DL @ Blogger

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Speaking of Birthdays...

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2280

Somebody's birthday is coming.

Although it is my job to encourage her to choose happiness everyday, this also includes her birthdays.

Speaking of birthdays...

Most of us know that a birthday is the time to celebrate the month and day when someone is born. Lots of happy children (and the young at heart) love to broadcast when the day of their birthday is. The opposite would be silent and hope that no one remembers.

Respectfully speaking, this would be different with people of different beliefs. Some people observe customs and traditions that do not celebrate birthdays. If unsure of how your friend will feel, it helps to ask the would-be celebrant likes celebrating birthdays-- most especially his or her own.

I rejoice with Schroeder the piano kid (from the Peanuts cartoon) who makes written announcement signs such as "Only 10 more days till Beethoven's birthday". When a crabby girl like Lucy van Pelt painfully asked, "Who cares?", a life saver like Snoopy the dog produced a written announcement sign, "We do!"

Here are some little-known trivia on birthdays, the year, and the leap year:

1) Did you know that birthday parties originated from the idea that evil spirits visit the celebrant on his/her birthday, that people would gather to protect the celebrant with the good wishes they bring?
http://www.giveagift.net/ArticleDetail.aspx?Article=Find_the_history_of_giving_birthday_presents_and_get_gift_ideas.html&TotLen=1200px

2) Did you know that birthday cakes started in Rome, while birthday candles on the cake started in Germany?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_cake

3) Did you know that birthday gifts began as good wishes or symbolic tools to ward off evil spirits?
http://www.giveagift.net/ArticleDetail.aspx?Article=Find_the_history_of_giving_birthday_presents_and_get_gift_ideas.html&TotLen=1200px

4) Did you know that the "Happy Birthday to You" song came from the melody of the "Good Morning to All" song?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_to_You

5) Did you know that it is Chinese tradition to celebrate birthdays every first day of Chinese New Year-- regardless of which month one was born?
http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa021901b.htm

6) Did you know that a year of 365 days was based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun?
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_a_year_about_365_days_long
http://www.answers.com/topic/why-are-there-365-days-in-a-year
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year

7) Did you know that the 29th of February happens every four years, has something to do with having the Earth revolving around the Sun in 365.25 days (or 365 and 1/4 days) a year?
http://www.answers.com/topic/why-do-we-have-leap-years
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year

Now, back to the birthday girl I was talking about... If I meet this wonderful birthday celebrant face to face, I would give her a hug.

Happy birthday, Birthday Beagle! I care.

:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

--A.A. Milne
Winnie the Pooh

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

The Butterfly Way: My Kind of Easter

from "Our Butterfly Struggle" by Dominique Liongson

Before I give a sharing, here are some Easter jokes:

Q: How does Easter end?
A: With the letter R!

Q: What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket?
A: Two points just like everybody!

Q: What part did the Easter egg play in the movies?
A: He was an "Egg-stra".

Easter is coming. Upon reflecting on the symbols of Easter, I have difficulty relating with the Crucifix, the Easter Bunny, and the Easter Eggs. Even if I look at the origin of these symbols with a serious outlook, I couldn't relate with them. It's fine with me if you can identify with any of them. Let me tell you why I don't...

I think the butterfly is my kind of Easter, and the Christ is just like that butterfly.

If you remember in primary school, we were taught the life cycle of the butterfly: first, the egg; second, the caterpillar; third, the cocoon; and finally, the butterfly.

When Christ was born, He was like the egg hatching into a caterpillar. Secondly, when He lives His life, He was like the caterpillar living the present to build its future. Thirdly, when He died, He was like a caterpillar "dying" in a cocoon formation. And finally, when He resurrected and left His tomb, He was like a new butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

If butterflies have life cycles, we do, too. We can have several life cycles, where every hatching moment can be new beginnings: new school level, new job, new marriage, new baby, and so on. The emerging butterfly may be the end of the life cycle, but would you believe that endings are gateways to new beginnings? The end of cocoon life is the start of butterfly life; the end of schooling is the start of a career; the end of single-hood is the start of married life; the end of pregnancy is the start of a baby's earthly life; and so on.

I have experienced the circle as a stuck boring routine. No chance of growth and expect the same things to happen (just like Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day" movie). This happens when we refuse to adjust to every transformational change. This is what happens when we let things happen.

I gave the spiral a chance. It may have its ups and downs, but I learned the best parts are: it evolves and improves. It is when we adjust to every transformational change and move on. This is what happens when we make things happen.

If you recall in "Groundhog Day", Phil (Bill Murray) kept living the same events from the time he wakes till the end of the day, because he lets things happen. This kept repeating-- accidents, rejection, boredom, and so on. When he couldn't take it anymore, he decided to make things happen, than to let things happen. His accidents were reduced; the woman of this dreams accepted him; and life became more interesting.

Letting things happen is the way of the circle. Making things happen is the way of the spiral.

It feels good to see ourselves with a new improved present compared to our silly past, doesn't it? I suppose the nautilus shellfish, too, can testify the way of the spiral as the way to go.

Have a Happy Butterfly Easter! We are more capable than just hopping and egg-rolling about all our lives. Why be ground-ed when you can fly?

:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

--A.A. Milne
Winnie the Pooh

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Fun Firsts in March

I found a site that lists fun events that happened on each month. This March, I would like to share some fun FIRSTS that happened in March. A lot has happened and was listed. But, I decided to list down the events that happened for the first time in history.

March 1, 1941- Captain America first appeared in a comic book.
(This dude has aged well like fine wine and cheese.)

March 2, 1976- Walt Disney World welcomed its 50 millionth visitor.
(50 Millionth? You can't put a good park down...)

March 5, 1994- The world's largest milkshake was made, containing 1,955 gallons of chocolate, in Nelspruit, South Africa.
(If one gallon can serve approximately 10 hungry people, about 19,550 servings of chocolate was used to make this world's largest milkshake. Tremendous!)

March 17, 1845- The rubber band was invented.
(This gadget has served us over a hundred years. Will it ever stretch further up to 2045?)

March 20, 1999- Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones became the first men to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. The non-stop trip began March 3 and covered 26,500 miles.
(17 days? Sweet!)

March 22, 1954- The first shopping mall opened in Southfield Michigan.
(The Philippines has several shopping malls from the SM <Shoe Mart> group. The forerunner of shopping malls was in S.M. <Southfield Michigan> too. Amazing...)

March 24, 1898- The first automobile was sold.
(Just like Virginia Slims cigarettes, you've gone a long way, baby. :-)

March 27, 1884- The first long distance phone call was made between Boston and New York City.
(During that time, I wonder if anyone imagined that long distance calls can connect from distant island to distant island. A long distance call within the Island of North America was extremely impressive in 1884.)

For more fun facts for the month of March, click on:
http://teachresourceroom.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/funfacts-for-month-of-march.html

:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

--A.A. Milne
Winnie the Pooh

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Valentine's Day: It's More Than Just Mush

It is Valentine's season again. Some celebrate it in a day, some in a month, and some forever. We have been exposed to happy love stories, and to love stories that don't have a happy ending, and to those who don't have a love story at all.

Since ongoing love stories don't need extra comfort, I congratulate their effort to make this happen. I'm going to write soothingly to those who need it most.

It may feel depressing to some who see Valentine mushy couples, Valentine cards, Valentine chocos, Valentine TV ads, Valentine radio ads, Valentine posters, Valentine meal specials at restos, Valentine deals at the candy store, Valentine concerts... especially when that special someone isn't there.

Bummer!

Cheer up, mate. Mush may be a part of love, but to tell you the truth, love is also more than just romantic mush. I would know because my first Valentine's Day person is my mom; the love of a mother and daughter may not be romantic but it is love. Her cards were helpful reminders that she shows she cares-- just in case I fail to recognize it behind her bad moods. (Dad may not give me a Valentine card, I suppose it also counts as his "card" was in form of an affectionately spoken "Happy Valentine's Day, too.")

The love for friends and family are worth celebrating in Valentine's Day, too. We love them because they have endearing ways to express care. What if we have family who don't love us well? It helps to realize that their definition of love may not be the same for us. As for those who feel damaged living with such people, it is best to pack, move out and love them from afar. Perhaps distance will help make the heart grow fonder. Sending to people (including relatives we can't shoot) some emails and letters of tender loving care would be good for the sender's and the recipient's health. I suppose no one gets hurt while living apart and sending tokens of sweet affection. (If the tokens are junked, the sender still gets blessed from above. The only one who doesn't get blessed is the ungrateful recipient-- the one who blocked the blessings.) Trust me, the opposite of love will make one sicker. So why be heartless and spend huge fortune on curing a loveless negative stubborn sickness, when you can be hearty and spend a smaller fortune on living a loving positive flexible health.

I may not have memories of sending heaps of Valentine cards before. So instead of complaining, I made that lot of Valentine cards this year. I had sent some and will send more to friends and family. In the early stages of distributing little valentines, I felt the joy of giving and cheering people other than myself. There may be those who were not gracious in receiving, but that is okay. This would be a sign to give other people instead (next time). As a Valentine-er, this would increase my list of Valentine-ees -- both the ones receiving once and the ever loyal recipients. And my Valentine-ees may be inspired to have that Valentine spirit that would spread light of love to the corners of the earth that never knew the Valentine joy. Who knows?

One may say, "I see you give valentines. I'm sorry to tell you that your efforts are a waste. There will be recipients out there who will throw away your cards." I would say, "That may be true, but I know there are a handful among them (even just one), who would remember that there are people (like me), who put loving effort in creating a Happy Valentine's Day for them. And if that handful don't remember me, seeing the card may let them feel like, 'Wow, A cool Valentine card! I can do this too!' I feel proud that I have contributed to the radiant flame of Valentine card giving, and it spread from one person to another."

If you want to receive love, then give love. For starters, Valentine cards help express the heart's goodness when the sender can't find the words for it. (Is this an outlet to help heal your heart? Why not?) It may not be the only way, but it is a stepping stone to your next loving expression. May you feel the joy for going towards the many steps to demonstrate that love. A sweet Valentine card can lead to a smile, then laughter, then a cheerful conversation... possibilities are endless.

You've got store-bought cards, homemade cards, paper cards, verbal "cards", e-cards, paid cards, free cards... Not a card person? There are other alternative Valentine goodies you can give. The limit is up to your imagination.

Valentine's day can be the springboard to love which keep lasting if anyone wants to. Go for that start! Does your loving go beyond Valentine's Day? Keep up the good work! Lovers like you make the world go 'round.

It's a season to spread the love regardless of age, gender, race, creed, and educational attainment. Woohoo!

HAPPY HEARTS DAY!

P.S. Perhaps the next step after sending valentines would be to treat each day like Valentine's Day with more than just cards; or to connect more often to grateful receivers of the valentines; or to walk the extra mile to be nice to "pests"... all because of the good feelings felt as a Valentine-er. As I said, possibilities are endless.

"Go ahead punk, and make my Valentine's Day!" --Rene Requiestas (1957-1993)

:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

--A.A. Milne
Winnie the Pooh

Friday, 13 January 2012

I Think of a Tremendous New Year

Thinking of the Tremendous Year gets me trembling in thought. It is a time to start a happy year and to go forward with making resolutions.

I used to think that being happy is something that happens to us just like catching a cold-- either I get it or I don't. This is what we call putting our happiness on autopilot-- which basically means we do not take control of being joyful with whatever that is in front of us. When I mean putting our happiness on autopilot, I mean it is like leaving our joy in the hands of fate: people, places, things, events, and etc.

So what can we do to start a happy year and the rest of our lives as happy? Simple, happiness is a decision. If we see the happy and bright side of anything, not only will that bring joy, but also good health and prosperity. It is obvious that one can't be sad and healthy at the same time, and one can't be sad and prosperous at the same time. With moving forward by deciding to be happy at all times, the rest will follow.

How come most New Year's Resolutions don't work? Most of us write our resolutions stated to the negative such as "not", "mustn't", and "won't". Negatives are misunderstood by the mind. The mind will pay attention to what we are thinking. For example: "I WON'T be late for work." becomes "I WILL be late for work." Take note that the mind will focus on "be late for work", and that becomes its objective.

Not only stating the resolution in the negative is a stumbling block, another stumbling block is stating the resolution as an unwanted chore-- the dirty job that we have to do. We all know that there are resolutions that inspire us and there are resolutions that discourage us.

What inspires us? We have feel-good words, rewards, and appreciation. For example, "I will be on time for work everyday so that I will be more efficient in the workplace, and my boss may appreciate me, (may probably give me a raise in my salary), and may regard me as a dependable key player of the work team that I am proud of."

Sometimes I wonder about the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament Bible. Most of the commandments are written in the negative, sound like discouraging chores, and use the fear conscience as the motivating force. What would happen if the commandments were written in the positive plus feel-good words, rewards, and appreciation? It can be a new age transforming gloom-and-doom into brightness-and-happiness.

With all this in mind, it would be a tremblingly Tremendous Year of an age of exciting change in the nautilus spin of life.

Happy New Year!
(I may be late, but I am just in time before Chinese New Year.
Kung Hei Fat Choi. = "May you prosper.")

:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL
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"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

--A.A. Milne
Winnie the Pooh

Monday, 10 October 2011

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Great for him, her, kids, babies, and you.

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Click HERE to view Kindhearted Kangaroo prints.

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:-( -> :-| -> :-)
DL

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"If you want to know the meaning of life, look it up in the dictionary."
--Nestle Yogurt ad :-)

Friday, 7 October 2011

DL Cards + Cards + Cards.......... (10-packs and singles under $20!)

To those who still love the charm of paper cards with paper envelopes... I have just the stuff to greet Christmasses, thank-yous, and almost any occasion all year round!

For more information, click on the links (beginning with "http") that tickles you and read on...