RICH or POOR
Friday, June 05, 2009
One day, a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family.
When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"Very good Dad!," The son replied.
"Did you see how poor people can be?," the father asked.
"Yeah!" his son said.
"And what did you learn?," the father asked again.
The son answered, " Well, I learned that....
I saw that we have a dog at home,
and they have four.
<
We have a pool that reaches
to the middle of the garden,
they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lamps in the garden,
they have the stars.
Our patio reaches to the front yard,
they have a whole horizon."
When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.
His son added,
"Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!"
If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life you've got everything! You can't buy any of these things, but still, you can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!
Isn't it true that ...
it all depends on the way you look at things?
Labels: life, life lessons, lifestyle
rays of hope
Monday, May 18, 2009
like a theatrical piece seen in a broadway play or a scene in a tear-jerking movie production, life is a showmanship poured with a labyrinthe of mystifying dramas. my meandering life existence for the past few weeks leaves me exhausted. its’ intricate unending complications are becoming laboriously unbearable. almost daily, i am faced with problematic dillemmas. troublesome journeys take an immense toll on me causing unmanageable relationships with my lovedones, peers, and even myself.
today, after yet another demanding encounter last night that resulted in fuming argument, i found myself staring at my own reflection in the mirror. my chinky eyes manifested a sleepless tearful night with obvious puffiness. the skin that circles under my eyebags and my eyelids are peeling and a little red from rubbing it too much that i obtained from wiping my tears rigoriously. i wanted to smile instead i displayed a sorrowful frown.
the urge to weep again arises but i kept it composed. alternatively, i stared at my blank face. silently in my head, i started a conversation with that woman i see infront of the mirror. the array of painful events suddenly rewinded and recalled. the anxious concerns came pouring in and rationalizing scrutiny. there are a vast of negative critiques to identify. there are summons of pin pointing blames. there are intriguing questions calling for answers…most of which starts with “why?.” yet, i forced to ignore that agenda. it was not my desire to let the tears fall again this time.
in leui, i directed the serious ”discussion” to import of unwavering strength, to give in to account of hope, and to chronicle and remind myself to hold on to faith. i desired this consultation to be a journey to heal, to forgive and eventually to forget.
so the dialogues went like these...
always know that there are those whose love and
understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. there are the people who will love you even in your worse self, they will love you. never stop discovering. discover enough goodness in others to believe in this world of peace.
embrace and be thankful for simple gestures: a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life. and in return, may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
always believe and hold on to hope. remember the beauty of the sunshine when the life’s storm seems unending.
never stop loving. teach love to those who hate you and your family. love your enemies the most. let that love embrace you as you go out into the world. never stop learning. let the teachings of those people you admire and got inspired become part of you, so that you may call upon them.
always make a positive connection and never forget the people you have met along the way. remember that those whose lives you have touched and whose have touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished. it is the content of the encounter that is more important than the form.
do not become too concerned and obsessed with material matters, but instead place
immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart. remember... you can not
bring all these treasures in heaven. you can only bring your friends.
always be appreciative and productive. find pleasure in simple things. find time
each day to see beauty and love in the world around you. realize that each
person has limitless abilities, but recognize that each of us is different in our own way. what you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future.
never stop dreaming and achieving and stop worrying. look at the future as
one filled with promise and possibility. be a sponge and absorb everything life
has to offer. learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
find YOURSELF. find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself. do not be dependent on another’s judgment of your accomplishments. you know yourself better than anyone else.
despite the hurt…always believe in love. always believe there are people who care for you and love you as you are. so just be yourself. may you always be loved. may "mr. dimsum" always love you...despite of the times you say angry things at him. may he be patient and unchanging.
there may be testing trials…but remember that there are also victorious triumphs. and that the world awaits you…
i guess…what i am really trying to convey is…there is always hope. there are times when heart gets weak. but it will continue to beat. and no matter how much difficult encounters, the heart lives and it will feel like the sun coming out after a series of rainy days.
we should always cling to hope because we know that there is always hope in the heart that chases the dark clouds away. hope is a higher heart frequency and as we all begin to reconnect with our hearts, hope awaits us to show new possibilities and arrest the downward spiral of grief and loneliness. it becomes just a matter of how soon you want the sun to shine.
so listen to the still, small voice in your heart….it will make hope into a reality. just what my friend balot always say, “HANG IN THERE.”
and so i am hanging on.
i am holding on.
in God's perfect time, He will give it to me.
the best is yet to come.
Labels: hope, life, life lessons, my story
SPIRITUAL REVERIES: sand and stones
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
two friends were walking through the desert. during some point of the journey, they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. the one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand:
“today my best friend slapped me in the face.”they kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. the one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. after he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "
today my best friend saved my life".the friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him,
"after i hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone. why?” the friend replied,
"when someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand, where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. but, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your benefits in stone. 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.
PRAYER:
Lord,
thank you for always shedding light in your dark everydays.
thank you for always givng us second chances to correct our imperfectness.
Lord,
in our times of shortcoming
and times we may have hurt the people around us,
i ask for your mercy and forgiveness.
we are sorry.
give me the chance to forgive
the people who have caused us pain or torments.
and that in return, we also ask for your forgiveness.
as we go on our day, Lord,
open our hearts and minds
to become a better Christian.
guide us in ways we can serve you and your people
at the best of our capability.
bless the people around us,
who continue to be patient with us despite our cruelty.
bless the people who loves us dearly.
bless even more,
the ones who we have lost touch and had rivals with.
may they find forgiveness in their hearts.
keep them in your watchful eyes and guide them.
we ask you these in your name....
Amen.
Labels: forgiveness, friendship, God, life, life lessons, LORD
THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
Friday, February 20, 2009
Life is so cruel sometimes. We are under attack constantly and innocently. We suffer from other people's ridicules and false judgements. If you say anything, angry words are thrown back to you multiplied by ten. If you do not say anything, you are belittled and betrayed.
Truth is, I know I can fire back. I know I can do the same thing they do to us. I can open up old scandals and adevertise it. I can be angrier. I can attack them also. I can do many things to retaliate.
I can loose my fuse and I can fume in fury. I can pinpoint blames. I can start a fight. I can ignite a fire. I can destroy. I can damage. I can make it bigger and greater.
But really, I asked my self, "What good will it do to me?" I want to sleep feeling and thinking I did not hurt anyone. I do not like the feeling of stepping on other people's toes to put my self on a pedestal. And if I did my own share of mishap to anyone, I will be the first to admit my faults.
My mind suggests me to fight. Yet, my heart tells me something else. In my heart, I know, I only have two choices: to FORGIVE or NOT to forgive. So I choose to shut my mouth. I choose to drop the angst. I choose to be the water to kill the fire.
Revenge is better when you just let it go...ALL OF IT: the anger, the urge to fight back, the desire to create a fire. Revenge is better when you just simply raise the white flag up. They won the fight. I surrender.
I can be the devil's advocate. But I don't want to go in hell. I'm not claiming I am super perfect. I am not an angel. In fact, will NEVER be an angel. But I can be a better person than I was yesterday. In my daily life, that is my ultimate goal: to become a BETTER ME.
So I will start by saying...I forgive you...ALL OF YOU. And May my God forgive me also.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
--Mahatma Gandhi
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust . Matthew 5:44,45
PRAYER:
My Lord, Amidst our darkness, our everyday battles, our desire to anger, stay with us. Keep us calm and collected. Give us the strength to succumb it all and let it all go. I pray that our enemies, the people who hurt us and betrayed us, will find enlightenment and an open heart. In the bible, YOU taught us to love our enemies despite their persecutions towards us, to throw bread at them when they throw rocks at us, to forgive their trespasses, to love them more at these moments. You said it is the only way YOU will also forgive us from our sins. So In Your Name, I am forgiving them. Guide them and help them. May you keep them and bless them. Sorry for our sins. Have mercy on us. We asked you these through God the Father...AMEN.
Labels: forgiveness, life, life lessons, spiritual reveries
EPISODES
Friday, May 02, 2008
like the color yellow traffic light, i wait for my turn for the life's traffic light to go green. i scribbled words of mixed emotions: indescribable rollercoaster feelings of being in love and loving back, awkwardness of losing a trusted best friend due to self proclaimed ego, standing strong through the storms of recovery, missing the experience of the normalcy of life. lately, life has been on a halt.
the past months has truly been a test of strength. my best friend and i kind of parted ways. i will nmot detail the arguement. but let's face it, i am truly hurt. i've decicated my 13 years of friendship with her. and despite my anguish, i still worry and think about her. i stilll pray that God protects her and guides her. and that she'll forgive me for whatever harshness i've said. yeah, i have other friends. in fact, i have a lot of friends. but still, life is not the same not having her around. but for right now, life must go on.
physical recovery from an injury is somewhat easy. but the emotional and mental complications along with it is difficult. i am recovering from a long complicated injury that seems to get worse each time i am lying on a MRI machine as specialist detected more damage. words like 'nerve damage,' 'complications,' have been somewhat of a norm. narcotics, muscle and nerve relaxants have been my companion when the physical pain arise. but insomnia kicks in at night and you start thinking. how many days of idleness have passed you by due to all of this? my life of 2 hours sleep a day before is gone. i could have done a million things from these wasted recovery days. this idleness is a killer. and it gets worse as the day goes by.
for most part, love is unexplainable. most of the times, it is wonderful like the cherry on top of the sundae. sometimes, very rare, i taste a bit of tartly sourness like an unripe fruit. no one has loved me like "he" loves me. he is, by far, the greatest man i have dated beyond my wildest dream. who shows up in my house with an iced hazelnut coffee just because he knew i would love that? who takes me to latenight walks on the beach just because he knew i would enjoy that? who goes swimming with me eventhough he admits he's not a great swimmer just so i wouldn't be alone in the siwmming pool? my love does that for me...JUST BECAUSE.
but love isn't all sunshine and roses. we deal with miscommunicating. we say things we don't mean but have said it anyway and hurt each other. sometimes, a mere joke is taken too seriously that you unknowingly pained his ego and his heart. sometimes, i forget how lucky i am and i forget to appreciate all the awesome things and experiences he shares with me. i tell him many times, i am not perfect. i admit i am wrong and i say i am sorry. but i know, apologizing sometimes is not good enough to erase the damage i have done. yet, he forgives me. yet, he loves me.
i can't predict what life will bring me. i can't foretell what stories will come up next or who are the people i will cross path with. in this make believe world of 'fakes," i am simply struggling to be ME, the original. all i know for sure is, this is MY life. and as life hits me with my life's episode, i will just absorb it, writing stories of my life, one moment at a time. i can't do anything with what life gives...there's nowhere to go but to go on, savor it, live it and then tell it.
Labels: friendship, life, life lessons, love, strength
dawn
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
[i slept crying last night. perhaps, life has been a little too harsh on me. but it is okay. i can be anything and i can do anything if i set my heart and mind into accomplishing something. and the miniscule trials i undergo, i can manage to tackle it all. i just need time, focus and my determined faith.
this morning i woke up at 3:44 am. i attempted to go back to sleep. but nothing can make me snooze. i watched as the morning sun rays come alive. the twirps of the birds singing to me on my window. the light beach breeze of the wind flowed through my curtained window.
in my head.
with my eyes closed, i made up a prayer in my head. tears fells from my eyes, and i just prayed. i know, we can't have all the great days. but today can certainly be a good one. ]
My God Alnighty,
in my time of aloneness,
in my days of trials,
if my faith is tested,
if my love is challenged,
BE WITH ME, my Lord.
Remind me,
that no matter how tough the journey is,
that no matter how rough the circumstances are along the way,
that no matter how mean people or how difficult the experiences i'll encounter,
YOU are there.
walking with me,
hand in hand,
in this journey to life.
I might be a little weak right now, Lord.
But I am certain....
with YOU, i can reach great lengths.
with YOU, i can be strong.
with YOU, i can do anything impossible.
So I ask you to guide me, my Lord.
please protect and continue to bless the people I love dearly .
Keep "him"- my dimsum morning - safe, healthy, stressfree
wherever he may be or whatever he may do,
Never get tired of forgiving us, My Lord for our shortcomings.
Thank you for this life and its abundant blessings.
I asked you these in Your MOST Precious name. Amen
Labels: life, life lessons, LORD
sssssilence sssssolitude...
"ssshhh..."
i shut my loud mouth and let my mind and my heart do all the talking.
awake at 4 am, i talked to myself.
please, make the anger subside.
please, tell the hurt to go away.
please, erase the pain.
please, just forgive.
please, just....
please..JUST LOVE.
i will do that.
but first....
let me have my time to think things through...
i need my moment of solitude and silence to get there...
let me have my space to breath...
i need to vent...life is suffocating me lately.
let me be ME...
i can't be someone who i AM NOT.
let me LOVE ME again..
and i will do the rest.
Labels: life, life lessons, love
BELIEVE
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
[note: i had a disheartening day today while waiting for another doctor's appointment. in between my deep sighs, i was able to scribble some writing, reminding myself to believe and to have hope. i hope it helps you today.]
B E L I E V E
there may be days when you get up in the morning
and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be.
that's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better.
there are times when people disappoint you and let you down.
but those are the times when you must remind yourself
to trust your own judgments and opinions,
to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.
there will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life,
and it is up to you to accept them.
constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you.
it may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle
you will find a stronger sense of who you are.
so when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be.
because the challenges and changes will only help you t
o find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.
bottom line is how can you convince people
to believe in you when you can't believe in yourself?
believing is a magic that makes a dream come true.
keep believing. you can do it!
Labels: believe, encouragement, hope, life, life lessons
SLOW DANCE
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask
How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,' Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift..
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over....
Labels: life, life lessons
TRANSFORMATION
Friday, September 21, 2007
when i was in the car with mom, she often lectures me about humility:to be humble of my achievements , to set my foot planted on the ground and not to allow my head to get big. she insists being humble harvest rewards in the end because karma is evident. it can hit you when you least expected it. so, you reap what you sow. when you're nice, you reap kindness and respect from other people. what mom does not know is thatshe taught me that lesson long time ago. i remained humble. i am still the same person: that little girl who grew up near the market in the philippines and mingled with the poor, the girl who witnessed her hard work along with papa's effort, too, just to give us the best education, and i'm still the little girl who still discovering herself and attaining her goals humbly.
i've been trying to incorporate one to two hours daily walks with ariel every day. i also attempted to perform light exercises as i can't exert too much pressure on my left foot and ankle and right shoulder yet. i have also switched to vegetarian meals now for about two months and as difficult as it is, i hardly eat rice now a days. i only drink water or 100% natural juices. i also gave up coffee and soda, mind you. well, all my pants are getting loose now. when i wear my body hugging clothes, my evident curves are showing. and now, i get comments like "vavavoom" or "DDG" (stands for drop dead gorgeous) from my friends. it's such a inspiringly flattery gesture.
and the herd of men are flocking in. some caught my choosy interest. but i am no longer the lady who dated every men she met or got hooked up with. my god, have i grown picky with my choices of men?! no more gangsters, no more ghetto, slang talking guys, no more guys who can't spell a word, no more guys who does not love their family, no more men who are not close to the Lord ...well yeah, you might have pictured my list. my strict list of standards now have sclaed up on a higher level now. that explains why i am still single. but it is perfectly okay as it is my task to choose who i think is right for me. he he he.
these strange journey of transformation came by surprise. but one that i am embracing with open arms. i know there are many more to come. and i do welcome the little steps but obviosuly drastic change.
who knows? i'll just shock everybody else later on. i'll keep you posted. =)
Labels: change, life, self esteem
missing...
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
i usually see the sparkling moon shining brightly above the skies when i walk ariel. the twinkling stars around it makes it even more stunning. in my days of stress, it has been part of my destressing medium.
i particularly needed to unstress today. the elongated lists of doctors' appointments are overwhelming. undergoing the medical tests are even scarier( such has having your nerves electricuted or spending two to three hours of your day stuck in a closed suffocating MRI machinein freezing temperature is tediously tiring ) what's the worse part of it all? not knowing what the next diagnosis for me after all these battery tests are exhausting.
to add to that the misery of love life, the hopes of people who come and go, the array of men that your friends "hook you up" with, the exes who attempts to win you back...and here i am, i just can;t get over the pain of a broken heart. and how i wish i can just completely heal.
i walked ariel late tonight. it was around 11 pm already. as usual, i attached the ipod earphones to my ear, blasting with my favorite tunes and endured my daily stroll with my dog. and as usual, i was mesmerized of how clear the sky was. my stars twinkled brightly. but my moon was nowhere to be seen tonight. it might have been covered by the hazy clouds above me. and it felt incomplete.
as i walked around my block, and the cold breezy wind chilled my face, i once again felt so empty. with my arms wrapped around me to warm me from cold, i walked there feeling bare. here i am, i might have almost all the luxury that many asked for but....i am incomplete.
after the routined walk around the block, i felt weirdly puzzled. maybe like the missing moon, there are several things that are missing in my life. and everyday, the same way, i almost twisted my neck, looking where i could find the moon, i search for that missing link.
maybe sometimes, we need not to seek for it. it will just come naturally. like for instance, eventhough, the moon is not visibly present in my sight tonight, i know it is there and it will continue to protect me every night.
maybe, i need not to search what i am looking for or what i think is missing in my life. in its proper time, it will show up like the moon that was missing tonight.
and i'll just wait. i will patiently wait.
Labels: life, love, nature
FAITH
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
sometimes, i cogitate how other people respond to performing my life if they were in my shoes. filling in my shoes in not an easy task. the grand lists of errands and everyday things i have to do in a day is overwhelming. sometimes, i feel like 24 hours is not enough. while some of has become habitual, half are exhaustingly painful, mentally alarming and emotionally draining.
pain has been a big issue lately. i will not discuss the intensity of it. though my warm face does not show the obvious symptoms ( i put on a big facade most of the time and i hide it because i don't like lovedones worrying about me, ) my MRI's will probably prove it. frustration and irritability play a bigger role, it chokes me a chicken and sometimes, i feel i can't breath from it all. most of the time, i try to convice myself, it's all "mind over matter" as the martial arts mantras dictate. yet, the mind detects pain. it just constrain the body and affects the soul.
regimens of relaxation and meditation are part of my daily routines now. prayers in my head are what keeps me sane. when i am with lovedones or when i talk to them on the phone, i prefer to have doses of laughter. it is after all the best medicine. and if you're there with us, you'll notice that i try to incorporate humors in our conversations. i attempt to keep it enlightening and positive.
although, i have to admit, i hardly show it but there are times when i grow weary. i get too tired and exhausted of life's events. fighting for your life and telling yourself to stay on top of things drain all of your energy. but courage is an unbelievable thing. it brings you to heights of great pursues.
in the end, like i always tell my friends, keep the hope, dig in and find that courageous you. though i am going through those trials right now, i certainly know that there is a rainbow waiting for me. after all, we can not discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
so hold on a little longer...faith, courage and hope awaits. and we'll suffer no more.
That's the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do.
To trust yourself to test your limits.
[BERNARD EDMONDS]
Labels: hope, life, pain
when..........
Sunday, September 09, 2007
when it rains,
it pours...abundantly!!!my Lord is wonderful.He provides for me financially, spiritually and "socially" (ha!)thank you. Labels: life, LORD, spiritual reveries
the artist
Saturday, September 01, 2007
poe
"We are all
painters
of our lives-
we choose
the colors,
brushes,
& strokes,
just as we choose
which perspective to depict.
our lives and our stories
becomes our masterpieces"
Labels: life, poetry
I AM
Thursday, August 30, 2007
i can scream.
i can paint my rage.
i can make a scene.
i can fight this battle.
i can question your decisions.
i can reveal what kind of person you really are.
but....
i WON'T.
why?
because my momma raised me well.
and i'm NOT that type of girl.
i choose my battles.
and this one is not worth my time.
i'm not going to stoop down your level.
i don't need a loser like you in my life.
without you, i can be fabulous.
and guess what?
I AM.
Labels: fabulosity, life
LIFE ON THE FAST LANE....
Friday, August 24, 2007
LIFE IS AN ENDLESS PARTY
SO WHILE WE'RE AT IT,
WE MIGHT AS WELL
PARTY LIKE A ROCK STAR!
LEN
Labels: friendship, fun, life
I CAN NOT SAY
Saturday, August 18, 2007
"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can
,Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then?
I cannot say.."
J.R.R.T
Labels: life, poetry
a life in my shoes
Friday, July 13, 2007
M I S S F A B U L O U S:
A DAY IN MY SHOES
i wanted to show you how fabulous my life is.
but i could only capture it on a picture.
these are taken three times a day
and half of them are as necessary.
(not shown here)
sometimes,
i act just like her here...
on that same bed
when the pain is overwhelming.
and when it is too much to endure, i just stare outside the window,
and say a little prayer,
"Lord, i know you will not give me anything
i could not handle.
give me strength and courage to bare it. "
i'm just hanging on....making the most out of the difficulties.
getting my toenails painted with bright colors
so when i see my swollen and numb foot,
i pretend i am pain free.
Labels: image, life
