Curbside Stories

Photo from  here . "Learn to appreciate and world will appreciate your existence." It is funny why many people don't know how to appreciate.  If there is one important lesson that I have learned last year, it is to appreciate even the littlest of things. About a week ago, I had a conversation with a co-worker.  She was complaining about why she did not get the gift that she wants last Christmas and instead she got a coin purse worth 10 pesos.  She even said that even though she gets less salary, she gives expensive gifts.  I was shocked.  I don't know where her words are coming from.  I was supposed to give her a gift for doing little favors for me but when I heard her say those things, I thought she will probably not appreciate what I will give her.  I was offended. I was taken aback.  I got the same coin purse she was complaining about and I never thought that I would receive a gift from that person because I know that she has a ...

Photo from  here . Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. - Matthew 7:12 -------------------------------------- Sadly, judging other people based on their status in life, the clothes they wear, the way they speak, the food they eat, the company of friends they keep and all other criteria man has ever made, happens every time and everywhere.

"Never let a day pass by without telling the people around you that you genuinely care." After work, my son, sister, nieces and aunt went to a restaurant for dinner. It was our aunt's gesture of kindness to us.  We had buttered shrimps, calamari,  sinigang na tanigue  and sizzling  pusit ... it was a sumptuous dinner.  After eating, while my sister is singing her favorite sone in the karaoke, my son and I went out to catch the cold breeze.  We had a little running around, his laugh was contagious.  After a while, a vehicle slowly approached the parking lot.  I noticed it was coming but my son reminded me to stay on the curbs because I might be hit by the vehicle. My son is only two years old. It was really heart warming to hear from the mouth of a child those words of genuine care. I felt the sincerity of his words. Isn't it wonderful if we hear words of care from our loved ones, friends and co-workers? Caring people give us another reason to live...

Photo from here . The parable of the fish and loaves is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Its message is simple--sharing. I am from the Philippines and I am very much aware that ever since the government announced the stay-at-home order because of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people have become poorer and that majority worry about their daily living. I currently live in the US and I can see the contrast between the effects of the order between a third world country and the US. I didn't worry for my family here in as much as I worried about my family and friends back in the  Philippines because we still have our jobs and we still can provide for our family. For that I am grateful. It hurts me to watch in the news that food and resources that are supposed to be for the people, land in the hands of corrupt government officials. I feel angry about a lot of people's deliberate disregard for authority and guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease. How...

I had a  blog post two years about forgiveness. I honestly have forgotten about it and that maybe it was  Divine providence that I was able to read it again a few weeks ago and for me to contemplate about what happened since that post. A few days after re-reading it, my son's dad called asking if he could spend a day or two with him. I said yes because I want my son to feel that he has a father despite everything. While waiting for my son to come home from school, we had a little chat. It was awkward at first but our conversation went well. After almost ten years of separating, I finally heard him say sorry. He didn't elaborate but I knew in my heart what he was talking about. I just gave him a nod to confirm that he's forgiven. When that moment happened, it felt like a heavy yoke was lifted from my shoulders and I knew at that point, we have both moved on. I now fully believe that healing comes in time. If you allow yourself to be fully healed by that hurt, you must fir...

The first mountain that I climbed was Mount Batulao. It holds a special place in my heart because I got to conquer it with my son. I find happiness and fulfillment the entire trek despite its extreme physical demand. Every ascent to steeper terrain was so hard that I thought about quitting a couple of times. Each time I think of how far away I am from the start and how close I am to the summit, it fuels me again to just move forward. I guess the lesson is, to achieve happiness and fulfillment, you have to work hard for it.

An excerpt from the book entitled Presence by Peter Senge and others. 

I found this Reading Challenge in 9gag  (kudos to the one who originally did this, I'm gonna find out soon) and I couldn't resist but take the challenge. One of my goals for this new year is to get back to reading. I believe this challenge will help me fulfill that goal even if I wouldn't be able to finish the challenge. But, who knows? I might. I am keeping my fingers crossed. The image is blurry but here's the content. If you would like to take the challenge, please feel free to do so and involve your friends or relatives so that you will have different things to talk about when you catch up with one another. You can do this in no particular order: A book with more than 500 pages A classic romance A book that became a movie A book published this year A book with a number in the title A book written by someone under 30 A book with nonhuman characters A funny book A book by a female author A mystery or thriller A book with a one-word title A bo...

This weird looking fella landed on my knee yesterday. I immediately took notice because he has the face of a frog and the wings of a fly to match the oddly placed four legs.  I took a snap and before I could take a second look at the image, it was gone. What kind of an insect is this? I have never seen anything like it before. Regardless of its weird looks, I find it fascinating that it somehow took its time to greet me and remind me that there are things that maybe new to us and we might never fully understand its purpose, but take time to appreciate that its being new and weird or odd brought us a different experience to learn and to share.

You know you are getting older and you are oftentimes preoccupied by work when you get to appreciate the simple things in life like seeing bright lights at night, carnival rides and the most absurd thing of all--enjoying a different traffic. While enjoying the traffic yesterday, I had a little conversation with myself. I said, "Never hinder anyone from finding their own happiness." I replied, "You should talk to me more often." "I am. But you don't listen.", I answered annoyingly.

Sometimes we are too stubborn and proud of ourselves that we forget that we do not have full control of our lives. We oftentimes insist on things that aren't supposed to be so we end up frustrated and depressed to the point of questioning the plan of the One who is really in control of our lives. Many plans are in a person's mind, but the Lord's purpose will succeed. (Proverbs 19:21) Who are we to question the plan that has been laid upon us even before we were born? Just let Him be, let Him in.

Ever since I took over a vital company position, I barely have breaks. I almost forgot what the word meant. And it took a toll on me. We all need to have a break, even robots need them. You are prone to wear and tear as much as they are. Have a break, before it's too late.

Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. You know that you will receive an inheritance as a reward. You serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24) Amen.

It's Holy Week and I succumb myself into watching the television with my son. I have to take this opportunity to spend the long vacation with him because I have a really busy schedule. Yesterday's show was about the 7 Last Words, the first word of Jesus Christ is what really brought me into deep reflection. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) A married couple shared about their struggles in life. The husband was a drug addict, philander, and plainly irresponsible father. For ten years the wife endured everything but her faith and trust in the Lord did not falter. One day, the wife's prayer was answered. Her husband completely turned his back away from his old ways and sought the Lord's hands for healing.  What struck me about the couple's story is the wife's commitment to their marriage. Yes, her husband drifted away from them but she remained steadfast and loving. She was ready to forgive and forget everything...

I am currently studying for my comprehensive exam on the 18th. It is one of the requirements for me to finish my MBA. It has been twice postponed and I am hoping that it will not affect my thesis timetable.  While having a hot chocolate drink break from studying, I read the bible for some inspiration.  By surrendering our lives to Him and to His will, we get to understand how our faith works in our lives. 

1. Leaders engage themselves in filtered information, they surround themselves with bureaucracy that thinks the same way they do. As a consequence, although they reach agreement, oftentimes that agreement is not contemporary and not in any way relevant to what's going on in their marketplace. 2. Leaders who engage in selective hearing, in other words, they hear what they want to hear but not necessarily what they should.  3. Wishful thinking that when the business is off, the market will come back, they all do, they see the world through rose-colored glasses, they see the world as they want it and not as it is.  4. Fear. There are cultures that suppress reality. They punish people that have views that are confrontational or that are different from the norm. Organizations that suffer from this don't get real information, as a consequence, you behave in a way that's not contemporary with what's going on around you. This is from Larry Bossidy's speech ...

I dream of going to Disneyland even when I was still a kid. I grew up watching all the Disney princesses and I think that Mickey Mouse is the most lovable mouse ever. Indeed there is some sort of magic that makes people dream of going to the happiest place on earth. How Disney maintain that certain level that is beyond comparison is something that tickles my imagination. When I went to the bookstore to find reference books for my research, I stumbled upon a book entitled The Disney Way by B. Capodagli and L. Johnson. I read the foreword and before I know it, I was already at the cashier paying. I could not put the book down. It was amazing reading their management principle is almost the same as any other large companies, maybe, just maybe, the only thing that differentiates Disney from the bunch is that the have with them the most committed and happiest employees who believe in their vision to make Disneyland the happiest place on earth. I will let you in on Disney...

This week is just one of those days when I feel I am at my lowest... Let me explain. My house was flooded for days because the public works had to widen the road so they dumped soil to flatten and make even the surface. The excess soil covered our drainage system. When we asked the contractor to remove the soil so that water will not stagnate, the foreman said it's another contractor's job. I was so devastated to hear the lack of concern. That moment of truth hit me... it is not war but the lack of concern that will annihilate us. We were forced to spend money to hire someone who would dig up the soil to get rid of stagnant water that is attractive to dengue mosquito, leptospirosis and all other debilitating diseases. Monday is the first day of work and the only day in our weekday wherein all department heads gather for a flag raising ceremony... I was expecting to receive some words of encouragement from our boss to get us through the week with enthusiasm, but to ...