Email Spotting

This, I got to keep reminding myself.

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Once there were 3 trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree
said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled
with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with
intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take
kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world.
Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and
straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and
look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how
close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and
people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of
woodsmen came up on the trees. When one came to the first tree he said,
"This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to
a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he
knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I
should be able to sell it to the shipyard!" The second tree was happy
because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened
because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.
One of the woodsmen said, "I don’t need anything special from my tree, I’ll
take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box
for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not
at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of
being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a
man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth  and they placed the baby in
the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished
that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to
do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had
held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second
tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the
water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough
to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said
"PEACE" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had
carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the
streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to
a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the
top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong
enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was
possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way,
always know that God has a plan  for you. If you place your trust in Him, He
will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not
in the way they had imagined. We don’t always know what God’s plans are for
us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Hachoo! Yogurt is fine but onions?

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HEADACHE? EAT FISH!

Eat plenty of fish — fish oil helps prevent headaches. So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!

Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season. Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!

Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea. (actually, tea can suppress appetite and keep the pounds from invading….Green tea is great for our immune system)!

INSOMNIA (CAN’T SLEEP?) HONEY!

Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!!

Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes. (onion packs on the chest helps in breathing).

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!!

Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. (fish has omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS – GINGER!!!!!

Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!

High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!

Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!!

Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!

Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!

Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!

A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage!

Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!!

A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!

Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!

Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!

Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!

Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!

The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty.

This is a good source of potassium,
magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. It’s Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away?

Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon
cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry: Protective fruit.

Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they’re high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young………blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field… they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 – 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system.

They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium. (watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn suv rays)

Guava &Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation.

Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion)

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

FUTURE

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

HAPPINESS

To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.

LONGEVITY STATISTICS

Married men live longer than single men, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

PROPENSITY TO CHANGE

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does.

DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED

Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, "You’re next."

They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.

This is a guide on how to control your emotions towards your better-half,  friends,  officemates  and  all  the  people  around  you,  especially  your "boss." 

#1  Ang naunang magalit ang may karapatang magalit. Pag naunahan ka na ng  galit niya, tumahimik ka na lang muna.

#2  Walang  taong  nag-aaway  mag-isa.  Pag hindi kayo sumagot o pumatol,  titigil din daw ang taong nakikipag- away sa inyo.

#3 Ang taong galit, ‘bingi.’ If someone is angry, wala raw pinakikinggan,  so,  don’t try to explain and fight back. Hindi ka niya iintindihin dahil  wala siyang naririnig kundi ang sarili nya. 

#4  Ang  taong  galit, ‘abnoy.’ Ayon sa pastor, Biblical daw ito? because  the  Lord  said  when  He was crucified, "Father, patawarin mo sila dahil  hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa."  Modern  term  for these kinds of people are abnoys, so you better not get angry para huwag kang matawag na abnoy.

You  should  also know and realize that the persons who make your day bad  are jewels, because you need them for you to mature.  Hangga’t andyan daw sila at kinaiinisan mo, ibig sabihin, immature ka pa.  God will  not take away those people; it’s for you to take away your bad  feelings towards them.  You’ll  know  na  mature  ka  na  pag  dumating ‘yung time na hindi ka na  naiinis sa  mga taong ito because you have learned to accept them and to  have patience with them.

#5 Finally, the best part of this is to tell yourself na, because of this person,  "I  will  grow  mature,"  and that DAHIL SA CONTRIBUTION NIYA SA MATURITY MO, KUKUNIN DIN SYA NI LORD.

By Rabbi Harold Kushner

I was sitting on a beach one summer day, watching two children, a boy and a girl, playing in the sand.  They were
hard at work building an elaborate sandcastle by the water's edge, with gates and towers and moats and internal passages.  Just when they had nearly finished their project, a big wave came along and knocked it down, reducing it to a heap of wet sand.  I expected the children to burst into tears, devastated by what had happened to all their hard work.  But they surprised me.  Instead, they ran up the shore away from the water, laughing and holding hands, and sat down to build another castle.  I realized that they had taught me an important lesson.  All the things in our lives, all the complicated structures we spent so much time and energy creating, are built on sand.

Only our relationships to other people endure.  Sooner or later, the wave will come along and knock down what we have worked so hard to build up.  When that happens, only the person who has somebody's hand to hold will be able to laugh.

A time comes in your life when you finally get it… When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks,and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out – ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.

And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears, and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realize that it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter), and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin
with you; and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are … and that’s OK (They are entitled to their own views and opinions). And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself; and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born
of self-approval. You stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn’t do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say, and
that not everyone will always be there for you; and that it’s not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own, and to take care of yourself; and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers … and you begin to accept people as they are, and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties; and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And
you begin to sift through all the crap you’ve been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, and how much you should weigh; what you should wear and where you should shop, and what you should drive; how and where you should live, and what you should do for a living; who you should sleep with, who you should marry, and what you
should expect of a marriage; the importance of having and raising children, or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with; and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing; and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds
together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world … and that you can’t teach a pig to sing .

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility, and the importance of setting boundaries, and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry, and that
martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving, and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more
intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love…and you learn that you don’t have the right to demand love on your terms … just to make you happy. And, you learn that
alone does not mean lonely. And you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10, and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up." You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring
your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK…. and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things that you want…and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love,kindness, sensitivity and respect; and you won’t settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch … and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect. And you learn that your body really is your temple,
and you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest.

And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn, that for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve … and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for , and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one
can do it all alone and that it’s OK to risk asking for help. You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time. FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it, and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve; and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn’t punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It’s just life happening. And you learn to
deal with evil in its most primal state – the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you,and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to building bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself; and you to make yourself a
promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever, settle for less than your heart’s desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful
possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and with a higher power by your side you take a stand; you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to
Japan have not held many fish for decades.

So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went
farther than ever. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring
in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not
fresh.

The Japanese did not like the taste.

To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats.
They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to
go farther and stay longer.

However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen
and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price.

So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and
stuff them in the tanks, in to fin. After a little thrashing around, the fish
stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive.

Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the
fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste. The Japanese
preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get
fresh-tasting fish to Japan?

If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend?

As soon as you reach your goals, such as finding a wonderful mate, starting
a successful company, paying off your debts or whatever, you might lose your
passion. You don’t need to work so hard so you relax. You experience the same
problem as lottery winners who waste their money, wealthy heirs who never grow
up and bored homemakers who get addicted to prescription drugs.

Like the Japanese fish problem, the best solution is simple. It was
observed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1950’s. "Man thrives, oddly enough,
only in the presence of a challenging environment".

The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a
good problem. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily
conquering those challenges, you are happy. You think of your challenges and
get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You have fun. You are
alive!

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the
fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats
a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The fish are
challenged.

Therefore, instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck
out of them. Enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or too numerous,
do not give up. Instead, reorganize. Find more determination, more knowledge
and more help.

If you have met your goals, set some bigger goals. Once you meet your
personal or family needs, move onto goals for your group, the society, even
mankind. Don’t create success and lie in it. You have resources, skills and
abilities to make a difference."

So, put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!!!!

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

Author Unknown

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.

Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work.

Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, what began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. I turned on my radio and heard an older sounding gentleman with a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself. He was talking about a theory about "a thousand marbles" to Tom, the presenter. I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you’re busy with your job. I’m sure they pay you well but it’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work 60 or 70 hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter’s dance recital."

He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me to keep a good perspective on my own priorities."

And that’s when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic."

"The average person lives about 75 years."

"I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about 75 years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52, and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their lifetime."

"Now stick with me, I’m getting to the important part."

"It took me until I was 55 years old to think about all this in any detail, and by that time I had lived through over 2800 Saturdays!"

"I thought that if I live until 75 years old, I only had about a thousand weekends left to enjoy."

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had."

"I had to visit three toy stores to roundup 1000 marbles."

"I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container in my workshop next to the radio."

"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away."

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life."

"There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast."

"This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container."

"I figure if I make it until next Saturday, then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones."

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished…the talk show host didn’t have anything to say for a few moments.

We all now had a lot to think about.

I had originally planned to do some work, then go to the gym… Instead, I went upstairs
and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C’mon honey, I’m taking you and the kids to breakfast."

"What brought this on?" she asked looking stunned!

"Oh, nothing special," I said.

"It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids.

"Hey, and while we’re out, I want to stop by a toy store."

"I need to buy some marbles."

May all your Saturdays be special! And…May you have many happy years after you lose all your marbles!