Monday, November 29, 2010

NOTHING EVER HAPPENS WITHOUT REASON

I like it when people are so nice. But when i come across unpleasant characters, it makes me think.... What has happened to make that person the way he is --to others, to life, to the world, to himself.

Nothing ever happens without reason. It could be a long or short story but there is a story to be found in that person. In every one of us, in fact. We've come to this point of our lives pushed by events, experiences, decisions, and the often called 'things beyond our control' stuff.

I believe this to be true... -- "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Life spares no one. Even the strongest or the richest man on earth is up against something or someone. So then understand, look kindly at him, try to see beyond what you see. You'll find that he is just like you and me... fighting his battles too.



Monday, November 22, 2010

LOVE MAKES FORGIVING EASY


This question comes from a friend...

I read this line in a blog.Do you agree? It is like this.
We have been forgiven by God many times, for the mistakes that we made.
In the same way, we have to forgive others. That makes God smile.
Then all kinds of miracles can happen
Is it possible to forgive always?

As God's children, we are instructed to forgive in the same manner that God forgives us. But then it's easier said than done because we, bigger fools than we think ourselves to be, are more inclined to harbor hurt and pain longer than we should. We think too much pouring in reasons and excuses not to forgive. Funny but I don't understand where this comes from despite the repeated exhortations---- we're more inclined towards huge egos, so much pride, hate fear vindictiveness and suspicion. Such dark feelings will leave no room for love's light to thrive or flourish. Remember how often we've been told that 'we can't give what we don't have'.

I think my pet dog Maxie has a better understanding of forgiveness. Because no matter how i scold her for some mistake, she would always come to me and offer me the same love over and over again, regardless if i had hurt her or was deserving of it or not. If that isn't a show of forgiveness, what else is! I love my dog; even if she were naughty repeatedly i would love her still and too forgive her mischief each time. I learned that much from her. Oh but there is much that people can learn from animals. Things such as devotion - loyalty - unconditional love... Dogs can teach us a thing or two about that. Just as nature teaches us about the art of life and living. Teaching is not and never is the monopoly of human beings. Everything is a teacher or teaches ... to one who is eager to learn. All that is required is an open and welcoming mind.. and to see with the eyes in one's heart.

Yes, 'it is possible to forgive always'.... it springs from a heart that loves.

I guess that is how Jesus lived his life on earth.... loving people. Love makes forgiving easy. God's love is the greatest love of all. Tough act to follow for mere mortals like us... but nothing is stopping us from ever trying.



Thursday, November 11, 2010

MISTAKES ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING

An except from an email sent me by a friend ... "Instead, he learned that mistakes were just opportunities for learning something new, which is, after all, what scientific experiments are all about. Even if the experiment "doesn't work," we usually learn something valuable from it. Make mistakes, you learn from them . . . . but never repeat mistakes . . . ." (Unquote)

It's been spoken and written lots of times before. So have I written too. That can't be said often enough. Because it's going to be there until we agree to learn or care to listen.

What life guarantees is an ample measure of life questions - lessons - discovery - challenge - mystery - search - problems - tests, as a rule. And to these we are asked to put in no less than our courageous involvement and commitment. As Mom told me long ago... "Life does not send us answers but rather sends us questions and challenges to attach answers to."

However if we so fear or dread the difficulty pain or discomfort that learning entails, then we probably won't be doing much in our lives as we would be simply coasting along in mediocrity. And dreams will simply remain dreams. We should try to shake away that fear, go ahead and step out into the unknown. So what if we should make mistakes. That's okay too. Nothing can kill us but our own thoughts. Everybody makes mistakes - great men and women in history may have bungled their jobs in some and probably felt miserable about it. But they didn't let it stop them. Instead they kept on at their tasks, bungled some more perhaps, and yet kept on until at last their concerted efforts met with success. Now we enjoy the fruits of their hard work and making our lives easy.

We can do the same. It's just in looking at mistakes the way they saw it to be --- that mistakes are opportunities for learning. Knowledge, growth, progress, maturity, and learning are always paid for by and with our mistakes.



Monday, November 8, 2010

THE 10 MUST-HAVES INSIDE MY TOTE BAG


Oh but I always do have them close -- my mainstays -- right there inside my tote bag. My life is quite ordinary and humdrum but it always leaves room for surprises, wonderful surprises. I look forward to see-touch-smell-feel-experience it each day -- helped along by my mainstays without fail.

Well, are they big surprises? Yes and no. Times that they come wrapped in mundane and ordinary your-everyday-things which one never ever notices usually. Things normally taken for granted. And times they come huge and packed in a big Wow! Well, I've learned to pay more attention because Mom would always chide me if I failed to. She'd always say -- "Don't let a thing pass you by.. ever.. cause it may not come your way again."

So okay, let's get down to my list of 10 Must-Haves inside my tote bag.


1. A shawl
Have about 5 or 6 shawls in my closet in assorted colors and style. Mostly gifts from my daughters. Simple light and airy but works well for warmth. Am not too comfy with very cold weather or an air-conditioned room turned-on on super high. A shawl just does the wonderful trick of keeping me instantly warm whenever daughters spring a surprise for a nice resto dinner date or a terrific movie to watch downtown. Too works as an instant umbrella under a sudden downpour... at least for the first few minutes until it gets soaked wet. Enough time to dash quickly from a cab to the building.

2. Cellphone
Am a huge fan of this technology but who wouldn't be if one thrives on communication. This goes back and forth with my daughters and close friends. Big thrill it is when suddenly my phone rings and lo! out of the blue an old-long-time friend saying 'Hi!'. That makes my day. One simple delight perhaps in what would have been a mundane or ordinary day.

3. Pocketbook
It could be anything, a best seller or one that nobody has ever heard of. Or it could be a book that I keep reading for the __th time. Funny and surprisingly, there are books which grow on you and books which get better and better each time, how-I-don't-know. Perhaps it's in finding lines or phrases or thoughts within those pages which finally finds its right time in my life, hour, or day. Like a 'eureka' moment.

4. Notebook & Pen
It is in odd times of the day and everywhere that an idea or thought strikes. Sometimes a dozen ideas one after the other. So that means that responding to such sudden bursts of inspiration would have to be just as quick. So before losing it to the winds, with pen in hand it all goes down pronto into my tiny notebook. But it's not always meant for the writing or blogging that it happens. Sometimes bits of knowledge, info, observation, perception come across for my own learning. And that just as well goes straight to the old reliable notebook for some meditation or reflection at some proper time.

5. A make-up kit
Well, am a girl and have never stopped being one, age or not. A hair brush to comb loose strands in place. A lipstick or two for color on some not-so-vibrant days. A lip gloss when choosing not to have color on my lips. Powder to pat away shine spots on the T-zone area of the face. What do I take out often? It's the mirror in my powder case.. to check for salad, fruit, meat, or fish stuck between my teeth somewhere there after a hearty meal.

6. Utility pouch
...to hold mini bottles of moisturizer & alcohol, pocket tissues, mini pack of wet towels to wipe away dirt when water is nowhere to be found nearby, a mini nail cutter to clip away chipped nails, safety pins to tuck away loose hems. Happy surprise that these get to be useful serving others too in ways where and when the urgent need arises.

7. Medicine pouch
Aside from regular doctor-prescribed pills, I've slipped in a few for ordinary headaches, dizziness, cold tablets, and one or two for diarrhea. This comes in quite handy when anyone inside my line of vision or space suddenly aches from this or that at unexpected or odd times. Delighted to have this standby med kit coming to the rescue every time without fail.

8. Wallet
It's not just money that's in there, more or little of it. So is a credit card, health card, atm card, family pictures, calling cards of people I know, identification cards, and a prayer card. Am happy with this wallet (a gift from my youngest daughter) although it has seen better times. Its color (avocado green) is now faded at the edges. Other than blue, green and its other color variants is also a favorite. It may get replaced one day but not today, not yet anyway. It has been blessed immensely on several occasions.... blessings which extended and spread itself all around. And that is its work and mission until it wears itself out.

9. Reading glasses/shades

Like it or not, can't go anywhere without this. That's what I miss most about being 20-something -- a 20-20 vision. :-) While shades are fantastic for its apparent use and for people-watching.. unnoticed. :-)

10. A fan
The origin of the fan goes back to the ages and even before that when in prehistoric times humans discovered fire and would use any kind of object to blow air and keep it alive. It then evolved through time into other artistic representations as used by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Japanese, and everywhere else around the globe.

My fan more functional than fancy is small cheap yet a precious aid saving me on countless occasions from the piercing summer heat, a hot crowded public vehicle, stalled in traffic on a hot summer day, a windless day, a sudden light rain shower, much needed air when feeling a faint coming, blowing away insects ... and other uses I have yet to discover and will. But best of all it also serves others for those very same reasons mentioned.

Yeah, my tote bag is its permanent home. Mom told me long ago that to know a person better, just peek into his or her bag and see what's inside --- it usually tells and says something about that person.

Oh there are countless other things one can put down in a 10 Must-Have List... stuff inside one's bedroom, home, kitchen, travel, vacation, ideal man or woman, relationships, work desk, tool box, birthdays, Christmas. Every bit is part of you, every piece has a story to tell about you. It defines you as a person -- who you are in caring for self, or for the world around you, or how you live life. And yeah, the surprises do come and if you're lucky sometimes you become that pleasant welcome surprise for another person in need of one.

What's your 10 Must-Haves List? :-)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

LIFE FOR WHICH YOU ARE THE EXPLANATION

"I say to my child, I will explain to you as much of life as I can, but you must remember that there is a part of life for which you are the explanation." -- Robert Brault ---


Beautiful and true. Parents after giving the child his or her best.. can only do so much. The rest is up to the child or soon enough the adult. If the child now adult misbehaves or messes up his own life, do not be quick to blame it all on his parents even if they indeed have played a vital role in his formation.

Because every person is equipped with a free will and the exercise of it is solely his own responsibility and accountability. He decides his own fate or destiny as a grown-up -- as an individual person. He writes his own life. He now makes his own choices and decisions, good or bad. At times shortsightedly and foolishly disregarding even a parent's plea or the gentle nudge from the Heavens above to get back on track again if he loses his way. How can we stop this kind of self-destruction? We can't. We simply sit back and watch and earnestly pray. But.. as parents we will always be there when he needs us. It's who and what we are to our children. And our children will be who and what they will be..... by choice.