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| Monday, June 9, 2008 |
| The Things You Cant Get When You Run For The Green |
Here is the lowdown on what is happening in the world today: Gas prices are skyrocketing (imagine a Php 60/L prediction in a month or so), rice shortage and price increase, increase in fare (from Php 8 to Php 10), and the groceries' price increase as well. That is a might lot for a small country like the Philippines. How much the whole world?
And so the whole world is in crisis. Now, everybody is running for the big green - right? Everybody is trying to earn even on the side of what he or she can manage - even if it kills them. For people who have families, like me, we have to push hard and push harder just to even buy a can of milk. But in the process, we ought to think: "What are we losing that the moolah cannot get you?"
- Happiness - I think a lot will agree if I say "Money cannot buy happiness." However, it would make somebody happy if you get that person something, but that would only be temporary. If it gets your family out of trouble, then that would be happiness. But too much striving for money just because money buys material things is not any way of making a person happy. Material possessions can never take the place of a happy and loving home. And if you, yourself, strive too hard. Be careful as it just might deprive you of the true happiness of the soul.
- Time - "Time is money," or so they say. Therefore, if you sell out your time for money, then obviously, you lose time. Sometimes we give too much time worrying, spending, budgeting, and thinking about money that we lose the time to check out other things that do not involve money. Money takes away the time you are supposed to be spending with your kids, your husband, your loved ones, and even with yourself. Sometimes, I, too, become guilty over this. And to take care of this is to budget time wisely.
- Health - As I write this, I believe I can safely testify striving for money can be bad for your health. And even if - by God's grace - I do earn enough, I still will not be able to have any insurance that the life I live will be long. Money can never bring back your life, your youth, or your health.
- Self-esteem - No matter how rich you get, it does not matter to self-esteem. It is not like you can buy self-esteem by the bundle. It has to be grown from deep within you, and something that you have to invest into - and by this, I do not mean money. If you have not yet resolved any issues within yourself, then no amount of money can help you take care of this except your very self. When the richest of men decide to take their lives because of depression, no amount of money spent on drugs, or anything that their money can buy can cure that person.
- Respect - If you humiliate a person and then pay that person off with Php 1,000, do you think you will get respect. Oh, I am sure that person would be willing to say yes - crisis after all. But you will never get that person's respect. The truth is, no amount of money can buy respect. You have to gain it, not demand it or buy it.
There are a lot of things that money cannot buy. These are but the basics that sometimes we need to remember when we are so caught up in the race to provide. Although it is not all together harmful or bad for you. We just need to realize that the world may need money to improve and develop, but money should not be our world.
 Labels: happiness, improvement, money, personal matters, Sunday Goodness |
| posted by Ann @ 7:13 PM
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| Wednesday, May 28, 2008 |
| Learning about Louie Giglio, Laminin, and more |
As mentioned previously, Sunday gave me an experience of a lifetime. It was pretty much the first time I took up an offer from a friend to accompany her to her church. I was invite by another friend beforehand, but I was unable to go with her because I had some other stuff to do. That was bad, really, but I could not understand how bad that was until Sunday. At the very least, Sunday at the Bread of Life taught me the error of my ways. Next time around, I will take up Ibby on her invitation to her church. Who knows what I will learn there. Now to the lessons last Sunday...
From the very start of the service, I already wanted to cry. Something powerful struck me and I don't exactly know what. It started with the songs, then the message, and then the realizations. The topic was mostly focused on using your talents for God, and realizing that everybody has a talent and it is never too small. It made me acknowledge the fact that we are all, indeed, unique and significant in our own way. It made me remember that there is nobody like me (which is what the hub keeps telling me) and that, in our own way, we will never be replaceable. To be made in His likeness, it is a pretty amazing thing, don't you think so? And if we berate ourselves or put ourselves down, it is more or less the same thing as putting Him down. Now that is not good. He doesn't deserve the treatment we give to ourselves. And so we should be able to appreciate ourselves more and in that way, we appreciate Him as well.
Perhaps the part that hit home the most was when a footage from a gathering where Louie Giglio spoke was shown. It was where he said that even in our darkest time, through all our troubles, and through all the fast balls life throws us, God is there, holding us in the His hands. And that He will never leave us.
Now you might find this thought very basic. But it was just what I needed EXACTLY. To know once more that God is with me through all. I know I sound like a very happy person, and I am. But I have gone through a whole lot of sloughing through mud and grime just to survive. And for the past 3 years, it hasn't been easy. It has been so hard, that I think I just might break. Often, I've thought about giving up.. but I can't you see. And comfort and faith was in short supply... I needed that talk. I needed the realization once again. And I needed to be comforted... that was what I got.
To top things off, Louie answered one thing that has been in my mind as soon as he said the words about God being there for me. Like some, I guess others asked as well, I had silently voiced out "How do I know He is really, really there?". Louie, answered it as though he heard everybody: Laminin. Scientifically, and in a general sense, laminin is a protein that pretty much holds us together. Why? Because it holds cells to membranes and molecules ..(see Wikipedia) you get the drift. Imagine that? One small, virtually unknown and unminded part of our body essentially holds us together and is within us. Cool. I got the idea: God = Laminin = binds us and holds us together. But I still had some questions as to why this is proof enough. And Louie showed the answer:
Amazing, isn't it? Wow. Even now, I still.. oh well. You know... And so I learned the reason why I was invited. A good thing I chose to go to church instead of sleep, too! I think I might have finally learned to listen.
God is indeed there for me, and He is the force inside me making me hold on through everything I've gone through, and a little bit more. I'm glad. Thank you, God!
Now, I have another project to make. This is in relation to the "Making use of your Talents for God" part of the lessons learned last Sunday. It will be disclosed soon.
Thank you for listening or reading!Labels: God, improvement, laminin, learning, Louie Giglio, personal matters, religion, Sunday Goodness |
| posted by Ann @ 8:24 AM
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| Tuesday, May 27, 2008 |
| What happened last Sunday? |
The weekend gave me something pretty awesome. In fact, Sunday was spectacular and somewhat life changing for me.. a bit. Hehehe.. it was perhaps the longest day of my year. Perhaps.
It started with a trip to the beachside for a good 6 hours or so. The story about what happened in those 6 hours is going to be posted at my Anthology of Snippets blog. If you are interested, please visit it later to view whatever I have posted there. So, moving on...
I planned to get some good afternoon's rest as soon as I got home from the early morning jaunt. To my dismay, catching some zzz's was not to be in the agenda. The kiddies were overjoyed to see me back home so they had a ball climbing over me as I attempted to sleep. What else could a doting mother, such as I, do? I woke up, played around a bit, and watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (review to follow) with the hub and kids.
Soon after the movie ended, I finally got Gianfranco to go to sleep. Belle and the hub went to sleep as well. Just as I was about to join the slumbering group, I noticed 2 text messages on my cellphone. Both from Daphne. One contained a question regarding our gift for Grand Master Joh, who was celebrating his 24th birthday at Mr. D, and the other was an invitation for me to join her to church at the Bread of Life after purchasing the gift.
At first I was quite in a debate with myself... the bed looked oh so inviting and my mind, body, and soul ached to find rest and relaxation. On the other hand, it's church! I haven't gone to church yet, and this would be a good time to visit Bread of Life, AND this was the first time Daphy invited me. It was not an invitation to gallivant, anyway, and we still had Master Joh's birthday bash to attend to. Hmmm.. So, I made up my mind, asked permission from the hub that I could go to church and just go directly to Master Joh's place afterwards. I think he was half asleep to think and he said yes! :)
Suffice it to say that I really liked my experience at Bread of Life. I learned a lot. And I mean, a lot - a lot!! I learned about Louie Giglio, Talent Management, Laminin, and so many other things (yes, this will also be posted later) and so much more. There was a reason why I was invited that day, and I am most definitely glad I chose to go to church other than sleep. :) I was almost crying then..
Anyway, after church, it was Master Joh's birthday bash. And we had a blast! If you want to see what we ate, go visit Master Joh's blog because he posted all that needed to be known about the food there. :) It was another experience of a lifetime. Seriously.
That was a long day, wasn't it? As soon as I got home and gave the hub his dinner, I asked to be excused so I can lie down for a while before tackling other things I had to do - which is a whole LOT if you ask me. I mean, I missed out on a lot of posts and tasks and other stuff. But what could I have done? Last thing I remember was that I lay down and closed my eyes for a while. After all I did have stuff to do. But when I opened my eyes, guess what? It was already 4:30 A.M.! Time to get up and get ready for work. Argh.
I don't like Mondays... ah, LIFE!
Labels: daily, improvement, personal matters, Sunday Goodness |
| posted by Ann @ 12:18 PM
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| Sunday, May 4, 2008 |
| Good Things Free For Giving |
Since it is a Sunday, I am feeling quite good and thankful for all the things that are going on in my life. I realized that there are simply a lot of things we take for granted and so many things we can give to others that we do not give a second thought to.
What are these things, you ask? In a world of high prices and poverty, can people really afford to give? Of course we can. There are things we can give that can make others happy. If you read on, I will tell you the things I think we all should be giving each other.
Here is a list of small things that make big effects that we can just give out everyday:
- A "Good morning!" One ex-colleague of mine remarked one time while we were on training how not a lot of people actually greet people they meet in the morning with that time-old greeting. Since then, I have made it a practice to greet people, "Good morning!" (with a smile of course) as often as I can. Sure enough, it makes other people smile and feel like they really can have a more pleasant morning.
- Greeting elderly people. Elderly people often feel alone and left out in the everyday hustle and bustle of young'ns. Have a heart. Show those who are in their Golden Age some love by giving them some attention and greeting. No doubt you will warm their hearts.
- Tell an older woman she looks lovely. I've found out that the older women get, the more concious they are with their appearance. They often feel like they are on a verge of becoming a withered fruit. Although she may not be quick to trust you, if you assure her that it is true, I am pretty sure it will make her day complete. See it for yourself.
- The power of "Thank You!" Sometimes when service is given to us, we automatically assume that it is our right that they are serving us and that they should at least be honored that they have us as customers. Admit it! You've got "the customer is always right" written all over your face. You should keep in mind that even if they mess it up or do a good job, they still deserve at least a "thank you" for their efforts. Do it, and for sure you have earned a smile, or at least better service next time.
- Share a smile. I may not be the perfect person to say this, but over the years I've learned that a smile can go a long long way. Of course, bad days are bad days, and sometimes one cannot simply just flash that blinding smile. But bear in mind, what if somebody else had a bad day and was scowling at you, you wouldn't like it one bit. Right?
These are but a few of the many things one can do. In the name of Kindness and Care, these gifts can have a great big impact and go a long way. Christmas is not the only time for giving. Give a little love and it all comes back to you..
Be nice kiddies! ;)
Labels: daily, friendship, improvement, people, prayers, smiles, Sunday Goodness, women |
| posted by Ann @ 5:42 PM
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| About Me |
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Name: Ann
Home: Philippines
About Me: even when she has fairy wings on, this girl is anything BUT dainty. perhaps the size, the weight, and the personality alone are just too much for her to be considered delicate, prim, proper, and refined. this girl with the mud smudged cheeks has been down on the ground one to many times. these times forced her to be tougher, smarter, and more savvy than she has ever been. perhaps she will always be, never dainty.
email me: neverdainty [at] gmail [dot] com
See my complete profile
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