Sunday, June 29, 2008

The Quarter-Life Crisis

When JC went to our place to use the internet weeks ago, we talked about work, relationships and basically... what our daily lives are... totally consumed by problems, pressures and full of questions.. what lies ahead of us? He was telling me what happened when he met his high school buddies during their reunion and all the success stories of his friends that made him reflect on his own life. Then he blurted out.. Maybe I'm just going through a "Quarter-Life Crisis". And that just got stuck in my head. Yes, maybe there is such a thing. This may be the answer why people my age(around their 20s), my peers, are all talking non-stop about the future, finding what will make them happy, and brainstorming about the best options to take in life. May it be in a relationship, career, or personal growth. I told JC, I might be going through the same thing as a pointed on a pile of inspirational books on top of the computer.

So I had that idea in mind and when I went to work that night, I told Michelle about my conversation with JC and she also agreed. She told me that sometimes, she feel sad because she still hasn't accomplished her goals. She has set herself to have her own house when she reached 25. She just turned 27 this year, still living with her in-laws. And it just puzzled me.. for someone who seems to have a comfortable lifestyle, have a work that buys her anything she wants, happy marriage and an adorable daughter.. she is still not satisfied of her life.

Tried to talk to Mai, a friend in her 30s. When I told her about all my disappointments and things bothering me, she just shrugs it off. She said that I am to young and that I have all the time in the world. Then it dawned into me, that yeah.. maybe we are the only ones giving pressure to ourselves that's why we feel terrible about our current state. We feel we have to prove something at this point. We feel that a successful career, perfect relationship or our great stature will put us in a level of bliss. I also realized that having this goals in mind is not bad, it can actually be used in good effect. But if it leads to having a crisis with yourself, then maybe you have to shake it off a bit and try to enjoy;) Stop pressuring yourself!

I bumped into this article blogged by Charisse Vilchez in Multiply. I read it and reminded me of
this scenario I had with my friends JC, Michelle and Mai. Bottom line is, we all go through phases. For me, feeling a bit of anxiety about what is ahead of us is normal. We are ALIVE. We are not robots to be controlled, our emotions and thinking brings us to our destination. So feel every anxiety, fear and pain, because it all teaches us a lesson. And it's always to BE BETTER:)


The Quarter-Life Crisis

by unknown

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.

You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while wining the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

FLASHBACK

I forwarded this chain text/IM to my friends...

FLASHBACK: Text me 1 memory we had together. The first one that pops in your head. Keep this going and see what they remember about you:)

And the replies that I got...

Hay Naku.. Sining Tanghalan days pa.
- Angeli Garcia

To and Fro St. Scho. Not going home right away. Hehehe.
- Luanne Penano-Mario

I really can't forget the day you pinched my butt during one of Sadanawan Rehearsals. Actually you didn't pinch, you squeezed kasi you used your five fingers. Haha!
- Shaun Marasigan.

I remember our Prov moments! You always sing High of Lighthouse Family.
- Sarah Tiangco


Ah edi yung nagsasayaw tayo sa harap ng Forum pag pinaparing mo yun cellphone ko tapos ringtone ko "In the club"! Hahaha! Remember? Miss you na! :)
- Liza Ranillo

We were at starbucks making chitchat and catching up on a lot of things about each other while soooper scared about finding out if ***SECRET***.
- Tin Reyes


I remember when I was just new at Branders, nag CR ako then napadaan ako sa station mo, di pa kita personally nakilala but you said HI to me and gave me a sweet smile. You also YMd me to greet me on my birthday considering that we're not yet close at that time!
- Dhayve Besona

Embassy!
- Michelle Alcantara


Yung inuman sa Libis. 4th of July! Yung tinuluan kita ng laway!
- Abi Balaoing

Andami! Pero first thing naalala ko sa Agogo tayong dalawa. Gym dapat pero tamad. Nagkwentuhan lang tayo about family naten. Tapos may text ka sakin after na surprised ka how strong I am and that I deserve all the good things that come to me.
- Michelle Alo

Boxing? Hehe! Mas-dominant yung nagstage play tyo kay Tim.
- CJ Aguilar

When you told me you were moving in with Mic, I felt we had a real "connection". It was heartwarming! Yihee!
- Angel Oracion

Holloween..last year..go spartans!..at ikaw yung reyna !
- Cecille Alfonso

Hhmmm...during the time that we would be at the lung center talking and smoking. Watz up gurrl?
- Catherine Arceo

Friendster...u helped me sign up for FS. 1 more thing....dami nalilink sayo lalo na si Anthony ba yung name nya? hehehe I still remember pano siya dumiskarte sayo....wahehehe....baduy
And you love lollipops!!!
- Vien Andres

We ate ice cream in shangrila... I could go on u know.. Chaka yung sa podium..
- Ryan Herrera


YUNG PINAGLABA KITA SA BHAY. Hehehe!
- John Villostas

Spice girl the movie!
- Jessica Cruz

Batangas trip naten na nagend up sa Linden Suites! Haha!
- Kathy Matias

hmmm the new year dinner we had at AIC.
-- Marti Bismark


Kwentuhan sa bathroom.
- Nicole Aquino

Yung nagkwentuhan tayo in your room tapos kasama natin si Ate Nicole..like yung first time kong umiyak dun sa stuff na kinwento ko.. nung wala si yela..
-- Nisha Dilla

uhm..dive and trek dive trip
- Carlo Laserna

Nililigawan ka pa ni Mac.. and you were so undecided and confused. You and me we had a yosi break and talked what was going on. That was even the first time we actually met hahaha.
- Jody Reyes

Memory? nung naka volks shirt ka tapos sinetup mo kame ni Mac.
Sinetup mo kame ni Jody with Mac.
- JC Susara


Tagaytay drive... uhm...ang dami eh..
like yung pinaiyak mo ko sa car sa super happy ko..
or yung mga tambay natin sa gas station..
or yung mga early morning breakfast natin kung saan saan..
yung Sofitel....
- Micmac Macalua

Friday, June 20, 2008

Bill Gates' 11 Rules


Got this email from Marty and find it cool so I'm sharing it to you guys. Sometimes we think successful and great people got it all easy. Reading this made me realize that we too can do great things, let's just not let our "issues" hinder us. I'm sure these rules that Bill Gates discussed were based on his own life lessons.

Bill Gates' 11 Rules:

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world would not care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will not make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You would not be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it is not your parents' fault so do not whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents were not as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they will give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This does not bear the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You do not get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you will end up working for one.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

quote for the day


Have you observed a rice field and noticed which heads are bent and which ones stand up straight?

Well the empty heads are standing tall and high. The heads that are FILLED with grains are bending low.

Indeed, the true and great and strong people are humble and gentle. True giants don't mind bowing low.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

quote for the day

This quote for the day entry is a handful. Let me know which is your favorite and why? Let's try a little interaction. :)

*There are times we treat life like a mysterious door. It doesn't open no matter how hard we push it because we never seem to notice the huge sign that reads "PULL".

*You can't hold too many things, no matter what you do to make them stay, and no matter how much they want to stay, the wind will always blow them away. So learn to let go and choose carefully which you want to stay because like a sand, only those which are in the center of your palm will last.

*Simple thought: Never get tired of doing little things for others because sometimes, those little things occupy the BIGGEST part in their hearts.

*I don't know that I've ever valued anything that came easy. Sometimes it's the fight that makes a thing worth having.

*Proving happiness isn't seen on how many times you laughed. It's finding that sensible reason everytime you laugh.

*God needs to hear what you want not because He easily forgets nor He doesn't know. It's because He loves to feel the sweetness of your prayers.

*Life has it's own way of making us smile even when we want nothing else than to give up and lose hope. Because certain surprises come our way just when we thought we would never smile again.

*Everything you've done will become someone else's memory. The person might forget the exact words you said but no way to make them forget the way you made them feel "happy".

*When you're down to nothing. God is up to something. Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible. So always walk with faith.

*The importance of good friends in our lives is like the importance of heartbeats. Though not visible, they silently support our lives.

*If one dream should fall and break into a THOUSAND pieces. Never be afraid to PICK one of those pieces up and BEGIN again. That's the beauty of being alive -- we can always start all over again.

*One thing we've got to learn is that no person is better than the other. Some are blessed with intellect, some knowledge, some with great wealth and some with strength and some with a unique gift from God that they have yet to find. The essence of being is not your rank or "greatness" but being who God made you to be- radiantly beautiful inside or out.

*Sometimes, you just have to put a period on something that has to end and not just settle on a comma. WHY? Because time will come you'll realize that it's nicer to see a complete sentence rather than seeing a phrase that's completely hanging and doesn't even make any sense.

*You can choose to blame your circumstances on fate or bad luck or bad choices. Or you can fight back. Things aren't always going to be fair in the real world but that's just the way it is. For the most part you get what you give. Rest of your life is being shaped right now with the dreams you chase, the choices you make and the person you decide to be. The rest of your life is a long time and the rest of your life starts now.

*God did not give us revolving heads so that we keep on checking the past. But he didn't lock our heads in place also; instead, we can still look back, if only for a glance. God made us so to remind us that we must not forget the past, only get over it.

Let me hear from you!:) To post your comments, visit http://sugarcoatedsunshine.blogspot.com/

BETAMAX



*piko, patintero, taguan, agawan panyo, Chinese garter, Chinese jack stone, jack stone, pick up sticks, stationary, kisses, game boy, betamax/vhs rental, i-channel etc.

This is a very common topic in our generation, looking back at our childhood memories and the stuff that was "uso" during our time. Believe me, once somebody starts this conversation, it goes on and on. We lived in the Generation Y -- this is who we are. I know a lot of my friends can relate to this song by Sandwich called Betamax. Enjoy!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Because Candy Says So...

I was editing my Friendster sites(yes I have 2 accounts) and saw a couple of pictures that means more to me than merely just adding the caption "with Nicole in Libis" etc. Indeed pictures can paint a thousand words and these pictures reminds me of the lessons that I've learned along the way. Some entries may sound a bit Dr. Phil-ish but all of the words are all based on my realization. I can do a lot of blog entries like this! (IDEA KACHING KACHING) hehe:) I so love pictures and putting captions on them can be another thing. Hope you guys enjoy this entry.

**Teach a child to do things! (teaching Ardee how to color)**
Teach a child to do things and they will remember you. I can still clearly recall who taught me how to tie my laces -- Tita Lissa:), how to color inside the lines -- Mommy, how to brush my hair -- Lola, how to keep my hair clean and "kuto free"hehe:)- Tita Dina.. etc.


**Bring out the inner child in you:)**
A thing that worked for me when I'm down in the dumps and want to have a quick mood booster, is to see my sister Nicole or my cousin Sacha. They remind me of how we used to be when we were young. Carefree, Young and FULL OF HOPE that there is a BIG TOMORROW ahead of us. So I made this mantra for my sister and cousin, WHEN SAD, JUST REMEMBER HOW WE ARE WHEN WE WERE YOUNG-- and you know where to reach me. :)


**CAUTION SHALLOW WATER, NO DIVING...**
I noticed this picture and saw the sign behind us. Indeed true. It has been a tried and tested thing that the stuff that works in life are those with strong foundations. Sometimes we dive ahead not knowing what's ahead of us, and if the water is shallow we get hurt. Same goes with relationships, always face it like there's a warning sign and don't go for the "kilig(shallow)" feelings right away. Just go for it when you know that it's deep enough, with a foundation. Mic and I started from strangers to colleagues, friends to best friends and now partners in life. MICMAC = my part time lover full time best friend for life...AND IT WORKS FOR ME.


**if your soul is shining,it won't matter if it's raining outside**
Nuff said. I heard from a friend that there's this girl who keeps on checking my Friendster and then talks shit about me. Girlie, the news keeps on reaching me. You don't know me to judge me, and it won't matter anyway. Piece of advice, save the effort and move on with your life. Insecure girls talk about other girls. Quit it and do a favor for your self esteem:)


**Conquered my fear of deep water-- Childhood dream: Be Ariel of Little Mermaid:) *check**
It was a lot of gathered strength and courage. At first I thought I will quit. I hyperventilated the first try, but I said to myself, I'm not going home with no stories and UNDERWATER PICTURES! So that's it! All I thought was my passion of having pictures and I did it. A very liberating experience. DARE TO CONQUER YOUR FEARS. IT'S A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

***CANDICE means RADIANCE***
My name means radiance. I hope I'm living up to my real name. I know I'm doing a good job with my nick Candy(sweet) hehe:)


***black and white Baguio Sunshine--turning point--***
Some events in our life are unexplainable and still have a lot of hanging questions. Though how painful this events may be, it happened for a reason. And sometimes, you don't have to hear the answer from the person/people who caused the pain. Sometimes all you need to do is find the answers yourself and learn to know yourself more.


***ipod therapy--music soothes my soul..lalalalala:)***
Music is made for the soul. It's amazing how music can speak to your heart and sometimes we can relate to them. The irony of it is that it makes you feel you are not alone in the world who felt the exact same emotion you felt through the words of the song. For me, it made me feel that I'm not journeying alone.


***the spark--that started the rest of my life***
SIDE STORIES.. I have a lot of them. I found this pic and said YES THIS IS THE PIC! -- that started the spark of my new found life. It changed me and it nudged me of what I wanted my life should be. I don't want to dance alone anymore:) AND IT HAPPENED!


**CANDY WINK by the kids***
(Brea and Jersey--Michelle and Dhayve's daughters-- shot using my camera phone)
I love it when I see this 2 girls. At a young age, they've become friends(they just turned 3). And they love each other and kiss each other. It's just so sweet. I love a friendship like that, innocent and sweet. I still have a few friends who were my friends from the innocent and sweet stage and still is my friend up to now at my SWEET ONLY stage. Hahaha:)


**I love cute stuff:) it makes me kikay like that...**
I keep on buying small cute stuff. I think it's sort of RETAIL THERAPY. Well I noticed my number of "abubut" when I packed my stuff and moved out that I have plenty of them..some were even not used at all.. Well what I did was gave some to my sister Nicole and some to daughters of friends. :) No regrets. It made other people happy and I won't keep myself on my next impulse on buying that cute thingy.


***crossroads of my life! im not afraid to cross them:)***
Let me quote Meredith Grey on this one: "At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. But there are some lines... that are way too dangerous to cross.."


***hmmmmusicbytes -=candy=-***
To live is to dance and to dance is to live. Dance to life's tunes. and let the hmmmmusicbytes(this is my original word)


***Clearwater, FL :) --the bridge is quite shaky--***
When we cross bridges in our life and it's a bit shaky, it's not the end of everything. Quakes in our life teaches us to be calm and composed, time for yourself to think of the next great step. Slowly step by step, you'll be able to reach on a solution. Sometimes there's a raft waiting at the end to save us. Doesn't mean that you're done with trying, it's just that your on a better path on surviving:)


***WONT B. USED == may she rest in peace***
OK girls, Wont B. Used already passed away. She's no good role model or example so let's just focus on another model. It's time we learn from great females of our time. Learn more about Dame Mary Warnock. (Research Time!) for starters hehe:) Googling...


***Kick the nasty habit guys! (poof all i see is red)***
Yes I was a smoker and I did quit cold turkey style. It's hard especially during stressful days and you're used to de-stress using a stick. This habit used to comfort me at times I can't get anyone to run to but still it's BAD HABIT. It serves it's purpose when I needed it at the moment but it will slowly kill me. So just like bad relationships that can be addictive, I tossed this just like that:) It taught me something, DETERMINATION. It's almost a year and I'm enjoying the smoke free lifestyle.


*** STRESSTABS! haha***
WORK + FUN = BYE BYE STRESS - trying to stick to this formula. Hehe!


***sunrise that should've been spent together -- but now we're together:)***
There are places and things that we didn't attend to because we have to do something else. One thing I learned about regretting not going to places and events is not to worry if you can't make it at that moment. Sometimes there is a bigger surprise waiting. No hurries, live life day by day.


***candy = an animated storyteller***
People say I'm very animated when telling stories. Sometimes I can make a corny joke sound.. ok not funny but more corny... because I'm like acting along with it. That is just my thing. Watch me when I talk:) haha!

***Friends are our journal keepers!(my gfs unite! rc, kaye, inna and jess)***
My Journal Keepers are the ones that will remind me over and over again during get togethers about my stupidity, mistakes, LOL moments etc. I'm glad I was able to let the girls of my life meet and eventually they've become friends too.
Jessica- gf since Grade6, Kaye and RC- ICT gfs, Michelle- Branders gf


***dare to be crazy!!! (my bodyguards)***
Sometimes, what a group of people need is a good laugh. I did this as a dare when the OMS team went to Enchanted Kingdom for Team Bldg. Katch asked me to pose with 2 security guards in exchange of 2 PTO(Vacation Leave) and I DID IT:)


***YOUTH is not defined by your age:) -- Our hip-Lola, she brought us up with Style:)***
My grandma is 70 years old and she can still pass for someone that look like my mom. She's very conscious about her health. She's into vegan lifestyle, still very much updated in fashion, goes to the gym regularly and still have her complete set of PERMANENT TEETH:) She's an inspiration for me.

***set apart-- i enjoy my quiet time:)***
We need time to set apart and enjoy ourselves. I'm now a believer of the saying -- In order for others to enjoy your company, you have to enjoy your own company. Realize what are your traits that other people raves about and also rants about you. Strengthen the raves and change the rants:)

***ICT ad *dream to be on print ad, billboard and posters* CHECK!***
Another childhood-dream-come-true!


***aspiring photographer and lomographer***
Working on this other dream;)

Friday, June 6, 2008

quote for the day

Here are 5 inspirational quotes in my phone that never fail to lift me up when I'm having a bad day. Let me share them with you guys:) More quotes to come...

Life is a constant change. Love is the greatest surprise. Friendship is your best defense. Maturity comes with responsibilities and Death is just around the corner. So expect little, assume nothing, learn from your mistakes, listen to your heart, take care of your friends, treasure your family, achieve your goals, cry because of laughter, laugh because of pain, eat your pride and throw up all hatred, and always remember that LIFE is the best gift not everyone got the chance to have it longer.
-- John V.(Feb 24- after the weekend I went diving for the first time)

"Never listen to people who have the bad habit of being negative. Because they steal the best aspirations of your heart. Always remind yourself of the power of the words that we hear or read. Always choose to listen only to words that will empower you to be better."
-- Tin Sy (April 09)

We can be happy anytime once we understand that the only place we'll ever find genuine happiness IS RIGHT INSIDE US. Happiness begins at the point of acceptance: the point when we stop questioning why life can't be perfect and just accept the world the way it is. If the sun shines in your soul, does it matter if it rains outside? Certainly not. HAPPINESS WITHIN overlooks the sadness that any event may bring and God's grace will always be sufficient to answer all your needs. Stay happy rain or shine!
-- Tin Sy(April 26)

"Today is the first day of your life because it has never been before, and today is the last day of your life because it will never be again." - Frederick Buechner
-- Joey(April 28)

Life isn't always the way we want it to be. What matters is..
we live with good intentions and give happiness to those we met along the way.
-- Sarah Tiangco(May 10)

Be inspired:)

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

5 Lessons

Five (5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 P.M. , an older African American
woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had
broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaki ng wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally
unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man
took her to safety, helped her get assistance and
put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his
address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a
knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A
special note was attached..

It read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway
the other night. The rain drenched not only my
clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying
husband's bedside just before he passed away... God
bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving
others."

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those
who serve.


In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in
front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and
studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve
our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will
save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in
bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.

The Perfect Husband

The Perfect Husband

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club.

A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.

MAN: "Hello"

WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"

MAN: "Yes"

WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"

MAN: "Sure, ..go ahead if you like it that much."

WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2008 models. I saw one I really liked."

MAN: "How much?"

WOMAN: "$60,000"

MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."

WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing .... The house we wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000"

MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer, but just offer 900,000."

WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you!"

MAN: "Bye, I love you, too."

The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are looking at him in astonishment.

Then he asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?"