Thank You. Do you say and hear it enough?

Thank you.

I would like to share to you about the importance of praise, admiration and thank you, and having it be specific and genuine. And as brief as the opening line, so shall this post  also be  like. 

And the way I got interested in this was, I noticed in myself, when I was growing up, and until about a few years ago, that I would want to say thank you to someone, I would want to praise them, I would want to take in their praise of me and I’d just stop it. And I asked myself, why? I felt shy, I felt embarrassed, the least awkward. And then my question became, am I the only one who does this?  

 It has been a recurring theme in so many movies and reality tv shows that discuss the thing that causes stress, anxiety, depression and even addiction to people is the issue that comes down to something as simple as, their core wound is their father died without ever saying he’s proud of them. But then, they hear from all the family and friends that the father told everybody else that he was proud of him, but he never told the son. It’s because he didn’t know that his son needed to hear it. 

So my question is, why don’t we ask for the things that we need? I know a gentleman, married for 30 years, who’s longing to hear his wife say, “Thank you for being the breadwinner, so I can stay home with the kids,” but won’t ask. I know a woman who’s good at this. She, once a week, meets with her husband and says, “I’d really like you to thank me for all these things I did in the house and with the family.” And he goes, “Oh, this is great, this is great.” And praise really does have to be genuine, but she takes responsibility for that.

So, the question is, why was I blocking it? Why were other people blocking it? Why can I say, “I’ll have my burger with some fries and sundae on the side, I need size nine shoes, etc.” but I won’t say, “Would you appreciate or praise me this way?” 

So, I’m going to challenge us all. Like my wife has been to me the past years of our married life by being vocal and direct in saying what she truly needed to hear from me — I want you to be honest about the praise that you need to hear. What do you need to hear? Go home to your wife — go ask her, what does she need? Go home to your husband — what does he need? Go home to those special people in your life — what do they need. Go home and ask those questions, and then help the people around you. 

I think it’s simple. And why should we care about this? We talk about world peace. How can we have world peace with different cultures, different languages? I think it starts household by household, under the same roof. So, let’s make it right in our own backyard. 

To all of you who happen to read this simple post — I want to say Thank You. And maybe somebody’s never said that to you, by being a father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, friends to your loved ones in the purest sense of those words,  you’ve already done a really, really good job. 

And for that, Thank you.

Photo credits: Google photos

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Mystery Blogger Award

Before anything else, I would like to thank two of the lovely (inside and out) ladies who nominated me for this award, Liz and Nyse. In as much as I’m honored and thrilled for this, I am likewise anxious, edgy, tensed, (panicky?) -*insert every word you can think of which corresponds with the word nervous – in answering their respective sets of questions.

Why???

Because there’s this seemingly unwritten ancient policy which says that when a lady (ladies in this case – one undeniably good-looking and the other (can’t yet give a fair description due to the absence of available photos, however, she was widely known as the Queen of Awesomeness, and, for sure, that wasn’t for a reason, haha)) asked a guy some serious questions they apparently require some serious answers too, right? Disagree all you want, it’s still my opinion and I’m entitled to it, haha. And although I’ve emphasized some strong points about saying “No” on my post The “No” Way which I can use as a good excuse not to divulge any information  about myself [as a matter of personal security] by answering the  questions  set before me yet commonsense (or you can aptly say in the guise of being polite) dictates that I need to contradict those points in consideration of this award, hahaha. Who’s in his right mind would dismiss such a generously encouraging gesture?! You tell me…

Having said that, now I was forced, rather, left with the task of answering the hereunder sets of questions. So let’s get the ball rolling, shall we?

Liz’s Questions:

1. What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime?

I want to have a book published in my name. I’m still in [most people] would consider as ‘midlife’, so, factor in the equation the progress climate change is covering on a daily basis plus the average life expectancy of a person in the world scale (without bias to territorial location and racial genetic  structures) I think that is still possible, haha.

2. Describe your form of spirituality.

I’m a Christian. I believe that there’s a God who works for the good of all His children according to His will and timing. On that thought, Christianity has also taught me to love, accept and respect my fellow human beings without bias and prejudice as to belief, personal views, status and circumstances.

3. What movie is close to the story of your life?

This is hard. Modesty aside, I was thinking more of James Bond or Jason Bourne movies, just kidding! Hahaha.

Seriously, I can probably relate with the character of Guido in the movie Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella), his positivism, his humor, and the manner in which he wooed the love of his life, Dora.

I’m an old soul, haha. No, maybe I just like movies that I consider with “real” stories to offer.

4. Which author would you like to hang out with for a day?

I would say Steven Spielberg if he’s an author but unfortunately he’s not. So I’ll just settle down with Ernest Hemingway. I’ll have him explain his “grace under pressure” principle; I got a 2.0 in American Literature way back in college for not rendering a substantial elucidation of said principle in the context of the “lost generation”.

In retrospect, I think it was my professor’s fault, she just asked us to explain, she didn’t say “substantially” though. Anyways (*sigh*)

N.B.: Dearest Professor: Oh, you’re not implicated on this, the last time I checked your name was not yet changed to “professor”. So, *peace sign*

5. (Weird Question) If you could read one person’s mind, whose would it be?

My wife’s. No further comments, haha

Nyse’s Questions:

1. What is your number 1 goal in life?

Well, I must say that I struggle every single day to have a balanced life – with respect to spirituality, relationships and commitments, work, hobbies, all and everything in between.

As everyone else’s ultimate goal in life (generally speaking) – to leave a mark (even just an itsy, bitsy, tiny mark) of goodness to myself and to others whom I had [and will have] the chance to meet or to be with in this lifetime.

And, sorry I can’t help it, I must add: to publish a book in my name too! That’s my number 1.1!

2. Describe in three words the purpose of your blog.

Provoke. Motivate. Inspire.

3. If you could go back in time, to any period in history what year, and                where would it be?

Back at the time of Jesus’ (Christ) crucifixion. I want to witness the greatest event that took place in this planet which eventually sent ripples of change throughout the whole world up to this present times and extending further to the forthcoming generations.

Many great hearts wrote history through their mighty deeds but that one act alone changed all that are significant in this world, transcending all the barriers of time and changing the phase of humanity.

4. If you could be any animal, which animal would it be?

An ape, at least I would still have features closely related to humans. Plus, just as they say, history repeats itself, so just as when evolution takes its turn, voila! I’m human again!

Nah, I chose ape because they naturally resemble us. They’re like our animal counterparts.  You can view “humanity” in their actions – the way they care and nurse their young ones, the way they interact with each other, the way the establish hierarchy, their politics of coexistence, among many other traits.

5. (Weird): Does the books you read, affect the foods you eat?

Yes. There was this one time when a book that I was reading while having lunch fell and messes up with my soup. Soup did taste funny afterwards.

Weird question, weird answer, Nyse 😉

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N.B.: This post also requires the nominees to share three (3) facts about themselves.

To that I can’t share any more details, if you’ve read my silly answers you can already pick out at least 20 or something facts about me! Well, apparently I’m a corny comedian as you’ve probably noticed by now, hahaha.

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My Best Post:

My blog’s Top Posts & Pages corner reflects Breaking up with Medi O. Crity (I don’t know why?) but for me it should have been The “No” Way. But I have a feeling though that this post is going to be the ultimate Best Post for this blog, for one reason, among many others, this is written appurtenant to an award! Come to think of it, haha.

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So as to keep the wheel spinning [as they say], I highly nominate the following kind and awesome bloggers for this award:

Carolyn                  Maggie                 Angy                   Lenny               Favour

My questions:

1. What makes you bored?
2. What is your favorite pastime and why?
3. What is that one thing you would happily do again?
4. What is your favorite body part of the human body and why?
5. (Weird Question) If you were a bird, who would you sh*t on?

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WHAT IS MYSTERY BLOGGER AWARD?

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.– Okoto Enigma

RULES

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog
2. List the rules.
3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
4. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well
5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
6. You have to nominate people
7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify)
9. Share a link to your best post(s)