Every minute is precious..... the Clock says. And I could only agree. And if only for that, we ought to find time to talk with loved ones.

     There is no denying that we live in a fast-paced world. Everything seems to be in a hurry.  This is even more true when one lives in the city.  One cannot afford to tarry awhile. To dilly-dally, so to speak.  A few minutes delay could mean a lot - say, a lost opportunity.

     However, no matter how busy we are, we should find time for ourselves and our loved ones.  In the morning, a short chat with the kids getting ready for school may suffice as there may be no chance anymore to talk with them at night when they are already tired and fast asleep.

     A short conversation with your wife before bedtime over a glass of warm milk or chocolate drink could make up for a whole day's absence.  "How's the baby? Have the children shown their report cards for this grading period already? How's your favorite bonsai? How was your day?" Think of anything to talk about. You will be surprised you will not run out of anything to talk about.

     Well, if there is one opportunity we ought to fear of losing ---- it's the opportunity to talk with loved ones.

     And the Clock says .....  Every minute is precious!

     This is a follow-up blog.

     Yesterday, I wrote something on being cool. The Fan said ..... Be cool.

     This time I'll deal on aiming high - that's what the Roof said. If we would like to see success, we cannot be contented with what we have and what we are now. We cannot just stay put, either. We must always be on the go. We must always aspire for change.

     Yes, change is often said to be the only thing constant in this life. Everything is in a state of flux. And this is very true with us, humans, for even while we were still in the womb of our mothers we already went through different stages of development that made us the kind of individuals we are today.

     The truth is, even now that we are said to have fully developed faculties, changes still take place. It could be a change in our body clock, an outlook, a preference. Oh! Just anything that would make us different from what we were a second or so ago.

     Change if we must, indeed, but we ought to do it for the better. The wild in us must learn to be mild; the lazy, diligent; the cold and callous - more warm and engaging. These and more can make the world we live in a lot pleasant.

     How about if we have already reached our best? There is no such thing. We are only as good as our last performance. And there are even times when we compare our last performance to our previous feats, it fares badly. But this is no cause for alarm. There are always more rooms for improvement. So instead of being discouraged,  continue where you left off, with renewed strength or vigor. But again the reminder:

     The Roof says .....  Aim high!

     Last Sunday, the 15th of November, I read Jaynebug's "Picking Up The Pieces." I found the piece truly thought- provoking and insightful. Bits and pieces, strewn here and there, each one as important as the other. It was thus that I deemed it fit to respond with a full-length blog.
     Life is such that we find it at times broken to pieces, say, after a relationship has gone sour, the loss of a loved one, or as frustrations come one after another in rapid succession, that we could not even found a minute to breath. Then we start asking question. What happened? What could have have gone wrong and where? Why have my plans fizzled out.
     Well, we can start by looking at the shards, or the fragments. Pick one up then another piece close by and see if, together, they nicely fit. Don't look far. Most often than not, those that will snugly fit (curves and lines, or jagged rims) are those that are found grouped or near each other. We may try the hit and miss method, and it could be tedious, but nonetheless it is worth trying.
     The accompanying poem I found is the only one in my collection that come close to the topic. I wrote it more than a decade ago and hope you can find some connections. Come read with me my.....

THE MAKER'S STAMP

The answers to life's many questions
are closer than you think;
They're not at the ocean's core
or at a deep ravine's brink.

You need not scour the ocean floor
or scale a mountain crest
to find solution to a problem
and put your mind to rest.

You need not go around the world
or traverse a continent
to fit the pieces of a puzzle
to your heart's content.

You need not reach out to a star
or explore the vast beyond;
To answer life's many questions -
just learn to look around.

A sturdy tree, a hummingbird,
a baby's tiny hand;
Each one - unique and wonderful -
bearing the Maker's stamp.

     It is sad, though, that a lot have ceased to be a believer. There are those, who, having been influenced by materialism, evolution, a God-less philosophy, and the like, even totally dismiss the idea of a Supreme Being. There are those who rely on themselves and in what they can do during times of distress, or when picking up broken pieces prove difficult and impossible.
     For once, it could be that faith, the size of a mustard seed, could be what is needed.