans because there's nothing left for them to eat? Water creatures like lobsters, prawns, crabs etc, are created for their own purpose, not for human consumption. They are scavengers that clean the aquatic environment. When can people be educated? Even those who are highly educated are the very people who trample the lives of these unsuspecting water victims." ~lcd, 18 February 2013)
"To those who see with loving eyes,
life is beautiful.
To those who speak with tender voices,
life is peaceful.
To those who help with gentle hands,
life is full.
To those who care with compassionate hearts,
life is good beyond measure." ~Anon
Four Lessons on Life
1. Never take down a fence until you know why it was put up.
2. If you get too far ahead of the army, your soldiers may mistake you for the enemy.
3. Don’t complain about the bottom rungs of the ladder; they helped to get you higher.
4. If you want to enjoy the rainbow, be prepared to endure the storm. ~Warren Wiersbe
CHOOSE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WISELY...
In life you’ll realize there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you, and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
Keep people in your life who truly love you, motivate you, encourage you, enhance you, and make you happy. If you know people who do none of these things, let them go.
Love is not about sex, going on fancy dates, or showing off. It’s about being with a person who makes you happy in a way nobody else can.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring – all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
The most beautiful thing is to see a person you love smiling. And even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason behind it.
Choose your relationships wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.
Being alone does not mean you are lonely, and being lonely does not mean you are alone.
Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
Love means giving someone the chance to hurt you, but trusting them not to.
You know you’ve found true love when you catch yourself falling in love with the same person over and over again.
Don’t wait for the right person to come into your life. Rather, be the right person to come to someone’s life.
The one who is meant for you encourages you to be your best, but still loves and accepts you at your worst.
Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.
Some relationships are like glass. It’s better to leave it broken, than to hurt yourself more by trying to put it back together.
Just because one person doesn’t seem to care for you, doesn’t mean you should forget about everyone else who does.
Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right.
It is okay to be angry. It is never okay to be cruel.
Never do something permanently foolish just because you are temporarily upset.
Silence is often the loudest cry. Pay attention to those you care about.
We don’t always need advice. Sometimes all we need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand.
Source: Positive Thoughts
If Only
"Do you live as if your cup were half full? How cognizant are you of the fact that what you say is directly correlated to the outcome you’ll get? If you continually speak of your life as if you never feel good, things never turn out right, or nothing positive comes your way, you’ll more than likely end up being right.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it takes courage to be happy. You can choose to take all of your experiences and channel them into your own reality show based on fear and anxiety, or you can think of all difficulties as opportunities for creating something new.
Negativity is like a big black hole with slippery sides. Once you fall in, it takes a lot of effort to crawl back up. Many people like the security of the darkness. So if you’re down there, you’ll have lots of company. However, when you decide to come back into the light, the others there won’t help you. They’re stuck in the quagmire and want you there with them, too. It takes a lot of vigilance to be the guardian of your thoughts, words, and deeds; and you’re often at the mercy of years of conditioning that make you operate as if you’re on autopilot. When you use language such as
If only, I wish, I can’t, you’re dismissing the possibility of today. Why maintain the familiarity of the past or nurse a fear of the future? You may think it’s easier to stay in an unhappy relationship or job or maintain habits that don’t serve you, but ultimately you’ll suffer. In fact, it’s easier and takes less energy to fell good than it does to feel bad." ~Loretta Laroche
Believe in You
"Go forward with your shoulders back, with your head high, and with a smile . With your enthusiastic spirit , perseverance, and integrity of character, put your intelligence, talents, and passion into action.
Never let setbacks excuse you from trying again. It often takes many attempts to be a success.
Never let negative people influence you or direct what you do. Always face forward and see your whole life shining bright for you. Never let go of your character, ideals, or activism for the good of this world.
Never let go of the passions that inspire you, guide you, and always smile on you. These passions will lead you to reach your fullest potential. Hold on to them, and they will keep you honest, caring, kind, and generous with the finest gifts your heart can give." ~Jacqueline Schiff
12 Commandments to help you learn how to love yourself by Louise Hay
Stop All Criticism - Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.
Forgive Yourself - Let the past go. You did the best you could at the time with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that you had. Now you are growing and changing, and you will live life differently.
Don’t Scare Yourself - Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It's a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure, and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.
Be Gentle and Kind and Patient - Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.
Be Kind to Your Mind - Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Don't hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.
Praise Yourself - Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.
Support Yourself - Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.
Be Loving to Your Negatives - Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.
Take Care of Your Body - Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need in order to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.
Do Mirror Work - Look into your eyes often. Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself while looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents while looking into the mirror. Forgive them, too. At least once a day, say, "I love you, I really love you!"
Love Yourself . . . Do It Now - Don't wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or find the new relationship. Begin now—and do the best you can.
Have Fun - Remember the things that gave you joy as a child. Incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Smile. Laugh. Rejoice, and the Universe rejoices with you!
Source: Positive Thoughts
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."
"Love your life.
Believe in your own power; your own potential, and your own innate goodness.
Every morning, wake with the awe of just being alive.
Each day, discover the magnificent, awesome beauty in the world.
Explore and embrace life in yourself and in everyone you see each day.
Reach within to find your own specialness.
Amaze yourself , and rouse those around you to the potential of each new day.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect ; this is the essence of your humanity.
Let those who love you help you.
Trust enough to be able to take.
Look with hope to the horizon of today , for today is all we truly have.
Live this day well.
Let a little sunshine out as well as in.
Create your own rainbows.
Be open to all your possibilities ; possibilities can be miracles.
Believe in miracles." ~Vickie M. Worsham
The Wisdom of Debbie Gisonni
"ACCEPT YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE: Accept yourself, with all your imperfections, and accept your life with all its ups and downs. Imperfections are what make you interesting. Life's ups and downs are what make it exciting. Wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same and nothing ever changed? Next time you're down, find something positive for which to be grateful and focus on that." ~Debbie Gisonni
"FIND THE HUMOR: There is humor to be found in just about anything that happens, even if it's just isolated moments within a grim situation. Put your comedian hat on and allow yourself to laugh. Laughter helps lighten the darkest of days, and as an added bonus, studies show that it helps boost the immune system. If you're healthier, you'll naturally be happier." ~Debbie Gisonni
"PRACTICE NEUTRALITY: Neutrality keeps stress to a minimum and happiness to a maximum. It enables you to allow others to have completely different beliefs and opinions than yours without your judgment. You never have to be right, correct a wrong, control another person or prove a point. What others do and think or how they live their lives is really no business of yours, so just let it be." ~Debbie Gisonni
"TAKE TIME TO PLAY: There are 24 hours in a day. If you spend 18 of them working and the remaining six sleeping, like many people do, you can't possibly be happy. Be sure to schedule some play time every day. That could be spending quality time with your family, a spa treatment, a hobby, a vacation, a sport or even sex! Play gives you a much-needed break so that when you do return to work, you're more refreshed and productive." ~Debbie Gisonni
Source: Inspiration Line
Some Words of Wisdom
Life’s biggest limitations are the ones you make in your mind.
Life’s biggest causes of unhappiness are the false beliefs you refuse to let go of. You are capable of far more than you are presently thinking, imagining, doing or being. But you will ultimately become what you habitually contemplate; so clear your mind and let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.
You must deal with the world the way it is, not the way you wish it was.
Think positive. Life is good. Too many people miss the silver lining because they’re expecting pure gold. Positive thinking isn’t about expecting the best to always happen, but accepting that whatever happens is the best for the moment. So keep smiling and keep following your heart. Someday, life will get tired of upsetting you.
What others do is out of your control.
Realize that you can’t always count on others to respect your feelings, even if you respect theirs. Being a good person doesn’t guarantee that others will be good people too. You only have control over yourself – over how you choose to be as an individual. And as for others, you can only accept them, or walk away.
You were not meant to sit at the edge of your comfort zone.
Not trying for fear of falling. Not loving for fear of losing love. Not speaking your truth for fear of what others will think. Not looking at yourself in the mirror for fear of what you might see. Try, and then try again with all your might. Your courage will unfold as your resolve takes hold. And with each effort you make you will earn a little more confidence which you can use to acquire what no one else can give you: Your self-respect, and the life you were meant to live.
You are not like anyone else.
Don’t you ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are. In a world of comparison and conformity, take a stand. Make your own statement. Honor your own truth. Risk speaking your own thoughts and sharing your own ideas. Express your fears, tears, doubts, and insecurities – let others experience the real you. Have the courage to be yourself and realize that you’re perfect just the way you are.
Source: Positive Thoughts
The Cookie Thief
A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.
She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be. . .grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.
So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I would blacken his eye."
With each cookie she took, he took one too, when only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.
He offered her half, as he ate the other, she snatched it from him and thought... oooh, brother. This guy has some nerve and he's also rude, why he didn't even show any gratitude!
She had never known when she had been so galled, and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.
She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, then she sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.
If mine are here, she moaned in despair, the others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.
By Valerie Cox
Source: FB
The Window
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to help you to feel better by hearing what he could see with his heart."
~ Epilogue ~
"Happiness is a matter of choice. It is a positive attitude that we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come flying in through the window. The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine our behavior — like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have in your life that money can't buy. People will forget what you said ... People will forget what you did ... But people will never forget how you made them feel ... Make someone happy, share a kind word today." ~Anonymous from The Inspiration Line
"Love
Humility
and Prayer
solve all problems!" ~Anon
LIFE (As translated from its original Chinese version per forward by Nong JBY)
Because none of us have many years to live, and we can't take along anything when we go, so we don't have to be too thrifty.
Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don't leave all to your children or grandchildren, for you don't want them to become parasites who are waiting for the day you will die!!
Don't worry about what will happen after we are gone, because when we return to dust, we will feel nothing about praises or criticisms. The time to enjoy the worldly life and your hard earned wealth will be over!
Don't worry too much about your children, for children will have their own destiny and should find their own way. Don't be your children's slave. Care for them, love them, give them gifts but also enjoy your money while you can. Life should have more to it than working from the cradle to the grave!
Don't expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render much help.
Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties and wealth.
Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but that you have no claims to their money.
Don't trade in your health for wealth by working yourself to an early grave anymore because your money may not be able to buy your health.
When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)?
Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can consume only three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.
So, as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough. You should live happily. Every family has its own problems. Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc., but challenge others for happiness, health, enjoyment, quality of life and longevity...
Don't worry about things that you can't change because it doesn't help and it may spoil your health.
You have to create your own well-being and find your own place of happiness. As long as you are in good mood and good health, think about happy things, do happy things
daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day.
One day passes without happiness, you will lose one day.
One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.
In good spirit, sickness will cure; in a happy spirit, sickness will cure faster; in high and happy spirits; sickness will never come.
With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life of pleasure.
Above all, learn to cherish the goodness around and FRIENDS. They all make you feel young and "wanted"... without them you are surely to feel lost!!
Close your Eyes...Clear your Heart...Let it Go.
7 Golden Rules:
1st... Don’t let someone become a priority in your life, when you are just an option in their life…~B.Sreenivasa Rao
Relationships work best when they are balanced.
2nd...Never explain yourself to anyone.
Because the person who likes you doesn’t need it, and the person who dislikes you won’t believe it.
3rd...When you keep saying you are busy, then you are never free.
When you keep saying you have no time, then you will never have time.
When you keep saying that you will do it tomorrow, then your tomorrow will never come.
4th...When we wake up in the morning, we have two simple choices.Go back to sleep and dream, or wake up and chase those dreams. Choice is yours…
5th...We make them cry who care for us.
We cry for those who never care for us.
And we care for those who will never cry for us.
This is the truth of life, it’s strange but true.
Once you realize this, it’s never too late to change.
6th...Don’t make promise when you are in joy.
Don’t reply when you are sad. Don’t take decision when you are angry.
Think twice, act twice.
7th...Time is like river. You can’t touch the same water twice,
because the flow that has passed will never pass again.
Enjoy every moment of life.
Four Men and the Roses
Four men, all close friends were touring in a remote city. They passed a garden of roses.
The first friend was a poet. His eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the bed of roses. It seemed as if he had instantly fallen in love with them. He
closed his eyes and in a few minutes uttered the following words:
Dear Rose,
You can say "I love you and want you to be mine",
You can say "I thank you for being so very kind',
You can say congratulations, whatever the occasion may be,
You can say "I miss you and wish you were here with me",
You can say "I'm sorry if I've hurt you in any way",
No matter what there is to say, you can say it best.
O rose - you made my day today!!
The second friend sat there observing the roses for about 10 minutes, from different angles. Then he hurriedly pulled out a sheet of paper and a pencil from his pocket, and diligently started to make a beautiful pencil sketch of the roses. This man was a painter. Then he sat there appreciating the beauty of the life-like sketch he had created.
The third friend plucked a rose from the garden. He closely observed it, and then smelt it. Then he removed the rose petals one by one, completely destroyed the rose and then exclaimed - "Wow it's a Rosa Gymnocapae!! Normally this is found in North America. What a delight to see it here in the south!" This man was a botanist.
By this time the fourth friend was missing. The three looked around to see where he was. Finally they found him around the corner, sitting there head down, with tears in is eyes. They sympathetically asked him what was the matter. With more tears flowing down from his cheeks, the fourth friend said "I was in deep love with Julia - a girl I met in school. Just a week back, I gave her a bouquet with this same variety of roses, and proposed to her. She rejected me. Perhaps if I had given a different type of flower, I would have been with her now"
What can we learn from the story?
In the above story, the poet, the painter, the botanist and the lover encountered the same situation. The same situation however brought a different set of experiences to all of them. It shows how each friend completely created a different reality based on their own past conditioning. The poet appreciated the rose with his heart and became inspired. The painter appreciated it with his eyes, and reproduced it’s beauty. The botanist used his intellect to understand the rose and derived satisfaction over knowing the botanical name of the rose with detailed analysis. And Finally, the lover experienced pain over the same bed of roses.
The default tendency is to think of external circumstances as a reason for our happiness or blame outside circumstances for the reason for our unhappiness. This story shows by example how our happiness and unhappiness has much more to do with our past conditioning than external circumstances. Just because we feel negative about a certain event, it does not mean that the event itself is negative. All it means is that our perception of the event was negative. By looking at the same event from a more positive perspective, we can change how we feel about it. There is always a more positive perspective available - we just have to make an effort to find it. If it's not easily visible to you, other people who are neutral to the situation, or in generally more positive can help you find that perspective. Changing your perspective will change the experience of your life.
Source: Inspirations by Sudhir Krishnan, FBI WISH YOU ENOUGH
Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said;
"I love you and I wish you enough."
The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.
The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.
I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever ?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"
"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.
When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." may I ask what that means?
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.
"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them." Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory.
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you posses.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."
She began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.
~Author Unknown
Just Who They Are
"Ever heard of leaf people, branch people and root people?
Some people come into your life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. You can't depend on them or count on them because they are weak and only there to give you shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in your life they are gone. You can't be angry at them, it's just who they are.
BRANCH PEOPLE
There are some people who come into your life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but you have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if you go through a storm or two in your life it's possible that you could lose them. Most times they break away when it's tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, you have to test them out before you run out there and put all your weight on them. In most cases they can't handle too much weight. But again, you can't be mad with them, it's just who they are.
ROOT PEOPLE
If you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree then you have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold you up and help you live a strong and healthy life. If you thrive, they are happy. They stay low key and don't let the world know that they are there. And if you go through an awful storm they will hold you up. Their job is to hold you up, come what may, and to nourish you, feed you and water you.
Just as a tree has many limbs and many leaves, there are few roots. Look at your own life. How many leaves, branches and roots do you have? What are you in other people's lives?
I believe that it is still very good to have all these categories of friends, provided you know exactly where they fall in your life." ~from Grace Olsson, FB....
What a Wonderful World
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Never Judge Anyone
A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call as soon as possible, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy's father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor.
On seeing the doctor, the dad yelled: "Why did you take all this time to come? Don't yo know that my son's life is in danger? Don't yo have any sense of responsibility? "
The doctor smiled and said: "I am sorry, I wasn't in the hospital and I came as fast as I could after receiving the call.. And now, I wish you'd calm down so that I can do my work."
"Calm down?" What if your son was in this room right now, would yo calm down? If your own son dies now what will yo do??" said the father angrily.
The doctor smiled again and replied: Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede for your son, we will do our best by God's grace"
"Giving advises when we're not concerned is so easy" murmured the father.
The Doctor went and did the surgery.
The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy,"Thank goodness", your son is saved!" And without waiting for the father's reply he carried on his way running.
"If yo have any question, ask the nurse!"
"Why is he so arrogant? He couldn't wait some minutes so that I ask about my son's state", commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.
The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: "His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son's surgery. And now that he saved your son's life, he left running to finish his son's burial."
First Class Seat
A 50- something year old white woman arrived at her seat on a crowded flight and immediately didn't want the seat. The seat was next to a black man. Disgusted, the woman immediately summoned the flight attendant and demanded a new seat. The woman said "I cannot sit here next to this black man."
The flight attendant said "Let me see if I can find another seat." After checking, the flight attendant returned and stated "Ma'am, there are no more seats in economy, but I will check with the captain and see if there is something in first class."
About 10 minutes went by and the flight attendant returned and stated "The captain has confirmed that there are no more seats in economy, but there is one in first class. It is our company policy to never move a person from economy to first class, but being that it would be some sort of scandal to force a person to sit next to an UNPLEASANT person, the captain agreed to make the switch to first class."
Before the woman could say anything, the attendant gestured to the black man and said, "Therefore sir, if you would so kindly retrieve your personal items, we would like to move you to the comfort of first class as the captain doesn't want you to sit next to an unpleasant person."
Passengers in the seats nearby began to applause while some gave a standing ovation.
The Mouse Trap
A little mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house — like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake lunged and bit the farmer's wife on her foot.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
But his dear wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for them to eat.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall and sighed with great sadness...
Be a vital thread. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and
you think it doesn't concern you, remember that when one of us is in
jeopardy, we are ALL at risk ... We are on life's journey together
and we need to keep an eye out for one another.
~Author Unknown
(Contributed by Hilda who lives in Auburndale, Florida)
Source: The Inspiration Line
God created you and your world for your enjoyment. Live every day to the full
*Be appreciative
*Be productive
*Practice peace
*Be fun
*Be purposeful
*Put people first and thank God you are alive!
~Lisa Jane McInnes-Smith
Three things in life that, once gone, never come back:
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity
Three things in life that can destroy a person:
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness
Three things in life that you should never lose:
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty
Three things in life that are most valuable:
1. Love
2. Family and Friends
3. Kindness
Three things in life that are never certain1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams
Three things in life that make a person -1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work
I ask the lord to bless you, as I pray for you today,
to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way.
God’s love is always with you, God’s promises are true.
and when you give God all your cares,
you know God will see you through.
Source:Inspirational Quotes
What God Means to Me
How I would love to read once more Mr.Herbert W.Armstrong's booklet on the "Seven Proofs that God Exist".
That was probably one of the first booklets I read when I first came into contact with God and His truth. I thought that I knew God when I was in the world trying to save people and I couldn't even save myself. Then my concept of God was very vague to say the least. Then through that booklet I began to see the Great Creator God. The one who made heaven and earth and all that is in them.
But what stood out in my mind were proofs that God existed. These had never crossed my mind before that time. I began to think about God the life giver, the one being responsible for giving and sustaining life in me and every living thing. From the smallest one cell amoeba to the largest of the sea creatures.
I began to believe as I could see that kind produced after it own kind. You can not breed a dog with a cat, a horse with a cow, and many more examples we could use.
When you look around at all the beauty and order of things in this vast universe or just the earth, the clouds, the sea, the birds of the air, and how they are made. Have you ever thought of a bird's bone structure how porous it is, how light it must be to allow them flight.
Design demands a designer, life a life giver; kind only produces after its own kind and how about Prayer? An answered prayer is a proof that there is a great God and He cares for you and for me and all of His creatures here on this beautiful Earth.
Ever thought about Prophecy? How was God able to know all of these many things that were going to take place? Just think Brethren, it baffles the imagination, doesn't it? And prophecy is coming true even as we live and breath today. So I ask you as I have ask myself-What Does God Mean to You? ~Dap Parker, FB
But God Knows
A robin has built her nest in my window about 12 inches from the back of my laptop. She is still working on it and coming with big mouthfuls of straw and weeds. God has programmed all the animals. The don't have to learn anything although they have learning ability.
As she moves around packing down the straw and smoothing the nest with her body, it reminds me of how a dog (or wolf) turns in a circle clockwise to lay down. This of course makes a dog a nest in the tall grass. People seem to turn clockwise in dancing and I guess this is the natural way things go. So many things that science cannot explain but GOD KNOWS. I praise God for all his incredible creation this day. ~Phil Rishel, FB
A LESSON LEARNED
Do You Hate Someone?
A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game.
The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes.
Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates,
So the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.
So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week.
Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended....
The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?". The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go.
Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???"
Moral of the story: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry sins for a lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take!
True love is not loving a perfect person but loving an imperfect person perfectly!!
~POSITIVE CHARGE, FB
Dont's and Do's
"Don't scratch the itch.
Don't intensify the argument.
Don't put fuel on the fire of conflict.
Don't nurse the grudge.
Don't indulge the emotion.
"Do look at on the bright side.Ten Ways to Love:
Do be willing to forgive (but do not forget).
Do seek a constructive way forward.
Do let go and move on.
Do expect heavenly help." ~Jonathan Cainer
*listen
*speak
*give
*pray
*answer
*share
*enjoy
*trust
*forgive
* promise
~from Jenny M Dancel, FB
Gifts: Giving and Receiving
The universe operates through dynamic exchange . . . giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.
1. Wherever I go, and whomever I encounter, I will bring them a gift. The gift may be a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. Today, I will give something to everyone I come into contact with, and so I will begin the process of circulating joy, wealth and affluence in my life and in the lives of others.
2. Today I will gratefully receive all the gifts that life has to offer me. I will receive the gifts of nature: sunlight and the sound of birds singing, or spring showers or the first snow of winter. I will also be open to receiving from others, whether it be in the form of a material gift, money, a compliment or a prayer.
3. I will make a commitment to keep wealth circulating in my life by giving and receiving life’s most precious gifts: the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation and love. Each time I meet someone, I will silently wish them happiness, joy and laughter.
Source: Positive Thoughts
How to Be Happy...
1 Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
2 Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything , and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.
3 Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.
4 You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.
5 Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
6 Do the things you enjoy doing , but stay out of debt.
7 Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.
8 Since hate poisons the soul , do not cherish jealously , enmity , grudges . Avoid people who make you unhappy.
9 Have many interests. If you can't travel , read about new places.
10 Don't hold postmortems. Don't spend your time brooding over sorrows or mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.
11 Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
12 Keep busy at something . A busy person never has time to be unhappy.
~Robert Louis Stevenson
Source: Positive Thoughts
... and to Grow on
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
~R Brett~
Instructions For Life
1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you", mean it.
5. When you say, "I’m sorry", look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don’t loose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There’s immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don’t trust a man/woman who doesn’t close his/her eyes when you kiss.
38. Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
Source: Inspirational Quotes
Tell yourself that you have a good life, count your blessings, and learn to stay positive no matter what.
Count your blessings at the end of every day – don’t focus on the problems you’ve faced that day; rather, think of all the good things that happened and the happiness they gave you.
Think of others rather than yourself – when you do things, even the smallest favors, for other people who mean something to you, you feel good about yourself.
Be proactive rather than reactive – instead of fretting over a problem and letting it stress you out, focus on how to resolve quickly and effectively. When your mind is busy trying to find a solution, you stop feeling sorry for yourself and start thinking positively.
Don’t allow your mind to remain idle – it may be clichéd, but it’s also true that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. So stay busy and keep doing something or the other to prevent negative thoughts from creeping in.
Stop negative thoughts before they form completely – if you find yourself becoming depressed because your mind is taking a negative bent, stop those thoughts in their tracks and start consciously thinking of positive things.
Spend time with people who love you and make you feel good about yourself – quality relationships make life worth living.
Anytime you feel that the weight of your burden is hard to bear, talk to a friend or someone with a sympathetic ear – even if they cannot do anything to help you out, just the fact that you have someone on your side is uplifting enough.
And finally, look around you before you start to feel sorry for yourself – there are people in situations that are a hundred times worse than yours, yet they manage to get through each day.
Tell yourself that you have a good life, count your blessings, and learn to stay positive no matter what.
How do you craft an exceptional life?
To avoid getting to the end and feeling flooded with regret over a live half-lived, read (and then apply) these tips:
Exercise daily.
Get serious about gratitude.
See your work as a craft.
Expect the best and prepare for the worst.
Keep a journal.
Plan a schedule for your week.
Know the 5 highest priorities of your life.
Say no to distractions.
Drink a lot of water.
Improve your work every single day.
Get a mentor.
Hire a coach.
Get up at 5 am each day.
Eat less food.
Find more heroes.
Be a hero to someone.
Smile at strangers.
Be the most ethical person you know.
Don’t settle for anything less than excellence.
Savor life’s simplest pleasures.
Save 10% of your income each month.
Spend time at art galleries.
Walk in the woods.
Write thank you letters to those who’ve helped you.
Forgive those who’ve wronged you.
Remember that leadership is about influence and impact, not title and accolades.
Create unforgettable moments with those you love.
Have 5 great friends.
Become stunningly polite.
Unplug your TV.
Read daily.
Avoid the news.
Be content with what you have.
Pursue your dreams.
Be authentic.
Be passionate.
Say sorry when you know you should.
Never miss a moment to celebrate another.
Have a vision for your life.
Know your strengths.
Focus your mind on the good versus the lack.
Be patient.
Don’t give up.
Clean up your messes.
Use impeccable words.
Travel more.
Honor your parents.
Tip taxi drivers well.
Be a great teammate.
Give no energy to critics.
Spent time in the mountains.
Know your top 5 values.
Shift from being busy to achieving results.
Innovate and iterate.
Speak less. Listen more.
Be the best person you know.
Make your life matter.
~Robin Sharma
Life is about experience
Life is not all bad, just as it is not all good. Life is about experience. And often our greatest experience comes from our hardest lessons. But this does not mean we should not enjoy the pleasures of this world. For they exist to ease our journey. Neither does it mean we should dwell in morbidity because all good things will end.
Instead let us recognize that life is a flow. It cannot stop, speed up, slow down or reverse. Things constantly move on. Because that is evolution. It is only by the leaving of one room that we can enter the next. And if we do not progress, we cannot grow. And if we do not grow we have no purpose. So we must accept, and make the best.
Some people have a tendency to resist the flow. To try to stand still. And to feel resentful when they find that all around has moved on. But trying to keep the moment is like grasping a butterfly. As your fingers close around it the fragile beauty is destroyed forever. Better to enjoy it while it settles upon your hand, and to wish it well as it continues its journey as you continue yours.
Live for the moment. Enjoy it to the full. And when it passes look back with pleasure, and look forward with hope.
Some Important Life Lessons from The Complete Live and Learn and Pass it On
I've learned that it's never too late to improve yourself. -age 85
I've learned that position can be bought, but respect must be earned. -age 51
I've learned that the best tranquilizer is a clear conscience. -age 76
I've learned that if I want the circumstances in my life to change for the better, I must change for the better. -age 42
I've learned that warmth, kindness, and friendship are the most yearned-for commodities in the world. The persons who can provide them will never be lonely. -age 79
I've learned that beyond a certain comfortable style of living, the more material things you have, the less freedom you have. -age 62
I've learned that attractiveness is a positive, caring attitude and has nothing to do with face lifts or nose jobs. -age 56
I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.
I still have a lot to learn...
Things to Remember.
1. Your presence is a present to the world.
2. You're unique; one of a kind.
3. Your life can be what you want it to be.
4. Take the days just one at a time.
5. Count your blessings, not your troubles.
6. You'll make it through whatever comes along.
7. Within you are so many answers.
8. Understand, have courage, be strong.
9. Don't put limits on yourself.
10. So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
11. Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
12. Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.
13. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
14. The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
15. Don't take things too seriously.
16. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
17. Remember that a little love goes a long way.
18. Remember that a lot goes forever.
19. Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
20. Life's treasures are people -- together.
21. Realize that nothing is ever too late.
22. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
23. Have health and hope and happiness.
24. Take the time to wish upon a star.
The Law of Karma
Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind. What we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.
I will put the Law of Karma into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:
Today I will witness the choices I make in each moment. And in the mere witnessing of these choices, I will bring them to my conscious awareness. I will know that the best way to prepare for any moment in the future is to be fully conscious in the present.
Whenever I make a choice, I will ask myself two questions: "What are the consequences of this choice that I'm making?" and "Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?"
I will then ask my heart for guidance and be guided by its message of comfort or discomfort. If the choice feels comfortable, I will plunge ahead with abandon. If the choice feels uncomfortable, I will pause and see the consequences of my action with my inner vision. This guidance will enable me to make spontaneously correct choices for myself and for all those around me.
~Deepak Chopra~
All you have to do is to take one-step at a time.
Learn to love yourself enough so that when someone enters your life that treats you negatively, you can stand up for yourself and have the strength to let them go. You can learn that it is okay to say no to anyone who is not willing to treat you with the love and respect you not only want, but also deserve. Have the courage to walk away from anything that does not serve you well. Search for your highest good.
You may be thinking right now, how do I go about this when I do not have the things that would make me content? What is in your world externally is nothing more than a mirror of what is going on internally. So to change the external vision of what your world appears to be, go within and change it there, then the outward vision will change to mirror the inward feelings.
Understand that every new path has a beginning and a first step. To pursue anything new, all you have to do is to take one-step at a time. And that is the step before you. If we learn to feel and believe that we have all that we desire and want in life and accept what has been granted to us, more will come.
It is all about appreciation and gratitude. If you could learn to appreciate and have gratitude by focusing on what is good in your life, more goodness will flow to you. If we complain that we do not have those things, then that is where our focus is and that is what we will continue to attract to us. If we think and imagine having the life we desire, and act and feel as we have it within, it is sure to appear before us.
When negative events occur in your life, if you look for the silver lining in the dark rain cloud, you will learn that good is always flowing toward you, if you have but the eyes to see it. And when you embrace the good that comes from that stormy rain cloud, you are transforming the energy of what you previously deemed as something negative into some positive. When you sing this new song, more “good” things can flow to you.
Some Dynamics of Life.
1. Nothing stays the same. All conditions are temporary, and how they change depends on the choices I make.
2. Action to try to make things happen is hard work, but action taken from a place of love and pure inspiration is living at its grandest.
3. Living from and in the moment is being mindful of thoughts, words, feelings and actions.
4. There are infinite variations in how people see any single event.
5. Labels like right or wrong, good or bad, evil or holy serve to separate people, one from another. In truth, there are as many shades of gray between those opposites of labels as there are people.
6. The differences in life are contrast that drives decision.
7. Abundance abounds. There is enough of everything for everyone; there is no reason to fear running out.
8. Suffering, pain or struggle is not a requirement of life.
9. Passion is not expectation, and expectation is not passion.
10. True faith comes from knowing that no matter what things look like, all is well and will turn out for the best.
Source: Positive Thoughts
10 Truths to Transform Your Life
1. Gratitude is the most transformative force in the cosmos, because gratitude is love. Sarah says, "When our hearts are broken, we don't think we have much to be thankful for. We don't have to be smiling when we say 'Thank you.'"
2. Your happiness increases the happiness of everyone who knows you. "We have so much. All we have is all we need. All we need is the awareness of how blessed we really are."
3. Whether we live passionately or not is a choice we make. When writers write, the most important emotion is conveyed between the lines. "I want to live in between the lines, where the depth is."
4. Those who live passionately teach us how to love. Those who love passionately teach us how to live.
5. Big changes come with small choices. "Little changes [and] little choices add up to be revolutionary changes in your life."
6. The more risks you take, the luckier you become.
7.Nothing hurts you more than your expectations. "If you trust life and learn to embrace it and try not to control everything, then life can be more wondrous than you thought it would be."
8. Our relationships with others are only as emotionally healthy, happy, holy and content as our relationships with ourselves.
9. The only wound your soul never recovers from is regret. "What I know for sure is that we don't have the luxury of regret any more. The past only asks to be remembered."
10. Cherish each morning and give thanks for each evening.
~Sarah Ban Breathnach
The ten commandments to follow in life all the time.
(Someone has written these beautiful words. Must read and try to understand the deep meaning of it).
1 Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.
2 So why is a car's WINDSHIELD so large and the rear view mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on.
3 Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.
4 All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.
5 Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!
6 Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!
7 When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.
8 A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"
9 When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
10 WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today’s PEACE.
Source: Forward
The Five Agreements:
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word – Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally – Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions – Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best – Your best is going to change from moment to moment. It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to when you are sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
5. Be Skeptical, But Learn to Listen – Don’t believe yourself or anybody else. Use the power of doubt to question everything you hear: Is it really the truth? Listen to the intent behind the words, and you will understand the real message.
~Don Miguel Ruiz~
Have confidence in yourself
Try not to worry. Try to look at what you're going through as a challenge rather than an obstacle, a time to develop patience. To achieve more objectivity, detach yourself from the struggle. Have confidence in yourself, and realize that you can change your attitude even if you can't change the circumstances.
Look closely at your troubles. Don't let them cause you to give up.
Befriend them and learn from them. Feel them lose their power over you. Allow them to teach you what you want to know and move on. Try not to be afraid.
You're a survivor. You're going to handle this. You're going to find strength you didn't know you had and grace to deal with what ever comes along. Pretty soon, you'll be on the other side, and it's just a matter of time until you will look back on this time in your life and draw strength from the knowledge that even though the road was rocky, you persevered and carried on.
~Donna Fargo
How to Develop a Healthy Perspective
How can we develop more perspective?
Wake up to the miracles all around you. Whether you realize it or not, you are part of an extraordinary universe. Spectacular, mind-boggling things are happening every second. For instance, you breathe, your heart beats and you digest food all without any conscious effort. Tulips know when to pop up through the ground at precisely the right time each and every year. The earth rotates. . . the sun rises and sets. . . the seasons change. All part of a wondrous, never-ending cycle. So, shake your ho-hum attitude and begin to appreciate the amazing intelligence guiding the universe!
Be open to the idea that everything happens for a reason. If you doubt this principle, speak to people who, in your view, are positive and successful and who also seem to have peace of mind. Ask them if they believe that everything happens for a reason. Then, ask those who answer with an enthusiastic "YES" to explain why they feel that way.
Extend yourself to others. We tend to get mired in our own problems, turning inward and growing depressed and frustrated. Finding ways to serve and help others will make you feel better and broaden your understanding about the interconnectedness of all human beings. Even something as simple as offering a few encouraging words to someone else can make a world of difference - to them and to you.
Redirect your focus to the many blessings in your life. Are you in reasonably good health? Do you have your eyesight and mobility? Is there a roof over your head and enough food in the refrigerator? There are many people who do not enjoy these gifts and who would gladly trade places with you. So, focus on the many things for which you are grateful. To reinforce this idea, take the back of an index card and write "Count Your Blessings," or "I have so much to be grateful for." Place the card where you'll frequently see it, such as on your desk, in your car or on the bathroom mirror.
View every problem as an opportunity for growth. Too often, we see our difficulties as negative experiences which are there to punish us and cause pain. As you look back on your life, you'll find that many problems and painful situations led to personal growth and improved conditions. Maybe you lost a job which in turn led you to a better position. Or a relationship ended but you wound up in a more fulfilling one. So, develop a strong belief that the "bad" experience is there to help you in some way. Don't curse your challenge; instead, look for the lessons or opportunities which your problems are showing you.
Watch your mouth! Do you frequently whine and complain or broadcast your ailments and minor irritations to everyone who crosses your path? Griping reinforces your problems, makes you feel more miserable and alienates others. Find something positive in your life or in the other person's life to talk about instead.
Simplify your life and restore balance. Easy to say, but not so easy to implement. Sometimes, we get overextended, taking on too many responsibilities or projects. We ignore loved ones and even our own health. So, maybe it's time to say "NO" to the next project or demand on your time. Which is really more important - another volunteer committee assignment or spending time with your children?
~Jeff Keller
Who is it that you need to forgive?
Who is it that you need to forgive? Everyone.
You need to forgive yourself for everything it is that you believe you’ve done wrong, for example, not giving love when someone needed it, not being supportive, creating negative energy in another person’s life or in your own, or not being honorable or respectable. You also need to forgive others—all those of whom you’ve thought negatively because of something they said or did. Forgive the neighbor who lied to you, the parents who scolded you, the kid who bullied you in school, the boss who fired you, the spouse who hurt you, and the friend who betrayed you. But how? How do you forgive and stop carrying the negatives of the past around with you?
First, look at the individual you’re forgiving (whether it’s yourself or another) in a different way—step back and put the positive first.
Next, use that lesson to learn something positive about yourself as you move forward. Ask yourself: What lesson have I learned about myself and with what lesson am I moving forward?
In forgiving others, it’s important to realize that you’re not condoning poor behavior. You simply understand you can’t change what’s happened, and you accept there were lessons for you to learn in those experiences. You don’t have to necessarily like how you’ve learned those lessons, but you can come to a place where you’re grateful because you’re stronger. Those situations made you tougher, more aware, more conscious, and more capable. You can treasure the fact that you’ve learned so much.
Take all your experiences and become empowered by them. You can’t change them, but you can discover something of value in them. When you do, you’ll be able to extend forgiveness to yourself and others. You won’t carry the barriers and the weights of the past—you’ll be free. You’ll be free to grow into the best person you can be and to create the best life for yourself.
~Denise Marek
Living Out Loud
Living out loud means having the courage to be exactly who you are without apology. It means admitting your mistakes without beating yourself up. It means not taking who you are and what you have for granted. Release all shame! Release all guilt! You cannot live out loud if you are hiding behind what was. Living out loud means focusing on what is, right now, and that is you!
To live out loud means showing up as your authentic self, without your makeup or your toupee. It means acknowledging your shortcomings and celebrating your strengths. Living out loud means broadcasting your needs, your likes and your dislikes as they relate to your fears and frustrations. It means that you let people know exactly who you are and expect them to be as thrilled as you are about who you are.
In order to live out loud you must have faith in yourself and in the process of life. You must have principles you live by and standards by which you can govern and gauge yourself. Most important, in order to live out loud you must love yourself enough to tell yourself and everyone else the absolute truth about you. When you can do that, you can live out loud and be very proud about what the world will hear about you.
Until today, you may have been living your life in a whisper. Just for today, take one step toward pumping up your volume. Stand up in yourself! Stand up and be yourself!
~Iyanla Vanzant
Trust that everything is as it was intended to be.
Life is short. Each year passes more quickly than the previous one. It’s easy to deny yourself many of life’s simple pleasures because you want to be practical. Forget about practical and decide instead to become a joy collector. Always be on the lookout for gifts without ribbons. God is strewing them across your path right now. His gifts come tagged with a note:
"Life can be wonderful. Do your best not to miss it!"
Enjoy what it is before it isn’t anymore. Dare to slip on a pair of bunny slippers once in a while! Surprise yourself! Enjoy the little things because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things!
~Barbara Johnson~
Your life has been designed to work, and your hidden potential contains what you seek and all that you need in your life. It is OK to be who you are and to choose what you have.
The Quakers call it the "still, small voice within," that place of full awareness within that is in touch with the entire universe and is the source of wisdom. In effect, you don't have to keep searching for confirmation by focusing on being someone else or being somewhere else. There is no place else to be and nothing else to get. You will be able to grasp the levers of change in your life when you can allow yourself to be present in the moment, accept the world as it is, and trust that everything is as it was intended to be.
~Ari Kiev~
Leave Good Footprints
Truly life is a precious journey all of us take.
Each decision we make is a step that leaves an indelible footprint, for good or bad, success or failure, happiness or sorrow.
So walk carefully my friend with much thought; your footprints will follow where ever you go.
Make good footprints and good will be your ever present companion.
Walk in love.
Reach out in kindness.
Speak peace.
Harm no one.
Be a light for good.
Live in truth.Spread hope.
Embrace your fellowman.
Build bridges.
Be a friend to all.
Show compassion.
Bless others.
Champion respect.Give your best.
Do what is right.Make a difference. (Everyone can!)
Live your life in such a thoughtful and honorable way,
that when you or others look back on the landscape of your life,
You will feel good,
You will feel proud,
Of the footprints you have left behind,
and the life-size portrait of you
they have etched on the glass of time.
Footprints that not only allowed you to live well, happy, and at peace,
But footprints that made this world (that sometimes seems crazy) a better place to be,
Because it was graced by your presence, blessed by your spirit, gifted abundantly,
by the bright footprints you left behind.
Let’s think about what the universe blessed us with.
If I had my life to live over...
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
There would have been more “I love you’s.” More “I’m sorry’s.”
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it… live it… and never give it back.
Stop sweating the small stuff. Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.
Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us.
Let’s think about what the universe blessed us with.
And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.
Life is too short to let it pass you by.
We only have one shot at this and then it’s gone.
I hope you all have a blessed day.
Erma Bombeck
Always think positively
''Go at life with abandon; give it all you've got. And life will give all it has to you.''~Norman Vincent Peale
The secret of life isn't what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you.
Help other people to cope with their problems and your own will be easier to cope with.
Never use the word impossible seriously again. Toss it into the verbal wastebasket.
Self-trust is the first secret of success. So believe in and trust yourself.
Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have.
Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater
than you ever believed possible.
How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself - so always think positively.
"Keep your hands open, and all the sands of the desert can pass through them. Close them, and all you can feel is a bit of grit. " ~Taisen Deshimaru
"Only if you are risk are you free" ~ Leo BuscagliaTo laugh is to risk appearing the fool"You can't have a better tomorrow if you're thinking about yesterday." ~ Charles Kettering, Inventor
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk failure. But risks must be taken. Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
If you risk nothing and do nothing, you dull your spirit.
You may avoid suffering and sorrow, but you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, and live.
Secrets Of Prosperity J Donald Walters
Contentment; not a bank account.
Happiness; for a determination simply to be happy attracts prosperity.
Happiness is, at the same time, the best definition of prosperity.
Generosity; for by sharing with others the good that life gives us we can open up the well-springs of abundance.
Including the good of all in your own quest for abundance.
Recognition of the part you play in the great Symphony of Life. For Life will sustain you, if you attune yourself to its harmonics.
Working with, not against, life's changing rhythms.
Looking behind the obstacles you face in life, to the opportunities they represent.
Seeing failure as a corrective, not as a misfortune.
To diversify, not your financial investments merely, as monetary counsellors recommend, but more importantly - your investments of energy. Cultivate fresh ideas, fresh interests, fresh relationships, fresh reasons for enjoying your life.
Faith; in yourself, in others, in Life's abundance.
To break the hypnosis of self-limitation. The heights that any person has attained can be attained again by others - by anyone, each in his or her own way - given enough time, dedication and focused energy.
Not to fritter energy away with trivial desires.
A leaking tap, drop by drop, wastes many litres.
Finding pleasure in simplicity.
Holding positive expectations, supported by a dynamic will.
Recognising that people can be your best investment. Be a true friend to all.
Realising that what you own is held by you in trust. Treat it responsibly. If you squander it, the trust will pass to another.
Finding strength in yourself. Don't wait for passing waves to propel you forward.
Realising that one cannot truly prosper by the diminishment of others. Bless everyone. An expansion of self-identity is a mark of prosperity, and also a condition for its attainment.
Extending a willing hand to the needy, helping them, above all, to help themselves.
Common sense; don't depend on luck, but on a realistic assessment of whatever situation you face. Only in practical stages can you transform 'improbables' into realities.
To remember - the higher the mountain, the harder the effort needed to conquer it.
Success is not for the weak-hearted, It is for those who never rest until they attain their ideals.
The willingness to sacrifice non-essentials for essentials.
To live in the present - not in past attainment, nor in future victories.
The patience to adjust action to reality. In every setback, try to understand what life is trying to teach you.
Envying no-one. View others' successes and failures empathically, as your own.
Inventiveness; success in any field demands the creative outlook of an artist.
To feed it daily with fresh, new ideas - lest, like a still pond, it stagnates.
Source: Positive Thoughts
35 Little Acts of Kindness
1. Say "Good morning" to a person standing next to you in the elevator.
2. Pay the toll for the driver behind you.
3. Take a minute to direct someone who is lost, even though you're rushing.
4. Write a letter to a child who could use some extra attention. Kids love getting mail.
5. Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, especially in extreme weather.
6. Give a homeless person your doggie bag.
7. Say "I love you" to someone you love.
8. Put a coin in an expired meter.
9. Help a mother carry her baby stroller up the subway stairs, or hold a door open for her.
10. Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.
11. Take someone's shift as the car-pool parent.
12. Bring your assistant coffee.
13. Out of the blue, send flowers to a friend.
14. Say "please" and "thank you"—and really mean it.
15. When you're on a crowded train or bus, offer your seat to an elderly, disabled or pregnant person.
20 more easy ways to brighten the world around you
16. Don't interrupt when someone is explaining herself.
17. Let a fellow driver merge into your lane.
18. Offer to baby-sit for a single mom.
19. Put your shopping cart back in its place.
20. Call or write to a teacher who changed your life.
21. Bring a box of doughnuts to share at the office.
22. Forgive someone a debt–and never bring it up again.
23. Listen with all your senses.
24. Write a note to the boss of someone who helps you, and explain how great a job that person is doing.
25. Simply say "I'm sorry" when you're wrong.
26. Throw away your trash—and someone else's—after a movie, picnic or visit to a park.
27. Encourage someone who seems despondent.
28. Volunteer to take care of a friend's dog while he is vacationing.
29. Help a friend pack for a move.
30. Ask someone "How are you really doing?"—and then really listen to her response.
31. Offer change when the person in front of you at the register comes up short.
32. Before a friend moves away, give her your favorite recipe or quote and a photo of the two of you together.
33. Leave a generous tip for a pleasant waiter.
34. At work, offer to transfer a caller who needs help from another department.
35. Pass along a great book you've just finished reading.
Written by Andy Rooney, man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words.
I've learned...That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned...That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned...That just one person saying to me,'You've made my day!' makes my day.
I've learned...That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned...That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned...That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned...That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way
I've learned...That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned...That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned...That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned...That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned...That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned...That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned...That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned...That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned...That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned...That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I've learned...That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned...That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned...That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned...That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned...That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned...That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned...That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned...That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
I've learned...That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned...That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned...That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned...That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned...That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
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