Life Quotes and Good Reads - A Time to Reflect

I have come across a writer and life coach whose name is Jose Micard Teixeira. I have started reading some of his writings and indeed, they are relevant to today's lifestyle. Lately, I have had some frustrations and disappointments at work and at home. To some, I have been short tempered, and to others, I have opted to keep mum. The stress took a toll on me and I am now nursing a bad cold. 

On my sick days off from work, I did a lot of reading. That is how I came across the works of Mr. Teixeira. He is a Life e Executive Coach, Author and Motivational Speaker. He has published 4 books, "Learn to Live without Stress," "Learn to Live without Fear," "Know How to Change your Life," and "Give a New Meaning to your Life." I enjoyed reading excerpts of his work. His quotes had so much truth in them and could be very well applied in real day to day living.

I must admit, that I am very impatient at times. I hate waiting in line and I am absolutely annoyed when people do not arrive on an agreed time. I have thoughts of being just "unlucky" and "unsuccessful" compared to my siblings who live a financially stable (or should I say, "well-off") life than me. No matter how hard I tried, I was still unable to attain the success they have. Sad to admit, but, I have come to that point that I just try to keep my head above water and be content with what I have. The desire to excel has started to wane. And so, in one of those "blah" moments in life, sitting in front of a computer monitor, with watery eyes, a running nose and a throbbing headache, I came across this passage:

“In my life, with a few exceptions, nothing happened out of the blue or in a moment’s notice. Everything always took some time to reveal itself as what I believe it was a test to my ability to know how to wait. In the past, I was very anxious. The slow realization of my wishes would leave me frustrated and in angst. I believed that there were other people who were luckier than me. For years, I lived convinced that the problem was just mine and that life had different preferences from mine. Today, I understand that nothing happens this way. I realized that difficulties generate strengths and that waiting is also a way of learning. I understood that each one gets his own as long as they want it greatly and don’t change their minds. I understood that resilience is only a virtue of those who don’t give up on their dreams. I learned that wanting is no longer getting, instead it’s never giving up.”  - Jose Micard Teixeira

We go back to that old cliche - "Patience is a virtue." Indeed it is. I am guilty of being impatient waiting for my children to be done with college. I feel that I am losing precious time trying to make a living to support their education. I failed to realize that I am more blessed than a lot of other people who do not even have the means to send their kids through grade school. I am still strong, although not young, but still able to do a nine hour job. I may not have the best of health, but I am not tied down to a wheelchair. For that, I am thankful. And for that, I will be more patient. Each waking day is a blessing and each sunset is a chance to say a prayer of thanks.  

It is time to start living and stop complaining. I will learn to love me so that I can love others even more. Give more. Expect less. 

Read more beautiful quotes and passages of Jose Micard Teixeira on his Facebook page. Click here to get started. I just did.

How To Beat That Nasty Cold

A scratchy throat, sneezing, watery eyes, nasal congestion - these are the symptoms of the common cold. The common cold is a contagious, self-limiting infection commonly caused by the Rhinovirus. Transmission of the virus is through direct contact with an object or surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your nose or mouth. Another method of transmission is through inhaling droplets or secretions in the air around an infected person who has just sneezed.

Contrary to popular belief, a person does not catch a cold by getting wet or chilled. Low humidity enhances the growth of the virus and therefore, more cases of colds are reported during colder months. Another factor is that during colder climates, the lining around our nose gets too dry which makes it easier for the virus to penetrate. Excessive fatigue, emotional distress, allergies are also factors that affect the body's ability to effectively fight off the virus.

There are many over the counter remedies, however, since the common cold is a virus infection and is self-limiting, it is the symptoms that we seek relief from. It is difficult to deal with our daily work and household responsibilities if we are suffering from a runny nose. In addition to that, we feel exhausted because our body is directing all its energy towards fighting off the infection.

What are some home remedies that we can use to alleviate the symptoms and recover quickly? Here are some suggestions you may want to consider:

1. Echinacea

Echinacea is an herbal supplement that is believed to boost the immune system. It does not prevent a cold, but it reduces the duration of the infection by a few days. The Native Americans used Echinacea for a variety of healing purposes for hundreds of years.

2. Zinc

The mineral Zinc is beneficial in helping our bodies combat infections like the common cold. Zinc is believed to prevent the formation of certain proteins that viruses use to reproduce. With this action, the severity and duration of the common cold is reduced. There are many preparations of zinc available, usually in combination with other minerals, in syrup or film tabs. I would prefer zinc lozenges at the first sign of a scratchy throat.

3. Chicken Soup

Chicken soup has always been given to someone with a nasty cold. It has been a tradition for hundreds of years, although there has no definite reason why chicken soup helps to relieve a person of the cold symptoms. Some believe that drinking the hot soup relieves the congestion and reduces inflammation. Others believe the effect is psychosomatic ("its all in the mind"). Regardless of the reason, sipping a bowl of hot, delicious soup keeps us hydrated and it really does warm the heart.

4. Hot Tea

Just like chicken soup, sipping hot tea relieves congestion. There are many different teas in the market - green, white, black, oolong, pu-erh, all of which contain anti-oxidant properties. A cup of hot tea therefore gives us antioxidants, relieves congestion and keeps us hydrated. A most welcome beverage to have whether we have a cold or not.

5. Humidifiers

As I have mentioned earlier, studies show that viruses can easily penetrate the mucous membranes of our nose and throat when it is dry. During colder months when the humidity is low, we become prone to catching a cold. One effective way to keep viruses at bay is to use a humidifier at home. Adding moisture to the air keeps our sinuses open and makes us breathe and sleep better. Some people even love the low whirring sound of a humidifier at night because it has a calming effect.

6. Vitamin C

Vitamin C has been widely known to cure scurvy. It works as an anti-oxidant to help the body tissues grow and promote healing. There are been many studies conducted to explain the efficiency of Vitamin C as a treatment for the common cold, and the results vary. There are many natural sources of Vitamin C - citrus fruits, broccoli, bell peppers, kiwi fruit, strawberries, etc. Whether or not Vitamin C helps in the prevention of catching a cold, it is always best to include this in our daily diet for total and complete nutrition.

7. Bed Rest

As with all other ailments, bed rest is recommended to help our bodies heal itself. Plenty of fluids and sleep will enable our natural body processes to rid itself of the invading virus. When a person is sick, his/her body is undergoing a stressful situation. It is therefore recommended to allow our bodies to rest and mobilize vital processes to fight off the infection.

I am currently suffering from a nasty cold. I am about 70% recovered at this time as I write. As much as I would want to stay home until I am 100% well, I have to report back to work tonight. Oh well, I will probably be missing #5 and #7 (the humidifier and bed rest), but I will make sure that I have my supplements, a stash of tea bags, and a can of soup that I can have at work.

Happy Monday, everyone! :)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

Working for CSAT, Getting Nothing but DISSAT

Tonight I start work in a new site - same company, different location. I should be excited. Its a new building, a bigger monitor, a new room, new equipment, and the site is only two kilometers away from home. But guess what? I am not excited at all.

I was thrilled to learn of the transfer months back. However, a lot of changes had to happen which created a impact on me that made me lose interest in this move. There were things that I had to give up, things that made me happy at work, things that helped me provide for my family's needs.

First, we were "ordered" to go on a graveyard shift. Fine. I have no issues with that. Its just a matter of tweaking my sleeping schedules and household routines. However, here's the thing - moving to a graveyard shift will cut down my transportation incentive to half. That means, I will be losing two thousand pesos a month. Management said that despite the cut, we would be earning a whole lot more for the night differential pay. Really???!!! The night differential pay is only 15% of the hourly rate and it is taxable income. I guess these people did not do well in grade school mathematics.

Second, we were not informed of their plan to change our work schedules. We were not even asked how such change would affect us. Let me give some clarification. I provide quality assurance support to businesses based in the United States, therefore, I do not have agents taking calls locally. My US counterparts do not have any issue with me working the 2pm-11pm Eastern Standard Time shift. So why the change? We asked management for the reason. The answer we got? "I will be working midshift, 4pm-1am Manila time. I want to see you guys." Lame lame lame. Another response we got - "I can't tell you."  There goes transparency and visibility. Sure, great job! Keep secrets from your front-liners! 

Third, we are not allowed to have anything on our desks other than the computer monitor, the mouse and the keyboard. I have never, as in NEVER, worked in such an environment that we are not allowed to "personalize" our work space. It is hell enough to work nights, but to work in an environment that controls everything is not just right. Show me a person who can stare at a computer monitor for 8 hours straight and I will recommend that person to be given an award for being a seaweed. It is those little bits and pieces of home away from home that takes away the stress. I guess there are just some people (I am not even sure if they are even worth being called that) who find gratification in power-tripping.

Fourth, I loved working in Eastwood City. It is maybe three and a half kilometers from home, still close and accessible. Eastwood City used to be General Textile Mills, Inc. It is where my parents used to work. My dad was the company physician, my mom worked in the Finance Department, and we were a canteen concessionaire in the textile mill. I practically grew up spending after school hours in that place. I could still remember where the company clinic was, where the motor pool and boiler room was located. Working in Eastwood made me feel like I was back in that time, that happy time where my parents were still young and healthy. The only original structure within the General Textiles compound that was not demolished was the church. It was originally called "Holy Family Church," and has now been renamed "St. John Paul II Parish." Spending a few minutes in that church everyday made me remember the masses we attended there as a family. With the transfer to the new site, I would be missing my daily quiet time inside a church. I will be missing watching the sunrise. I will be missing the occasional breakfast breaks with my eldest son who is now working in Eastwood.

Now, I would probably be getting reactions like - "just resign if you don't like to comply with the changes." This is not about an issue with compliance. This is an issue about honesty, about being sensitive to the feelings of others. It is about being a true leader. 

What do I plan to do now? I plan to blog like crazy, to grab every opportunity that comes my way. To "sell myself" to advertisers, to be more active in social media sharing - anything to earn back what I will be losing in my bi-monthly paycheck. I will pray harder. I will do it and I will succeed.

And for those who have impacted me and my workmates in such a negative, deceitful manner, I pray that they won't experience having to deal with a boss just like themselves. If they do, maybe that will be the time that we will be vindicated. 

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Investing In Your Family's Safety

It is alarming that the crime rate has just skyrocketed. When I was growing up, I could just play outside with my friends without my parents worrying about me. We could go to a park and be meters away from our picnic space and still feel safe. 

I feel sorry for the children of this generation. They have missed out on the joys of playing safe and free. It does seem that the only safe place after dark is the home. Although sometimes, being home is not even a guarantee that we will be safe. We would be tucked in bed, asleep and for all we know, robbers have ransacked the house. 

I have heard that there is some kind of spray that robbers use to cause deep sleep for the people inside the house they intend to break into. Whatever it is, I have no idea. How can we then protect ourselves and our children?

There are certain devices out in the market that we can purchase to help us keep our homes safe and our children safer. There are spy cameras that look like a clock radio, security cameras, and motion-activated outdoor lights. For self defense, it would be wise to always carry with us something to deter evil-doers. A small can of pepper spray or a stun gun would ward them them away. Lastly for our own peace of mind, we can make our children wear a child-tracker watch. All these, together with being more aware and street-smart can help us stay away from being victims of crime.

Check out these products below and maybe they would work for you too.

A Hidden Spy Camera Radio Clock

The Jumbl Mini Hidden Spy Camera Radio Clock is great thing to have on your night table as well as in your child's bedroom too. It seemingly looks like a digital clock, but it records video and still images. It can be set to record only when motion is detected. Supports up to 32 GB Micro SD card (sold separately). No need to hook up to your computer because you can view footage in the built-in 2 inch screen.

Security Cameras

To add to our peace of mind, outdoor security cameras can give us just that. Strategically placed, these devices can work well both during the day and night. Just because you'll never know when intruders attack, this VideoSecu cctv camera comes equipped with a mini hidden microphone.

Solar Powered Motion Sensor Lighting Fixtures

Reinforce the efficiency of a cctv by installing a motion sensor LED light. This motion sensor light has a 0.55 watt solar panel that converts sunlight to reusable electricity. Lightweight and easy to install, Sunnytech's Outdoor Lamp does a good job for a very affordable price. 

Personal Protection # 1 - Pepper Spray

My work shift starts at 2am and it causes my family so much worry when I leave for work. Although I live in a relatively safe neighborhood, I can never be sure that there is no one lurking in the darkness. To protect myself, I have a can of pepper spray in my purse. I hold it in my hand while I am walking, ready to use at the slightest provocation. Better safe than sorry. 

Personal Protection # 2 - Stun Gun

A stun gun will be my next purchase. Lately, there have been motorcycle-riding hoodlums who would try to snatch your bag. My mom was once a victim of this kind of robbery. My mom fell to the ground after the rider snatched her purse. Good thing she was not seriously hurt. A device like this would be more effective when walking near a busy street where motorcycles can come so close to a sidewalk. A stun gun like this can fire 500,000 volts into an attacker and make a very clear statement to stay away.

Child-Tracker Watches

Do you have a toddler who loves to run around? Most toddlers do! When my sons were like 4 and 2 years old, they were a handful to watch over when we would go to the grocery store or the mall. During that time, child harnesses were the "in" thing to keep a child in check and within arms' reach. Nowadays, technology has given us an innovative way to give the children some "freedom" and still offer parents peace of mind. A child tracker watch in fun designs, easy to use and with no monthly service fees is a cool device to have on your child. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

Top 5 Countries That Consume The World's Most Common Beverages

I just got a light bulb moment while having my morning cup of coffee. I just wanted to know about which country consumes the most of everyday beverages. I collated the information and I had such a fun time so I am sharing it with you. The figures below are usually described as "per capita," meaning "the average consumption of the total population," therefore, it is an average count of the people who consume it and those who don't.

The Top 5 Countries That Consume The Most Coffee

Before I searched for the information, I thought it was hands-down the United States. I thought the Philippines would be second (with all the night shift workers trying to stay awake). I guessed it wrong! The United States is not even in the Top 10, and the Philippines is not even on the list! Based on the per capita consumption of the dry weight of coffee, the top 5 are:

1. Finland - 9.6 kg per capita

2. Norway - 7.2 kg per capita

3. Netherlands - 6.7 kg per capita

4. Slovenia - 6.1 kg per capita

5. Austria - 5.5 kg per capita

The Top 5 Countries That Consume The Most Milk

Again, my top guess was the United States. Wrong again. The United States ranked 16th in a study conducted in 2008. The four of the Top 5 countries that consume the most milk (liquid and dry) are in Northern  Europe, and the country holding the 5th rank is in the Mediterranean. Without much ado, here are the Top 5 milk consuming countries:

1. Finland - 361.19 kg per capita

2. Sweden - 355.86 kg per capita

3. Netherlands - 320.15 kg per capita

4. Switzerland - 315.78 kg per capita

5. Greece - 314.79 kg per capita

The Top 5 Countries That Consume The Most Tea

Now this will be a difficult list. The manner  by which tea is consumed are different in every country in the world. Some may drink tea as part of a ceremony, others may drink tea because of it healing properties. There are still others who have tea as a regular after-meal beverage, while others drink tea as their source of caffeine. Therefore creating a list of the top consumers of tea would vary. Let us make do with a generalized list for tea consumption. So, who do you think landed the top spot? Let me take a guess. The top spot should be some country from Asia. China? Japan? India? Let's find out!

1. Turkey

2. Morocco

3. Ireland

4. Mauritania

5. United Kingdom

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The Top 5 Countries That Consume The Most Beer 

Now we come to a favorite of mine... Beer! It is always something I look forward to having on the weekends. I love strong beer, Red Horse beer, particularly. Beer is the drink of friendship, of little glories and family time. Bottled beer, homemade beer, dark beer, beer in cans, draft beer, any beer! Which country would you think consumes the most beer? My wild guess was Germany, because of the Oktoberfest. Another guess would be the United States, because of all the sporting events they have, and beer is always part of each and every game. I was amazed to find out who the Top 5 really were.

1. France

2. Austria

3. Estonia

4. Germany

5. Ireland

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I raise my mug, cup, glass, or bottle and greet everyone a Happy First Monday of February!