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Merry Christmas Everyone.
Seasonal Greetings and Warmest Wishes to each and every one of you.
Another exciting Christmas is upon us.
Aside from the religious aspect, Christmas is a time of sharing, giving and celebrating with our loved ones, family and friends. I wish to take this golden opportunity to express my gratitude and thanks to each and everyone of you, for your concern, love, regular visits, understanding, encouragement and last but not least, your continued support.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year !!!
Michael.
Revisiting: My Take – Can Money Buy Love?
First and foremost, I believe there is no simple answer to this tricky question …… So as to which side is right, that depends on what kind of love one is looking for. Say if you are looking for love from a soul mate, then it is highly unlikely that it can be bought with money.
On the other hand, money does increase one’s chance of love. Money can help generate love. I mean generating the circumstances that are favorable for love as well as inducing the loving feeling in us. Money can improve our bargaining position and our attraction factor – the pull factor.
While love decreases the need for money is especially true when one is so deeply in love initially. At that moment, money can be of less significance. However, one will get to realize with the lack of money for his or her basic needs, their love could also be at risk. Thus, a lot more have to be addressed, put in place and properly synchronized before love can be considered as meaningful.
I believe money can lead us to love because love is something that is hardly disconnected from reality. In this day and age, money can help us find love. But, be mindful what we can expect and cannot expect from it. More money can probably lead to more stress and is less effective in bringing us the kind of love we want.
Love without money is difficult – I dread to think about it. It could be equally stressful as well. Consider the following frequently expressed statements; “Oh, it’s so difficult to love you when you’re earning so much less than me.” Or, “So much less than my good friend’s husband” and so forth.
As I conclude this posting, I wish to quote “Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail.” – Richard Friedman. Can money buy love? At least not the kind of love I cherish …… That kind of love is priceless. I believe we should give from our heart and not our pocket. We should give love to the people around us as it is in giving we receive. Yes even in this day and age, where we can mail order a wife or a husband, pick up our phone and rent-a-date …… and so the list of options goes.
Happy loving and happy living …… Have a fabulous weekend everyone !!!
Revisiting: Can Money Buy Love?
“Love without money is difficult” or “Money without love is useless?”
The past weekend was simply wonderful. Met up with some old friends at Starbucks and after a brief exchange of greetings, our get-together began to liven-up when Fred (who looked a little upset that afternoon) asked; “Hey, what do you fellows think, can money buy me love?”
You see, Fred is in his early 40s and is a civil engineer by training. Fred is a refined bachelor and have been going steady with a young lady for some time. However, in the recent months, we heard the fire of love in them has been less intense and cold. So when Fred raised that question, all of us were taken aback and dumbfounded.
Like me, all those present must have been thinking on their feet the same question. “How could I tactfully handle his question – without having to rub salt to his wound?” There was a long silence, then, Julie, a teacher, looked at us before turning towards Fred’s direction and confidently responded with a loud “Yes.”
She then paused before proceeding to say, “Money can buy love.” Now, all of us were stunned by her response. Our eyes were focused at her and our ears were waiting for more …… “Look, some businesses have proven that …… Their sales are always at the peak during Valentine’s Day” she continued.
“Oh …… what a brilliant and tactful answer to Fred’s tricky question,” I told myself. And from Fred’s body language, I could read he was happy with what Julie had said and those words may have warmed his aching heart a little. Then, there was a grin of sadness from Fred’s macho-looking face. I sensed he could have some regret for not taken the initiative to rekindle his fire of love on Valentine’s Day.
By then, Nicholas, who have a chain of fine dining restaurants in town chipped in; “I agree. I agree with Julie. I had a big jump in reservations on Valentine’s Day.” Immediately his remark opened the floodgates. Mary smilingly told us her chocolates and gifts were completely sold-off on that afternoon. And Alan’s wife, Jessica, who owns a florist shop next door confirmed she too enjoyed brisk business on Valentine’s Day too.
Then, Frank threw in some jokes, got up and did his Beatles act; “I’ll buy you a diamond ring if it makes you feel alright. I’ll get you anything my friend it it makes you feels alright. Cause I don’t care to how much a money” and stopped right there. Fred and the rest of us were already smiling and having cheered-up our good friend, it was an opportune time for us to move into another topic.
Can money buy love?
That was the question I kept asking myself as I drove home after the get-together.
Possible or simply not possible?
And is there any connection between money and love?
What is your take on this?
Warmest wishes and blessings to all of you.
Michael.
Happy Living (2) ……
Tip of the day.
Everyone can be happy …… As a matter of fact, all of us are born with the ability to be happy. So however happy or unhappy you are, you can be happier.
However, each of us may have a slightly different path to happiness.
You see, as we go through the path of life, we could have picked up some unhelpful ways of thinking and acting that make us feel bad along the way. Over time, these unhelpful thinking and acting have reinforced and affect our brain chemistry which in turn continues the pattern of our thought.
Don’t you think there’s a lot more than to just feeling good?
“Don’t make assumptions, ask questions instead.”
Happy Living ……
Everyone can be happy …… As a matter of fact, all of us are born with the ability to be happy. So however happy or unhappy you are, you can be happier.
However, each of us may have a slightly different path to happiness.
You see, as we go through the path of life, we could have picked up some unhelpful ways of thinking and acting that make us feel bad along the way. Over time, these unhelpful thinking and acting have reinforced and affect our brain chemistry which in turn continues the pattern of our thought. But there is a lot more than to feeling good ……
“Free your mind from anxiety.”
From Me To You.
We are into a new month – the last quarter of 2012.
Have a fabulous month. Be mindful to open your mind to possibilities. And to all of you, “May each day of this new month brings along many reasons of celebration.”
Happy new month !!!
Michael.
Every Woman Is Just As Beautiful.
“Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” is an often quoted expression we hear in our conversations. Some people think beauty is subjective. Thinking allowed and no pun intended, “I believe every woman is just as beautiful.”
With hindsight, you may agree that no standard for beauty has held true for all time in all places. If you are interested in cultural anthropology, you will be able to recall that at some time in history, somewhere in the world, every shape, size and look has been a perfect. Thus, today’s definition, our definition of physical beauty is just one of the many ways external standards are used to measure us or rank us and assign us a role and identity in this world.
Indeed, many people spend their lives trying to get people to see that they do measure up. That they are important or influential and better than others. I beg to differ. If you buy into this, you are buying into a lie. And as long as you believe that lie, you will hate your life.
In a world that insists one must stick out way beyond ordinary, to matter. we are often told point blank; “Those who don’t stick out, they are ordinary and average …… And nobody notices the ordinary and average.” They believe prominence rules and only those who stands out are worthy of adulation. Those who stands out have worth. They are our idols.
Realistically, aren’t we are putting too much emphasis on external things? Say, our looks, position, wealth, connections, power and influence. You see, we keep jumping the track because we are confused about what to use to measure personal value. We fail to realize that the external things ultimately don’t matter. This “you-need-to-be ………. to-matter” has lead us to believe that worth is determined by beauty, money, position and so forth.
Thus, if we believe and accept that is true, then we are compelled to do all we can to get as much of that stuff as possible. The world would becomes a place for taking, a field of competition, a place for one-upping, conquering, overcoming and a place where only the fittest survive. Don’t you agree this kind of world perpetuates the anxiety of wondering just how fit we are and if our fit is fit enough?
And, don’t you think in this kind of world; popularity polls matters, youth matters, beauty matters; the poor, the weak, the aged, the handicapped, the not so beautiful or those less than perfect are discarded and forgotten? I believe our self-image is much like a self-portrait. It is very close to who and what what we picture ourselves to be. I believe God sees us as victors and God want us to have healthy and positive self-images. He created us in His image and He is continuously shaping us, helping us to become better and conforming us to His character. And, He sees us as His special masterpiece.
I believe every woman is just as beautiful and none of us would have to look hard to find another measurement, standard or basis for comparison. Dare to believe and accept you are not a mistake. And dare to fall in love with the ordinary again. The minor details of your life matters to God. And if we don’t happen to fit today’s definition of beautiful, that only means the definition is faulty …….. Remember, it says nothing about who we are, what our value is, or for what we are destined.
Have another beautiful weekend and God Bless.
Revisiting: The Joy Of Giving.
The three things we crave most in life; happiness, freedom and peace of mind are always attained by giving them to someone else ……
Generosity make us happier and mentally healthier. Like love, which increases with exchange, generosity is something only if we give it away. Think of stored grains for instance. If we stored grains in a warehouse eventually it will rot. But plant these grains in the ground and it will multiply.
Make others happy and you will be happier. Helping others often help the helper. The spirit of giving is one of personal fulfillment. Those who give more of their; time, money, kindness, love and ideas, have more of these things because that is the balance – and balance is the natural law of life. And it is by giving more we are actually communicating wholeheartedly. We feel less insecure – both emotionally and physically.
Life is an echo. What we send always come back. Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege. Be mindful, we can be anywhere, so long as we are helping others and caring for them. Contributing in small ways to the lives of others is like a once-a-day vitamin for our body and soul. People who live loving lives find life gratifying, meaningful, joyful and hopeful. They realize that it is in giving of self lies the discovery of deeper and more flourishing self.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad.” As a matter of fact, his generosity and helping behavior gave him inner peace and the strength to overcome a history of depression. When we switch to a higher channel mentally, we replace the previous lower channel. Perhaps, such is human psychology that if we don’t express our joy, we soon cease to feel it. Remember, it matters not the value of the gift but, the thought of giving that provide us the fulfillment.
Lastly, if we want to reap happiness, we have to sow the “happiness” seeds first. The seed always has to lead. Giving is a rich way of living. Don’t let anyone convince you that it doesn’t make any difference whether you give. God sees your gifts and acts of kindness. He will pour out His favor on you. Thus, love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart. No one has ever become poor by giving. And when we are generous to others, God will always be generous with us …… Practice generosity and change the world.
Have A Dream 