Christmas Caroling

I have fond memories of my caroling days when I was still young. My friends and I would gather and discuss the different Christmas songs we would sing. Apart from, we would plan which house to visit and which one to skip. Everything would be written down to the last detail so everybody remembered the lyrics and how our caroling should go.

We didn't practice. We just decided to start caroling which coincided with the first Sunday of the Advent. We had so much fun the first night. We were chaperoned by one of my friends' sister so we had adult supervision. We did our first round in our street and our neighbors were delighted to see familiar faces singing beautiful (to me, we sounded like the best carolers in the world that time!) Christmas carols. Some of my male friends even brought their guitars and mini-organ which none of them knew how to play. They brought it for props and I say, it helped getting the much needed money or tip.

We caroled until Dec. 23 and we earned a decent amount of money. We split the money amongst ourselves and concluded our Christmas caroling activity that year. That was 1984. We had so much fun!

I miss those times. I am reminiscing the days of my youth and so happy that some of my friends from that caroling group is still around. I'm not sure if I can do any caroling again. I haven't sung for the longest time and when I do, I would sing praise to the Lord. Maybe in the privacy of my room but my songs of Christmas carols will all be for Him because it's His birthday. He deserves that praise in hymn.

Catching Up

I am back but taking things easy and slowly this time as I have a lot of catching up to do. I didn't realize the amount of tags and awards I need to do and post; not to mention the other articles I have set aside to post eventually at a later date. They need updating of course.

How was everyone's Christmas? I hope it was spent meaningfully with the people who matters most. My family had a great time and I was glad I took the trip. I was adamant of going because of financial reasons. I felt it was too "inconsiderate" thinking how the world was suffering from economic crisis and there I was - traveling. Then again, I didn't travel for the sake of satisfying my travel bug sickness but I had to spend my Christmas with my mom and siblings and in-laws too.

Well, the New Year will be a different matter. I dare not talk about it ;) I just pray and hope that good things will come despite the rise of job cuts, the crazy increase in credit card interest rates (which reminds me that I need to discard mine before I fall into a bottomless pit!), the uncertainties looming around us. I always believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel might be long and winding but it will reach its end. Let's just have faith and rely on our family and friends for support in this time of need.

I wish you all a very peaceful and prosperous 2009. Prosperity might not come in riches but the blessings that we still have food on our table, a roof over our heads, clothes to keep us warm and a job to sustain our living. Let's all believe. We will all pass this storm unscathed but with more steadfast faith in Him.

Happy New Year everyone.

Just say No

I don't understand why it's so easy to say "yes" in all occasion for any favor asked but too difficult to refuse one. This is one perplexing phenomenon of human nature - saying no.

Family and friends often tell me I just can't say no to anything and I always get in trouble for that. I thought I'd never learn until this one instance in the office that really pulled my last nerve. I will not go into detail and it was nothing really serious that would result to a "pink-slip-on-your-table-the-next-day (wink!). I was just being a good Samaritan to someone who needed help and ended up being blamed for the mistake and the boss would not hear any from me. The term you call for that is scapegoat (yes! Poor, nice me...) Talk about tough luck. After that incident, I taught myself to evaluate things first and then say no if I would get in trouble. I felt a little awkward at first because deep inside I knew I wanted to "genuinely" (I stress that) offer my aid but I would often pause and think million times whether I should open my mouth and utter "yes." I think swiftly before the adrenalin rush get the better of me and right there and then, the word comes out - no. I did it! I finally said it! Wow! It felt great and somehow a thorn is taken away from me. The first few seconds after saying that is the weird part because you see the reaction of the other person. I need not explain why I had to say no because it's my prerogative.

I am still the ever helpful and dependable person that I am but more wise. I still go out of my way to offer my assistance to people who "genuinely" need it. In the office, I am more guarded because predators are out there to get you. They ask for your help and when you do engage yourself to lend a helping hand, they bite you. They make you clean up their mess like how Pontius Pilate washed his hands after sending Jesus to the cross. It's so unfair to people like me who loves to help others. I get duped in the process.

So, I don't regret learning how to say no. Actually, it's one of the best things I have learned in life so far. I have to say no sometimes for "self-preservation" lest I become a prey. I still believe in the cosmic power of karma. I know that He knows my sincerity when I help people and I'll stick to that. However, while some people (with ulterior motives!) are still plotting to enlist my assistance, here's what I have to say: No, Laa, Nein, Non, Nao, Geen, Het, Ingen, Nahi, Hindi. Comprendo?