Hot Chocolates

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversationturned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups-porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite — telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, theprofessor said:“Notice that all the nice looking; expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups…And then you began eyeing each others cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, norchange the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have, which indeed more important than the jar/cup that holds it.

Sometimes we fail to appreciate the things we have, because we prefer to have better things than what we have on hands. Some people thinks that having that and this will put them in the same level as of their friends but in fact doesn't change the quality of life they have.

When You Don't Care

I’m glad that I’ve noticed the new uploaded article of Bo. Once again I’m inspired. Maybe he blesses anyone that reads his page. One of his friends shared a story which is a powerful tale that mirrors reality so well. It touched me and so you’ll be.

What Happens When You Don’t Care

One day, a mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.  “What food might this contain?”  The mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

       Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed this warning: “There is a mousetrap in the house!  There is a mousetrap in the house!”

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.” 

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, “There is a mousetrap in the house!  There is a mousetrap in the house!”

       The pig sympathized, but said, “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it

but pray.  Be assured you are in my prayers.”

       The mouse turned to the cow and said, “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!”

The cow said, “Wow, Mr. Mouse. I’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.”

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap. Alone. . .

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house – the sound Of a mousetrap catching its prey.

       The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught.  In the darkness, she did not see it.  It was a venomous snake whose tail was caught in the trap. The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. When she returned home she still had a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup. So the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient: Chicken! 

But his wife’s sickness continued.  Friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.  To feed them, the farmer butchered (who else?) the pig.

But, alas, the farmer’s wife did not get well… She died.

        So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them for the funeral luncheon.

And the mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

       So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and you think it doesn’t concern you, remember–When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

Each of us is a vital thread in another person’s tapestry. Our lives are woven together for a reason.

Great tale isn’t it?

Hope you learned.

I've Heard it Once... It Happened

 One day, we had an activity in class. We have to draw anything that comes in our mind. I don't know what kind of joke my teacher had in mind. So I draw, like the rest. 

As what I can remember I draw an old man with a hat (usually use by farmers). While watching from behind, she said, "Wow, you can draw fast and look at that, it's nice!"

Well it made me proud. 

What I can't forget was the fact that she said this- "Someday you'll be a good artist, and by the way you draw, you can be great on doing editorial cartoon."

And what she didn't know about me - I HATE NEWSPAPERS!

That was 9 years before... Nine years... wew... (I have a good memory huh!)

Let me bring you now at the present.

I am now working as a writer, although I graduated to be a teacher. (I'll teach in the near future). I'm now serving at the local government and part of my job as a member of the Publishing Unit is to draw editorial cartoon. (One sample is up there).

Wow, I never thought that my teacher's words are so powerful that it already happened! Great! I hope she utter that I'll be a millionaire someday.. Ha ha ha.

Words are powerful, so be careful on what you will say...

Friends to Lovers

I don’t know how this happened.

Before we (my husband and I) became girlfriend and boyfriend…

I remember that I’ve even tried cutting classes and successfully escaped a test in my college days just to have a chance to be with him.

My heart shouts with joy every time a professor announce a major project which is needed to finish by overnight. (We’ll have a chance to be together in a longer time! I do projects in his house because I don’t have computer for the research.)

I defend him over my father every time my father mentions things against him.

He loves to be with me and gladly follows me even in a Christian Church. (I’m invited by a friend).

He went to my school at the end of the day to take me home.

He gave me a ring.

Having a mutual feeling, he wants to protect me and so I felt like my life was under marshall law. But it’s okey I enjoy it. Ha ha!

When we became girlfriend and boyfriend…

I’m totally inspired of everything I do.

Feels like I’m flying without wings.

I love him.

He helped me cut my visual aids. (I’m an OJT at that time)

He took the responsibility of giving me allowance for schooling.

He dates me. Always.

We watch movies holding hands, even with horror film.

He always kiss me goodnight.

We sleep hugging each other.

I always write him a letter. He loves reading it.

He brought me a bracelet and a necklace.

Every night we say

                He: Good night

                Me: Sweet dreams

                He: Don’t forget to pray.

                Me: I won’t.

                He: ‘Love you Forever.

                Me: ‘Love you Forever and beyond.

   We do this every night without fail.

               

When we became husband and wife…

I cook for him.

We still date each other.

He’s still over protective.

We kiss each other goodnight.

Comfort each other.

Sometimes we fight but we see to it that it’ll be gone before sunset.

We always exchange ‘I love you’. We didn’t miss a day without saying that.

He embraces me from behind whispering sweet words.

Sometimes we bath together. No kidding. (It’s time to conserve water.)

When we became a family…

He works in the morning, student in the afternoon, manage his computer shop in the evening. (Monday to Saturday)

He has a little time for me and my baby.

He wants to enjoy life so he wants to spend time outdoors. (Motor riding with his friends)

I understand him. So I let him. But I miss him…

So much.

We eat together before...but now, not always.

I understand.

There’s so much thing to be done.

What I do not understand…the more I miss him, the more he wants to enjoy outdoor activities.

We still drink coffee together every morning.  (I thank God for that).

But the most important… We still love each other despite our time conflict.

We still don’t fail in exchanging ‘I love you’ everyday.

Doing what you think is needed sometimes makes you lose the important.

don't lose moments with them

You can replace lost things.
                                                                                                                   
Huge amount of Money, Cellphones, Cars, Houses, Jobs or Businesses
                                                                                                                But you can’t replace lost time.

So stick with your family.
Have a time with them.
Do not give all to your job or business, after all, you're doing this important things because of very important people....your family.
Don't let time just passed without you beside them.
                                                                                                                Do you have a baby? or a child?
Enjoy time with your baby.
Remember, being a baby is only once in a life time...only ONCE.
When time comes your wife needs a hug or a comforter, where were you?
                                                                                                               Once your baby grew, or becomes a man too...
Once your wife gets old or worst, died...
You can NEVER turn back the time
to enjoy A MINUTE with them.

   
---------you have a choice-----------                                                               

Believe it or Not... But You Must Believe!! :-)

I am poor.

I am shy.

I am a slow learner.

Oops! I hear you… “Why do you think you are?”

Well then, let me tell you why.

I am poor. Unlike other students that were totally excited for tomorrow’s class (not because of lessons to learn) but because of their chance to buy something (new personal stuffs), to eat what they want, to go somewhere after class (gimiks) and so on… I’m always afraid of tomorrow, not because of reporting nor another graded recitation. I fear of not having any cents for tomorrow’s class. Meaning I won’t be able to buy even a single candy for lunch break! I still remember my Lola way back then. With a brave heart she goes to the neighbor to borrow money for me. I know you are asking “Don’t I have any parents to support me? Of course I have parents and I live with them…but not right to tell you here…it’s another story.

I am shy. Well, I think I was born to be shy… I have that kind of feeling ever since. I actually hate reporting! Students out there, I know you know what kind of tense it brings. And I hate that feeling.

I am a slow learner? – I know you think I’m kidding. But that’s how I describe myself. It’s really hard for me to catch up on our lesson. If ever I did, well that’s a miracle. I used to review every lesson when I get home. If I’m not yet satisfied I’ll give it a final look before bedtime. I even experienced hitting myself. Because I hate myself every time I forgot what I had reviewed.

Fortunately, that was before.

Today I don’t consider myself poor. I can buy what I want now. Needs and even wants. I’m able to help somebody too when ever I have an extra money. Geeeez!!! That’s the feeling I wanted before. Happily contented and not fearing of tomorrow.

I don’t consider myself shy anymore. As a matter of fact I love reporting in front of the class which made me think I can be a teacher someday. I already finished my four -year-course. (BSEd- Major in Filipino) I graduated with Outstanding Performance during Internship Award and as a Cumlaude, yes, that’s the slow learner girl before with the itsy bitsy common sense.

You see? Anyone can change according to what they want their self or their life would be.

You know Henry, John and Lucio? I really love their stories (as I have read in Bo’s book)

Henry Sy came to the Philippines from China as a young 12-year-old boy with no wealth to speak of except the shirt on his back and the slippers on his feet. At that young age, he worked in a sari-sari store 12 hours a day. Today, he owns 27 SM malls all over the country- with 1.6 million people passing through them every single day.

That’s incredible right?

John Gokongwei, at the age of 15, was a simple market vendor. He was the youngest market vendor at that time, riding his bicycle, carrying soap, candles and thread. He’d sell them to one customer at a time, face-to-face, belly to belly. He never graduated from college. Today John Gokongwei is a multi-billionaire and owns Cebu Pacific, Sun Cellular, Robinson’s and a host of other businesses.”

Wow!

Lucio Tan? Same story.  Arrived from China absolutely poor. Never finished college too. But look at him now. He owns Philippine Airlines, Philippine National Bank, Allied Bank, Eton Properties, etcetera.”

That’s great!

“It’s never one’s destiny to be poor. You may have been born poor but you don’t have to stay poor.”

We’re not victims of fate.

“ NO ONE IS A VICTIM UNLESS YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE ONE.”

WINNERS HAVE A BIAS FOR ACTION

Have you noticed?

Bad things happen to good people.

All the time.

Did you get stuck in traffic this week?

Or have you ever lost your cellphone—with all the phone numbers lost forever?

Or have you ever had the terrible experience of your computer crashing—and all your files vanishing to oblivion for all eternity? (I wonder if there’s a data heaven somewhere in this universe?)

Or have you ever experienced your boss shouting at you for something that wasn’t your fault?

Or have you ever experienced the pain of your boyfriend or girlfriend dumping you for another person?

I repeat. Bad things happen to good people all the time.

I can’t answer why they happen.

But here’s my bigger question: What do you do when bad things happen to you?

Do you sulk?

Do you complain?

Do you just stay put and do nothing?

Or do you have a bias for action?

Here’s my simple yet big message for you today: Winners have a bias for action. That’s why they’re winners.

I want you to watch this crazy short video. It’s less than one minute. It’s really funny.

But its lesson is incredibly profound. Here is the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYexOlC0CXw

Insane, right?

But you’ll be surprised that a lot of people do the exact same thing when bad things happen to them.

They freeze.

They get stuck.

They just stay there.

They complain.

They complain to the world.

Friend, has a bad thing happened to you?

Don’t get stuck.

Don’t complain. It’s useless.

Stand up.

Instead of complaining, do something.

If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, limp. If you can’t limp, crawl. Stumble your way to greatness.

Why? Because God never said that no bad thing will ever happen to you. But here’s His big promise: That every time a bad thing will happen to you, good things will come out of it. Every time! Because Romans 8:28 says that all things will work for good to those who love Him.

==== How Do You Respond To Fire?====

One day, a young woman came to her grandfather and cried on his shoulder. She told him of her many problems. She felt so overwhelmed by them. It seemed like everything in her life was going wrong.

After she wept many tears, the old man told her, “Let’s go to the kitchen. I have something to show you.”

In the kitchen, the grandfather prepared three pots of water on the cooking range. On the first pot, he placed carrots. On the second pot, he placed eggs. On the third pot, he placed coffee beans. And he lit the fire beneath each of them.

For twenty minutes, they sat in silence as the fire heated the pots. After twenty minutes, the grandfather said, “If you notice, the fire underneath the pots are the same. Same heat. Same temperature. Yet you’ll notice how different things react to the fire.”

He fished out the carrots and placed it in a bowl. He made his granddaughter touch it.

“It’s soft,” she said.

He got an egg, broke it, and gave it to her.

“Hard boiled,” she said.

Finally, he opened the coffee pot—its fragrance filling the room. He poured a cup for her. She took a sip.

“That’s nice,” she said, “thanks, grandpa. But what does this all mean?”

He said, “Child, you’re going through fire. You’re going through trials. Everybody does. But how are you reacting? Are you like the carrot who thought it was hard and strong, but when the fire came, it became weak and lost all its strength? Or are you like the egg that had a malleable spirit and a tender heart, but when trials came, hardened its heart? Or are you like the coffee bean? The fire released its flavor and aroma. Your trials can release your gifts and dreams. Your trials can set you free. So tell me, are you a carrot, an egg, or coffee beans?”

--bo sanchez--

EARTH DAY TRIVIA

• One recycled aluminum can saves enough electricity to operate a TV for 3 hours.
• Over 46,000 pieces of plastic debris float on every square mile of ocean
• The Tubbataha Reefs in Sulu Sea is considered as the world's most diversified eco-system.
• A 2 hectare forest can supply enough clean oxygen for a city as large as Manila
• The world's first National Park is the Yellowstone Park in the U.S.
  

45 LESSONS IN LIFE

Life isn't fair...
but it's still good.

When in doubt,just take the next small step.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick,
your friends and parents will. Stay in Touch.

Payoff your credit card every month.

You don't have to win every argument,
agree to disagree.

Cry with someone, it's more healing than crying alone.

Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

Make peace with the past, so it won't screw up the present.

It's ok to let your children see you cry.

Don't compare your life to others,
You dont have any idea what their journey is all about.

If a relationship has to be a secret...you shouldn't be in it.

Everything can change in a blink of an eye,
But don't worry; God never blinks.

Take a deep breathe it calms the mind.

Get rid of everything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

Whatever doesn't kill you, really does makes you stronger.

It is never too late to have a happy childhood.
But the second one is up to you and no one else.

When it comes to going after what you love in life,
dont take no for an answer.

Burn the candles, use the nice sheets,
wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion.
Today is Special.

The most important sex organ is the brain.

NO one is in charge of your happiness but you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words..
"In 5 years will this matter?"

Always choose life.

Forgive everyone..everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything..so give time.

HOwever good or bad the situation is... it will change.

Don't take yourself too seriouly...No one else does.

Believe in miracles.

God loves you because of who God is,
not because of anything you did or didn't do.

Dont audit life..Show up and make the most of it now.

Growing old beats the alternative--dying young.

Your children get only one childhood.

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Get outside everyday. Miracles are everywhere.

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw
everyone else's we'd grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time.. You already have all you need.

The best is yet to come.

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Life isn't tied with a bow, it's still a gift.

(Regina Brett)

When your life is in darkness…

Who among us never ever cried?
Who among us never ever got rejection?
Who among us never experienced to be shouted at?
Who among us never failed even once?

NO ONE. Everyone of us had already experience all this. Maybe once. Maybe many times or maybe right this very moment you are…
Thus, you cry, coz you stumble, you fall… And you feel everything is not right, everything - against you. Well, let me tell you friend… Do not hesitate to cry. It is good. Then when you are tired of crying, just have a deep breathe. Think that what you are experiencing right now is not what you will experience later, or the next day, the next week. Problem will not strike you all the time. It will give you a chance to pause even for a while, to let you cry, breathe and smile…

GOD HAS A MESSAGE IN EVERY PAIN

Most of the time we feel upset, disappointed or sometimes hopeless... Well, good to know that not only you feels this kind of rejection from this world. Why am I so sure? Coz, it is human nature to sometimes feel rejected. It comes when things are not happening the way we want it to be. Let me share to you a story.

Eagles are amazing parents.

I didn’t know how special their nest was for their babies.

To make it, Daddy Eagle picks up sturdy twigs and sharp thorns to build this special home. But to make the nest comfortable, he’ll cover the twigs and thorns with soft grass.

And here’s the amazing part: Mommy Eagle will pluck her own feathers from her breast! She’ll place them on the nest for added warmth and softness.

Many times a day, Mommy Eagle will fly out to look for food. She’ll fly back to put fish and other food into the open mouths of her hungry kids.

Because the nests are built on high rocky cliffs, winds are very strong. Whenever there’s a storm, Mommy Eagle covers them with her large wings.

The tiny eaglets live a pampered life.

Because every need is met by their loving parents.

But one day, it’s time to teach them how to fly.

And in an instant, their entire world changes.

Flight Training Is Always Cruel

To teach their young to fly, Eagles follow four stages—all painful.

First, Mommy stops bringing food.

The tiny ones are crying out in hunger but she doesn’t seem to hear them. The kids are in shock. They ask, “Why is Mommy not listening to our cries?”

Second, she flaps her wings to sweep away the grass and feathers in the nest. The sharp thorns are now exposed, pricking the delicate skin of the Eaglets.

Third, she does the unthinkable: She throws them out of the nest. The little Eaglets jump back in, only to be pricked by the thorns. They’re now bleeding. They’re shrieking in pain. And they’re wondering, “Why is Mommy torturing us? Why is she cruel?”

Fourth, Mommy pushes the Eaglets off the nest again. But not just off the nest, but all the way off the cliff!

The little Eaglets hurtle down to the ground—one thousand feet below—towards sure death.

But before they hit the ground, Daddy Eagle swoops down and catches them on his wings. He drops them back into the nest.

They cry out, “Mommy, why are you killing us? What have we done?” But they barely are able to catch their breath, when Mommy pushes them out again.

This death-defying, terrifying ordeal is repeated seven to eight times until the Eaglets get the message—and start flapping their wings.

Soon, they’re soaring on top of the clouds with their proud parents beside them.

Friend, this is exactly what happens to you when God teaches you how to fly.

Pain is life’s messenger. It says, “There’s a better place for you. You weren’t born to live around thorns. You were born to soar above the clouds.”

Failure isn’t God’s rejection.

Failure is God’s redirection.

Proverbs 20:30 says, Sometimes, it takes a painful situation to change your ways.

*"Thanks Bo, you're God's gift to others..thanks for inspiring us..."