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.

Everyday Notes to Enjoy Life (15)

The mailman, newspaper boy, delivery man, plumber or anyone who would bring their service into your own backyard will be delighted if shown gratitude and well appreciated for their services. Even just an ice cold glass of water will suffice. Make your home their oasis during their rounds in the community.

Life is... - according to them

Life is a promise; fulfill it. -Mother Teresa, humanitarian and advocate for the poor and helpless.

Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed. -Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life is a foreign language; all men mispronounce it. -Christopher Morley, journalist, novelist, essayist and poet.

Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep. -Fran Lebowitz, American author.

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome. -Isaac Asimov, sci-fi writer.

Life is a long lesson in humility. -James M. Barrie, Scottish author and dramatist

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. -John Lennon, singer songwriter

Life is a zoo in a jungle. -Peter De Vries, editor and novelist

Life is an unbroken succession of false situations. -Thornton Wilder, playwright and novelist.

Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act. -Truman Capote, writer

Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you. -Wally 'Famous' Amos, actor and writer

Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all. -William Goldman, novelist, playwright and two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter

Life is rather like a tin of sardines - we're all of us looking for the key. -Alan Bennett, author, actor, humorist and playwright.

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. -Albert Einstein, physicist.

Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed. -Corita Kent, artist and educator.

Life is not a spectacle or a feast; it is a predicament. -George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist.

Life is like a sewer. What you get out of it depends on what you put into it. -Tom Lehrer, singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician.

Life is a magic vase filled to the brim; so made that you cannot dip into it nor draw from it; but it overflows into the hand that drops treasures into it-drop in malice and it overflows hate; drop in charity and it overflows love. -John Ruskin, British art critic and social thinker.

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. -Robert Byrne, author.

Life is about compromise. You must figure out a way to maximize your time with your family. By spending your money to buy affection, you may be putting their future in jeopardy and making the problem worse. -Dr.Phil, American television personality, author, and former psychologist

Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist, philosopher, poet

Life is too short to be living somebody else's dream. -Hugh Hefner, magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.

Life is a series of commas, not periods. -Matthew Mcconaughey, actor

and to top it all....

Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you're alive, it isn't. -
Richard Bach, author.

Life is a Symphony

I saw this life inspiring message inside a popular gift shop, printed on one of their products...

"Life is a symphony of incredible music. It has its own soprano, tenor and bass. No matter how high or low the notes, keep in tune with God and you'll never go off the key in the beautiful music of life."

Everyday Notes to Enjoy Life (14)

This should be one of the best breaks from the usual sleep and lie down ritual we do in our rooms. You may wonder sometimes not to find some of your stuffs only to realize that they are just there lying dormant on one of the corners of your room. To rid yourself of the clutters and junks in your room, why not make it a hobby to clean and "de-organize" your once web-cluttered abode. You'll be surprised to find out what's hiding there. It could be a long-lost memorabilia, or a long-forgotten keepsake.

National Lotto Day

Today should be declared Philippine National Lotto day. Because this is the day where millions of Filipinos will troop to lotto outlets all over the country trying to win the biggest lottery pot in history - 320 million pesos at least (i.e. 6.8 million US dollars). We've already made our bets early in the morning making sure to avoid the longest lines of people in the afternoon. My wife thought of an ingenious way to have a better chance of winning. We call it group lotto. She and her officemates, I included, contributed three sets of numbers each that is worth 60 pesos bet and whichever number wins, the group will divide the pot equally. That increases each persons number of bets, which of couse increases his/her chances of winning. Well, good luck to us. May the best or should I say luckiest Filipino win.

UPDATE:(2/23/2009) 2 very lucky Filipinos today instantly became multi-millionaires after bagging the much coveted more than 300 million peso prize for yesterday's lotto draw. As for our group lotto, only one set picked a correct three-number combination which is equivalent to 100 peso prize. Well, we couldn't divide this amongst ourselves could we? We've just decided to place our money on the the next lottery.

Life is meant to be shared

Life in solitude is the saddest thing. Life is not meant to be spent in closed doors. Certainly not in an island where one is trapped by the boundless ocean.

The beauty of life can only be seen in the wonderful harmony of intertwined relationships - between yourself and your family, your friends, your neighbor, a stranger or anybody. Because life is meant to be shared. Those whose life feels incomplete needs to be complemented by others. Those who are in dire need need help. Those who are feeling alone and in despair need attention.

There are some ways to complement others' needs. Through compassion, the desire to help, and love for others are just some of them. The bad news is that, we are being held back by our fear and mistrust of others. Of thoughts that these people are just pretending and are not really worth our help.

True, there are people out there who in their desire for easier meal will take advantage on those who are warm-hearted. This should not hinder us. Those of us who are burdened by these limitations need only think of the story of the Good Samaritan, who in his selfless act of love gave new life to a total stranger. So don't be afraid to help, don't be scared to approach someone who asks for help. Reach out, open the doors of life and let those who are in need know that someone out there is ready to lend a helping hand.

Because life is really meant to be shared.