Prudence and Madness

Should I feel guilty because I bought and consumed this drink, which is worth P150, when I could have just given a part of that amount to the poor kid asking for alms on the street?  Should I feel guilty that I have the time to spare to drink such expensive drinks when those who’re not so fortunate, what to work to the bone to find something to eat?

I think ads for charity are all too good eliciting that guilt feelings from us, so that we would donate to their foundations or fund-raising events.  Of course, there’s nothing wrong with giving to the needy, but if we’re going to eradicate poverty, we should begin with eradicating the mentality of dependence.

And for such a reason, I prefer to give alms to street kids who’re selling flowers, or candies, buying their merchandise and giving an extra tip if they’re courteous than to those who beat at the car window asking for some coins.  I prefer that those who’re asking for loans from me to do something reasonable for me in exchange of the money instead.  That’s why I don’t want to write out a medical certificate letting an employee have a sick leave more than what should be so that he could have more pay for less work.

As a matter of fact, I’ve never believed in equal distribution of wealth.  I find it a devolution of our value of giving rewards based on merit, shifting to a value of giving rewards based on need.  I think what we should be propagating is a mindset that one should not get more because he needs more or that he has less than others, but rather, he will get what is due to him because of what work he had done.

But what about the poor?  How can they get out of poverty if we will not help?  I think in this part, we would all be better off we’re to concentrate on generating more jobs that are parallel to one’s available skills, instead of using up resources for short-term solutions.

I remembered two guys I had as patients for preemployment medical evaluation.  Both of them did not pass the first medical evaluation because of hypertension.  The company who wanted to hire them requires that they first have a stable BP before being employed.  I informed them about this and the two had different reactions.  Patient A was mad that he isn’t qualified for employment.  At first, he asked me to write him a favorable medical record so that the company will hire him at the soonest possible time.  When I said I will not do that and suggested that he first undergo the treatment regimen that I will give him, he got angrier, did not even bother to listen to the treatment regimen, and told me how he could undergo such treatment if he doesn’t have a salary, that if perhaps I should give him the treatment free for 2 weeks, he might just be able to do it.  He even said that perhaps I might be wrong with my diagnosis because BP readings taken by someone who has a stall at the mall reports that his BP is normal.  I got frustrated by this but I still remained firm that he has to undergo treatment.  He did not come back to the clinic, saying he’ll look for another clinic who’ll make him pass a medical exam.

Patient B showed disappointment at first that he wouldn’t be hired soon.  But when I explained to him what he needs to do (lifestyle modifications, medical treatment), he willingly accepted, and listened patiently to what I instructed him to do.I monitored his BP for 2 1/2 weeks, after which the monitoring record showed a stabilization of BP at acceptable level enough for the company to hire him.  I haven’t heard from Patient A again.

For me, people who’re like Patient B, who’re willing to do what is necessary to accomplish his goals are those worth helping out.  He did not demand for that job simply because he is jobless, but rather, he did what is needed to get that job.  Both Patient A and B have the skills, but it’s the attitude that spelled the difference.

And I hope most people would be more like Patient B.  These are the people who will not demand things just because they have less, but rather, will work to make themselves worthy of what it is that they ask.  This is the kind of attitude that all of us should have and it is the attitude that will get us out of being one of the impoverished nations in the world.

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This is my blog post contribution to Blog Action Day

With the number of pretty journals/organizers coming out, it’s more than tough trying to pick which ones to buy and use (and sometimes from the ones bought, even hard to pick just one to constantly use).  And actually, one of my guilty pleasures (or maybe vicious habits) is buying pretty notebooks/journals/organizers even though I don’t use all of them (yes, I am a tree-killer).  Usually it’s the nice covers that did me in, but of course, if I’m going to use it as a journal or an organizer, I need more than just a pretty cover to inspire me to write and the actual space to write the words in.  The notebook in question should also be as functional as I need it to be.

For the most part, I’ve used Starbucks planners for my organizing my disorganized (and still disorganized) self.  I consider it my standard, and so when I come across something new, I’ve to compare it to my standard.

And this time, I’m going to compare the new journal from FreeSpeech Publications called “This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life.”

First stop, of course, is the cover.

It’s the first thing that will catch your attention so this is one of those important factors which will make you buy a product.  It should appeal to your sense of beauty.  Personally, covers are important for me, especially when I’m writing creatively because it’s a source of inspiration; it can encourage me more to write especially when I feel too lazy to do it.

I love the Starbucks 2008 Planner’s soft leather cover.  I know some people are a bit puzzled by the garterized clasp, but I do see it as practical.  I don’t need a planner that’s too bulky and going soft  is definitely a plus in this case.  It looks like something you’d buy in a specialty store and not just in any other regular bookstore (though, of course, most people, at the sight of it, knew already that it’s a Starbucks planner.  But that’s another matter).  I also love that there’s a pen holder right on the inside of the soft leather binder.  That’s the right place for a pen specifically assigned to writing in my journal.

I love that FreeSpeech’s journal is in black, but I absolutely hate that “this journal will actually change your life!!! 2009″ has to be written in such big letters all over the front cover.  I know it’s their products byline.  But it would have been prettier if they chose to print it in smaller letters in the middle or even in one of the corners of the cover.  Also, I find that there’s nothing wrong in just having “My Journal 2009″ on the cover, whenever it may be written, as long as it’s not distracting.  If there’s something that I absolutely hate about this journal, it’s the letters on the cover.  Seriously.  I think they overdid the “being different” in this part.

Read the rest of this entry »

Really, I’m getting tired of people telling me how much it is of a sin gambling is.  If rumors are true, churches do receive donations from the richest gambling lords.  So there goes hypocrisy…

I think, first of all, it’s a matter of personal choice.  If I have money, it’s my right to choose where I’d decide to spend it on.  I could invest it in business, buy a luxury item, or buy myself a ticket to watch an opera show.  It’s mine to give.  I don’t like people telling me that I should just be giving it to others for more “charitable” purposes.  I don’t have to feel obliged.  If ever I do have to give to charity, it had to be voluntary, not some idiots forcing it down my throat, trying to appeal to my emotions.  And so I hate it when people say that gamblers ought to just donate their extra money, which they use to gamble, to those who’re needy.  Yes, it’s good to be helping out somebody.  But don’t oblige other people to give their money to something or to someone because, in the first place, it’s not theirs to give.

The fun stops, however, if the persons involved in gambling find it difficult to perform their normal social and personal functions because of their addiction to casinos and such.  Or if they start resorting to criminal acts just to support their addiction and other people, especially their family members, already gets affected by it, financially, physically, and emotionally.

So, for those who’re into the “no to gambling houses” and shit, live your own lives the way you want it but let gamblers gamble if they want to!  If they go bankrupt, it’ll be their own undoing anyway.  THEIR OWN LIVES will be affected anyway, and not yours.