Why Relationships Should Always Come First

Relationships. They can be a blessing and they can be a burden. Either way, they are the essence of our life here on earth. Whether we’re talking about our relationship with God, our family or our friends, we should always make an effort and go the extra mile to deepen our relationship with God, our family and our friends.

Family. They're the first people we see when we open our eyes and they're the last ones we see when we leave this world. At least, that's how it should be. Life doesn't always work out that way. Some people don't get to see their family for long periods of time. Some come from broken families. Some are blessed to be born in a happy family.

Friends. Next to our family, our friends are our trusted allies as we go through our daily lives. Most of the time, they are the first people we turn to for comfort during our trying times. They are the ones we call and run to when we get in trouble and are too embarrassed to ask our family for help. They stand by us and keep us sane in this crazy, zany world. And they are the ones who stick with us no matter what.

Whoever and wherever we are, relationships are very important in our life. We need to treasure our family and friends and deepen our relationships with them simply because without them life would be dull and dreary, lonely and boring.

Most people who suffer through grief go through depression and this is when they need their family and friends the most. Our relationships with our family and friends and even our neighbors are a reflection of our relationship with God. We need to nurture it with love, sprinkle it with lots of joy and good cheer, and spend as much time on our relationships as we can. This is very important because if we neglect the most important people in our life, the time will come when they won’t be here anymore and we will regret not spending as much time with them as we should have.

So whether you’re happy or sad, people should matter more and we should spend more time taking care of each other and nurturing relationships. This is the only way we can live a full and happy life, free of loneliness and other negative emotions. Surrounding ourselves with positive people and sharing as much love as we can with our loved ones will bring us joy beyond compare. So share the love and live life to the full.

A Father's Rules for Finding Fulfillment

A Father's Rules for Finding Fulfillment

Be courteous, be punctual, always say please and thank you, and be sure to hold your knife and fork properly. Others take their cue on how to treat you from your manners.

Be kind, considerate and compassionate when others are in trouble, even if you have problems of your own. Others will admire your selflessness and will help you in due course.

Show moral courage. Do what is right, even if that makes you unpopular. I always thought it important to be able to look at myself in the shaving mirror every morning and not feel guilt or remorse. I depart this world with a pretty clear conscience.

Show humility. Stand your ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when you know you are wrong. Never worry about losing face. That only happens when you are pig-headed.

Learn from your mistakes. You will make plenty so use them as a learning tool. If you keep making the same mistake or run into a problem, you’re doing something wrong.

Avoid disparaging someone to a third party; it is only you who will look bad. If you have a problem with someone, tell them face to face.

Hold fire! If someone crosses you, don’t react immediately. Once you say something it can never be taken back, and most people deserve a second chance.

Have fun. If this involves taking risks, so be it. If you get caught, hold your hands up.

Give to charity and help those who are less fortunate than yourselves: it’s easy and so rewarding.

Always look on the upside! The glass is half full, never half empty. Every adversity has a silver lining if you seek it out.

Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

Be canny: you will get more of what you want if you can give someone more of what they desire. Compromise can be king.

Always accept a party invitation. You may not want to go, but they want you there. Show them courtesy and respect.

Never ever let a friend down. I would bury bodies for my friends, if they asked me to ... which is why I have chosen them carefully.

Always tip for good service. It shows respect. But never reward poor service. Poor service is insulting.

Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

Be prepared to put the interests of your sibling first.

Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches.

Be ambitious, but not nakedly so. Be prepared to back your assertions with craftsmanship and hard work.

Live every day to its full: do something that makes you smile or laugh, and avoid procrastination.

Give of your best at school. Some teachers forget that pupils need incentives. So if your teacher doesn’t give you one, devise your own.

Always pay the most you can afford. Never skimp on hotels, clothing, shoes, make-up or jewellery. But always look for a deal. You get what you pay for.

Never give up! My two little soldiers have no dad, but you are brave, big-hearted, fit and strong. You are also loved by an immensely kind and supportive team of family and friends. You make your own good fortune, my children, so battle on.

Never feel sorry for yourself, or at least don’t do it for long. Crying doesn’t make things better.

Look after your body and it will look after you.

Learn a language, or at least try. Never engage a person abroad in conversation without first greeting them in their own language; by all means ask if they speak English!

And finally, cherish your mother, and take very good care of her.

I love you both with all my heart.

Daddy x

Source: http://www.matchmove.com/news/article/a-fathers-message-from-beyond-the-grave

Little things that mean so much

Little things that mean so much

Here are a few strategies suggested by most therapists that I’ve read somewhere in improving one’s depression in relationship and also from my personal experience.

1. Sweet Surrender
Whenever we have an argument or disagreements over little things I always see to it that I lose and give up even if she’s the one who’s supposed to lose.  It’s my way of saying I love you so much even if it means surrendering my being the man of the house. To me it’s the sweetest thing I can do.

2. Surprise her something
Sometimes I would surprise her of an item that she really want like flowers, ice cream, red wine and other stuff that she really appreciate and will be followed by an intimate thing-yehey.

3. Share in house chores
Sometimes I do things she usually do like washing the dishes, doing the laundry, prepare our meal, give bath to our baby and putting on his diaper and changing him and fixing the bed those sort of things, is my way saying to her that I do love her and I will do anything for her.

4. Corny one liner
Whenever there is a chance I always whisper to my wife’s ear I love you, especially when I kiss her and Thank you when giving me little things like fixing my (baon) food for my work, and saying you’re not beautiful – you are drop dead gorgeous, something like that, that will make her underpants fell down. Seriously it means a lot to my wife and I do it because I truly love her and care for her.

5. Good habit of kiss (sabay) with a  hug
Day in and day out I always make it a point to kiss my wife with a very tight hug every day, from waking up in the morning, before letting her go to her work, upon fetching her up from her work, and while watching tele-novelas, until we are about to go to sleep there will be some kissing and hugging that will happen. It’s like second nature to me.