Ways To Welcome The New Year

          2017- this new year promises lots of things to all of us. The impact of its effect on us may vary on our individual capacity to do it. And welcoming it may also take different forms like the following:

1. Welcoming With a Heavy Heart- this is true for those who are unable to leave behind those grudges and hatred in their hearts. Even though year 2016 has passed yet they could not focus on the new year however, they tend to value the more what was painful on last year. Thus, the new year may seem to have no impact anything at all to them;

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2. Welcoming with Excitement- there are those who are so filled with excitement to welcome the new year that they eagerly wake up each day to see all its surprise. So few things are ordinary for them. These include the artists, the dreamers, the adventurous and the like;

3. Welcoming with A Grateful Heart- this belongs to those who are so grateful for everything in their life. For this people, nothing is ordinary for them instead everything is so special that gratefulness must also be done in return;

4. Welcoming with All Smiles- this group is for those who are always positive in their life that no matter how many days were painful as of last year but this year promises something wonderful for them. They always have smiles in their faces that no problem of whatever degree could destroy or damage their day. 

          For sure, there are other forms of welcoming the new year out there but considering this short list for sure will already allow you to exactly identify yourself in one or two of them. God luck everyone for this new year 2017. 

Life's Surprises and Man's Awareness

            As we embrace each single day, we are so lucky to constantly receive surprises each day. May it be a simple greetings from a long lost friend or a simple gift from a relative, or it could be a simple gesture of kindness from a total stranger...yet the element of surprise is always present. BUT let us always remember that it could only become as such if we also allow ourselves to be conscious of the element of being a surprise. 

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          Sometimes, we think that LIFE is already so predictable. that we already think of the things that will happen before us...in the process we lose the element of surprise to all those unfolding of reality around us. Remember always that life becomes an interesting journey when there is that element of surprise that goes to it. 

         Thus, even though you can already detect what comes next in an activity or in an event but still, learn to put a suspense to it so that life will continue to be full of surprises each day. 

Being Grateful in Life

          As we are nearing to the end of January, allow ourselves a space and then let us try to recall all our activities for this month. Even when we started this month, we already received wonderful things day in and day out. In fact, all the bountiful blessings that we treasured are beyond any price for they are so worthwhile and precious. And as we continue with our journey, they will also become a special part of our book of life that no matter what will happen in the near future, we always have something to look back and say to ourselves, " How lucky we are to have received such blessings....." 

          Consequently, it is also but fitting for all of us to be thankful for everything that we have enjoyed this month. In those busy events in our life, it is beneficial if we can find time to look back all those past events and also have time to be grateful to those people who have, in one way or the other, journeyed with us tirelessly during the month.

imagecredit: https://pixabay.com/en/green-park-season-nature-outdoor-1072828/

          As they said, life is a give and take process thus telling us that we need each other and that no one among us can live alone. I pity those who are so boastful among themselves and allow pride to ruin their lives and their relationships with others. Time will come that they will realise that not all in life is about money and fame. These things are important but they are not the ideal ones which could give us real happiness. 

         Hence, as we end this month, let us spend some time to thank those people who have shared their lives with us.  

Outcome of Parents' Separation

          Nowadays it is undeniable that parents of certain families separate due to several factors. Even when I was still handling retreats and recollections both to high school and college students, I have heard of sad stories of my students that at times, I was in the middle of my sharing then suddenly, a student cried heavily for she remembered the separation of her parents and its painful effects on her and her siblings.

imagecredit: Erwin Doriman-Australia

          I'm not in the position to judge them especially the parents but somehow, I pity those innocent children who become the ones severely and harshly affected by the event. Of course, no one can deny that in any marriage or relationship of similar attributes, challenges and trials are present but the matter should be brought to harmony for the sake of the children. 

          To this effect, the children become lost and what is worse is when they will also grow without learning how to love genuinely. At times, they grow as problematic kids then later on as adults but who can blame them if on this ordeal, they have nobody to guide and accompany them. Most of the time, parents' separation result to negative effects on the children and everyone should try to prevent this sad reality to happen for the sake, wellbeing and future of the children.  

Listening to Music

          One of my favourite past times is listening to music. Though at this point in time, my music preferences have changed with the cadence of the time yet it still is one of my outlet so as to be able to recharge from a hard day's work. As I see it everyday, there are several stressful situations that we encounter and at the end of the day, if we are not that creative, we could end up too tired and too lazy to get up for the next day's activities. 

                      photo credit: Wide Street with Jacaranda Trees, Pretoria via photopin(license)

         Listening to music also allows me to appreciate the whole of it like lyrics, melody, background features, etc.. Remember that there are just similar notes being utilised in any song but it is so amazing to realise how the composer and arranger make everything in harmony with each other.

         Life then is like a music...it needs to be in constant harmony with both its internal and external dynamics. When one part is not in congruence with the rest then it could lead and start something undesirable. Hence,  it is always beneficial both for the person himself and for those outside of him to be in constant harmony so that peace and growth are attainable. 

         Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Learning to Gamble in Life

          Just recently, I made some discussions with good friends (Rod, Den and Jen) about various investments that we can make so as to be more productive in the near future. They told me and my wife that today's investment possibilities are plenty and to name a few, they mentioned about stocks investing as well as mutual fund. Beforehand, a friend of mine shared with me his blog on stocks but due to my other interests plus other commitments, I did not take a serious look on this one.

          Meanwhile, as the days went by, I pondered on this topic and thought that maybe, I could give myself a try on this venture. Thus, I am starting to read and read more on stocks with the aim of having more knowledge on this.  The more that I read, the more complications like terminologies and systems that came to me. However, I told myself that all these complications are but  simply part of the process of learning.

         Then, I tried to compare this new venture now to life. That as we go on our individual journeys, we also pass by different situations some more complex than others. However at the end of the day, everything boils down then to our ability to make decisions. We either can accept the complications in life or not. And as I constantly mentioned in my posts, we should always be ready to face the consequences of our daily choices may they be positive or not. 

It's Weekend Once Again

          Every weekend, we tend to make lots of things depending on our priorities at times, connecting with others is always our priority. Why then we put importance on every weekend? Inside our minds, we can come up with so many reasons and one of those is that it is on this time of the week that we could find moment of relaxation from our whole week's activities. 

photo credit: Yee Haa! via photopin (license)

         Yes, the whole week is most oftentimes a busy routine for each one of us. Whatever our preoccupations could be during the week (work, studies, being with friends, being with children, etc. ), we spend much our time and energy on them thus it is but natural for us that when Fridays come, we feel like we are totally burn out from all these hectic schedules. As a result, we try to look for something that can help us recharge like going out with friends even at Friday nights, then others would see to it that Saturdays and Sundays are spent with loved ones like going to the beach, engaging in mountain trekking activities or fruit picking etc.. 

          As a whole, these weekend activities allow us to be revitalised and be ready again to face the coming week's challenges after all, life is always on its continuing process and cycle and it is up to us how to keep pace with all its complexities. Enjoy your weekend everyone.