heaven or hell? it’s all in your mind

i found this article at my friendster bulletin which stirs my curiousity as to its author. further research showed that it was originally written by susan russo, an author/editor and president of pinnacle thought publisher. herewith is the said article:

“The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not on our circumstances.” — Martha Washington

Why is it that you can take two people and put them in the exact same situation and they will both experience things with totally different perspectives? Each person’s beliefs will totally color how they interpret any given circumstance. Let’s say for instance that there are two people who find themselves holding a “pink slip” because they just lost their job. Of course they will go through the initial shock and their ego will probably be bruised a little; but now they have to choose how they are going to look at their situation.

One person is absolutely devastated. They are filled with worry, anger and fear. Plus, they are consumed with the injustice of it all. They are so victimized by the event that they walk around making everyone else in their path as miserable as themselves. Their negative attitude and incessant blame sabotages any efforts of moving forward. Instead of using their mind to create the next move, they are stuck on the past.

The other person isn’t happy about the situation, but their attitude is totally different. After bouncing back from the initial sting, they tell themselves that this is an opportunity in disguise. They look at it and realize that now their options are wide open to pursue an entirely new beginning. They say, “In a year from now, I will probably say, it’s the best thing that ever happened to me, so I might as well start saying it today.” They know that everything happens for a reason and it will all work out the way it’s supposed to.

Regardless of whether it’s your beliefs about relationships, money, love, wealth, work, exercise, diet etc. you will not only attract into your life what you believe about any given subject, your belief about it will be how you experience it. If the facts are; that what we think on the inside will be reflected on the outside; perhaps it’s time to take heed to what it is you are telling yourself. If you don’t like the way you are living, or you don’t like the person you’ve become; you are the only one who can make a difference going forward.

Now’s the time to wake up to the facts; your attitude can make you or break you in any given situation. As they say, “It’s not what happens to us that’s important; it’s what we do and how we view what happens to us, that makes all the difference in the world.”

If things aren’t going the way you’d like, it’s time for an “attitude adjustment.” You really can begin to live your life the way you were intended to; with more peace, love, happiness and appreciation. Once you realize that it’s you that is making yourself so miserable; by what it is you think about; you can then take the steps to make it right.

Depending on how you view the world and everything that happens to you; you can make heaven out of hell; or hell out of heaven. It’s all in your mind.

i agree with what russo said.  only you can indeed make or break your life. we just need to think outside the box.   if you like the above article, you can find 35 russo write-ups on motivation, self-empowerment and relationships at amazines. happy browsing!

christmas in the air

 i was driving in an unusually heavy traffic on my way home last night. i thought there was another vehicular accident in the highway, yet it was caused by installation of christmas decors (the same angels and lanterns they have been using for the past 3 years to my dismay) from the city hall to the city. well as they say, what matters most is the christmas spirit. speaking of decors, here's a christmas decor creation which i used as centerpiece. in my photo album is my little christmas tree.  a blessed christmas season to all!

granny @ d’ witness stand

Lawyers should never ask a Southern Grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer.

In a trial, a southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand.

He approached her and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?” She responded, “Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.”

The lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?”

She again replied, “Why, yes I do. I've know Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too.  He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem.  He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state.  Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women.  One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.”

The defense attorney almost died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said,  “If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you to the electric chair.”

i’m back!

hello again folks. it has been very hectic at nursing school this semester. gladly my hospital exposure finally ended at MGH's indigent medical ward. just one more semester and i'm out of here. hurray! can't think of anything to post at the moment except a video of a mass singing of "way back into love" in our culmination program,  which has recently become my favorite song.   i still have to watch music and lyrics now that i have lots of time.

Lyrics:

[Cora]
I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

[Alex]
I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need them again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh…

[Cora]
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's gotta be something for my soul somewhere

[Alex]
I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

[Cora]
There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

:)

a love story

He met her at a party. She was so beautiful, many guys were chasing after her, while he was so plain and simple, nobody paid attention to him. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but to be polite, she consented.

They went to a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, she felt uncomfortable, she thought please let me go home. Suddenly he asked the waiter. “Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee.” Everybody stared at him, “How strange!” His face turned red, but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously; why you have salt in your coffee? He replied: "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I like playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss my hometown so much, I miss my parents who still live there". While saying that tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That's his true feelings, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can share his homesickness, he must be a man who loves home, cares about home, has ties to his home. Then she also started to speak, spoke about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that he was actually a man who meets all her demands; he had tolerance, was kind-hearted, warm, careful. He was such a good person but she almost missed knowing him! Thanks to his salty coffee! The story ended just like every beautiful love story, the princess married the prince then they lived happily ever after. And every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in it, as she knew that's the way he liked it.

After 40 years, he passed away, left her a letter which said:

“My dearest, please forgive me… I have been lying my whole life. This was the only lie I told you — the salty coffee. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change it, so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the start of our conversation! I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you about anything. Now I'm dying, I'm afraid of nothing so I can tell you the truth: I don't like the salty coffee, what a strange bad taste. But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life! Since I met you, I have never felt sorry for everything I did for you. Having you with me is the biggest thrill of my whole life. If I can live a second time around, I would still want to know you and have you for the rest of my life even though I have to drink the salty coffee again.”

Her tears made the letter totally wet. One day, someone asked her: “how did the  salty coffee taste?” “It was very sweet,” she replied.