Happiness: A Matter of Perspective

― Abraham Lincoln asks

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” 

― Alphonse Karr answers, A Tour Round My Garden
“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” 

It's all a matter of perspective.

Gratitude Turns What We Have Into Enough

Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. It allows us to focus on what we have rather on what we do not have. If you want to find happiness, find gratitude.

Grateful for Things -- Great and Small

http://about.me/ruthbinuya

I am Grateful For--

1. an awesome Nanay
2. life lessons from Tatay
3. brothers and sisters generously sharing what they have
4. my bestfriend, Yuki
5. nieces and nephews who brought joys to our lives
6. every one else in Alzona-Binuya Extended Clan
7. classmates and old friends who constantly keep in touch
8. new friends
9. neighbors who take care of Nanay like their own mother
10. my teachers - those who inspired me and those who challenged me
11. my work, the people I work with
12. everyone who helped me
13. everyone who might not helped me as I was expecting but still helped me in learning important lessons about life
14. everyone who touched my life
15. everyone whose life I touched
16. the simple pleasures in life
17. the "little things" we usually take for granted like fresh air, water, sunshine, clouds, rain, stars and all the beauty there is that God created
18. and GOD, the One that provide

--in varying degrees of gratefulness and not necessarily in this order

Living in the Moment

Living in the Moment

Four years ago, my mother was diagnosed with serious heart condition. We spent a whole month in two hospitals. We spent Christmas in one, New Year in the other. It's one Christmas season we won't forget. 

Nanay came home before her 71st birthday. On her birthday that year,  I made her promise me to stay at least 15 years more. She was negotiating for a shorter term because at that point in her life she felt she could not even make 5 years.

She became older each day but she kept on trying to get stronger. We were stopping her from doing household chores but she just won't give up. 

One day, Yuki asked her: "Nanay, why are you so hard-headed?  Why wont you stop doing the chores?" And Nanay was teary-eyed when she answered: " I feel useless. I don't think there's anything I can do anymore." 

I was completely speechless when Yuki shared this story.  How she assured my mother (her grandmother) that she is not useless and that she matters whether she can still do chores or not because she has done enough and it's her children's and grandchildren's turn to serve her.

Was that a moment of genuine humility, self-pity or  self-doubt? I realize that people in all walks of life lose hope every day and someone has to bring that hope alive because  there’s will always be meaningful moments  left to experience;  and we have to appreciate this moment for what it is despite sickness and old age. Every moment is a gift.  The present is a chance to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and sensations life has to offer. The present moment is all the life there ever is.

My Nanay will be 75 on her next birthday. As happy as we are planning for that day, we make sure that Nanay feels we love and treasure her each day. We spend as much time as we can because we know we could not bank on the future. What we are sure though is that we have NOW.

Gratitude is the Best Attitude

What was left after typhoon Glenda:

1. Damaged water pipes
2. Uprooted trees, broken trees, branches, leaves and twigs everywhere
3. Scheduled brownouts
4. Broken pots, damaged plants
5. Roofless top floor

What I am grateful for:

1. Damaged water pipes – Repaired in a day!
2. Uprooted trees, broken trees, branches, leaves and twigs everywhere – Cleaned up real fast!
3. Brownout? The cool weather allows me to sleep with windows open. Let the fresh breeze in.
4. Broken pots and damaged plants – Nanay will surely buy replacements in AANI weekend market come this weekend
5. Roofless top floor – will get fixed. God will provide.

Thanks to the Dependable Utilities Team

What I could have been very concerned about but did not but did not worry for three days that I was out of office:

1. Email to respond to
2. My Team
3. Backlogs

What I am grateful for:

1. I did not get drowned in emails despite being offline for three days. I was able to address urgent ones upon my return and flagged the rest to be completed until next week.
2. I have a very dependable team. People covered for the tasks I was supposed to take on.
3. No backlogs – mostly because of item number 2. Thanks to my team. I appreciate the help.

Sheltered by God's Love

Typhoon Glenda was expected to arrive in a few hours. I could not sleep. I was disturbed by the sound of roofs getting ripped and the whining wind. I watched the branches of our 40 year-old narra tree getting  tossed back and forth by the vicious wind, shedding leaves and branches. Nanay's flowering plants blooming in the second floor terrace garden did not stand a chance. The potted plants with little yellow flowers swayed ungracefully until the the leaves and flowers were mangled.  The potted red roses lost their flowers; the rest of the potted plants rolled in the staircase. Nanay could not bear to see her orchids getting bashed so she took them in. A few stems were already broken but most of the flowers are intact.

Then the power supply went out. I tried to sleep but the roaring sound on our roof top  was getting louder and corrugated iron were flying from everywhere. I prayed for our safety. I no longer cared for the roof nor for whatever else this typhoon would damage. I just prayed for our family to be safe. 

Then the calmness after the storm came. Looking at the sky, I could not believe how calm it was, as if nothing happened. Looking down, leaves and branches covered the roads. The trees that made it through the storm stood proud despite the foliage loss. We did lose the entire top floor roof. The entire roof of our third floor was blown away by winds. I am grateful that it hurt no one as the strong winds hurled it across the road down below. I am grateful that we have family and friends, all safe, helping each other fix the mess Glenda has left.  What I do realize is that calamities like this bring out the goodness in people. The spirit of bayanihan lives. People will come to fix our roof and to fix our water installation probably damaged by a debris hurled around by Glenda's violent wind. 

Despite our best efforts to see the sun after the storm, we can't close our eyes to those who were harmed and those who lost their loved one.  Our roof can be repaired. Nanay's garden can be replaced. What we lost, we could regain; but for others, this may not be so.

To them, I share a prayer, for now. Hopefully, I can do something else.