ALWAYS LEARNING, UNLEARNING, AND RELEARNING THAT WE MAY GROW

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Here shown in the picture -- our pets.... Maxie (the youngest of four dogs in the house) and Miko (one of two cats) sharing Maxie's bed last night. They're the best of friends.

Dogs and cats have been painted as enemies to each other. But I guess there are or can be exceptions. Maxie and Miko prove that point in a most wonderful manner. This makes me think that neither see the other as dog or cat. They're just friends. No ego involved here.

Interesting, isn't it? Think about it....  we could learn a thing or two from that. Which is NOT to see people as black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor, christian or not, and many other labels or divisions we have created simply to feed our ego or push our personal agenda and beliefs.

Life, as mom reminded me long ago, is always 'a journey of --- learning,  unlearning,  and  relearning.' --- Try to peel off unnecessary layers in the self (how did it get there in the first place?!) --  and be your authentic self as designed by a loving God. In His image.

If we perchance fail in the effort, take heart because we are indeed still a work in progress. But we must help the process along. It's a joint endeavor with the Almighty.

WE TOO MUST LEARN TO BE STILL

 

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"How far you do in life depends on your being tender with the young,  compassionate with the aged,  sympathetic with the striving,  and tolerant of the weak and strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of these." --- (George Washington Carver)

 

What we probably are not so much aware of is that everything which comes our way are all lessons leading to that end or goal. A lesson we all are made to learn all through our lives. Yet admittedly we might do well in one and then again so poorly in the other. On some other times we also make such good students of ourselves and learn them all very well and quickly. But it's a life-long learning actually.

My thoughts tell me that life is not simply waking up mornings or sleeping nights nor the thousand-and-one things we all do in-between that to get on with this thing called life. And I believe that the reason is much higher than we all would care to admit. For we are having such a great ball living and would care not for reasons at all.

But when the lights have dimmed and sounds have silenced, what goes through your mind? Because it is always when the mind is stilled that you begin to see things for what they truly are.

In the same manner God spoke  ... 'To be still and know that I am God.'

We too must learn to be still and understand the true meaning of our lives. And I think that this one meaning is to become our better selves here on earth to be worthy of our heavenly home to which one day we shall all return.

Today and every new day is a good time to learn. Whether we may stumble or fall a thousand times over and even more in trying, still let us persevere to that very end of becoming the persons God meant us to be.

Have a very lovely and blessed day, friends! Blessings abound in there for sure.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND

'The world is full of people who need someone who understands.' 
- Author Unknown

Do you believe that? Well, I do. Because I too need people who understand. I need a person who knows that I am a person and that being a person means that I can be.... adorable, funny, unpredictable, unlikeable at times, grouchy, unhappy, afraid, stupid, sometimes brilliant, and predictably imperfect. And yet even with a hundred-and-one flaws he would understand that those come from a story.....  my life story. Which makes me who I am.

Everybody is a story. We need to understand that. A person is not merely a Jane or a John who each go about their businesses being alive, respectively. There's more to just a pretty face or a brilliant mind.... or a sad face and a weary soul. A person is a product of his or her story. Life story.

Sadly we often fail to understand that. So much easier to heap down judgement or jump to conclusions on things perceived from another person. More often we are found to be wrong and sometimes much too late to do any correction or try even to make amends. The bad already done.

You see, life is not easy to most and to even some a wee much harder than ordinary. Unpopular decisions have to be made in the name of survival. Some stories I hear about sacrifice for another's sake. And other similar stories. Yet when you see them you would think that nothing as huge as a cliff-hanger experience had happened to them at all. You won't see it on their faces. Maybe it's courage or call it something else. But what you see isn't always what you get.

Everybody is a story, has a story. He is a product of that story.... his life story. His story could be sad, lonely, afraid, frustrating, defeating, deprived, desperate, and more. But he keeps on moving forward perhaps hoping for that one big break or that one big dream to come true or that person to make him feel it's alright to be human with flaws-and-all after all.

Let's be more understanding. True understanding teaches us to be kind and kinder. I've read this quote somewhere; it goes something like this ..... "It may be a small thing to you but to someone else it could mean the whole world."

WHY DO YOU CARE?

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A friend in the blog told me something which made me think and think twice. ----- 'Why do you care?'

I replied ----- 'Why should I NOT care? Seriously, why NOT?'

This is not a life or world meant for solitary exclusion..... even if it looks that way as each goes his or her own business living it. We all stand connected, like it or not. If the people next door to you are wasteful or inconsiderate or mean or selfish, those actions or thoughts will create a ripple that will eventually touch your part of the human pond and even more creatures as the ripple travels down and on.

If it were good ripples, then you are so blessed by it. Otherwise, your life in the pond will be as miserable as that who has caused the bad ripples in it. You cannot escape it because you live in the same pond.

So I care what happens on my street - in my neighborhood - in my community - in my city - in my country - in my world! My ancient achy legs may not take me there to where the action is but I can write about it. If the writing makes at least one person think or be nudged into awareness ----- then the writing has served its purpose. The ripple of good shall move along as it will by its very nature of movement.

C-A-R-E. Care for millions of children hungry in Africa or the girls taken away from their families and homes. Care for the poor in our own slum areas. Care if justice is slow, unfair, or denied. Care if you see your government officials enriching themselves with our tax money. Care if you feel that our streets are no longer safe from bad people and even bad cops. Care if prices are rising unreasonably high and higher. Care if you hear of mismanagement issues of Yolanda donations. Care if media is feeding our children with crappy news. Care if things go wrong because of somebody's neglect, or some organization, or some official, or even of your president.

Care because that is what we are here for.... to care for one another. Use your God-given talent to show or promote peace - awareness - hope - faith - love - and care in whatever way your talent leads you. Use your talent to care. Our God-given job is to build up and not tear down nor destroy --- to care and not ignore.

Incidentally, the message in yesterday's homily (St. Therese of the Child Jesus Shrine and Parish): Two things: Love God with all of your heart... and .... love one another. ----------- Love and care come in together side by side. Doesn't that look like the blueprint of our earthly lives?

So to you my friend in the blog, try caring and see how much life can be beautiful or made beautiful with it.

Have a pleasant and blessed Monday, friends.

A BETTER VERSION TODAY THAN YESTERDAY

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How I wish that every insecure unsure child or adult could read this.........

".....When you measure your growth, make sure to only measure your today self by your past self. If you compare your relationships, your success, or your anything against anyone else, you are not being fair to you. Everyone has a different path, a different pace, and different challenges to face along the way."   --- Doe Zantamata

Here's a little story, it's about a friend. We were buddies at work. She was pretty, bright, friendly and yet when conversation came down to achievement and dreams I would see some sadness in her eyes. She would evade the subject. It seemed that there was this room where a door stood shut with a sign which said --  'do not enter'.

One day I could not stand seeing her sadness one more time and so point-blankly asked her 'what's wrong?' I guess the key to that forbidden door was simply to ask the question.

Long story short, she never felt that she would be anything or anyone in her life. She tried and failed and this was taken up against her by her father who  would say .....'wala kang kwenta! (you're no good) every time she failed. "Mabuti pa si____ sa'yo ... malayo na ang narating." ( ____ has done better than you; she's gone far).  So finally, at long last, I understood her sadness. 

This is as much as I can tell about her story. Oh she's fine now; she's learning though learning can be slow at times. But she'll get there one day soon and be the better version of who she was yesterday.

'Wala kang kwenta' 'You're no good'  ----- Never say that to anyone, especially to your family. And when somebody says that to you, be they family, friend or foe ----  Don't listen! 

You are who you are and have become what you planned for by your own effort and dreams. You are a different person today positively from your old self of yesterday. That is success! Although some struggles may still be there and the journey sometimes slow but the magnificent work is continuing. Somebody up there isn't sleeping. Remember that you are a work in progress...  and that is good! And one day  ---- you will hold the stars.. your dreams.. in your hands. By God's design.

ESSENCE IS WHERE YOU ARE AT NOW

This is a repost for a dear special friend who needs to hear this again.  Meet up for lunch again soon.
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This piece was written inspired by a conversation had with bosom buddies over lunch. My pretty friend, in-between bites of roasted chicken, bemoaned the thought (and fact) that she was turning 60 by the end of the month. Oh we comforted and consoled her as friends always do....... with more chicken and pasta and a scrumptious dessert to boot. It works all the time! Anyway, here's the piece.....

SO YOU'RE TURNING 60!

This is you...... "Here I am with lines creeping where I wouldn’t want them to (laugh lines is a nice way to call them), a spreading middle (girdle now being overtaxed and overstretched), silver streaks peeking out of once glorious dark tresses (her favorite beautician texted her one day.... 'ma'm, it's time to die' .... dye Yikes!).

I guess women who find they are blowing out 60 or more candles on their cake would consider those in serious retrospect. And looking at the youthful glowing skin, lithe figure, and silky black hair of gorgeous models on the cover of glossy woman magazines or ads serve only to feed that quiet unease.

But wait, consider this! See these women in your ordinary everyday neighborhood .......... the middle-aged woman selling fish and vegetables in the market; the government employee who sells beauty products on the side; the ordinary housewife who does her chores with clockwork precision each day tending to a rowdy brood of five while a husband is away in Saudi; the rural teachers who patiently trod to their classrooms on gravel roads rain or shine... just to name a few.

All these women are real ------- as real as ice cream cones and pizza pies. They may do a hundred turns before the mirror behind closed doors tremulously tracing age’s progress on their faces and skin, yet they don’t fuss and fret over beauty jars and trips to the gym, beauty clinic, salon or spa. Instead, they get busy as mothers, wives, grandmothers, nieces, aunts, office mate, friend and other more roles laid out before them each day.

Then a friend blurted out this question ............... What if those would be gone one day? (and we know it will) -- When age finally creeps in as bones and joints go stiff and ache --- plus other aches and pains that find you though you try not to be found; skin crinkle with defiant lines; eyes strain to read small print; sleep turn erratic; appetites change; visits to the doctor more frequent; and pills nestle permanently in one’s purse.... When loneliness glides into each day furthermore heightened with the children planning careers and lives away from home...... When all that’s left is an aching void within and without. What then is one supposed to do with all that?

Here's what is true....... Lessons learned from life ----- Life does not stand still for those who enter through this portal. But one does have to make a choice --- to move along in step with the changing times — or stay where you are by your lonesome miserable self.

Life is this........ Rising from the hurts, pains, bruises and bumps of a journey through life’s dusty and more often grueling path of challenges, one should be transformed into a better version of that person of yesteryears. Honed by past experiences and having learned them well, one should be better equipped to see life and the world anew with fresh new interest, appreciation, understanding, and wisdom. This new wisdom tells you that there can be no void where one does not allow it. And if you have paid good attention you will know that to move along is the better option.

Look back often to see what’s gone past or what’s left behind. The past, cruel in some and brilliant in another, have created your passions, desires, expectations putting it all together in one package that people see, interact with, and relate to each day. You were able to give back to life because life has filled you well. Your cup overflowed with a continuing play and exchange of receiving and giving. Times when you dished out master strokes and savored much deserved victories. Euphoria! Then again in another moment you would hit the gutter with sloppy aim and find yourself pulling at your hair in utter disbelief, disappointment, and exasperation. Defeat!

Success and failure, bitter and sweet, good and bad, beautiful and ugly, smart and stupid, joy and sadness, high and low, have and have-not --- you will often find yourself at one end or the other of that broad diverse spectrum. It is a rich life, definitely flawed and imperfect admittedly, .. but totally rich. Learn that what goes on inside a person lends to its richness.

Stay rooted to your history and yet open to the challenges of new things ---- new friendships.. new possibilities.. new awareness, new passions or creativity.. new dreams.. and perhaps a new set of clothes (there's no excuse to be frumpy).

Essence is where you are at in the now. And thank God for such a lovely gift.

Life still can be and is beautiful at or with 60 (or more) birthday candles notwithstanding! A happy birthday to friends celebrating their birthdays this month. Never mind the age.... it's just a number! Happy Birthday! And blessings a hundredfold!

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

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I wasn't meaning to write this morning;  I had a book to read. But a question popped up in my mind. A simple one and maybe some would think quite stupid. The question was this...........


"What are your thoughts?"

We hear that often, don't we? I do, more in times of argument or confusion or censure. But then if you think hard about that, it is a good question.

Why?

We in our day to day lives are more inclined to see things from our own standpoint or point of view. We come to judgement or conclusion filtered through our own benchmark of thoughts, insights, experience, preferences, or perceptions. We do that; I do that.

Consider this.

What if we knew a person's thoughts? By trying to ferret out what the other person's thoughts are about something..... the issue at hand, the thing facing him or when just being still ..... we could gather fresh new helpful insights. It could be something as confronting a huge drama in his life or it could be just a simple thing as tying his shoe ....  new interesting discoveries could unfold to us. It could perchance lead us to a better understanding of that person and his situation. It could tone down our judgement, bias, opinion, and our feeble attempts at writing his story ourselves. It could lead us to some new learning or adventure.

A bigger picture lies somewhere in there. He is writing his own story; living it. Or perhaps talking to his soul. We are but spectators. We need not participate in it .. unless we are destined to.

But we must at least try to understand his thoughts. Better understanding brings out better responses. We each may live separate lives but we all stand connected. His thoughts, right or wrong, can or may in some measure, impact our lives.. directly or indirectly. If something creates ripples in a huge pond, those ripples travel through the rest of the pond touching it in every which way whether the creatures living in their own side of that same pond like it or not. It's the same in the human world. Someone may make your day bad or good without even trying to. It just is. He is just is. Understand.

With better understanding we can make better responses. Better responses can thwart off whatever unnecessary stresses could threaten our own tiny space and too its peace though we stand connected to the even bigger tapestry of life.

Now off I go to my date with a book.
Have a great day....  live in the moment.
Blessings, everyone!

TURN ON THE LIGHT OF HAPPINESS

Today one tiny thought................

You want to be happy??

You need not seek far and wide. Look hard into your day. Sift through the huge pile of bits and odds. Junk the ego. Zero down and in on that one special thing which connects you to the Divine. The Divine within yourself..

Peace.

All happiness is peace within.

How do I know that? Simple -- Life has taught me well. But it doesn't have to mean that I'm never sad. It's just that I try not to stay that way too long.

Blessings, everyone. Be happy and stay happy.


And a wish for Mother's Day  ----- a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to -------  mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, single mothers, and to every woman regardless of race, color, or creed who with loving motherly care and attention watches over the little ones under her care....  may you all be blessed by our loving Blessed Mary, our Mother who continually intercedes for us to our Father in Heaven.  Bless you all!!

A DOGGED PURPOSEFUL PITCH

 

So what's a relationship?

Mr. Webster says  it's..... 'the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.'

Oh yes, we get that a lot in life. In fact, it rules our life from birth to the grave. It allows us opportunities to ....  laugh or cry, celebrate, dream, succeed or fail, create or build.

It can be your joy or your sorrow, your rainbow in the sky or the thorn in your side.

We can be in good relationships or in bad ones.

Some relationships make you feel chained down, or feel being trampled on, or is something akin to a huge obstinate wall which won't budge no matter how you try.  Don't lose yourself in it. Don't let something like a bad relationship take control of your life. There's no excuse not to even try. And if you fail once or twice, remember what your mother said .... 'if you don't succeed, try again'. Heard this before? --- Drops of water dripping down steadily-continuously-consistently-regularly upon a piece of solid rock will, in time, create a hole in it. Finally.

People are not like solid rocks; they are.......

soft (easy to mold, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch)

fluid (again Mr. Webster defines this as -- 'a substance, as a liquid or gas, that is capable of flowing and that changes its shape at a steady rate when acted upon by a force tending to change its shape'

pliable (easily influenced)

Although yes they can be quite stubborn but essentially, they change. Make them WANT to change.

Just as a salesman tries to win over a potential client, make your dogged (purposeful) pitch. You might succeed or you might lose. But whatever or however it comes out as a result of your effort, know in your heart that you tried! And that in my book or in anybody's book is a ..... thumbs up!

And that's a good one for a smile. Keep that smile on your face. A blessing rolls out for every smile you give or receive. Life is too short not to smile. Bless you!

DO WE BELONG HERE?

So what's on my mind today?
Just a question..........

Do we belong here where we are now at in life?

The eternal longings of the heart cannot be appeased.  Always it seeks a better place, person, circumstance, fortune, day.

The Divine tells you this is where you should be. He placed us here.

So then try to seek and find that understanding which might or could lead you to better appreciate your place in the Divine Scheme of things. Because definitely there is something bigger than us.

Until you find it, you will continue wishing you were elsewhere or wanting something else.  But when finally you find it, live-love-laugh-or cry within your divinely allotted space. I know because I do. Perhaps to the human mind it may not be the best place in the world. Yet it's for a reason.

And before you forget, you are a BLESSING - everybody is --by God's design.