A world of Pure Joy

I put her in my lap expecting her to fall asleep, but no, she doesn’t want to! She rolls out from my lap and leans against my knees. And we are just enjoying this precious moment of silence duh!

After five incredible years in Auz, who’d have expected returning home to be a nanny? That’s why I say life’s unpredictable. Sometimes you’ve got so many plans but the path you tread on is completely different to what you actually anticipated. Nevertheless, I’ve learnt so much about parenting in these months spent babysitting my gorgeous niece. Next month she’ll be a year old. Oh! How time flies… Changing diapers to feeding her, soothing her cries, putting her to sleep, playing with her…endless list of motherhood. I feel as though I’m a mom with the exception I’m not even married let alone have a baby. Yet I sit here running into two months as a full time nanny. I have always said I don’t like kids. I mean they’re adorable to the eyes but they can be a nuisance too. I’ve realized spending time with my niece, I could do better…

A world of Pure Joy and Innocence

FriendShip ~ The biggest ship in the WorLd :)

Friendship is not about being in touch all the time…sending messages of how things are…but it’s truly being there for each other when the world turns upside down…it’s just popping out of nowhere when you tell God, “I need someone.” It is this internal connection, a deep care that you feel for the other person. A feeling that words can’t express but you just feel. The feel good feeling that there is someone out there who cares for you no matter what happens. A celebration of love, care, faith and hope is what a true friendship is all about…

Good times, funny moments...filled with laughter and harmony...a celebration of our friendship :)

The first encounter we had...never knew we'd develop such a deep bond...

Make Room for a Cup of Coffee

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.

He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

“The golf balls are the important things – your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.

“The sand is everything else–the small stuff.

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

“The same goes for life.

“If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play with your children.

“Take time to get medical checkups.

“Take your partner out to dinner.

“Play another 18.

“There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

“Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.

“Set your priorities.

“The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked.

“It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.”

Please share this with someone you care about.

NB. I don't own this material. It's been outsourced from the internet.

TRUE LOVE (A Doctor's note) Must Read n share :)

It was approximately 8.30 a.m on a busy morning when an elderly gentleman in his eighties arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9.00 a.m.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat. I knew it would take more than an hour before someone would be able to attend to him. I saw him check his watch anxiously for the time and decided to evaluate his wound since I was not busy with another patient.

On examination, the wound was well healed. Hence, I talked to one of the doctors to get the supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

We began to engage in a conversation while I was taking care of his wound. I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment later as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no and said that he needed to go to the nursing home to have breakfast with his wife.

I inquired about her health. He told me that she had been in the nursing home for a while as she was a victim of Alzheimer's disease. I probed further and asked if she would be upset if he was slightly late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was and she had not been able to recognize him since five years ago.
I asked him in surprise, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?"
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back my tears as he left.
I had goose bumps on my arm, and I thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be...

NB. I don't own this material. I don't remember the exact source. I've put it up as it's an excellent read :)

Abstracts taken from The Alchemist ~ Paulo Coelho

"It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie." p20

"It's what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. "At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend." p23

"When someone sees the same people every day, as had happened with him at the seminary, they wind up becoming a part of that person's life. And then they want the person to change. If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own." p17-18

The rising Sun is Bound to Set

As I enjoy the warm whooshing sound of the ocean waves,
He lay softly in his bed.
I feel the warmth of the rising sun.
It feels like I'm living a life that I've never lived before...
But I know this amazing feeling will soon fade away...

Some Amazing Quotes

"In a dog-eat-dog world, eventually there's only one dog left."~ Gary Chapman

"Somewhere in the corner of the world, someone is dreaming big, thinking big....aiming for the moon..." ~ Me

"Being patient in one area of our lives helps us to be patient in all areas." ~ Gary Chapman

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." ~ Philo of Alexandria

"Initiate every conversation as though the person you are talking to is a friend." ~ Gary Chapman

"Humility: a peacefulness of heart that allows you to stand aside in order to affirm the value of someone else." ~ Gary Chapman

"If you want to show true love to someone, sacrifice something of value for the sake of the relationship." ~ Gary Chapman

"Attitude" from "The Zen Reader" edited by Thomas Cleary

- Even if you are in a high place, don't forget you many fall. Even if you are safe, don't forget danger.   Even though you are alive today, don't assume you will be alive tomorrow.
- The mind has no fixed characteristics; depending on circumstances, it may turn out any way at all.
- Even if it is painful and lonely, associate with worthy companions.
- Consider how you will travel the path, without taking notice of slander from others, without heeding   resentment from others.
- Do not think of studying Buddhism in order to gain some advantage as a reward for practicing        Buddhism.
- Everyone has great faults, and pride is the greatest fault.
- Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among the fools.
- If the mentality that seeks honor and advantage does not cease, you will be ill at ease all your life.
- Students of the Way must individually examine their own selves. To examine yourself means to    reflect upon how you should carry yourself, mentally and physically.
- If the heart is not empty, it will not admit truthful words.
                                                                           Dogen p136

"Morals" from "The Zen Reader" edited by Thomas Cleary

- The ancients thought it shameful to seek advancement or to want to be the head of somethings, or the chief or senior.
- No one should torment people or break their hearts.
- Just regard people's virtues, don't be obsessed with their faults.
- People should cultivate secret virtue.
- No matter how bad a state of mind you may get into, if you keep strong and hold out, eventually the floating clouds must vanish and the withering wind must cease.
- Do not be so proud as to hope to equal the great sages; do not be so mean as to hope to equal the ignoble.
- If one pursued selfish schemes to stay alive, there would be no end to it.
- There is fundamentally no good or bad in the human mind; good and bad arise according to circumstances.
- Though a nobleman's power is greater than that of an ox, he does not contend with an ox.
- To plow deep but plant shallow is a way to natural disaster; if you help yourself but harm others, how could there be no consequences?
                                                                 Dogen p133

Breathing - An excerpt from Waking up to What You Do ~ Diane Eshin Rizzetto

"The first thing we do when we are born is take in a breath. The last thing we do when we die is let out  a breath. Breathing is one of the most fundamental activities we engage in. It supports us in a way nothing or no one else can, and when we observe it, it can calm us and help us see where we are at this moment." p189