tweLve

12 Things to Always Remember...
and One Thing to Never Forget

Your presence is
a present to the world.
You're unique and
one of a kind.
Your life can be what you
want it to be.
Take the days just one
at a time.

Count your blessings,
not your troubles.
You'll make it through,
whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage,
be strong.

Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things
in an extraordinary way.
Have health and hope
and happiness.
Take the time to wish,
upon a star.

And don't ever forget...
for even a day...
how very special you are.

- Collin McCarty

Have a beautiful week everyone!

how the poor live...

One of the nicest story I've read so far, it actually made me a little teary eyed.. T_T


One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

thanks Santhanam for sharing and flickr for the photo... :D

after Ondoy

I don't know but for the past few days I seem to just neglect my online duties. What's even worst is that it doesn't bother me at all. So I gave myself an ultimatum, this blogger's block or whatever you wish to call it must come to an end, or else this could be a dead link soon.. oh no!

Alright enough about my uncomplicated life, this isn't about me anyway. I just have to say my piece about Ondoy, the storm that blew us away! I lived here in the Southern most tip of the Philippines and the rain showers and strong winds we had here last Saturday, Sept. 26 was nothing compared to what the people in NCR experienced. You've seen the news and the pictures no doubt and words aren't enough to describe the damage, the pain, and the lost Pinoys are goin thru right now. Rich and poor, no material possession was able to save them during the storm. As if I was watching a movie, with heroes and their acts of heroism, authorities and their power, victims and their plots, and countless of hair-raising scenes befalling upon them. But it's no movie definitely! It was the reality that struck us for just a single day. I honestly wish am there now, helping out and doing what I can. Seeing the aftermath leaves me breathless. The woman below was just among the victims in Marikina, one of the hardest hit by the storm.

photo source here

As of the news this morning, there are 100 plus people reported to be dead. Many others are still missing and many more are still not rescued.

My prayers goes out for them, especially to our many brothers and sisters in faith. Jah will provide escape!

think again!

If you think your job is tough, how about him?

If you think your salary is low, how about her?

If you think you don't have many friends, Ask yourself if you have one sincere friend?

If you think study is a burden, how about her?

When you feel like giving up, think of this man.

If you think you suffer in life, do you suffer as much as he does?

If you complain about your transport system, how about them?

If you think life is unfair, how about her?

Perhaps there are lots of reasons for us to complain. But no matter what life may throw at us, the truth is there's still much more to be thankful and grateful for. Tonight I'm reminded with this once more. :)

poem del un bata..

A poem written by an African child and was nominated for the best poem of 2005.

when i born, i black;
when i grow up, i black;
when i go in sun,i black;
when i scared, i black;
when i sick, i black;
and when i die,
i still black;

and you white fellows;

when you born, you pink;
when you grow up, you white;
when you go in sun, you red;
when you cold, you blue;
when you scard, you yellow;
when you sick, you green;
when you die, you grey;
and you call me,
"COLOURED"

...
Can any other child have thoughts as deep as this? I think so. If only we live life like a child does, everything would completely be different. Why? Perhaps it has something to do with the child's personality. A child is always trusting, and humble. Not afraid or hesitant to ask questions. They are always willing and eager to be taught. They listen attentively and accepts openly. They don't hold grudges, doubts, and wrong motives, maybe some of us adults are guilty of. They also have the simplest yet much important dreams and hopes. They just want to be around with their loved ones and people, they want to and they are happy. If only we, the adults keep the child in us, then this world would be just like a playground, a colorful, refreshing place full of laughter and friends.

reality bites

The picture above was a "Pulitzer price" winning photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan Famine. It depicts a famine stricken child crawling towards a United Nations food camp, located a kilometer away.

The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it. This picture shocked the entire world. What happens to the child? No one knows, including the photographer Kevin Carter who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken.

-Three months later, he committed suicide due to depression.

...I had goosebumps the moment I saw this photo. Isn't it so disturbing and alarming? Although this happened years ago but come to think of it, the situation today is even worst! There are those people who lived life as they please, taking things for granted. Yet on the other side of the earth such life exist, even to children who doesn't have the choice but to struggle. And there are these issues, nonsense issues. The authorities are buying those crap, putting much of their time and attention. The question is, will it make these peoples lives better? Indeed, the world needs a divine intervention, only He can set the matters right.

Thank you so much Junaid Ahmad for sharing this tale.

Origami

By Amy Carbonneau

Sometimes I feel I am a paper

being used for Origami,

folded and creased,

unfolded and flipped,

until I can't handle anymore

or I will tear.

And that is when,

with one final tug,

I go from plain paper

to swan.

fRiends

Having a network of good friends may well increase a person's life span, reports one Journal. A study of nearly 1,500 individuals aged 70 or over examined how relationships affected longevity over a ten-year period. Individuals with a strong network of friends had a mortality rate 22 percent lower than those with few friends. Active friendships also have a positive effect among the elderly when it comes to "depression, self efficacy, self esteem, coping and morale, or a sense of personal control," says the report.

Indeed nothing beats friendship. It is the most important foundation to any relationship. It's the bond that gets you through the test of time. Hmmm... does this include online friends too? It depends I think. The cyber world allows anybody to be somebody their not. So choose friends wisely, offline or online. Ei!

need a washing?

I receive this email from a friend one saturday morning. It made me smile. It made we wish for something. I wish it would rain so I can get a washing. (^_^)

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall.. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a c hild came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said. 'What?' Mom asked. 'Lets run through the rain!' She repeated 'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute an d repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain,' 'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said. 'No, we won't, Mom.. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet? 'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!' The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. 'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,' Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars a nd yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry. Take the time to live!!! Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!

4 things you cannot recover

"A young lady was waiting for her flight at a boarding room in the big airport. As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies. She sat down in an armchair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace.

Beside the armchair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading. When she took out the first cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated but said nothing. She just thought: What a nerve! If I was in the mood, I would punch him for daring.

For each cookie she took, the man took one too. This was infuriating her but she didn't want to cause a scene. When only one cookie remained, she thought: "Ah.. what this abusive man do now!"
Then, the man, taking the last cookie, divided it into half, giving her one half.

Ah that was too much! She was so angry now!
In a huff, she took her book, her things and stormed to the boarding place.

When she sat down in her place, inside the plane, she looked into her purse to take her eyeglasses, and to her surprise, her packet of cookies was there, untouched, unopened!

She felt so ashamed! She realized that she was wrong. She had forgotten that her cookies was kept in her purse.

The man had divided the cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter.
...while she had been very angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now, there was no chance to explain herself...nor to apologize."

The moral of the story...

There are 4 things that you cannot recover...

- a stone... after the throw!
- a word... after it's said!
- the occasion... after the loss!
- the time... after it's gone!

an email passed unto me... I love to share it with you...