Yesterday at church, the topic that was discussed with thoroughness and completeness was all about gratitude and thankfulness, as embodied in the short two verses of Psalms 92:1-2. Wow, I really was awake and alert the whole time! I thought long and hard and indeed it is true, I really do have so many things to be grateful about.
This reminded me of the question I always raise to a person who's stubbornly negative about something or someone: "Ano ang nagustuhan mo doon?" or "Ano ang nagustuhan mo sa kanya?" Trick question or not, the question re-aligns a person's mind and forces him/her to think of positive things instead of dwelling on destructive negativities.
I just have to write this down, so here goes...
Things that I am grateful to God for:
- For being blessed with a closely-knit family (my parents, my sis, my relatives) who understand me, who give me advise, and who allow me the freedom to do what I want to do with my life.
For all my friends (you know who you are!) who stick with me through thick and thin despite any circumstance and despite my constantly varying moods and temperaments (and you know you are still my friend even if you don't consider me one)
For my "friendsters" who show me that there's more to life than just computers and the Internet.
For a great church community in MBC and for being blessed with friends who accept me as I am despite my being an "outcast" among them. My faith, my hope and my spirit are nurtured.
For God Who loves me and Who gave me the life that I have and Who challenges me day by day because He knows that it will make me a better person.
For my renewed spiritual journey and discovery.
- For the music I play (however terrible I play it), because it means I am able to express myself in many ways and I have an outlet for relaxation and meditation.
For my constantly improving good health and wellness despite my very hectic and toxic lifestyle.
For bottomless coffee and soda at Fitness First (aside from the gym, of course).
For my flexible time where I can get to workout in the gym whenever I want to.
- For my business partners who share my goals and my vision and who put up with me and my pragmatic attitude.
For all my mentors who have always believed in me, in my abilities, and in my capability to succeed in life despite my stubbornness and hard-headedness at times.
- For my work, because it gives me a means to contribute to society
For my job, because it makes me think and it keeps me on my toes at all times with worthwhile challenges and opportunities.
For the business that I do, because it gives me excellent opportunities to touch other people's lives.
For Figaro Coffee Shop and Mini Stop Convenience Store located at the bottom of our building for their inexhaustible supply of coffee, pasta, thin crust pizza, and siopao, hotdog sandwiches and C2 green tea.
- For those times where I had a chance to travel outside the Philippines because it has opened my eyes and my mind to knowing how to appreciate foreign people and cultures.
For the audio tapes, CDs and books that I have in my library because it gives me a chance to grow and to learn each time I listen to or read them.
For the people I meet everyday because it makes me realize that there are other lives out there besides mine that are worth appreciating and touching.
- For the big red spot on my nose that keeps manifesting itself every now and then because it is saying that I have to relax, slow down a little bit to smell the flowers and to enjoy the scenery as I travel in my life's journey.
For my air-conditioned office for keeping things cool during summer (funny but many people seem to take this for granted... Wait until you get to work in a hot, humid, air-conditionless office)
For my blog, which is taking on an unexpected size and shape, and for the people who happen to stumble upon its contents and maybe learn something from it or be entertained by it, however "babaw" my posts may be.
For my house (even though it is becoming more like a warehouse each day), it provides me with my own private space where I can recoup and re-establish myself (sorry sis, don't come home just yet! the house is really a mess, hehehe)
For the chance to have experienced the wonder and magic of Walt Disney World in Japan many, many years ago. (Everyone should make it a goal to go to Disneyland in their lifetime and re-live their childhood even just for a day... Hongkong Disneyland will be opening soon in September! wink, wink!)
For the many, many chances to ride my bike at dawn in the crisp chill of early morning air (and sometimes also in the rain), calming my mind and rejuvenating my spirit.
(more to come...)
25 blessings and counting...
I haven't listed yet each and every blessing I've ever received, considering the short span of time that I got to write this blog. I know there's more, and of course I'll be updating this blog often. I placed it's URL in my "Blog and Mundo" (I am Thankful Indeed) links for quick reference in the future.
Okay then... Looks like I have celebrated "Thanksgiving Day" in advance! =)
As for you dear reader - what are you thankful about? Why don't you blog about it also, share it, bring cheers and smiles to everyone's faces, make this world a happier place to live in. And if you haven't started your blog yet, why not make this your first post and start off your blog on a very cheerful note. la la la la...
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Here are some more things to give thanks for; you may have already read this somewhere on the 'net or maybe someone forwarded it to you in an e-mail: I Give Thanks and Give me a Grateful Heart, Lord.
..phew! ..heart-warming & very touching..Kuya, just remember that we (Dad/Mom/Me) will always be here 4 u come what may, despite the restraints.Take lots of care! They're right..kulang na lang sa yo ang PARTNER>>>who can tidy up the mess at THE apartment. hahaha! kuha na ba ako ng CV? Goodluck! =)
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