Thoughts To Live By (not only for 2007)

This holiday season, I'd like to share to you an article I got from Ricky Lo's column in The Philippine Star. I've added some of my thoughts in it (in blue italics) and I hope you guys will find this article as insightful as I found it to be.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Everyone!

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‘Yield’ and other thoughts for Christmas
FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo
Publication Date: [Monday, December 25, 2006]
Philippine Star

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

We often hear people say that, don’t we?

Like Michael Jackson’s enduring message – to paraphrase, give love not only on Christmas Day – that line rings with more resonance and more meaning when you ponder on it on a blessed day like this...when we greet one and all, friends and foes alike, a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Today, I’m giving my space to my friend (and loyal Funfare reader) Robin Tong, an incurable bookworm who includes "Yield" (in the banner) and the opener quotation in his list of 50 Thoughts For Christmas.

Here’s the complete list:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
*Ditto! That's why I'm making it a pact to try and be more understanding of others who seems like are always in the warpath.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
*I've only had my VERY OWN credit card for a few months now, but even before I got it, I made a promise to myself to spend only what I can and to pay every month's bill COMPLETELY (and NOT just paying the minimum amount required)

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
* I am saving, alright. But not exactly for "retirement"...would saving for a house...or condo unit...or for a small business be equivalent to "retirement"?Ü

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
*HAHAHA! Guilty as charged!

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
*I have done this...I think (or at least I'd like to think so)...Ü

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life with others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
*Gotta start doing this...

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
*Hay...I should've realized this 6 years ago...Ü

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
*Ditto! I vow to do this this year and for the years to come...which means no more long speeches (from yours truly) about not having a ____...and why i'm still ____. I promise you guys, this will be the end of it.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take "no" for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
*Exactly my thoughts...

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
*Yes, it is!

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
*One of the greatest words of wisdom ever.

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.
*Hard to do but I will try.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
*I will surely keep this in mind.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your family will.
*So...does this mean I gotta use my VLs? HEHE!Ü

33. Believe in miracles.
*I do.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative! – dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
*It surely is, even if sometimes, you feel like it's not.