Lou Olegario

This came from a dear friend (Kaye):

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us
our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Realizations

This year brings me realizations I didn't search nor expect. And there are these people I ought to give thanks to - my other half, my professor (who I also consider my angel sent from heaven) and my parents. Very few people knew what I really want to become. Ever since I really wanted to be a teacher, and now...after having gone through a lot in life - getting married, having children, earned my bread and butter through other jobs, cutting ties with a bestfriend and other normal problems being experienced by normal people like myself - I still can't believe I will still realize my dream! When I decided to stop working, I thought I would just grow old taking care of my family. I don't mean to belittle the motherly obligations. Hey! It's a tough job to be a mother and a wife at the same time, full time!You will discover you have the skills at multi-tasking, I mean cooking, cleaning the house ang doing the laundry at the same time, and still you will have the urge and the desire for lovemaking when your husband comes home from work. You will discover you have the mind of a company top executive, solving problems concerning administration (household), financial, accounting and auditing (budgetting), security (your children's safety) and culinary (meal planning). Just when I thought I mastered them all, on my lap landed opportunities to explore more of life. I returned to my alma mater and study again, met my "angel" and get acquainted with new friends. Fast-forward to the present and now I am in the company of people who I share the same passion with, being with children who fondly call me "Teacher Lou". The first time I set foot inside the classroom, I realized this is where I belong!I didn't feel this excitement during my working days at Jollibee and DBS. Of course, I loved those jobs, but they are just that - jobs! Now, I don't feel that I am working at all. Being a teacher is not a job for me. I feel that I am being paid for doing something which I love. But I also realize that just like in everything else we do in this world, there are the ups and downs. I can't say that I like everything about teaching. I have a list of hates too. I hate doing lesson plans and visual aids, I hate the deadlines, I hate doing the bulletin boards, I hate the meetings! But the loves far outweigh the hates. I love talking in front of my pupils feeding their young minds with facts of life, I love looking at their faces in awe when they finally absorb what you are teaching them, I love being surrounded with children and hearing them saying "I learned a lot from you today", I love receiving drawings of myself with captions "The most beautiful teacher of all", I love receiving love letters from them, I love being called "Teacher Lou", I love doing test papers, giving oral recitations, checking quizzes and computing grades. In short, I love being a teacher! And all these, I owe to these people (pardon me for not mentioning your name but I know you know who you are):

1.  you urged me to study again and gave me the money to pay for the tuition

2.  you made it possible for me to be employed because you called me when your principal-  friend needed a teacher

3. you took over my work at home when I was busy at school, the house works and the children

4. you believed that I am worthy to be part of your faculty, you believed in my capabilities and talents

5. you accept me as your friend even if I am a BIT older than you

Thank you to all of you, you made it possible for me to realize my dream. Best of all, thank you Lord God and Mama Mary. I feel so blessed, I feel so loved and I feel I am complete person now. I hope I can be worthy to all of these blessings and be able to give back to the world whatever I am capable of giving!

On "Getting Older" by Maya Angelou

In April, Oprah interviewed Maya Angelou on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was "exciting."

Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first. The audience laughed so hard they cried.

She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this: "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher'smitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that when ever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

SCULPTORS

                                       

I dreamed I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there.

The clay they used was a child's mind,

And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher; the tools he used

Were books and music and art.

One a parent with a guiding hand,

And a gentle loving heart.

Day after day the teacher toiled

With touch that was deft and sure,

While the parent labored by his side

And polished and smoothed it o'er.

And when at last their task was done

They were proud of what they wrought,

For the things they molded into the child

Could neither be sold nor bought.

And each agreed he would have failed

If he had worked alone,

For behind the parent stood the school

And behind the teacher, the home.

Author Unknown

Untitled Poem

If I had my child to raise all over again

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I'd do less correcting, and more connecting,

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less, and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes, and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging, and less tugging.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.

Diane Loomans (Contemporary American Poet)

Life's like that!

As you grow older, you'll come to realize that everything in this world is pre-destined. The only weapon you have to have is your trust - trust in the Lord and yourself. There are no coincidences in this world! Things happen because they are meant to happen, you just have to accept it and you will be surprised to find out that they are blessings in disguise! LIVE A HAPPY LIFE!