Wow, I didn't realize how long has it been since my last post. No, I did not abandon my blog - I have just been busy.
But I'm back, and I hope to be more regular in my postings.
Cheers.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Gems from my Inbox - Part 4
THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the
coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He
then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into
the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open
areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the
jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the
jar was full.
The students responded with a resounding "Yes!"
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty
space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things - your God, your family, your children, your health,
your friends, your favorite passions - things that if everything else
was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The
pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your
car. . . The sand is everything else - the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the
things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play
another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the
disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really
matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee
represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked." he said. "It just goes to
show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room
for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours
in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the
coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in
front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He
then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into
the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open
areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the
jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the
jar was full.
The students responded with a resounding "Yes!"
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty
space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things - your God, your family, your children, your health,
your friends, your favorite passions - things that if everything else
was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The
pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your
car. . . The sand is everything else - the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life If you
spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the
things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play
another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the
disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really
matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee
represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked." he said. "It just goes to
show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room
for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Monday, February 21, 2005
A second look at an old adage
In the context of employee termination, this old adage was cited: Be careful how you treat people on the way up, because you may meet them again on the way down.
Needless to say, this has a much broader application and not just in case of terminating an employee. It has relevant daily applicability - in the workplace, at home, in the mall, everywhere.
Personally, I think the reason given is not noble enough -'...because you may meet them again on the way down'. What about the intrinsic value of the person? Treat him with respect because he is a human being, period. Whether that benefits me or not, I owe it to that person because of his value as a human being.
Needless to say, this has a much broader application and not just in case of terminating an employee. It has relevant daily applicability - in the workplace, at home, in the mall, everywhere.
Personally, I think the reason given is not noble enough -'...because you may meet them again on the way down'. What about the intrinsic value of the person? Treat him with respect because he is a human being, period. Whether that benefits me or not, I owe it to that person because of his value as a human being.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Longing for an early Spring
As I look outside, it is actually sunny with a thin overcast. Today is a lot better than what it had been the previous days. Winter has its unique beauty and all, but you can't fault me if I prefer sunny and warmer times. You see I originally came from the tropics and that explains my preference.
One thing I am learning as a christian is to look at things from a spiritual perspective. That if I am living in obedience to God, there are no accidents in my life. Everything has a purpose - that even what appears to be the worst can ultimately result in something good, because He looks after me, takes care of me, and every moment is an opportunity for me to be transformed into what He wants me to become.
So summer, spring, autumn, and yes winter have their purpose and their uniqueness is an instrument that God uses to fulfill His will in my life.
But then, I long for Spring!
One thing I am learning as a christian is to look at things from a spiritual perspective. That if I am living in obedience to God, there are no accidents in my life. Everything has a purpose - that even what appears to be the worst can ultimately result in something good, because He looks after me, takes care of me, and every moment is an opportunity for me to be transformed into what He wants me to become.
So summer, spring, autumn, and yes winter have their purpose and their uniqueness is an instrument that God uses to fulfill His will in my life.
But then, I long for Spring!
Monday, February 14, 2005
Pagan or not, let's observe Valentine's Day
When I was a child, a learned a song, a line of which goes something like, "It's love, it's love, it's love that makes the world go 'round..."
Today, February 14, is Valentine's Day. It has been said that this observance has its origin in a Roman pagan rite. True or not, I'd like to think of it this way - any observance that encourages me to think of love and creatively express it, is a good thing, don't you think so?
If you agree with me, let us be agents of love today, tomorrow and always. Let's have a lot of it to go 'round.
Have a happy one, fellow bloggarts!
Today, February 14, is Valentine's Day. It has been said that this observance has its origin in a Roman pagan rite. True or not, I'd like to think of it this way - any observance that encourages me to think of love and creatively express it, is a good thing, don't you think so?
If you agree with me, let us be agents of love today, tomorrow and always. Let's have a lot of it to go 'round.
Have a happy one, fellow bloggarts!
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Positive Blogs
I have only been blogging for a little over a month and overall I must say that the experience has been positive. There have been a number of blogs that have caught my attention because of their praiseworthy messages.
One such blog is "Another Man's Meat". It's excellently written and reading it has been worth my while.
A noteworthy banner I saw tonight has this message: If you want to work for world peace, go home and love your families. It's a quote from Mother Theresa.
To owners of those blogs and hundreds of uncited others, a very sincere "Thank You". You have such an impact on many more than you know. Keep it up.
One such blog is "Another Man's Meat". It's excellently written and reading it has been worth my while.
A noteworthy banner I saw tonight has this message: If you want to work for world peace, go home and love your families. It's a quote from Mother Theresa.
To owners of those blogs and hundreds of uncited others, a very sincere "Thank You". You have such an impact on many more than you know. Keep it up.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
What I learned...
...from a business retreat I'd just been on..
With the theme, "Cruising Into the Future", our president underscored the challenge of constant change that we have to deal with. From all the presentations that each VP had to do, I came up with this quote:
"HE WHO RESISTS CHANGE, WILL CRUISE INTO OBLIVION"
Think of businesses that have gone under. Many if not all have resisted the inevitable CHANGE that's inherent in the adaption of new technology. You've heard this before: We have always done it this way, we're not gonna change it now.
With the theme, "Cruising Into the Future", our president underscored the challenge of constant change that we have to deal with. From all the presentations that each VP had to do, I came up with this quote:
"HE WHO RESISTS CHANGE, WILL CRUISE INTO OBLIVION"
Think of businesses that have gone under. Many if not all have resisted the inevitable CHANGE that's inherent in the adaption of new technology. You've heard this before: We have always done it this way, we're not gonna change it now.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Ponderable for Today
Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by moments that take our breaths away.
Monday, February 07, 2005
I'm Back!
I just came back from a dual-purpose trip - pleasure and business. Whew! it was brief and went fast.
It was a cruise that took me to Fort Lauderdale, Key West and Cozumel, Mexico. It was my first cruise experience and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The food was sumptuously superb and the nightly shows were fantastic. The service was first-rate and the crew was friendly and always willing to make your cruise memorable. The ship? GTS SUMMIT of the Celebrity Cruise Lines.
It was a cruise that took me to Fort Lauderdale, Key West and Cozumel, Mexico. It was my first cruise experience and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The food was sumptuously superb and the nightly shows were fantastic. The service was first-rate and the crew was friendly and always willing to make your cruise memorable. The ship? GTS SUMMIT of the Celebrity Cruise Lines.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, To Mexico I Go
In two days, I will be embarking on a business trip. Actually it's part business and part pleasure. I hope to post some pictures when I come back.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
A stained finger - a symbol of freedom and democracy
To all freedom-loving people of the world:
Mark January 30, 2005 on your calendar as a historic day and let's celebrate with the Iraqi people.
The images I see on TV are very moving - jubilant Iraqis flocking in and out of polling places showing their stained fingers as if to say, "I took part in carving the destiny of my country today in a democratic way."
Kudos to the Iraqi people. All peace-loving citizens of the world salute you.
Blogville Drive - A new street in Blogdom
Today, I discovered a site where one can set up a blog. I decided to register and in minutes I was able to create Blogville Drive.
Check it out sometime.
Check it out sometime.
Gmail, anyone?
I've got four available so if you want one, send me an email.
Talking about email, I've overheard someone who said, "Email is one of the best things that ever happened since sliced bread. Oh yes, email has indeed made communication convenient and speedy, but do you agree that to a certain degree it has impersonalized our way of communication?
Consider these:
Instead of picking up the phone to call someone, you send an email.
Instead of going to the next door office to greet a co-employee, you send an email.
Your mom's dying to hear your voice on her birthday, she heard, "You've got mail" instead.
Gone is the warmth and the passion that verbal communication brings, because of email.
But email is here to stay, Oh well.
Talking about email, I've overheard someone who said, "Email is one of the best things that ever happened since sliced bread. Oh yes, email has indeed made communication convenient and speedy, but do you agree that to a certain degree it has impersonalized our way of communication?
Consider these:
Instead of picking up the phone to call someone, you send an email.
Instead of going to the next door office to greet a co-employee, you send an email.
Your mom's dying to hear your voice on her birthday, she heard, "You've got mail" instead.
Gone is the warmth and the passion that verbal communication brings, because of email.
But email is here to stay, Oh well.
Say a prayer for Iraq
I urge, then, first of all that...prayers...be made for everyone- for kings, and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives... 1 Timothy 2:1 (NIV)
Friday, January 28, 2005
TGIF (Thank God It's Funny)
Jack wakes up with a huge hangover after attending his company’s Christmas Party. Jack is not normally a drinker, but the drinks didn’t taste like alcohol at all. He didn’t even remember how he got home from the party. As bad as he was feeling, he wondered if he did something wrong. Jack had to force himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table. And, next to them, a single red rose!
Jack sits up and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror. Then he notices a note hanging on the corner of the mirror written in red with little hearts on it and a kiss mark from his wife in lipstick!: “Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to go get groceries to make you your favorite dinner tonight. I love you, darling!”
He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast, steaming hot coffee and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table eating. Jack asks, “Son… what happened last night?”
“Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind. You fell over the coffee table and broke it, and then you puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door.”
Confused he asked his son, “So, why is everything in such perfect order, so clean, I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?”
His son replies, “Oh THAT!… Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed, “Leave me alone, lady, I’m married!”
Jack sits up and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror. Then he notices a note hanging on the corner of the mirror written in red with little hearts on it and a kiss mark from his wife in lipstick!: “Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to go get groceries to make you your favorite dinner tonight. I love you, darling!”
He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast, steaming hot coffee and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table eating. Jack asks, “Son… what happened last night?”
“Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind. You fell over the coffee table and broke it, and then you puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door.”
Confused he asked his son, “So, why is everything in such perfect order, so clean, I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?”
His son replies, “Oh THAT!… Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed, “Leave me alone, lady, I’m married!”
I thought a couple of funny posts will give you a relaxing moment to cap your work-week.
Have a fruitful weekend, fellow Bloggarts!
To a woman who needs a laugh and to the guys who can handle it
The Brain
In the hospital the relatives gathered in the waiting room, where
their family member lay gravely ill. Finally, the doctor came in looking
tired and somber. "I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news," he said as he
surveyed the worried faces. "The only hope left for your loved one at
this time is a brain transplant. It's an experimental procedure,
semi-risky and you will have to pay for the brain yourselves."
The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a great length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?" The doctor quickly responded, "$5,000 for a male brain, and $200 for a female brain."
The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked. A man, unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, Why is the male brain so much more?" The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and so to the entire group said, "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because they've actually been used."
In the hospital the relatives gathered in the waiting room, where
their family member lay gravely ill. Finally, the doctor came in looking
tired and somber. "I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news," he said as he
surveyed the worried faces. "The only hope left for your loved one at
this time is a brain transplant. It's an experimental procedure,
semi-risky and you will have to pay for the brain yourselves."
The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a great length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?" The doctor quickly responded, "$5,000 for a male brain, and $200 for a female brain."
The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked. A man, unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, Why is the male brain so much more?" The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and so to the entire group said, "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because they've actually been used."
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Au revoir King Carlos
It's official - Carlos Delgado is now a Marlin. Congratulations!
Your legion of fans in Toronto will surely miss you. Thank you for such a class act as a Blue Jay and for seasons of fun you batted our way.
We wish you all the best. I'm sure you'll make the Marlins proud of you.
To the Marlins: You hit a home run by signing Delgado.
Your legion of fans in Toronto will surely miss you. Thank you for such a class act as a Blue Jay and for seasons of fun you batted our way.
We wish you all the best. I'm sure you'll make the Marlins proud of you.
To the Marlins: You hit a home run by signing Delgado.
Monday, January 24, 2005
That time is NOW
By now everybody knows the passing away of Johnny Carson. Relatives, friends, acquaintances, public figures and fans have a lot of good things to say about him as a person and as an entertainer, and that's GOOD.
Recently, I went to a funeral service for a friend's mother. Eulogies poured in as people paid their last respects, and that's GOOD.
But why do we wait until someone passes away before we say what we say at the wake or funeral service?
Let us resolve to tell our loved ones - parents, brothers, sisters, spouses, children, friends, etc.- NOW that we admire, respect, appreciate and love them.
Recently, I went to a funeral service for a friend's mother. Eulogies poured in as people paid their last respects, and that's GOOD.
But why do we wait until someone passes away before we say what we say at the wake or funeral service?
Let us resolve to tell our loved ones - parents, brothers, sisters, spouses, children, friends, etc.- NOW that we admire, respect, appreciate and love them.
Gems from my Inbox - Part 3
Take this quiz: (you don't actually have to take the quiz - just read straight through)
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners
for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, most of us (except perhaps Ken Jennings) don't remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in
their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated
and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are
not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most
awards. They are the ones that care.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners
for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, most of us (except perhaps Ken Jennings) don't remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in
their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated
and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are
not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most
awards. They are the ones that care.
Have a great week ahead of you.
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