Only for Today!

Here’s the daily decalogue of Pope John XXIII (a “decalogue” is a set of rules having authoritative weight). One aspect of the list that’s worth noting is the emphasis on taking each day as it comes. Pope John XXIII was pope from 1958-1963 and was known as “The Good Pope.”

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.
2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.
3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.
4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes. (I like this!-ask)
5. Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.
6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.
7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.
8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.
9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

Then DO THIS AGAIN TOMORROW….. and the next day… and the next…..  have a great day!

- source: The Happiness Project

ABC’s Life’s Instruction

A – Accept Differences
B – Be Kind
C – Count your Blessings
D – Dream
E – Express Thanks
F – Forgive
G – Give Freely
H – Harm no One
I – Imagine more
J – Joke and Laugh More
K – Keep Confidences
L – Love Truly
M – Master Something
N – Nurture Friendship
O – Open your Mind
P – Play Fair
Q – Quell Rumors
R – Reciprocate
S – Seek Wisdom
T – Touch Hearts
U – Understand
V – Value Integrity
W – Win Graciously
X – Xerox Good Values
Y – Yearn for Adventure
Z – Zealously Support a Worthy Cause

Five People You Meet in Heaven

Five People You Meet in Heaven, another touching, enlightening book by Mitch Albom, author of “Tuesdays with Morrie.” The story begins with the death of Eddie at age 83 at a freak accident in an amusement park on which he is the “maintenance man.” The death it seems is just a beginning. Eddie met 5 people and learned 5 lessons of “whys” about the life he lived. These “whys” I believe are our questions too. It echoes our thoughts and wondering. The story also makes us imagine heaven and realize how we can “create” our own heaven. There and here.

Lesson 1:
“Fairness does not govern life and death. If it did, no good person would ever die young.”
“The human spirit knows, deep down, that all lives intersects. That death doesn’t just take someone, it misses someone else, and in the small distance between being taken and being missed, lives changed.”
“What good came from your death?” Eddie asked the Blue Man. “You lived” he answered.
“Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.”

Lesson 2
“Sacrifice. You made one. I made one.” said the Captain. “Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to…. A mother works so her son can go to school. A daughter who moves home to take care of her sick father…. A man goes to war…”
“Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you’re not really losing it. You’re just passing it on to someone else.”

Lesson 3
“Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hated is a curved blade. And the hard we do, we do to ourselves.”
“Do you remember the lightness you felt when you arrived in heaven?” Ruby asked. “That’s because no one is born with anger. And when we die our soul is freed form it. Forgive.”

Lesson 4:
“Life has to end, Love doesn’t.” (Marguerite)
“Lost love is still love, Eddie. It just takes a different form, that’s all…Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it.”

Lesson 5:
“Children, you keep them safe. You make good for me” (Tala)
“Is where you were supposed to be…”

In the end, it is all like “butterfly effect”… that we do and affect things and people…every minute of our life. So with that in mind, we must make everything and every moment worthwhile…

“Each affects the other and the other affects the next; and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one.”

Pic Note: Busy

Coincidence that I just read Mr. Francis Kong’s thought about “Making the Most of Time” (see here)

T&I: Go the Extra Mile!

This is an excerpt from “the God Memorandum”
from the book “The Greatest Miracle in the World” by Og Mandino
(this is the 3rd law to perform the greatest miracle in the world)

Whomsoever shall compel ye to go with him one mile … go with him two.

Go another mile!

The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you,
no matter what your task may be.
This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time.
Therefore I saith the surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity
is to perform only the work for which you are paid.

Think not ye are being cheated if you deliver more than the silver you receive.
For there is a pendulum to all life and the sweat you deliver,
if not rewarded today, will swing back tomorrow, tenfold.
The mediocre never goes another mile, for why should he cheat himself, he thinks.
But you are not mediocre.

Go another mile!

To go another mile is a privilege you must appropriate by your own initiative.
You cannot, you must not avoid it.
Neglect it, do only as little as the others, and the responsibility for your failure is yours alone.

Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, these cannot be separated.
The effect already blooms in the cause,
the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit is always in the seed.

Go another mile!

Concern yourself not, should you serve an ungrateful master. Serve him more.
And instead of him, let it be Me (God) who is in your debt!
for then you will know that every minute,
every stroke of extra service will be repaid.

Go another mile!

And worry not, should your reward not come soon.
For the longer payment is withheld, the better for you …
and compound interest on compound interest is this law’s greatest benefit.

You cannot command success, you can only deserve it …
and now you know the great secret necessary in order to merit its rare reward.

Go another mile!

Pic Note: Bicycle & Balance

image source

Fail Forward

“When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000
experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how
it felt to fail so many times. He said, “I never failed once. I
invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process!”

Everybody fails, errs and makes mistakes. We’ve heard the saying “to err is human, to forgive is divine”, Alexander Pope wrote that 250 years. But apparently there are rules in “failing”:

Rule 1 = You will learn lessons
People think that failing takes you backward. But failure teaches us to be resilient, to do better and to change course and strategies if we must. Think of it as “2,000 steps-process”

Rule 2 = There are no mistakes — only lessons
Might as well have different perspective and mindset about failure. Look at it as a teacher, fine-tuning your success. This must be your motivation to do better and not to justify yourself for not trying anymore.

Rule 3 = A lesson is repeated until it is learned
Failure is not always against you. Like all other circumstances, it has to follow the universal law of averages. This law states that for so many tries you’ll get a successful result. But you’ll NEVER get the best shot, IF you’ll never take aim and shoot in the first place.

If I Had My Life to Live Over

by: Erma Bombeck

I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over dinner even if the carpet was stained and sofa faded.
I would have eaten popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair would ‘fly’
I would have burned the pink sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about the grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching tV — and more while watching life.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the eart would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “later, now go get washed up for dinner”
There would have been more “I love yous’…more “I’m sorrys”… but mostly given another shot at life, I would sieze every minute… look at it and really see it… live it… and never give it back….

(Erma Bombeck, lost her fight with cancer in 1996)

also from her:
“when i stand before God at the end of my life,
i would hope that i could not have a single bit of talent left
and could say, “i used everything you gave me”.”

Pic Note: “Keep Going”

T&I: The Longest Way is a Short-Cut

One of the most common obstacles to success is to cut corners. But short-cut never pays off in the long run. Let us try these valuable tips and insights:
1. Don’t give in to your mood or impulses, you need to change your approach to doing things.
2. Refrain from “fast-breaking,” because quality is sacrificed in the process.
3. Avoid cutting corners. It is really a sign of impatience and poor self-discipline.
4. Follow through… you can achieve a breakthrough.
5. Set up standard for yourself that require accountability.
6. Once you have standards in place, work according to them, not your moods.
7. Stay on track and keep focused. That will get you going in the right direction.
8. Self-discipline is a quality that is won through practice.

Remember, effort and time are wasted if you have to do things all over again
because you have not tried to do it right on the first time.

-From John C Maxwell’s “Failing Forward” and Katrina M’s Journal…..

Pic Note: “Accountability”

T&I: Stay the Course

To be “intentional” means working with purpose making every action count. Successful leaders are intentional. They know what they are doing and why they are doing it. To become more INTENTIONAL, do the following:
1. Have a purpose worth living for: “Some men have thousands of reasons why the cannot do what they want to, when all they need is ONE reason why they can”
2. Know your strengths and weaknesses: Playing to your strengths rekindles your passions and renews your energy.
3. Prioritize your responsibilities: Once you know the “why” of your life, it becomes much easier to figure out the “what” and “when”
4. Learn to say no: You can’t accomplish much without focus.If you try to do every good thing that comes your way, you won’t excel at what you were made to do.
5. Commit yourself to long-term achievement: Most victories in life are chieved through small incremental wins sustained over time.

– The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John Maxwell

Pic Notes: “Dirty Hands”

- poster by Roland Tiangco... (thanks! nice one!)

T&I: The Blame Game

When things go wrong, the natural tendency is to look for someone to blame. You can go all the way back to Garden of Eden on this one…. When God asked Adam why he’d done it, he said it was Eve’s fault. Then God questioned Eve, she blamed it on the snake. The same thing happens today.

The next time you experience a failure, think about what you failed instead of who was at fault. Try to look at it objectively so that you can do better next time. Ask yourself:
• What lessons have I learned?
• How can I turn the failure into success?
• Where did I succeed as well as fail?

People who blame others for their failures never overcome them. They simply move from problem to problem. To reach your potentials, you must continually improve yourself, and you can’t do that if you don’t take responsibility for their actions and learn from your mistakes.

— Your Road Map to Success, John Maxwell

While our Audit motto (daw) is “Bawal Magkamali”…. Let us just take that as our GOAL and add this in parenthetical note: (“Pero pag nagkamali… bawal magkamaling hindi akuin ang pagkakamali kung mali talaga”)

Most importantly…. “If you fail… make sure to Fail Forward”

T&I: Blessed For Success

Not everyone we influence will think the same way we do. We have to help them not only to believe that they can succeed, but also we have to show them that we want them to succeed…. So, how….

Expect it: People can sense the underlying attitude no matter what we say or do. Let them know you are expecting them to succeed.

Verbalize it: People need to hear it. Tell them to that you believe in them and want them to succeed. Become a positive prophet of their success.

Reinforce it: People need encouragement. Seeing that you care to know their progress will let them realize that is also important to you.

Pave the way: Give them opportunity to show their best. Give them challenge to harness their worth. Give the boost and helping hand.

Once people recognize and understand that you genuinely want them succeed and are committed to helping them, they will begin to believe that they can accomplish what you give to them.

I am Only One

I am only one
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do something I can do.

– Edward Everett Hale

This is just a manifestation how great we are (& great we can be)— in our own “little” ways.
Just don’t belittle yourself…
And do not look on the “empty” portion of a half-full glass…

T&I: See How Can It Be Different….

.I have sent this article to my staff as our guide for our annual audit planning and goal-setting…. Thank you for the link provided by the “Your Successful 101″….

It’s that time of year again when our thoughts turn to making new GOALS. The enticing prospect of a blank year ahead invites us to think about what we would like to be different in our lives, how we want to improve ourselves and the work we do. And yet so often, the good intentions of GOAL-SETTING of early January have dwindled down to just IDEAS as we go along the way, sometimes not to be brought out again until next year. And we are left with the same feeling of frustration that another year has passed and nothing has changed.

What happens? One common reason is that we quickly go back to our ‘normal’ lives and the usual routines and along with our usual habits!

Sound familiar?

So how can it be different?

I hope the following TIPS will make it different for this year:

1. Be clear about what you want – BE specific about what you do want. For example, if you have written “lose weight”, write down how much you want to lose and by when
2. Write it Down – Writing down why you want something will give you a handy reminder to go back to when you’re feeling un motivated.
3. Be specific about what you will do – It’s very hard to be in action around a vague list of “will do more of…” and “will do less of…”. If you gave your list to someone else would they know exactly what you were doing when?
4. Know what stops you – There will be times when it feels hard to be in action. Being honest with yourself about what will stop you now will let you plan for these situations rather than ending your resolutions.
5. Create support structures – Put support structures in place now that will keep you on track. Maximize team effort for team goals. Try buddy system, or use “tracker” or require team to do regular feedback.
6. Be in action – Sometimes the only thing that is required is to just do it! For no other reason that you said you would.
7. Embrace imperfection – Sometimes things will not go to plan. It happens. Don’t let it throw you off track completely. Make adjustments, come up with new ways of doing things, create a new plan for the imperfect world you live in. It’s perfect.
8. When failing isn’t failing – Feeling that you’ve failed at something can be a real kick in the teeth and the end to achieving goals. So think of failing differently. Failing means you are doing something different, possibly something new. Failing isn’t failing, it’s just not having done it yet. Fail Forward!
9. Reward yourself – Don’t hold out until the “big prize”. Create reward points along the way. Reward yourself for being in action. Be kind to yourself and use the carrot, or lots of carrots, and not the stick!
10. Enjoy! – Most importantly, your new year’s resolution (goals) are about being happier, more fulfilled, enjoying your life and work. If it is a punishment list put it in the bin right now!

See also my collection of “Tips & Insights” here

Today… and Everyday…

1. Today I Will be Careful About What I Say
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip or say ill about others.
2. Today I Will Not Strike Back
If somebody is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind… I will not respond in a like manner.If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that person.
3. Today I Will Go The Extra Mile
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. Or do the my best one step further without thinking of reward or affirmation.
4. Today I Will Forgive
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.
5. Today I will do Act of Kindness, But I Will Do it Secretly
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.
6. Today I Will Treat Others The Way I Wish to be Treated
I will practice the golden rule with everyone i encounter
7. Today I Will Raise the Spirit of Someone and Affirm his/her Goodness
My smile, my words, my expression of support and affirmation, can make a difference in someone’s daily life.
8. Today I Will Recommit my Attitude, Beliefs, Confidence, Drive, Enthusiasm and Focus
I will recommit the source of my “fuel” to attain my goals. Everyday may not be good, but there’s good in every day!
9. Today I Will Nurture Myself (and the People I Love)
I will do necessary to take care of myself, physically, mentally, spiritually, creatively. I will never seize to learn, experience, explore, live, laugh and love.
10. Today I Will Grow Spiritually
I will spend more time in prayer today: I will find quiet place at some point during the day to listen to God’s voice.

These are not actually new year’s resolutions but just a re-affirmation of my values! So help me God!

Goal #5: Lesson Plan for Kids

My goal is to have conscious effort to teach kids about life’s lessons. Teaching them, among others, Religion, Generosity, Finance, History, Art, Right Manners and Having Dreams….. I really made it sure to have moments with my two boys talking and making stories. Time is short and I believe that most of the lessons we’ve learned were gained while we were still kids….
For this goal, I will consider this complete if I have taught them (or at least, talked to them about) 101 things related to above areas in life and many more. So here is the partial list:

1. Recite “Ama Namin” (“Our Father” in Tagalog) – (Lean already knew the English version since he was 3)
2. Story of the Fisherman’s Wife who was never satisfied, a lesson about greed (Lean)
3. Playing fair and square (while we were playing chess) (Lean)
4. About winning/losing without cheating (while playing Snakes and Ladder) (Lean)
5. Reading aloud a book about “Beliefs” (Lean was having fun counting the word “beliefs” I mentioned)
6. About habit formation at around adolescent years (Jolo)
7. Taught Jolo to save money for something he really wants to buy.
8. About being generous (Lean brought a spare Lego for his friend Aaron)
9. Talking about the course they want to take in college (it doesn’t matter even if they change mind every now and then)
10. Doing the best he can in every project he handles (Jolo)
11. About working hard, and about sowing and reaping (as Lean play the “Farmer” online game)
12. Rewards and consequences in attaining goals
13. Helps Jolo form his habit to clean his face every night, among others.
14. Helps Lean form his “4-things to do” habits every night. (Toothbrush, take a pee, clean his feet, pray)
15. Washing dishes every weekend (Jolo)
(see as the list grow at “Lesson Plan for Kids” at “My Life’s List” widget)

For our future curriculum, we will include:
a. Jolo’s lessons in Civics and history (2 facts everyday)
b. Art attack with Lean
c. Generosity-in-Action, when they accompany me in distributing toys for less-fortunate kids this Xmas
d. More practice on Po and Opo
e. Read World History to Lean (his favorite)
f. loving siblings
g. open bank account in their name
h. about being a friend
i. buying and using money (Lean)
more…….
(see as the list grow at “Lesson Plan for Kids” at “My Life’s List” widget)

Tips & Insights: Live Life to the Fullest

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay ‘them’
I am a good example of this… I am not very quick in answering my age, it’s not that I am ashamed of it, it’s just that it doesn’t really matter… same with my weight… (but that one I have to work on a bit, for the sake of health)

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down..
I’m glad that I have bunchful of funny and witty friends around who are great to laugh with.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.
Yep, right… that’s why I’m always looking for new things to learn… it still amazes me to know some things, even how petty or irrelevant they are (example: EENT doctors are called othorhinolaringology… hehehe)

4. Enjoy the simple things.
Of course! If simple things will not amaze us, then we don’t deserve the big things! Me? I still enjoy pandesal on sardines, picking ears and reading good old Reader’s Digest..

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
Moments of these are so few, and yet it’s satisfying… I have to remind myself to laugh often… Chico and Del (93.1FM, 6AM to 10PM) are always ON AIR every morning, right?… well, that’s a very good source of hearty laughs…

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
Right! grieve sometime… but life must go on… fail, but fail forward… then stand tall… Choose to be Alive! (for myself and for others!)… As the quote in the image above (in case you can’t see it…) it says, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain!”

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it’s family, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
No matter how hard and heavy was my day, I always long for the refuge of home. Where love is there, where nothing is much expected from me, but be myself, but be at peace…. ohhhhhh….

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it.. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
That’s right, I should not take my health for granted. It’s not really “beyond our control,” I believe. At least, I can prolong it if I’ll really just try.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
Why should I? When guilt happens, I just let it pass (or make amends)… Next time around, I should know better!

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
Ommmh, something I am not very good at… But I am working on it….I know it will really make a difference for the one we give love to (and me also) …. Ya, I will have to make efforts….

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!