Can You Make Me Laugh?

What are we going to resolve today? I know, I supposed not to bring this topic, but it seemed this made me exhausted lately, maybe after the New Year, well, I hope you will gonna handle this positively, but I am under stress. Can you make me laugh guys one more time? It is so true that no matter how you stay positive you will still be trapped with negativity... well, trying to walk towards optimism is not that easy. It requires a lot of energy.

let's bring this stress vanished in nowhere... come on :) Oh well, this is the first part of the twist, where you will comfort me :(

Image Credit: chrisroll / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/03/2012 10:04:00 PM in Happiness, Stress Management

Voice

'No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.' ~ H.E. Luccock

Hello SB Community! I am back now to tell you what is really the awaited 'Twist'. Here, you voices matter! Like a democratic government, people always got the power, and so you got the power friends.

Simply, we will conduct a weekly activity throughout the year, yes, unlike The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity, this posting and pondering activity will revolve all year round with your presence.

1. Mondays ~ We will present a topic, mostly based on interviews, research, observations, events offline and online.

2. Tuesdays-Thursdays ~ Time to ponder. That's the time SB will recognize your voices, and these might be your views and opinions.

3. Fridays ~ Voting. SB Community will pick up the best voice of the week.

4. Saturdays ~ A. I will personally visit the blog of the chosen voice and do the 'new comment style', a more detailed opinion or view with one of his posts and an opinion with his blog as a whole; B. One of his posts will be featured here at as our main subject every Saturdays. [his refers to both gender, applies when sex is not specified.]

5. Sundays ~ Poetry. A time to relax and think something new, as promised, I will try to nurture my humble talent in poetry such as haiku, short poems maybe, another Fibonacci (I hope I can make another one again), and some collections of inspirational quotes, I am also willing to learn another new forms of poetry, perhaps with the help of our University of Poetry!

This Twist will only become successful as planned if you will cooperate and willing to be permanent residents of the SB Community! We are always looking forward for you presence.

Quote Source: Quote Garden!
Image Credit: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/02/2012 09:00:00 PM in Communication, Team Building, Time to Ponder

I Want To Be Human plus The Twist 2012

Finally, there is one deserving winner for My 2012 New Years Resolution - An Article Writing Contest! Congratulations to white witch Hi_D! Our task, let's ponder her heart-written resolution:

I want to be Human

By White Witch Hi_D

Have you ever asked yourself the definition of New Year’s Resolution? As an Engineer, I would have defined ‘resolution’ as the measure of digital quality of an electronic system. But who am I kidding, right? Certainly not you. In writing this article I first had to know what New Year’s Resolution really means. An online encyclopedia, wikipedia.org defines it as the commitment that an individual makes to one or more personal goals, projects or the reforming of one’s habits. Very rational, isn’t it? But have you ever defined this so called resolution in your own perspective?

A lot of people creates this simulation by changing their lifestyle such as to quit smoking, avoid drinking too much, or stop cheating on their wives, while others don’t believe in it at all.

Allow me to introduce to you a person who didn’t believe in New Year’s Resolution. I was very curious and was wondering what ‘her’ opinion about New Year’s Resolution was. So I asked her if she has a New Year’s Resolution. She answered, “I don’t believe in it. People only use those words to escape their imperfections.”

Then I asked her a different question, “Even if you don’t believe, how would you define New Year’s Resolution?” She didn’t answer right away. She was baffled and it took her three days before she could respond and I think her answer is the best one I’ve heard so far. I would like to share it with you. But first let me tell you how this lady came up with that definition.

I’ve known her for my whole life. She is this one person that I thought who was very strong that no matter how many times she fell, she always got back up. Her whole world seemed so battered. She cries but she never weeps. She had seven relationships, which were all failures. She recently had a break up with a more-than-two-years-relationship. She had been through so much and now her family seems to be breaking apart because her parents are having issues. And I believed she was strong until she told me, “I’m not really strong.”

It was a shock for me to hear her realization. “If you’re not strong, what then?” I had to ask. Despite the things that push her down I’m quite impressed with how she could push back up. But now she’s telling me that she’s not really strong.

I was surprised with her answer. “I’m numb,” she said.

NUMB, yes, that was the word and the exact definition of what she really feels—nothing. It never occurred to me until now that the strength she was showing was actually numbness. She had been hurt for so many times and now she fears getting hurt again, which is why she forced herself to hold back on her emotions. To hold back even on love. To act like she doesn’t care even when her world is falling apart.

I remember back in college we had a religion course. The topic ‘To become fully human’ was tackled. Becoming fully human was becoming like Jesus. Struck down and beaten to death, yet he offers no hate but only love.

To reject pain and suffering is like rejecting one’s own humanity. And she was rejecting all her being.

At this point, you might be wondering who in the world I’m talking about. Some of you might have already guessed it.

Yes, she is me. Sound crazy? I know. But sometimes I do talk to myself. It’s a normal thing. It makes me realize that I don’t know myself very well. It makes me judge myself the way I would judge others and see my own imperfections. And this time I just saw my biggest imperfection. Through all the pain, I have become numb.

I’ve never really thought about having a New Year’s Resolution before. But now I’ve even figured out its better definition.

New Year’s Resolution is one’s commitment to becoming human.

It is human to fear, yet it is also human to be brave. If you do not fear, then you can never be brave.

Becoming human is not as we Filipinos say, “Sorry, tao lang (Only human).” But it is as the Americans ask, “What would Jesus do?”

It is human to be tempted, yet it is also human to be strong and restrain against temptation.

It is human to cause mistakes, yet as humans we must also take responsibility.

By writing this article I have truly realized that for the first time in my life I want to have a New Year’s Resolution.

I am afraid but I will be brave. Instead of staying on top, I want to fall then get back up.

I want to feel.

I want to weep.

I want to be human.

The Twist 2012 - Secret Revealed!

I and Ed had a talked about this couple of months from now, from the result of The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity, the plan has came out naturally, I told him it's because we are dedicated for it. The secret - not much really, but SB Community will rule SB! From now on your voices matter! A detailed plan will be posted tomorrow, for now let's celebrate New Year! See you soon guys...

Image Credit: Sarunyu_foto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/31/2011 09:46:00 PM in Offers and Prizes, Team Building

Blessings - The Completion of The Self-Evaluation 2011

Your participation of The 1-Week self-Evaluation Activity is so much to be thankful for! That will make me and Ed more dedicated to bring you the awaited twist for 2012. The announcement will be today, before the clock turn to 12:01 A.M., two posts will greet you a Happy and Prosperous Year 2012!

Let's take some look:

The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity
1. "I'm happy to tell that I've learned a lot not just about life, but all about me, yes about who I am." ~ Sagittarian at Do I Know Myself-Day 2
2. 'I admit that sometimes bad experiences make my heart grow cold.' ~ white witch Hi_D at When The Heart Grow Cold-Day 3
3. 'Making mistakes is not a sin but ignoring it and making excuses are.' ~ Sui generis Writer at Mistake Is Not A Sin-Day 4
4. The person I am today is definitely a product of one who decided to "make lemonade of out lemons". ~ Princess Fiona at What Doesn't Break Us, Makes Us-Day 5

'Life is not a bed of roses, but if you really work hard at it, it can be moonshine and roses with some thorns in between.' ~ Berlina

I've been always listening to this song a week from now:



We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I and Ed is wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year! ~ Long Live SB Community...

Lyrics Source: lyricshall.com
Image Credit: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/31/2011 09:01:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures

What Doesn't Break Us, Makes Us - Day 5

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Oh well, before The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity ends, we will put more emphasis why the so-called hardship eventually makes us even stronger!

They say "what doesn't break us, makes us" and I feel that I am living proof of this wonderful quotation. I have been given more than my fair share of hardships throughout my entire life. Ones that would have most likely made the average hearts grow cold. Instead I decided to make my heart warmer in spite of them.

The person I am today is definitely a product of one who decided to "make lemonade of out lemons". ~ Princess Fiona

Today, one of the experts of this community overwhelmed us with her come back and with a priceless present that will surely change the way we perceive life. Hardships and struggles we always encounter are not meant to stumble us down, they shaped us to become stronger us human beings rather. Would you give up or continue? The decisions lies within us, but if we choose to surrender we will surely miss the purpose and the essence why God decided us to be a part of His wonderful creations!

Life has so much to offer, and that is something that we will tell ourselves we are never wrong to choose to go on, no matter how hard life seemed to be.

My sincere thanks to Princess Fiona who resides and owns the Palace of Passion where Passion is always in Fashion ~ the-princess-passions.com!

Quote Source: BrainyQuote.com
Image Credit: Just2shutter / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/30/2011 09:49:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures

Mistake Is Not a Sin - Day 4

Let's start this day with a question previously asked at When The Heart Grow Cold - Day 3. Answers were generously shared by you which are then the main subject for today. A piece was also written so timely to help us uplift our spirit!

Have you ever had any hardships or bad days that have affected you in the wrong way until now? If so, how did you overcome them?

• Along the way, I face some hardships but I endure it. Whenever I face hardships, I think of it positively and that will be a turning point for me to see the blessings behind it. ~ Balqis
• life has never been kind on me! all my achievements have come at a cost of grit and perseverance... ~ Rohit
• Gain so much lesson on it and it makes me a better and stronger person... ~ Will of Heart
• I've been into many hardship before and until now experiencing hardship, but because I believe that it's part of out [our] journey, I never get tired and stop in doing all the best I could. Because I know that someday everything would be fine... ~ Sagitarrian
• I always say bad days taught me to value good days even more... ~ Saru Singhal
• Hardships are part and parcel of life. However, they have consequences. I believe that hardship either makes us or breaks us. Facing difficulties makes us more confident. On the other hand our inability to bear certain situations can also lead us to wrong path. But to err is human. Making mistakes is not a sin but ignoring it and making excuses are. We have to learn from our mistakes, make amends if possible and try to lead a better life. ~ Sui generis Writer

We are human, we face imperfections, that make us respond to hardships negatively, but as our friend Sui generis Writer had put an emphasis to it, making mistakes is not a sin but ignoring it and making excuses are. It has a big impact on me, sometimes I fail to look at the good side of my flaws, because behind them are lessons worth learning.

Lastly, I am glad to share to a piece that will let us reflect and reckon the days we struggled hard to live.

We all see different colors of life
They are sometimes black sometimes white
But both are wonderful in their light
Because there are no stars without a dark sky.

Life is not lived for just a day
Neither is it a tale of hundreds
Life is just an empty shell
For you to fill in the substance.

The above are part of the uplifting masterpiece written by Sui which you can read here: Stop running away! My gratitude Sui.

digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/29/2011 09:36:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures

When The Heart Grow Cold - Day 3

"Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into." ~ Mohandas Gandhi

Here we go, so far I am so happy for the result of the first and the second day of The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity, and in Do I Know Myself? - Day 2, I've learned a lot from your viewpoints. Today, I want to share to you a mail containing her rich thoughts about the matter.

I’m not so sure that I’m the most inspiring person. If I list down all the bad things that have happened to me, you will be bored with all the drama. But I think sometimes it’s also good to look back on the bad things in our lives and find out how a person who used to be an innocent child grew up and learned to hate, to judge others, to fight back, and to do other sorts of wrong things, big or small.

These situations have affected who we are. At least I know, it has affected who I am, and occasionally the outcome is not so good. I admit that sometimes bad experiences make my heart grow cold. Understanding these circumstances, applying solutions for them, trying to let them go, and also trying to avoid the same effects in future conditions is a lot to do. But I think all it takes is just a little bit of effort for myself and a whole lot of faith, and I’ll get there.

I evaluate myself in that manner. I first look at the roots, where things came from. Hardships are part of being human. That's probably one of the things I need to look at myself. I let bad things affect me in a bad way. So, I'd like to share the same question with you. Have you ever had any hardships or bad days that have affected you in the wrong way until now?

Have you ever had any hardships or bad days that have affected you in the wrong way until now?

I do, I have few, or to be honest I have many hardships that eventually led me to the wrong way. But I learned that life is short and we have to make the best of it, if I would continue to travel in the dark with the unknown direction, then I will have all the reasons to be bitter. I had a recent fight with my brother, but as a younger one, I never step out from his home not to open my heart and ask a sincere apology for what had happened, I had a sleepless night reckoning the incident and I smiled when I know I never had held any hatred inside.

Anyway, I am extending my sincere gratitude to Heide, the Author and Designer of Random Hi_D for her sincere participation of the self-evaluation activity right here at SB!

Quote Source: brainyquote.com
Recommended Reading: Self-Reckoning
Image Credit: Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/28/2011 09:27:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures

Do I Know Myself? - Day 2

I am glad that there are few of you have responded my invitation to be a part of The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity. If you haven't read it yet, please do so at your convenience.

At this point, I am happy to share to you this line, as quoted: "I'm happy to tell that I've learned a lot not just about life, but all about me, yes about who I am." I know most of you knew about her, she is my friend whom I met in the blogosphere few months from now, and because of her kind heart, I treated her like my Sister already. She is Sagitarrian!

Today, she shared by responding at the first day of this activity that she managed to know herself better. Did you manage to do the same? Did I know myself better? Did I have the struggle doing it and so do you?

Let's get some time to ponder my chosen quotes below about finding oneself and living as who we really are:

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself. ~Alan Alda

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. ~George Moore

Sometimes, we try to be someone else, but yet in the end we will return hugging who we really are. We will not be truly happy and contented living like a stranger of our own. My question, do I know myself now? My honest answer is I might have been done solving a part of the entire puzzle, but I still have far to go completing it.

"When a person knows who they are, and clearly understands what they want, then they have a much better chance of discovering how to reach their own success, happiness and personal fulfilment!" - Dale Odeyemi

Sagitarrian's blogs:

• What Matters Most
• Discover It Just Now
• Where It Should Begin

Quotes Source: quotegarden.com

Recommended Reading: The Importance Of Knowing Yourself / Dale Odeyemi

Image Credit: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/27/2011 09:11:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures

The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity

“You control your future, your destiny. What you think about comes about. By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands - your own.” ~ Mark Victor Hansen

Before the end of 2011, I am really excited to conduct a complete audit on myself and I am also inviting you to join the self-evaluation week here at SB.

I've been searching Google and I found many ways on how to do the self-evaluation, but at this point in time, we are going to set our own criteria on how to complete the one-week activity.

We are not all expert about the matter, but we can audit ourselves according to our outlooks and goals in the future, I believe we all have it. Our objectives may vary, but I know we will share the same common things along the way.

I know you are willing to cooperate with me, I am sure this is going to be something worth pondering with.

Let's start this week by asking:

1. What are the things that I need to evaluate on myself and why?

Note: You can also improve the question above, if you think there is something better to start with.

To answer my question, I am more into evaluating myself about the decisions that I made lately. I want to know if I have grown up to be a better person base on major decisions I took in my life. Well, honestly, there were few, and some of then left me regretful. There were few opportunities that knocked my door, but I just wasted it in making haste actions. I was supposed to complete my 4-year course but because of it I lost all the chance. Yet, I don't want to be bitter to myself anymore as I took it a lesson worth learning so I did go on and here I am now.

I give myself a chance to be at my best after my fall! I stood up after I was stumbled in the ground. I able to surpass the challenge of unemployment for most of the undergraduates, and I am so thankful about that. Today, I am more into putting time and effort in making my own steps and decisions in life. It's never been easier to fail after all my hard works so I am more careful this time.

Haste is waste, I proved it to be true. Sometimes the capabilities of our instinct cannot always lead us to a better result, it's always better to allocate time in decision making, specially those that can affect our lifetime.

Now, it's your time, I am confident that you will make this activity successful and helpful to both of us. I am looking forward for your cooperation my friends.

Image Credit: Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Quote Source: QuotesDaddy.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/26/2011 10:28:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures

Love is Like A Bloomed Flower

Love is everywhere
Christmas scents the atmosphere
Like a bloomed flower

SB Community is not a group of one, and I sincerely respect each one of our beliefs and traditions here, and what makes me so thankful is that we are united as one in this Yuletide Season because you are here regardless of our religious background.

We people are imperfect, but there is one thing that will lessen our imperfections, and that is love. The good news is we are all capable of loving... (the main thought or message of this line is credited to the movie that touched my heart - Chocolate!)

And the Haiku I penned tonight is my humble gift to you my dear friends.

Have a great evening to all of you!

Image Credit: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/25/2011 10:20:00 PM in Act of Kindness, Poetry, Time for love