How to Thwart a Raging Bull

-- This is a repost. I have written this many moons ago when I was still in a different department. Things have changed recently. And as I recall how much I have been motivating and reminding myself how wonderful life is - I stumble upon this post I have written with humor. For those who can relate, I hope the tips below can help you recover or at least deal with the situation and the perpetrator. For those who are blessed to enjoy the peace and quiet of being at home full time, share this to those you know who can apply it in their corporate lives. Enjoy the read!  --


Best answer to this is to run! Run for your life! Kidding aside, there's nothing more enraging than someone crushing your spirit especially if you've gotten up on the right side of the bed.

I woke up with a bright outlook in life one fine morning, smiling my blues away, looking forward to another day and screeeeeeeecccchhhhhhh..... wait a sec! What just happened? It's like a dream sequel and suddenly you woke up like someone threw cold water on your face. Yes, that happened to me at work. Again, no details will be spared but the crux of the matter is, some people just ruined my day in a fraction of a second! Wow, that's Guinness Book of World Records there for you!

I was upset the whole day because:

1. I felt hurt.
2. I was treated with disrespect.
3. They ruined my sunny-side up spirit.

One thing that really pulls my nerve is when someone is sarcastic when spoken to. My point is, I speak to you kindly, then answer back with the same respect given to you. Isn't that the right thing to do to people? Was that so hard to do? I mean, to be kind? Golden Rule. Golden Rule. Golden Rule. I can't stress that enough.

After that event one fine morning, I thought of presenting this tips on how to avoid raging bulls in the office:

Here's one:
Look the other way. Try to avoid eye contact. You'll never know when he or she will pop your eyes out. ;)

Here's another:
Try to become invisible for a day or at least until the rage wears down. If you need to relay a message or have important matters to discuss with the raging bull then go through the assistant, if he or she has one. I just did that. If I could fold myself into several folds, I would have done that so I could put myself in my own pocket!

And another:
Play some funky tunes to cast the blues away. Music is like a therapy to calm my nerves. Just don't play heavy metal, head banging, ear drums crashing music or it will make you more upset. Tone down with a good "zen" like music or easy listening stuff. I played "Amazing Grace" in my head over and over until I cooled down. Another music which calms my nerves is blues/jazzy tune. Never disappoints me at all.

Last trick I tried:
I offered a prayer. I was scared of losing it too because I just gave them a reason to ruin my composure. Well, they actually did but to give in to such negative feeling is something I will not subject myself to. I owe it to myself to be happy and happy I will be. Bulls or none...

So, there will be another day again and this will be my prayer:

"As I enter the work area Lord, please give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference...and while I am at it Lord, please don't make me too strong because I might just throw them all away." hehehehe Just kidding Lord. =)

(photo courtesy of: www.yesnet.yk.ca)

Bombing and Shooting in Norway

Norway is known for its low crime rate and a placid country. But yesterday, 22 July 2011, Oslo was rocked with massive bombing of a high-rise building which housed the office of the Prime Minister. Hours after the bomb attack was the shooting spree of a man disguised as a police officer in Utoya, an island youth retreat camp where a large number of youth were attending a Labor Party youth wing summer camp.

Witness accounts claim that the gunman beckoned the victims closer before shooting them one by one.  The same gunmen is being suspected as connected to the bombing in Oslo.

The fatality count has reached 91 as of today. Police are still scouring the waters around the island for any victims.

Offices and government agencies in Norway have put their flags half-staff to mourn the victims of this tragic event.

For more information on this news, please check this link: video news.

Give Peace a Chance

This post is not a tribute to one of the popular songs of the Beatles. I am posting this article to call everyone to stop fighting and give peace a chance.

I cannot help but throw the newspaper out of the window because of the negative headlines I read most of the time. Well, it's the negative that sells, right?

What is this fighting in Korea now? Just because South Korea was firing into disputed waters for their military drill, North Korea had to retaliate by bombarding the island of Yeonpyong. Although North Korea had warned and requested South Korea to halt the military practice, the latter still pursued. Hence, the havoc and mayhem.

Goodness, what is going on in this world of ours? If it's not volcanoes spewing lavas and ashes, then it is the machine guns spitting bullets to innocent people.

Come on! Give peace a chance... Sometimes it pays to lower our principles because what we're fighting for may be very trivial at the expense of the hundreds of innocent people caught in the middle of the battle field. It's just not worth it...

Spring with New Hope

Winter posed itself longer than usual this year. We did not experience heavy rains on March but this year was different. Spring has taken a back seat for a while and now it has sprung!

I welcome the entry of this wonderful season called Spring. Although here in the hot climate of the Middle East, we are not privileged enough to enjoy Spring season in its full scale. We don't see enough verdant greens and natural blossoms of beautiful spring plants. Most of the plants here are artificially cultivated because they won't survive the harsh summer months.

Spring brings new hope after a gloomy season. It beacons new life. With all the problems the world is facing right now, the "seeming" pandemic around us because of the H1N1 virus, the dissent of other countries, the oppression of the poor, the compromising of peace talks, the global recession and the increasing number of poverty, we could only pray and hope that Spring brings a bright future as it enters the changing of the season.

My New Year's Prayer for 2009

Dear Lord,

As we come to the end of a tumultuous year of 2008, give us a shining ray of hope to welcome 2009 with faith and belief that all of the crisis the world is facing right now will come to an end.

I pray for peace amongst my brethren. I pray for prosperity for everyone. I pray that You will continue to bless us with your grace and love. Keep all of us safe from harm. Provide us the needs that You deem is enough for us. I pray for the protection of the innocent children all over the world. I pray for the healing of Mother nature. I pray for happiness of those who have already lost so much and hope for the hopeless. I pray for the indigent people. I pray for our religious and political leaders that they will be guided according to Your will. I pray for the homeless to have shelters. I pray for the rich that they may share their riches to those who are in need. I pray for the lost souls that they may find their way. Give us the strength to battle each obstacle that will come our way. Make us steadfast in our faith in Your most omnipotent power.

I believe in You Lord because You know what is best for us. I will leave all my worries with the passing of the old year and welcome 2009 with bright promises.

Thank you Lord for the year that was and for the year that will be.

Love,
Ria

Gone for the Holidays

Let me greet everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful 2009! My family and I will be in Manila for the holidays but I will be back after Christmas here in Dubai. I cannot take a long leave now so I am cutting my vacation short (for financial reasons as well). I will not blog for a week to spend my time with my family so please bear with me. However, I will really appreciate your comments, greetings and well-wishings. I shall resume my normal blogging activity by last week of December or perhaps on January 2009.

I pray for the grace of our Lord to shine upon all of us on this blessed season. Let our Christmas be measured by the love of our families and friends, instead of the material things that commercializes this blessed time. Money may come scarce to some of us but we will all get through this through our faith. May 2009 be a year of new hope, new dreams, new goals and the spread of peace to all.

A Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to all of you.

Christ in Christmas

You can feel it in the air. Christmas is just around the bend. This is my most favorite holidays of all holidays. I just love the feeling of peace, love, sharing and goodwill happening at this season. I enjoy seeing kids jump with glee when they see what's inside their wrapped gifts. I get excited too when I see my own daughter pace in anticipation few hours before midnight of 24 December, waiting to open her gifts and making a beehive around the Christmas tree. It's that season again.

Malls are decorated with festive ornaments to remind consumers of gift-buying. Minced pies are being baked again for bulk orders. Christmas Yule Logs will soon fill the shelves of bakeries and goody shops. It's that season again.

The weather is getting chilly. You throw in warm blankets and put in socks and mitts. You sit by the fireplace drinking hot cocoa and chat with family and friends over some fine wine and cheese. It's that season again.

Christmas is not just gift-giving, the camaraderie in the air, the joyous festivities we will all share with family and friends. It is the time for Christ as he is the reason for the season. Let's all not forget to remember to put back the CHRIST in Christmas.