.....and I'm gawking...

Me and others 9 moms, Ann, Hana, Jen, Lia, Lindy, Susy, Nan, Cindy, Trish, (not a real name) are very good best friends.

We are just a simple and cheerful moms...we often go somewhere together just to eat or gather and have a small chit chat to spend our times while waiting to pick up our children from school.

Last week, was Ann's birthday. We went to a western restaurant in one mall to celebrate and had a fun lunch. As we sit at the long rectangle table.. we took some pictures. We laughed, we posed, and talked many things. Hana took a lot of pictures of us...she really enjoyed taking picture from that digital camera. Later on, she thought it would be nice if she took a picture of the restaurant named, so we could remember it.

When Hana tried to focus on the restaurant named at the back, I saw a middle age lady standing there dressed up in pinkish shirt with catchy necklace around her neck , it was so eye catching.

Suddenly the lady approaching us and scold Hana, "What did you do? Why did you take my picture? Do you think I'm a crazy old woman?? No! I'm a rich woman. Don't you dare to treat me like that!"

Hana was standing up and shocked. She could not say anything. Susy whispered to the rest of us, "Let her...she is a stressed woman, she is crazy. She used to be a rich woman, until her husband left her with no money. She is always walking around this mall everyday. Just let her and pretend that we do something here." All of us busy talking each other, but that woman just stood up there and scold Hana. We told that woman that we're sorry and we're busy, but she asked Hana over and over again, "Why did you take my picture? All of you are really a mean people, you laugh at me, you talk badly about me at church, now they are hate me. It's because of you all!"

Lia tried to tell that lady again that we're sorry and we didn't know each other, so please let us eat here nicely and Lia called the waitress to help us to get rid of the woman.

That waitress came and she told that lady that we were celebrating our friend's birthday. Hana finally answer,"Sorry, ma'am, but I was taking a picture of the restaurant named at the back, not you."

Then amazingly that woman, calmed down and said, "Oh...ok. I'm not angry, I'm just asking you."....and she left us alone..went to another table of two men...I didn't know what she was talking about.

.....and I was gawking to see all of that thing...how poor she is.... She is so stress.

Thank God that we are still able to live normally.

Health Tips - Control Stress in 12 Easy Steps

How to handle stress :

1. Plan your time well
Organizing your time. Make a list of things you need to do and set priority.

2. Spread out the changes in your life
Give yourself time to adjust from one change to another. For example, avoid getting married, buying a house and changing jobs all at the same time.

3. Be realistic about what you can do
Choose your work based on your own ability and interest. Do not hope for the impossible. Set achievable goals for yourself so that you do not become frustrated or discouraged.

4. Make decisions wisely
Obtain all the relevant information first – do not make major decisions blindly. Consider the good and bad points of each choice. Involve the people who will be affected by the decision in the process.

5. Think Positive
Do not let negative feelings build up. Learn to identify the cause of these feelings and deal with them constructively

6. Learn to like yourself
Do not worry too much about your appearance, height, pimples and other faults. Make the best of what you have and learn to accept what you cannot change.

7. Share your problems
Do not keep all your problems and worries to yourself. Remember you are not alone. Talk to your family members, friend, supervisor, or religious leader. They may have had similar experiences and may be able to suggest solutions to your problem.

8. Build a happy family
Be kind, loving, and polite to your family. Treat them the same way that you would treat your friends. They can provide you with love and support in times of need. Set aside some time each day to talk, play, or relax together. Make your home a happy place to come back to after a hard day's work.

9. Make friends
Just as you need a happy family, you also need friends to talk to and laugh with, to visit you and go out with you and to help you in times of need. Treat others the way you would like them to treat you. Respect their views and be patient with their faults. Try giving in to others sometimes - even when you are right.

10. Keep healthy
Keep your body healthy by exercising regularly, eating wisely and getting enough sleep. Do not turn to cigarettes or alcohol to relieve your stress. Smoking and drinking do not solve anything and will cause more problems for your health.

11. Make some time for yourself
Do something that you really enjoy. It can be a hobby like collecting coins or an exercise activity like jogging. Take a short break when you feel tense or tired. You deserve to have a little fun sometimes.

12. Learn some relaxation techniques
Deep breathing exercises, mental relaxation exercises like visual imagery and meditation, and muscle relaxation techniques are helpful in relieving stress

(Source: Health Promotion Board)

Shake It Off And Step Up

There’s a story about a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back... a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back... HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him... all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity... THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS
US! Take it as our opportunity.

Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER-- PRAISE and HOPE... all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves.

Source: Various

How to manage your budget in crisis

Ladies,

As a woman, no matter a housewife or a career woman, we always have responsibility on household monthly expenses. We have to pay monthly payments and also keep some of it into our savings. So, how do we manage it?

Every month, we get amount of money to be managed from salary or any other sources, and before we spend it, it would be better for you if you could do some of tips below:

1. Put your money into different posts, such as:
- Monthly payments post, is everything that have to be paid every months (electricity bill,
phone bill, mobile phone bill, credit card bill, mortgage etc)
- Back Up post, is an amount of money that might be used for emergency needs (doctors, for
example)

2. Save about 5%-10% of the total budget into the saving account that especially opened only for saving. You could not draw it as easy as you want and it is a must. It would be better if you could save it more.

3. Put the rest of it in your daily account and you could take it if only you need it


4. Avoid unnecessary spending. Don't get easily tempted by discount offering from any shopping malls or any others.


When you had extra money (after your monthly payments, saving etc) then maybe you could do some shops.