What does Christmas mean to you?



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The days are inching closer with the events leading to the culmination of the Christmas holidays. We are now in the month of December and it’s raining every day in these parts. Yet life must go on and we all must brave the rain and put in an appearance at our various destinations. It all depends on your perspective, rainy weather (or snowy in some cases) can be a magical time and it’s up to you to make the most of it. It can be a cozy time indoors if you bundle up with warm clothes and heated beverages and think warm thoughts. People all over the world are making plans, some have been planning months in advance to spend Christmas with their loved ones at perhaps a far off exotic location or a winter wonderland. Others may be just going back home to spend the holidays with the parents or grandparents, aunts, uncles or otherwise.

photo credit -christmaswallpapers.info

Times like this deserve someone to share the festivities of the season with even if it a neighbour, a close friend or a distant relative. Our life is such that we must cultivate and foster close relations for the old saying rings true “no man is an island.” Christmas is a wondrous time of year where all little kids fantasies come true and are usually granted by their parents. Although we are now adults, and we don’t have a fairy godmother to wave a magic wand as in the fairy tales, we can attempt to make our dreams a reality one day at a time whether it is personal, career/business or leisure. For Christmas we can treat and pamper ourselves with a day at the spa or a day of shopping. If we can’t afford to do that we can make our favourite Christmas treats and invite friends over to watch our best holiday movies over teas, liquors and wines or listen to carols or parang while we decorate and reminisce over the good ole days. We can volunteer our time at a soup kitchen or children’s home. Christmas brings back memories and if we can’t spend it with the ones we love we can share it with those in need of love.

Remember Christmas is about thanksgiving for a second chance given by our Saviour whether you celebrate it at this time or in this way, the sentiments are universal. It’s about love and sharing and peace to all men and most of all inner peace. We have to find ways to make Christmas special because it is not about you and it's not about me - it is about selfless giving especially to those less fortunate. Like everything in life, we have to work at it to make it magical and keep the fires burning long after the last Carol has been sung and the last gift opened. May your light shine bright during this month of December and may your Christmas 2010 be special beyond words. ©



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Break the Monotony

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I haven’t written a full-length article in a while and I’m thinking maybe I should revisit this. I miss writing but life is such that there is little time for the things that matter the most to us. Everything is just rushed as we try to squeeze in the many things that encompass a typical day. You get up early, get ready for work, for those of us with families we hurry to get our kids ready for school all packed and ready to face the day equipped with all the necessary tools to have a productive day. All set, we hit the road…literally. Some days the traffic is better but some time or another we encounter some sort of discomfort on our travels. I have found it worth the sacrifice (of sleep) to leave at least fifteen minutes earlier on mornings and afternoons to avoid the agonizing delays and frustration spent in jams…not to mention less fuel consumption…it’s amazing! You hear me going on and on about traffic but the plethora of cars on the roads these days is just horrific! I know everyone wants to be independent in terms of their daily commute but it is frustrating at times (forgive me for saying this) especially with all the “bad drives” you have to dodge on a daily basis.

When you get to work you juggle many tasks, meetings, deadlines, phone calls, projects and the like in an effort to get everything done before it’s time to hit the road again. Some days it passes faster than others…other times you can’t wait for it to end so that you can just spend some quality time with loved ones, relax or get to your after work activities. Some may have classes, some may have hobbies such as exercise or sports. Others may not have it so easy and have to pick up the kids from school and make drop-offs to after-school activities and help with homework - leaving little time for much else. Most of us get home at nightfall with just enough time to prepare for the next day, whether it’s meals, ironing or other household chores. By this time you are just praying for your bed to put up your feet and catch some zeez. Before you know it …your alarm goes off and it’s time to do it all over again and you feel like you're trapped in the movie “Groundhog Day.” For those of us that haven’t seen this 1990s movie, it’s about the actor Bill Murray’s character who keeps reliving the same day over and over until he finds redemption. Then the weekend goes so fast sometimes you wish there are less workdays and more of the weekend.

My point through all of this is that it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and forget to enjoy life. You get bored with life, work and those around you. You hear people complaining about this all the time. It’s the little things though (that we don’t stop to absorb) that makes you thankful and bring a smile or laughter to your countenance. It may be a scenery of trees or flowering poui that you pass by everyday on the way to work and never take the time to notice until you are stuck in traffic one day and you suddenly notice it, or a bird, a breathtaking sunset….or rainbow that just catches you by surprise. This has happened to me on several occasions and it brought such joy and appreciation for life. To think that all these things were there all the time and I did not realize it until that moment. Every time I pass by the foreshore and the sun sparkles on the water as it sets, I can’t help but slow my pace a bit and thank God for the ability for my sense of sight. I was giving a colleague a ride home yesterday and without prompting, she said to me as we both passed this same spot: "don't you just love it when the river meets the sea?!" We both looked across and watched it in silence (someone else notices I thought!...although mute). At work it may be an eccentric co-worker that breaks the monotony of the day. Or at home, a pet that greets you when you open your gate…we must all find ways to get a little enjoyment from life…it’s the simple pleasures that makes your life unique and worthwhile. Whether it is a nagging spouse or sibling that you constantly argue with. Thank God that you have a spouse or brother or sister to nag you sometimes, for there are many lonely people out there that long for the experience and wish they had someone in their life. If you hate going to the gym like me, stop to give thanks that you have the ability and means to exercise, for there are many that can’t for one reason or another. And when I think about it, it is for my benefit and I do get some enjoyment when all is said and done and I am grateful that I find the energy and willpower to rally through and maintain a healthy fitness lifestyle for the past 8 years.

No matter how busy your life gets though, you must make the time to do something for 'you' regularly. Whether it is sewing, baking, caring for your automobile, listening to music, playing an instrument, talking to your best friend on the phone, sharing a joke from the day with your neighbour or spouse, watching your favourite television show or writing in a journal. I haven’t watched television in almost two years as I was studying and it did not bother me, now I have re-discovered what I was missing. It is an escape from reality for half an hour or more as you enter into a make-belief life with your favourite characters. I have found that I like old movies maybe from a decade or two ago (no not black & white!), sitcoms, comedies and action/drama. Just three times a week I like to escape to a private world. Nikita and The New Adventures of Old Christine are some of my favourite shows on TV right now. Recently I have watched Home Alone, Pretty Woman and Willy Wonker and the Chocolate Factory and for those few minutes I don’t think about anything else which is a simple pleasure for me. I am not fond of television but it takes me back to a time when life was simple.

These are just some of my favourite things that I like to do to break the monotony when I am not out enjoying the outdoors. I thought that I would share, so you too can pass on what you like to do to make life fun. Remember it’s not the big things that make you happy, but little moments that add to your joy and form part of the whole picture. When you look back at your life you would not remember that one 'big thing' that suddenly caused utopia, but snapshots of a good life well lived to the fullest. Live it in a way so that you can testify to this. ©

Peace.

A Special Feeling

Today is exactly one month away from the big day. There’s a certain feeling in the air now that Christmas is drawing nearer and nearer.  Not just the darkening of the sky a bit earlier or the slight drop in temperatures and rainy days around these parts but it’s a special feeling…Maybe of nostalgia of Christmases past or maybe of all the planning and preparation. But underneath it all do we remember why we are doing all of this? Do we remember to keep Christ in Christmas no matter what denomination or religion? Do we remember the ‘reason for the season’ while we hustle and bustle and spend it all in a hurry as if it won’t mean as much any other time of year? Christmas is not about the presents or the ham or turkey, snow, mistletoe, stockings or punch de crème. It’s about the feeling it invigours, the people around us that we share it with, it’s about the sacrifices that were made for us to enjoy a better life.  How we spend it is up to us but we need to give thanks that we have life to spend another Christmas with our loved ones for there are many others who were not as fortunate.  I am alive!  You are alive! No greater gift than that. We are privileged beings to be present in this era. We need to give thanks and live every moment as if it is a gift. Give of ourselves freely and we will appreciate the feeling it creates. ©

Startling Discovery

photo credit - pongoresume.com

I don't know how come I did not realize this before, but I am discovering new things about my blog everyday. I made this discovery quite by accident while watching an episode of "Gossip Girl" last night....How weird is that? I've discovered "stats" on the site!! This from someone who has been blogging for the past 2 years and wondering if there's a way to track hits, thinking this was only tracked by page views on my profile! I'm sort of embarrassed to admit this:( And here I thought no one was reading my blog :S........Anyhow, the purpose of this post is to thank all my readers whether you comment or not, I'm glad to know that you're out there. So to my readers in Russia, Turkey, Slovenia, Netherlands, Hong Kong, The United States, Canada, Jamaica and last but not least Trinidad & Tobago....I thank you! for making the time to stop by! Please feel free to leave your comments and ratings....so I know what you're thinking! Can you relate...what are your experiences on the issues like? Now I know I am not just rambling and talking to myself :D
Love you all!!

Have you answered the call?



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November is upon us…and it’s the second anniversary of my blog:-) Yeah I know what's the big deal right? No, but seriously it is a milestone since I have enough things to say to keep it going this long...and I got to thinking: did I accomplish all the things I wanted to with my blog? For the most part, I think the answer is yes. I am my own author of my own website (someone just pointed that out last night) and my own publisher…independent of when, where and how I am published. I can edit, delete or redesign anytime I want…I think it’s great. But have I reached the audience that I want to? That’s the question at hand. If my writing has reached 5 persons I think that I have accomplished what I set out to do. I can’t change the world all at once! (which is my greatest wish by the way…however grandiose that is). I long to transform and touch lives, to bring about changes in thought patterns, behaviours/modus operandi... inspire, motivate…the sky is the limit. I think writing is one of the greatest talents in the world…that along with song, dance, theatre and the arts. I am humble yet, and know there are many others like me out there…perhaps even better…but I even inspire myself sometimes…so I think that’s impressive, once you have confidence in your own work…that’s important. And I thank God everyday for this ability and zeal that I have to see it through to the end. The adrenaline never ends...passion never wanes. If I can do it full time that would be even greater….but hey there’s a divine reason behind everything in your life…you are exactly where you need to be at any given moment. And each of us has that gift deep inside us, whether we have discovered and realized it as yet is another question, but we have a force working within us to touch another soul and enhance lives, making it richer and more fulfilling if only we look inside, and live it every day. So I urge you to find your calling and answer it…don’t just go through the motions...then suddenly your whole world would open up and change for the better and life would become more worthwhile. ©

Peace.

The count down has begun

photo credit - whenwegetthere.com

The days are counting down to the end of the year…are we putting together our Christmas Wish List for things we want to see materialized in the new year? For life is a work in progress. Where would we be if we stop striving to be a better person and live a more fulfilled and rich life? Life is such that our position on matters are constantly changing and adjusting to our purpose. What was once important may not matter as much with the progression of time and may be replaced with new goals as we focus our energy on matters of greater priority. Each year is a gift as we challenge ourselves to greater heights spiritually, emotionally and physically.

As the year draws to a close we ask ourselves if we have accomplished what we set out to do when the year began. And as the old meets the new, we make provisions for exciting things to happen as we begin anew. ©

Are we ready for the ride of our life?

Joie de vivre

I couldn’t just blog once about the enjoyment of life and stop! Where’s the joie de vivre in that?! So I had to write a follow up to the previous blog post…about what I said about enjoying work. Now let’s face it – to most people work is not enjoyable if it’s working for “da man.” Two important elements missing from this equation if you’re having a ball of a time everyday at the salt mine: either you absolutely LOVE what you do for a living or you work for yourself. The latter is twice as much the work but to know that it is yours, you tend to give it your all because 1) you’re comfortable within your own surroundings and can work as late or early into the wee hours if you so desire and 2) you want repeat business through word of mouth and the pay is good…hey you’re your own boss! You can afford to give yourself a raise this month and then next month rough it and skip a salary altogether…. it’s flexible that way. A lot of people strive for that sort of freedom where and when they can break free from the mental and financial bondage of the "rat-race." Someone was saying just today that you spend 8 hours sleeping, 8 working for “da man”, 4 in commute (usually in traffic especially with all the rains and floods we’re been getting these days, on a day like today where people waited till nightfall just to avoid gridlock traffic outside their door) and the other 4 involved in miscellaneous activities part of which consists getting yourself ready to face the next day which usually begins with more traffic.

So if you can’t go off on your own just yet, we must find something we’re good at and love to do and find a way to get paid for it. Sometimes the money is not important once you get fulfillment from your job or make a difference somehow in the lives of others or made someone else happy...better yet if your work has brought about the improvement in the quality of daily life. To hear that you made another’s day or maybe saved a life or allowed someone to live their dream is fulfillment in itself and priceless beyond words. And each of our jobs are important and at times we don’t realize it and don’t give it our all. But don’t get me wrong…we all need $$$ to survive so you don’t want to give away your talents, skills, time and resources for free unless you have a back up plan…maybe a wealthy great uncle or a money tree in your back yard. Cos everybody needs the paper to survive and live a decent life. It doesn’t make us happy but without it we would be homeless, hungry and deprived of things needed to make life comfortable and livable for our family and ourselves. ©

So the moral of the story is: Find something you love to do and you never have to work a day in your life. You would be opulent in all the ways that are important to mankind.

Live life to the fullest!!

Photo credit- harmonicflow.com

It just dawned on me that I haven’t blogged yet for the month of October….so here I am. The months just seem to be flying by…to me summer just ended and now October is almost thru…wow! I have family visiting again and sometimes it’s nice just to get away….it’s refreshing. I was just telling a friend that there’s so much I wanna do with my life…. and it’s just finding the time and resources…life is so exciting to not enjoy it. I don’t know how some people can get bored with their life. Life is made to be enjoyed to the fullest....I just love it!!! And it’s not because I have the most exciting life…but it’s because I get pleasure from the simplest things in life. Every little moment is made to be savoured….music, the outdoors, animals, work, travel, hobbies, people: family, friends…LIFE! ©

So people enjoy it cos you’ve only got one life to live! Live it up to the max:D

When I Grow Up...

Photo credit - picture-book.com

How many times have we wondered where we’d be in 5, 10, 20 years time. Wow! Are we there yet?! The progression of the proverbial time line of life is one to be marveled at. When I was a child I thought all grown-ups were old…now I’m a grown up! My, oh my! Did I live up to all of my childhood expectations? Do all of the tangible things make my life a grown-up fantasy to some child or teen looking on? Or do I need to conform to the societal norms to be an adult? Do I need to have a child of my own to arrive at some sort of shared place where adults cohabitate?! Maybe I’m not making any sense to those that are already there, but hey blogging is liberating. Not one day goes by without one of my co-workers or acquaintances trying to convince me that you haven’t lived until you have bore your own offspring and dare they say aloud: doomed to a lonely life without that little person completing you and fulfilling your role or destiny in life. I can’t help but beg to differ. Whether I decide to do this or not does not dictate my fulfillment in life. I affirm that my destiny is contingent on me making myself and others happy… making a difference by touching another life by living my own… whether it is a spouse or family, friends, a child or another body in need of comfort, reassurance, consolation, mentouring, guidance or hope through my daily interactions, travels or my life’s work. Sometimes you fulfill your destiny by deviating from the norm or if you so desire - conforming to the norm. Most times you have to do what’s right for you at any given moment. Life is a choice and you can’t surrender your right to choose which path your life should take. There’s no right or wrong. It’s through it all you learn to make it better and grow wiser each and every day. It’s a mix of destiny, chance, free will and choices. ©

What’s your choice this day?