Life is simple.

Life is simple. Most of the time we just complicate it. When we prioritize our wants before our needs. When we first think of our luxuries instead of our necessities. When we satisfy our desires instead of our dreams; when we satisfy first our mind's curiosity before our heart's contentment. Sometimes we are not in a position to complain because of our predicament. The way we came to be is our own choosing. We made our choices; we made our decisions. We choose to live luxuriously at the expense of our future. It's not the world's fault. It's ours.

The principle of simple living doesn't necessarily mean depriving oneself with life's great pleasures. It only means controlling your desire of material things created by man that rely so much on money. Controlling yourself to have more than what you can afford. Simply put, do not live beyond your means. Because real happiness and pleasure cannot be satisfactorily realized through material things.

The roots of complicated life most of the time weave from our relentless crave for earth-borne material things. These are but one of the many maladies of being human. We dream,therefore we desire. We wish, therefore, we envy. We yearn, therefore, we feel jealous. And how else can we cure these disease other than to satisfy them. However, there are gifts that are innate to us to counteract these undesirable traits. We were bestowed the gift of wisdom, the power of perception, and the philosophy of understanding.

Therefore, in the midst of these enthralling temptations, we have the power to thwart all of them so that we can live simply and modestly. We must not let these material things control us, but rather let us control them for better purposes.

Real happiness can only be obtained from within ourselves, our families, our friends and how we perceive our relationship with others. Life is simple, don't complicate it. Of course, you'd think you deserve to live better and that's when positive outlook and your drive to succeed comes in. But that is another story.

Life Metaphors Too...

Life is like a white canvass. The colors we are going to use is up to our own choosing, be it red, green, or gray.

Life is like a grammar lesson. You find the past, perfect, and the present tense.

Life is like a building. You need to have a good foundation to withstand the tests of nature.

Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds you down or polishes you up, depends upon what you're made of.

Life is like a mine. You should dig in deeper to find precious gems.

Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know when you'll find a nut.

Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond to it.

Life is like an expressway. The only difference is that there are potholes and humps along the way. But if you were ready and prepared just right, you'll have a smooth ride ahead.

Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses.

Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.

Life is like a safari. It's a ground packed with bully hunters, wary preys and opportunistic scavengers.

Life is an echo. What you send out - you get back. What you give - you get.

Life is a roller coaster.You can either scream every time you hit a bump or you can throw your hands up in the air and enjoy it.

Life is like a circus act. Practice well and you'll get through it without a hitch.

Life is a waste of time, time is a waste of life, so get wasted all the time and have the time of your life.

Life is fragile ... handle with prayer.

Life is like a movie..How good you do depends on your critics.

Life is not fair, but life is not fair for everyone. That makes life fair.

Life is really a bed of roses, others are just lucky to have friends to help them pick the thorns off.

Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third.

Life is too short to long for money.

Life is full of surprises. Just say "never" and you'll see.

Life is hard, no one makes it out alive.

Life is like a mirror, if you frown at it, it frowns back; if you smile, it returns the greeting.

Life is what you have while you are waiting to have one.

Life just gives you time and space; it's up to you to fill it.

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.

Click here for more Life metaphors...

Delaying God's Blessings

I believe that God's gifts and blessings are abundantly laid before us. Most of the time, it's up to us to find our way to them. God has done His part and it's up to us to complete the task.

Each of us is gifted with his own natural skills - our own core gifts. I don't know anyone who doesn't. Even a toddler has skills to show. These God-given gifts, coupled with our desire for something greater than we already have, should drive us towards these blessings. Each of us has his own dreams. And dreams are meant to be fulfilled. All we have to do to realize them is to take ACTION. How is it then that most of us are not able to accomplish this?

There are a few things to note why dreams are not fulfilled, get abandoned and eventually wasted.

1. Lack of persistence. We easily get discouraged at the sight of failure. Once failed, we channel our energies to other things. We're like the fox that sour-grapes when we can't get what we want.

2. Hopelessness. One who has the positive outlook will never lose hope. Sometimes we should find positive things out every failure. As Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. "

3. Lack of faith. A person who doesn't have faith in himself will never fulfill his dream. Your lacking in faith or in spirit will drive you to nowhere because faith will fuel your spirit to go on even thru rough roads.

4. Failure to acknowledge own weaknesses. In order to master our strengths, we must be aware of our weaknesses first. Acknowledging our weaknesses is a very vital step in sharpening our skill set in order to achieve our goals.

5. Denying others' help. Most of the time, we will not be alone in our adventure. There will be others whom we will share our dreams with. They may be able to help us along the way and we may be able to help them in return. We must be humble enough to realize that we will not have all the solutions at hand even though we have prepared heavily.

6. Laziness and procrastination. Of course it's so obvious that putting off tomorrow what you can do today will definitely delay everything. Whatever goal you are set on doing won't be accomplished unless started. Therefore starting early will definitely reward you earlier blessings.

I love Bo Sanchez's idea about our power to delay God's blessings. We have the power to realize these blessings however we also have the power to delay them. Unless we have the focus and discipline, unless we have the spirit and faith, these dreams of ours will stay as dreams. Dreams that are so near, but yet so far because we failed to ACT upon them.

Happy Easter!

Easter is a time for renewal,
Easter is rebirth,
Easter is forgiveness,
Easter is resurrection.

Easter is bringing out a new you. Leaving behind hatred, fear, and misery that you've been dragging along. The risen Christ has reminded us once again that He has triumphed for us and that it's ok to let go and surrender all those heavy burdens to Him. Because He wants us to be borne again. He wants us to renew our faith in Him. He wants us to be happy.

Easter is our true Christmas. It's the foundation of our faith. Because without it, without Christ's resurrection everything is pointless. Let us rejoice for He is risen and He is risen indeed.

Everyday Notes to Enjoy Life (16)

I remember camping out when I was a kab scout when I was in elementary. We were in an open field so you can see the whole dark sky field with stars. We built camp fire, we played games, we had fun.

When you're under the night sky, under the stars, it feels like you have all the time in the world, it feels like you own the world. It's like you can do anything without any limits, no boundaries. Everything is boundless. It seems like you're all alone inside a dome shimmered by the twinkling lights of stars. Let your fantasy and imagination dwindle among the stars and for sure you'll feel like you have traveled somewhere you have never been before.

A grave challenge

Father Jason Laguerta, Director of San Carlos Seminary presided over the mass we attended this Sunday. My wife and I are actually all ears when he celebrates mass because of the way he delivers his homily. Today, he struck us hard again with a sharp, powerful, guilt-revealing homily (well actually it's not a sermon but a plea as he put it).

As we all know, the Philippines as a predominant catholic country observes the Lenten season every year. Consequently, it is one of the longest non-working holidays closely anticipated by many Filipinos. However Fr. Jason stressed that this vacation is not a vacation at all. We as Catholics should observe the season with moral and spiritual obligations in mind.

The Holy Week is not just one day but seven days. Palm Sunday is only the beginning. Many of us throng to the church to celebrate the arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem. Most of us bring our fancy decorated fronds or "palaspas" to commemorate His arrival just like when He entered Jerusalem. But then overtime, people abandoned Him. People who followed Him, who praised Him, who glorified Him, even His disciples were nowhere to be found when He was mercilessly persecuted.

And we are doing this again to Him. During this Holy days, we spend our time in beautiful beaches. We go about our own planned vacations. On the first Holy Week, people abandoned Him and we are no better. How would you feel if your closest friends suddenly abandoned you in your time of despair. How would you feel if the people you trusted most suddenly left you in your time of suffering. How would you feel if you thought you'll have all the shoulders to lean on in time of darkest days only to find out that they have forsaken you.

You know how it feels to be left alone by people whom you think are your real friends. That's what Jesus felt during His moment of trials. And we are continually doing it to Him everytime the season of Lent comes.

Father Jason has instilled in our hearts a very grave challenge. The choice is left for us to decide. Just a thought though, funny how we go hurrying and praying for His intercession everytime we are in dire need and accused Him of not being there when we don't get what we want.

A period of great depression

We are in a period of "great depression". Everyone is depressed!

The economic crisis is affecting us severely, killing our jobs and disrupting our way of life. Some people are losing their grip. They are like robots that malfunction when subjected to intense stress and pressure. Some resort to violence; suicide, indiscriminate shooting and atrocities that are unthinkable. Some people tend to hurt not only themselves but the innocents, even their own families. Such wave of terrifying news has gripped the world during the past months.

I say it's cowardice to result to such inhuman acts. First of all, violence doesn't solve anything. Second, losing work doesn't mean losing everything more so your life. We are here not to work but to live. We received the gift of life so it is our job to preserve it, realize it and fulfill it. True, losing our financial security is a tragedy. But it's just plain dumb and stupid to resort to such violent means.

Here in the Philippines, the crisis is rarely felt. People even laughed it off implying that they have been used to it. That their lives have been in crisis ever since. There is a great deal of advantage living in developing countries like the Philippines. People have been acquainted with life's hardships. You would find them living life one day at a time. Struggling to make both ends meet. Yet, even the poorest of the poor, will find time to laugh, find leisure and enjoy life.

Problems abound. Life is not life without problems. And crisis or no crisis, life should go on. Remember, these struggles will either make us or break us. If we make it through, that will add to our remarkable life resume. If not, there are people around us that we can turn to for help. Prayers will help a lot. It's those times when faith really plays a pivotal role.

Problems are just temporary. They tend to fade away and resolve themselves in time even without you lifting a single finger. So hold on. Endure every struggle. Before you know it, your storm has already passed.

Don't mess with our elders...

An eldery lady gets pulled over for speeding.

Older woman: Is there a problem, Officer?

Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.

Older woman: Oh, I see.

Officer: Can I see your license please?

Older woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.

Officer: Don't have one?

Older woman: Lost it, four years ago for drunk driving.

Officer: I see... can I see your vehicle registration papers please?

Older woman: I can't do that.

Officer: Why not?

Older woman: I stole this car.

Officer: Stole it?

Older woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Officer: You what?

Older woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see.

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes five police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the woman's car, clasping his half-drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of the car.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older woman: Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?

Older woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving licence.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the licence. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have licence, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.