Alch3mist's Simple Reminders III

Here we go again. Life is full of surprises so ponder on these few thoughts I've heard and read. First, have a firm handshake. Look people in the eye. Sing in the shower. Own a great stereo system. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard. Keep secrets. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday. Always accept an outstretched hand. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference. Whistle. Avoid sarcastic remarks. Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out. Lend only those books you never care to see again. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have. When playing games with children, let them win. Give people a second chance, but not a third. Be romantic. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems. Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.Be a good loser. Be a good winner. Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born. Keep it simple. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose. Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river. Live your life so that your epitaph could read, "No Regrets". Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you. Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you. Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes. Begin each day with some of your favorite music. Once in a while, take the scenic route. Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, 'Someone who thinks you’re terrific.' Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice. Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.! Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job. Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later. Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you. Become someone's hero. Count your blessings. Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home. Wave at the children on a school bus. Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people. Don't expect life to be fair. There you go! I've highlighted the few thoughts whom I think is most important of all for me. Life has its ups and downs. Just learn to be flexible like the bamboo. When strong winds hit them, they bend and never break. Yes we should be strong but we have to flexible at certain times also. Cheers!

Carrot, Egg or Coffee?

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, Mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity -- boiling water -- but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity? Do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of your life. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life, flavor, to them? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

Regaining Trust

Trust in more important that monogamy. Regaining trust is so hard to do. You will have a series of difficulties and lot of doubts between partners. Dub Dub and I had a very nice relationship before. We trudted each other so much. We never had doubts until Dub Dub failed. I really felt so betrayed and I wanted to end the relationsip real time. I was thinking that, if he did it once, he could do it again. We've had a series of fights and arguements. We almost lose each others love just because we started to doubt each other.

Broken Heart

Dub Dub broke my heart. Sometimes people do things without really thinking. I'm still asking myself why did it happen. Was it special or was it merely the act itself? But the decesion depends on me. There is no guarantee that it will not happen again. So, I have to think a trillion times. I'm guessing that yesterday, I was in a kind of a denial. I was thinking that it did not happen and I was trying to accept it yesterday and was telling myself that it's okay and that I can move on. Last night was the only time it all sank in. I was really broken. In the back of my mind I was trying to fix things because of the time I have spent with Dub Dub and the comfort we have already established and the fear of doing it all over again. Starting over. I hope I'm sure of what I am doing. Whatever I do, I have to do it fot the right reasons. They say that a person who could afford to hurt me that much is not worthy of my love. If I think that I can be with him and forget what had happened and then just moved on. Then, that would be great. Why cry over a spilt milk. I have to forget about that things that have happened because if I do not, we will only end up begrudging him all of the time and we end up fighting.