Practice Random Acts of Kindness…Everyday!!! Thursday, February 8, 2007
Posted by hopefulinsomniac in Cackle Box, Potpourri, Today's Takeaway.add a comment
February has been designated as “Acts of Kindness” month.
Huh??
Now we get to assign a certain period for something that can be done anytime, anywhere, anyhow! What’s with us, people? Are we so busy that we have to schedule helping a granny cross the street during the month of Feb? Are we so swamped with work that we have to tick off a particular day on our Outlook or Blueberry, oops I was thinking of the cheesecake, Blackberry, when to be polite and acknowledge the presence of the security guard at the office building? Jeezuz!
Let’s make EVERYDAY a “Do Random Acts of Kindness” Day.
Or better yet, let us be Daily Purveyors of Kind Gestures, even the slightest, simplest ones, like wishing the Jollijeep vendors a nice day or even saying Thank You (you’d be surprised to know that there are so many educated working people who have forgotten one of these good manners taught when we were toddlers…) to the office messenger. It won’t cost you a thing, and it’s good karma too. Give your driver the day off, and drive yourself to work.
How about volunteering during your free time or weekends? Visit the websites of Hands On Manila and Children’s Hour for opportunities to help or donate. Oftentimes, it won’t cost you a cent. Just donate a few hours during weekends tutoring a former streetkid at a shelter or ushering at the Museo Pambata. You can even bring the whole family!
How about starting an old newspaper drive in your village? And donate the raised funds for victims of the typhoon Reming in Bicol? There are endless ways for us to do something nice for someone each day, each week. Let us not be caught up in the rat race and be slaves at work, lest we forget that we are human beings who also crave for unconditional kindness and random affection once in a while.
Remember, “Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy,” as Ralph Waldo Emerson said. A little politeness in this busy, busy world can make a big difference.
Navigating through the Quagmire called EDSA, especially on a Rainy Day Monday, July 24, 2006
Posted by hopefulinsomniac in Potpourri.add a comment
Alas, the rainy season is in full force now. As a daily commuter, the first thing that comes to mind is EDSA on a very wet day. It’s the time of the year when EDSA reprises its annual role of being the catch basin of flashflood waters brought about by the heavy rains. Hence, navigating through Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare during this pluvial period turns into a quagmire, easily beating out any Indy 500 race.So I thought that maybe a few tips are in order for all ye commuters and users of EDSA. Let’s start the ball rolling:
- Stay within your lane, ok. This isn’t a difficult request to abide by.
- Please…if you need to change lanes, USE your signal lights! Don’t cut! Don’t try that zigzagging technique, either! Same goes out to tailgaters too.
- So you won’t drowse during those long idle moments, listen to AM stations whatever your preference may be (DZBB 594 if you’re Kapuso or DZMM 630 if you’re Kapamilya). If you’re on the road by 5PM, try Tita Swarding at the not-so-holy but not-so-frightening station 666, sorry I forgot the station ID hehe. He-she is a riot to listen to. Or listen to Atty Danny Concepcion on Kapamilya 630 for sound legal advice on various problems and issues from 7-8PM. I like listening to this show; it gives me the feeling that I can be a pseudo-lawyer and dish out legal advice to friends as well. BUT if you’re the kind who couldn’t stand the local stations, “coñotic” (read soci as in sosyal) ba ang dating, then switch to those loud FM stations that employ DJs who play pop/rock music, who are downright OA, pa-slang and silly, well sometimes. Really.
- To all drivers of public utility buses, don’t use the gargantuan size of your vehicles to cut or overtake or just plain occupy half of EDSA! To all private commuters in their Ford Explorers or dambuhalang four-wheel drives, same message goes to you too.
- Please don’t text while driving (although I’m one of those guilty here). If you’re expecting a really important call, use those handsfree set that comes with your mobile phone unit.
What else ba….feel free to add more tips. Let’s compile a list and send it to LTO for dissemination to all commuters. Discipline that starts in each individual Filipino is one key towards propelling the nation to progress.
Oh, by the way, i posted this at around 5am. Still a hopeful insomniac.
