"Take it with a grain of salt."
That's how the saying goes. When someone says something against you, they say, take it with a grain of salt. Ever wonder what it means?
This is what I think it means. Sometimes, it's hard to swallow bad things that people will say about you, especially if you know that it's not true. What do we usually swallow? Food, right? What do we do when food tastes bad and is hard to take or swallow? We add seasoning to give it flavor. We add seasong to make it more appealing. Seasoning makes food taste better (and helps us chew them into tiny bits and pieces!). Therefore, if you take things with a grain of salt, you'll be able to take them as they are, see them in a better light, or to turn them into dust, negligible dust!
But don't you ever wonder why it's salt and not sugar or some other spice? All of them give flavor and all of them serve to preserve. Or maybe sugar: medicine? You know, as Mary Poppins says "just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down... in the most delightful way!" Hmm...
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Like a Frog
A frog has no ears but it jumps, jumps, jumps! That's was an anecdote my friend told me when we talked about "neighborhood" politics. A frog has no ears so he doesn't listen to intrigues. Instead, he keeps on doing what he's good at -- jumping! Thus, by jumping, he covers the distance.
Once when I was confronted with a couple of regrets in life, someone reminded me that going down the road of regret is dangerous and unwise. Likewise, he gave me a good analogy: At work, when a team encounters a problem, what do we do? We usually check what went wrong then we set up measures to make sure that we avoid them in the future and improve the way things are done. We all agree that it's a useless and fruitless exercise to dwell on what went wrong and point fingers at whose fault it is, right?
The same goes for our past. If we detect some of our wrong choices when we look back at our past, there's no sense in dwelling on it. Doing so will only lead to regret. Lingering on regret will bring us no where. Instead, it will be better to acknowledge everything as it is and turn it into a learning experience -- a jump off point. Then, like a frog, jump, jump, jump!
Once when I was confronted with a couple of regrets in life, someone reminded me that going down the road of regret is dangerous and unwise. Likewise, he gave me a good analogy: At work, when a team encounters a problem, what do we do? We usually check what went wrong then we set up measures to make sure that we avoid them in the future and improve the way things are done. We all agree that it's a useless and fruitless exercise to dwell on what went wrong and point fingers at whose fault it is, right?
The same goes for our past. If we detect some of our wrong choices when we look back at our past, there's no sense in dwelling on it. Doing so will only lead to regret. Lingering on regret will bring us no where. Instead, it will be better to acknowledge everything as it is and turn it into a learning experience -- a jump off point. Then, like a frog, jump, jump, jump!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
It is about time!
Eccl 3:1-11
"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time,and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done."
It's time for me to be born again with a new mission and vision. It's time for me to plant anew. It's time to kill negativism and time to heal my soul. It's time to tear down the walls in my life and to build bridges, meaningful relationships and wonderful memories. It's a time to laugh more than I cry unless I cry for joy, love and success. It's a time to dance because life is worth celebrating! It's a time to scatter stones and make them as cornerstones for different dimensions in my life -- Family, Career, Friendly Communities, Service and Adventure! It's a time to embrace life -- to gracefully respect the 30 years that collected and the 30 plus years that I will groove about. It's a time to seek my full potential and to lose my inhibitions. It's about time that I keep every my heart, body and soul healthy and cast away heartfelt wishes and prayers to guide me everyday. It's a time to rend everything that seems broken in me and a time to sew the mysteries of my years into one beautiful quilt that will keep me warm til the end of my days. It's a time to be verbally silent about my complaints in life and a time to speak more of what's good, true and noble. It's a time to love as much as a can and hate things that deem to destroy life, love, and meaning. It's time to wage war against things that destroy purity and innocence and a time for inner peace, sanity and spiritual security.
God has pressed upon the timeless in my heart. I'm silencing my intellect and my soul so that timeless and purpose will emerge.
"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time,and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done."
It's time for me to be born again with a new mission and vision. It's time for me to plant anew. It's time to kill negativism and time to heal my soul. It's time to tear down the walls in my life and to build bridges, meaningful relationships and wonderful memories. It's a time to laugh more than I cry unless I cry for joy, love and success. It's a time to dance because life is worth celebrating! It's a time to scatter stones and make them as cornerstones for different dimensions in my life -- Family, Career, Friendly Communities, Service and Adventure! It's a time to embrace life -- to gracefully respect the 30 years that collected and the 30 plus years that I will groove about. It's a time to seek my full potential and to lose my inhibitions. It's about time that I keep every my heart, body and soul healthy and cast away heartfelt wishes and prayers to guide me everyday. It's a time to rend everything that seems broken in me and a time to sew the mysteries of my years into one beautiful quilt that will keep me warm til the end of my days. It's a time to be verbally silent about my complaints in life and a time to speak more of what's good, true and noble. It's a time to love as much as a can and hate things that deem to destroy life, love, and meaning. It's time to wage war against things that destroy purity and innocence and a time for inner peace, sanity and spiritual security.
God has pressed upon the timeless in my heart. I'm silencing my intellect and my soul so that timeless and purpose will emerge.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Vanities, vanities !?!?!?!
"Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. All speech is labored; there is nothing one can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing. What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them." Eccleciastes 1: 2-11
What's the sense of doing anything, then? What's the sense of working hard on anything? Wala na atang sense...
....
Or maybe, proverbs is teaching us to work on something that will be worth while. Wonder what that will be for me. I better find out and start working on it soon. I only have a few years left. I have to keep my thirty, flirty and thriving "motto" on a roll.
Think quick, my girl! Any suggestions?
What's the sense of doing anything, then? What's the sense of working hard on anything? Wala na atang sense...
....
Or maybe, proverbs is teaching us to work on something that will be worth while. Wonder what that will be for me. I better find out and start working on it soon. I only have a few years left. I have to keep my thirty, flirty and thriving "motto" on a roll.
Think quick, my girl! Any suggestions?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thirty, Flirty and Thriving!
That's the wish the 13-year old girl in the movie Thirteen Going Thirty made on her 13th birthday that magically turned her into a 30-year old lady the next day.
Thirty, Flirty & Thriving! - Yes, I'm thirty. I've been repeating this line in my head over and over again since July. Now, whenever I repeat it in my head, I'm no longer sad that my "youthful" 20s are over but I'm more excited about being a full-pledged adult! I no longer have time to waste. I must pursue my dreams, no longer make excuses for myself and jump into adventures that will define me.
Of course, I'm not flirty. I don't intend to put my beautiful marriage on the line here just because I'm in my 3rd decade. That's not the dream that I want to pursue or jump into without excuses, nor is that the adventure that will define. Rather, I will flirt with life itself. I will be more decisive in pursuing the bucket list I have in my head (which reminds me... I have to write it down one of these days). I have to be more daring in doing or trying things that I've set aside for a long time now like being involved in a good cause, getting back in shape, climbing a mountain, painting, etc!
Thriving. Yes, I'm thriving but more than that I want to soar! I want to stop focusing on my career and start soaring 360-degrees. I want to establish good and meaningful relationships with my husband, my son, my parents, my sisters, my in-laws, my girl-friends and my friends. I want to develop my other skills -- physical, artistic, mental, etc!
I have to admit that the reality of being 30 years old has changed me:
I’m more concerned about my skin. I now have a regular skin regimen for my face.
I'm also paying more attention to my hair. I iron it out every morning.
I'm more concerned about my body. I enrolled in a gym. Have to get back in shape.
I took up First Aid and Basic Life Support with CPR Trainings (thanks to the company I work for)
I’ve also established time with girl-friends and couple-friends
I also realized that it’s not worth it chasing shadows to push career. There are more important things in life than stressing over a certain desired designation.
I'm enriching my mind with Sudoku puzzles (that I grudgingly share with my husband) and with a Reader's Digest Asia subscription.
I'm extending my imagination by reading books. I just finished "Number the Stars", a thin paperback by Lois Lowry. I'm in the middle of "The First Wives Club" and "One Voice, Please" (a book my friend Macopa) lent me.
Thirty, Flirty & Thriving! - Yes, I'm thirty. I've been repeating this line in my head over and over again since July. Now, whenever I repeat it in my head, I'm no longer sad that my "youthful" 20s are over but I'm more excited about being a full-pledged adult! I no longer have time to waste. I must pursue my dreams, no longer make excuses for myself and jump into adventures that will define me.
Of course, I'm not flirty. I don't intend to put my beautiful marriage on the line here just because I'm in my 3rd decade. That's not the dream that I want to pursue or jump into without excuses, nor is that the adventure that will define. Rather, I will flirt with life itself. I will be more decisive in pursuing the bucket list I have in my head (which reminds me... I have to write it down one of these days). I have to be more daring in doing or trying things that I've set aside for a long time now like being involved in a good cause, getting back in shape, climbing a mountain, painting, etc!
Thriving. Yes, I'm thriving but more than that I want to soar! I want to stop focusing on my career and start soaring 360-degrees. I want to establish good and meaningful relationships with my husband, my son, my parents, my sisters, my in-laws, my girl-friends and my friends. I want to develop my other skills -- physical, artistic, mental, etc!
I have to admit that the reality of being 30 years old has changed me:
I’m more concerned about my skin. I now have a regular skin regimen for my face.
I'm also paying more attention to my hair. I iron it out every morning.
I'm more concerned about my body. I enrolled in a gym. Have to get back in shape.
I took up First Aid and Basic Life Support with CPR Trainings (thanks to the company I work for)
I’ve also established time with girl-friends and couple-friends
I also realized that it’s not worth it chasing shadows to push career. There are more important things in life than stressing over a certain desired designation.
I'm enriching my mind with Sudoku puzzles (that I grudgingly share with my husband) and with a Reader's Digest Asia subscription.
I'm extending my imagination by reading books. I just finished "Number the Stars", a thin paperback by Lois Lowry. I'm in the middle of "The First Wives Club" and "One Voice, Please" (a book my friend Macopa) lent me.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
My Personal Mid-Year Review
Reviewing my 2008 to do list:
1. 12 scrapbook layouts for the year (or at least one per month)
-I'm way behind... :( I must look for a new hobby...
2. 54 blog entries or one entry per month
-Have a lot of catching up to do... Nyark!
3. Tapusin na ang wedding album and wedding video (Hello!!!)
-Wedding album, check! Wedding video and Portrait picture to go...
4. Print and organize our pictures in a photo album (all of them are just digital files eating up Marvin's disk space!)
-No progress here, yet...
5. Update my resume and send it out
-Done. I'm not seriously looking. Just want to know my options.
6. Read the Bible Daily
-Ummm... Needs improvement.
7. Renew my driver's license
-Check! I'm now driving our automatic car. Yahoo! It feels great. I've been driving on my own for at least 3 trips now. 1) From Makati-Pque; sunday night; thru the rain (difficulty level - almost high); 2)From our house to SM - daytime (difficulty level - low); 3)Pque-Makati-Pque (difficulty level - medium).
For this, I'd like to thank my husband for his trust in my driving capabilities, for the space he is giving me to learn, and for the "connections" he established, such that we were able to simplify my driver's renewal process.
8. Renew my passport
-Check! Check! Check! I even had my last name updated in my passport. Good girl.
9. Get a passport for Polo
- Red Flag alert blinking!!!
10. Better and deeper relationships
- Improving... :) Need to be consistent in this area.
11. Become a manager by year-end
- Still wishing for it but am thinking if it's that important...
12. Transfer house or find one of our own
- (Dead air)... I am grateful for the house that we're currently living in. I love the house. The environment and security is ideal.
13. Hire a good and worthy househelp/yaya
- Yaya is doing good. She's is often more like heaven-sent. Still praying that she'll stay for long. I thank God for her everytime I remember her and how she takes care of my son and the famly.
14. Report for work on time (God, help me)
-Slowly but surely, I'll get there. Hehehe...
15. Be on time for everything (The Lord of time, help me)
-Same status as # 14
16. Lose weight - go back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 128lbs
- Well, my APE results say that I'm overweight for my height. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I'm enrolling in the gym this month. I will start brisk-walking-semi-jogging activities with my friends.
17. Eat right, stay healthy
- Now more conscious of what I eat. Less junk food and sweets. Hope I keep this up. Keeping my fingers crossed.
18. Develop my cooking & baking skills -- cook/bake once a month
-Zero progress... My Tita gave me and my husband a campbell's cookbook as a gift on our birthday. I'll cook something from there soon. I'll write above it in the future, well, hopefully. Hehehe...
19. Go on dates with my Husband - once a month
-So far, so good... Keep it up!
20. Go on dates with Polo - once a month
-Dates with Polo are currently with my husband and I. When he grows up, we'll have mother-son bonding time.
21. Go on dates with my mom - once a quarter
-I owe my mom, 3 dates + 1 for Q4 of this year.
22. Go on dates with my parents - once a year
-I accompanied them to a Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor yesterday... We had some bonding time while waiting for China Doctor to arrive and we had lunch together in a nearby Chinese Cafeteria. I think that counts. Maybe, I can target more than 1 for this year.
23. Go on dates with my sisters - twice a year
-To be scheduled soon. Hope my Ate's hectic sched permits a sisterhood bonding achu... chu... chu... :)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Managers are Out
All the managers in our division are out in a team building today and I feel like blogging, facebook-ing, and updating my multiply site all day! Work and mommy stuff have been keeping me away from the internet. How I wish I could blog, upload pictures everyday! Haaay...
Monday, September 10, 2007
Not be side-tracked
"See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ."
Col 2
Now that Marvin and I are learning to become financially educated, smart and wise, I must not lose sight of my Christ's calling to serve and love.
Now, what is the exact details of my calling and purpose? I need to pause for a while and think it through. Seems that I have lost track of my sense of being, my mission and vision for my life. I must retrace my steps before I become totally clueless.
Col 2
Now that Marvin and I are learning to become financially educated, smart and wise, I must not lose sight of my Christ's calling to serve and love.
Now, what is the exact details of my calling and purpose? I need to pause for a while and think it through. Seems that I have lost track of my sense of being, my mission and vision for my life. I must retrace my steps before I become totally clueless.
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