Letting Go (Reflections by Morrie Schwartz)

If you are a lover of books, you have probably encountered an inspirational one entitled Tuesdays With Morrie written by Mitch Albom.  It’s a moving account of courage and wisdom shared by a mentor to one of his students. A simple but profound book about an old man, a young man and life’s greatest lesson.  Morrie Schwartz is the old man here diagnosed with ALS (Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis) commonly known as motor neurone disease.  Mitch Albom was his student.  Morrie wrote his own book Letting Go, a book which offers his own philosophy in life, inspiring lessons and practical advice to help those who have terminal or chronic illness and anyone close to them.  My daughter and I were able  to buy a copy of Morris’ book four years ago.  And I am quoting some of his remarkable reflections on living while dying.

– Don’t stay preoccupied with your body or your illness.  Recognize that your body is not your total self, only part of it.

– Watch for emotional, spiritual, or behavioral regressions when you are most vulnerable.  Try to avoid, minimize or stop your regression.

– When you are utterly frustrated or angry, express your feelings.  You don’t have to be nice all the time – just most of the time.

– Try to develop an inner emotional or spiritual peace to balance the distresses of your body.  You might begin by learning to accept “what is” for you at any particular time.

-If you find yourself fantasizing that you are no longer sick and have been restored to your previous level of functioning, stay with the fantasy as long as it gives you pleasure.  But return to reality when the fantasy becomes painful or when it is otherwise necessary for you to do so.

– Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others. Forgiveness can soften the heart, drain the bitterness and dissolve your guilt.

– Learn how to live and you’ll know how to die, learn how to die and you’ll know how to live.

Reading his book is also a learning experience.

(So lazy to write a new blog post so I am sharing one of those I wrote when I was starting at WordPress back in 2009.)

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

It’s Been A While

It’s almost five days when I last posted an entry here. Come to think of it, I got so lazy the following day after my visit to my new doctor/endocrinologist. Imagine waiting for almost five hours since I left the house. Her schedule says she has clinic hours from 8am to 12am. She arrived at 10am and it was just a ten-minute consultation. I showed the results of my lab tests and she explained everything to me. Her words were: medyo okay pero pababain meaning that at my age, my FBS seemed okay but it needs a little more lowering down to a level more comfortable. She has requested more tests in three months. Yes, I will have my next lab tests before the end of June, eight in all- FBS, HBA1c, Crea, CBC, NA, K, ICa and PPBS. I don’t understand them all so I have to make an online research. She is more thorough than my previous doctor. My main problem is, my medical insurance will expire on June 30 so I will have to shell out cash for further check-up and lab tests. Life nowadays is going back and forth to the doctor but at least the interval is getting longer.

I haven’t visited WordPress for quite a while, I am not even updated with blog posts from my friends here. Presently reading a series of Julie Garwood books about highland life. They are stand-alone stories about those lairds and their clans. I have always been fond of historical novels. I remember I almost completed reading Diana Gabaldon’s works years ago. I can imagine those horse-drawn carriages and those people who used herbs to cure ailments. The vista of clear and green fields that run from end to end…precious.

Checked my dasboard, short of 20 more followers to reach 5,000 and my stats showed a total of 691, 074. Not bad at all.

How are you finding the Jetpack switch?

Read Full Post »

Love Defined

The first time we went out of ourselves

to reach another – that was  Love

– the hesitant touch

– the guarded phrase

Each was an attempt to express

the inexpressible.

(Yes, I remember I wrote this short poem when I was still in college experiencing the pains and aches of a first love….or so I thought)

Read Full Post »

😀Smile😉

It doesn’t cost a cent smiling at someone you meet on the street or anywhere else. It is something that causes a chain reaction. It might be the beginning of a lovely conversation and exchange of thoughts with someone. Years ago, I blogged about this same topic but I could not remember now what year I wrote it. Usually it happens when you are waiting at the clinic for your doctor. Sometimes I ask myself why it is so easy to share with people you barely know about your health and medical problems and they do the same. I often talk too with supermarket cashiers or their helpers roaming around the place. Is it because of the anonymity of it, that you wouldn’t likely meet again in the future?

Early this morning, I was walking at the park square when I noticed this old man walking alongside me. I said ‘good morning’ and he replied ‘magandang umaga’. That started my day.

Think about this, people say you burn more calories when you smile than when you frown.

Read Full Post »

Wednesday Blues

I left the house early around 5 :30 am so I could buy breakfast at KFC after my FBS. I was on an 8-hour fasting last night for FBS today aside from three more tests that I had to undergo. I was early but I didn’t know The Medical City Clinic opens now at 7 am so I didn’t have to wait long.

I looked at the bill they charged for the series of tests, my, so costly. Imagine, four syringes of blood from both arms. Good thing, it was not so painful. I’ll be going back to my endocrinologist on Saturday. It’ll take two days before the test results are out. My endo has replaced my internist, she is both an internist and endocrinologist. My left ear is acting up again, sometimes painful but unlike before, the pain is tolerable. I like to see the result of my lab tests first before I go back to the ENT. The latter said my ear infection has a connection with my abnormal blood sugar. The things one has to sacrifice for one’s health. I am glad though that I lost more than a kilo since my check-up almost a month ago. Maybe my morning walks are helping😊.

I am not as worried with my health as I was before because I left everything to God’s will. I pray every day that I still would like to get well so I could take more care of mom and my kids. She is becoming so forgetful every day.

Our liver line Shih Tzu is already four-month old. A chubby little puppy. So happy to play with him every day.

Read Full Post »

We Named Him DOS

Gosh, I woke up at 3:30 am and could no longer go back to sleep. Normally, praying the rosary help me to sleep but this time it didn’t. Anyway, I just waited for 5 am when Josef usually leave the house. Had a walking exercise for around thirty minutes, bought pandesal for mom then went home around 6 am. Since I had to take my medicine, I had to eat breakfast early then went back to bed and slept for two hours more.

We have a new puppy named DOS. Couldn ‘t take a good shot of him because he is so ‘malikot’. So playful and always running around. His face looks like a pug without the wrinkles. He has very short legs and his belly almost touches the floor when he walks. I love his thick and smooth fine fur. He is a pure breed Liver Shih Tzu. Shih Tzu like this is called choco liver line. Love the color of his fur bordering from dark beige to brown to dark brown.

My goodness, three fur babies in the house and six Aspin dogs outside 🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩

Read Full Post »

Just Another Prompt

What was the best compliment you’ve received?

Not all of my friends knew that I underwent sigmoid surgery then six cycles of chemotherapy almost fourteen years ago but those who are close to me knew about what I went through back then. A friend who is a nun told me to keep the faith and she admired my bravery in facing this predicament. She had always told me before that I am a strong woman taking care of my two kids and at the same time keeping a job when the hubby went abroad to work.

Brave, strong and faithful to the Lord that He won’t abandon me. And the best compliment that I received? Despite everything that happened in my life, I am still standing tall.

Read Full Post »

How Good Is An Inverter Appliance?

Why are inverter appliances the best investment in these times?

Depending on what appliance you use, inverter-equipped units can be up to 27% more efficient than traditional appliances. It is a good choice because it is energy-efficient and using these appliances that are on inverter technology is smart living. An inverter is adaptable, it can work faster or slow according to your desire and also keep the right thermostat. According to studies, they usually last between ten to fifteen years.

The only thing installed in our house with inverter is the split-type aircon in Josef’s and Jovy’s room. Our ref is just a no-froze one. We’ve been using no-froze long before inverter was invented/manufactured. So convenient, you just have to wipe it when cleaning. Nissa told me that the air conditions installed in their rooms are inverter type, even the television, ref and washing machine are too. They could save on electricity consumption using those appliances. They are more pricey though. They are presently using an inverter aircon but not split-type. I wonder if they will bring it along when they move soon.

Inverter-type appliances….the way to go😉

Read Full Post »

An Early Morning Video Chat

I am so proud and happy for them. Their hard work bore fruit…at last.

Even just through a video, I was able to take a glimpse of the interior of the house. Except for the sala set, everything seems complete and all new. They spent the night there and will go home today. The house was turned over by the contractor yesterday. They brought a temporary helper to help them clean the house.

I am envious of their 2-door 19 cu. feet ref with water dispenser but it is still empty….haha. They had two split-type inverter aircon installed in the main bedroom and Nate’s. Nissa showed me all the kitchen gadgets that I bought for them before. I am thinking of what more to buy for them. Maybe some Pyrex dish tray. Nissa could not decide yet what type of furniture they’ll have for the sala. All that was installed there is a big Smart television.

I asked her how it feels to have a new house that they could make into a lovely home and she said, so happy of course Ma. Aside from the cute garden infront of the house, they have another small one at the side. I told her to water the plants before they leave since all the workers have already left yesterday.

Another dream realized, thank God❤🙏💚

Read Full Post »

Journeying Through

There are paths that lead somewhere –

To the innermost corner of your heart ,

And you sometimes feel the pain of rejection

A love lost

A love gone.

Life is never perfect –

But deep within

You say,

I should.

I can.

I will.

Moving on,

Letting go,

Another journey to traverse

With courage,

With faith,

With acceptance.

(previously published at Multiply then reposted it here. this was back in july 2012)

Read Full Post »