Category: LIFE

Years ago, as I got out of the shower, I noticed my posture as I stared in the mirror. I realized that my lower back had bad posture. It didn’t seem normal to me as I looked. I quickly Googled to see what that meant, only to learn that my case was developing into a condition called lumbar lordosis. Wow. I could not believe that I could have bad posture without me even knowing. Posture correction is something that you want to keep checking and correcting if it goes off. Years later, I was prompted to write about it.

I’ve learnt, where something turns up is not usually where it started. Maybe this was something that I had developed over the years, however I did not want to develop bad posture on purpose. My point is, even though the mirror was right in front of me day after day, I never paused to check if there had been a shift or change in my posture. And bad posture can lead to back pain, damage to vertebrae, lack of self-esteem, etc. to name a few. This was my physical posture that needed attention and change.

My question to you is, have you paused and looked at what the posture you’re forming is, or is it something that you’ve developed over the years by default? It might interest you to know that you could continue to live life without realizing you’ve developed an incorrect posture and not see it unless you stand in front of a mirror.

I’d like you to take a moment and reflect on the following:

What is your:

• Emotional posture

Love people. Show love. Value relationships.

• Mental posture

Pay attention to your thoughts. What you feed will ultimately grow.

• Relational posture

Do community and dependable relationships exist in your life?

• Spiritual posture

God believes in you. Do you believe in yourself?

• Physical posture

Are you working to be the best version of yourself?

• Financial posture

Want versus need?

• Professional posture

Defining your work ethic and sticking to it.

I was listening to a podcast by Pastor Craig Groechele, and he said, “We live in times where we buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to show people we don’t care about. Let me tell you this, and you’ve probably heard this: if you want to live a different life, you’ve got to do different things. It begins with a change in your perspective, leading to a change in your actions, for knowledge without action is futile.

Have you ever stood in front of those mirrors that reflect different images? Back in the day when I was dating Joanna, we visited a mirror maze, which made us look small, big, tall, short, round, etc. It was, no doubt, a fun date because it made us laugh at each other.

There are definitely different types of mirrors available in the marketplace today. Mirrors that give the ideal image that you seek. Mirrors that make you look good while concealing your insecurities and flaws. Talk about filters that hide those flaws. We can sometimes love reflections and rely on the mirror for those reflections rather than working on what’s in front of the mirror.

However, to really get an honest and real picture of our incorrect posture, we need to have a mirror (and that could be your inner circle or a person, but who is honest and bold enough to speak into our life, without judgement) that reflects exactly what’s in front of it. And you may not like it at first, because it will give us a true assessment of things.

But one of the keys to growing up is being honest, accepting your flaws, and not defending yourself. It’s sometimes painful to go through the process, but I would encourage you to trust the process.

Just a couple of days ago, I heard someone talking about faith and how he was in a place where his daughters (3-month premature twin babies) got a limited life sentence. But what he did was to hold on to his faith. His faith carried his family through, and his daughters are alive and well 14 years later. And an example of holding on he gave was the feeling of waking up in the middle of the night where you can’t see anything, but you hold on to anything that keeps you steady so you don’t fall over and hurt yourself.

There is strength and confidence in the right posture.

We’re going to talk about sailing and how it can be a great analogy to our lives. The winds play a major role in sailing, and using winds to your advantage can sometimes make you sail faster, provided you can keep the boat afloat. Sometimes the winds and waves can throw you off plan and land you in crises, which is what happens to us in life sometimes.

But what is defined as a storm? The literal meaning of “storm” is

1. A violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
2. move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction.

Storms are very destructive, and nothing can withstand the fury of their nature. Many strong and mighty ships have been blown apart and drowned.We are at sea in the journey of life. Storms are inevitable.

Can we escape storms? NO is the answer. Can we navigate through them? MAYBE. Is Jesus with us? YES

Let’s look at the disciples’ story of their boat.

MATT 8:23 

MK 4:35

Context and background

Jesus had been teaching around the Sea of Galilee, most likely near Capernaum. But now He is exhausted. His teaching and healing ministry often leaves Him without time to eat (Mark 3:20) or sleep (Mark 1:32–39). He decides, after a time, to go to the other side of the lake to continue His ministry.

V37 talks about them encountering the storm.

If the disciples who fished for a living thought they were bound to perish in the storm, we should trust their judgment that the storm was pretty bad.

• The boat they were in was about to be swamped. According to other translations, “the waves broke over the boat; the waves poured into the boat.”
• The disciples saw 2 possibilities.
• Either the fierce waves would have sunk the boat due to water in the boat.
• Either the fierce waves would have broken the boat due to its force.

Now I’ve got the opportunity to finish my sailing classes, and one of the classes was a capsizing class. We eventually capsized three times, and the first time we were not even prepared. The winds and waves just threw our boat at an angle. For a second, I was scared because Joanna was with me. Rather, I was scared because I was with her. She’s a pretty good swimmer. I would call my swimming skills “work in progress.” Just like our lives, right? Now a bad example of a captain is jumping off first from the boat to save his life, and guess who was El Capitan on the day. Low and behold, it was Cap. John. This happened to be a totally unplanned capsize experience. Thankfully, we had to have lifejackets.

But I can kind of sense the fear they had because of such an experience.

With such concern, they saw Jesus. They probably gave him an attitude and said, “Do you not care if we drown?”

And He wakes up and silences the waves.

TAKEAWAY POINTS

1. Do not take Jesus’ silence for Jesus’ absence.

He is with you even when you don’t see it or when you don’t feel it.

His presence goes before you, behind you, beside you, all around you, within you. He is with you.

2. KNOW WHO YOU SERVE.

As the song lyrics go, He’s a waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper, and light in the darkness. He will not allow you to go down with him in your boat.

ILLUSTRATION

The very center of a hurricane is called the “eye.” In the eye of a storm, the winds are calm, and it can feel like a peaceful, sunny day.

In strong tropical cyclones, the eye is characterized by light winds and clear skies, surrounded on all sides by a towering, symmetric eyewall.

Even though you are surrounded, it doesn’t mean you’re subdued.

3. KNOW WHO YOU ARE 

The moment they called out to him, He was right there. He dealt with the situation, and then He dealt with the disciples’ lack of faith.

• Although Jesus performs an entirely astonishing act, demonstrating his supernatural power, all it inspires in his followers is confusion and terror. V41

Does it amaze you that Jesus has done miracles or even that He is capable of doing so?

The disciples’ surprised and amazed response showed that they couldn’t believe Jesus could subdue and make the sea as calm as glass.

Who is this, they asked? Their disbelief made them question who Jesus was.

Is it possible, like the disciples, that even though they walked and talked and sat and ate with Jesus, you have not recognized not only WHAT He can do but also WHO Jesus is?

CONCLUSION 

BE SURE OF WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE CAN DO.

• WHERE HE HAS PLACED YOU IS PART OF THE PLAN BECAUSE HE IS ONE WHO HAS INITIATED THE JOURNEY TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE. 
• STORMS WILL COME, BUT JESUS IS GREATER THAN YOUR STORMS. 
• GOD CONTROLS/SILENCES YOUR STORMS, AND IT DOES NOT CONTROL OR SILENCE YOU. 
• JESUS’ ONE WORD IS ENOUGH.
• EVEN THOUGH WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOU, GOD IS WORKING SOMETHING IN YOU. 

Stay encouraged, stay blessed.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a household name in every house that follows football, more so the English Premier League. More than a household name, he is an idol in many countries among the youth, right from the boots he wears to the styling of his hair to the trickery on the field. Cristiano Ronaldo is not only the most followed person on Instagram but also a mighty influence around the world, especially in sports. Being able to witness his achievements and accolades is an absolute privilege for us at this time. That being said, Cristiano Ronaldo is one gift we can cherish in this generation. 

Now that Ronaldo is back to his former club, Manchester United, he’ll be pretty eager to prove his versatility and confidence once again that he can play in any club and league and still have a huge impact on the results. Let’s be honest, Ronaldo is already a legend of the game. He has numerous awards and accolades that players could only dream of. On multiple occasions, he’s won the most coveted title for players, the Ballon d’Or; then there’s the Champions League titles, League titles, highest goal scorer awards, etc.; the list keeps going on. But here’s the question. What keeps Cristiano Ronaldo ticking? But what has kept him set apart and earning the title of one of the best payers in the world, one of the legends of the game?

That was the intriguing question that came to my mind. However, after much thought and understanding his nature and attitude, I came to the conclusion that it is Cristiano Ronaldo’s mental toughness, along with his love for the game and the discipline to do the right things, that has kept him constantly performing at the peak of his career. To put it simply, he knows what is right for him, and he does what he knows is best for him. As organic as this sounds, it is sometimes extremely complex to know what is right and translate that into action. 

That is where Cristiano Ronaldo sets himself apart from the rest. The attitude of constant self-improvement drives him to compete against himself, and when one starts to do that, that is when an individual begins self-improvement because the competition is not against anyone but against oneself. This leads to a focused approach because the only concern is self-performance. One’s biggest competition should be himself, and Ronaldo is a man who has been, is, and will be constantly hungry to grow and improve over the years. His positive habits have helped him be mentally tough, and his hard work off the pitch has immensely helped him achieve success at the highest level. His learning attitude has not left him even after being a legend in the game, and so he continues to have a deep impact on the game. 

With every game, Ronaldo brings the experience and learnings he has gained over the years to Manchester United. The impact Ronaldo has on the pitch and in the dressing room on the opponent is gargantuan. He carries this presence that cannot be missed and cannot be taken for granted. His work ethic has and will definitely be a huge motivation to the Manchester United players because even at the age of 36, he has continued to grow and shown the same passion, enthusiasm, and discipline for the game he once had when he first appeared in the Scarlet Red colors.

It is the mental stamina, tunnel vision and laser focus that has made Ronaldo one of the greatest of all time. 

Every time he steps on the pitch, the opponents know Ronaldo is a threat because he is mentally sharp and physically skilled to deliver shocks and surprises anytime till the clock is ticking. Physically, he might be 36, but mentally, he’s probably sharper than anyone out there due to the mental discipline he has. Not to forget the respect he has gained from the fans. It certainly cannot be missed. Ronaldo has stayed humble before the fans and acknowledged their support constantly. In his stint at Manchester United, the fans will certainly not spare an ounce of energy and support for Ronaldo because he is their kid. He left his ‘home’, but now he’s back, he’s hungry, and he has the same fire to win games.

We got to admit, Ronaldo is a huge influence to the players, to Manchester United, and to the game of football. But more so, his mental discipline has impressed me more than anything. Reaching an epitome is one thing, but staying there is another. Not everyone possesses that capacity. It is the mental stamina, tunnel vision, and laser focus that have made Ronaldo one of the greatest of all time. 

Sports teaches us many things if we identify what the learnings are. My introduction to golf happened when I was a kid; however, I did not harbor too much interest in the game. Perhaps if I had continued to pursue the game through my school and college years, maybe my life story would have been a little different. That being said, I found a new love for the game since the time I recently got acquainted with golf in the Middle East. I randomly found myself on the driving range with one of my friends in Doha, Qatar, who invited me to kill some time on a boring afternoon. Since then, it’s been almost 4-5 months since I’ve been heading to the driving range and trying to perfect my swing and technique. 

I’m no pro or a regular golfer, but one of the biggest reasons I love the game is because it has a close analogy to life, and there are so many life lessons one can learn from the game. I’d like to share some thoughts of what I’ve learned from the game and how those learnings can be applied to life. 

1. Gripping the golf club

One of the biggest and most important parts of the game is gripping the cub right. While there might be different grips people adapt to, the principal thing to note is to not grip the club too firmly. Many have put holding a golf club this way: holding the club as gentle as though you’re holding a bird and firm enough where it will not fly into the air. Gripping the club too firmly leads to weaker shots and those weak shots and also restricts club head rotation. 

A soft grip helps release muscle tension in the hands and arms. In life, we are often of the mindset that the firmer we hold it, the better control we have over it. We sometimes get so tense about life and the future that we forget to live in the moment. This is when we start to grip our lives so firmly, thinking it’ll help us feel secure and in control. Stress and tension don’t allow us to think clearly. I would be careful to assume that by ‘gripping our lives’ and ‘holding it firmly’, we’ll achieve greater control of our lives, but rather what it does is create more tension and make us ‘hit some bad shots.’ You want to hit long and straight; have a soft grip. Think consciously of what grip you’re holding on to your life. 

2. Posture and body balance 

If you’re leaning too forward, then your spine angle changes, and that leads to a shot error. If you’re leaning backward, then you lose body balance and your shot is wayward. Neither results in a good clean shot. My question to you today is, What posture have we developed over the years that has become a habit? Even in the times of challenges and obstacles, can we keep a good posture and balance, or is it only in the good times, when life is good, that we keep a good attitude and a positive mindset? With a good mental posture towards life, we can bounce back strongly because of how we protected our posture during the challenging times. Our posture is in our hands. Protect it. 

3. Head down and eyes on the ball. 

This is probably one of the most important lessons that the sport has taught me. To hit the ball in the first place, you need to have your head down and eyes focused on the ball. The head doesn’t move one bit till after hitting the ball. The eyes and the head work together. 

The head being down represents the humility one can strive for in life. While hitting the golf ball, many are tempted to move their head towards the target before even hitting the ball first. It happens. Consciously, every golfer has gone through this in the early stages of their development. However, it is with constant practice and habits that one learns to keep their head down and eyes focused. Keep your eyes focused on the task in front of you. It could be your job, business, tasks assigned to you, or even the relationship you’re in. Focus and don’t get ahead of yourself because that is the temptation. Keep your head down, and you’ll eventually see how far you’ve hit the ball. Let your life reflect humility, and you’ll see how far you’ve come in life. 

4. Unlearn before learning. 

To learn the good habits, you need to unlearn the bad ones first. Many times in the sport, golfers don’t take the path of coaching. They try figuring out the game by themselves. Because the margin of error is so small, any last minute changes in the swing, stance, grip, posture, etc. result in the ball going in a different direction than intended. To understand the root cause is that some habits developed become hard to unlearn later on as they progress. So what people advise is that right from the beginning, as you learn something, make sure you’re learning the good habits because that is what will carry you forward and make you grow in the game. Try to unlearn the old before learning the new. Let go of your old ways and start adopting new ways. Might be a little uncomfortable at first, but it’s worth it. You’ll see the difference. 

“Keep the last shot behind you and focus on the next shot before you.”

Jonathan Stephen

5. Hitting a bad shot is normal. 

My uncle once told me that in golf, bad shots are going to happen. But you gotta focus on the next shot and put the bad shot behind you. If you continue to carry the thoughts of the bad shot and where your ball is, your mind starts to overthink, jeopardizing the chances of a good shot in your next attempt. In a game, you can hit a really bad first shot into another fairway, which can happen even to the pros. However, if you can get the next few shots on the green and make it a par, then that’s what matters. Keep the last shot behind you and focus on the next shot before you. You can’t undo the last shot; it’s not a virtual game that you can restart and begin again. Accept where your position in life is, keep what has happened behind you, and focus on what you can do in front of you. Be forward-focused and not a past dweller. 

It was early January 2021, a year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the globe. The most interesting aspect of my job was that it offered new, challenging, and unique experiences every day. 

I was rostered for a morning flight to Algeria with a fairly light passenger load to Algeria. It seemed like a pretty standard day at work until we were informed that our aircraft had a delay. Delays meant and impacted differently for different departments. Delays for the ground staff meant increased pressure to release the aircraft. For the engineers, it meant fixing the aircraft as soon as possible, as every minute on the ground incurred cost to the company. For the pilots, it meant liaising with the engineers and the air traffic controllers for the release of the aircraft or perhaps, in some cases, even a new flight plan. For the crew, it meant increased checks in the cabin to anticipate if any customers needed anything. 

After about a 30-45 minute delay on the ground, we didn’t have any definite idea as to how long we’d remain on the ground. The cabin crew was advised to continue with the round of beverages and check on the customers from time to time. As we continued with ground services, I noticed a woman bursting in tears and crying her heart out. Seeing someone cry profusely was not easy for me to bear at that moment. I felt like helping her; however, I felt a little helpless. I was unsure to go and ask her if she was okay or just allow her some space for herself. 

The lady was dressed in an abaya, and at that moment I felt I should inform my supervisor about it. So I immediately informed my supervisor that a lady seated on 26F was profusely crying. After giving her some time and space, I decided to go and speak with the lady. I approached her gently, made eye contact, and asked her if everything was okay. She replied by saying yes, she was okay. I offered some kleenex so she could wipe off her tears. Although she tried to put up a bold front and attempted to hide her tears, I encouraged her and said, “I don’t know what you’re going through, but stay strong in this season. There is hope.”

That was the moment she again burst out in tears and started pouring out her emotions and feelings to me. I hunched on my knees, gave her my time, and began listening to what she had to say. The more she talked and expressed herself, the more she cried. I listened patiently and tried to instill hope and encouragement in my conversation with her. That was a moment where she became vulnerable to me. It was a personal and emotional moment for her where she could express what she felt to a complete stranger on a plane. We mutually knew that she could share her heart out without any judgments whatsoever.

She eventually felt better as I ensured that she was checked on regularly throughout the flight. I believe she needed and outlet and someone to just hear her out. Sometimes you can surprise yourself in situations which will demand your time and availability, and you’d be stunned to know that your saying ‘yes’ makes a big difference. In a busy and distracted world that we live in, where people and things (yes, our phones) pull our attention in different directions, opportunities are always knocking if we’re ready to take hold on them. The story ends where I wish her all the very best as she deplaned the aircraft. 

Often times, it might be pretty ordinary for us to give our time, but for the person who needs someone to talk, it can act as a relief. I just want to encourage you that as you become more situationally aware of situations and conditions around you, your availability can lead to someone’s vulnerability.

I’ve been married to a Filipina for more than 3 months now; however, we dated for almost 2 years before marriage. She comes from Cebu, an island in the Philippines. I have not visited her home yet or have traveled to the Philippines with her, but I hope to learn either Tagalog or Besaya so I’ll know if she’s making fun of me in her language or not. 

#1 They are extremely caring. 

Filipinos are one of the nicest people I’ve known. If you’re dating or are married to a Filipina, you probably know by now that they are one of the most caring, affectionate, and loving people. My wife, then girlfriend, wrote me 22 love letters of why she loved me, which absolutely touched my heart because no one had done something like that for me. I was flattered and overwhelmed at that thought and gesture. They are one of the politest and most hospitable people you can meet. Filipinos have a big serving heart, and that is one of the things they love to do. 

#2. They are community-oriented. 

Filipinos in general are very family- and community-oriented. They strongly believe in the idea of community and have strong family ties. Get-togethers, potlucks, festivals, and birthdays are some of the reasons to celebrate big and have fun. I think Filipino food, although underrated, is delicious. The get-togethers are opportunities to celebrate big. One of the best things about the culture is the different festivals and events that bring people together. 

#3 They are hardworking. 

In my personal experience of working with them in my previous job, they’re one of the most hardworking people I’ve come across. Along with working hard, they’re one of the most fun people to work with, in my opinion. I’ve met many Filipino women in my previous job who were supporting their partners with their business ventures and career goals. Because life in the Philippines can sometimes be hard due to a lack of opportunities and resources, they’re taught very young in life to work hard and honestly.

#4 They have strong values. 

Most Filipinos are raised with strong family values. In my observation, they share a close knitted relationship with their family and are extremely respectful to elders in the family.

#5 They are pretty. 

Filipinas are one of the prettiest women. On a lighter note, which is why I ended up marrying a Filipino. I will admit that I’ve had an Asian fever since college, but without being biased, I have to say that many Filipino women naturally have aesthetic features.

I’m in that season of life where I’m going through many small beginnings, hence I thought to write about it. My journey towards blogging itself is a small beginning at this point in my life. About small beginnings, I want to talk about times where I’ve not appreciated and valued small steps taken towards my goal. Perhaps I measured progress with movement or wasn’t able to measure how far or close I am towards meeting my goals; I’m not sure. I certainly didn’t value small steps, maybe because it was another small step, or just one small step and not a series of steps at once. Progress can happen even in the dark or even when you can’t see it taking place. When you plant a seed, way before there’s growth above the soil, something happens under the soil that leads to growth above the soil. I’ve learned that every step is another step closer to your goal. 

 Experiences in life have taught me to value progress, even if it’s small. They’ve also taught me not just to set goals but to set milestones to measure my goals. So I thought of writing 5 ways to appreciate small beginnings. 

#1: Change your perspective. 

 Sometimes our understanding of progress is that only visible movement is progress. Understand this: not all seen movement is progress. An example of this is the cross trainer or the treadmill at the gym. You’re performing a movement but technically still in the same place. Movement is sometimes disguised and hidden. Another example is when a farmer places a seed in the ground; the growth that takes place is hidden under the soil before you see anything growing above.

Growth is sometimes hidden. 

 #2: Value its potential worth. 

 Someone once wrote that great things come from small beginnings. Everything in life is a process and takes time, just like a seed planted; over time, with the right nourishment, it would produce a tree with fruit as well as shade for humans on the ground and birds in the air. As cliche as it sounds, remain consistent with the work, value that you have, and trust the process. 

Potential is only achieved when consistency is consistent.

 #3: Believe in the small. 

 Small doesn’t equal less worth. Just because something’s small doesn’t mean it has less value. We sometimes have the tendency to equate bigger things in life with a higher value. But remember, it’s the small beginnings today that turn into big achievements tomorrow. Learning to be appreciative of the small beginnings keeps things in perspective and reminds us where we’ve come from. It gives us perspective that you’re not where you used to be but also not where you want to be. Treat small, humble beginnings as special because of the courage that led you to start it in the first place. 

It’s important to believe in your mission because if you don’t, then no one around you will. 

#4: Stop comparing. 

 Comparing something kills the special feeling that you once had about someone or something. Someone once said, “We tend to compare our beginnings with someone else’s peak and usually get discouraged and disappointed.” Comparing yourself with others will either make you feel superior about yourself or will make you feel inferior about yourself, and both are bad attitudes. This is easier said than done, but focus on how you can improve yourself every day and fall in love with the process more than the outcome.

It’s the process that makes you into who you are, not the outcome. 

 #5: Your beginnings are yours. 

 Your small beginnings can only be protected by you. Know that you are the only person who is in charge of your beginnings, whether in life, businesses, education, work, etc. So continue to have a growth mindset and attitude of taking ownership and responsibility of your actions, protecting what belongs to you, and valuing what you have today.

Value what you have today, for you might not be able to cherish its value tomorrow.