In Love With Sunflower: courageously inspiring

Showing posts with label courageously inspiring. Show all posts

3.06.2023

Touched By Their Lives

It's been more than 10 years since I started working from home. Surprisingly, I am loving it. I need not wake up so early to prepare for work nor beat the horrendous traffic daily. I can also save more by eating the home cooked meals my mother prepares which is nutritious, too.

The downside is, my network has become very small. I am also not so keen at keeping in touch with my former colleagues nor classmates.

At church, however, there is a handful of people I regularly have interactions with. Through their life stories, I have become more grateful; perhaps, even emerged as a better person. Their stories I am sharing below to inspire.

J, now 23 years old was only 16 when she was forced to live independently after her father drove her out of their house. Her religious convictions to be faithful to God was the reason, which the latter abhorred. To date, God continues to sustain her needs - she has a stable job and was recently promoted. Her determination to finish college is one of her priorities and manages to complete two or three subjects quarterly. As the eldest in their family, she takes the responsibility of sending her siblings to school and supports them financially!

D's faith was tried after his father, a pastor, was involved in a scandal. Despite the embarrassment and anxiety she faced, she overcame the past with godly associations and heeded their counsel. She too is self-supporting. Her commitment to serve is admirable. She allots her Saturdays at the newest mission site to help. She is part of two ministries and her zest for life is contagious!

JT was a member of a tribal group and dreamed of having tertiary education. He also yearned to be a missionary at a very young age. To date, he is a professional teacher (license holder) and is one of the trusted men who delivers the word of God whenever our pastor has speaking engagements elsewhere.

Their backgrounds were tough, choices were right and present circumstances praiseworthy. I am blessed to have witnessed their growth as an individual, have seen their careers blossom, more so, their journey towards spiritual maturity. They have touched my life and I pray yours, too.

Tatay Cito: Productive Elderly

It was an unusual scenario for me to witness a group of elderly men who were still physically strong, were mentally capable and were willing to work to earn a decent living.

At John Wilkie Bicycle Shop along J.P. Rizal in Marikina City, Tatay Cito, an experienced and veteran bike tinker, replaced my existing pneumatic wheelchair tires with my spare and inflated those with 100 psi!

Those seniors began working when the bicycle shop started its operations in 1983. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the growing demand for bicycles, the business even flourished. It is a one-stop shop that offers an assortment of bicycles, parts, accessories and services.

More often than not, old age is associated to laziness as the individual mellows in his activities, until deterioration in all aspects of his life become more evident (i.e. problem solving skills, decision making, etc.).

Instead of lazing around their homes, begging on the roads or being dependent to their children, they are continuously sowing and making many (like myself who need their skill) happy!

These snapshots were taken while I remained in the vehicle. It was both endearing and surprising to witness the skill displayed by Tatay Cito!

FB Page: John Wilkie Bicycle Shop &nbsp

Fearing God

I grew up in a home where the first day of the weeks were spent in church. Back then, it was more of a habit and a duty to wake up early for Sunday School in a Methodist church. Yet, I remembered anticipating excitedly the lessons and fun activities that were conducted by my teacher.

Upon reflecting about the different phases and events in my life, I realized that my sinful nature and lack of knowledge in the scripture compelled me to do the things that the Lord disproved of. Sadly, the characteristics I knew about Him were limited; I did not know how to fearfully love Him. Thus, I displeased Him due to my ignorance while I prioritized the mundaneness of life in the past.

The topic, "Fear of God" was discussed by Pastor Jed for almost five years during the Wednesday prayer meetings. Through this series, I realized that God is not only loving, merciful, faithful, nor forgiving. He ceases and withholds the rightful blessings and favors from a Christian. He also allows the lukewarm to have a miserable life, chastises the hardheaded in the process of rebellion (Hebrews 12:5-13).

The Malonzo Family: (L-R) Matthew, Paul, Bro. Fiel,

Sister Tak and Faith

Fearing God is best exemplified by our church's missionary family to Vietnam. Four years ago, Bro. Fiel, together with his wife and three children gave up their comfortable lives and high paying jobs. They put aside their worldly ambitions, trusted Him to steer their lives in a foreign land (despite the language barrier in the beginning) so they could share the gospel to those who have no inkling about our Father in heaven!

Fearing God further deepened their convictions. They equipped themselves by continuously studying His Word. Despite the many tears and heart aches from rejections, from uncontrollable events, from the familial problems their relatives unloaded to them; they persisted. They never gave in to discouragements. Their accountability to God far outweighed these.

Fearing God equated to blessings. Bro. Fiel was hired as head of Training and Development for all branches at Pizza Hut Vietnam (the same international company he worked for in the Philippines). His wife, Sis. Tak works from home as an HR Consultant for Recruitment and Selection for the Table Group, Inc. at OSM Ship Management. Concurrently, they have established various group ages who are learning about Jesus.

When most are busy hustling to make a living, they are using their lives to honor God. Their story is truly heartwarming because its framework is fearing God.

The Mothers In My Life

My mother and grandmother both play a significant role in my life. I saw their strength behind their gentleness, their ability to simultaneously juggle their roles when the need arises and their wisdom in resolving the many challenges in the family.

My mom

I will never forget the myriad sacrifices my mom has done for me especially after my injury. After losing my ability to walk, she was my number one cheerleader. She was present during my physical therapy sessions - from the moment I was taught to get up from bed, to sit, to balance, to stand, and walk with assistive devices (walker and long leg braces).

She supported me to go back to school, to join PWD organizations which eventually widened my perspective, and most importantly to deepen my faith. She is my safe place amid the "noise" around me. She is quite protective too. We argue, agree, discuss and enjoy doing many things together.

My grandmother with most of her great grandchildren

My Lola is the pillar in our family. She recently celebrated her 96th birthday early this month. She is generous, forgiving and kind. Her love for Christ enabled us to get to know Him better when she started inviting Baptist pastors to conduct Bible studies in her home. While I was growing up, she instilled in me the value of time, money and the importance of tithing. She has faced various hardships yet, she manages to surpass them all with the help of our good Lord.

Strength and honor are her clothing... she openeth her mouth with wisdom, and her tongue is the law of kindess.. a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31

Lifetime Commitment and Decision

I woke up this morning to the aroma of my favorite breakfast dishes - tuyo and tocino. They are best paired with sliced tomatoes and salted eggs. I am equally content with vinegar (very spicy please) as my sawsawan if the former is not available. Delightfully, both were served.

Then I gleefully greeted my parents with a hearty "good morning," did my usual tasks of setting the table, plugging the hot water dispenser and preparing the coffee mixture with a smile on my lips because today, August 15th, marks the 48th wedding anniversary of these two indispensable persons in my life. While enjoying the food, they remembered the bittersweet moments in their married life. I was keenly listening; I knew these were necessary to make them stronger beings.

I am in awe at God's wonderful grace for enabling them to still be together when break ups (and very soon divorce) are prevalent in our society. I often hear people say, "it takes two to tango," never realizing that it actually takes three. Putting Christ at the apex is paramount! They are not perfect but they were fearfully and wonderfully made for each other (Psalms 139:14). Moreover, I cannot thank my Jehovah enough for them.

It is my fervent prayer that they continue to put our Father God first as they journey together in their lifetime commitment and decision in serving Him.

PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team

Hard work, discipline, commitment and teamwork allowed these Filipino athletes with various disabilities win the gold in 2017 and a repeat in 2018 in the Hong Kong Paradragon Race. I had goose bumps watching the video below. Admittedly, no injury or the loss of a body part can hinder these inspiring individuals to excel!

Source: YouTube

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily,

as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord

ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:

for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Colossian 3:23-24

Ca Phe Saigon: More Than Just a Vietnamese Restaurant

I will never get tired of hearing inspirational stories first-hand. They are not only encouraging. The recipient of the story may conclude that our gracious God continues to work in the lives of others despite its mundaneness.

Similarly, we don't get to meet people everyday who are happy and triumphant even after their uncountable obstacles that may hinder them to see the glass half full. And I was delighted to meet Mr. Sonny and Mrs. Hynh Thi Huong (Mary Rose) Bonifacio, the owners of Ca Phe Saigon.

(L-R) Mr. Sonny Bonifacio with my parents

Mrs. Hynh Thi Huong (Mary Rose) Bonifacio who later exchanged pleasantries with us

Healthier Food Choices

After the evening service, my parents and I bravely explored the streets of San Roque, Marikina to try the Vietnamese dishes this hole-in-the-wall restaurant offered. I was personally magnetized to this particular place after reading a mixture of good and unpleasant reviews from Zomato. Even the rain did not hinder us from our intent!

Pomelo Salad P220. Chunks of sweet pomelo tossed in shredded cabbage and carrots topped with shrimp and lean pork

Spicy Tamarind Pork Ribs P270. Slow cooked fall off the bone tender pork ribs basted with tamarind sauce. Served with side salad and rice.

Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup P160. Vietnamese beef pho noodles served with a side of sprouts and basil leaves.

Fresh Rolls P180. Rice noodles with lettuce, mint leaves, lean pork and shrimps all rolled up and served with peanut sauce.

Vietnamese Iced Tea (tamarind and winter melon) P60 per glass and Vietnamese Iced Coffee P100

Fresh basil served for your pho and other condiments at the back

Humble Beginnings

Mr. Sonny Bonifacio, the owner of Ca Phe Saigon took his chance to find his luck in Vietnam with only $100 in his pocket in 1965. For three months, he only ate one meal per day and eventually landed a job. As a Christian, he vowed to the heavens to help other individuals for a year to repay the goodness he had reaped. He worked hard. I remembered him saying, I was from Tondo. I don't want to die poor."

In 1968, Mrs. Hynh Thi Huong (Mary Rose) Bonifacio lived in the Philippines after Mr. Sonny captured her heart and the rest is history. They have three admirable children. Their youngest is the brain behind Ca Phe Saigon who happens to be the owner of Sweet Apple Creations. The cupcakes she baked were also sold in the restaurant that used to be the family's garage while the bakeshop is located on the other side of their house. Nonetheless, the entire place was very decent, clean, brightly lighted with amiable staff ever ready to answer our questions (regarding their food).

I was also surprised to receive a recycled notebook from Mr. Bonifacio. He shared to us that he used to be the supplier of National Bookstore and had a workshop, enabling his family to earn Php1.5M every year for more than a decade.

The recycled notebook: A thoughtful gesture that touched my heart

Ca Phe Saigon has been in business for more than three years now. I only wish them the best in this industry after meeting how genuine and pure the hearts of the owners were.

Verdict

I enjoyed the pomelo salad. I could eat it for days without getting tired because of its simplicity and fresh ingredients. Their spicy tamarind pork was truly tender; the flavor and level of spiciness were just right. On the contrary, the iced tea (winter melon flavor) was way too sweet. It tasted like the alatiris fruit.

I am excited to try the other salads and fried noodles. More so, I was blessed to witness what hard work, steadfast faith in our Father and passion in life can do. Ca Phe Saigon is not merely a Vietnamese restaurant. My heart was touched after meeting the Bonifacios! I hope you get the chance to meet them soon.

Ca Phe Saigon Zomato link
Ca Phe Saigon Facebook page
Address: 14 Red Cedar St. New Marikina, San Roque Marikina City1800
Contact numbers: 02 6461438 | +63 9178016411

Getting A Headstart: The Parable Of The Oranges

Photo from Community Tool Box

There are a handful who do things extraordinarily, excellently and go out of their way whether the task may be big or trivial. They treat each and every assignment with much dedication as they plan meticulously and execute painstakingly. Consequentially they are prioritized, trusted and valued. Below is a good read to inspire you to standout from the rest. Happy reading!

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The Parable Of The Oranges

There was a young man who had ambitions to work for a company because it paid very well and was very prestigious. He prepared his résumé and had several interviews. Eventually, he was given an entry-level position. Then he turned his ambition to his next goal—a supervisor position that would afford him even greater prestige and more pay. So he completed the tasks he was given. He came in early some mornings and stayed late so the boss would see him putting in long hours.

After five years a supervisor position became available. But, to the young man’s great dismay, another employee, who had only worked for the company for six months, was given the promotion. The young man was very angry, and he went to his boss and demanded an explanation.

The wise boss said, “Before I answer your questions, would you do a favor for me?”

“Yes, sure,” said the employee.

“Would you go to the store and buy some oranges? My wife needs them.”

The young man agreed and went to the store. When he returned, the boss asked, “What kind of oranges did you buy?”

“I don’t know,” the young man answered. “You just said to buy oranges, and these are oranges. Here they are.”

“How much did they cost?” the boss asked.

“Well, I’m not sure,” was the reply. “You gave me $30. Here is your receipt, and here is your change.”

“Thank you,” said the boss. “Now, please have a seat and pay careful attention.”

Then the boss called in the employee who had received the promotion and asked him to do the same job. He readily agreed and went to the store.

When he returned, the boss asked, “What kind of oranges did you buy?”

“Well,” he replied, “the store had many varieties—there were navel oranges, Valencia oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, and many others, and I didn’t know which kind to buy. But I remembered you said your wife needed the oranges, so I called her. She said she was having a party and that she was going to make orange juice. So I asked the grocer which of all these oranges would make the best orange juice. He said the Valencia orange was full of very sweet juice, so that’s what I bought. I dropped them by your home on my way back to the office. Your wife was very pleased.”

“How much did they cost?” the boss asked.

“Well, that was another problem. I didn’t know how many to buy, so I once again called your wife and asked her how many guests she was expecting. She said 20. I asked the grocer how many oranges would be needed to make juice for 20 people, and it was a lot. So, I asked the grocer if he could give me a quantity discount, and he did! These oranges normally cost 75 cents each, but I paid only 50 cents. Here is your change and the receipt.”

The boss smiled and said, “Thank you; you may go.”

He looked over at the young man who had been watching. The young man stood up, slumped his shoulders and said, “I see what you mean,” as he walked dejectedly out of the office.

What was the difference between these two young men? They were both asked to buy oranges, and they did. You might say that one went the extra mile, or one was more efficient, or one paid more attention to detail. But the most important difference had to do with real intent rather than just going through the motions. The first young man was motivated by money, position, and prestige. The second young man was driven by an intense desire to please his employer and an inner commitment to be the best employee he could possibly be—and the outcome was obvious. (Excerpt from: “Living with a Purpose: The Importance of ‘Real Intent.’", Randall L. Ridd)

Photo from Bernadette Schwerdt

It doesn't take much for you to be ahead. The born leaders will go out of their way will strive to excel and will go the extra mile.

Story from Forbes

Philippines Business Tycoons' Admirable Traits

Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, Jr., Lucio Tan (from L-F) Photo from Forbes

Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, Jr., and Lucio Tan are some of the wealthiest individuals in the Philippines whom I admire because of their humble beginnings. Their story is worth reading and contemplating on because of their outstanding and remarkable traits that enabled them to achieve the ladder of success today.

Henry Sy is the owner of the largest retailer in the country and has invested in the banking and property industries. John Gokongwei’s businesses include air transportation, banking, food, hotels, power, chemicals, real estate and communication. Lucio Tan on the other hand, deals with tobacco, spirits, banking, property management and air transportation.

Are you dying to find out how they’ve made it this far and how they continue to make their empires huge? Let me share with you the common traits I have learned while reading about their life stories:

1. They are hard-working. Lucio Tan for instance worked as a janitor so he could pursue the degree in chemical engineering. Similarly, after John Gokongwei, Jr.’s father died, they were left with nothing due to their debts. At 15 years old, he dropped out of school to work by selling tires and soaps in the market. Comparably, Henry Sy started his entrepreneur skills at a very young age by opening a sari-sari store business to help his family with their day-to-day life.

2. They have the drive to succeed. Despite the daunting situation and the hardships they had in the past to survive and to make ends meet, they continued on with their lives with so much enthusiasm, hope and the desire to alleviate the lives of their families.

3. They are frugal. John Gokongwei, Jr. and his family did not instantly own a humongous and lavish house. He admired the Japanese who lived in tiny homes but invested much on their state-of-the-art factories which are their cash cows.

4. They are disciplined in all aspects of their lives and have good habits.

It is certainly wise to imitate the good habits of these wealthy people. And who knows, you and I can someday be outstanding in our expertise as we continue to desire and strive for excellence. What trait do you find worth emulating from the list?

From A P20 Start-up Capital To A Multi-Million Ice Candy Business

Photo source: Ice Candy Factory - Bianca's Special

Rodolfo and Rosiell de Leon's success story ignited the entrepreneur in me. They weren't born with a golden spoon in their mouths like many of the business tycoons in our country. But their relentless desire to give their daughters a comfortable life, coupled with faith and hard work resulted to a booming ice candy business that started in Antipolo City.

Ice candy: (noun) is a frozen treat made of flavored juice in a small, transparent, plastic bag

Video from GMA News and Public Affairs

Video from Entrepreneur Philippines

Lessons Learned

1. They weren't materialistic. They were content to have the basics and focused on expanding their business to also help alleviate people's lives. To date, they are in the process of constructing the factory. They have 19 full-time employees, produce 60,000 pieces of ice candies on a daily basis and sell these to 136 schools. These materialized after they sought help from other people as well.

2. Adversity fueled them to be creative and resourceful. They started selling ice from the P20 investment. They earned P300 and then made the ice candies. Their daughter gave them the brilliant idea to sell the affordable snacks that started in her school and the rest is history.

3. They had the rare chance to create a business that is now loved by their market . They choose to work hard to make it grow despite the birth pains that changed their lives and their employees as well as the happiness they bring to their growing number of consumers.

Incredibly inspiring, right?
I strongly encourage you to watch the videos to find out how the humble beginnings of this couple compelled them to attain their current status and identify remarkable and noteworthy values from their story.

Sayings to Inspire You

Just like the dose of caffeine you need to perk you up on a seemingly long day, meditating on these sayings keeps me sane when things seem to fall apart. And at an instant, it lifts and encourages me; giving me the instant push to continue with a grateful heart.

I will be forever thankful for all my struggles because I have come to learn about my strengths and has made me a more confident being. Similarly, at the end of the day, counting my blessings make me feel like a richer individual because I have so much to be thankful about.

What saying spoke close to your heart?

Photo source: Joy of mom

May The Mind Of Christ, My Savior

I admit, I need Christ every single day of my life. More so, I need him in my every waking hour. With my lofty battles from the moment I open my eyes until I rest for another glorious day; I succeed because of Him. I cry and plead for all the pains and the hurts to go away and to continuously make me a braver, stronger person. Similarly, I pray that He bestows me with more understanding and love so I could unselfishly give.

He has spoken to me through this hymn. And as I contemplate on this beautiful song, I am rejuvenated and ready to face my week's challenges. Have a fruitful and fulfilling week, my dear friends!

by Kate Wilkinson and A. Cyril Barham-Gould

May the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day,
By His blood and power controlling all I do or say.
May the word of God dwell richly in my life from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph only through His power.
May the peace of God my Father rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea;
Christ exalting, self abasing, this is victory.
May His beauty rest upon me, As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, Seeing only Him.

Youtube source: Josiah Shade

Stress... How Do You Deal With It?

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

How often do you put your glass down?

Or do you sometimes hold it for a long period?

Source: Science Is Madness

Dancing Inmates of Cebu

Exercising an hour each day is a vital program of the prison inmates at Cebu Prevention Detention and Rehabilitation Center. Like you and me, they too need the benefits of the sun's rays while they move their limbs and inhale some fresh air away from their cells. From such activity, the prisoners started marching in unison to the beat of a drum and eventually danced to more popular songs like "Thriller," "Ice Ice Baby" and many more.

Their videos have gone viral too! My most favorite is "They Don't Care About Us" by Michael Jackson that was specially arranged by his choreographer, Travis Payne for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This was done for the release of his DVD "This It It." I think I have seen this for over 100 times and I always feel the same emotions: a great sense of pride and joy!

On hindsight, I wish them all the best in their lives especially in their reorientation with the society after the rehabilitation. And just like the discipline needed to complete this production, may they acquire the right attitude and values from this memorable experience as they begin to pick up the pieces for a brand new life.

Wiki Source: CPDRC Dancing Inmates
Youtube: Michael Jackson's They Don't Care About Us - This Is It

Giving Thanks At All Times

On two separate occasions, I had a chance to talk to my former colleagues who were both struggling with a seeming problem. Mommy M's adolescent son was expelled from school due to behavioral problems. Lately, the son had been attempting to commit suicide and is seeing a psychiatrist. Mommy R's husband has lobulated nasopharyngeal mass, left, with adjacent bone lytic changes and signs of ipsilateral acute mastoiditis or cancer.

Admittedly my problems are incomparable to what they have. I worry about a bad hair day, a pimple on my chin or the color of nail polish I'll apply on my toe nails. I am very embarrassed and further realized that I unconsciously waste my energy on these futile things.

The conversations on the other hand compelled me to stop fretting especially on my nonsensical anxieties. And the inspiring message below reflects my thoughts at the moment:

Similarly, Paul teaches everyone to give thanks for everything no matter how depressing or victorious our situation is (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And with much retrospecting and pondering; we learn and become wiser beings. It is also through our struggles (of varying degrees) that we grow, understand and omit the same mistakes to avoid the cycle of being in the same phase.

What are you thankful for in your life today?

Photo source: Patti's Primitives

Elevator Lady: Cheers To You!

Work is essential to life. You get a sense of fulfillment as a result of your dedication, discipline and optimism. Many of us work to earn a living and to have comfortable lives; but not all enjoy what they do, agree?

I found the videos below which went viral due to the qualities I've mentioned earlier of the famous "elevator lady." Visualize this: You go to work for eight hours a day, five times a week and all you do is to press the limited buttons of an elevator that only go up and down. Now, won't that bore you?

Please find time to watch and discover how different she is from the rest of those working in the same field. She is not only amiable and hospitable. She also knows the different stores each floor carries. Amazing!

Video source: otnorp evad I Josh Magpale

Know Your Worth

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a 50 peso bill. In the room of 100, he asked, “Who would like this 50 peso bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this 50 peso to one of you - but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the 50 peso note up. He then asked. “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth 50 peso. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by …WHO WE ARE.

You are special - don’t ever forget it.”

Text source: DJ•Ѕїорао Иан Маяоои
Photo Source

Discipline Is Key To Everything

I find myself frequenting the website of Francis Kong because of the great reads and inspiring articles that continue to reverberate in my life after every visit. Hope you find this useful too.

Transcript:

I’ve got something for you. Listen to this. Wrong standards equals wrong measurement, wrong measurement equals wrong results. You don’t say “Ilang kilo ba itong lupang ito?” Once you start with that one you’ll gonna end up messing the whole thing, right? So my next question now is what is your standard for success? Is it money? Is it accomplishment? You know what? The way to getting successful is to get the right standards of values, righteousness, doing things correctly. And all of these things require discipline. Discipline is the very platform where you get things done. In other words, one of the best descriptions I have for the word discipline is simply two words: delaying gratification. You control what gratifies you and you go through the chores of doing the things you may not like doing but you got to do it anyway. And then once you’ve done it, you enjoy the gratification later on. Discipline is key to winning. Discipline is key in relationships building. Discipline is key to practically everything.

Video source: Francis Kong

Positive Quotes

Life is exceedingly beautiful. No amount of worry, fear nor problem can hinder me from smiling, appreciating and looking at any circumstances optimistically. Conversely, my relationship with my Lord has further compelled me to have such disposition in life, no matter what because I am holding on to His wonderful promises. And I'd like to share with you some posters you may find inspiring and useful as you tread through the narrow road in your life.