Compassion - How Much Does It Matter

Compassion is a gift a person can possess as one experiences God’s love and be able to share that gift with others.

Compassion is the ability to reveal one’s feelings for what they perceive others are feeling. To show compassion is the essence and apex of our humanness. A compassionate person is sensitive to the feelings of other’s pain, joy, disappointment, fear. A compassionate person can sense what people feel and express and reflect these feelings back to them.

I remember and I acknowledge my sense of being compassionate to my mother. She created to us an atmosphere of a “feeling family”. She taught me to be considerate and sensitive with how others feel. Maybe she’s too sensitive before that she would point out and revealed her feelings openly every time she’s hurt or offended. She would say “I was hurt” or “I feel angry about your terrible attitude”. I realized she didn’t intend to place guilt trips on me, but a way of attempting and cultivating me to become sensitive. Her character has shaped me a lot into becoming a “feeling person” as I grew older.

It is important to realize the strengths and positive outcomes of being compassionate by asking ourselves- do we want to become more human?

In our times, we experience people who would say “this is what I feel and I don’t care what others feel or say about me” – this does not convey feelings of compassion.

To be a compassionate person also means to have a sense of SIN. Sin most often involves hurting another and depriving another of the expression of our feelings can be very hurtful. It is better to acknowledge those hidden feelings than to be silent about them. Being silent or indifferent is more hurting and abusive than any physical hurts.

“He never made any comment on how hurt I was”… to be conscious of our depriving, hurtful behavior is the beginning of becoming a sensitive person. The more sensitive we are to another’s pain and more responsive we are to it by seeking forgiveness and making improvements, the more we qualify as healing and compassionate persons.

INSENSITIVE people, however, plow under or bruise people without any realization of what they are doing. Such persons are irresponsible, uncaring, and self-centered. They live inside their own world apart and isolated from the reality of others. They lose their sense of sin and thought they have no business with other’s feelings!

The more you are connected with your inner-self, the more sensitive and compassionate you become – you can relate and communicate that feeling with others and can see right through them!

We can never be compassionate if we lack sense of self! We must first in touch with our inner world – our pain, anxieties, anger, hurt, confusion, conflict, doubt, fears. Until we experience these feelings in ourselves, sensitivity and compassion towards other will never be attained!

Most people lacking compassion and sensitivity are usually not in touch with their own feelings and when they are, they are uncomfortable with them!

Remember that when you are compassionate and sensitive to your own self and to others, you truly experience God within yourself.

A compassionate person also must have so much feeling for others that he or she is willing to confront them.

Revealing your feelings of being hurt to the person who adversely hurt you is one way of expressing compassion. This may take form of anger, discipline, challenge, pleading, or even screaming – any way we can reach them, whom we say love! Direct confrontation is equally necessary to dislodge or unlock the situation. It was risky, but it worked!

I know a lot of compassionate people. Being on top is my mom, who unconditionally loves me and my kuya; Lhoraine, who fearlessly confronted me about my shortcomings so I may realize my mistakes and be sorry about them; my friends, Laurence, Lhoraine, Jackie, Rachel who are so enabled helping others, especially me during my hours of darkness. These people don’t act for me nor make decisions for me; neither solve my problems. They helped me reach inside myself to get in touch with my untapped and unrecognized potentials.

So, how much does it matter to be compassionate? - A LOT!

Everything in Between

It is a common knowledge that everything started and was created by God. We also know that our ultimate destination is also with Him. He is our beginning as well as our end! He is the Alpha and the Omega! But what we hardly recognize is what comes in between the start and the end.

Our lives here on earth are spent more in between these periods and what we do during this lifetime are the things that make up our lives and shape our characters! The things that we do today make us experience the fullness of life and prepare us for our final goal of one day spending an eternal life with God.

We are now in this “between” period of our lives. We are dealing with this journey given the gifts of perseverance and fortitude. There are times when we are greatly tested and it is very comforting to know that during this “between” period, we are given hope and a multitude of chances to make up with our shortcomings; not only to ourselves but with the people around us. We have the spirit of humility to accept that we are humans and as such, we have strengths and weaknesses. And as we grow and mature, we learn to accept and acknowledge our weaknesses and able to improve ourselves out of our own breakdowns and failures. And one way of knowing that we have accepted ourselves as a whole is when we view the sunsets of our lives with a smile on our face with a feeling of contentment for passing through another day and looking forward for the next one.

Personally, I find myself in this ‘between’ period of my life. I felt being the hardest of all periods but still the most rewarding. I learned the values of patience, humility and perseverance. All the more, this period of my life has strengthened my faith and shaped my confidence to God. I learned that nothing is too impossible to carry if only we recognize Him in all areas of our lives. He is the beginning and the end and everything in between!

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain."

"Every sacrifice has a fruitful reward. Every failure has a second chance. We only have to be strong thru God's grace and persevere in life's many tests!"

Rejoicing over Life’s Adversities

If there’s one very good thing I learned in my experiences with God- that is to rejoice over adversities! It may sound contradicting, but it’s true. I never appreciated the implication of this not until I experienced it. I rejoice over life’s difficulties because it is through darkness that I have seen and experienced His deep love for me. I have understood God’s promise of comfort and refuge, which He made available to anyone of us if only we seek and reach out for Him. I wanted and I pray for everyone to experience God’s amazing grace and love! God manifests Himself in so many wonderful ways. He is present in every life’s situations, in every emotion, in everything! He is always with us and never abandons us even if we sometimes feel like He’s sleeping and doing nothing over our troubles. But His presence alone is enough; we know that if God is with us, the storm cannot sink us!

Rejoicing over Life’s Adversities

If there’s one very good thing I learned in my experiences with God- that is to rejoice over adversities! It may sound contradicting, but it’s true. I never appreciated the implication of this not until I experienced it. I rejoice over life’s difficulties because it is through darkness that I have seen and experienced His deep love for me. I have understood God’s promise of comfort and refuge, which He made available to anyone of us if only we seek and reach out for Him. I wanted and I pray for everyone to experience God’s amazing grace and love! God manifests Himself in so many wonderful ways. He is present in every life’s situations, in every emotion, in everything! He is always with us and never abandons us even if we sometimes feel like He’s sleeping and doing nothing over our troubles. But His presence alone is enough; we know that if God is with us, the storm cannot sink us!

Passing Through

Yesterday, I woke up with a very sad text message from a friend, informing that our dear friend is positive in her HER2 test; a test that confirms the agressiveness of cancer cells. I was stunned and just couldn't believe with what I learned! True enough that these kind of news can easily frustrate our souls. I quickly jumped off from my bed with one thing in my mind - I have to go to the Adoration chapel and offer prayers for her. I know very well I couldn't give much except for prayers. Just in time that yesterday was the WORLD SICK DAY.

I thought, I'm going to offer prayers not only for my friend but for all those others suffering from the bed of sickness; for all those who don't have enough money to spend for their medicines and medical procedures; for those who are sick and haven't found yet God's purpose and presence in their lives. I'm going to pray not only for those who are sick physically, but also those who are ailing mentally, emotionally, and spirtually. I am going to pray not only for the unwell, but also for their families who are suffering more than double of the pains and fears of losing their loved ones. I'm going to pray for the healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, and volunteers working for the welfare of the sick.

As I was praying inside the adoration chapel, I thought of God's graces. I thought, why then should we fear death when He is our ultimate destination? That our life here on earth is just a journey that prepares and leads us to a more fulfilling life - a life that everybody yearns for... the Everlasting Life!

Later that night, I received a message from my sick friend saying that her oncologist just told her that the HER2 test result is still inconclusive, which means there is still a high chances that the test will turn out negative! AMAZING! I was overwhlemed upon hearing the good news! I thought then, whatever the results are, God is truly powerful! Our Faith & Prayers offer not only relief but also HOPE - a hope we can never find elsewhere! Thank you, Lord for the gift of life!

***by the way, pink is the color used for the breast cancer campaign!

Time to Clean Your Windows

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside.

“That laundry is not very clean,” she said, “she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband says, “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 purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge.

I'm Back

Yey, I'm back from a 3-day business trip away from the metro. Thanks God! The event was very successful. It was quite tiring, though but it really makes a difference working here and out of town.

Baguio is Baguio! It is a very romantic place for couples and an exciting place for travellers. It is a 6-hour drive away from Manila. But despite of the long travel, for me, it provides relaxation (especially, mental) and more time to reflect. The sites are very relaxing to the eyes! The place that I went to provides a very peaceful atmosphere despite of the tons of works to be accomplished, still I did not feel stressed or harrased or whatsoever...

So that's it for now... I hope all of you, guys will have a stress-free weekend! Take time to recharge both physically and spirtually!

Thought for Today

Always believe that TODAY is special! Never put off tomorrow the loving words you can express TODAY! ... tomorrow might be too late!

What Really Matters in Life

Another week has ended. How time flies and leaves us. It only seemed like yesterday when I was too excited, nervous, and busy preparing for my brother's wedding. As I am writing this post, I realized that it was already a 'week-old' thing. Time is too fast (and furious) and sometimes we just couldn't cope with all the demands. We see ourselves trying to deal with at the same time survive the pressures put upon us; may it be in our work, relationship, family, friends, etc. What our world needs now is to SLOW down even for a while so we could have more time to reflect and enjoy our selves. But since the world wouldn't slow down for us... then we should, in ourselves, take steps to hold back, relax, and enjoy the things that really matter in our lives!

Let me share this story which I heard from our priest...

A vacationing American businessman was standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico when a small boat with just one young fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.

"Oh, a few hours," the Mexican replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.
The Mexican warmly replied, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, you can then buy a second boat, a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats.

"Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."

Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"

After a rapid mental calculation, the businessman pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."

"And then what, senor?" asked the fisherman.

"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions? Really? What could I do with it all?" asked the young fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, take siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."

The moral of the story is: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think.

See you All on Monday!!! Have a great, God-filled weekend!

Alone and Happy

A lot of people are afraid to be alone, alone in a sense that they always enjoy the company of others. It’s like their happiness are controlled with their social activities. But what people don’t know is to be able to determine true happiness; one must experience to be alone. We need NOT fear being alone, instead we should welcome those moments in our life; those moments when we can be alone with ourselves and be able to contemplate and reflect. I am not saying that we can live alone. Humans are design to live and interact together and with each other. No man lives alone. All of us are responsible for each other but remember not to overlook ourselves, as well!

Wouldn’t you think it is nicer to get out from the busy and noisy crowd and the pressures that keep on pulling our energies down? We need sometime alone to rejuvenate, revitalize and re-energize ourselves.

What is the relevance of being alone in a relationship?

You must learn to be alone and happy before you can be together with someone else and be happy. Your happiness only and always depends upon how you feel when you are alone, never how you think you will feel when you are with someone else.

This also applies in terms of healing from a hurtful past. Our healing comes and mostly experienced when we give ourselves time to be alone. It is making up with the lost times we supposed to have for ourselves when we were still in a relationship. We should be strong enough to resist rushing to the next relationship before all the hurts of the past are healed. Healing takes time.

Being alone for a period of time usually has an extraordinary long-term benefits. When you get comfortable with being alone; when the feeling that you must be in a relationship to feel complete disappears, most likely you will be ready for another relationship.

Over-all, one of the secrets of a healthy love relationship is to be happy being alone with yourself! Your happiness must not depend with how you feel when you are with someone else but how you feel when you are alone. If the satisfaction and happiness are felt without needing and getting them from others, that is the time you can be able to share the happiness with others!

The Butterfly

A man found a cocoon for a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole.
Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly.
He took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.

Something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the small opening of the cocoon are God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.

If God allowed us to go through all our life without any obstacles, that would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

Not only that, we could never fly.

- Author unknown

Still Wonderful

Having to make a brand new start only to realize it's about to end so soon... sometimes, it makes us harder to start especially when we are hooked on the past...trying to recover from what was lost...and sometimes the hardest part of it all was when you have given away your heart and you haven't gotten it back...

To be able to make a brand new start is as good as leaving the past behind...though it wasn't always easy to forget...having a peace of mind is sometimes very hard to achieve but only then you can really have a new start... How do we know that we are moving on?...it's when our heart finally accepted that there is no turning back anymore.


There is still more to life... HOPE gives us a forward look. Looking back to the past without regrets, pains & tears can be achieved for too long...but in the process, it makes us better persons than we are now!

Sometimes I act like a different woman...but I am more than myself than ever before...in my 28 years, I've learned how it is to have and to lost... to laugh and to cry... to hold and to let go... and I know that there will still be more to expect...life never runs out of surprises no matter how we see it...no matter how many challenges that come & block our way...at the end, we still say to ourselves... it is indeed a "WONDERFUL LIFE" after all!!!

A Battle Inside Us

Just want to share this very nice article which I read over the net... something to reflect about.


One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.

One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Appreciating Our Past

It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is much more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience, acceptance, and growth.

Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and loving. The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary lessons.

Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong insights about who we are and what we want. Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress? Necessary too. Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the experiences we need to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we progressed. Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is mistaking that for the truth.

Today, God, help me let go of negative thoughts I may be harboring about my past circumstances or relationships. I can accept, with gratitude, all that has brought me to today.

A Lesson In Life

(Just want to share this wonderful article about life's lesson...)

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks you heart, forgive them. For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to who you open your heart to.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it.

A Terrible Trend

Ever heard of the new trend(?) in Japan today? After the Nargis in Myanmar and earthquake in China, now, I read in the news about the new technique of suicide being used mostly of Japanese. It is a mixture of detergent and bath salt that produce a poisonous gas, hydrogen sulfide, that can cause death when inhaled. I read also that it is the fad in Japan today. I couldn’t believe this. How could “suicide” be a fad? Life is too precious to be wasted. While all other else strive to survive, others are taking away their own lives for as a mean of escaping depression, failures, or other personal reasons.

Clearly, this is an act of murder. Suicide (Self-murder) is the act of intentionally terminating one's own life. We may never know their reasons for doing this act. Suicide is known and believed to be as a "cry of help" and is psychologically associated. It is a medical condition that needs medical attention. That's why I find it hard to understand how this thing becomes a fad or trend. This is something as a "high-class", "high-tech" way of committing suicide since it came from the internet.

Life is really precious. It is a wonderful gift from God that is why it is sacred. We are being asked to take care of our body and live our life according to His will and purpose. Negative experiences such as defeat, loss, depression are just factors that enhance our way of life. When faced with difficulties, person to person interaction is very important. Unloading our burdens through social contact help a lot. But some depressed people tend to isolate themselves. That's the time it becomes our moral responsibility to be sensitive with others. We don't help only when we are being asked to. Sometimes, we can offer help and sympathy and offer them voluntarily.

"It is not always the people with worriesshould come to us for help...sometimes we need to be sensitive enough to know when to make the first move."

Every experience is a learning experience.

Lifted this article from an internet source (mahalo.com)

A lethal gas is increasingly being used as a method of suicide in Japan. The concoction is created by mixing a certain brand of detergent with bath salts. Police in Japan are urging internet service providers to block websites which publish instructions on how to produce the hydrogen sulfide gas.

On May 1, 2008, 350 people had to be evacuated from their homes in Otaru, northern Japan a man used this technique to killed himself.

On April 23, 2008, in Konan, Japan, a 14-year-old girl killed herself by mixing laundry detergent with a liquid cleanser. The gas seeped out a window and into neighboring apartments, sickening 90 people and causing 10 to be admitted to the hospital.
Japan has one of the developed world's highest suicide rates.

Fast Facts:

Suicide method reportedly gained popularity via instructions posted on the Internet
Japan has the ninth highest suicide rate in the world
Since 1998, the annual number of suicides in Japan has exceeded 30,000

A Trend:

Police say they have dealt with several other similar suicides in 2008. A 31-year-old man outside Tokyo reportedly committed suicide in a car by mixing detergent with bath salts. On the same day, a 42-year-old woman reportedly killed herself in a bathtub in Nagoya, Japan, by mixing toilet cleaner and bath powder. According to The Australian, this method of suicide has killed around 50 people in 2008.

Warnings Posted:

Both the man outside Tokyo and the woman in Nagoya posted signs to warn passers-by. The man's read simply, "Stay away," while the woman's read, "Poisonous gas being emitted. Caution."

Hydrogen Sulfide Gas:

Colorless
Smells like rotten eggs

Highly toxic
Inhalation leads to suffocation or brain damage
In small doses causes sore throat, nausea, irritated eyes

Ways to Happiness

Reading from the latest issue of Reader's Digest, I found an article with a very inviting title: The Way to Happiness. Instantly, I got interested with it (well of course, everybody wants to be happy in one way or another). It tells of some proven tips to help you feel better and happier.

Ways to Turn That Frown Upside Down

1. Be Less Virtual, More 3-D

Hmm... sounds techno, huh! But this is very true. Modern technology has direct effect on our social life. Technology has offered a lot of benefits and advantages but it also made life complicated. Today, most people rely on “cyber ways” of making friends and meeting different groups from all over the world. This limits us from having direct human contact. A major part of your life concerns your relationship and dealing with other people. Fulfillment in your social interactions can contribute to leading a satisfying and successful life.

2. 4, 6, 8… Who do We Appreciate?

It says that counting our blessings and listing each one of them help a lot in improving our state of being. It makes us feel better because we know and we are aware of these ‘real-life’ people whom we appreciate our lives for. It stimulates and energizes our soul, thus creating a greater sense of confidence and security. “Nobody is an island”… so just imagine how life is when you couldn’t think of anyone whom you are grateful for… without any blessings to list down to? What a life wasted, right?

3. Rack ‘em up

It only says that we should think of every positive thing that happens during the day and even in the past. We should focus on “happy thoughts”… just like Peter Pan… Happy thoughts made him fly! So, never waste time and energy thinking of negative experiences. Whatever happened in the past are already over. They serve as lessons to us and we can never do anything to bring the past back. All we have to do is to appreciate the good things and experiences that we encounter each day and always give thanks to God because everything happens for a purpose so we might as well be thankful.

4. Think Memorable, Not Material

Material things offer nothing but temporary happiness. If we live our lives based on our possession, truly we will never find contentment and peace. We always strive to live with the standards that this modern world demands. All the more that we should strive to go back to the basics… family, friends, nature, pets, etc. These are the ones that give true happiness. We are living in this ‘high-end’ world, all the more that we should spend quality time with the people that matters most. “Think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived.” Anna Quindlen in A Short Guide to a Happy Life


5. Go to the Funny Side

Laughter is still the best remedy, medicine, and most especially prevention to all types of illnesses. When we happy inside, then it radiates through the outside. Instead of giving too much deal with a certain issue or a problem, why not think of the brighter side. Laugh out and see what difference it could make.

6. Escape to Your Stress-Free Zone

I remember when I traveled to Hong Kong with my friends… it relieves me and it brought back my spirit. It was during those times when our deadlines were all piled-up. I took the courage to file a leave after finishing all loads due of me. I was worried then because I was thinking of other loads left but when I reached that place, all my worries were gone. I enjoyed the vacation I had with my friends. It was really stress-free… no text message, phone calls, no demanding boss around… all but me and my friends. One memorable trip I had also was our Boracay trip… it was our company’s outing last 2007. It was very tiring, yet very rewarding trip to all of us.
So, every time I get really stressed, I just try to imagine those memorable vacations… it never failed to give me a smile.


7. See the Glass as Half Full

Let me share some inspirational messages:

“Wonder why the sunset is a lot colorful than the sunrise? That’s one of the ironies of life – there is “good” in goodbyes…"


“Moving on is not about never looking back; it’s taking a glance at yesterday and noticing how much you have grown since then.”

What is common on those messages is looking at the brighter side of each and every happening in life.

8. Find Your Inner Artist

Blogging for one is a creative way of expressing ourselves. We have different talents inside us, singing, dancing, writing poetry, sketching, painting, etc. Take time to indulge in hobbies and past time activities. These can refresh and energize not only our physical strength, but also our spirit.

9. Do Something Good

This, I proved to be very effective. Doing something good to others doesn’t only make you feel better and happy but also creates the same (even greater) impact to the recipient. In our daily lives, we should always aim to do something good for others. We should include it in our daily planner or in our ‘to-do’ list. I include that in my morning prayers…that I may be of service with others and be a channel of goodness and love.

10. Seize the Moment

Just like what my favorite quote says... "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?" (Stephen Levine) ...

Material things offer nothing but temporary happiness. If we live our lives based on our possession, truly we will never find contentment and peace. We always strive to live with the standards that this modern world demands. All the more that we should strive to go back to the basics… family, friends, nature, pets, etc. These are the ones that give true happiness. We are living in this ‘high-end’ world, all the more that we should spend quality time with the people that matters most.

“Think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived.” Anna Quindlen in A Short Guide to a Happy Life


Most of us wait too much that we failed to grab the opportunity to do things that matter most or to be with the people we truly love and cared for. The question that most people ask is "when is the right time?"... and the big answer is "The Time is NOW!" No one knows what will happen tomorrow and tomorrow might be too late.

Rainbow after the Rain

I just want to share this very inspiring piece I received from the net...

Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine,
after the rain ....
Perhaps you may stumble,
perhaps even fall,
But God's always ready,
To answer your call ...
He knows every heartache,
sees every tear,
A word from His lips,
can calm every fear ...
Your sorrows may linger,
throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish,
in dawn's early light ...
The Savior is waiting,
somewhere above,
To give you His grace,
and send you His love...
Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
"God always sends rainbows ....
after the rain ... "


To get out of difficulty, one must usually go through it!

Trials are humbling experiences. They allow us to be stronger and permit us to seek our own capabilities and tolerance. Most of all, they allow us to submit ourselves to the most High. There are no easy ways out of difficulties and we can never get out of it unless we face them. We may fail or succeed but we can be sure of that God will always see us through and that He will always send rainbows after the rain. Rainbows are reminder of God's loving grace. It also signifies rewards that we reap out of our courage in facing and dealing with life's difficulties.

5 Lessons About the Way We Treat People.

I received a very interesting e-mail from a friend and I wish to share it to the readers... I guess, you have received the same message before. The message really got my attention because I always believe that in LIFE, simple things count! We may never know how much our little actions mean to others... but they count and remembered. How would you like to be remembered?

First Important Lesson

Cleaning Lady

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely!" said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Second Important Lesson


Pick-up in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car hadbroken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... Godbless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others. "Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Third Important Lesson


Always Remember Those Who Serve

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.



Fourth Important Lesson


The Obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Fifth Important Lesson

Giving When it Counts

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he wouldbe willing to give his blood to his sister.I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Life...

I visited sophia's page... and her latest entry best describes how I am feeling right now... "Live life as if you'll die today." I've been thinking of it lately, especially now that we have just lost one relative due to a tragic sea accident in Japan. I realized how life is so short to be wasted! I just saw my cousin last January when I visited them... and now, he's gone!

More than just the agony of losing my cousin, I will be out tomorrow for a medical check-up and I guess I will be bringing with me my FAITH. I told my mom that I will schedule myself for a check-up without telling her really why... I just told her that I feel dizzy more often than before. She told me if I can manage to go all by myself... and I insisted that I can!

I don't wanna jump out into conclusions but this really bothers me... or maybe, I am just being hypochondriac, the very reason why I should consult a medical doctor. Being a medical person, I know when it is just okay... and when it is not 'just' okay... anyway, tomorrow is the day... I will face my fears.

I am just thankful to God for giving me this life... to Live and most of all to Love...