The Strangest Secret

Hi, everyone! I have been away for quite some time. Just a little side track here. I usually don't do this but I find myself inspired and I wanted to share this to everyone. A lot of times we need inspiration and we couldn't find the thing we wanted. So, I thought why not share this. Maybe, out from this, a life will be changed as well. This is not all about money making success stories. Anyways, check this short inspirational video by Earl Nightingale and be inspired by it.

Earl Nightingale is a legend in the personal development industry. His recoding of The Strangest Secret has sold over 1 million copies. It has changed many lives, and it could change yours ... http://blogspot.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e64efd851bf9317619994148b&id=7b13661770&e=1cf4f17a35

My friend DJ Gabe send this to me since I subscribe with his newsletter. I receive a lot of gifts from him and they are really wonderful and inspirational. You can check his site and subscribe, too, so that you will receive the same thing. http://gghali.blogspot.com

Be Inspired!

Together Again

“First love never dies.” That is one of the well known quotes about love. Well, this story that I will share to you validated the said quote through the lives of my grandmother and second grandfather.

This story started way back before the Philippines was colonized by Japan. This was the time when the Americans started to introduce their own system of education to the Filipinos. Lola Memeng (grandma Memeng) was trained by American educators to become one of the local teachers in remote areas. She was sent to a remote island called Camotes. This is now one of the tourist spots in the Philippines. As she went there, she became one of the belles in the area.

She was pretty, tall, smart and had long black hair. She met a man, named Bador, and they fell in love. Unexpectedly, Bador had to go to the capital and study in a university. They were separated. As years gone by, communication was not well established; so each one went to their separate ways. The man got married while working in the city while Lola remained single. Then time played a joke on them and they met again. This time Lola Memeng saw Bador with his wife and children. From then on, Lola Memeng, decided to forget the man and got married to another who became my biological grandfather.

As the Japanese invaded our soils, my grandfather died inside the prison cells. He was suspected as one of the revolution man since he was one of the prominent and well respected men in the area but he was not. At that time a lot of the prisoners escaped and he was one of those who were left behind and died. Lola Memeng was left with three daughters, the eldest is my mother. Life moved on and the Japanese left. This time, Bador was required by his job to go to Lola Memeng's place. There they met again and he told Lola that his wife died due to sickness. 

To make the long story short, both of them realized that they were still in love with each other and decided to get married. The children opposed to the idea. Most of all, Lolo had a dozen of children and my mother was the sole hard worker in the family. It means that she became the man in the family by doing hard labors in the farm. Somehow, no one can stop their decision and they were tied as one. Later, the children accepted the fact that they are now one big family.

As the title implied, they were together again. Yes, time and circumstances separated the two but as people said, first love never dies. In a day, the clock moves as it should be but in the end it goes back to where it started for another brand new day. Indeed, together again and a new start.

Love that Supports Remains Strong Forever

Tatay came to know Nanay through a friend who introduced them by letter writing. They didn't meet yet. He started to get interested so he communicated right away. (Take note: no computers yet at that time, only letter writing by post. It took weeks before they received the mails.) Thus, they became pen pals from then on. He was still studying in Cagayan de Oro City while she studied nursing in Iloilo City. To be exact, they were islands away from each other.

Later, Tatay came to Cebu to venture for a better life. He worked in a non-government organization and studied through correspondence course at the same time. Unexpectedly, Nanay went to Cebu and became a volunteer worker in the same institution that Tatay was working. What a surprise for them. Nanay didn't even know, even though they are corresponding, that he was working there. What do you call that? Fate brought them together or God's will? I choose the latter. How about you? I really enjoy true love stories. Let us continue.

From then on, they fell in love and started dating. Their relationship went well but with twist and turns, too. Aside from being tall and having good leadership characteristics, Tatay was good-looking. He was actually very attractive to girls. “A lot of pretty girls tried to flirt with Tatay just to get his attention,” Nanay said once. However, Nanay was not intimidated for she knew Tatay really loved her. Tatay said that he was only looking straight on one strong-willed woman. For him, she was the woman of whom he can fully trust. He, also, saw that she was the right woman who will support him with all his dreams and plans in life. Nanay was not bad looking either. Sorry for the other girls. No chance.

They decided to get married later and brought forth two daughters and two sons, who followed their passion in life, helping others. I saw them worked together in every endeavor that they made. Tatay was not wrong for choosing Nanay. Indeed, I really saw her supporting him all the way until her death. She never questioned him with his efforts. He was, also, a loving and caring husband. Nanay was diabetic and she was hospitalized a lot of times before she died. For all those times he was always there for her every day. They are really a good example for couples. 

For them, a couple that supports one another will remain strong forever and a couple that builds on love and trust will stand on a firm foundation.


(Place photos later.)

Learn From the Little Fish

(I do believe a lot of you out there are waiting for additional posts about Tatay and Nanay (father and mother). So, here you are. By the way, I will be away for days, so I made sure I have a lot posted for your reading purposes. Enjoy!)

This is one of Tatay's unforgettable and inspiring stories that he shared to the people wherever he went to encourage young and old alike about not giving up as long as you are living. 

One day, when Tatay was still 12 years old, he went to a nearby river bank to pick firewood. As he was passing by, he saw that the current was very fast and strong at the time. A lot of logs and wood debris were floating downstream. He even saw dead animals floating, too. May be there was a strong rain on top of the mountains that caused such sight, he thought.

 

He was amused on the things he saw. He, almost, forgot the purpose why he was there. While he was trying to jump on the logs near the bank, something caught his attention. He saw a very small fish, as big as a man's little finger. It was trying to swim upstream. The current was strong at that time, yet, the fish kept on swimming. Tatay noticed that its progress was so slow; still, it did not give up. It kept on swimming, inch by inch.

As he was staring at that fish he realized that it was almost night time. He needed to go home, soon. He then started to walk back but he noticed that a lot of the things he saw earlier had vanished. Probably, it was swept by the strong current, yet, he can still see the fish striving and slowly progressing.

Thinking of the situation of the fish, he thought that, indeed, the logs and the others were swept away by the current because they are already dead; but the fish strives on and progressing against the current because it is living. We may think life can be very hard at times but as long as we are living there is still hope. As long as we are alive, we can tackle all the hardships, problems, and struggles in life. Today will be better compared yesterday as long as we do not give up.

Lastly, the sun shines for the dead and the living but the living will progress while the dead will stay six feet below the ground and will just remain a memory. Who of the two are you today? YES, YOU ARE ONE OF THE LIVING because you are reading this post. So do not give up as long as you are living.

Children of Divorced Parents are Strong

It is really sad to see the rate of divorce is getting higher. Marriage seems to be a joy ride to some of these couples but not all. It seems so easy to march down the aisle and say I do. To make a commitment without firm foundation is like building a house on a sandy land. Unfortunately, the children are the ones who suffered the most. Unknowingly, these children mature faster on the way they think. In fact, with proper guidance, they can be as strong as a Mahogany tree when it comes to life principles and become better citizens in the future.

 

I can say this with much confidence because I am one of them. My parents separated when I was still nine years old. Life seems so hard to understand at that time. My hopes went to the drain when my parents announced that they were separating. Divorce is not practice in the Philippines. Annulment of marriage certificates is allowed now but not before. So, my parents made an agreement to get separated. It was not legal but a lot of couples are doing that, even until now. 

I cried a lot of times after my father left. Sixteen years of marriage went to history for nothing. Infidelity, committed by my father, was the reason of the separation. We are five in the family. I am the fourth. I was still very young when it happened. I, almost, run away because I could not find any joy anymore with my life and studies. Thank God, my teachers guided and helped me. Then I realized later that it seems I am no longer a child on my way of thinking after seeing such pitiful marriage. A result of anger toward my father, I made a resolution that I will not choose a man like him when I get married. That I will prove to him that he is totally mistaken on his decision.

As I look back on that part of my life, the only thing I can say is that thank God for having such teachers in my life. I, almost, made a wrong decision that I will regret all my life if not of them. I am, also, thankful to my mother that in spite of being in pain, she tried her best to guide us though the Bible. She did not teach us to have hatred toward our father. She tried to bring my father back to us. She even tried to make their marriage work again. My father's pride is just as high as a mountain that he is not willing to humble down but I have forgiven him. I can heartily say that.

The effect of my parent's separation was different to each of us. Somehow, I can only say that all of us became serious with our studies and on the way we look life. We started to have goals and aspirations that are totally different from other kids. We tried our very best to make life easier for our mother. We learned to survive with little that we had and created new things to make life enjoyable. There were some setbacks to some of my siblings but it was not as bad as making life miserable to live.

Children of divorced parents can be strong and they can be better parents someday but with proper guidance. They are not hopeless and helpless beings but they are individuals that can be reliable and trustworthy. All they need is a shoulder to cry on, a person, who has good moral standing, to become their mentor, and lots and lots of words of encouragement. In fact, you can be that person if you are willing.

Preparing for Marriage? Things to Do Before Saying I Do (Part 2)

        2.  Lack of Communication. This is one of the marriage killers in the history of mankind. Men tend not to openly communicate their feelings while women are very expressive. Also, women, most of the time, assume that the partner understood their actions without verbally explaining it.  See the big difference?

Counsel: Human beings are quite like idiots a lot of times. How can one understand the other person without saying it through words? That is exactly why we should verbally communicate what is in our hearts. My husband always says he loves me every day on a lot ways.  I know what these actions means because he told me his codes. One of his codes is that he just simply taps me three times and that means “I love you.”

Course of Action: We were told by our counselor to share the things in our minds to our partner without thinking of rejection and we treat the other the same way. We were told to think of it as a way to improve ourselves. At the same time, to try to listen first what the other has to say without reacting negatively right away. With this practicum, we were able to practice sharing our thoughts with each other. This practicum always reminded us on how to communicate well until now.

 3.  Money Problems. This problem can, also, be part of lack of communication. Budgeting is a major issue as well.

Counsel: In marriage, there is a possibility that either one of the couple is careful when it comes to money matter while the other is the opposite. Each should learn to communicate when money is concerned. Both must learn to live according to their means and not through their wants. Both must talk first if one will purchase a major item for the household or for personal use. Even if the couples earned from their own jobs but sharing your thoughts to your partner is all about trust and friendship as a couple.

Course of Action: We wrote down our incomes on paper. Then we prepared a list of expense priorities for the family. We, also, wrote the things we wanted to see in our household, like owning a house, and the preparations for the future, like insurance. Then we tried to budget our money based on our priorities first then for the other things. This experience enabled us to go back to this course of action every time money problem comes in and before we make major decisions.

I can keep on writing but to cover the major issues is an accomplishment as well. Hoping this article will help you as you prepare to be tied forever to your special somebody. These counsels are also applicable to already married couples. I hope this helps you.

Preparing for Marriage? Things to Do Before Saying I Do (Part 1)

A lot of marriages failed, mostly in their first five years as a couple, because of unpreparedness before saying their “I do”. A lot of couples fell in love and directly thought that this is the man/woman they are looking for. After the wedding and a blissful honeymoon, everything became a nightmare because of a lot of reasons. Some of the main reasons are high expectations, lack of communication, money problems, and the worst, an illicit love affair.

Let us not talk about the last reason above. Rather, let us understand why these things happened. Since this article is all about readiness before marriage, then we will focus on this side of marriage.

Preparing before marriage must be taken into consideration. In fact a lot of divorce or separation could have been avoided if couples went through counseling sessions or seminars before the wedding. My husband and I went through these counseling sessions before exchanging our wedding vows. The only thing I can say is that I am really grateful that we did it. Now, I will share the things we have learned:

1.  High expectations. A lot of marriages started nice and good but when the wife/husband realized the weaknesses of the partner, things started to change. “This is not the kind of woman I wanted to marry.” “I never expected that my husband snores a lot.” The complaints will not end there. Slowly the other looks on the other in a negative manner.

Counsel: Think of your partner as a unique/special person. Your partner has good points, too. That is the reason why you fell in love in the first place. Rather, think on how you can complement your talents and gifting with each other. Try to look on your partner in a positive manner.

Course of action: After the counsel we were required to write down all our expectations with our partner and, the things we like and dislike as a person. We, also, wrote the good and bad points that we saw toward our partner. Then I shared my list to my husband and he gave his list to me. Think of our reactions as we read the list. Through those lists, we talked about how to work things out even we were not yet married at that time. Then we kept doing this course of action once in a while, even until now. My husband and I will be having our wedding 18^th anniversary this December and our relationship is getting sweeter in every moment.


(This is just one of the three guidelines for Preparing for Marriage.)

Vengeance is not Mine

As a social worker, Tatay always meet and help people as much as they can. Aside from being a social worker, he is a God-fearing man. For him, whatsoever the circumstances he is in, he will always go back to the Bible for guidance with his family and work.

One time, a woman, with four children, went to Tatay and asked for help. This woman told Tatay that she was a battered wife. She described her husband as being sadist. The husband was a pilot of a private plane. He was so proud of himself and shamed his family at the same time. The woman said that she and her kids had been punched by her husband for no reasons at all. She cannot bear it anymore; so she ran away with her kids.

Tatay cannot let them be that way so he sent them to an orphanage run by his eldest daughter. They stayed there for a while, at the same time, he was still thinking what to do with the situation. Then, one time, Tatay went to the place where that woman lives while he was checking a different family sponsored by a non-government foundation. As he was waiting in a tricycle (a three-wheel ride run by a motorcycle at the side, right photo), a man sat beside him. As Tatay was conversing with the driver, the man beside him overheard his name. Then he suddenly spoke, "So you are Mr. Bacarro, who took my wife as your mistress." Then the man beat Tatay badly. Tatay's face was covered with blood. He, almost, fainted.