Well this has been a series in my status message but due to popular demand and by request by some friends who were not able to keep track with my 23 lessons in life countdown. Here's the full list of lessons that I learned......
It's a bit edited from the status message but I tried to keep some verbatim.
1) THANK THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BLESSINGS. No amount of words can equal to how good our God is. He is still the same and He will never change. His promises are you new every morning. All we need to do is to completely entrust our lives to Him knowing that our lives is in His hand, and He is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever. There may be some uncertainties in life, all we need to do is to trust Him with our whole lives knowing that He holds us in the palm of His hands.
2) DO THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TODAY DO NOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW FOR TOMORROW MAY NOT COME ANYMORE. (a)Tell the people close to you that you love them, let them feel how blessed you are to have them. (b) Do things now which will eventually impact your future. Do your assignments, research on your report, beat deadlines if possible. In doing so, you build your future.
3) LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN. Friends, lovers, family, countrymen. Love as you love yourself and love will just come abundantly. As Ashton Kutcher from Valentine's Day stated it - LOVE is the only shocking thing left in the world! Share the love! But most importantly love God, for in doing so - you learn to love yourself and you learn to share the love abundantly and unconditionally.
4) AIM FOR THE BEST, CHOOSE THE BEST -- BE THE BEST! Let's face it, one should aim for the best and choose the best to be the best. From choosing your school, choosing the things you'd like to use -- choose the best and do not settle for anything less. Be the best in anything you do cause for sure best things will follow. And if today doesn't provide you with the best, BE THE BEST in your field for tomorrow will offer you the BEST in what you do BEST today.
5) CHANGE TO MAKE YOURSELF BETTER AND NOT TO PLEASE SOMEONE. We need to realize that we change because we want to make ourselves the best in anything we do in our lives. You opt to change because there is still something better that you can offer to others rather than our selfish ambitions. When we change for the better or even the best - make sure also that you don't step on someone else.
6) DETAILS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. Review the contract properly, ask who's calling and what they need, inquire if you don't know what to do in the task given. It's all about the details which can make or break your work.
7) CASTE SYSTEM IS A TOPIC LEFT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS TO DISCUSS. If possible let's do away with the first three letters of the alphabet in dealing with people. Each person is unique in their own way, deal with them as one dignified individual. Equality may be something hard to achieve nowadays but then trying your best to treat everyone equal is one virtue you can be proud of.
8) ON FOOD and DINING, some restaurants from the outside looks intimidating but then when you make the move to enter, take your seat, you will realize -- its awesome to dine there! If you have worries with menu, ask the waiter he'd be more than willing to help you choose your dish which will eventually satisfy your cravings! And remember, making reservations in advance if possible. (thanks to Ate Ysa for sharing this lesson to me)
9) LOVE THE EARTH. Let's make Mother Nature happy by keeping our earth clean even in the simplest way of throwing our garbage in the right place, stop sticking those chewing gum under the chair, use recyclable materials. Do something now to keep our earth a home for the future generation worth staying. The onslaught of calamities and other devastation in our nation cannot be blamed to anything else but of our own doings.
10) LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. No matter how you cover up the way you look, the or the way you do things - you are FILIPINO! No matter what, be proud. No country is flawless and yet we deserve to love our country amidst anything. It doesn't matter where you are around the globe but always remember that you are and will always be a Filipino and be proud! Speak of things that will lift our country up and not only of the ills that we see. Remember no country is perfect, we maybe flawed but then its the our diverse culture which makes me proud as a Filipino.
11) SHOPPING AS A PAST TIME WILL EVENTUALLY TURN YOU INTO A BEGGAR SOONER OR LATER. Well if you have all the means to shop till you drop then go for it but if you intend to max out all your plastic cards, think again. There are the right time to use your plastic card or to purchase in cash so before handing out your card - think and think again.
12) GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Either you'll end up stressed the whole or your mind will not function to the fullest when you lack sleep. Take time to sleep and make naps or even power naps during break time. It'll somehow help you regain "real" consciousness especially when you are at work!
13) IN MUSIC, LEARN TO LOVE THE CLASSICS AND THE THEATER. Cool songs are not those with heart throbbing beat, a deafening bass or a ra-ra-oohh-lala. Learn to appreciate the classics, from Moon River, Phantom of the Opera, Think of Me and many more! You'll realize these classics are something worth listening - soothing to listen after a tiring day.
14) MAINTAIN THAT POSSITIVITY IN LIFE. Looking at the glass half full always matters. The way we see things impacts the things we do, we say and even think. From our deepest problems to the the daily worries, always think positive for as the saying goes "each cloud has a silver lining."
15) "IT'S WHO YOU KNOW" WON'T ALWAYS WORK. Stuff your brain and gear yourself for the challenges. Never trust people in "high places" to get you there. If ever you experienced being rejected in any opportunity for someone else who has the connection rather than the brains - shrug it off and thank God that you have the brains and enough preparation for your future job.
16) PACK LIGHTLY. As a flyer, when after packing and you see that you still have a luggage and two extra hand carries, you ain't packing lightly. As FBAs is a scarcity in domestic carriers here in 'Pinas, avoid stuffing everything into your luggage if you want to save from the burden of paying overrated prices at the airport.
17) EACH PERSON IS TAGGED AS A "WORK IN PROGRESS". And Stephen Covey puts it, seek first to understand than be to understood. Well i guess, this one is a continuous challenge for all of us.
18) GO FOR AN ADVENTURE, TAKE THE RISK. A road trip to Pagudpud or trekking Benguet or scuba diving in Apo Island. Climb the peaks of Mt. Everest, swim the deep abyss of Marianas Trench. Nothing beats the thrill that you feel when you abandon yourself and set up to some unique adventures you'll only experience maybe once in your lifetime.
19) CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY. A friend is someone who shares their time, understands and at times reminds you that what you are doing is wrong.A friend may at times make or break your personality so choose wisely! And so let me at this point, thank all my friends (you know who are you guys) for as one of my favorite songs from Wicked states ------ "I have been changed for good." :)
20) FAILURE, REJECTION & HARDSHIPS - they won't last. Try and try and try again until you make it! Do your best that the next time around, you do the same thing, you learned the lesson and you avoid the things which will make you one big failure.
21) EVERYONE IS BUSY ON THEIR OWN RIGHTS. Take things seriously and yet take time to pause and smile, crack some jokes to ease the yourself from the busy-ness, eat some snacks and then you will realize all you needed is a word REST.
22) READ AS MUCH BOOKS AS YOU CAN. Enjoy each word of the book you are reading and well if you can't understand the word, Mr. Webster would be more than willing to help. Read read read and read (special thanks to my Auntie Mona for instilling this value to me...)
23) BOOK EARLIER. Once a confirmed receipt of airline booking has been received file VL for the dates (agad kahit nasaan ka pa as long as may net, file agad). And most of all, if possible avoid any domestic carrier that starts with letter "C" if you want to avoid headaches on the actual travel dates.
It's a bit edited from the status message but I tried to keep some verbatim.
1) THANK THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BLESSINGS. No amount of words can equal to how good our God is. He is still the same and He will never change. His promises are you new every morning. All we need to do is to completely entrust our lives to Him knowing that our lives is in His hand, and He is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever. There may be some uncertainties in life, all we need to do is to trust Him with our whole lives knowing that He holds us in the palm of His hands.
2) DO THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TODAY DO NOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW FOR TOMORROW MAY NOT COME ANYMORE. (a)Tell the people close to you that you love them, let them feel how blessed you are to have them. (b) Do things now which will eventually impact your future. Do your assignments, research on your report, beat deadlines if possible. In doing so, you build your future.
3) LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN. Friends, lovers, family, countrymen. Love as you love yourself and love will just come abundantly. As Ashton Kutcher from Valentine's Day stated it - LOVE is the only shocking thing left in the world! Share the love! But most importantly love God, for in doing so - you learn to love yourself and you learn to share the love abundantly and unconditionally.
4) AIM FOR THE BEST, CHOOSE THE BEST -- BE THE BEST! Let's face it, one should aim for the best and choose the best to be the best. From choosing your school, choosing the things you'd like to use -- choose the best and do not settle for anything less. Be the best in anything you do cause for sure best things will follow. And if today doesn't provide you with the best, BE THE BEST in your field for tomorrow will offer you the BEST in what you do BEST today.
5) CHANGE TO MAKE YOURSELF BETTER AND NOT TO PLEASE SOMEONE. We need to realize that we change because we want to make ourselves the best in anything we do in our lives. You opt to change because there is still something better that you can offer to others rather than our selfish ambitions. When we change for the better or even the best - make sure also that you don't step on someone else.
6) DETAILS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. Review the contract properly, ask who's calling and what they need, inquire if you don't know what to do in the task given. It's all about the details which can make or break your work.
7) CASTE SYSTEM IS A TOPIC LEFT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS TO DISCUSS. If possible let's do away with the first three letters of the alphabet in dealing with people. Each person is unique in their own way, deal with them as one dignified individual. Equality may be something hard to achieve nowadays but then trying your best to treat everyone equal is one virtue you can be proud of.
8) ON FOOD and DINING, some restaurants from the outside looks intimidating but then when you make the move to enter, take your seat, you will realize -- its awesome to dine there! If you have worries with menu, ask the waiter he'd be more than willing to help you choose your dish which will eventually satisfy your cravings! And remember, making reservations in advance if possible. (thanks to Ate Ysa for sharing this lesson to me)
9) LOVE THE EARTH. Let's make Mother Nature happy by keeping our earth clean even in the simplest way of throwing our garbage in the right place, stop sticking those chewing gum under the chair, use recyclable materials. Do something now to keep our earth a home for the future generation worth staying. The onslaught of calamities and other devastation in our nation cannot be blamed to anything else but of our own doings.
10) LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. No matter how you cover up the way you look, the or the way you do things - you are FILIPINO! No matter what, be proud. No country is flawless and yet we deserve to love our country amidst anything. It doesn't matter where you are around the globe but always remember that you are and will always be a Filipino and be proud! Speak of things that will lift our country up and not only of the ills that we see. Remember no country is perfect, we maybe flawed but then its the our diverse culture which makes me proud as a Filipino.
11) SHOPPING AS A PAST TIME WILL EVENTUALLY TURN YOU INTO A BEGGAR SOONER OR LATER. Well if you have all the means to shop till you drop then go for it but if you intend to max out all your plastic cards, think again. There are the right time to use your plastic card or to purchase in cash so before handing out your card - think and think again.
12) GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Either you'll end up stressed the whole or your mind will not function to the fullest when you lack sleep. Take time to sleep and make naps or even power naps during break time. It'll somehow help you regain "real" consciousness especially when you are at work!
13) IN MUSIC, LEARN TO LOVE THE CLASSICS AND THE THEATER. Cool songs are not those with heart throbbing beat, a deafening bass or a ra-ra-oohh-lala. Learn to appreciate the classics, from Moon River, Phantom of the Opera, Think of Me and many more! You'll realize these classics are something worth listening - soothing to listen after a tiring day.
14) MAINTAIN THAT POSSITIVITY IN LIFE. Looking at the glass half full always matters. The way we see things impacts the things we do, we say and even think. From our deepest problems to the the daily worries, always think positive for as the saying goes "each cloud has a silver lining."
15) "IT'S WHO YOU KNOW" WON'T ALWAYS WORK. Stuff your brain and gear yourself for the challenges. Never trust people in "high places" to get you there. If ever you experienced being rejected in any opportunity for someone else who has the connection rather than the brains - shrug it off and thank God that you have the brains and enough preparation for your future job.
16) PACK LIGHTLY. As a flyer, when after packing and you see that you still have a luggage and two extra hand carries, you ain't packing lightly. As FBAs is a scarcity in domestic carriers here in 'Pinas, avoid stuffing everything into your luggage if you want to save from the burden of paying overrated prices at the airport.
17) EACH PERSON IS TAGGED AS A "WORK IN PROGRESS". And Stephen Covey puts it, seek first to understand than be to understood. Well i guess, this one is a continuous challenge for all of us.
18) GO FOR AN ADVENTURE, TAKE THE RISK. A road trip to Pagudpud or trekking Benguet or scuba diving in Apo Island. Climb the peaks of Mt. Everest, swim the deep abyss of Marianas Trench. Nothing beats the thrill that you feel when you abandon yourself and set up to some unique adventures you'll only experience maybe once in your lifetime.
19) CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY. A friend is someone who shares their time, understands and at times reminds you that what you are doing is wrong.A friend may at times make or break your personality so choose wisely! And so let me at this point, thank all my friends (you know who are you guys) for as one of my favorite songs from Wicked states ------ "I have been changed for good." :)
20) FAILURE, REJECTION & HARDSHIPS - they won't last. Try and try and try again until you make it! Do your best that the next time around, you do the same thing, you learned the lesson and you avoid the things which will make you one big failure.
21) EVERYONE IS BUSY ON THEIR OWN RIGHTS. Take things seriously and yet take time to pause and smile, crack some jokes to ease the yourself from the busy-ness, eat some snacks and then you will realize all you needed is a word REST.
22) READ AS MUCH BOOKS AS YOU CAN. Enjoy each word of the book you are reading and well if you can't understand the word, Mr. Webster would be more than willing to help. Read read read and read (special thanks to my Auntie Mona for instilling this value to me...)
23) BOOK EARLIER. Once a confirmed receipt of airline booking has been received file VL for the dates (agad kahit nasaan ka pa as long as may net, file agad). And most of all, if possible avoid any domestic carrier that starts with letter "C" if you want to avoid headaches on the actual travel dates.
