Joy

  Happy Monday! Our Monday post fell on All Saints Day and I am so glad to have the chance to talk about looking forward to eternity as a sure road to finding joy.   Does your everyday show evidence of your anticipation for eternity?  Admittedly, when I am lost in the middle of my tasks, when my day is full and my mind afloat  - i forget.   Sometimes, by the end of the day when I finally pause, I look back at the missed chances to offer some recompense and invest on eternal life.  Hard work that I did for myself and not for my prayer intentions.  The harsh words I did not withhold instead so I can practice more kindness.  The assistance I did not give others to make life a little more bearable so they can do the same for others.   Let us all try to remember (together) how many chances for heaven we have every minute of the day and how we are taking advantage of them.  Let us not give up on this endeavor, to get to heaven w...

Happy Monday!  I admire wise people.  I like it when the person I am talking to can twist my point of view.  I am amazed at people who do not think like I do.  Simply because I always thought that people should think the same way.   In school, there is always a right answer.  In the family, there is a way things are done.  In companies, there are rules, procedures, flow charts.  It gets too comfortable sometimes blindly going through things without thinking with a twist. We develop wisdom by talking to people and welcoming different points of view.  We develop wisdom by asking questions rather than providing answers.  We develop wisdom when we challenge our situations - change, twist, experiment.  We develop wisdom when let go of pride and begin learning again.   May your conversations leave you wondering. May your encounters make you see the world in different ways. May you keep learning everyday.  Photo from re...

Family life is one thing we do not give up on .  At the least, we should work on our relationship with our immediate family everyday to make it our best relationship ever.   Here are some things to look out for while you - all of us - are trying :) 

 Happy Monday!  More and more, in the midst of trials, we start to realize how little everything else matters compared to family.  We work for them, worry about them, fight for them... live for them.  All the pain pays off and more.   Yet and again, sometimes we forget or seem to forget.  When we become too busy, when we argue over petty things, when we do not pay particular attention how we show up in the home.   How can we live family life with more intention?  1.  Time.  Be mindful of the quality of the time you spend with family members.  It may not be much but make them pleasant, caring, thoughtful and loving.   2. Look out for their needs.  Pay particular attention to what they like, how they want to be treated, step forward and make things easy for them at home.  3.  Be curious.  Sensitivity to what they do not say, how they are feeling and what occupies their mind.   4. ...

 We can still lose even when we win an argument when we are defensive. Why? What happens when we are defensive.   Let's talk about that in this #forwordfriday. ☕❤

Happy Monday! Surprise!  We think we can handle this truth, until we are faced with opposition, a different opinion, a person who just couldn't stand us.   Then we start to think, "why won't he agree with me?" "What is wrong with... HIM?!"  Yup, our natural tendency is to deflect rejection and become defensive.  We justify our stance, we seek others' approval, we look for every good reason why we are right and he is wrong.   Does not sound like you? Then maybe you belong to the group who immediately thinks, "What is wrong with ME?!"  Another way to react to an opposition or dissenting opinion or rejection is to question our intention, our action or worse, our self-worth.    Whichever way you swing in this continuum can be due to a lot of different factors.  However, what I want to focus on today is not how it affects you , not why it affects you but what do you do with it?   1. Be objective.  Either one of you may be ...

 Prayer should come naturally to us. With all its benefit for us we should not let a moment by without praying.  How can we be more prayerful?  Please listen.