With all humility, I whispered I’m award winning leader. My entire career life is dipped in sales and people management. My worth was proven in these fields. I thank my God for my strength, wisdom, and prosperity in every thing that I do.

I came from diversified industries. Starting from phamaceuticals, direct selling, school operation, life  insurance and business ownership as entrepreneur.

Knowledge acquired on paper seems shallow still. To thoroughly understand this one must personally experience it all hands-on inside the four walls and most importantly in the road, to serve as legacy. On the other hand, school diploma and advanced study credited like passports to enter the world of many challenges. In every highway, those papers are nothing without actions. So when rubber meets the road, we’re on our way to hit our unlimited dreams.

It only needs positive mind setting. The mind has wondrous powers. A pure mind is able to accomplish all merits, it is like gold in this world.

Surprisingly, I’ve seen individuals holding no credentials but they rise and shine. This livelihood profile is obvious in the direct selling industry where people from all walks of life joining the business to learn, to earn, and to travel.

My ulimate goal in life is to rise and shine one day at a time. I don’t give up.

How did I make the star to shine? 

#DESIRE. Anything one owns emanated from a desire to own it. Think it, and you'll have it. 

#EFFORT. Those who make effort are mindful, good in conduct, self-disciplined, and live in faith, have ever-increasing glory. 

#DELIVER. Deliver HD Quality performance - Hardwork (H) and Determination (D). 


I don't compete. However, my greatest adversary is thyself. Many times I failed but most of opportunities l faced had been won. 

Learn a lesson from this! If a person doesn't experience and patiently bear with life's difficulties, they will never truly be numbered among the outstanding.

Success is given to those who have a compassionate heart. Also, if a person is to be successful, he must endure the unendurable and do the undoable.

RISE AND SHINE. Don't be afraid. 

Let's meditate from this ancient thoughts: 

Not even the most ferocious waves can swallow a man of faith. 

Not even the most trying obstacles can stop a man of courage. 

Not even the most adverse environments can disturb a man of aspiration. 

Not even the most difficult tasks can contain a man of responsibility. 

Not even the most bitter experiences can torment a man of ambition. 

Not even the most ruthless enemies can defeat a man of DETERMINATION. 🌴

# Rise and shine 🌴🌞

# Glory to my God 🙏

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE DOOR

👉Serve your sovereign with loyalty,
👉Care for your parents with filial peity.
👉Accept your community with magnanimity, 
👉Cultivate yourself with cautiousness.
👉Follow the rules with clean conduct.
👉Lead your people with sincerity.
👉Face poverty with joyful  content,
👉Enhance your learning with diligence,
👉Clear your mind with tranquility.
👉Provide for those in need with agility,
👉Express utmost honesty with straightforwardness.
👉Maintain your esteem with discipline,
👉Give to others with tremendous generosity.
👉Command your subject with solemnity,
👉Treat your guests with respect.
👉Follow your principles with consistency,
👉Lead others with benevolence.
👉BE A SON AT HOME, AND A MINISTER TO THE NATION.

*Inscription On The Door, Lu Yijian (979-1044,Son Dynasty) u

“FAILURE WILL NEVER OVERTAKE ME IF MY DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED IS STRONG ENOUGH.”

Og Mandino

Allow me to share with you my first challenging and exciting engagement with my first superior in my first job experience from a multi-national pharmaceutical company.

Here my real story goes :

"The challenge before you, Rod, is whether you accept and cooperate with me and do everything to achieve your goal. Do you understand?", Caloy's invitation. He was my first superior in my first job as Pharmaceutical Service Representative, a daring District Manager who believed in me, and was trying to unlock the greatness in me. 

I looked at him humbly. I answered, "Yes ser", without any hesitation. 

And he asked me again, "Will you cooperate with me?" 

"You already heard, ser, I said, Yes."

"Hit your goal this month, and a new car is at stake. We will change your old service car with a nice one!", Caloy added. 

"From 20K as mandated, give us 100K sales and the bacon is yours", Caloy expanded the challenge. 

It was the first big deal in my sales career that needs to be resolved between the two of us. Of course, I'd like to drive a brand new car.

I was assigned in a new area - the island of Panay, Philippines which  comprised of four provinces. The company provided me with a service car, a Mitsubishi Lancer '79 model running with a saturn engine. The model that won the Safari Grand Prix. However, the paint looked old and wasn't good enough to appreciate. But the drive was fantastic. 

When rubber meets the road, actions begin out there in the market place. Rain or shine.

"You gonna hit that goal this month", repeatedly I heard the lines registered in my mind.

"How are you going to do it?", Caloy asked. I looked at him sincerely and said quietly,"Very well."

"You are bold enough to pass the trail. Most of all, you get focused", he said. 

He walked over to his new car and got something, a printed paper. "Do you read poems? Here is for you," Victory". Read it every morning before you hit the road."

"Now, what's your plan?" The question was so heavy to me being a fresher.

" Huh?"

"I said, what's your plan. Your actions to hit that goal. I want systematic details. Oh boy, you gonna hit that goal" , Caloy insisted on the spot.

💡I said, "I must communicate with you always, I must be consistent in what I do, I must be determined to produce sales frequently, I must have focus in everything I do. Thus, beggining today, I commit myself to deliver the numbers by all means, ser! "

To make a long story short, I did it. At the end of the month I registered 100% against target.

The following month a nice car was delivered in my area, a Ford Laser Sedan, the first electronic car in the Philippines at that time. 

Afterwards, Caloy made some arrangement to meet me for a performance review. 

He said, "What you've done was similar to a long training." He gave analogy to a fighting rooster:

"in the first stage, it appears fierce though it lacks strength like a clamoring street hooligan. In the second stage, it is still tense and indominable, just like the critical and passionate words of a youth. In the third stage, though its competitiveness appears to have completely disappeared, fierceness still remains in the eyes, meaning that aggressiveness and impulsiveness are still there."🏛️

VICTORY (A Poem)

YOU are the man who used to boast, That you'd achieve the uttermost, Someday.

YOU merely wished a show, To demonstrate how much you know, And prove the distance you can go... 

ANOTHER year we've just passed through. What new ideas came to you? How many big things did you do?

TIME... left twelve fresh months in your care,
How many of them did you share,
With opportunity and dare, 
Again where you so often missed?

WE do not find you on the list of Makers Good. Explain the fact!

Ah no, 'twas not the chance you lacked! As usual-you failed to act!

- Stanley Gettis

“Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.”

– OG MANDINO –

Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success (Wikipedia).

In my entire career and life’s journey I experienced how it feels to fail – life became hard. Many times I gave up the ghost.

“I’ve been broke. I’ve been rejected. I’ve been betrayed. I’ve been laughed at. I’ve been ignored. I’ve been belittled, and I’ve been defeated.” All of these pierced my heart and bleeds of desperation. They made me cry.

My tears gave me strength and power. My prayer gave me hope and understanding.

Oh mother, I never gave up.

Every day I recalled the hardships and difficult times from my walk. I got hold on the rope of my dreams. My faith anchored me to survive, believing someday the sun will shine. Kept a loyal and shining heart to move me into the future of my wish.

I just continue working while experiencing and testing resolve to the marrow and keep going finding good opportunities, just as fish cannot live without water and trees cannot grow without soil. I believed that it is only by repeatedly starting over from scratch that I can be successful.

In my mind I knew that every setback experienced means another enhancenent of knowledge, and every adversity endured means another emergence of greater generosity from heaven.

After series of failures and setbacks, a new chapter of life unfolds, I catch a glimpse of the collapsing trees. Rays of sunlight shine upon the earth, mountains, and rivers on a beautiful morning, transforming into the spirit of hope in the world where I am living.

Failure trained me to be strong, faithful, keeps me grounded and humble. It is an essential part of self-development.

I learned many things from my failures to clutch me hopeful in bringing my feet stand on the ground.

Albert Einstein once said, “Failure is success in progress.” 🏛️

for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

The Book of Proverbs 24:16

White hair is a crown of glory and is seen most among the godly.

The Book of Proverbs 16:31

Success to a great degree winds up as to enjoy a particular activity, engaging with your work environment, friends, and neighbors, and being an inspiration for others.

Individuals who are finding success at mature age and older adults are proving that it’s never too late to follow your vision and become noticed by doing something impressive or unusual.

"Studies show:

🍏That older people who hold jobs from which they do not have to retire get along best. 

🍏Those who have a chance to do something creatively after they retire get along second best. 

🍏Those with less chance to do something creatively go down most quickly. 

The body is closed unit with lots of energy in it. Unless the individual has a way to discharge the energy, he gets into difficulty, and the difficulty is sickness and death. " 

(Dr. Edward W. Busse, in Knight's Treasury of Illustrations, P. 244.)

🍏LOOK!

💡Michelangelo painted the ceiling of theSistine Chapel lying on his back on a scaffold when almost 90;

💡John Wesley at 88, preached every day.

💡Tennyson, when 83, wrote Crossing the Bar

💡Benjamin Franklin wrote his autobiography when over 80.

💡Paderewski at 70 played the piano superbly;

💡Booth Tar Kington wrote 16 novels after 60, some of them when he was almost totally blind.

There is hope. Empty your heart with grief, fill it with love and courage. And you will conceive  dreams, you will hear voices of good tidings, you will see visions of goodwill , and you will hatch creative thought.

🇵🇭 Rod P. Villaruz

The Three Acts of Goodness are the most beautiful acts in the world. Mastering the Three Acts of Goodness is most worthy of being proud.

Nothing is comparable to these Three Acts of Goodness :

#1. Do good deeds.

#2. Speak good words.

#3 Think good thoughts.

LOOK!

Do good deeds👉 Lending a helping hand yields wondrous merit. Service and dedication are like the full moon shining in the skies.

LISTEN!

Speak good words 👉 Compassionate and loving words are like the cool bright sun. Encouragement and praise are like the fragrance of flowers following you from everywhere.

THINK!

Think good thoughts 👉 Sincerity and good motive yield good effects. The presence of a sage in one’s mind is like a fertile field ready to produce a good harvest.

So let us all come together and do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts. How wonderful it is to be pure!

YOU do good deeds, I speak good words. THEY think good thoughts. YOU are well, I AM well, THEY are well. EVERYBODY will be well.

WELLNESS is the treasure of our world. The Three Acts of Goodness are the most beautiful acts we have. This is why the Three Acts of Goodness are the most important practices in the world.

**Sounds of the Human Words

To my Dearest Sunshine,

I wrote this letter after dinner. I wanted to let you know what’s nice between us is we consistently nurtured our fragile mutual understandings which I know nobody else could imitate. You maybe right when you said we are soul mates. But there’s an exception to feel in this affair, we are both lovers. Every seconds of the day, I can’t avoid to fall in love with you and you cordially partake what’s in your heart, too. We’re the best of friends in the whole universe.

I don’t know why, how it goes like this.

My love for you has no boundary to expect, whatever you are or whoever you’ll become, it won’t change, now and forever.

I don’t know why how it goes like this.

From the day I knew you, I felt we’d met in the past questioning myself to surprise we both stand in the crossroad today. And why only now, you have made remarkable spot in mine heart?

I couldn’t even remember how everything mutually started. Our actions are compared to a water flowing through a river running straight into the ocean.

I may not be compatible to you ‘coz every thing I’m sure is in you. I’m just an ordinary man but with great dreams in life. However, I can sense there’s something between us that we are meant to be appreciated.

Life between us is all about transforming situations. We tend to be able to convert what is overwhelming into small matters, loneliness into happiness, ignorance into enlightenment, and unwholesomeness into right direction.

We cultivated lately ourselves to shift negative circumstances into positive ones. No fear and nothing to worry about having the courage to accept and evolve the odds into perfect wisdom.

I will always love you, my dearest one. You’re always on my mind. ❤️💋🌹

I wanna be honest with ya. When I walk along with two others they may serve me as teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them. But I tend to avoid bad qualities.

“I’d rather be honest than impressive. Everyone is so untrue.”

I find pleasure in hills for there is tranquility.

Yes, honest!

🏛️

HONESTY by Billy Joel

If you search for tenderness. It isn't hard to find. You can have the love you need to live. 

But if you look for truthfulness, You might just as well be blind. It always seems to be so hard to give. 

🌞Refrain:
Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard, And mostly what I need from you. 

I can always find someone. To say they symphatize, If I wear my heart out on my sleeve. But I don't want some pretty face, to tell me pretty lies. All I want is someone to believe.

(Repeat Refrain) 

I can find a lover. I can find a friend. I can have security until the bitter end. Anyone can comfort me with promises again. I know, I know. 

When I'm deep inside of me, Don't be too concerned. I won't ask for nothin' while Im gone. 
But when I want sincerity, Tell me where else can I turn, 'Cause you're the one I depend on. 

(Repeat Refrain) 

” CHERISH EACH HOUR OF THIS DAY FOR IT CAN NEVER RETURN.”

Og Mandino

This is a true story. I write tbis to give thanks Mrs. Violy Tortola, our mentor-leader during our days in the booming market with TUPPERWARE I really admired this woman the way she handled people. I learned from her the meaning of leadership in business. She’s bold and enthusiastic. THANK YOU!

At that time, I met Violy, she’s beautiful, and I saw her as figure of success. She’s like a magnet that attracted me to listen to her proposal. Violy stood in front of me while talking about business opportunity in direct selling.

Finally, she picked out from her bag some papers and pen and she handed over saying, “Selling is the easiest job if you work it hard. There is money here! What the hell yuh waitin’ for? Let’s get right down, please sign this application form”, she said.

She was the Area Head & Distributor of the world’s leading plastic container during her time with the company, Tupperware Philippines, carrying a banner it goes “the nicest thing that could happen to your kitchen.”

I started right from the very first step of the ladder as Tupperware Dealer following a system that made this enterprise famous – the casual and ordinary “Tupperware Party”, and maybe some of you was there witnessing how this event could actually happen. It’s very effective to get sales. You can’t hit ‘em if you don’t talk face to face at party guests.

After a while, I set up my own team by bringing people from diverse backgrounds to join with me in the business. As time went on, my group became big in numbers, my income was multiplied better, and garnered high recognitions consistently every end of the year.

One time Violy stunningly asked me, “How did you manage your team to succeed?” I said, “First, I shared the goals to the entire team; Second, I set rules for coordinated efforts to ensure mutual understanding about the nuts-and-bolts sales processes. There were only three rules – communication, deadlines, and follow through; Third, I created environment to make everyone feel part of a cohesive unit to achieve the given goals.”

For the last five years, my team’s great performance was obvious and recorded in history of the company.

Now the Big Event came, in our hands was a HALL OF FAME plaque and I never could find words to express the courage and faith these team of mine gave us. This award made us all humbled that shaped our minds smaller. Just like a pebble stone, which, though small, is tough. Only toughness makes one genuine.

A story of teamwork written in our hearts. A moment to remember the day we said, “It was great!” 🏛️

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Ice-breaker. Here’s a fiction story to tell my good friends.

“Thinking of you as I explore the road in the cool air, singing my song. Dry leaves falling upon an empty mind, my secluded friend is perhaps not yet asleep.”

In my high school days, I preferred to stay or to lobby in the canteen area, along with mates in a class. It was our vacant period, with me were Coco and Rex.

At the other side of the table, Philip , sucking hard on a straw inserted into a thick chocolate shake, rejoined us.

By the time Philip got to be with us on the same table, now a beautiful girl came in alone to buy a snack. She's one of the boy's fantasies in the campus, she had the 'beauty and brain'. An idol of most, to say. 

"I'm proud to say she's my buttercup. I'm in love... I'm all shook up and stuck on her!", young Coco expressed his feelings and emotions. 

Philip, reluctantly parting his lips from his straw, said, "Can you imagine being proud to say that somebody was your buttercup?" 

Young Coco thought about it.

"Imagining", said Philip, "you're introducing her to us, and you go, 'This here is MY BUTTERCUP! Hey, did you pee your pants?" 

"Sh*t," said Coco, looking down at his khakis, wet, which, as was mandatory for seventeen-year-old boys. 

"Here comes Synra", said Philip. 

"Sh*t", said Coco. He easily untucked his white T-shirt and tried to cover it down the wet spot of the pants. 

"Hi," said Synra. 

"Hi," said Coco, twisting his lower body sideways, trying to aim his wet spot away from her. 

"Is that a squirt gun in your pocket," asked Synra, "or are you just glad to see me?" 

"Yes, I'm glad and excited to see you today and everyday," Coco said. 

And the bell rang for the next scheduled class subject. I said, "Got up boys, see ya later." 

Coco rushed away with us. And I saw Coco threw away an eye wink to Synra in a smile. And Synra laugh, bidding bye and said, "See ya later Coco. Stick like a glue." 🏛️

GLE Rod P. Villaruz | Iloilo Branch

Oh woman, you’re a legend. Your origin was recorded in the book of creation. You were taken from a rib of man, to dwell in the strength of the spirit of man. You were molded by God’s hand and the breath of life gave you power to live and explore the earth. Empowered from the ancient time to carry a good, kind, and pure  heart to enlighten the world. Now, your endless merit will bring infinite wonders to the world. And the world is waiting for your beauty to release love and happiness. You’re amazing from the very start. Oh woman, rise and shine!

Rise & shine, Oh woman! ✔️

Your pure and sincere heart can radiate with brightness. You know what success means by giving encouragement, strength and console to others. ❤️

Rise and shine, Oh woman! ✔️

Your mouth emits light as your speech casts light upon the way. You brightens the world with your hands when you make circumstances convenient for others. When you smile compassionately at others, your face radiates coolness set on fire.

Rise and shine, Oh woman! ✔️

You give others guidance, happiness and confidence whenever and wherever, to allow others feel the purity of wisdom – releasing light both inside and out. 😊

Rise and shine, Oh woman! ✔️

You do shine when you lessen your selfishness, greed, hate, and argumentativeness, your approaches dispel darkness and brighten others as well. 🌞

Rise and shine, Oh woman! ✔️

You are a leader of exemplar. Amazing! You make everyone an illuminating body, to light up the world with gladness. 💡

Rise and shine, Oh woman! ✔️

You have the great power in you to send forth and inspire. Let your light shine. Celebrate your strength. 💪

🏛️

A kindhearted woman gains respect…

The Book of Proverbs 11:16

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There was silence around, still and dark under a midnight sky. I stand and paused at the window of my bedroom, and my eyes were watchful and alert to any sign of movement. I saw fireflies darted through the night, brief flickers swiftly dimmed, but everything appeared to be normal. I eased onto the windowsill, sat listening a moment longer, then dropped silently to my bed. I prayed for safety and thanksgiving, I drew a deep breath, saying goodnight, and closed my eyes to sleep.

The next day in the morning, I welcomed a new day with my eyes figured the shadow of the sunshine emerging from the shed of the trees near the window.

My eyes are witnesses of the coming  day and passing of the night until the break of dawn.

To give a reflection, the eye can be likened to looking out a one way mirror from the inside.

The eye can see the entire cosmos using whatever lenses are focused upon, but yet it omits the “self”. One is unable to clearly perceive own daily actions. There must be a guide to instruct which directions to go in. Who then is this guide? There must be two.

One guide are friends. They give advice and reminders with gentleness and tact. They help correct mistakes by showing the right path. They encourage and stay in adversity. Good language benefits others.

The other one guide are enemies. They use belittling and harsh language to ridicule and attack a person. They hang on influential people and are snobs. They are dissolute, and lead the rest astray. Coarse language is harmful to all.

Without the guidance of others, we’ll neither have progress nor awareness.

However, it is all up to a person which guide he will follow. Anyway, he is the Captain of His Flagship, he definitely knows the northern star as a guide.

Life is what he makes of it. His destination may be reached in a few or longer hours but all depends on his determination to wield all obtacles for his goal. 

He should value the hardships on account of a better tomorrow. He should be proud that for once in his life, he had cried and persevered during the mournful nights of his fall and strove hard to rise up and move on. (Anonymous) 🏛️

Discontent is the first necessity of progress.

THOMAS ALBA EDISON

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (MHN) is an idea in psychology proposed by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper “A Theory of Human Motivation” in the Journal Psychological Review. Maslow subsequently extended the idea to include his observations of human innate curiosity. (Wikipedia)

The theory states that humans are motivated to fulfill their needs in a heirarchical order as shown in the above pyramid. This order begins with the most basic needs before moving on to more advanced needs.

Self-actualization needs are the highest level on Maslow’s Pyramid of needs. These needs include realizing one potential, self-fulfillment, self-development, and peak experiences. Self actualization is the desire to accomplish all that one can do and unleash all potential.

In management, MHN provides one with a framework for supporting and enabling team members to feel healthy, happy, and fulfilled.

Here’s a discussion of ancient illustration of an insatiable desires of man which by nature is not contented of what he owns. Full of worries of life, his desires for fame, fortune, and comfort are insatiable, unaware that death is on his feet.

A man works hard for the stomach, yet having obtained food, he then thinks of clothing.

Having clothes, he then looks up and feels discontent with a small roof.

He built a big house, then finds missing at the bedside a beautiful wife.

He married a beloved wife,  then worries about missing a vehicle at the garage for a ride.

Having purchased a vehicle with money, then finds a lack of personal driver.

Having employed a driver, and or housemaid, then he tyrannized for being a powerless rich man.

Having been selected as head of an institution, he then finds the position too low in ranking and authority.

Having been risen to the position of highness or executive, he then thinks everyday of ascending the highest post. 

Having ascended the topmost chair, he then wants to play sports with the elects. 

Having hailed at the sports' game, he then asks where the stairway to heaven is.

Unknowingly, before the stairway is even built, the highest heaven has already sent for the ghosts to take his life.

If it were not time for his death, he would still complain about the staircase's lack of height ! 🍏

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

The Book of Luke 12:15

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All is destined to old age. And no one will disagree age climbs up the ladder every year. From time immemorial it is rare for a man to live to seventy (70). Examine the years of childhood and old age and there’s not much left between. Only save worries, pride, pain, and emptiness. All our days are filled with sighing. Is there anything in the universe but emptiness?

All seasons in the sand – spring, summer, autumn and winter are just a snap of the fingers. Hair has become white now, the flowers are fresh yesteryear and become dry. Changing colors are part of the process, like the morning dew and like the fragrance of candle light is the evening breeze. Why wait for tomorrow, when one can live today? Only to later understand emptiness.

It is written, “Seventy (70) years are given us! And some may even live to eighty (80). But even the best of these years are often empty and filled with pain; soon they disappear, and we are gone.” (*1)

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes. (*2)

Comes a season when the moon lacks brightness and a time when flowers lose their beauty. The shadow of how life ends. Then a new  phase you will notice as the bell sees off the dusk, and the cock announces the arrival of the dawn.

One must love life for it dwells in a short period of time. More regard to good health as the most important matter.  Say heaven isn’t far away to live a joyous life.

Seventy is the number of one’s ticket to exit this world returning home!  A numerical threshold from womb to tomb. Shall one be held back by one’s tombs overgrown with weeds? Since one have already suffered owns heart, what can be gained from regret and sorrow? Don’t worry.

Instead, one must live joy today. It brightens the world with color and fills life with hope. Before home strech, one must allow life to be filled with a grateful heart. It is in fact the wisest attitude towards life. Who knows what tomorrow may brings?

In one’s journey, one must travel light. “Forget the age when one has  still mission and vision in life to accomplish.” Cheers! 🏛️

Ref/ *1-Psalm 90:10/ *2-James 4:14

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In my younger days, I failed so many times in my life. But I rise up because of my faith that life is all about transforming situations. When one door closes, a new nearby door opens for new opportunity. I gave focus to my dream, believing that if I can’t get my goal in one venue, I will search for another. Now and then, finding the courage to accept my failures, knowing the virtue to transform and evolve pains and heartaches into perfect wisdom. This attitude was cultivated in season of time that made me what I am today. I am strong in spirit, happy, inspired, determined, grateful, prayerful and don’t give up!

For many years I have searched for perfection but there’s none. As I saw, many times the leaves have fallen and the tree budded again. Ever since seeing flower blossoms, and until now I have never doubted myself again.

In life we should, like the pine, learn to transform the challenges and harshness of the environment into the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the breeze.

Here’s success ❤️👇

Think of the days you have lost to defeat. They are as dead leaves on a plant. Snip them. The roots are alive awaiting the water, from your hand that new growth will emerge. For life must flow through you, not to you.

Remember when young how each day was adventure? The sun never rose soon enough and wby did it set? Then one morning it rose too soon and set too late. You were adult, 'grown up', but in ways regressed.

Each morning should find you aglow with the chance, Of testing your courage and moving ahead, to that goal which may seem as far away as youth. If sorrow and pain knock you down, know that joy and pleasure are bought with these coins.

When tired and sure that life has bypassed you, Take another glance. It is then that wisdom, sweetness of soul, and inward peace will be yours.

The tools for creating a masterpiece of life are here. You are the artist. Success will depend on your faith. 

And what should success look like?

Success is vivid, colored with bright hues, brought about by the power of you to rule yourself.
When you want friendship, it is with you.
When you desire love, it enwraps you. 
When you seek wealth, it enfolds you. 

Your masterpiece has balance and design brought about by your hand wbich has placed, all that you experience in proper proportion. The focal point is clear, past worries do not appear. 

Your masterpiece as feeling, A soul that radiates and harmonizes with the exterior, greater self, for it is that strength which moves other men.

THAT IS SUCCESS. THAT IS YOURS. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT. 

-Jane Perry (Taken from the book How To Succeed by Brian Adams)

*** Rod P Villaruz, Break The Shell:The Professional Career Handbook 2004, Mindset Publishing, Iloilo City, Philippines. 

“Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.”

The Book of Luke 12:15

👉 Fb/Freeline Stories

🍏

Many years ago, when I was working as Life Insurance Sales Trainer in one of the largest life insurance companies in the Philippines, aside from the basic system every agent must know in selling I always emphasized self-inventory guidelines on how to deal with a fragile situation since the business covers life, death, and investments benefits. Most often people are afraid to hear  the impact of ‘lossing life’ as a subject.

However, the outcomes of checking oneself is also applicable to every career in general. “Know thyself” before going to face every transaction in the trade.

Recently the mirror got dusty, it has never been polished before. Today is the day of evidence, there is a need in self-inventory. Consider the following:

🍏Be expressive, and remember to smile. Look your best. Appearance must be well presented and in one's outfit must be proper and neat. It gives one the courage and confidence, as if one put oneself in the hands of an expert. 

🍏Look upon others with compassion, and remember to care. Through compassion, one must expand the scope of love. When there is love there is care. If there is love and closeness among all people, how wide the world and universe would be. 

🍏Speak kind words, and remember to praise. This is one of the quickest ways to hold the confidence of others. Anything one speak must be credible. Remember this:"I will speak ill of no man-and speak all the good I know of everybody". 

🍏Be of service, and remember to help... When one do this, people will remember him. As the saying in sales goes, "Never forget your customer; never let your customer forget you." 

🍏Listen, and remember to identify the need. The importance of being a good listener, showing the other person you are sincerely interested in what he is saying, giving him all the  eager attention and appreciation that he craves and is so hungry for, but seldom gets. "There is an art in silence, and there is an eloquence in it too." - Cicero

All of us would profit by uttering this prayer every morning: "Oh Lord, help me to keep my big mouth shut, until I know what I'm talking about... Amen." 

🍏Bless others with your heart, and remember to respect all. A grateful person has affection and righteousness. That person has a generous heart. 🏛️

Check yourself!

Sometimes you are the toxic person. Sometimes you are the mean, negative person you're looking to push away. Sometimes the problem is you. And that doesn't make you less worthy.

Keep on growing. Keep on checking yourself. Keep on motivating yourself. Mistakes are opportunities. Look at them, own them, grow from them and move on.

Do better, be better. You're human. It's okay. 

*Anonymous

A wise man knows the destiny of his soul.

Voltaire

To start a day here is a fiction story written to herald the message of Psalm 1 as the short letter and what happened in the place called Berea (Acts 17).  May one creates deep reflection from the message to find comforting path for the soul.

After the storm, while I was sitting alone on a bench not far from my garage, a spirit man came, tall with blond hair and white robes. He smiled and sit near at my side. He was very beautiful.

Of course, I wondered why he suddenly appeared and in my surprise I asked, “Who are you?”

With power as if electricity went out with the lightning flashes, but there’s none I could see, he replied, ” I’m an angel who came from the future to tell you the Lord was happy of what you were doing when He learned you collaborated with the people in Berea ‘who were more open-minded… and gladly listened to’ His message. They searched the scriptures day by day to check up on his ministers’ statements to see if they were really so. As a result, many of them believed, including several prominent women and men.”

I seemed felt comfortable and at peace with the angel man talking to me that gave me great new understanding and joy.

“I command you to tell your brothers and believers, the Lord will always love you all and about this short  letter”, he said.

“Remember this Short Letter (Psalm 1) I’m giving you today. Read it now”, he said.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruits in season and whose leaf does not wither. 

Whatever he does prospers." 🏛️

After a short moment, he parted and I dared to read again the ‘short letter’ from the place where he talked by me in a bright Monday morning.

Sharing this note to everyone, I personally may as well become enlightened in the here and now, and become friend ardently expecting to meet again. 🏛️

** The Book of Acts 17 | The Book of Psalms 1

My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible. All are of no value unless they are followed by action.

Og Mandino

Shortly after I finished college, I got one of the biggest shocks of my life. I was young and ambitious with high expectations – wanted to secure a job right away – and what  happened? First, I applied for a job in sales in a multi-national company, Carnation Philippines, but I failed. I kept on trying. Again, I was down in my second attempt at Procter & Gamble. On the third, I hit the  mark ‘bulls eye’. The door of opportunity was opened to me by Rorer Philippines, an American Pharmaceuticticals company, the makers of the world’s leading antacid brand – Maalox.

My job search journey might have been different if I hadn’t gone to the hiring managers and asked them why I wasn’t qualified.

In fact, I wouldn’t have the rare privilege of writing this experience if I hadn’t asked them both that question.

Both of them said they didn’t hire me because I lacked enthusiasm, a very important quality one must have in sales career.

Well, that was the last thing I expected a hiring manager to say because I took actions to improve my weakness to prepare for the next round of engagement. And I did it better. 🏛️

Here's what I learned from my story. Action is needed to succeed. 

💡One needs hardship. The more hardships and setbacks we experience, the more supportive conditions we will have.

💡One needs sacrifice and be dedicated. The more committed and willing to learn, the greater our potential in breaking our limits.

💡When frustrated take action to work harder. 

rodpvillaruz@gmail.com

I’ve been trying my best to live with NO REGRETS of the past. I savoured every moment – the time of happiness, sorrow, success, and failure. All gave a sentimental mark of remembrance in mine heart and delicately felt just like enjoying a walk under a pouring hard rain or avoiding the heat in a sunny day wearing a smile.

And now, as always I followed my dream in every opportunity with excitement, passion for something good to come, and commitment to continue strive even harder to realize unending goals and limitless aspirations to design a beautiful life.

Allow traces of dreams desired, drafted, and worked for during those days on stay. Nothing but true, all soul’s encounter gives meaning to life I know.

All in all, after carefully handled, refined, or fixed, can transform into FAITH & COURAGE. I will, in this way, find more understanding and strength to face reality.

Yes, not even the most wild waves in the ocean can swallow a man of faith, and not even the most heavy barriers can stop a man of courage.

Hope is placed in all those who have faith and courage to create the future altogether.

To face the challenges to come anytime of day, I become brave, have strong faith to win and believe something good is coming to grab on.

💡BE BRAVE !

Yellow is a symbol of change.

One morning, every year into this routine of gathering with the whole family to celebrate Christmas, I came up to the table of a solitary man sitting alone.

I smiled and said, “What would you like this morning, grandpa? I can recommend the hot coffee, bread, and fried sunny side egg associated with bacon”, when I saw the one white envelope on the table with my name on it. I looked the old man in the face, probably in a surprised way, and felt there was a card inside.

“This is the only thing I can give you, son, this season of joy”, he softly whispered.

“Hey. Open it”, he said.

A yellow card! It was a ‘Holidays Greeting Card’ . And I read the lines…

December 25th

To my dearest grandson Coco Rod, 

🍏There are times when one hold grudges because of a single word.
🍏There are times when one is trapped with worries because of a single situation.
🍏There are times when one become depressed because of a single person.
🍏There are times when one felt wrong for life because of a single  mistake.
🍏There are times  when one lost opportunity because of a single doubt.

When one can let go of gossip and stop comparing with others, we can be free from entanglement of interpersonal relationships.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR! 

Your loving grandpa ❤️

“Thank you grandpa”, I said with a smile and hug the old man. Whispering to his ear, “Merry Christmas, Grandpa.”

💡And he replied, “There are many people who are used to being calculative and comparative in life. Their minds are full of suspicion and hatred. Bound by greed, anger, and ignorance, and worries, they live as if they were in hell. If we can be broad-minded and tolerant in everthing, as well as drive our minds to the right path at every moment, then it would be as if we are living in heaven. “

“Merry Christmas, my dearest grandson. Be happy !” , he wished me.

He was 92, when he went away and didn’t come back anymore. 🏛️

“But some fell on good soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as he had planted.”

The Book of Matthew 13:8

The symbol of the Holy Spirit are Dove, Fire, Oil, Wind and Water. 

THE DOVE: This can be seen in the description of the baptism of Christ (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:30-34

Why I used the name turtledove? It is because a turtledove was used for offering during the time of Abraham, Moses, and Mary the mother of Jesus. 🏛️

I’m gonna tell ya my experience how sowing the ‘spiritual seed’ produced a crop.

My first job as Pharmaceutical Service Representative (PSR) required me to do a lot of travels. My company provided me with a personal service car and marketing tools like brochures and product samples which I carried along everyday to enhance my sales performance in realizing  daily objectives – to call upon practising physicians and promote my products through one on one detailed presentations.

Travelling alone driving my car from base city to a far distant target territory, one city to another meeting clients who were of different medical specialties. I spared no effort introducing my company – the world’s leader in a specific therapy and to finally shove product recommendations.

Normally during the whiz of my activity, I used to carry a Holy Bible placed inside my ‘detail bag’. I believed this book has full of insights which I habituated to read daily on set schedules before bedtime and in bracing a new day. I sorted out this opportunity as my extra mile moment in exploring the ancient truth about life.

While in the field at that time, I encountered a lot of charms. Making friendship to some analogous to mine, and came across to know one lad named Joe (not his real name).

Heretofore, when I met Joe on that day incidentally I shared some lines from the scriptures, which I can’t even remember today what lines did I punch-in. After that, we didn’t see each other anymore.

Life is full of surprises and meanings. Unexpectedly, after twenty years I met Joe in the road again.

While I was making a walk by the road, a car heading through the opposite direction, slowly moving and stopped near me. Then I heard a voice calling my name, “Hey, Rod. Joe here. How are yah?!” In my surprise, knowing it was Joe inside the car I immediately replied, “I’m great, Joe. How ’bout yah? What do you do now?”

Joe coming out of the car and approached me and got to shake my hand. He smiled and said, “Im a pastor now. My career choice begun from that moment you shared the word to me. The word lived and grew abundantly in my heart. Well, I can still recall the place when you were holding a small bible in front of me. Thank you, Rod! “

“Congratulations Pastor Joe. See! You’re now dealing with heaven’s business. A noble profession.” And my eyes shone with joy.

“Don’t thank me Joe, it wasn’t me! A turtledove did it to you. He guided you and change your heart from stone to flesh and owned you to serve Him”, I replied.

And Joe shouted, “Praise God!” And I answered, “Amen” 🏛️

As the saying goes, “Live and learn till your old ages.” The learning process of how to conduct oneself is endless.

In the later part of 2021, I started to create GreenApple Files (GAF) with a tagline – Insights Into The Future, as a hobby to write short inspirational stories for myself and for friendship. As of this time, GreenApple Files has more than 100 articles to ponder on, embedded with selected songs and motivational quotes on life’s journey, spiritual, management, and my personal experiences. Now, GAF is a compilation of my simple, uplifting, and motivational wordiness. I do hope, in one way or another, these could help out shake one’s sleeping soul.

Why GreenApple 🍏? Green Apple is a symbol of uniqueness, mental toughness, health, friendship, and wisdom.

Most viewed/read/impressions and had remarkable reactions articles were Time, When I Talked About Love, Encounter With The Big Boss Man, Remembering My Mother, Fall In Love, Health Matters, I Saw An Angel, Bring Home The Bacon, To My Son, It’s Never Too Late, Simplify, Create A Pathway To Life, Keep On Rockin’, Vegetables Fruits and Water, Just Believe, Poem in Summer and The First  Teaching.

All articles that I humbly wrote enriches knowledge and learning. The value of learning lies in knowing what is important and appropriateness of application, and not in hoarding excessive knowledge.

💡I truly believe that knowledge acquired on paper seems shallow still and thoroughly one to understand, one must personally experience it all. Hands on experience is the best teacher. Then, a ‘season man’ would eventually appear in oneself at the right pace of time.

💡Someday you might be the one to emerge from thousands and millions of people who have the courage to grow with profound sentiments that can serve as an exemplar to others. One must be brave to release the greatness kept from the inside of the comfort zone, withstsand the test of time, and never give up.

Who knows? Someday, you’ll be walking on the red carpet 🍏

Kindly regard this ancient aphorisms:

"🍏Anything you speak must be credible, 🍏Anything you do must be respectful, 🍏Your writing or painting must be firm and steady, 🍏Your appearance must be well presented, 🍏Your outfit must be proper and neat, 🍏Your steps must have composure, 🍏Your living quarters must be appropriate and quite, 🍏Your actions must be deliberated, 🍏Your speech must look for actions, 🍏The constant virtues must be persistently upheld, 🍏Promises made must be sincerely kept, 🍏Regard every act of kindness as that of your own conduct, 🍏Regard every act of evil as that of your own sickness. "

Let all that you do be done in LOVE.

The Book of 1 Corinthians 16:14

ADS SPACE

rodpvillaruz@gmail.com

The name “book” is used figuratively, as in the Book of Remembrance and Book of Life. It appears that these are all basically the same, that is, they are all God’s “book”  of remembrance with a view to rewarding with eternal life the ones whose names are written in it. Since the Scriptures indicate that a person’s name can be ‘wiped out’ of it, so only if a person continues faithful is his name retained in the book.

The Book of Remembrance is a record of names of those who warm the heart, they are some who encourage one another in the love of the Lord.

The Lord then makes it clear that He hears and knows the intent of every heart and desires to honor those who honor Him.

In his infinite knowledge, God does not need a written record to keep track of human deeds. However, when he speaks to us, He often uses metaphor or parable to help us understand. 🎇

THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.”

* The Book of Malachi 3:16-18

“Reading maketh a full man.”

Francis Bacon

And so, after a week on vacation in the Summer Capital of the Philippines, I’m back in the City of Love trying to decide if I have missed anything.

Yes I have. What I miss is the time to read books.

New fashions and technology models will have come and gone but reading is what exactly concerns me more ever since. It enhances my passion to live life, that for every reading gives new scenes, ideas, learnings, thrills and excitement.

I love to read, though reading is a hobby for me, the truth is that I’m not a good reader. I keep on trying.

I miss to read and re-read the sexiness of the Betsy by Harold Robbins, the inspirations from The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino, Dante the perflexing classical literature by Shakespeare, Christmas Cards during the yuletide season, a heart to heart conference with God through His word in the Bible, and many more that hold my attention, open my soul and keep my good heart beating.

The biggest reason to why one reads is to rid a person of mediocrity.

I know only books can bring the expansiveness of space and infiniteness of time in front of a reader.

I learn only books can direct the already flying signals of the noble life towards one who reads.

I recognize only books can present to the one who reads the profound wisdom in that wonderful contrast against ignorance and hideousness.

💡Reading will enrich the mind of ancient and present experiences. “The more that you read, the more things you will know.”

In contrast, no matter how sharp the blade, it will eventually rust without constant sharpening. 🏛️

As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry, so also is my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it.

*The Book of Isaiah 55:10-11

rodpvillaruz@gmail.com

Give thanks with a grateful heart. I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. Give thanks to the Holy One.

Psalm 86:12

Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy) is an infection caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. It can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose (nasal mucosa). With early diagnosis and treatment, the disease can be cured.(www.cdc.gov) 🏛️

MY BEST FRIEND told me this amazing story to tell you today – “The Ten Lepers” which is full of ACTION and MERCY from the heart of God.

The story of 10 lepers being healed comprise a group of people excluded from community life because of their medical condition. They are considered the outcast portion of the society.

The lepers, “keeping their distance”, call out to Jesus, not specifically to heal them but to “have mercy on us!”

Their call for mercy, though, must indicate a desire to be healed of their afflictions.

🌴The short narrative shows only ten percent (10%) of those who were healed or granted favor of the best of life can afford to thank and give glory to God.

Carefully examine the tale how the amazing power of God moves and how the 10 lepers demonstrate their faith. 🏛️

THE TEN LEPERS

AS JESUS and his disciples continued onward toward Jerusalem, they reached the border between Galilee and Samaria, and as they entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, sir, have mercy on us!"

HE LOOKED at them and said, "Go to the Jewish priest and show him that you are healed!" And as they were going, their leprosy disappeared.

ONE OF THEM came back to Jesus, shouting, "Glory to God, I'm healed!"

He fell flat on the ground in front of Jesus, face downward in the dust, thanking him for what he had done.

This man was a despised Samaritan.

💡JESUS asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the nine? Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?

AND Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well."

*The Parable of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)

” Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. “

— Martin Luther King Jr. —

These days I find I can look back at the past with new eyes, suddenly seeing to understand things that I missed at the time of my childhood days – the Tom and Jerry cartoons in black and white TV shows.

To review, Tom and Jerry is an American cartoon series about a hapless cat’s never-ending pursuit of a clever mouse. Tom is the scheming cat, and Jerry is the sounky mouse.

The series was driven entirely by action and visual humour. The characters almost NEVER SPOKE .

But in this article, surprisingly Tom and Jerry talk! Here’s the one line Q&A coversation :

Jerry: “In this world, how should I deal with someone who slanders me, bullies me, insults me, ridicules me, disparages me, belittles me, offends me, or deceives me?“

Tom: “Just tolerate him, let him be, avoid him, respect him, ignore him, and wait for a few years to see WHAT BECOMES OF HIM.”

💡The conversation reflects the test of time. One must be watchful to see the proof of occurence – “cause-effect philosophy (karma).”

Human existence is not a flattery to think deeply as waves on the vast ocean’s shore, or say not those who were thrown out incidentally are good as the sinking sand. The waves will wash the seaside as well as the flowing sand and both are carefully steered by the wind. Once the wild sand blows away, real gold will be revealed. 🏛️

🌴

May my son be strong and courageous and not fear or be in dread, for it is you, Lord, our God, who goes with him. You will never leave him or forsake him.

The Book of Deuteronomy 31:6

In my early twenties, I left my house and travelled to a far distant metropolitan city with one goal – to search my dream job. But before I took off to journey and leaving my parents behind the first time then I managed to secure blessings from them that instilled indelible mark on my heart and it never ceased. My mother broke down and cried and my father bid me good luck with a smile. He gave these instruction to guide me in my career and life’s journey :

My son, you keep these intruction in your heart:

Diligently learn the purpose of life, be kind-hearted and be faithful. 

Be fair and be humble. Humbleness is beneficial. Accept justice without resistance.

Never eat too much. Control your diet, shun from leisure. 

Enjoy the beauty of having enough, be contented. Never be greedy to gain for yourself. Rather lose your life than to ever tell a lie. 

Never be fluctuating in making decision. Control your emotion, never be easily ignited to create a flare-up. 

Do not compete and challenge others, instead make known the good deeds of others instead of their faults. Prove only you're worthy to  earn a share, and in control of oneself. 

Never talk about what others are ashamed of, and do not expose their secrets to anyone else. 

Allow others to tell their story, for listening makes you big-hearted and compassionate person. 

Maintain a mind of compassion towards anyone who begrudges you. Regard all living beings as your own parents. 

Everything about being a man lies in the heart, the  well spring of life. With a gracious heart, blessings will be within reach, with a callous heart, adversity will be inescapable. 

In the analogy of a fruit, the stem is the heart; when the stem decays, the fruit will fall to the ground.

Celelebrate with joy on the path to spiritual cultivation, instead of pride. 

Never stop praying, and don't easily give up! 

Listen and remember my teaching well for it holds such intentions. ❤️

I kept the seeds safely in my heart and in my mind to grow in season. And I saw the glimps of bright stars that lights up my way. As ready to embark we all prayed, I kissed my parents foreheads, I cried with gladness and said goodbye. 🍏

Following your heart with integrity can increase your influence with others.

John C. Maxwell

https://b7e76eddddpai1az99yk112t01.hop.clickbank.net

“Don’t make me leave you, for I want to go wherever you go, and to live wherever you live… but death do separate us. ”

Here’s a touching story of Ruth in the bible, a story about God and how He restores those who look to Him with hope.

Ruth has made a decision that changed her life and the lives of others. The story begins when Naomi, a godly woman, loses her entire family (husband and two sons) in dark times of famine. But God restored her losses back through the presence of Ruth – her daughter in law. Ruth followed Naomi, her mother-in-law, following the death of her husband to care for her.

At that time, a man named Elimelech left his country because of a famine and moved to a nearby land. With him were his wife, Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. 

During the time of their residence there, the man died and Naomi was left with her two sons. These young men, Mahlon and Chilion married girls Orpah and Ruth. But later, both men died, so that Naomi was left alone, without her husband or sons.

She decided to return to her native land with her daughters-in-law, for she had heard that the Lord had blessed his people by giving them good crops again.

But after they had begun their homeward journey, Naomi changed her mind and said to her two daughters-in-law, "Why don't you return to your parents' homes instead of coming with me? And may the Lord reward you for your faithfulness to your husbands and to me. And may he bless you with another happy marriage." Then she kissed them, and they all broke down and cried.

"No," they said. "We want to go with you to your people."

But Naomi replied, "It is better for you to return to your own people. Do I have younger sons who could grow up to be your husbands? No, my daughters, return to your parents'homes, for I am too old to have a husband.. Oh how I grieve for you that the Lord has punished me in a way that injures you."

And again they cried together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, and returned to her childhood home;

but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi.

" See," Naomi said to her," your sister in law has gone back to her people and to her gods; you should do the same."

But Ruth replied, "Don't make me leave you, for I want to go wherever you go and to live wherever you live; your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God; I want to die where you die and be buried there. May the Lord  do terrible things to me if I allow anything but death do separate us. "

When Naomi saw that Ruth had her heart set on going with her, she gave in.

And so the two of them traveled on together to the homeland of Naomi, and the entire village was stirred by their arrival. 

*The Book of Ruth

Sunset Ballad is life’s wisdom written by one of Asia’s richest and most influential businessmen, Li Ka Shing of Hong Kong. It was published on September 11, 2020.

Li Ka-shing, from Rags to Riches, is a Hong Kong business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Li is the 30th richest person in the world as of June 2019 with an estimated net wealth of US$29.4 billion. (Wikipedia)

Li is workaholic and famous entrepreneur. He had been the richest man for many years.

He retired in 2018 at the age of 92 years old and began to enjoy life.

When he was suspected of being seriously ill, he wrote the Sunset Ballad on his bed. He regrets that many things in life are realized too late.

SUNSET BALLAD

🍏1. We are born with nothing, no more and no less, and finally to return to nothing. Be as natural, normal and at ease as possible.

🍏2, Don’t aspire to acquire surplus wealth at sunset years. Those who have such intention are rather confused or crazy. Just consider what belongs to you before and after death. One has to wake up and stop fooling ourselves.

🍏3. Be contented. Have fun and enjoy the sunset years. Do not be exalted if you’re rich neither too worried if poor. Take it along as naturally and savor the freedom.

🍏4. Don’t forcibly demand, neither compete. Life is like a dream or fleeting cloud or smoke. Look at the vast and empty sky and land, we are just a tiny speck drifting within.

🍏5. The sun is empty so is the moon. River water forever flows eastward (in China). Farm and house too are empty, continually changing owners.

🍏6. Love becomes naught, relationship too disappeared. Finally all will go into the crematorium. Even gold and silver, one doesn’t grasp to take along after death.

🍏7. Reputation, honours and profits disappeared into sweet dreams once the eyes shut down for good. Whatever gains or losses dissipated, life is like a drama.

🍏8. No more minister status, no more the power that came with it. No one can remain in the ministry for life. Rich or poor, the final is void. That is nothingness when curtain of life drops, be aware of that.

🍏9. The four seasons will rotate, so will the high and low tides. Every family has certain difficult mantra to recite. Do not burden unnecessarily with worries.

🍏10. Raising and educating children are responsibility and duty. It is a blessing to be able to help. Children and grandchildren shall build their own future, do not be duty bound by them. It is far more a blessing to take good care of our own wellbeing during the sunset years.

🍏11. Man hustle and busle about earning a living like bees collecting honey. Just wonder the honey is made for whom, ever thought the life-long hard work will end up in naught. Be more liberal and  accommodative, think rationally to avoid disputes.

🍏12. From a distance hospitals are like heaven, curing so many patients. Viewing from close range hospitals are like banks raking in lots of cash. Getting inside the hospital is like getting into prison. It is far better to take preventive measure well in advance.

🍏13. Health is an invisible asset, health enhancement is bank saving, contracting a disease is a bank loan and re-payment, serious illness can cause bankruptcy. These are earnest facts of life and to be regarded seriously. Do not let this happen, it will be too late to regret.

🍏14. It is better to stand alone to enhance immunity rather than to lie down and be cheated. If you don’t take care of your health, you will be supporting doctors and hospitals.

🍏15. A life span is too short. Do not get bogged down with money worries. Tons of cash wouldn’t buy a sun which doesn’t set. Loads of silver and gold can’t exchange for health. Life and death is fated and wealth too. If it has been fated that we will be wealthy, it will be. But if it’s fated otherwise, it is pointless to crave for it.

A point worth reiterating is that the children and grandchildren will and should carve out the path for their future, there is no need to slog like buffalo and horse for them. A life span is really too short; it is advisable to take life plainly and light-hearedly.

Fame and gain are just like drifting cloud, extravagance and luxury are momentary exuberance, in rapid glimpses of fleeting time, hair will turn grey to white, churning all past event. 🍏

There is one to whom God gives riches and property and honor, and who lacks nothing the heart could desire; yet God does not grant the power to partake of them, but a stranger devours them. This is vanity and a dire plague.

Ecclesiastes 6:2

” The purpose of our lives is to be H A P P Y.”

– DALAI LAMA –

Alrighttt! Ooooh yeah… Look! The clowns are doing their simple twist and rocking on dance. Clown is a symbol of fun, joy, happiness, or lively life? Of course, children would love to see the clowns, and adults as well, down to earth entertained. The message they bring, even for a short moment, is for us to be happy. Enjoy life. Fall in love. And, to have fun.

Every day we are bombarded at social media platforms with stories of inspiration, motivational quotes, new knowledge and ideas, trainings, amazing videos, and teachings to guide what to do and how to do things that matter in order to make life productive and fantastic.

Learning to pick it up and let it go can expand the breath of our mind. Being able to see far ahead and do the right thing can elevate our lives. The ultimate goal of those activities is to share happiness.

Yeah, yeah, keep on rockin’ !

Happiness is the most beautiful thing in the world. Life is so easy around when one is happy, and by working joyfully, there is nothing that can’t be achieved.

By enjoying without owning, a man can always be happy.

KEEP ON ROCKIN’. 🍏

Life ends when you stop Dreaming.

Hope ends when you stop Believing.

Love ends when you stop Caring.

Friendship ends when you stop Sharing.

Balance Sheet of Life

WEAK is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions;

STRONG is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.

— Og Mandino —

At that time of night when I was lying on my bed facing the window. I fell asleep and in my vision I saw an angel. When I lifted up my eyes, a man clothed in white glowing linen, his body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, and was floating outside the window with a drawn sword in his hand. He has a striking form in its all white glowing appearance like gems. His entire body, including his back, hand, and wings were all flaming in white.

I was afraid that my feet became frozen. In my trembling lips, I asked, “Who are you?”

He replied, “I was dispatched by the King to act in his name. I command you to go with me to a place in the desert so you must see great things which you do not know. Come, let’s go.”

He held my hand and we travelled at tremendous speeds, far exceeding the limits of the physical world. And we arrived within moments to a land in the desert. The land was very hot in temperature. I saw a lot of arid, open soil and rocks and not much grass and plants.

When I was about to asked him of the region, he’s lost. He’s not around and I saw myself standing alone with my feet on the sand.

And then I saw a great occurrence.

At a near distance, up there, were messengers of King Balak of Moab, riding on camels travelling to see Balam, the man of God. I came and joined the caravan with them in thoroughfare. It’s late in the afternoon when we arrived, and Balaam invited us to stay overnight.

In the morning, Balaam got up, he saddled his donkey and started off with these men.

In the road, Balaam and two servants were riding along, and his donkey saw an Angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat her back onto the road.

Now, the Angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road went between two vineyard walls. When  the donkey saw him standing there, she squirmed past by pressing against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot in the process. So he beat her again.

Then, the Angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place so narrow that the donkey couldn’t get by at all. So she lay down in the road! In a great fit of temper Balaam beat her again with his staff.

Then the Lord caused the donkey to SPEAK !

“What have I done that deserves your beating me these three times?” she asked.

“Because you have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “I wish I had a sword with me, for I would kill you.”

“Have I ever done anything like this before in my entire life? the donkey asked.

“No, ” he admitted.

Then, the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with drawn sword, and he fell flat on the ground before him.

“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the Angel demanded.

💡”I have come to stop you because you are headed for destruction. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away from me; otherwise I would certainly have killed you by now and spared her.”

Upon hearing what the Angel spoke, my spirit came back to my physical body and I woke up. And I saw sunshine. It’s a beautiful Sunday morning.

I named the place, where an Angel of the Lord appeared to me, Roder which means “the Lord is my strength.” 🍏

*The Book of Numbers 22

Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the Unseen Power of Love can open the hearts of men and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place.

Without LOVE I will fail though I possess all the knowledge and skills of the World.

– Og Mandino –

The future man is not modelled by superman or wonder woman. He is one who has a compassionate heart. He has the seal of love. He is a noble one, gentle and honest.

THE FUTURE MAN allows others to be right, and be willing to be wrong. It melts the coolness of hearts.

THE FUTURE MAN allows others to be great, and be willing to be small. It eliminates arrogance.

THE FUTURE MAN allows others to have things, and be willing to go without. It straightens out attachments.

THE FUTURE MAN allows others to be happy, and be willing to suffer. It models true leadership and stands as a symbol of hope to everyone.

No armors and the cleverness of men can defeat a compassionate person – the man of the future. 🍏

Even while we were still there with you, we gave you this rule: “He who does not work shall not eat.”

The Book of 2 Thessalonians

At that time, my father was happy in knowing that I got my first job. He advised, “Now that you are starting to earn for yourself and for your family someday, make it a habit to keep in mind – ‘don’t forget to bring home the bacon.’

In my ignorance, I thought my father would like me to eat bacon regularly. The truth was, I hadn’t seen yet what bacon looks like, and even tasted the texture. I only heard during my early days, that at most the rich can afford to buy this food. The bacon really tastes good with  egg upon my first encounter.

Just at work when I heard the charge from our head of sales, he said, “Howdy folks. How y’all? What the hell yuh waitin’ for? Let’s act now and delve into the market. Bring home the bacon at the end of the day.”

💡It is all about achieving something effecting  to – hitting the goal. To work hard and deliver what is expected to be done.

This expression is apllicable not only in sales undertaking but also in every department of any organization in pursuit to achieve something.

Throughout my career life, I used to serve the bacon to make everybody happy and was excited to hear from somebody in the team, “Wake up guys, I bring home the bacon.”

The bacon tastes better when everyone in the team has to partake of it. 🍏

Mr Frank Bettger, the author of How I Raised  Myself from Failure to Success in Selling, shared this poem which maybe it will do something for a person. Here it is:

There may be nothing wrong with you, 
The way you live, the work you do, 
But I can  very plainly see 
Exactly what is wrong with me.

It is not that I'm indolent 
Or dodging duty by intent; 
I work as hard as anyone, And yet I get so little done, 
The morning goes, the noon is here, 
Before I know, the night is near, 
And all around me, I regret, 
Are things haven't finished yet. 
If I could just get organized! 
Not all that matters is the man;
The man must also have a plan. 

“I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH LOVE IN MY HEART.”

Og Mandino

When I woke up this morning, my mind flashed back on college days. In my course curriculum, a Social Political Thought, though interesting but I didn’t like most. But honestly I learned, struggled and hardly came to an end.

I learned how the 13th century philosophers like Rene Descartes, Emmanuel Kant, Thomas Hobbes, and St. Augustine discussed and popularized the meaning of – l o v e.

In my first job interview, when I was young and fresh then, at a multi-national pharmaceutical company I was asked by the interviewer what to talk about. I replied, “I wanna talk about love.”

The grapple started with a smile. All the time in the world was mine to show my knowledge of the subject.

I presented with confidence through my piece with feelings in full of passion to impress. In eye to eye contact and at belly to belly set up, I saw him listening to my impromptu, with a smile. Obviously entertained by a street boy looking for a job. My delivery was smooth driven by fresh points sealed from four walls of the academe.

I was hired as Pharmaceutical Service Representative (PSR) . It was my first career job launch, specifically in sales.

Two decade past, I encountered what is true l o v e ❤️.

LOVE is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.

IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE , you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. (Corinthians 13:4-7)

Yes, love is so wonderful that it is hard to define. But it is easier to tell how one acts moving love. Let’s be of the opinion, love never fails. It will never cease to exist. New knowledge and understanding may correct things we once believed but love is not up in the air.

👂Love is a true gift of heaven. Hold on to your heart with truth. 🍏

A mom is the only woman in the world that will constantly forgive your lies, no matter how big they are. She will still give you that warm smile just minutes after you misbehaved and made her angry as hell.

Flavia Medrut, Freelance Writer as seen in Goalcast, Fancy Pants Homes

We were all not born if there were no parents. And without the grace of heaven and care of parents we won’t grow up.

To them, we all rely upon and have gratitude for raising us, nurtured and teach us. And we all sheltered and supported by their virtues. Being nursed, given profound care, and raised with kindness are difficult to repay. Even if one were to give all manners of worldly offerings, one would still be unable to repay such kindness.

Remembering my mother, I wrote this article last night, to say goodnight, as I used to do when I was a child, my mother said.

Claudia is her name. I felt that a mother really ‘knows best.’ She treasured me like a precious gem. She nursed me and did not tire.  She sent me to school and began to study as I grew. Sometimes she would wait for me in the doorway when I would come home late.

I love you  Nanay Claudia 💖

To My Mother (A Poem)
By Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49)

(This poem was dedicated to two mothers. His real mother and the mother of his wife.)

Because I feel that, in the Heavens above,

The angels, whispering to one another,  Can find, among their burning terms of love,

None so devotional as that of "Mother,"

Therefore by that dear name I long have called you - You who are more than mother unto me, And fill my heart of      hearts, where Death installed you. In setting my Virginias sprit free
My mother- my own mother, who died early, Was but the mother of myself;

but you, Are mother to the one I loved so dearly, 
And thus are dearer than the mother I knew 

By that infinity with which my wife Was dearer to my soul than its soul-life.

Every person seeks to find happiness, for this reason, happiness brings peace and good fortunes.

Meditate on this, whoever has health has good fortune. It’s true, health is wealth.

Those who have merit has life and peace of mind. Stay at ease and one may live carefree.

All try to be contented of every thing have for contentment promises wealth and nobility.

At the end of the day, when one works hard, don’t worry about success or failure as long as one has done best.

However, one’s supreme need of man to be happy starts from the inside of home.

A home is the source of happiness, when smiles, laughter, respect, coordinated feelings, kind and gentle words are spoken languages, one is doing to benefit others, one gives blessings to others, and when one leads to make a home a better place to live.

On the contrary, if not managed well, may hell dwells.

Here’s how heaven would like us to perceive the true image of a happy home.

👇

Blessing on all who reverence and trust the Lord – on all who obey Him!

Their reward shall be prosperity and happiness.

Your wife shall be contented in your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around the dinner table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees.

That is God’s reward to those who reverence and trust him.

May the Lord continually bless you with heaven’s blessings as well as with human joys.

May you live to enjoy your grandchildren! And may God bless Israel!

* Psalm 128

A wise man knows the destiny of his soul.

VOLTAIRE

Here is a story where a plot was arranged to bring the message of hope. Creating awareness regarding heaven, as mentioned by Jesus “in my Father’s house” extracted from the gospel written in the Book of John 14, the Books of Hebrew 1 & Revelation 21 & 22.

🍏❤️🍏

HEAVEN is a real place where the people of God will live one day. In fact, heaven is where God and the angels live. (Bibleinfo.com)

Brother John, who just came back from the future notified me of what he saw. He said, “I bring you good news from the great city. I saw heaven, it is real. Heaven has a solid real estate.”

‘Yes. Great.’ That’s what I said.

And he narrated everything about what he heard and saw.

“It was a season when magnolia flowers blooming on the branch tips and crimson sepals dyeing the mountain red, beside this deserted cottage in the gully at the island of Patmos, one by one they bloom, and one by one, they fade away. The moment in my vision I saw, I was in the spirit I flew.

The winds and the flames of fire took me to a towering mountain peak, and from there I watched that wondrous city. So beautiful!!!

Then I walked down near it, and as I entered through a gate I saw the  walls were broad and high circumspected by the winds and fires. Amazing! The main street was pure, transparent gold, like glass. Everything was gold and precious jewels.

Such was a glorious place permeated with only the fragrance from the throne of God and the Lamb. I saw a river of pure Water of Life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne coursing down the center of the main street. There was no night there, no need for the lamps or sun, for God is the light.

👂I saw the face of God.

👂I saw the bright Morning Star. He is preparing homes to ready for his people’s coming. He told me, ‘Tell the churches of what you saw. I am coming soon!’ “

After hearing the story of truth from Brother John, I shouted “Amen” and I danced with joy in my heart. 🍏

A WONDROUS CITY

This wondrous city was filled with the glory of God and flashed and glowed like a precious gem, crystal clear like jasper.

The city itself was pure, transparent gold like glass! The wall was made of jasper, and was built on twelve layers of foundation stones inlaid with gems: the first layer with jasper; the second with sapphire ; the third with chalcedony ; the fourth with emerald; the fifth with sardonyx; the sixth layer with sardus; the seventh with chrysolite; the eight with beryl; the ninth with topaz; the tenth with chrysoprase; the eleventh with jacinth; the twelfth with amethyst.

The twelve gates were made of pearls - each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure, trade gold, like glass.

No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are worshipped in it everywhere. And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, for the glory of God and of the Lamb illuminate it. Its light will light the nations of the earth, and the rulers of the world will come abd bring their glory to it. 

👂Nothing evil will be permitted in it--no immoral or dishonest--but only those whose names are written in the Lambs's Book of Life. 

*The Book of Revelation 21

DON’T JUDGE EACH DAY BY THE HARVEST YOU REAP BUT BY THE SEEDS THAT YOU PLANT.

– Robert Louis Stevenson –

Every time I finish writing INSIGHTS INTO THE FUTURE , it would feel as if I had just trailed a rugged road, excited but having a question in my mind will somebody get uplifted? Nah nah,  I consider that within a flash of one’s moment, having stumbled many times, one finally realizes that it is most difficult to become enlightened to the meaning of ignorance. Nevertheless, once the article is published, what awaits ahead will be an oasis.

There’s a very good reason for this. As far as I can tell every article that I made is on the flight path for one towards the future.

Whatever one’s learning, may establish good everywhere and at all times.

Too many hours one spent with a lamp until when rooster calls at morning hours, the best time for one to strive forward.

If one doesn’t learn hard while his hair is still dark, it will be too late to regret when his hair turns grey. One has to gather blossoms while he may at youthful days, and don’t lay until only empty heart awaits.

Your effort, hardwork and determination are gifts from heaven. Time to shine now! ⌚

T I M E

THERE IS A RIGHT TIME FOR EVERYTHING :

A time to be born;
A time to die. 
A time to plant;
A time to harvest.

A time to kill;
A time to heal. 
A time to destroy;
A time to rebuild.

A time to cry;
A time to laugh.
A time to grieve;
A time to dance. 

A time for scattering stones;
A time for gathering stones. 
A time to hug;
A time not to hug. 

A time to find;
A time to lose. 
A time for keeping;
A time for throwing away. 

A time to tear;
A time to repair. 
A time to be quite;
A time to speak up. 

A time for loving;
A time for hating. 
A time for war;
A time for peace. 

There's nothing better for a man than to be happy and to enjoy himself as long as he can;

That he should eat and drink and to enjoy the fruits of his labors;

FOR THESE ARE GIFTS FROM HEAVEN. 

*Ecclesiastes 3

CALL TO ME, and I will answer you; I will tell to you things great beyond reach of your knowledge… I will heal you and reveal to you an abundance of lasting peace.

– Jeremiah 33: 3, 6

Here’s my first job true story when I  represented a pharmaceutical company to meet a certain medical practitioner. Incidentally, inside the premise of the office I saw something on the wall that got my attention.

Summer Time of Forever

It’s a beautiful and promising Monday morning. I got up early, before sunrise after a night of good sleep, something that doesn’t happen to me often. I did my body clean, and putting on my clothes I have been wearing a lot, of a long white sleeves and brown pant paired with a fine polished and gleaming black  shoes. I added a plain red necktie made of Japanese cotton. Combed my well trimmed hair and put a little oil to make them glossy and shine. Got my watch and it’s almost eight, ready to go to meet a client at ten.

I drove my car to meet Dr Mendoza, a Hospital Director of the Quezon City Medical Center in Cubao, to promote the efficacy that’s tested by time, of the product brand Maalox, as the world’s leading antacid. While I was approaching I proceeded to the parking lot at the back of the building.

Afterwards I was going straight to the main door, and I went to the Director’s Office. Upon entering the workspace into his desk, I instantly paused while my eyes gazed to a very captivating photo, framed in bronze and silver mixed color projecting a vintage look, hanged on the reception’s wall just above the visitor’s long sofa. I moved closer and I saw a short printed sestina that entertained me while I was reading.

‘Desiderata’, Dr Mendoza said from behind me, and I turned to him and greeted “Hi Dr Mendoza”. I didn’t know how long he had been standing there. He must have been watching me while I was viewing and leafing through the line –

“Go placidly amidst the noise and haste’,

that heeded me since it was my first encounter of this kind. He asked if I would like to know more about ‘Desiderata’. I nodded in excitement.

‘Desiderata means” things that are desired or wanted”. The implication is that these are desired qualities of the soul and of the heart‘;

‘Desiderata brings hope and compassion to life when things feel less than perfect. It reminds that life doesn’t always bring  us what we think we want, but rather what we need to grow’;

‘This poem helps you achieve the peace and joy the ethos encourages as you  learn “to be gentle with yourself” and “be cheerful” – no matter what life throws your way’;

‘Desiderata values that everyone deserves to be heard as they too’ have their story’. Everyone wants to be heard but no one wants to listen’.

A few minutes later I had to appreciate him, ‘Desiderata’ is a treasure of wisdom and insight. It has no rhyme but much reason.”

And finally, back to business, I was thankful this opportunity came to spark a rapport with my client.

🍏💕💡❤️😀🤣

D E S I D E R A T A  POEM

“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”

– Og Mandino –

Hey buddy, in this article you’ll find a credible witness revealing He was the designer of all living and non-living things. He was also there in the making of man somewhere in the earth believed to be in the east, during the day of creation.

Then God said, “LET US make man in our image, in our likeness, and … ”

*The Book of Genesis 1:26

💡💡💡DID YOU KNOW? 

I am the craftsman, the designer of all generations. 

The Lord formed me, in the beginning, before He created anything else;

I am, from ages past. 
I existed before the earth began. 

I lived before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters onto the earth, before the mountains and the hills were made. 

I was born before God made the earth and the fields and the first handfuls of soil. 

I was there when HE established the heavens and formed the great springs in the depths of the oceans.

I was there when he sets the limits of the seas and gave them instructions not to spread beyond their boundaries. 

I was there when He made the blueprint for the earth and oceans. 

I was the craftsman at His side.

I was His constant delight, rejoicing always in His presence.

And how happy I was with what He created - His wide world and all His family of mankind! 

I am the craftsman! 
I love all who love me. 
Those who search for me shall surely find me. 
Unending riches, honor, justice , and righteousness are mine to distribute. 

My gifts are better than the purest gold or sterling silver! 

My paths are those of justice and right. 

🔆Those who love and follow me are indeed WEALTHY, I fill their TREASURIES. 


Jesus Christ, 
Architect of Life
*The Book of Proverbs 8

FEEL GOOD 🌴 THINK POSITIVE

AT THAT TIME when Jerusalem was attacked by King Nebuchadnezzar with his armies the Lord gave him victory. When he returned to his palace he took along some sacred treasures and captives.

Then he ordered his man in charged of the palace personnel, to select youth from captives – young men of the royal family and from noble family – and to teach them their language and literature.

💡 “Pick strong, healthy, good-looking lads; those who have read widely in many fields, are well informed, alert and sensible, and have enough poise to look good around the palace.”

The King assigned them the best of food and wine from his own kitchen during their three-year training period, planning to make them his counselors when they graduated.

Among the chosen youth, there were four named Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah who made up their mind not to eat the royal food and wine given to them by the King.

DANIEL SUGGESTED to the steward for a 10-day diet test of only Vegetables and Water; then, at the end of this trial period the steward could see how they looked in comparison with the other fellows who ate the King’s rich food and decide whether or not to let them continue their diet.

The steward finally agreed to the test. Well, at the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the youths who had been eating the food supplied by the King! So after that the steward fed them only vegetables and water, without the rich food and wines!

💡God gave these four youths great ability to learn, and they soon mastered all the literature and science of the time.

😍 When the three-year training period was completed, the King was impressed of them and they were put on his regular staff of advisors.

*The Book of Daniel

🏛️

To find happiness is the goal of most people in life. People wants to be happy with their jobs or just in general. But obstacles can sometimes get in the way and prevent you from finding that happiness that you crave so much. You try finding many ways and forget that you can only find true happiness in one person: God.

"A leaf falls from a tree,
who should be blamed? Is it the wind that blew the leaf away? Is it the tree that let it go? Or the leaf itself which never held tight?", one man asked.

"No one is to be blamed, 'coz it is the process of aging", the other man replied.

The voice says, "Shout! " 

"What shall I shout?" I asked. 

"Shout that man is like the grass that dies away, and all his beauty fades like dying flowers. The grass withers, the flower fades beneath the breath of heaven. And so it is with fragile man."

"Let us not grow old filled with regrets for things not done and for words not said, and for love not shown", the other man explained. 

"Life is too short for a man to live", he continued. 

And the voice replied, "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should? Yet the distant time will come when businesses will give their profits to the Lord!" 

"Seventy years are given us! And some may even live to eighty. But even the best of these years are often empty and filled with pain; soon they disappear, and we are gone. We finish our years with a moan." 

Because of this, "there's nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - 

THIS IS THE GIFT OF HEAVEN." 

😇 The Books of Isaiah/Psalms/Ecclesiastes