I will miss you guys.
Thank you so much for everything,
Querin
Category: Inspiration
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Last Saturday I took my mother to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. My mother loves plants and in particular she loves flowers. We had a really good time. Here are the pictures we took.
Blueberries, banana, kiwi smoothie
Ingredients: A bunch of blueberries, one banana, two kiwis, and almond milk.
pour all the ingredients in the blender and blend
Pour in a glass and drink to your health
About Finding Ultra
This book was given to me by a friend at work. I just started reading it and it is already on my list of favorite books. Just the preface alone almost made me tear. This is a story about willpower, but I am finding, within the story, other mini-stories. One of them for example is on the preface. Rich is recounting day two of the Ultraman competition. Day one had been a success and he had finished in 1st place with 10 minutes ahead o the 2nd place competitor.
On day 2, the story was much more different. He fell off his bike and got hurt. His bicycle lost a pedal and it happened in the one area where the assistance crew was not allowed to park which meant he was all alone with no one to help. That was it for him. There was no way he could continue the race. He had no choice but to quit as there was no way he could race the one hundred thirty five miles he still had a ahead of him on a broken bicycle. What a shame, all his hard work was thrown away in a matter of seconds.
He got on his bike and pedaled with one leg while the other hanged loose. There was one more mile before he could get to where the assistance crew was waiting. There he would mount his bike on his truck and head back to the hotel. How embarrassed must he had felt. It was all over for him…or so he thought. This is where the assistance crew came into play and this is where you understand that no one makes it alone. His assistance crew was there to help him, but that was not what stroke me as that was expected. What impacted me the most was when he says “I’m suddenly surrounded by half a dozen crew members–from other competitors’ crews–all rushing to my aid.” What impacted me also was the action of Peter getting him a new pedal so that he could continue the race then looked him in the eye and told him “This is not over. Now, get back on your bike and get id done.”
Quote
Decision
Word of the week: Decision
“The hardest thing about the road not taken is that you never know where it might have led.”
-Lisa Wingate
Decision: n. 2. The act of reaching a conclusion or making up one’s mind. 4. Firmness of character or action; determination.
“Decision.” The American Heritage Dictionary. 4th ed. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston-New York: 2006.
Life is about making decisions. But most important, I believe life is about the decisions we make. There are decisions that once made are irrevocable; these decisions may require (although not all the time) careful thought and consideration. There are day to day decisions that we put very little thought on and are almost automatically like brushing our teeth, eating, etc.
Sometimes we delay on making a decision in our lives waiting for the right time and/or opportunity to present itself. It could be that you kept waiting for all your hard work and dedication to finally be recognized in your job and finally get the promotion you deserve. It could be you discovered you have a passion in another field and you want to change your career path and start all over in a new field. It could be moving to another city or even another country. It could be that you have been wanting to eat better. It could be anything. Yet, what happens when that opportunity does not arrive or the time doesn’t seem to present it self? Do you keep on waiting? or Do you DECIDE to do something? One day you look back and you see that a whole year has passed and nothing happened. Two years passed. Three years, four, five, and before you know it, a good portion of your time, of your life, has passed…and nothing has happened. We are constantly making decisions; the decision of not making a decision is also a decision. I do agree there are decisions in our lives that we need to wait on before making them. But how long do we wait is the question.
It could also be that you might feel tired of all of life’s setbacks. You already tried different things and nothing seemed to work. You may feel you don’t have the energy to make any changes in your life that will better it. But in any of these cases, then you must make a decision to better your life. Make the decision today to take better care of yourself
You are born to enjoy the abundance of life. The day to day routine and stress can make us lose focus. Not taking time to pray or meditate can make us forget about all the resources that are already there for us. You are meant to be your best. You are meant to love what you do. You are meant to be treated with dignity and respect. Be compassionate of those who do not know the difference, or do not understand that you are choosing different because you believe there is more to life then just to settle. You may end up inspiring them to find their true self.
Whatever you do, do it with love. If you do not enjoy what you do, then find a way to do what you love and make a living doing it. Make the decision to be happy. Make the decision to be the best you that you can be. Make the decision to be a better you. Look for role models. Learn their stories and how they overcame their obstacles. You do not have to be extraordinary or perfect at something to make a difference, but you have do something to make a difference. Remember that your own journey can later become an inspiration to someone else to be the best they can be.
With love,
Querin
Enthusiasm
Word of the Week: Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm n. 1. Great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause. 2. A source or cause of great excitement or interest.
“Enthusiasm.” The American Heritage Dictionary. 4th ed. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston-New York: 2006.
Be enthusiastic about what you do.
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Forgive
Word of the year: Forgive
forgive 1. to excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon. 2. To renounce anger or resentment against.
“forgive.” The American Heritage Dictionary. 4th ed. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston-New York: 2006.
I once heard an analogy about three different people who got hurt in life. Now, before I recount the story as I remember it, I must say that I am not a good story teller, but you’ll get the picture of what I want to convey. The carrot represents the first person. The egg represents the second person. And the coffee represents the third person. All three were compared in relation to the attitude they developed after they were hurt or went thru difficulties in life. Each, the carrot, the egg and the coffee were put on a container with water, the water became warmer until it got boiling hot. The hot water is the pain the three went thru.
The first person, after so much suffering and beating from life became soft, weak and vulnerable like the carrot after boiling in the hot water. Any little obstacle or challenge affected this person easily. The second person became hard like the egg. This person would not let anyone into his/her heart or her life to avoid being hurt again. Yet the third person, after undergoing the same pain, became like the coffee beans, which no matter how hot the water gets, instead of letting the water change them, the coffee beans change the water by spreading it’s wonderful aroma and changing the chemistry of the water altogether. This third person, did not let the problems and deceptions of life change him/her, but instead this person changed his/her surroundings by spreading love, forgiveness, compassion and strength.
When I heard this story, I immediately knew which one I wanted to be. Ever since that day, anytime I face any deception, big or small, I ask God to let me be like the coffee beans that changed the water and spread its wonderful aroma. Each time, I face any challenge, I pray to God so that my beautiful smile doesn’t ever go away. I pray to God so that I can be like the coffee beans.
Being able to forgive is one of the most rewarding things a person can do for him/her self. I truly believe that the person who forgives is benefited more then the one being forgiven.
God bless you and don’t forget to also forgive yourself ;-)
With love,
Querin
You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.
-Lewis B. Smedes
Happy Birthday Mom
Sunday, October 20th was my mother’s birthday. We took her to Otaiko Sushi and Hibachi restaurant, in Bayonne, NJ. We had a great time. Happy birthday mom! May God bless you and your family always, and may we celebrate many, many more birthdays like this one. Thank you to all my loved ones who were there celebrating with us. You being there made it all even more special.
Thank you and God bless you!
Flawless patterns
I did not realize the colors and patterns on my dress blended perfectly well with the decor of the terrace in this picture. This is the beauty of photography; It captures everything the eye may not be able capture instantly, then it allows you to analyze it.
Querin Explores 