Genuine Happiness Comes from Within

Life isn’t the sweetest candy. Sometimes, when I feel like the world is just too heavy, I look around and find people who continue to live fascinating and wonderful lives. And then thoughts come popping into my mind like bubbles from nowhere – “How did their life become so adorably sweet? How come they still can manage to laugh and play around despite a busy stressful life?”  Then I pause and observe for awhile… I figured out that maybe, they start to work on a place called ‘self’.

So, how does one become genuinely happy? Step 1 is to love yourself.

Someone once said that “loving means accepting.”  To love oneself means to accept that you are not a perfect being, but behind the imperfections must lie a great ounce of courage to be able to discover ways on how to improve your being to recover from our mistakes.

Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. When you are contented with the job you have, the way you look, with your family, your friends, the place you live in, your car, and all the things you now have – truly, you know the answer to the question “how to be genuinely happy.”

When we discover a small start somewhere from within, that small start will eventually lead to something else, and to something else. But if you keep questioning life like it has never done you any good, you will never be able to find genuine happiness.

I believe that life is about finding out about right and wrong, trying and failing, winning and losing. These are things that happen as often as you inhale and exhale. Failure, in a person’s life has become as abundant and necessary as air. But this should not hinder us from becoming happy.

How to be genuinely happy in spite all these? I tell you… every time you exert effort to improve the quality of life and your being, whether it is cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, failing on board exams and trying again, life gives you equivalent points for that.

Imagine life as a big score board like those which are used in the sports arena. Every time you take a step forward, you make scoring points. Wouldn’t it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think to yourself “Whew! I got a point today. I’m glad I gave it a shot.”, instead of looking at it all blank and murmur “Geez, I didn’t even hit a score today. I wish I had the guts to try out. We could have won!” and then walk away.

Genuine happiness isn’t about driving the hottest Formula 1 car, nor getting the employee of the year award, earning the highest 13th month pay, or beating the sales quota. Sometimes, the most sought after prizes in life don’t always go to the fastest, the strongest, the bravest or not even the best. So, how do you become genuinely happy?  Every one has his own definition of ‘happiness’. Happiness for a writer may mean launching as many best selling books as possible. Happiness for a basketball rookie may mean getting the rookie of the year award. Happiness for a beggar may mean a lot of money. Happiness for a business man may mean success. So, really now, how do we become genuinely happy? Simple. You don’t have to have the best things in this world. It's about doing and making the best out of every single thing. When you find yourself smiling at your own mistake and telling yourself “Oh, I’ll do better next time”, you carry with you a flame of strong will power to persevere that may spread out like a bush fire. You possess a willingness to stand up again and try – that will make you a genuinely happy person.

When you learn to accept yourself and your own faults. You pass step 1 in the project in becoming genuinely happy. For as long as you know how to accept others, you will also be accepted. For as long as you love and know how to love, you will receive love ten folds back.

To be genuinely happy, start from being yourself and loving yourself, being able to laugh at yourself and your mistakes, but being strong enough to move forward and make changes. And don't rely on others for your own happiness.

Happy as You Want to Be

Almost everyone has heard the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferiin's simple message surely made a lot of people by telling them not to worry.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke. 

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well.

Happiness is actually found in everyone, increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.

To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which you can do this.
 
Being grateful is a great attitude.  We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.

News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.

A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace.

Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed  as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily everyday.  Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.
 
Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.
 
Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday.  Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.

Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.

These are the few simple things you can do everyday to be happy.

And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Motivate Yourself

It's one of those days... I just thought I'd share this email that I got from Paul Kinder - Traffic Splash owner. Yup! It's one of those autosend email sent out daily to members of traffic exchanges. It couldn't have come at the right time. Perfect timing I would say! ^_^

I truly love the message of this e-mail. So if you find that you need some morale booster, it's definitely worth reading. Motivate yourself! At the end of the day, you know what you truly believe in and what you truly want in life! ^_^ See yah around!

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2011

Happy Chinese New Year! Let us usher in the Year of the Golden (Metal) Rabbit.

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT, 2011

02/03/2011 - 01/22/2012 (Metal)

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012.  The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animals signs.  The Rabbit is a lucky sign.  Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted.  People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends.  They are good teachers, counselors and communicators, but also need their own space. (Click here to read more...)

I live in Chinatown but this is the first time that I've seen the celebration of the Chinese New Year right in my neighborhood. Honestly, I find it too lavish. I guess you can attribute it to the growing influence of the Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines. Time was when only the local Chinese celebrated this occasion. Times have indeed changed! Although I personally do not conform to this type of pompous celebration, I am nevertheless hopeful that this signals a more prosperous year for everyone. The turn of the year is a significant one for me. I truly love the New Year as it never fails to bring HOPE. The turning of the year always signals change. May the Year of the Golden Rabbit bring better changes in all aspects of our lives. And as much as I'm fascinated with Feng Shui and other similar knowledge, I'm a staunch believer that we are the master of our destiny. There may be things beyond our control, but at the end of the day, we shape what happens in our lives by the choices we make. So let's all welcome the brand new year. Grab that chance to make a difference! ^_^ 

Till next blogging time... ta-tah!

新年快樂..恭喜發財

Make Your Own Splash Page

100th post! Wow! Indeed I've come this far. ^_^ Time flies when one is having fun. All I can say at this point is, my goal is to keep this blog as fresh and updated as often as I can. It's tough to commit to it on a daily basis, but I will try to have at least one new post at the very least once a week.

A few months down the line as an Internet marketer and I still have a lot to learn. It's a bit tough being new. There are lots of programs out there that you'll need to filter through. I've seen a lot of PTCs come and go. I've lost some potential earnings in a few of them. And so I'm a bit wary of joining newly launched PTC sites. I am happy to say though that the very first ones that I've joined are still up and running. It really pays to do your research before signing up for anything. 

My list of traffic exchanges has grown tremendously. I try not to join all the new ones. Instead, I'd rather maintain the ones I already have. So far that has been working for me. Splash pages and squeeze pages do work well in TEs. So today I will share about what I'm learning today. That's how to make my own splash page. There are a few sites out there that you can join for free.

Here's the link to one of the first splash pages I've made using Robert Puddy's Instant Squeeze Page Generator. MY FIRST SPLASH PAGE

Instant Squeeze Page Generator is a service offered by Robert Puddy (known for various Internet marketing tools and services). The service helps you create squeeze pages using a simple point and click system. It also gives you access to multiple templates and professionally designed graphics to help get you more opt-ins subscribers.

I found the Instant Squeeze Page Generator very straightforward and easy to use. You start out by choosing a template, using a background image, creating the headline, writing the main content, and finish it off by adding the code. Check it out today!

Next time around, I will try and explore the other free resources on making splash pages and share them here too. Till next blogging time... ta-tah! ^_^

Referral Contest Winning

Yup! You read it right. This is about a referral contest winning. Well, most online newbies find it to be one of the major challenges in online marketing -- getting a referral. I am definitely no exception. I still work hard on promotions to be able to get more sign-ups for my programs. This, for me, is a mini victory. 

 I joined FairTradeTraffic because I was referred by a friend.  Aviar said that this traffic exchange holds weekend cash promos, 420 Friday. Top prize is $4.20. I do believe it 'coz I personally have won way back in December. When you sign-up for the first time, surf 100+ and submit a support ticket and you automatically get $1 and 420 credits, just like it says on the image above. Aside from surfing FTT on weekends, I often wait for an email as the owner does send them out whenever there's a nice promo going on at the site. It's best to surf during this time as it more or less guarantees a win. ^_^

If you aren't a member of this site yet, join this weekend as there's another round of promos going on. Grab that chance to win cash, credits, and banner/ text impressions. And to stay true to my blog title, here's the proof that I somehow got picked to win $10 in the referral contest held in the site. For me, it's not totally unexpected as I did send out mailings and even made a RevPage for FairTradeTraffic at APSense, a business social network where you can promote your programs and get paid. 

With that, I'd like to end this day's blog with a bit of encouragement.. believe in what you do, keep working at it, and soon you'll enjoy the benefits of your efforts. After all, you won't get anywhere if you don't do anything. Enjoy your weekend! Till next blog.. ta-tah! ^_^

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

I just want to start the year with a New Year greeting! ^_^ HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone. May 2011 bring you and your loved ones peace, prosperity, health, happiness, and love the whole year through.

Here's the fireworks video that my daughter took. It's just a short clip that I have uploaded to my youtube account as well. Hope you'll enjoy it! It was of course more spectacular to see it live!

Cash Prizes Galore from Surfing

Thank God it's Friday! Woo hoo! Friday remains to be my fave day of the week, although I'm not a student or an office worker anymore. I guess there's something about looking forward to the weekend! ^_^ Anyway, it's time for another blog. Like I promised, I would be sharing about traffic exchanges (TEs) where I surf and earn cash as well. Never underestimate the little amount you get each time, for this small amount can add up in time! Before you know it, you can already request for payment. This has happened to me many times over already. My tab on 'I Got Paid!' is still in the works! I guess I'm just a bit stumped as to the design and what info to share. After all, it is also my intention to be of help to newbies who are in search of sound and valid programs on the Internet.

First off, TEs where cash is a bit hard to earn! Well, it's not that hard except it's kinda bit of a rarity! LOL ^_^ I consider myself lucky I guess to have won a cash prize. Nevertheless, it's a possibility. You may want to give it a shot. You might be luckier and get more! Hee hee..

Surf to Earn

Ok! This site gives out a prize page every 30 pages surfed. There are six 'claim prizes' buttons. But watch out for the 'sorry it's a loss' button! That was actually what turned me off at the onset. However, this site also has a matrix program which is worth checking out. I've upgraded in this site for the amount of $12/ quarter. For me, it's a worthy investment as it will give me a chance to surf for credits and earn in the matrix program as well. I haven't as yet earned anything. But I do now have 8 positions in the matrix. Just a few hundred more surfs to earn 2 more positions. I will definitely keep you posted when I do actually earn from it! Here's the cash prize proof: 

Skyscraper Surf

I joined this site as it occasionally has joint promo with Eternity Traffic. I wouldn't want to pass up the chance of earning more, esp. from raffle draws. I was surfing the other day here when I got this:

Tezak Traffic Power

This site gives a prize page every 15 pages surfed. However, most of the time, you'll get credits or banners/texts impressions. Occasionally, you'll chance upon a cash prize. I have had in the past been luckier and have now accumulated $2.90 in TTP. But I'll need $10 minimum to cash out. Anyway, here goes the cash prize page:

Custom Hits

Many may not know about this site. I didn't either until I got an email from the site owner to join and be upgraded for a few months in exchange for including his site in my promotion of surf to earn sites. I send out mail via safelists/ list builders when I can. It was from one of my emails that Bobby saw my promotion that led to his offer. Cool isn't it? This site offers regular cash $ 0.015 for every 100 pages surfed. Here are some samples of the links for claiming your cash:

That's where the claim link is - right under the surf bar. It's tiny but I made a screenshot just so you won't miss it! And here's what it looks like once you have clicked on that claim link:

Website Traffic Hog

My, oh my! This has become a long blog. But I might as well share what I've got so you won't miss out on a good thing! I like this site 'coz it's a bit different from the rest. It offers 'Guaranteed Views' and 'Credit Mailer' as additional prizes. These two features are great for affiliate marketers like me since I get to promote my programs additionally to all members via the features mentioned! It also gives out banners/ texts impressions generously. There's a word search game where you'll get 20 credits for finding all the letters. Surf rewards every 100 pages too. Here are the sample cash prize pages:

Well, last but not the least, I'm just excited to share about Traffic Showdown (again!). I was surfing within the week when the site had the surf bar promo on. In addition to credits, it gave out random cash prizes! I didn't notice at first so I actually missed out on 3 cash prizes!!! Here's the screenshot:

Additionally,  I also won another two times from the site raffle games! Here are the announcements:

Yeah! And so I truly like Traffic Showdown!!! If you haven't won, just hang tight! You might get lucky soon! ^_^ So there went another surfing day! More next time... Have a great weekend! Do spend it with your family and loved ones! Take care.. ta-tah! ^_^

It's PayDay Once Again!

Yes, that's right! It's another payday for moi! I must admit the first one is a bit overdue. Nevertheless, I'm posting it here for everyone to see. These are paying sites and are worth joining indeed! ^_^

The first one is a Traffic Exchange site. If you want to know more about that, just go to the TE tab on this blog. Anyway, it's one of the first TEs that I've joined. Indeed it has now grown to 350,000 members! It pays $0.30 for every 1000 sites viewed. Payout is at $3.00.

The second site is a PTC site. It's actually one of the newer ones that I've joined. I'm glad that it pays promptly. I feel that it's worth writing about paid-to-click sites that actually pay as scammers abound. If you haven't joined this site, I suggest you do so now.

Here are the proofs of payment for these two sites:

Stop Being A Victim!

That's right! If you're new online and would like to explore online earning opportunities, this book is a must-read! There are literally thousands of programs out there that are being offered. It seems a new program comes out on a weekly basis. But how would you know if a program is worth joining? How can you protect yourself from being scammed? The Internet is so vast that it's easy to get lost in it. On the lighter side, there are honest-to-goodness people who really make a living from it.

One good tip is to find an honest business online and stick with it. And yes, you're going to ask, "Does such a business even exist?" Yes, I would say, there is such a business. I'm glad that I found it too! On top of that, it provides tools, timing, technology, and teamwork. I'm talking about OnlineBusinessAlliance.  To find out more, just click on the link provided and read about this wonderful business opportunity. And now, you're going to ask, "How much is it going to cost me to invest in it?" I have fantastic news for you! The whole business system won't cost you more than $5 dollars! That's right! Click on the link and read more! You'll get the book shown above plus more! Don't let this great opportunity pass! It's time to stop being a victim and start making money now. ^_^ Well, have a great weekend everyone! Till next blogging time... ta-tah!

Inspiring Messages

Today's blog is dedicated to my good friend, let's call her Peeds. That's what we fondly call her. I'm glad to have a friend like her who somehow never fails to inspire me. She loves to forward inspiring messages to my email and SMS or text. Today I just want to share two of her inspiring messages for everyone to read. Just as they light up my day, I hope that they will serve to brighten up yours too.

"God has a perfect plan for our lives;

He never does it all at once

just step by step because

He wants to teach us to

'WALK BY FAITH'

not by sight."

"The best way to walk is not by walking with nice SHOES...

But by walking with God..

Walk not only by "FEET" but with "FAITH" in your heart."

For me, friends are one of life's many blessings. I'm thankful for all the wonderful friends that keep me inspired. And somehow it doesn't matter if distances keep us apart. I'm glad that one way or the other technology brings us together. Today, find time to drop a line or two for people who make a difference in your life. Live life, laugh, and be inspired! ^_^ Till another blogging day.. ta-tah!

Palace Declares Oct. 25 as Special Non-Working Holiday

Woohoo! Another upcoming holiday this month. Here's the article from the Manila Bulletin website.

"Malacanang has issued Proclamation No. 84 declaring Oct. 25, 2010 as a special non-working holiday throughout the country in connection with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., who signed the proclamation on Oct. 6 and released it on Thursday, said it is imperative that the people be given the fullest opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the coming Barangay and SK polls."

Exercise your right to vote! Vote wisely! ^_^

Oh My... It's October!

What a way indeed to welcome the tenth month of the year! I woke up to a cloudy and rainy day.It's times like this that I wish I can just stay home and stay in bed. But alas! Work beckons. I'm glad just the same 'coz it's Friday! :D

Autumn comes to mind when I hear October. It's funny though 'coz we don't have four seasons in the Philippines. We only have the dry and rainy season. Hey, I'm not complaining. After all, we practically get summer weather all year round, except when it's typhoon season. :p It's now down to the last quarter of the year and I'm in a contemplative mood. I can't help but wonder where all the days and weeks have gone. It's time I guess to take a bit of a break from all the hustle and bustle of daily life and reflect on life's goals. I honestly don't know how far I've come since the start of the year. 2010 didn't exactly start out right for me or my family. We lost my dad even before the first month of the year has gone. I sometimes feel like I'm just cruising through the days, weeks, and months that came after that. But like I always say, happiness is a state of mind. So I just choose to be happy and thankful for each new day that comes along. 

Halloween also comes to my mind. Somehow, it doesn't bring scary thoughts. I don't know why but I simply love autumn. I hope one day I do get to actually experience this season. LOL! ^_^ Well, gotta go for now. I've still a few clickings and promoting to do at this time. Till next blogging time... ta-tah! Enjoy your weekend with loved ones and family! :D

Residual Income

I decided to research today on the definition of residual income. I actually found a lot of links from Google search that offer very good definition of the term. So why did I suddenly think about this topic? Well, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and realized that this is one aspect I would need to work on in my life right now. I've been employed since I graduated from the university but found that my active income from employment wasn't enough for something more. Indeed, I've been exploring the concept of being my own boss, where I will be actively working for myself to build what you would call a "nest egg." This is something that isn't easy to do when you're just relying on your monthly salary or wage. Let's face it. Being an employee won't make you rich. Sometimes it doesn't even guarantee comfortable living. What you do get from it is hand-to-mouth existence. You're paying your bills and waiting for the next pay day. It goes on and on and on. That's until you find a way to make more on the side in addition to your salary or wage. I must admit I'm on a journey right now, one that I hope would enable me to find a way to earn more in terms of residual income. 

Here's a really good article I found by Scott Allen on Passive Income. It is indeed very informative. After all, who wouldn't want to earn more and work less? ^_^ Reading about the topic is a start. Next step would be on taking steps on the path to find residual income. I would definitely share my experiences on my journey. After all, I do believe that wealth / prosperity should be shared. There is abundance in the world. With that, there goes another blogging day. Till next time... Ta-tah! :D

Beat the Gloom Today

Have you awakened feeling down and out and feeling so low? It's like nothing feels right or good. You're tense and worried and the feeling of gloom won't somehow go away. If so, what do you do about it? In the past, I have had that feeling of gloom. But I consider myself lucky that I haven't encountered that feeling in a long time. So how do you cheer yourself up on moments like that? In my case, I make it a point to have at least a few minutes each day for quiet time. It somehow helps when I get to stop and reflect on the day's happenings. I sometimes use this time to look at my life's perspective as well. It's a way for me to assess whether I'm right on track with my goals in life. Quiet time is perfect for reflection and meditation too. It somehow re-energizes and recharges me from all the stressful happenings around me. Prayer is helpful. At times when a certain feeling of hopelessness creeps in, I ward it off by having a moment of prayer. It usually works. 

Well, here's a little something that might help make your day right. It's a short, original poem I wrote some years back to recite or chant as I wake up in the morning.

"At the start of the day

Blessings be on my way.

And as the sun starts to shine, 

everything will be just fine."

Try it. It might work for you as well. It even works on rainy mornings. LOL! ^_^ It's a holiday where I am right now, so I'm writing this from the comforts of home. I love holidays!!! :D Anyway, have a great, fun and stress-free weekend! Till next blog...

Happiness is.......

The Psychology Wiki defines happiness as "an emotional or affective state that is characterized by feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction." To me, happiness is and always has been a state of mind. If you want to be truly happy, THINK happy and BE happy! ^_^

One of the first books I've read on the matter is Being Happy by Andrew Matthews. Although I couldn't say that I agree 100% with all his ideas, I couldn't deny that some of them are valid. Take, for example, some people whose lives seem to be full of dramas. Is it really true? Or are they the ones creating it in their lives? Following the principle of the Law of Attraction, these people may just simply be attracting what they're thinking. LOL!

But have you really thought about what happiness is? Is it fame or fortune that brings happiness? Is it family and loved ones? Is it wisdom and knowledge? Or power perhaps? Hmm, come to think of it, I don't have a ready answer for that one. Maybe it depends on who's looking. After all, your concept of happiness may be different from mine. Like when my fave brand of instant coffee can make me happy while yours has got to be Starbucks coffee. :p Based on that, I suppose happiness is what we make of it. It may mean that each of us has our own definition of the concept. I must admit that I got my inspiration from reading an article on The World's Happiest Countries. We as a nation and as a people may not be on the top list, but I personally believe that we are not less happy than any other people in the world. :D

To end this blog for today, I just thought of inserting a video from youtube of my favorite Happiness song from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!" Remember, THINK happy and BE happy! ^_^

Quotes I Live By

Yaiks! It's been awhile since my last blog :( I've meant to write more often.. but somehow does not feel compelled to share my thoughts.. guess that happens to the best of us.. :p

So what's new? The cake gives a clue ^_^ LOL!!! There are just times when you're a bit reflective about life and living. I remember that a few years back I wrote some quotes that have generally brightened me up and somehow enabled me to withstand the ups and downs of life. I've been meaning to share them and this is a great time I suppose. :D

"To thine own self be true."

Spoken like Polonius from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Nope, I have no intention of boring anyone. I'm not an expert on English lit. either. I just happen to believe in this line. In anything that I do or say, it's important that I'm true to myself. I must admit it didn't come easy at the start. But heck! I'm old enough now to think for myself, right? :p

"What we want is not always what's best for us."

I don't even know who said that. I know I'm starting to sound philosophical here. It's something I've realized over the years that sometimes we want so many and so much that we fail to think if it's even good for us. I mean that in a general sense, of course.

"When hope is all you've got, you still have got a lot!"

I got this from the last line of some quote forwarded via text to me. I guess it somehow uplifts my spirit when I think of it. There are times when you simply have to believe that all will be well no matter what.

"Expect the unexpected."

I used to hear this a lot from my late dad. To me, it simply means it pays to be adaptable and flexible. Things don't always turn out the way you want. Plans sometimes screw up. You simply must be ready for anything!

"Everything happens for a reason."

Cliche. I know. How many times have you said this line? Perhaps after a breakup, a tragic event, or simply after anything that can happen beyond your control. If it helps make you feel better, why not just believe it? :) I've come this far to know that things do happen for a reason. More often than not, instead of wallowing in self-pity, think of what you can learn from it. It helps make you a better person.

"Happiness is a state of mind."

For me, happiness is indeed a state of mind. If you want to be happy, think happy and be happy. You can't always rely on others, be it things or other people, for your own happiness. Only you can know what can truly make you happy. :)

"Every day is a brand new day."

That's right! A brand new day.. a chance to make things right.. a chance to do something good for yourself and others.. so just be thankful for each new day that comes your way. That shouldn't be so hard, right? It's like learning something new each day. I know that I still have a long way to go and that I can still add to all these quotes that I live by each day. Life is good. Life is beautiful. Make the most of what time you have on this earth. Not everyone gets that chance to enjoy it! :) On that note, I'm ending this blog for now. I hope that I get to blog really soon! Ta-tah! Have a great Father's Day celebration! Enjoy life! :D