Thanks Giving

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded of the many things I possess that I am grateful for. Surprisingly it really has nothing to do with my material “wealth”, but it has everything to do with my emotional riches.   For people who have known me for most of my life, they know of my deep abiding faith in God to always be there when I need help emotionally, spiritually and yes financially.  I live my life following  two tenets:  if it is God’s will it will be done and if it is meant to be, it will happen.  I am not infallible so of course I have days or moments where I hop on the self-pity train with the rest of the world, but eventually I get off the next stop and continue again on the journey of life. I try not to focus on things that are out of my control and let it roll off my back because  it takes too much time and energy to change the things that is not meant to be like being a size 3 again!:) Oprah, once did a show on gratitude.  She said we should take the time to be grateful for what we have everyday. I have to concede it is something we tend to forget to do because we become so  engrossed in the many trials and tribulations of life that we fixate on the negative aspects. Here is a reminder to reconsider how we should view life.If one could only learn to appreciate the little things…

A song that takes you away, for there are those who cannot hear.
The beauty of a sunset, for there are those who cannot see.
The warmth and safety of your home, for there are those who are homeless.
Time spent with good friends for there are those who are lonely.
A walk along the beach for there are those who cannot walk.
The little things are what life is all about.
Search your soul and learn to appreciate.–Shadi Souferian

The best way to give thanks is by giving! You all know what I always say, what goes around comes around.  Here’s my idea of giving.

1.Lend a helping hand even to those you don’t consider your friends because your act of charity should be freely given to all.

2. Give yourself love and respect by thinking positive thoughts about yourself.

3. Change the world through good deeds and words. One person CAN make a difference.

I hope all of you have a Happy Thanksgiving and share your stories of charities whether you are the giver or the receiver.

No college Plan, No Diploma!

Recently, I read an interesting article about a new and innovative effort by a high school to raise the percentage of college students. The school is locate in Boston.  The main focus of the school is to offer a rigorous curriculum for the students so they can be prepared for college.  In order to receive their diploma, the students had to be accepted to a college first.  For many students as well as parents this might seem drastic or disagreeable.  However, I really like this idea and yes coming from a teacher it makes sense. I personally love the concept because I think we need to put more pressure on students to go to college and further their education.  It is alarming to me to see so many young, bright students do nothing post high school.  Such a waste of talent and intellect should not be encouraged or accepted.  Yes, many young people will argue that this is America and they have a right to do whatever they want and that includes making their own decisions in regards to their future.  I on the one hand concede to this argument, but on the other hand I feel that we need to stop babying these young people by giving them so much freedom and choice.  Needless to say I love the idea of no high school diploma unless they are accepted to college. 

The Last Supper: Musical Notes Found

One of my favorite book is The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.  In the book and the movie he theorized that one of Jesus’ apostle is actually Mary Magdelene, his wife.  Both source dance around this idea that there are bloodlines of Jesus and Mary Magdelene out there somewhere.  To some the idea of Jesus marrying much less having kids is ludicrous or even down right sacrilegious.  As for me, who is pretty naive have a tendency to believe in such reasoning.  So what if Jesus was married and have kids?  If God had sent his son to give his life to mankind so they could be saved, wouldn’t it make sense that he would want his son to fully experience life.  In order to understand the full spectrum of man’s temptation, conflicts, and misery, wouldn’t it be more conceiveable that Jesus be allowed to think and act for himself? Anyway, just some contemplation on my part.

Most of us have seen the painting The Last Supper, but I’m sure we did not examined it to the point where we can actually find hidden messages or idea.  That brings to mind, the story about an Italian musician who supposedly discover musical notes on the painting.  Read the article and be a judge yourself.

Love Song

Since the Dangling Monkey mentioned love songs on his word blog I thought I would post one of my favorite love song by one of my favorite Italian singer Andre Bocelli.  The duet between him and Brightman is touching.  The lyrics is so beautiful because it describes an endless love between two soul mates who can not live without each other.  Their harmonious voice and range does justice to the words.  I never get tired of listening to this song. I have included the lyrics as well from the same place I got the song from the user: aszabojr

Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te PARTIRO) 1997 from … (more) Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te PARTIRO) 1997 from Album Timeless The Lyrics: Sarah: Quando sono sola sogno all’orizzonte e mancan le parole, si lo so che non c’è luce in una stanza quando manca il sole, se non ci sei tu con me, con me. Su le finestre mostra a tutti il mio cuore che hai accesso, chiudi dentro me la luce che hai incontrato per strada. Time to say goodbye. — Con te partirò. Paesi che non ho mai veduto e vissuto con te, adesso sì li vivrò. Con te partirò su navi per mari che, io lo so, no, no, non esistono più, it’s time to say goodbye. — con te io li vivrò. Andrea: Quando sei lontana sogno all’orizzonte e mancan le parole, e io si lo so che sei con me, con me, tu mia luna tu sei qui con me, mio sole tu sei qui con me, con me, con me, con me. Time to say goodbye. — Con te partirò. Paesi che non ho mai veduto e vissuto con te, adesso sì li vivrò. Con te partirò su navi per mari che, io lo so, no, no, non esistono più, Both: con te io li rivivrò. Con te partirò su navi per mari che, io lo so, no, no, non esistono più, con te io li rivivrò. Con te partirò Io con te. English Translation Time to say goodbye — I’ll go with you Sarah When I’m alone I dream of the horizon and words fail; yes, I know there is no light in a room where the sun is absent, if you are not here with me. At the windows show everyone my heart which you set alight; enclose within me the light you encountered on the street. Time to say goodbye. — I’ll go with you to countries I never saw and shared with you, now, yes, I shall experience them. I’ll go with you on ships across seas which, I know, no, no, exist no longer; it’s time to say goodbye. — with you I shall experience them. Andrea When you are far away I dream of the horizon and words fail, and, yes, I know that you are with me; you, my moon, are here with me, my sun, you are here with me with me, with me, with me. Time to say goodbye. — I’ll go with you to countries I never saw and shared with you, now, yes, I shall experience them. I’ll go with you on ships across seas which, I know, no, no, exist no longer, Both with you I shall experience them again. I’ll go with you on ships across seas which, I know, no, no, exist no longer, with you I shall experience them again. I’ll go with you. You and me. (less)

Karma: What goes around comes around?

Shopping is a form of escape for some people, but for others it is another chore on their to do list.  As for me, it can be both.  There are some days I love to go shop and I’m not talking about for clothes.  I am one of those people who loves to look at things from electronics to books to plants.  Shopping can be therapautic sometimes and hectic at others.  It depends on the mood we are  in and how much time we have. Two days ago, I had to go grocery shopping so it was not really a choice, but a necessity.  I was in a rush to get it over with.  Because of my mad dash out of Walmart, I unknowingly dropped my bank card/Atm in the parking lot.  I didn’t even realize my mistake until a cop showed up to my door asking if I was so and so and if I was at Walmart an hour ago. While she was interrogating me, I was trying to remember if I accidently picked up something or forgot to pay or unwittingly committed a crime or was a silent witness to something.  All these crazy thoughts popped in my head.  After a minute, I nervously affirmed that I was so and so and yes I was at Walmart.  When she reached into a yellow envelope,  I stopped breathing and thought that she  had a warrant out for my arrest!  I don’t know why I was thinking that, since I am the most straight laced law abiding citizen.  I have never even gotten a ticket in my life just to prove to you all how upstanding I am! Anyway, when she pulled out my ATM/credit card and handed it to me , I was dumbfounded.  I looked at her like she was a magician pulling a rabbit out of hat and just stared at her blankly until she said a lady had found my card in the parking lot and turned it in to Walmart.  I don’t know if I was more shocked that I had actually not realize that I  had lost it in the first place or that someone actually took the trouble to walk back into Walmart to turn in my card.  I profusely thanked the police woman and told her to please thank the lady who had turned in the card.  That unknown woman could have easily used my card because it was a debit/credit card.  Also, I was lucky that an honest and kindhearted person had found my card instead of an unscrupulous person.  What happened reminded me of an event that happened seven years ago…

About seven years ago, I found an ATM card at the ATM machine at my bank.  When I looked around I didn’t see anybody in the parking lot or notice any car ahead of me so whoever used the machine did it before I got to the bank.  After I got money out myself, I rushed home and immediately looked for a phone book to see if I can locate the person whose name is on the card.  Luckily, they were listed in the phone book and I called them and the person whose card it was, picked up.  I explained that I was at an ATM machine at the bank earlier and I had found a card and asked the person if they was missing one.  The man told me to hold on while he went to go look and when he came back on the phone he said yes, sounding surprise.  Just to be sure it was the right person, I asked what his name was and he said his name was Matt… Then I told him my name and before I even finished he increduloulsy interrupted me and asked if I was Ana, his mom’s friend and co-worker ( I guess I have that distinctive Asian accent). I asked who was his mom and he laughed and said he would have his mom answer for herself.  When my friend Karen got on the phone I was the one who was shocked!  She confirmed that Matt was her son.  The reason why I didn’t make the connection was because Matt had his father’s last name.  My friend was divorced from the father so she had her maiden name. We laughed about the coincidence.

As some of you know, I really believe in doing good deeds and that we will be rewarded in ways that is not monetary.  I think it is interesting that out of hundreds of people who could have found Matt’s ATM it was me, his mom’s friend.  Then years later, someone kind and good found my ATM and returned it to me.  Does anybody share the same beliefs as me that what goes around comes around?  Any similiar stories? Please share, I’ m  really interested to know that I’m not the only one who has experience random acts of kindness.