A LESSON ON LEARNING & A REFLECTION ON AN "OPRAH" FEATURE

I've been meeting lately with a former colleague from the seminary, Tito Alcala. He's got a very successful design and ad services company and listening to him and his stories of how he grew his com pany, I picked up a lesson on what it means to be continually learning.

Tito goes around different countries picking up the latest technologies and trends in advertising. Then he goes ahead and tries to bring the technology in or adapt it to the local needs. He does not seem to be afraid of failing because even if a concept does not click he has learned and is ahead of everyone else in the learning curve!

That's an insight I'm going to apply...never fear failure because you learn something from it.

I watched Oprah yesterday and she featured women who were once successful and confident but "let go",i.e., gave up on life somehow and started looking and feeling miserable! All of them went from gorgeous to fat and looking at them now, I just couldn't help but feel pity for them.

Their reasons for "giving up" were varied (some even gave up because they had to raise their kids and family first)...but common to all was they somehow lost their self-esteem and with it their drive for life.

Another example of how mindset and attitude can change and turn one from being a winner to a loser.

THE ORIGIN 0F THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS & COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

I read from Early To Rise an account of Benjamin Franklin on how the whole idea of Thanksgiving got started. In a nutshell,the Pilgrims once made it a habit of fasting during Thanksgiving,but this usually got them in a depressing mood. So one of their members who had a lot of common sense suggested they celebrate instead of fast! That got everyone in a better frame of mind so the practice of celebrating stuck. I guess they took it a lot of their depression on the turkeys!

The article recommended that we count our blessings so I thought I'd list mine:

1. I'm alive & so far God has blessed me with good health
2. I'm loved by my wife & kids
3. I've got the proverbial roof over my head,clothes on my back & food to eat
4. I've got a job.
5. I've got friends.
6. I've got dreams I want to fulfill.
7. There are things that get me excited like the prospect of new business & earning more.
8. I have been blessed with talents.
9. I've got money in the bank,
10. The kids are in school & they are doing relatively well.
11. I have accomplished some things in my list of things to do in my lifetime.
12. I've managed to reconnect with people in my past.
13. I know I've influenced certain things/events & have mde a difference & contribution to society.
14. I have become a better person than what I was before.
15, I am at peace with myself.
16. I am hopeful and am looking forward to more exciting opportunities in life (dreams of travel. making more money, being happy)
17. I am able to laugh at myself.
18. My brain's working fine.
19. I still look & feel good for a man of fifty!
20. I still have good sex!
21. I don't worry much about much nowadays!
22. I am able to appreciate the little gifts I receive in life & thank God for them.

LEARNING THE MAGIC QUESTION

I read a piece from "Early To Rise" about a guy who admitted that 14 years ago he was at his lowest point but made a breakthrough by learning what he calls the magic question:"What's the Worst Thing That Could Happen If I did this?"

By asking the question he got rid of his own psychological barriers that prevented him from realizing his dreams (one of which was to be a ballroom instructor.) Once the barriers were out of the way the living of the dreams was easier.

I realized this (being afraid of failing) was what has been holding me back about some of the unfulfilled dreams I've had like: my hit song...my million peso business...vacation trips.

Maybe I ought to un-block myself more so I can get more out of life!

MY ORIGAMI LEGACY

Last night, my daughter Tasha chanced upon an old book of mine on Origami while she was looking for some colored paper. She started working on one of the models (the jumping frog) but was stumped when she was folding the frog base. I helped her out a bit then after some time she showed me the finished product.

She didn't realize that it could be inflated until I showed her so. Since she had used paper that wasn't really for folding, the frog didn't jump as expected. So she made another one,this time using better quality paper and voila, she had a jumping frog.

Seeing her taking interest in something I used to do made me really feel wonderful inside.

This is one of the small rewards I get from being a parent!

IS LIFE ALL ABOUT BURSTING WITH ENERGY OR BEING AT PEACE?

Just had one of those profound thoughts while "meditating" in the john during my morning ritual. I visited my parents' graves yesterday and thought to myself that is this what beign brought into the world is all about? To finally just rest in peace?

As far as I can recall, my life (& everyone's life for that matter) has been about bursting with energy...movement...action...in getting the thrills & adrenaline rush...that is why we say one is alive!!! He moves...he breathes...he lives!!!

And yet I know there were moments in my life when I was just still...and felt most alive!!! These were during moments of prayer...of deep calm...of just sitting watching the sun set or taking in the majestic view of Nature...or just observing my kids or my wife while they were asleep.

I guess that's why they say there are always two sides to everything...for life is both about living as well as dying.

TIME TO STOP DREAMING & START DOING

My former College buddy,Jimmy Enriquez, sent a congratulatory message to all his downlines in the Amway business who had made it to the 3% to the Top Gun Category. Most were from Chowking and most had entered this business later than I did. Yet they've gone ahead to where I never even reached. So what made the difference?

They worked more than they dreamed...and instead of figuring out the obstacles they just went ahead and showed the plan or sold the products.

I, on the other hand, found excuses why I couldn't do it! The irony is that most of these people are from Operations...have 9-5 jobs while I'm supposed to have a freer schedule to grow my business.

So the moral lesson is: Stop figuring out & wishing...and start getting my nose to the grindstone!

But inwardly I really feel happy for Jimmy...he deserves to be rewarded for his hard work...now he's living his dream!