Darwin John Moises and Michelle Mendez-Palmares
MICHELLE: I received an e-mail entitled Life Handbook 2013, which contained nuggets of wisdom which are doable and essential to live a better life.
I’d like to share some of the entries on health that I particularly like and which I should follow religiously: “Drink plenty of water. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that are manufactured in plants and has to be killed, bled, cured, aged, smoked, fried, or frozen. Make time to pray. Take a 10- to 30-minute walk daily.”
Truly, health is wealth. What good is money invested or saved for the future if we cannot enjoy it because it all goes to medication or treatment? Due to the influence of a good friend, I am undergoing a 30-day detox program. I’m on my 26th day. Yippee!
DJ: I’m also aiming to live a healthier lifestyle this year. Why? So that I’d still be able to eat those that are cured, aged, roasted and fried even when I’m old and grey! It’s possible! How? By eating everything in moderation. We should not starve or deprive ourselves.
It works short-term but it’s not usually sustainable long-term. We end up eventually over-stuffing our self to satisfy our cravings. I also learned recently that metabolism slows down by as much as five percent each decade after we turn 40.
Controlling our calorie intake becomes more necessary as we age. Today is the feast of the Sto. Nino. And fiestas build camaraderie, waistlines and cholesterol levels.
Having a small snack few minutes before a party is one technique. You’ll have more courage to turn down your girlfriend’s mother’s famous lechon kawali and insult her whole family (and deal with the drama afterwards) if you’re not coming to her party famished. A piece of fruit will normally do the trick.
M: On the aspect of personality, the life handbook advices: “Do not to compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Each person has his or her place in the scheme of life. Also, don’t have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment; do what you can to make the world around you better. Forget issues of the past.
Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past.” Don’t you know, DJ, that women are good in archeology? We sometimes like digging up the past. This year my subject of choice is mathematics and finance. Let’s talk about this in future articles.
DJ: This year, let’s also learn more about the value of letting go. Most people think it’s holding on that makes us stronger. But sometimes, it’s letting go. At the office, this means choosing our battles. We can’t just accept everyone’s invitation to an argument.
For relationships, this means not sweating on the small stuff. There’s more to appreciate about someone like his thoughtfulness, sense of humor and faithfulness over his refusal to watch Sisterakas with you. This also means walking away from someone who doesn’t make an effort for you to stay. Simplify!
M: Life is difficult. But it need not be complicated. Happiness can be achieved, according to the life handbook, if we don’t waste time hating anyone and make peace with our past so it won’t spoil the present. It is also good to forgive and try to really forget. And my favorite—spend time with people over the age of 80 and under the age of six. That is why I treasure the moments I spend with my dad who’s 81 and my kids ages six and one.
The wisdom of the old and the innocence of the young are precious and priceless. I am turning a year older in a couple of days. I am just so grateful for life and living.
As the life handbook says “we only share this earth for a short time—why waste it on hateful thoughts and deeds when there is so much joy and happiness to discover and surround yourself with?”
Let’s always be reminded that the best is yet to come. And with God, nothing is impossible.
DJ: Let’s laugh more often in 2013. It eases stress, lowers blood pressure and boots our immune system. Let’s focus on our commonalities rather than our differences. Let’s celebrate life and learn to roll with its punches. Life is imperfect. But our mastery of life’s pain makes allows us to experience more of its joys. Pit Senyor!