Talking of Which.. Something about HOPE! (first time writing in English… hope or humiliating my self?)

Just find out one of my passions, after my hubby talked a lot about it. He always said that he wants to inspire the world with love. Shout it loud… and make things happen!

Something always tickling my heart when i heard, read, and think about it… Maybe because I meet so many ‘dark’ side, the sadness, and downhearted on my patients… I WANT TO SHOUT HOPE TO THE WORLD!

Hope was personified in Greek mythology as Elpis. When Pandora opened Pandora’s Box, she let out all the evils except one: hope. Apparently, the Greeks considered hope to be as dangerous as all the world’s evils. But without hope to accompany all their troubles, humanity was filled with despair. It was a great relief when Pandora revisited her box and let out hope as well. It may be worthy to note that in the story, hope is represented as weakly leaving the box but is in effect far more potent than any of the major evils.

Its not easy to switch yourself on ‘Hope’ mode. Especially when everything around you seems so dark and unseen. You even can not see yourself. Many times I feel that I can’t stand it anymore. I can’t do it anymore… Many times I temped to yell the word ITS ENOUGH! I won’t do it anymore, I can’t do it anymore. There’s no way I can get through this… There is no hope for this!

Friends… my companion of the journey of life… The good news is: There is hope in the Lord. But sometimes the image of God seems so blur to us. Sometimes (even every time!) we need God with flesh and ‘form’. In my case, He always did. He sent me angels with flesh and ‘form’… through people around me, the books I read, the songs I heard, every email I received, even my dog sent me the message of hope. Hope is everywhere… cause Hope is a believe in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life.

The problem is: we can’t see it. And even though we seen it… maybe we decide NOT to see it! And then sunk again in the comfort ‘pity’ of yourself. Get up every one.. smell the flavour of hope around you… and in every beat of your heart. One of my dreams is to make at least one book publish international, the book that can bring the message of hope to humanity. But with my ’sucks’ English… I can’t see there is hope to make that dream come true. But today… this is my first writing in English. I decide to be embarrassed and taking a step! Because I know… there is hope on myself! Yeaaahhhh…

And maybe your problems now is not about making a book. But the point is the same. What makes you feel desperate right now? What makes you think that you’re not good enough, you can’t do something, you can’t be healed, you’re not worthy on something (or somebody)? And those make you drown deeper and deeper, you can’t even say a word.

Friends, we’re created with an image of God. And that image is perfectness. The devil keep saying to us that negative and pathatic words to us. And that make us think that we can’t do this and that! But that doesn’t change the reality that we are still perfect in Gods eyes. And with the perfectness, we CAN do so many things in life. We CAN be healed, We CAN do our works, We CAN achieve our dreams, We CAN get up from our sins and walk in God’s grace. Not by might, not by power, but by the spirit says the Lord!

As the Greeks considered hope to be as dangerous as all the world’s evils, the evils will do anything to make the hope disappear in our life. Don’t let the evil take away the hope from you!

Ask the strength and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ, Stand for yourself, decide to make your life meaningful, be responsible of your life and spread the hope that you have within to bless other people. Our life is too short to abandoned with despair. Life is too beautiful to be ignored. You CAN get through all with Jesus…YES YOU CAN! THERE ALWAYS BE HOPE IN YOU! The hope and the strength you can't imagine yourselves.

yeaaahhhh… I will end this ‘english’ article now! (*fffyyuuiiiihhhh… *) now I am proud of my self… hahaha…! I finish my first article in English. For you who knew me, you all know how bad my english is! And yes… I am taking a step… don’t care about the grammer, don’t care about anything… (humiliating myself) just spit it out and all the Glory to Him that makes me brave and give me a gut to do this… hehehe… Haleluya!

SAVOR THE COFFEE

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking
at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor,
now retired. During their visit the conversation soon turned into
complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and
returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups-
porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some
expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up,
leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it normal for you to
want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems
and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the
coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even
hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you
consciously went for the best cups.and then you began eyeing each
other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money, and position
in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life.
The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of
Life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we
fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God makes the coffee, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't
have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

(Author Unknown)

Do You Have a Difficult Person in Your Life?

“Lord, help me to bless people today.”

That’s my daily morning prayer… uh, when I’m happy.

And usually, I am.

But once in awhile, I don’t wake up happy.

And usually, it’s because of a difficult person in my life.

That’s when I pray, “Lord, how can I bless this… this… this… creature?”

I’m a very patient person, so this doesn’t happen too often.

But it happens.

Friend, do you have a difficult person in your life?

And do you sometimes want to pray, “Lord, if you will allow it, let a 50,000 megawatt bolt of lightning strike (Name of Difficult Person) right now. Not to kill him, Lord. Just enough to wake him up and give him second degree burns. Just kidding Lord, but with all due respect, what were you thinking when you created this pathological human being? I don’t want to sound offensive, but were you sleeping on the job when you created this creature? He’s a mess. He’s a composite of all the villains of Spiderman put together….”

Do you sometimes wonder if this difficult person heard God in the middle of the night say, “My child, your ultimate mission in life is to be difficult. That’s the entire purpose of your existence. You shall be the thorn in someone’s flesh. Do everything in your power to annoy him. Be irresponsible. Or be demanding. Or be totally negative. Or be selfish. Or be constantly angry. Or be possessive. Or be always depressed. It doesn’t matter. Your objective is to make his life hell on earth.”

Yes, I must admit that I don’t like a few unlovable characters here and there, but generally, I think the Almighty has done a fantastic job inventing human beings.

I also believe that God allows difficult people to come into our lives to give us very special gifts. What could these gifts be?

I’m going to try something new today. Instead of writing down what these gifts are, I’m going to ask YOU to write them on the comments below. Write your thoughts and experiences and share them to the world. Thousands will be reading them. And in my next email next week, I’ll tell you what I think they are…

Cool?

Thank you!

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

After 3 years... and I still crying...

Hari ini ngga sengaja gw nemu DVD yang gw ambil dari rumah nyokap beberapa waktu yang lalu. Krn gambar depannya adalah gambar Andre Boceli, gw pikir itu CD klasik biasa.
Ternyata gw ngga liat tulisan di bawahnya: Credo John Paul II. Gw putarlah sambil masih berpikir itu CD lagu. Dan ternyata itu adalah satu DVD remembering the late John Paul II.
And alhasil... tadinya mau kerja sambil dengerin lagu... yang terjadi malah.. gw beruraian air mata di depan komputer.

3 tahun berlalu dari kepergian my dearest Papa. Gw belum pernah kehilangan seumur hidup gw. Orang tua dan mertua gw masih lengkap, belum ada orang terdekat yang pergi meninggalkan gw untuk selamanya. Dan gw juga bukan tipe orang yang mudah merasa dekat dengan seseorang.
Tapi itu tidak berlaku untuk my forever pope in my heart... The late John Paul II.
Gw masih belum bisa menahan air mata yang keluar bila melihat dia, di manapun itu ditayangkan. His life is a legacy for me. And forever I thank God for his presence in my life. Setiap yang dia lakukan rasanya menyirami hati gw dengan kasih. Senyumnya, lambaian tangannya, setiap kata-kata yang diucapkan penuh passion, dan setiap pengorbanan dan silih yang ia lakukan untuk dunia, mengingatkan gw terus untuk menjadi seseorang yang meninggalkan jejas kasih terutama bagi sesama dan gereja.

Here are some of his quotes... love you (and miss you!) Papa and please pray for me always from above!

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie,
for an excuse is a lie guarded.

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.

Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.

Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.

From now on it is only through a conscious choice and through a deliberate policy that humanity can survive.

Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.

Humanity should question itself, once more, about the absurd and always unfair phenomenon of war, on whose stage of death and pain only remain standing the negotiating table that could and should have prevented it.

I have a sweet tooth for song and music. This is my Polish sin.

I hope to have communion with the people, that is the most important thing.

I kiss the soil as if I placed a kiss on the hands of a mother, for the homeland is our earthly mother. I consider it my duty to be with my compatriots in this sublime and difficult moment.

Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it.

Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church.

Pervading nationalism imposes its dominion on man today in many different forms and with an aggressiveness that spares no one. The challenge that is already with us is the temptation to accept as true freedom what in reality is only a new form of slavery.

Radical changes in world politics leave America with a heightened responsibility to be, for the world, an example of a genuinely free, democratic, just and humane society.

Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.

Social justice cannot be attained by violence. Violence kills what it intends to create.

Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it.

The cemetery of the victims of human cruelty in our century is extended to include yet another vast cemetery, that of the unborn.

The future starts today, not tomorrow.

The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.

The historical experience of socialist countries has sadly demonstrated that collectivism does not do away with alienation but rather increases it, adding to it a lack of basic necessities and economic inefficiency.

The question confronting the Church today is not any longer whether the man in the street can grasp a religious message, but how to employ the communications media so as to let him have the full impact of the Gospel message.

The United Nations organization has proclaimed 1979 as the Year of the Child. Are the children to receive the arms race from us as a necessary inheritance?

The unworthy successor of Peter who desires to benefit from the immeasurable wealth of Christ feels the great need of your assistance, your prayers, your sacrifice, and he most humbly asks this of you.

The vow of celibacy is a matter of keeping one's word to Christ and the Church. a duty and a proof of the priest's inner maturity; it is the expression of his personal dignity.

There are people and nations, Mother, that I would like to say to you by name. I entrust them to you in silence, I entrust them to you in the way that you know best.

To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others.

Today, for the first time in history, a Bishop of Rome sets foot on English soil. This fair land, once a distant outpost of the pagan world, has become, through the preaching of the Gospel, a beloved and gifted portion of Christ's vineyard.

Violence and arms can never resolve the problems of men.

War is a defeat for humanity.

Wars generally do not resolve the problems for which they are fought and therefore... prove ultimately futile.

What we talked about will have to remain a secret between him and me. I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.

When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.

You are our dearly beloved brothers, and in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.

You are priests, not social or political leaders. Let us not be under the illusion that we are serving the Gospel through an exaggerated interest in the wide field of temporal problems.

You will reciprocally promise love, loyalty and matrimonial honesty. We only want for you this day that these words constitute the principle of your entire life and that with the help of divine grace you will observe these solemn vows that today, before God, you formulate.

Young people are threatened... by the evil use of advertising techniques that stimulate the natural inclination to avoid hard work by promising the immediate satisfaction of every desire.

I Still Date My Ex-Girlfriend

Call Me Crazy, But She Still Makes My Heart Go Pumpity-Pump

After ten years of marriage, I’m still crazy for this woman.

Being with her is my little piece of heaven on earth.

Here’s my proof: So far, I’ve had 508 romantic dates with my wife. (Yes, my wife. What were you thinking? She’s my ex-girlfriend, right?) That’s once per week for almost 10 beautiful years.

And I’ve loved every single one of them.

Our date night is sacred.

Unless it’s an invitation from the President of the Republic, I say no to all invitations and meetings. Our marriage is what it is today because of those precious 508 dates.

Call me corny. Call me deluded. Call me in denial.

But I really love being with her.

By the way, did you know my wife has magical powers?

When I’m with her, she drains my stress away. When I’m going through a rough time, all I have to do is share my problems to her, and instantly, I feel so much better. With her, I’m at home. And I rest.

I believe couples need to connect with each other in a deep way, or they will drift apart and look for attachments elsewhere.

Aside from our weekly dates, I grab special times I call “spontaneous moments of connection”.

Spontaneous Moments Of Connection

Yesterday afternoon, I came home ready to dive into my work. The usual stuff I do: articles to write, talks to prepare, meetings to plan…

But when I came home, I saw this lovely woman sitting on the couch all by herself.

I thought to myself, “Work can wait,” and I grabbed this opportunity to sit beside the greatest girl on the galaxy. It wasn’t planned. But we were able to talk and connect our hearts. Even just for a few minutes.

Life offers us these fantastic times of bonding. I’ve learned not to miss them: Being stuck in traffic with her. Or waiting for the dentist. Or lining up in the grocery. These times don’t have to be boring if you hold hands and talk.

How To Have A Great Marriage

One day, a young husband came up to me and said, “Bo, I wish my marriage will be as great as yours ten years from now…”

I only had one word for him: “Don’t wish. Decide.”

In that one line, I gave my secret to success.

That’s what separates great marriages and not-so-great marriages.

That’s what separates successful people from unsuccessful people.

Unsuccessful people wish, want, hope, desire for their dreams.

That’s not enough.

Successful people decide to make their dreams happen. Period.

That means they’ll do whatever it takes.

Nothing will stop them.

Failure is not an option.

Let me ask you: Will you do whatever it takes?

For me as a husband, it means…

o practicing “mental” monogamy

o overlooking her faults

o going out of my way to express my love

o prioritizing our dates

o leading my family to God

Note: Just in case you’re in the delusion that I’m a perfect husband, let me make this record straight. I’m far from it. Just ask my wife!

But the important thing is that I’ve decided to become a great husband. And I make that decision everyday. (I struggle towards this dream everyday!)

I’ve realized that this power of decision works in every other area in life…

How To Be A Success In Anything

I’ve also decided to be a financial success.

No ifs, no buts, no excuses. I’ll do everything it takes.

For me, that means sticking to my core gifts, getting wise mentors, reinventing myself, creating a dream team around me, and focusing on loving my customers.

I’ve also decided to be a spiritual person.

That means opening myself to God’s love, walking with integrity, and pursuing my ultimate mission of loving others.

I’ve also decided to be a healthy person.

That means going to the gym daily, eating veggies and fruits, taking supplements, and living with balance.

Don’t Wish. Decide.

“But Bo, I’ve already decided to be a success! But I guess my decision wasn’t strong enough…”

Then that means you haven’t really decided yet.

You’ve just wished.

If you remain in the level of wish, nothing happens.

You must go to the level of decision.

I’m reminded of this Chinese General who invaded an island. Upon landing on the shore, he asked his soldiers to burn their own boats. Obviously, they were shocked. When asked why would they do this insane act of burning their own boats, he said, “We’ll leave this island either as Victors or as dead men. Escape is not an option.”

That’s a decision.

And that’s the kind of decision that will make you succeed in anything.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

Dr. Nathanson Shares Conversion Story

Dr. Nathanson Conversion Story

---

FRONT ROYAL — When the founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) converts to Roman Catholicism and dedicates his life to the pro-life cause, heads turn.

Dr. Bernard Nathanson recently told a group at Christendom College in Front Royal the story which led to his reception into the Church by Cardinal John O’Connor of New York on Dec. 9, 1996.

Nathanson spoke of his role as a pioneer in the abortion industry, his diligence in its promotion and his retreat from the business as he realized its fundamental immorality.

Nathanson was born into a Jewish family, but was never serious about his faith and dubbed himself a "Jewish Atheist." While studying at McGill Medical School in Montreal in the 1950s, he became aware of the "injustice" to women in the lack of availability of legal abortion. Thus his career as an abortion advocate began.

He returned to his native New York and worked solely to advance the cause of abortion with the goal of legalizing the procedure. The result of his non-stop efforts was the establishment of NARAL in 1967.

Nathanson, dubbed the "abortion king" by friends, soon opened clinics which solely performed abortions. However, after only a few years in this atmosphere, he resigned from the clinic in order to pursue other duties. He had not changed his mind about abortion but while away from it he began to look at the reality of the situation.

In the mid-70s, in the dawn of what he called the "secular epiphany," Nathanson began to carefully examine what he saw in ultrasounds and sonograms. He demanded that he and his colleagues address the ethical and moral questions involved in abortion, which had never been done.

By 1977, Nathanson had answered his own questions. "My views had crystallized and it was clear that abortion was ethically and morally unacceptable," he said.

In the early 80s, after much reflection on his life, Nathanson was ready to speak for the pro-life cause. He produced and distributed the film "Silent Scream" which showed a videotaped abortion procedure. However, his dramatic presentations were inspired not by religious beliefs but by the scientific evidence which undoubtedly proved the presence of a human being in the womb.

His pro-life work was good, but it was not enough — it did not take away the guilt he felt. In 1993, Nathanson found the spiritual inspiration he was lacking. He realized that he needed forgiveness which he had never sought since leaving the abortion industry and he did not know if it was possible for him to find such mercy. Nathanson knew that he could not face eternal judgment without finding forgiveness and so he turned to a priest friend who gradually helped him to see that the forgiveness and love he needed could only be found in the Church.

He met a new found solace in the words of Christ on the Cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

His conversion process involved much reading, which he quoted familiarly to the Christendom audience. Especially beloved was the book Pillar of Fire written by Karl Stern, who has been Nathanson’s professor at McGill.

Nathanson himself recently wrote a book about his conversion experience entitled The Hand of God. It was published just prior to his acceptance into the Catholic Church.

Nathanson had always cherished Stern’s teaching and friendship, not knowing that Stern himself was going through the process of converting from Judaism to Catholicism while Nathanson was his student. Stern’s book about his own conversion was a great comfort and inspiration to Nathanson.

Although he placed a lot of emphasis on the role of spiritual reading in his conversion, Nathanson stressed that "none of the great things of life spring from the intellect — they spring from the heart."

Ultimately, Nathanson’s heart led him to the Church, which offers forgiveness and rest to all who are searching for it.

Noah: Baby Hall of Fame

Noah

Name: Noah Michael Shrader

DOB: October 18, 1999

Weight: 6 lb. 7 oz.

On June 3rd 1999 we were told through ultrasound that our son Noah Michael had a rare brain disorder. Numerous doctors told us that our son would never make it through birth and that if he did he would die very soon afterwards. Some doctors told us that abortion was the best option or all involved including the child. Once we told the doctor that we did not believe in abortion they were very distant in the the visits my wife and I made to their offices. One doctor told us that our son had a condition that was not compatible with life and aborting him would save him lots of pain. Our son was born October 18th full term crying his head off. While he had problems he survived for 10 months. We just buried him on August 23, 2000 and must say that my son's life was a joyful experience that many people would have missed out on if we had aborted him. He touched many people in his life time and will be remembered for years to come by lots of people.

Abortion Survivor: Heidi Huffman

Left: Tina Huffman Torry, mother of Heidi.

My mom had an abortion at age seventeen. A couple of weeks later, when her physician examined her, he told her she was still pregnant.

I was born, and today my mom and I tell the world of our story and our love for life. We want to call people away from the darkness of abortion and into the light of God's truth. We have also prayed and demonstrated in front of abortion facilities, and have spoken across the country at churches, crisis pregnancy centers, and universities.

We have also come to know Priests for Life-- I recently told Father Pavone that God has called all of us to save unborn life.

I believe that all young people are survivors of abortion, just like I am, because they too could have been killed under the current policy of our government, which declared us "non-persons" when we were in the womb.

I would like to share something with priests and pastors: Some pastors fear their congregation more than they fear God. Please mention abortion and get a pro-life organization started in your church!

To you pastors who do preach on abortion, I congratulate and I thank you! There might even be some of my friends who are around today because you spoke up for the unborn children years ago.

Note: Heidi is married to Steven Smith. As of the Spring of 2002, she has 2 children and is 24 years old. She's doing what she loves -- Having children and raising them. Tina's book about this marvelous story is called "Short of a Miracle." For information, visit www.ambassadorarabians.com You may also contact Tina directly by writing her at PO Box 1343, Easley, SC, 29641.

From Heart Sinking to Heart Singing

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes you have to stop and listen to that voice deep inside telling you something very important. Is it telling you what you yearn for, or you wish you hadn’t given up on?
Can you hear what it says above the roar of your day to day cacophony? Would you like to open your heart to living a life you really want?
Which door did you close when you opened the one to became a doctor? What would you find if you opened it again?
Is your life too routine, too busy and too stressful?
Are you engulfed in the day to day overwhelm of general practice? If you continue along the same path what will you regret if or when you reach the age of ninety five?
Have you forgotten what it’s like to have fun, to have laugh?

You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. - Michael Pritchard

Do you want to do something wild and wonderful? Is your answer a ‘don’t be so silly’ or ‘what would people think of me’? Would you love to revisit hobbies, play music, sing, walk, jog, paint, write, dance or photograph or whatever, but believe you don’t have the time?
Are you scared to get that almost forgotten buzz again from doing something really exciting? How about trusting your instinct, your inner voice, which urges you to give something a try? You may say ‘….what if I fail?….what if they think I’m crazy…? Have you tried reassuring yourself with a ‘never mind that…at least I had a go!’
Whose life are you living? Are you sure? Who sets the agenda you follow? How can you change?

1. Daydream

To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act. - Anatole France (1844 - 1924)
Close your eyes. Imagine being at one with the universe, at ease, happy, fulfilled, relaxed. Who are you? What are you doing? Where are you? How do you feel? What’s different?

2. Listen.

What gives you, an extra-ordinary sense of excitement, a buzz, an awareness of ‘this is what life is about’? That you need more of, again?
To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter ... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. - John Burroughs

3. Believe.

Has your life as a doctor tended to have suppressed your natural creativity? Is it the right time now to allow your imagination to run free? What beliefs about yourself or the ‘system’ stop you having a fabulous life? Are you scared of what others might say or think? Is that the way you want to live? You can’t predict how the other person will react if you behave differently. They, like you, have a choice. You may even be their inspiration if you start to ‘walk your talk.’ If you actually do what you’ve been thinking or talking about for ages.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.- Norman Vincent Peale

4. Do it your way

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.- Joseph Chilton Pearce
Has the time come to put yourself first for a change? To ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’? Is now your opportunity to have what you want in your life?

5. Get out of your rut

Find a rope to haul yourself out of your hole, and seek whatever support and encouragement you need to change your life.
It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not. - James Gordon, M.D.

6. Keep going

Your decision and enthusiasm to make a change will give you some momentum. Decide your goal. Be pro-active. Work out the steps to get there and you’ll be well on the way. Keep going and you will get to where you want to go.

7. Hold on

Julia Cameron recommends two wonderful ‘tools’ to keep you on track. She recommends ‘Morning pages,’ which are ‘flow of consciousness’ writing about what’s happening and your reaction to the changes you’re making. Secondly, arrange to take yourself on an ‘Artist’s date’ each week. Make a commitment to do something, on your own just for you. This could be, for example, an outing, a walk, or sitting quietly in the garden.

8. Take action

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Confucius
If you really want more joy and happiness then truly believe in yourself and know that you have the power to create the life you want. Stop waiting for others to do things differently. You can change your life yourself . But you have to do something. You have to take the first step, however small.
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. - Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987)

9. Keep going

Do I hear you murmuring ‘been there, done that, started a load of projects but can’t stick at anything’? What can keep you going? Will you use your diary, a computer programme, charts to tick? Who can be there for you? Someone who will encourage you to do what you want and give you positive encouragement? Your partner, friend, relation, mentor or coach? Someone to travel along this bit of your life’s journey with you for a while?
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. - Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

10. Celebrate

What will you do when you are on the top of your world?
I celebrate myself, and sing myself. - Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 1855

Susan E. Kersley, Life Coach, Retired Doctor

Still A Privilege to be A Doctor

Seseorang (ngga tahu siapa) menulis tulisan di bawah ini tentang pekerjaannya (atau statusnya) sebagai dokter... Emang bener... it is a privilage to be a doctor...!

Though not immune to the hassles and hardships of practice, this physician
tells why he experiences the joy of medicine.
Twenty years ago, when I was barely out of medical school, I attended a
conference and found myself seated at a table with far more experienced
physicians. As usual when seasoned doctors converge, the complaining-

about
managed care, malpractice, unfair reimbursement, lack of respect-quickly
began.
I kept quiet, until an older doctor turned to me and asked what I thought.
What I wanted to say was: "What a great job we have! We help people, we make
a difference, and we make a fine living." Not wanting to sound like a
Pollyanna, I simply replied, "I think the positive aspects of being a doctor
outweigh everything else." But even this response brought stares of disdain.
Okay, I thought to myself, there are real challenges. But even so, these
guys could use an attitude adjustment-and an "injection of wonder."
Much more than mundane
Since then, I've remembered that phrase. It's become an approach that's
helped me throughout my professional career.
As a doctor, I've experienced life's extremes. I've felt life enter the
world in my hands as a child was born, and felt life leave the world under
my hands while performing CPR on a patient who didn't make it. But, like
most doctors, my day-to-day routines are not so dramatic. In my pediatric
practice, most of my time is spent on mundane problems-kids' colds, worried
parents, ear infections, strep throat. Same old, same old.
But wait. Everyday routines can hide everyday wonders.
Ashley's in Room 3, with a positive rapid strep. It doesn't get more
commonplace than that. Then, with a sense of wonder, I remember: A century
ago, rheumatic fever complications from strep were the No. 1 cause of death
in school-age children. Now, we hardly see rheumatic fever in this country;
a few generations ago, Ashley may have been one of the victims. As I write
out yet another prescription for amoxicillin, I think maybe I just saved a
life.
Bobby's in Room 6. Routine immunizations, which I've already given 20 times
today. Then, a quick thought: During the first half of the 20th century,
polio killed tens of thousands of people, and crippled tens of thousands
more. Since the development of polio vaccines like the one I'm about to
administer, polio has been eradicated from this country and is close to
elimination in the rest of the world.
When I pause and really think about what our profession has accomplished,
the sense of wonder rushes in. Since the mid-1800s, life expectancy in much
of the world has doubled. It's as if modern medicine and public health have
given each of us a second lifetime. Who among us doesn't have a relative who
was saved by modern science-heart bypass surgery, perhaps, breast cancer
treatment, or a C-section? My role may be small, but it still feels good to
be a part of such a positive change.
No matter what your specialty, the same approach can be applied. Removing a
mole isn't just a minor procedure-it can be a life-saver. That
antidepressant order isn't just a simple script, it's a contribution to
human happiness. An insulin dose adjustment may seem like nothing much, but
more than 15 million people living with diabetes would have died at an
earlier age were it not for insulin.
Granted, it's not always easy to think this way, especially when results are
slow and I'm striving, as most physicians are, to run a business and deal
with a litany of practice management problems. It helps me to remember that
it's not just the success of my practice or my day-to-day efficiency, but my
patients' health that's at stake. And wonder-a sense that's reawakened by
stepping back and taking a second or two now and again to look at the big
picture-helps to balance my perspective.
At the end of that lunch so many years ago, one of the skeptics said to me,
"We'll see what you say in 20 years."
Hard to believe, but it's been almost 20 years, and I still feel the same
way. Being a doctor can be a hassle. But it's still a joy and a privilege.
[ME]

A Woman for All Vocations

by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Can a woman like me aspire to emulate such an amazing woman—the Virgin Mother of God, the first disciple, the matriarch of the Holy Family, and the Mother of the Church? Recalling instances in Mary’s life, we call to mind her gentleness, humility, holiness, perseverance, selflessness, and unwavering faith.

I ask myself this because I know I will never accomplish what our Blessed Mother has, or even come close to her holiness. Yet all women are called to holiness—whether in the sublime role of raising children, as a wife, as a single woman, or as a woman religious. And Mary demonstrates attributes and virtues that all women can emulate, whatever their vocation.

Mary’s deep faith was the foundation of her great holiness. Even though Mary was the Mother of God, we should remember that Mary was human like us and prayed to be unwavering in her faith, just as we also are called to do. Mary’s faith is the same gift available to us. We can ask Mary to be a mother to us and guide us closer to her Son, Jesus.

A Faithful Heart
Wanting to imitate Mary’s virtues, we may try to figure out what made her tick. Images from our Catholic tradition and Scripture may come to mind. We may be reminded of Mary as a faithful Jewish girl praying with her people in Palestine for the coming of the Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s promises. Mary was familiar with Isaiah’s words that a virgin would conceive and bear a child called Immanuel—“God with us”—but never imagined that she would be that virgin.

At times, we find ourselves in situations requiring faith in God, but our humanness causes us to feel inadequate or to fear that we are not faithful enough. When I hemorrhaged at 10 weeks pregnant with my fifth child, I was required to have faith that God’s holy will would be fulfilled, whatever it would be.

My doctor told me that I was miscarrying and conducted an ultrasound to check on the baby. When the ultrasound revealed a tiny baby with a beating heart, I was ordered to stay on complete bed rest and just wait. The doctor added that he wished the miscarriage would hurry up, saving me from further anguish.

I shuddered at his words and chose to hope instead. I rested and waited and never stopped praying. My four children bustled around me as I did my best to stay still and have faith in whatever it was that God had planned for us. I knew Bl. Teresa of Calcutta at the time, and she instructed me to call upon the Blessed Mother and to wear a Miraculous Medal that she had given me. She reminded me to trust in Our Lord, stay close to Mary, and pray, “Mary, Mother of Jesus, be a mother to me now.”

Our prayers were heard, and after a long nine months Mary-Catherine was born! In retrospect, I can understand why Our Lord may have given me another reason to pause during that pregnancy: While I was kept still, I was inspired to write about motherhood. These reflections have since been published. As a busy mother with four children and another on the way, I might never have had a spare moment to sit down to write! Our Lord knew what He was doing.

Humble Generosity and Courage
We know that when the angel Gabriel visited Mary with the announcement that she would become Jesus’ mother (Lk. 1:26–39), the humble teenager found it difficult to believe that it was she, a simple girl, who was chosen by God. Taking the blessing to heart, Mary responded with her courageous “yes” to God.

Shortly afterward, her generous heart sent her on a journey into the hill country, pregnant and “in haste,” to help her cousin Elizabeth, who was much older and also expecting a child (Lk. 1:39). Mary surely prayed and reflected throughout her journey, while the blessedness of Jesus dwelled within her. After Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb upon Mary’s arrival, the two women embraced. Elizabeth praised Mary for her great faith, and Mary humbly responded with the words of the Magnificat, glorifying God’s holiness, justice, and mercy, and foretelling that all generations would call her blessed because of the great things the Lord had done in her (Lk. 1:46–55).

When we question our own ability to courageously answer God with our “yes” when He bids us to follow Him, we must remember that, as women, we are also blessed with generous and courageous hearts like Mary’s. Graces are available to us to be courageous and to respond with love in all situations within our vocations. Throughout our daily lives, we are presented with many opportunities to put our own needs aside and go “in haste” to help—to help our children, our spouses, our parents, our neighbors, our coworkers, or whomever God has put into our lives.

The Simplicity of Love
Mary was led on a donkey by her beloved husband, Joseph, in search of a place to give birth and faced only rejection by the innkeepers. Soon afterward, Jesus’ infant cries were comforted at His mother’s breast in a stable. Our King and Savior was born into poverty, resting in a wooden manger of hay—hardly what is expected for a King’s birth! Angels sent simple shepherds to Mary and Joseph to see their holy baby. Mary “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19).

When we women face rejection in one form or another, we can pray for the graces we need to continue on, just as Mary did at the inns and later, when she felt the sting of the rejection of her Son by the very people He helped.We can imagine Mary throughout the hidden years, teaching Jesus on her knee in the warmth of their humble home. As Jesus grew, Mary surely encouraged her Son to help Joseph in his carpentry. Mary’s faith deepened in the cenacle of prayer that she fostered in the heart of her home.

Mothers, too, live through hidden years, raising their families and trying to remain simple. Especially when children are young, mothers may find themselves housebound with the care of the family, children’s illness, or infants too small to go out. Mothers can make their home a “domestic Church,” as Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have spoken of, by praying within the home, teaching the children, and thanking God for the blessedness of their families and the opportunities to care for them.

“Do whatever he tells you”
At the start of Jesus’ public ministry, sympathetic that a bride and groom were without wine, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They have no wine.” While Jesus appeared reluctant to perform His first miracle, saying that His hour had not yet come, Mary confidently told the wine stewards to “do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:2–11). Mary’s initiative, intercession, and obedience ultimately nudged on her Son. Thus, the power of a mother’s love brought about Jesus’ first public miracle.

Women, as mothers, have within reach the tremendous power of prayer. A mother has the ability to influence her children for better or for worse. A faithful mother’s prayers will always be heard by God. In their intercessory role, faithful mothers are forever praying for the welfare of their children, both for those living at home and for those who are grown and may have strayed away from the Church. A mother’s prayers can be just as efficacious as those of our Blessed Mother and have the power to work miracles in human hearts.

The Heart of the Home
Women can learn from Mary as one who listened to God and allowed the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide her. She gave herself completely to the will of the Father. We learn from Mary that a mother’s prayer is powerful. When we are asked to endure suffering or pain within our vocation, we can turn our thoughts to Mother Mary, who was no stranger to suffering, and ask her assistance and intercession.

When it is difficult to trust in God, we women can meditate on Mary’s faithful trust in Our Lord, drawing strength from her as we pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. When those of us who are mothers experience the deep joy within our role, we can feel an affinity with someone who has also experienced this deep joy in mothering Jesus.

Mary’s marvelous “yes” to God changed the entire world for all eternity. May all faithful women also courageously answer Our Lord, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” as they strive to live holy lives and raise their families in a cenacle of prayer fostered in their homes, pondering it all deep within their own hearts and setting an example for all women.

A Promise to Myself

Love Yourself

Love Yourself —
Or You Won’t Be Able to Love Anyone ElseYou Cannot Give What You Don’t Have
by Bo Sanchez

I’ve got a confession to make.
As a young Christian, I used to believe that we shouldn’t love ourselves.
To me, loving myself was another word for selfishness.And I have an embarrassing experience to prove it. One day, as a 14-year-old kid, I went to confession and said, “Father, I play the guitar for our prayer meeting, but I sometimes feel proud whenever I play the guitar — because I know I play well.”The white-haired priest chuckled, patted me on the shoulder, and said, “Son, a part of that feeling of yours is good, wholesome pride.
That’s important in life. So go ahead and play your guitar, feel good while you play it, and have a sense of pride doing so. Love yourself, son.”I nodded my head but told myself that I would never go to this priest again.
Obviously, this priest was less spiritually than I was. So he couldn’t understand me — the way some spiritual directors misunderstood mystics. He was not in my league. I belonged to the likes of St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.Twenty-five years later, I laugh at my arrogance.Today, I’ve grown older — and humbler. (I hope. Because someone told me that if you say you’re humble, you’re not. Gosh.)

I now feel very strongly about this truth: That I cannot love anyone else — not even God — if I don’t love myself. Why? Because I cannot give what I don’t have.

ON PROUD PEOPLE
In fact, I've met very few really proud people in my lifetime.Because most of what we call "proud" people are just the exact opposite: They're very insecure people who're so desperate to prove themselves. They brag of their achievements, they boast of their wealth and they act really bossy.But deep within, they're desperate for someone to love them. Because they don't love themselves.

ON HYPERCRITICAL PEOPLE
Have you met a hypercritical person?I've met a few of them. They love to tear others down.Somehow, they feel they have received a Divine Appointment to tell the world how rotten everyone is. So they'll criticize this person and that person — and you almost feel that he really enjoys throwing rubbish at everyone.Are these people proud?On the contrary, I’ve discovered that these self-appointed critics hate themselves.Subconsciously, they simply project themselves onto others — so they like taking shots at everybody.I repeat my thesis: When you don’t love yourself, you’ll have a difficult time loving others.

LOOK AT HOW YOU VIEW OTHERS
Here’s a clue as to how you view yourself: Check how you view others. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.— Cherie Carter-Scott, Ph.D Your reactions to others say more about you than they do about others.Because every human being you meet is a mirror.
Do you know that upon meeting a total stranger, you form an impression of that person in the first four minutes of your encounter? You decide in the first four minutes what you like or don’t like. These decisions will be based on facial features, tone of voice, cologne scent and your own past experiences.Your reactions to other people are really just barometers for how you perceive yourself.If you accept that, then every human encounter becomes a gift from God for you to learn about yourself. What you see in others is only a projection of yourself. So learn! What irritates you in that person? Their pride? Their rigidity? Their selfishness? Look deep inside, and you will find the same things in a slightly different form or shape.
Every time someone irritates you, or angers you, or hurts you, ask: What gift is being given to me? This person is a mirror. What is he teaching me about me? One day, I was in a meeting with a man whom I perceived to be disorganized.He didn’t come prepared for our meeting, and there was no forward planning involved, and it was as though nothing much was going to happen.As I continued to judge him, I hit the pause button and searched deep inside: Did I hate my own disorganization? And the answer was a very loud YES!So this irritation I was feeling wasn’t about this man.

It was about me — I didn’t like the part of me that was disorganized.Just being aware of these dynamics will help.Let me now try to clarify what it means to love yourself.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE TREATED BY OTHERS?

One day, I was speaking to a group of women.I asked them, “How do you want your husbands to treat you?”Their answers were candid. I wrote them on the board…
• “I want him to be patient with me when I make mistakes.”
• “He should be thoughtful of my needs.”
• “I would like him to give me rest when he sees that I’m tired.”
• “Yes, he should treat me out for a mother’s day off!”
After a barrage of answers like these, I turned the tables around and asked, “Now tell me, my dear women, do you treat yourself in these ways?”Their faces went blank. Finally, one woman asked, “What do you mean?”“
First, are you patient with yourself when you make mistakes? Or do you endlessly criticize yourself, replaying inyour mind your failure again and again? How many of you are your harshest critic?”I saw a raise of hands.“
Second, are you thoughtful of your own needs? Do you actually know what you need? Or are you always subsuming all your needs for the needs of your children — that you no longer know what you need?”Some women were already holding hankies over their faces.“
Third, do you give yourself rest? Or do you feel guilty when you take a break, feeling as though your own mother were there beside you, telling you to get up and do something?”Many of them nodded.“
Fourth, do you give yourself a mother’s day off? Do you actually write it on your calendar and announce to the family that you’ll take it?”I continued,“Mothers are known for recklessly not loving themselves. They act like they’re superheroes, and worse, martyrs. They’ll work and work and work until they feel depressed and die. But mothers, remember that if you don’t value yourself, you’re teaching your kids not to value themselves as well.”Here’s our problem: We like others to treat us well.But do we treat ourselves well?Many of us don’t.

Let me just share with you a few ways of loving yourself…
1. BELIEVE IN YOUR WORTH

Why do people perform poorly in their finances? Why do people have pathetic, lifeless, boring marriages? Why do people fail in their spiritual life?Why do people have relationship problems?I’ll tell you why. In the past 25 years of helping people, I’ve realized that most of our problems come from one thing.Here it is: We don’t think highly of ourselves.It gets complicated after that.Here’s our problem: We like others to treat us well. But do wetreat ourselves well?Many of us don’t.But that’s the basic problem. Perhaps as little children (or even as babies growing in the womb of our mothers), we received messages from the ultimate authorities of our lives that we’re bad and stupid and failures and unworthy of love.That could have been done verbally.That could have been done through actions — such as when parents abandoned us or if we have been physically abused.These negative messages are powerful, and we carry these beliefs for the rest of our lives.

2. CHANGE YOUR LABELS

I’ve met husbands who have invisible labels hanging from their necks that say, “I’m a lousy husband.”I’ve met wives who carry invisible placards everywhere they go that say, “I’m a terrible mother.”I’ve met hoards and hoards of people who unconsciously hold up a sign that says, “I’m poor and I’ll always be poor no matter what I’ll do.”Gosh. It’s frustrating helping people like these.Because we become the labels we unconsciously carry in our hearts.Unless they themselves change their labels, no great change will happen in their lives.Here’s the truth — and I hope you make them your labels: You’re not perfect — but you’re perfectly loved by God. You’re not complete — but you’re completely loved by God. You’re not whole — but you’re wholly loved by God. And God has made you perfectly, completely, wholly lovable.Here’s my principle: If you want to be successful in life, you’ve got to love yourself the way God loves you.You’ve got to reprogram your negative beliefs about yourself, and replace them with new ones: That you are child of God, that you can do great things, that you are special and wonderful and beautiful…

3. TAKE CARE OF EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE

Respect your body.People who eat unhealthy stuff, who smoke, who drink need to look deep within themselves and ask, “Do I love my body or do I dislike it?”Feed your mind with only the best!People who watch end- less TV every day aren’t loving themselves. People who don’t take time to grow in their intellect through reading and reflection aren’t loving themselves.Nourish your soul.People who don’t prioritize daily prayer, reading Scripture, and partaking of the Sacraments — because they don’t have the time — aren’t loving themselves.Can I make a suggestion? Write a list of 100 ways of loving yourself.
Call it “Love Me” activities. Stuff that will refresh you, bless you, nurture you.

I’ll give you some items in my list…
Watch the sunset
Read a good book
Take a long walk
Have an “alone time” every week
Have a massage
Listen to your favorite music
Have pizza with a friend
Eat fruits for breakfast
Have a salad every meal
Pray every morning
Kiss my wife seven times a day
Play with my sons daily And when you start valuing yourself, you’ll begin to realize that it’ll be easier to value others around you.Deep within you is a love tank.You won’t be able to give love if your love tank is empty. Fill up your love tank with love, and then you have something to give. Because you cannot give what you don’t have.

KBo’s Action Steps:
1. Do you love yourself? Do you feel yourself worth while? Do you accept yourself for who you are, weaknesses and all? Do you nurture yourself and take care of yourself?
2. List down “Love-Me Activities,” things that you enjoy and have always wanted to do to nurture and care for yourself.

God bless you, my dear friends...

"At The Exact Time I Was Complaining, God Was At Work"

Let me tell you a fascinating story.
Lizette shared this beautiful story to me this morning and I just knew in my heart that I had to share it to you.
Nick and Lizette are my great friends. Lizette is helping me in Catholic Filipino Academy, where we help parents teach their kids at home.
Her husband Nick got a job offer in Canada and has applied for a work permit. (Yes, in a few months, I’ll be losing Lizette from my team as she’ll be joining her husband in Toronto.) This is what happened.

Nick went through the required medical exams for his work permit. After a few days, the doctor called up to tell him that he discovered a mass in Nick’s x-rays. Very much alarmed, he asked Nick to go through a CT scan. “It could be a possible aortic aneurysm which would require immediate surgery,” the doctor told him.
Nick however wasn’t disturbed. “Doc, that mass that you saw may just be my 3rd kidney.” It was a harmless condition his doctor in Manila discovered many years ago. He learned that it occurs to one in two million people.
Still, the doctor asked him to go through a CT scan.
But here was Nick’s problem: The CT scan costs $1,100. Being in Canada without a work permit yet, he was basically broke.
And when Lizette heard the news, she was totally distraught. She complained to God. “Lord, why are you doing this to us? How are we going to pay for this?” she cried out to God in despair.
But at the exact time she was complaining, God was orchestrating His beautiful work.

At that time, Nick was attending a Men’s Retreat in Canada.
With him were thirty-two men, leaders from five different prayer groups of migrant Canadians of mixed nationalities—Latinos, Indians and Filipinos.
Deep inside, Nick felt a nudge from God, telling him, “My son, share your problem to your small group leader”.
Obviously, Nick was feeling ashamed because the last thing he wanted to do was to be a burden to people he hardly knew. He also feared rejection and embarrassment. Again he felt the Lord saying, “Trust these men…they are sons of mine. They will care for you.” Unsure if it was the Lord who was speaking, he kept his problem to himself while asking the Lord to give him a sign.

But after one of the sessions, the audience was broken up into small groups. And the “small group discussion starter” flashed on the screen floored Nick completely. It said, “If you need $1000, who are your friends who would help you?”
The words hit Nick like a bolt of lighting from Heaven. Yes, God wanted him to share! At that point, Nick began to cry as he felt God was his “small group leader” telling him, “Don’t worry, I will take care of your needs.”
So Nick shared his story to his small group of guys. And immediately, the small group leader told him, “Share it to the whole group.” Again, he felt so ashamed, but the leader insisted, and so he shared.
The response was spontaneous. A basket was passed and the men dropped in $10, $20, $50… One man gave $200. And one group of men gave $750.
On that day, $1,500 was collected for Nick, much more than what he needed.
Nick was so overwhelmed by the love of the men around him. And by the love of God through them.
God used Nick’s problem to turn 32 strangers into brothers that are sincerely willing to love and help each other.
One man in that group even told Nick, “In case the doctor finds out you need surgery, please tell me. I’m a banker. I’ll guarantee your loan.”
Back home in Manila, his wife Lizette heard the good news, and began to cry again. This time, tears of joy… and shame. “Bo, I was so ashamed,” she told me, “Because at the precise moment that I was complaining, God was already meeting our needs.”

Today, Nick already had his CT scan, and true enough, the questionable mass was his third kidney. As I write this piece, his medical results are now being processed at the immigration office and very soon, Nick will receive his work permit.
I know Nick and his abilities. Aside from an IT job already waiting for him, he’s also forming a medical tourism business. I know Nick will prosper in no time.
But the humbling experience of being on the “receiving” end will forever be etched in his heart. And very soon, Nick will find himself in the “giving” end also, helping those who will be in the same situation he was in.
I know. Many years ago, when I was poorer than a rat, I remember receiving money from generous people. “Here’s for your transpo,” someone would slip P100 in my pocket. Another person would shake my hand with an envelope, saying, “This isn’t for your ministry, Bo. This is for you—for whatever you need.” I open the envelope and see P10,000. I still cry as I remember these stories of love.

Today, God has blessed me with “sidelines” that provide for my personal needs. And yes, I’m on the “giving” end of the stick now. And what joy it is to share blessings.
I told Lizette that God doesn’t mind our complaining. There’s nothing to be ashamed about.
He loves us, all of us—with our tears, our worries, and our doubts included.
And all our imperfections won’t stop Him from blessing us.

Behind the scenes, He orchestrates His beautiful work in us.

I remain your friend,

Bo Sanchez

We Don’t Send Our Kids To School

It’s One Of The Best Decisions We’ve Ever Made

We know. We’re nuts.

We don’t send our kids to school.

Let me tell you why.

When our baby was growing up, we watched how everyone did the schooling thing—and we didn’t like it.

This is what we saw:

Early morning, parents send off the kids to school while they both go to work. It’s rush, rush, rush. At 7am, everyone is out of the house, plowing through morning traffic.

At around 7 in the evening (if there’s no overtime), these exhausted parents arrive home like dried prunes. They have dinner with the kids but have no energy to talk to each other—so they put on the TV and watch telenovelas together. After dinner, Mommy helps Junior with homework.

Let’s say today, the kid’s got homework in Math, English, and Filipino. In Filipino, Junior’s project is to put the photos of 12 National Filipino Heroes on a cartolina. Because it’s already 10pm, Junior is now asleep. So Mommy is cutting photos of the heroes from old magazines, and Daddy is pasting them on the cartolina. The day ends at midnight. Another long day awaits…

We Wanted Another Kind Of Family Life

We asked ourselves. Is this the lifestyle we really want? Or do we want something else for our kids and our family?

We decided to do something radical: We won’t send our kids to school. Instead, we’ll teach them ourselves.

Result? We’ve been doing it for four years now and my son Bene is in 3rd Grade.

That means my wife and I are his teachers, our home is his classroom, our kitchen is his canteen, and our street is his school yard.

Poor kid, right? People tell me he’s missing a lot because we homeschool him.

Hey, I agree.

What My Son Is Missing

Let me give you a partial list of what he’s missing.

· He doesn’t have to wake up at 6:00am everyday to catch the school bus. He doesn’t have to experience being dressed-up and “toothbrushed” by his mother while asleep so he won’t be late for school. He doesn’t have to wolf down his breakfast while rushing out.

· He doesn’t have to ride a school bus. (Ow, shucks.) He doesn’t have to wade through traffic twice a day.

· He doesn’t have to fight with forty kids for the attention of a teacher.

· He doesn’t have to waste a lot of time waiting in school. (Which I feel consumes 30% of school time each day.) He doesn’t have to wait for everyone to line-up for the National Anthem. He doesn’t have to wait for everyone to quiet down before the teacher starts teaching. He doesn’t have to wait for the teacher to explain the lesson a second for those who weren’t listening…

· He doesn’t have to eat sugary snacks in the school canteen.

· He doesn’t get bullied. No jeers. No barbs. No meanness.

· He doesn’t have peer pressure to buy the latest rubber shoe, the newest cell phone, the coolest shirt. He doesn’t have to compare his daily allowance with his classmates.

· He doesn’t have homework when he arrives from school. Nada. None. Zilcho. Zero. He doesn’t have school projects that mommies end up doing anyway.

Should I go on?

That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Gosh, my son is missing a lot of things.

Instead, Here’s What My Son Has…

So instead of these things, what does my son have to endure in homeschool? Let me see…

· He wakes up at 8:00am. If the entire family attended a prayer meeting the previous night, he wakes up at 9:00am. No problem.

· He has time to say his morning prayers in bed. He joins his mom reading the Bible together. He then takes a relaxing breakfast with his little brother Francis, reads his books, plays the guitar, and the two of them clown around the house.

· He starts class at 9:00am. Each morning, he sings the Philippine National Anthem, says the Panatang Makabayan, and prays his morning school prayer on his own.

· In every subject, he has the undivided attention of his devoted teacher. He can ask any question he wants, anytime he wants, and his teacher will answer him. When he doesn’t know the answer, he says, “Let’s research for the answer now.” And they log onto the internet, read a few books, and viola—the answer is found… together.

· He and his mother love talking about their faith. They also like singing together.

· He can tell his teacher, “Mommy, I want to know more about stars. Can we read about that tomorrow?” And his mother will say, “Let’s make that our science class for today!” And because it’s his interest, he needs no prodding to study. He wants to learn. He loves it.

· He can tell his teacher, “Mommy, I don’t understand this math problem. Can we slow it down a bit?” And his mother will say, “Sure thing. Let’s go through it one more time…” until he’s totally satisfied.

· Classes are only from Monday to Thursday. Because every Friday morning, he meets other homeschooled kids. They play together, do art work together, sing together, and just have enormous fun. (Yes, homeschooled kids have shown to be very sociable and confident, due to high self-esteem.)

· Every Tuesday afternoon, he attends a gymnastics class. Again, we don’t force him to do it. He loves tumbling, cartwheeling, and running around with the other kids.

· Each day, his class ends at 2pm or 3pm. But that’s because class was so exciting, both mother and son didn’t want to stop.

· After his class, my son goes out and rides the bike with his cousin or they play with the computer together. In the evening, since there’s no homework, he reads whatever books he likes to read. My suspicion? Because he’s interested in reading the books he chooses, he probably learns more in his free time than in his formal class time!

· When I’m free, I teach him how to compose songs and improve his guitar playing (That’s his Music Class), how to write short stories (That’s his English elective), and how to expand his bangus or milkfish business (That’s Entrepreneurship 101). Yes, he sells fish to our friends, and he divides his profits to tithes, alms, savings, and toy money! (Personal Finance 101). When my son hit 7 years old, I taught him how to read the Business section of the Newspaper. He loves asking about the stock market. He knows that we have to buy “low” and sell “high”.

· In all these, the greatest benefit is really having an incredible relationship with our kids.

We love homeschooling. Aside from all these benefits, we save a lot of money. We also don’t spend on daily allowance, school bus, etc. So we’re saving a bundle.

I know homeschooling is not for everyone. But it should at least be looked at.

I’ve trained myself that we shouldn’t live like everyone else if we believe that there’s a better way out there.

Explore. Search. Look at options.

You’ll be surprised at what you’ll discover.

I remain your friend,

Bo Sanchez