1. Count your blessings without allowing yourself to be complacent. Between ungrateful and lazy, there is a difference.

2. The fact that one has much does not earn him the right to be self-righteous and insensitive; the fact that he has little does not earn him the right to be self-righteous and spiteful.

3. The predator you must most fear—and the victim you must least pity—is yourself.

4. Sometimes, it is easier to forgive a person for being wrong than for being right.

5. The most dangerous feeling in the world is entitlement. One must not ever allow himself—under any lucky circumstance and regardless of any lucky evidence—to feel entitled to any object, consequence, treatment or relationship he has not rightfully earned either through hard work or by virtue of the person he is.

6. The quality of a man’s life is a testament to his person. When you get yourself right, you get everything right.

7. One must learn to take the good with a little grace, the bad with a little hope, and the ugly with a little humor.

8. A question one must ask himself when speaking strongly on a subject is whether he can stand by his argument in court; when speaking strongly about another person, whether he can repeat it to an audience that includes the object of his opinion. A positive answer verifies the honesty of his intention.

9. Only you can complete your person. For this reason, one should not get into any relationship for the purpose of finding completion; one cannot give to another what he is unable to give to himself.

10. Only when a person is happy, content and confident about his place in the world can he afford to wish the same for everyone else. It is awfully difficult for a person to wish others well when he feels wronged or cheated.

11. When someone tells you he loves you, ask why. To be loved for no reason is a crime; it sends the wrong message that a person could be loved though he has done nothing to make himself loveable. To be loved for a reason—especially for virtue of the person you are—is a beautiful thing. It tells you—if you have taken care of your person, if you have strived to be good and fair—that you have succeeded.

12. Faith is not passive surrender to the tides of life; it is the belief that there is a God who watches above us all, who is fair, who likes to see us try, who appreciates the merit of a job well done. Let your faith enable you in all endeavors. Let your faith be the kind that believes in God, in the human spirit, in yourself. Wish not what you finitely want but what you infinitely desire—what is best for you, all things considered. Trust in what you can do, and trust that God overlooks no hard effort.

13. There is no shame in starting, and in starting over. Remember, however, to start always with a dream, and start over with certainty and purpose.

14. A person should make friends, lovers or enemies based on one ground only: principle. Seek people of your likeness on this account, and make age, gender, race, material wealth, social status or a person’s “normality” irrelevant.

15. Understand that the only force you can control is yourself.

16. In life there is human kindness, and human horror. Keep this in mind when you are out in the world. Have enough faith in human kindness to return an honest smile, and enough wariness of human horror to lock your front door.

17. Forever is a long time. When choosing relationships and occupations, choose who and what you really like, those that you will enjoy for the rest of your life.

18. There is nothing wrong with advertising sex for as long as one does not sell it, or give it arbitrarily.

19. Abuse often requires consent, whether explicitly given or silently suggested. You must learn to give what you hope to receive from others.

20. Surround yourself with people who care about you enough to be honest, yet care about you enough to be kind.

21. Sexy is a state of mind. It is that sense of worldliness about a man or a woman, the suggestion behind sparkling eyes and a sparkling laugh over a delicious secret just begging to be told... It is knowing your place in the world.

22. One must learn to triumph without apology and fail without excuse. To apologize for a triumph demeans the hard work that went into its achievement; to offer excuses for a failure dignifies it.

23. Choose your battles; you cannot win them all.

24. Identify your non-negotiables. A person may be unclear about what he wants, but he must know at all times what is unacceptable.

25. One must develop the habit of honest self-audits. He must start by identifying, through personal heroes, mentors or influences, his platinum standards—of character, personality and achievement—then regularly evaluate how he measures against them. Who you start as may be not be your fault, but who you become is your own doing.

26. Dare to be the exception. Be beautiful, intelligent, sexy, funny, successful and kind all at the same time and at stellar levels. Those who say it cannot be done are usually those who have tried and failed, but that is their story, not yours.

27. Each time you close your eyes, you are taken to a place where there is only you and God. Live your days in such a manner that when you are left alone with God, you do not have to avert your eyes.

28. Smile. Laugh. Kiss. Hug. Pray. Play. Work hard. Learn. Teach. Travel. Achieve. Dream. Hope. Love. Forgive. Flirt. Stay. Walk away. Commit. Have faith. Try. Share. Be single. Marry. Make babies. Raise kids. Party. Discover. Listen. Live.

The bible is full of stories about blind people... But perhaps, the one that amazed me was Bartimaeus... The blind man in last sunday's gospel.

According to Mark, Bartimaeus, when asked by Jesus, "What can I do for you?" answered straightforwardly, "Master, I want to see." (Mark 10:51)

I can just imagine the crowd's reaction to that request. Perhaps, most of them smirked at such an impossible statement. A blind man, asking a carpenter's son for his sight?! Impossible...

But there was Bartimaeus, unable to see for so long... Begging at the streets... Unloved... He just heard about Jesus. He has no image of him.. Probably, the things that he heard about him were just bits and pieces he had overheard from passerbys.. for who would ever give a blind man his time of day?... and yet, with all faith, he shouted for help despite rebuke frompeople around him..and asked Jesus of what most people consider as an impossible task. I can imagine how Jesus must have looked at him... with a smile and love lighting up his holy face as he told him, "Go, your faith has saved you."

That was what touched me the most about this gospel. The blind man and his unwavering faith. How I wish I could have even just a morsel of that faith. So my Jesus will look at me and say, " Go, your faith has saved you."

with Piglet...
her second bestfriend...
--- I am her first... ;-)


---- Mommy Hera

Today there had been so much clerical work at the office…report consolidation, answering phone calls, booking airline tickets for everyone but myself, transmitting document, operating the fax machine, photocopying… the list was endless..

I felt exhausted.

And I pitied myself.

I am not really used to do those things. I used to order people to do things for me, not the other way around. As I placed the receiver back to its cradle after receiving yet another phone call, I couldn’t help but feel injustice at the thought that I can do/perform a task better than most of these people who order me around. It just so happened that I came in much later than they did in the organization.

If an ego is tangible and visible, people would see mine bruised and limp by that fact.

But the gospel today reminds me how God loves humility in us.

As Jesus said in Matthew 18:4, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

I know that the verse is an awakening call for me.

My misery was rooted in pride.

I thank God for reminding me, through the gospel reading that the turn of events in my life are opportunities for me to practice humility and childlike faith…

What a happy thought!

For truly, He loves me dear enough for Him to grant me this chance.

The human side of me might have ruled me early today. But my God has reminded me that I do not exist for myself but for His purpose.

Tomorrow, when I get back to doing the clerical works, I will be doing it with humility.

……And with childlike faith, I simply will worship my God for loving me the way He only can.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.