Archive for January 2011

“There are three basic steps to winning: First, live each day with a goal in mind. Second, do what you can do. Third, be happy doing it.” – something I just pondered

While most of the people made lists of RESOLUTIONS during the start of the year, I opted not to join them. It was actually the GOALS which I started drafting out before December of last year.

Wait… is it a late New Year blog? Not really. It’s just that I have high spirits about these goals lately.

If I have the reasons to win, then why wouldn’t I opt to?

Starting last Monday, those goals have been dancing around my mind, seems like a kid that keeps on reminding, “Hey, you promised…!”

Below is a really quick list of goals (from a very long one), which I kept on being reminded of:

PHYSICAL

Lose weight and stay in shape.

I’ve got a call from my cousin who’s going to be married on April. I was informed that I will be one of the bridesmaids. And of course, I’d need to have my measurement stats for the gown. And when I saw how it would look like, I said “Oh gosh! I can’t forgive myself when I wear this gown on a…well…macho figure like this.” Haha! Exaggerated much?

At this moment, I started to cut (unnecessary) meals. I also do sit-ups before and after bedtime. I hope that would help. Haha!

COMMUNITY and ENVIRONMENT

I’ve always felt fulfillment every time I take part to any outreach activities and community services. Believing that we live in this world with others reminds me that as much as I need “others” to live, those “others” need me, too. It’s always a two-way street.

There are bags of old clothes stuck on the corner that just adds up to the pile of clutter in our house. I am a silent advocate of taking care of the environment, and with that, throwing those stuffs was never an option.

Sound effects…“Ting!” Then there goes the light bulb!

A year ago, I have joined an online community called GR3ENCYCLE Philippines. I just dropped a note about my thought on offering it to anyone who plans to have an outreach activity. As of now, three individuals expressed their interests. See, that’s hitting two birds in a stone!

Oh…and actually I plan to bring stuffs to SM Recycle Market’s Trash to Cash. I’ve wanted to do it months ago but was not able to do it due to busy schedule.

FINANCIAL

I have promised myself that I gave to work on my self-discipline to achieve financial freedom. Self-discipline, I believe, starts in small things in my everyday life.

I started the year with a clear goal of not coming late to office. Doing great so far. Not until last Tuesday when I was one minute late because of the baby bus driver who had to chat with another driver. Ahhh... That was so disappointing. That tardiness costs me a P 25-special trike fare, the supposedly P 300 monthly perfect attendance incentive, and the 10 points in our KPI (performance metric), where the highest pointers will get a corresponding amount. Sigh! But that was life. Just accept it. Actually, I can also claim part of the blame. I should be a few minutes earlier. I just have to move forward to the next month.

SPIRITUAL

There came Joan’s text message inviting me to join the Singles for Christ in Rosario on late February. Now, I'm so excited. I've never joined in activities such as this before. While being busy with other things, I must always remember that there is one best friend up there that makes all those possible.

CREATIVE

This blogging thing is one of my goals this year. I hope I can rekindle the fire that was lost fromt his passion.

If a goal is a promise, then is it a resolution too? Perhaps. But there is more to it.

Yeah, I promised -- not to others but to my self. And that gives much of the gravity. I came to think of it…”If a broken promise to others hurts, then why should I do it to myself? Whether I fulfill it or not, the impact for sure would be doubled.

Definitely, I need to fulfill them all. Good thing is, I am happy.

Wrote by natalie

Most of the times, my mind is more talkative than my mouth.

2012 07 11

Suddenly, I've learned not to categorize happiness into fake or genuine. The moment I feel happy, then I am. With it being a one-whole thing, there is no thin line in between. The choice is only between the temporary and the one that lasts a lifetime. And there, I have to choose carefully.

I've been speaking too much about happiness today, as if I am a happiness guru who'd know what would best make everyone happy. I am not. I am just proud to say: I am a firm believer of it for myself. That's what keeps me going.

2012 01 05

I do things to impress myself, not others. Though I love healthy competitions, I don't focus much on how much I outdo others, but on how I outdo myself.

2011 09 18

May bahagi ng isip na nagsasabing "Matulog ka na. Umaga na!" May bahagi naman na dumadaldal pa. Mabuti pa ang tyan, pag may nagrambulan sa loob, ilalabas mo lang. :)

2011 08 27
Life and Grammar taught me this, "'Love life' is an imperative statement you might want to consider if you can't afford to have it as a compound noun.

2011 08 25

People will forget what you said, but will always remember how they felt when you said it.

2011 08 22

Help me remember, Lord, that everytime Life tests me, I get the chance to test life. Then, I'd realize, it works! Love, Natalie.

2011 02 10

In life's game, you don't need an opponent just to be called a WINNER.

2011 02 02

What Sales thought me about life: More activities=More opportunities.

2011 01 28

Good things in life are not asked for; most of the times, they just come -- to those who are ready, able and willing.

2011 01 22

Love your neighbor when he least deserves it, because it is the time when he needs it most.

2010 10 22

Ever realized that "ignore" and "ignorant" share the same etymology? The world gives us lots of ways to learn. Yet, we don't pay attention. We disregard.

2009 07 30

If there is anything harder than "learning the hard way", I believe it would be "teaching the hard way".

I'd rather choose to argue with a fool than with an intelligent person. A fool would barely understand. An intelligent one would never want to.

My realizations are always useless until I believe them.

Blessed are the stupid, for they never realize they ever were.

No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission from the author.

Wrote by natalie

Photo source here

You might find me talking nonsense when I say that there might be one big elephant in our homes, offices, schools, cafeterias, or social halls, etc.

Sometimes, there really is. And it makes it hard for us to move around.

The Elephant in the Room.

As people in the room, tell me something we could be talking about. Work, love, ideas, trees, stars, family, shoelace, nail, weather, computer mouse, food, toothpick, places…name it. It’s an endless list.

We even ask “How are you?” a hundred times without really caring about what the response would be. Some would even reply “I’m doing fine” without really meaning it.

We talk about anything under the sun…but not the elephant in the room.

From Wikipedia

As an analyst for five years, student for 16 school years and… HUMAN for 26 years, I learned of the same techniques on problem solving. Same first steps, too: DEFINE THE PROBLEM.

Correct? It is.

But I just realized that there should be something else prior to that: RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

Most of us are silent. In denial. Why? Because talking about issues may put us out of our comfort zones. With this we just let them as they are, and suffice our selves with temporary relieves.

"Do you know that 90% of your money problems are mind problems?" -- Bo Sanchez

Taking the first step

I can’t say that I waste money for nothing. I tell you, I’m not into gimmicks. I am not fond of buying pricey stuffs just to show off. I provide a fair enough amount to the family twice a month, not to mention that I support my siblings on their studies. I also venture out to small ways to earn income. But then, with the realization that I am not hitting my financial goals, I knew I had a problem.

Then I browsed books and magazines, and explored the World Wide Web. Finally, I found out about IMG (International Marketing Group), which really houses lots of financial (and spiritual, I can say) mentors whom I learned so much from. Most of them owe their financial freedom from Bro. Bo Sanchez. And I am part of the team which roots from his financial coaching.

Bro. Bo Sanchez? Yeah, I knew him. I’ve read one of his books. I am one of the worldwide readers who are inspired with hisblogs. But with the new endeavor I’ve just had (financial literacy), I’ve thought of reading more of his books on financial advice.

A new friend

I’ve found a new friend. It seems she knows everything about me. And how could her pieces of advice be like hands with fingers that could fit any kind of hand of another – tiny or big, hardworking, worried, hopeful, rich or poor? You know what I mean?

I’m talking about his book. And why did I say “she” and “her”? Because in his book, I see a reflection of me, put into a transformation process.

I place it beside my pillow. I read it before starting or ending a day (of course, before or after saying a little prayer)

8 Secrets of the Truly Rich.

Actually, mine was “8 Sikreto Para Maging Tunay na Mayaman”. Yeah, it would have been a smoother reading if I bought the English one, but I was price conscious. It was still Bo’s, by the way. And I believe they speak of the same language when the audience is the heart.

I love the way it speaks of money so comfortably while teaching to be a servant of God by helping others. I agree that most people think that acquiring more money is unholy, and it should not be that way. I’d like to quote this one:

“Walang saysay ang pagiging mayaman para lamang sa kapakanan ng kayamanan. Ang landas na iyon ay tutungo lamang sa kawalan at kalungkutan.”

I was also moved by the story of Soichiro Honda (the man behind Honda Motors), who did not quit in spite of the hurdles in life.

You want to know further on what the secrets of the rich are? I suggest you to grab a copy of the book. It teaches everyone the practical ways to earn, save invest money. It is like a bullet that hits you to the head and then goes directly to the heart. The only difference? It does not kill you. It actually makes you live better.

“Humanap ng Kampyon na Kabalikat,” Bo is correct. And I've just found another one.

Money is overrated. I agree. But isn’t it nice to sit down and ponder (law of focus, you know it?) how to play the ball that keeps rolling in your everyday life? Or would you just let it hit you?

With Bo's book, you could take the elephant away.

Taken from another blog I own, Your Money Buddy

Wrote by natalie

(posted it few years ago. a good article found on the web. makes me realize that from time to time, we must possess a heart of child.)

Hot sun. Salty air. Rhythmic waves.

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright yellow bucket. Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it.

And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.

All afternoon he will work. Spooning out the moat. Packing the walls. Bottle tops will be sentries. Popsicle sticks will be bridges. A sandcastle will be built.

Big city. Busy streets. Rumbling traffic.

A man is in his office. At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments. He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers. Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made.

All his life he will work. Formulating the plans. Forecasting the future. Annuities will be sentries. Capital gains will be bridges. An empire will be built.

Two builders of two castles. They have much in common. They shape granules into grandeurs. They see nothing and make something. They are diligent and determined. And for both the tide will rise and the end will come.

Yet that is where the similarities cease. For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it. Watch the boy as the dusk approaches.

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow. No fear. No regret. He knew this would happen. He is not surprised. And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles. He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home.

The grownup, however, is not so wise. As the wave of years collapses on his castle, he is terrified. He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it. He blocks the waves from the walls he has made. Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide.

"It's my castle," he defies.

The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand belongs...

I don't know much about sandcastles. But children do. Watch them and learn. Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart. When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud. Salute the process of life and go home.

Wrote by natalie

What Lou Natalie Means

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.

You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.

Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.

You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.

At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way.

And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life.

You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.

You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.

You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.

You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.

You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.

You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

Wrote by natalie

(Also a random article found on the web. I find it helpful)

Rule One... for a Better Way to Live:

Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you... with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.

Rule Two... for a Better Way to Live:

Today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do. The victory of success will be half won when you learn the secret of putting out more than is expected in all that you do. Make yourself so valuable in your work that eventually you will become indispensable. Exercise your privilege to go the extra mile, and enjoy all the rewards you receive. You deserve them!

Rule Three... for a Better Way to Live:

Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.

Rule Four... for a Better Way to Live:

Always reward your long hours of labor and toil in the very best way, surrounded by your family. Nurture their love carefully, remembering that your children need models, not critics, and your own progress will hasten when you constantly strive to present your best side to your children. And even if you have failed at all else in the eyes of the world, if you have a loving family, you are a success.

Rule Five... for a Better Way to Live:

Build this day on a foundation of pleasant thoughts. Never fret at any imperfections that you fear may impede your progress. Remind yourself, as often as necessary, that you are a creature of God and have the power to achieve any dream by lifting up your thoughts. You can fly when you decide that you can. Never consider yourself defeat again. Let the vision in your heart be in your life's blueprint. Smile!

Rule Six... for a Better Way to Live:

Let your actions always speak for you, but be forever on guard against the terrible traps of false pride and conceit that can halt your progress. The next time you are tempted to boast, just place your fist in a full pail of water, and when you remove it, the hole remaining will give you a correct measure of your importance.

Rule Seven... for a Better Way to Live:

Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. Never again. There is a better way.

Rule Eight... for a Better Way to Live:

Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now. Now! Not tomorrow!

Rule Nine... for a Better Way to Live:

Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find "tomorrow" on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday's defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year. The saddest words you can ever utter are, "If I had my life to live over again..."Take the baton, now. Run with it! This is your day!

Rule Ten... for a Better Way to Live:

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.

Rule Eleven... for a Better Way to Live:

Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously.

Rule Twelve... for a Better Way to Live:

Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.

Rule Thirteen... for a Better Way to Live:

Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.

Rule Fourteen... for a Better Way to Live:

You will achieve grand dream, a day at a time, so set goals for each day -- not long and difficult projects, but chores that will take you, step by step, toward your rainbow. Write them down, if you must, but limit your list so that you won't have to drag today's undone matters into tomorrow. Remember that you cannot build your pyramid in twenty-four hours. Be patient. Never allow your day to become so cluttered that you neglect your most important goal -- to do the best you can, enjoy this day, and rest satisfied with what you have accomplished.

Rule Fifteen... for a Better Way to Live:

Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.

Rule Sixteen... for a Better Way to Live:

Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valley you must traverse. Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the mountaintop. So will you learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble. There is always a seed of good. Find it and prosper.

Rule Seventeen... for a Better Way to Live:

Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

Wrote by natalie

(Just thought it would be nice to share. Found somewhere in the web)

1) Understand that no experience comes labeled. You are the labeler.

The power to choose is yours! As William Shakespeare said, "Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so". You and only you are the labeler of your experiences. Do you complain that roses have thorns or do you rejoice that thorns have roses? You have the ability to choose your reactions. All too often, these decisions to label are not done consciously and your internal dialog will slap on a negative label. You must be aware of this and change it immediately. Realizing your ability to label is an awesome power and a great step towards success. Upon taking control, you can select empowering labels in place of the negative ones. You are in control of the experience.

2) Avoid blaming yourself for making mistakes.

The road to success is always under construction. Every morning we awake to a day we have never seen or experienced. Mistakes will be made and obstacles will appear. You have no control over these events but you do control your reaction to them. It is important that we forgive ourselves for making mistakes. We need to learn from our errors and move on. It is when we hurt that we learn. The power to choose how much we learn is ours. Do you see a stumbling block or a stepping-stone? You decide.

3) Understand that like energies attract.

Like attracts like. Positive thoughts produce positive results. If you surround yourself in positive emotions, energies, thoughts, and people then positive events will be the end result. Unfortunately, the same is true if you surround yourself in negative energies. Do you know someone that is always negative and melancholy? Notice that bad luck seems to continuously follow them. They may say that a rain cloud is right above his or her head. Well, they’re right. And as soon as they realize that it is they who create that rain cloud they can chose to make it disappear. What you plant, so shall you harvest. If you plant rose seeds you get roses right? Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it will all come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature.

4) Determine what you want and act on it.

Imagine an archer that did not have a target to shoot his arrow at. He would fire his arrows aimlessly and would not be successful. Have a goal, write it down, and act upon that goal. Now that there is a clear target you can have a plan of action. A visible target it easier to hit. Nobody ever sat his or her way to success. It takes hard work, motivation, a positive attitude and a strong belief that you can do it. That combination produces what we call luck. Do not sit back and wait for life to happen to you. Have a plan and take the needed steps to create what you want.

5) Choose to feel happy.

It has been said "Act as if and you will become." Try it. It really works. Put your chin up, smile, and think positive thoughts. Remember the happy times and notice all you have to be grateful for and you will feel lighter, happier and more empowered. If you frown, groan, grumble, and focus on everything wrong in the world you will feel down, lethargic and negative. Why bother with that? Identify the things and people that make you feel unhappy and eliminate them from your life. Nothing good can come from them. Choose to be happy and positive. Take steps to insure a more joyful and positive life. Do happy things; see positive movies, read good books, be around positive people, and practice affirmations. Identify the things and people that bring you happy feelings and surround yourself with them. Cultivate your relationship with yourself and you will be successful. Taking control of your life takes time and requires decisions. The rewards make the efforts worth it.

Wrote by natalie

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