HAPPINESS IN TODAY'S WORLD

A blend of joyful daily feelings and deep life satisfaction, requiring us to balance personal well-being with modern challenges like digital noise and social comparison.

Feeling that the conditions of your life are good. Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with other people. Feeling that you have accomplished (or will accomplish) what you want in life. Feeling satisfied with your life. Feeling positive more than negative.

Happiness is a state of mind. Specifically, it is a state of “well-being and contentment.”

But the definition can be tricky and assumptions about the word can cause confusion. Many don’t even realize learning how to be happy is something that can be intentionally practiced. Some people, when they hear the word ‘happiness,’ assume it is speaking of an emotion such as pleasure or joy. For them, it is what people feel in the immediate here and now.

This is the reason some people say, “Don’t pursue happiness, seek joy. Happiness is fickle and fading, joy remains forever.”

But this short-term definition of happiness is not how everyone understands the word. Some define it to mean long-term satisfaction.

In fact, when I speak of experiencing happiness in life, I am not thinking of short-term emotions at all. I think of a quality of living—a much longer-term view of the word.

Both definitions are understood to be correct and speak of different realities.

But are they really that different? I don’t think so.

After all, a long-term experience of life satisfaction is almost certainly made up of many short-term feelings of joy and pleasure. Does that mean every day is a great day with no trials, temptations, or downturns? Certainly not. But it does mean when we look back at the many seasons of life, we can look back satisfied at how we navigated them.

The long-term feeling of life satisfaction is most experienced when we embrace the emotion of joy in the here and now.

And we accomplish that by taking steps each day to be happy.

What makes you feel happy now? Doing something you're good at, such as cooking or dancing, is a good way to enjoy yourself and have a sense of achievement. Try to avoid things that seem enjoyable at the time but make you feel worse afterwards, such as drinking too much alcohol or eating junk food.

Why is being happy important? Experiencing happiness is important for our emotional and physical health. A stronger sense of happiness and well-being has been shown to lead to better relationships, increase social connection and contribution to the lives of others, as well as contributing to healthier physical well-being.

Is being happy the most important thing in life? Happy people are healthier all around and more likely to be healthy in the future. Happy people live longer than those who are not as happy. Happy people are more productive and more creative, and this effect extends to all those experiencing positive emotions.

Am I happy? Yes. Living in the Philippines for almost 29 years for good, I learned to be happy. Even during hard times. Filipinos are generally a happy people. They can smile whatever the situation. Their happy-go-lucky nature and positive mindset allow them to bounce back from the direst of circumstances, from disasters, from wars, and surely from today's global situation.

+++

Questions, comments or suggestions? Email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn  or visit one of my websites www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS

By Mindanao Daily News -August 27, 2026059

A person is said to buy in good faith when he or she holds an honest belief in his or her right or title to the property and has no knowledge or reason to know of any defect in the title.

Trust or reliance? What is faith for you? To say it clearly: without faith we are really nothing. Faith is belief; believe in us, beliefs in our works, talents and personalities.

We also should believe in our parents or better, in the whole family including the black sheep, who can be found everywhere. We should also believe in our friends, even sometimes it seems to become a very difficult task. A friend? A real friend? An expatriate friend…?

Without faith, we will be reaching the rock bottom. Please don’t say, it’s a likely story. The German poet Johann Christian Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) mentioned in his drama “Maria Stuart”: “Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive.” Yes, I can live with this.

Faith and hope belong together. In his book “Through the Valley of the Kwai”, Scottish officer Ernest Gordon wrote of his years as a prisoner of World War II. The 6’2” man suffered from malaria, diphtheria, typhoid, beriberi and jungle ulcers. Many circumstances quickly plunged his weight to less than 100 pounds. Lying in the dirt of the death house, he waited to die. But every day, a fellow prisoner came to wash his wounds and to encourage him to eat parts of his own rations. As this fellow prisoner nursed Ernest back to  health, he talked with the agnostic Scotsman of his own strong faith in God and showed him that, even in the midst of suffering – there is hope – and faith!

Faith is indeed tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner, a German classical composer and poet found the following lyric: “Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith!”

Well, let’s even continue believing in our government. Faithful hope is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable.

Faith looks beyond the transient life with hope for all eternity. The hope we read in scripture is not a wishy-washy optimism. First and second Chapter of Thessalonians, for example, give encouragement to all Christians, who have been undergoing persecution for their faith. And, Corinthians 13:2 says: “If I have faith it can move mountains!”

Splendid Isolation

By Klaus Döring, Mindanao Daily News -August 24, 20260160

“Splendid isolation” is an expression that describes being alone, separate, or detached from others in a way that is impressive, advantageous, or striking. It highlights a state of independence where being apart brings strength or a distinct advantage rather than loneliness.

Social anxiety is the single most common psychological problem according to innumerable survey results worldwide. The magnificent, gorgeous and excellent isolation, resulting from being nervous when meeting people is really the opposite. The state of being isolated reminds me of being in a hospital with an infectious disease.

Does the project of giving a speech or going to a social gathering give you the willies?

Relax, there are always ways and solutions to help you by teaching you “never to be nervous again”.

During the last weeks, I experienced several situations meeting new people, asking questions, replying to questions and delivering speeches.

I have always been the most silent pupil in elementary and high school. I was ashamed even to talk to or with my teachers. Several terrible school records have been the result. But, I wanted to become a journalist. I am still one. And, I was teaching in Davao at the University of Southeastern Philippines, as some of you might know already. GeographicReference

During college times and while writing my first articles, I learned from my first boss, a daily news publisher, to avoid being nervous while meeting people. I was always prepared. Preparation for any communicating situation is a must. I have been invited to many parties and gatherings. I always asked for the guest list. I scanned all the newspapers and browsed the net.

“In your opinion, who…” or “What do you think of….?” kept the momentum going. That was sometime during the 1960’s. Since that time I was just very lucky to always meet the right people at the right time and place, which kept on teaching me how to avoid splendid isolation. Whether you’re delivering a speech, approaching your boss, or joining an important social occasion, do your homework first.

The most polished, smoothly delivered and spontaneous sounding talks are the result of many hours of work and years long experiences. The memorable one-liners and moving phrases that went down in history didn’t come from the last minute bursts of inspiration.

I also learned from Harvard University historian Richard Marius, “that good writing is a kind of wrestling with thought”. Or, as New York Times columnist William Safire expressed before: “To communicate, put your thoughts in order, give them a purpose, use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce!”

Let’s don’t forget that everyone has something to be proud of, and that everyone enjoys talking about it. But, you have to make it happen!

A BURNING GLOBE

 

By Mindanao Daily News -August 20, 2026049

Look around. Just any place on our globe. Yes, it’s burning. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war. Will be Asia another place? Heaven forbid – no!

Fossil Fuels: Burning coal, oil, and gas for electricity, manufacturing, and transport releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide.Deforestation: Cutting down major forests removes vital carbon sinks and releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere. 

Farming and livestock operations are primary contributors to high global methane emissions.The Threat of Wildfires. Drought and Heat: Higher baseline temperatures dry out soils, brush, and trees faster, turning landscapes into tinderboxes. Up to 96% of wildfire outbreaks trace back to human actions, unattended campfires, or infrastructure failures.

Longer Seasons: Global fire weather seasons have grown longer and more intense over recent decades.

In today’s moment, nature’s story line has reached a low point. It’s unfathomable to me that some people can still so easily shrug it off—especially if they have kids or love anyone who is younger than they are—while for so many in my generation, it is such a constant, excruciating worry. Apathy, let alone denial, is no longer an acceptable option, because we know that if we stay on this course, the destruction will inevitably come for us, too.

I got the book “The Burning Earth: by Sunil Amrith. He is the Renu and Anand Dhawan Professor of History and professor in the School of the Environment at Yale University.

Ever since innovations in agriculture vastly expanded production of food, our remarkable achievements in reshaping nature have allowed billions of humans to exist and thrive. Yet every technological innovation has also empowered us to exploit each other and the planet with devastating brutality. In this magisterial book, historian Sunil Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, genocide and eco-cide, human freedom and planetary costs. His environmental lens provides an essential new way of understanding war as massive reshaping of the earth through global mobilizations of natural resources, including humans; and explains patterns of migration as a consequence of environmental harm. Amrith relates in gorgeous prose, and on the largest canvas, a mind-altering epic—vibrant with stories, characters, and vivid images and rich archival resources.

In my opinion: A brilliant, paradigm-shifting global history of how humanity has reshaped the planet, and the planet has shaped human history, over the last 500 years.

We all know: Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.

The Earth is feeling the heat. Humans are responsible for global warming. Climate scientists have shown that humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years. Human activities like the ones mentioned above are causing greenhouse gases that are warming the world faster than at any time in at least the last two thousand years.

The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s (before the industrial revolution) and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000 years. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record, and each of the last four decades has been warmer than any previous decade since 1850.

Many people think climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others.

The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity.

We face a huge challenge but already know many solutions. Many climate change solutions can deliver economic benefits while improving our lives and protecting the environment. We also have global frameworks and agreements to guide progress, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Framework Convention on ClimateChange (where I got some details!) and the Paris Agreement. Three broad categories of action are: cutting emissions, adapting to climate impacts and financing required adjustments.

Swtching energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables like solar or wind will reduce the emissions driving climate change. But we have to act now. While a growing number of countries are committing to net zero emissions by 2050, emissions must be cut in half by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C. Achieving this means huge declines in the use of coal, oil and gas: over two-thirds of today’s proven reserves of fossil fuels need to be kept in the ground by 2050 in order to prevent catastrophic levels of climate change.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!

This famous line is an inspiring reminder about personal growth, noting potential, choice, and fresh starts. Most people commonly attribute it to the author George Eliot, though research into literary history shows no direct proof she actually wrote it.Meaning and MessageNo time limits: Age or past choices do not stop you from changing your path.Ongoing power: You hold the ability to shape you.

“Never Too Late” is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on May 7, 2007 as the third single from the band’s second album One-X. “Never Too Late” is about not giving up. Adam Gontier stated, “I guess it’s like feeling like you’re at the end of your rope and deciding whether or not to completely give up or whether or not to try and sort of keep making it through another day.” 

I know a lot of pensioner expatriates living in the Philippines for good. Many of them have a big problem – after staying here for only a couple of months, they get bored. 

Having a vacation all day, all week, all month and all year long is really not an egg’s yellow. I must confess, I experienced the same in 1999 after moving to Davao City. At that time I just turned 46…

I remember my last days in an international publishing house in Berlin. I packed up my things after signing my resignation letter. Of course, I hadn’t reached my final pension age yet, but I got a lot of ideas on how to shape and organize my “new” life in the Philippines. I never forgot some office mates smiling at me:”We can’t cross such bridges before we come to them!” Of course guys, you have been right!

Anyway, age doesn’t matter – you can enjoy the second half of your life residing in the Philippines. As many of you know already: I stayed in many countries worldwide. I could have migrated to the U.S. I didn’t. I chose the Philippines. Most important thing is: Keep yourself busy. 

Philippinefinancial app

Sure, there is always a time when we should rest and really enjoy life. Sure, we brought our savings and many of us enjoy the monthly pension in Euro or Dollar. Several weeks ago, I read a good idea in an U.S. business weekly: “Partner up with entrepreneurs who have long been in the business, or those who have just retired as well!” Worth to think about… .

Getting bored, means also for some to start grumbling and complaining about everything and everybody in the Philippines. I always keep my distance from such negative people. We are not here to change this country and its people. Why? What for? Filipinos are also not planning to change our home countries.

I really don’t have more stress than I had in my home country before. Critics reproach and accuse me of living a life as an expatriate while wearing pink tinted glasses. Sorry, but my conscience is very clear.

I keep myself busy, too busy sometimes: Teaching, translating, writing, before on the radio, and many more things; but I always find time for short vacations. It’s never too late. It’s your life! Take your chance and enjoy life in the Philippines. And, stay away from grumblers and grouses…No star is ever lost we once have seen, We always may be what we might have been Since Good, though only thought, Has life and breath – God’s life – can always.

A MISTAKEN BELIEF

By Mindanao Daily News -July 28, 20260235

Examples of mistaken beliefs that you might hold are “I’m powerless,” “Life is a struggle,” or “I should always look good and act nice, no matter how I feel.” There is nothing new about the idea of mistaken beliefs-they are a part of what people have in mind when they refer to your “attitude” or “outlook.”

A mistaken belief accompanies each and every one of us daily. Incorrect decisions and wrong doings are part of our daily life.A mistaken belief is an idea, conviction, or assumption that is not true and is built on faulty reasoning, bad data, or personal bias. It can lead to poor choices, false judgments, and unhelpful feelings.

Resilience involves being able to recover from difficulties or change—to function as well as before and then move forward. Many refer to this as “bouncing back” from difficulties or challenges.

It is almost a ridiculous fact that man wants to know certain truths about mundane things. But really he seems least interested in even mundane truths as can be read many times in newspapers for example. There seem to be too many rash judgments, and the readers absorb these and make these their own. A fatal attraction!

This is sometimes referred to as journalistic mentality wherein accusations are generously made without proof. Evolution started this trend, when scientists stated for example that man evolved from the apes, without proof. The only proof they had was the missing link, and if I am not mistaken, it’s still a missing proof until now.

To look for proofs is a mental activity, which is no longer a common thing nowadays, because it takes really time, effort and is too serious to think about. Yet in Christian education, thinking right is very important.That’s why Philosophy is important in Christian life. To avoid error in thinking, the rules of right reasoning must be studied and mastered. Is it really totally neglected in today’s modern education?

Thinking is actually an enjoyable activity but when one is pressured to get a good job for one’s sustenance, then the other more mundane becomes attractive. After all, great thinkers often do not get (good?) jobs… .

Spiritual writers like the British Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) noticed that mankind had stopped thinking even two centuries ago. That was during his age. Man probably stopped thinking even earlier. He has ceased many times to search for the truth. It’s easier to listen to gossip and believe in it. What a sign of weak minds!

Too often are we blind to the truth and as a consequence we easily believe in lies we only have to like it. Too bad, if people always like to close their eyes and ears especially while experiencing the delusion of error.

MUSIC IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE

 

Music is an important part of our life as it is a way of expressing our feelings as well as emotions. No matter where you are living on this globe.  Some people consider music as a way to escape from the pain of life. It gives you relief and allows you to reduce stress. … Music plays a more important role in our life than just being a source of entertainment.

Music affects our emotions. When we listen to sad songs, we tend to feel a decline in mood. When we listen to happy songs, we feel happier. Upbeat songs with energetic riffs and fast-paced rhythms (such as those we hear at sporting events) tend to make us excited and pumped up. 

Music means the world to me. It makes me think about how it relates to life and I love the beats. Music is a way to express yourself, keep you company while you’re alone, and always give you something to do. Music is a way of expressing me and being able to relate to other people.

It won’t be a surprise to most that music can affect the human brain emotionally. … Happy, upbeat music causes our brains to produce chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which evokes feelings of joy, whereas calming music relaxes the mind and the body.

Music is a form of art; an expression of emotions through harmonic frequencies. … Most music includes people singing with their voices or playing musical instruments, such as the piano, guitar, drums or violin. The word music comes from the Greek word (mousike), which means “(art) of the Muses.

Music is love. David Crosby sang this wonderful song already in 1971. “Everybody’s sayin’ music is love .

Music tells stories. Well, composers and musicians use music to tell stories. From all over the world.  Music can be used to depict characters, places, actions and even emotions. Music is often used to heighten a mood, or to express a thought or feeling when mere words are not enough.

“[Music] can propel narrative swiftly forward, or slow it down. It often lifts mere dialogue into the realm of poetry. It is the communicating link between the screen and the audience, reaching out and enveloping all into one single experience.” The best stories engage all of the senses.

One of the great things about music in general, and in particular concert music, is that playing it opens up a whole new world of experience that further enhances the mind, physical coordination, and expression. Music lovers, who are also amateur performers, may choose to play in community ensembles (orchestra, band, choir), take lessons, perform with others, compose, and nearly anything else a professional musician may do, while maintaining their regular lives. All of this involves intense physical coordination in performing an instrument alone or with others, while reading musical notation, and adding delicate or strong nuanced changes to the music that only a performer can bring. In general, to an amateur musician, music can provide an escape from everyday life or an alternative means of expressing one’s own capabilities. It is an important part of their lives and fills a need or an urge to create music.

I have been a music lover since my 4th birthday. Meanwhile, living as a German expat in the Philippines, I found out that Filipinos and Germans are music lovers. Among indigenous Filipinos, one important function of music is to celebrate or commemorate important events in the human life cycle. Fortunately, until today, these rich indigenous musical traditions live on. They serve as a reminder of the Filipinos’ long history of musical talent and ingenuity. Philippinesfinance community

Such is the case of Philippine music which today is regarded as a unique blending of two great musical traditions – the East and the West. … The majority of Philippine Music revolves around cultural influences from the West, due primarily to the Spanish and American rule for over three centuries.

Becoming a German expatriate in the Philippines in 1999, I have attended many music events. I fell in love with Filipino classical music. So what does music really mean to Filipinos? It simply tells them where they’ve been and where they could go. It tells a story that everyone can appreciate and relate to, which is why it’s a big part of every Filipino culture. 

Music of the Philippines (Filipino: Himig ng Pilipinas) include musical performance arts in the Philippines or by Filipinos composed in various genres and styles. The compositions are often a mixture of different Asian, Spanish, Latin American, American, and indigenous influences.

Notable folk song composers include the National Artist for Music Lucio San Pedro, who composed the famous “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan” that recalls the loving touch of a mother to her child. Another composer, the National Artist for Music Antonino Buenaventura, is notable for notating folk songs and dances. Buenaventura composed the music for “Pandanggo sa Ilaw”.

WORRYING HAS NEVER HELPED ANYONE

 

By Mindanao Daily News -July 25, 20260223

Worrying does not solve problems, but practical steps like focusing on what you can control, deep breathing, and writing down your thoughts can help you feel better. Research shows that most of the things we worry about never actually happen. 

The truth is, obviously I have problems too. Everyone does.

“Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment.” said already author Dale Carnegie. Then proceed to improve on the worst.” Carnegie believed that by accepting the worst-case scenario, one can find peace. Once you’ve mentally prepared for the worst, any other outcome is a pleasant surprise. This perspective shift can drastically reduce the weight of worry.

“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” says a  Swedish Proverb.

Some feelings of worry can be healthy, pushing us to find solutions to real and present problems. However, chronic worry, even about things out of our control, can severely impact our mental health.

The German poet Rainer Maria Rilke put it well: “Life is not even close to being as logically consistent as our worries; it has many more unexpected ideas and many more facts than we do.” Worrying is pointless not only because it rarely makes things better, but also because you’re rarely ever worried about the right thing!

We hardly count our blessings. We enjoy counting our crosses. Instead of gains, we count our losses. We don’t have to do all that counting – computers do it for us. Information is easily had.

Facebook to and fro, back and forth, there and back – how many posts and comments have been posted already with sadness, loneliness, boredom strikes, problems, worries … .

Just remember this: Opportunity doesn’t just knock – it jiggles the door-knob. and “your social media online-friend” – the warrior is with you day and night, at every corner, following your every step. Complaining and grumbling are good excuses, right?

Seniors may experience more anxiety-inducing situations than younger adults, and they may not have as many resources for support. Some people may notice that their anxious thoughts get stronger or more frequent with age, but anxiety is a treatable mental health disorder.

Is social media bad for us? Four billion people, around 50% of the world’s population, use online social media – and we’re spending an average of two hours every day sharing, liking, tweeting and updating on these platforms, according to some reports. That breaks down to around half a million tweets and Snapchat photos shared every minute. Stress, mood, anxiety, depression, sleep (or better non-sleep), self-esteem – Overall, social media’s effects on well-being are ambiguous, according to a paper written last year by researchers from the Netherlands. However, they suggested there is clearer evidence for the impact on one group of people: social media has a more negative effect on the well-being of those who are more socially isolated.

The whole world is an awful place filled with dreadful and horrible negativism. Yes, I confess, I’m also surrounded by many worriers who put their fears into me. Politicians, i.e., many times love to search for some grave alarm that will cause individuals to abandon their separate concerns and act in concert, so that politicians can wield the baton. Calls to fatal struggles and fights are forever being sounded.

The overbearing person, who tyrannizes the weak, who wants to domineer and to bluster, is simply nothing else than a worrier, who claims to be a friend. But he isn’t. Really not! The bullying of fellow citizens by means of dread and fright has been going on since Paleolithic times. The night wolf is eating the moon. Give me silver and I’ll make him spit out.

Well, when will we start counting our courage and not our fears, or enjoy instead of our woe? Worrying itself is pointless.Of course, no society has achieved perfect rules of law, never-ending education or unique responsible governments. Let’s seek out the worries but avoid the warriors, because they try to avoid liberty.

Worry, that sense of insecurity, unease, and fear over what negative events may happen – as unrealistic as these concerns may be – is one of the most unpleasant emotions that you can experience as a human being. It is also one of the most common. While everyone has worried at some point, many people suffer from chronic worrying in the form of anxiety. In Australia alone, 2 million people will suffer from anxiety in any one year.

If you worry often, you’re far from alone. In fact, it may comfort you to know that many of us tend to worry about the same issues. All of those anxieties and stressors that may plague your life also affect a huge chunk of the rest of the world as well.

Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D., is a practicing psychologist, author, speaker, and life/business coach, with more than 20 years of experience as a clinician, professor, and researcher. She says:” One of the most helpful things you can do instead of worrying is problem-solving. Problem-solving means defining the problem in a way that you can do something about it (e.g., “How do I prepare for a possible loss of income?” or “How can I learn to accept that my ex has moved on?”). Once you have a defined problem, you can generate some possible solutions and think through the likely consequences of each (e.g., “What is most likely to happen if I do X?”). Finally, you can implement your favorite solution, whether it involves taking action, discussing the situation, finding out more information, or working to accept something you cannot change”.

The problem is, it doesn’t work. Thinking about all the things that could go wrong doesn’t make life any more predictable. You may feel safer when you’re worrying, but it’s just an illusion. Focusing on worst-case scenarios will only keep you from enjoying the good things you have in the present.

Take a mindful relaxation break. If your worries and negative thought patterns feel inescapable, it may be time to switch up your routine. 

If you are still worrying right now about something, try to read Jeremiah 29:10-14 or Revelation 21:1-8, just to mention these two. It works.

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

By

 Mindanao Daily News

 -

July 21, 2026

0

6

The phrase “good old days” is a nostalgic idiom used to describe a bygone period in someone’s life that they remember as being simpler, happier, and generally better than the present. It reflects a psychological tendency to fondly romanticize the past while viewing the present or future more negatively.

People often use this expression because of rosy retrospection—a cognitive bias where individuals recall the emotional states of past events more positively than they actually were at the time. Unpleasant memories fade, leaving behind a polished, idealized version of history that provides emotional comfort.

This sentiment frequently highlights a perceived loss of innocence or a yearning for a world with fewer modern distractions (e.g., lamenting the rise of digital technology or fast-paced modern life).

Good old days – commonly stylized as “good ol’ days” – is a cliché in popular culture used to reference a time considered by the speaker to be better than the current era. It is a form of nostalgia that can reflect homesickness or yearning for long-gone moments.

Is it correct to say “good old days”? If you talk about the good old days, you mean a time in the past when you believed life was better: I wish my grandma would stop going on about the good old days.

Why does it feel like everything was better in the past?

We have a tendency to rehearse and dwell on the good things that happened, we retell them a lot more often, and so we reinforce the good memories. Moreover, we tend to remember the great songs or cars or football players from the ‘old days’ and forget all the bad ones.”

When people refer to the good old days, they are referring to a time in the past when they think that life was better than it is now. He remembers the good old days when you could leave your door open at night.

Rosy retrospection refers to our tendency to recall the past more fondly than the present, all else being equal. It is a cognitive bias that runs parallel with the concept of nostalgia, though the latter does not always directly imply a biased recollection.

Human nature makes us remember more of our youth, it was delicious and it lasted a long time. So that’s my explanation of why people think the past was better….and also why the older we get the faster time moves for us.

I grew up old school in a time with no technology, or very little that is. I thought life was perfect when I grew up.

Our social network was our neighborhood friends and our school. We weren’t so narcissistic that we posted everything we think and do on the internet. No Internet yet.

And we played Sports rather than video games. That to me is the most important thing. Things were simpler then, yes. But in a way better.

But I’m not foolish enough to think that technology hasn’t given us a plethora of opportunities and things that we didn’t have before. I’m always amazed that I can ask my smartphone anything in the recorded history of mankind , and get an answer! So cool. Science and medical advancements through technology have astounded us. So in this aspect technology has been a tremendous influence. But unfortunately the internet has morphed into a social media platform more than an educational platform.

Bad Days

 

By Mindanao Daily News -July 20, 2026055

Having a rough one? Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and remember: it is just a bad day, not a bad life. Even your worst days only have twenty-four hours.

Change your surroundings: Take a short walk. In Davao City, you can head to a calm spot like the People’s Park on Palma Gil St, or grab a quiet cup of coffee at Blue Hat Cafe or Kanto Coffee along Marfori to get a change of scenery. Practice a quick “brain dump”: Write down what went wrong, then focus on what you can control next.

Turn off social media for a few hours and avoid Daniel Powter’s classic “Bad Day” song on YouTube if you need a break from feeling overly sentimental.On Reddit, opinions are mixed regarding whether days can be “bad” objectively or if it’s just about your mindset. Regardless of the philosophy, it is completely normal to feel frustrated. Take things one hour at a time!

A bad day means things aren’t going well for you on that particular day or maybe that week. Maybe you got demoted or fired. Maybe your dog died. Maybe the doctor gave you bad news.

People have a bad day because they are stressed out. Overwhelming situations, such as a heavy workload or personal issues, can lead to stress and anxiety, resulting in a bad day. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it is critical to take a break and prioritize tasks. Sleep deprivation can also contribute to a bad day.

Well, one of my expatriate friends here in the Philippines admired the “Five Tibetans Monks”. I mean – not the personalities… . Every morning, my friend does these exercises entitled “Five Tibetans Monks”. Since my friend started with that, he hasn’t become sick any more. He also felt mentally balanced. I can’t guarantee it. He kept on swearing it to me. SoutheastAsians & Pacific Islanders

Another (German) friend, meanwhile 85 years “young” can’t enjoy his breakfast without first jogging for an hour or even more starting at 5 a.m. If he’s not able to practice it, he becomes moody, intolerable, aggressive and frustrated. Bad days…!

Others have to swim three times a day. Good for those, who have a swimming pool or live near a beach or sea shore.

I love a glass of red wine (don’t get me wrong: I said ONE glass!), a good book (whatever that means for you, my dear reader!), and relaxing (old!) classical music. So, each one of us is looking for his or her special ways of being comfortable.

But, some of our dear fellow creatures can’t really get some peace. They heave a sigh and utter a groan all day long! The Five Tibetans Monks have been blurred. Jogging is unhealthy; green tea is putting out and forces ill-feeling; swimming in a pool supports logical ring worms! Heaven forbid!

I’m sure, my red wine is never digestible and instead reading a good book while listening to relaxing music weighs heavily upon our minds. 

A couple of years ago I met an expatriate who loved to swing a pendulum to and fro. Billy occupied himself with astrology and the esoteric. I will never forget one of his first questions regarding my birth time. He warned me immediately: “Days followed by full moon periods are very bad for you!” This was something new for me. To be honest, I really don’t care about such stuff. Sorry! I messed up with Billy. Sayang! He was a really good friend.

I travelled a lot. I stayed in more than 80 countries. I experienced in some Western countries that travel agencies recommended trips to Mexico for “Leos” or to Turkey for “Capricorns”.  I went to both countries and didn’t feel anything wrong or bad. I estimated roughly, which dramatic  mis-judgments, accidents, and sickness outbreaks or losses have happened in my life during days followed by full moon periods. 

Having a bad day means experiencing a stretch of time where you are dealing with emotional discomfort, mental stress, or a series of unfortunate events. It is a temporary negative state characterized by frustration, sadness, or a general feeling that things are simply not going your way.

What day is today?  I always write most of my columns for this daily and my websites on Sundays. It’s really a great day.  Joking apart: allow me to quote Th. Campell (Lochiel’s Warning), “Coming events cast their shadows before”. Bad days for most places on this globe and its people right now. “Mourning becomes Elektra!” –  as E.O. Neill entitled his drama stage play… .But, we should never stop praying for peace!

HAPPY MOMENTS

 

Happy moments are the little sparks of joy that light up our lives. Whether it’s the quiet peace of waking up to the perfect cup of coffee, the thrill of sharing inside jokes with friends, or finally curling up with a good book, these everyday treasures are what make life beautiful.

We all chase happiness in life.

But as we may already know: happiness, per se, is not permanent.

Certain moments can bring happiness.

And the more of those moments we have in our days, the better our life generally is.

There is one perception we have to change about happiness.

We should never chase it.

We find happiness. And we make happiness.

I truly believe that our life is more content if we enjoy simple moments of happiness.

In this article, I wanted to list a couple of simple moments of happiness that many of us may experience.

Some may be funny. Others may resonate with you a lot.

One thing is for sure: many of these do not require a lot of money.

In fact, most of those don’t need money at all.

What they require is for you to be more present and more mindful in your life.

To appreciate these tiny moments that contain more happiness than you might think.

So here comes my list of simple moments of tiny happiness that we may find in our daily lives:

When you find that song you’ve been looking for a long time

A few calm minutes of watching the sunset

The first kiss at the end of a wonderful date

Waking up next to someone you are in love with

Sitting on a plane and looking outside of the window during take-off

The moment you walk outside from an airport terminal at your destination

The first bite of a food you’ve been craving for a long time.

The first free breath through your nose after being cold

Stopping at a highway rest area on a dewy dawn after a long night of driving

The first dip in the sea on a vacation

When you get food unstuck from your teeth

How do you express happiness at work? A smile, a nod of approval, or even a high-five can all communicate your happiness to others. Non-verbal cues like these can complement your words and help reinforce your message. Additionally, showing gratitude and acknowledging the contributions of others can also convey your happiness.

Expressing happiness professionally can be as simple as using the right words and phrases. When you want to say you are happy professionally, there are several ways to do so effectively. One way is to use positive and enthusiastic language. For example, instead of simply saying “I’m happy,” you can say “I’m absolutely thrilled!” or “I couldn’t be happier about this!” These phrases convey a genuine sense of joy and enthusiasm.

Another way to express happiness professionally is through body language. A smile, a nod of approval, or even a high-five can all communicate your happiness to others. Non-verbal cues like these can complement your words and help reinforce your message.

Additionally, showing gratitude and acknowledging the contributions of others can also convey your happiness. When someone helps you or achieves success, express your appreciation and congratulate them. This not only shows your own happiness but also fosters a positive and supportive work environment.

From time to time I love silence. I love quietness. – Do you observe that we live in a really frightful, loud world? At every corner of our daily life are innumerable chances of being covered up with sometimes unbearable din and noise. The loud outcry gives me the needle. We don’t have nerves of steel forever.

I am not really a fan of going out at night. If you ask me how to spend a lovely evening after a hectic and stressful and, especially, noisy day – plain and simple.

The nicest occurrence is the silence, the intimate taciturnity, which can even “weld” people or partners together. It might sound just like an idiomatic expression, but believe me; not being forced to talk is great! No, I don’t mean that we have nothing to say to each other any more – or, he or she won’t listen to a special reason… . I am talking about a deep understanding between people, who are together and are able to share time in quiet and silent happiness.

After a long and strenuous day, it is a real big comfort to sit and lean back, read all the (old!) newspapers and magazines from the last days and weeks while enjoying a glass of wine and a handful of peanuts. A crossword puzzle is easier to solve while having a “silent” radio program in the background, instead of a “roars to hell” television show.

Try it. It’s indeed relaxing after traffic woes, the heat and dust of the day, telephones’ ringing, machine rattling, meetings and never ending discussions. Why should we talk right now?

Feeling safe and secure, inseparable, indestructible with peace in our minds and our surroundings, this is what we really mean to each other, understanding without words. At home, somewhere in the garden, at a beach – there are many wonderful places. And, suddenly out of the blue from the bottom of our heart and from the depth of comfort and ease, we might be able to speak about things, which couldn’t be discussed earlier. A good talk grows – but without compulsion or constraint or obligation, desperate or being forced.

Try it, and it might feel like walking hand-in-hand on a lonely sand beach, such as “once upon a time” with our first partner. And, unexpectedly: we become silent again AND thankful for it.

We really seldom take a break. We spend too much time in this terrible and frightful loud world…

BLESSINGS

 

We pray for blessings…

We pray for peace…

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep…

We pray for healing, for prosperity…

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering…

We pray for wisdom…

“Blessings” is a song by American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter Laura Story from her 2011 album Blessings. It was released on February 21, 2011, as the lead single. The song became Story’s first Hot Christian Songs No. 1, staying there for four weeks. It lasted 34 weeks on the overall chart.

Laura Story married her partner Martin; two years later he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Story learned that despite his life-threatening illness, they saw how God never intended for people to provide for themselves and that instead of walking alone they would need to rely on Jesus’s help. Blessings was written to describe how God will allow things that are not immediately understood to happen, but from a different perspective they are a means of spiritual growth. The song is also about how sometimes material possessions are not what God wants for believers, and it lends the idea about how character, along with what is in someone’s heart, is ultimately more important.

The song inspired me to write this column. At my age I think about all my blessings. Blessings are really not only money… .

Blessings in the Bible suggest an intimate relationship between the blesser and the blessed. A blessing from God marks an intimate relationship between God and man, serving as proof that he finds himself in God’s favor.

The phrase ‘blessings be upon you’ is correct and usable in written English. It is a traditional phrase often used in religious texts, and can also be used as a standard blessing phrase in casual conversations. For example, you might say, “May blessings be upon you and your family” when wishing a friend well.

Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.

The wonderful gift that Christ gave us is too wonderful to keep to ourselves. We can touch the lives of others this Thanksgiving by sharing the love of Jesus through a meal, a place at our table, and giving selflessly. Politics(Right)

I am blessed because I am living in the Philippines together with my family. No doubts. No fears!

A BETTER CALLING IN MY LIFE?

 

Finding a better calling in life is about aligning your daily actions with your unique passions and strengths. It is a personal journey of trial and error that transitions a career into a meaningful purpose.

What is a calling? Your life's calling is what makes you feel that life is meaningful. It helps you live a purposeful life. Callings look different for everybody. Some people, for example, want to help others as part of their calling.

It's important to understand that a calling is not limited to a specific job or career, but it's a deeper sense of purpose that encompasses all aspects of life. It's not just about what we do to make a living, but rather it's about who we are and what we're meant to do in this world.

God’s calling on your life is a personal, evolving invitation to partner with Him. It generally spans two parts: your primary calling (to know Him and follow Jesus) and your secondary calling (using your unique gifts, passions, and everyday circumstances to love and serve others). 

Have you ever felt a sense of purpose or direction in your life that you couldn't quite explain? Some people refer to this feeling as a “calling.” It's a sense that there is something you were meant to do or become, a mission or a destiny that is unique to you.

Career is a rapid motion. A course of action. Sure! A professional conduct in life. Even a progress through life. Here we are! That means, a careerist is one, who rushes widely and makes his own personal advancement as well as his (or her) own aim in life!

What can we do, if "career doubts" won't go away? First allow me to quote my bible, especially Jude (Watching out! Sounding an alarm!), who writes in the style of a teacher who is watching a freight train bear down on his student's driver. Yes, bells ring out: "Be merciful to those who doubt." (Jude 2:22).

What does my calling in life mean? Your calling can be thought of as the urge to share your gifts with the world. When you express your gifts for the sake of others, you often experience the joy of being fully alive.

A true calling is a career or walk of life that a person feels compelled or meant to do. Finding meaning in life is something people often spend a lot of time contemplating. Or some individuals may feel the passion so strong that they know quickly in their heart what they were born to do.

"The way that people pick up careers is incredibly  primitive," said Nicholas Lore, founder of the Rockport Institute, a career coaching firm, and author of "The Pathfinder". Strong tobacco, indeed. That's why so many people are indeed dissatisfied with their jobs.

Believe me, I always thought about a true calling for myself. Sure, people, whose careers aren't the fight fit, often  feel like impostors, as Professor Robert I. Sutton, an organizational psychologist at Stanford University in Palo Alto, said. Very, very well said, Sir.

Notice dreams and signs. Prioritize creative expression. Think about what you used to love. Notice what feels good. Turn down the distractions.Pay attention to what keeps coming back. Try new things regularly.

How about you, my dear reader of this column? Are you also placing too high a value on the external rewards of a job, like money, prestige and power? Of course, for many of us (most?). These things are indeed important. Hold on, please! The work you do and the skills  your opportunity  requires and the value of your work are really more vital to fulfillment. Paper work, or not... . You think, you find a better career fit? Go ahead - but don't expect that this is your life's career!

I waited for my "better calling" (what a terrible term!) experiencing many even better and wonderful moments in life. I also experienced that several professional things I did in the past had not been very much compatible with me. But I stored many valuable experiences.

Today, I am what I am. And, I am proud of it. Almost 73. A retiree with still so many opportunities in the Philippines.

FISH AND OCEAN

 

Religion and music belong together like fishes and the ocean – like light and life, like a voice and ears… .

Fish are the backbone of ocean life. They range from tiny reef fish to giant predators. Fish keep the sea healthy by balancing food chains and maintaining habitats. Sadly, overfishing and warming waters threaten these vital creatures.

Why fish are important for the health of our planet.

Fish play important roles in the health of our ecosystem. Despite this, many people believe them to be boring, when the truth is fish are feeling, smart, and complicated beings.

Given their ability to feel both physical and emotional pain, it’s not a far stretch to say that fish suffer. Little causes so much suffering to so many fish as fishing, including the recreational variety.

We know that fish suffer when they’re caught because they try frantically to get away, a classic sign of pain. As they pull against the hook stabbing through the flesh of their mouth, the injury gets worse.

But the pain doesn’t end there. Eventually they’ll likely be reeled out of the water and into a boat where they immediately start to suffocate, unable to breath without water. Everything down to their organs and blood flow are impacted by the stress of being taken out of the water.

In the entire universe, we humans  are probably the only beings capable of creating and listening to music. The ability to hear is one of the specific gifts that our Creator gave us. Our fragile blue planet is surrounded by a thin layer of gases only a few kilometers high. Only this atmosphere is the reason why sound waves can spread through the air. Everything behind this atmosphere is ruled by the sheer endless vacuum of outer space, where galaxies and stars explode and implode in impenetrable silence. 

Politics(Right)

According to the biblical narrative, the world began when God broke through thies deadly quiet: “And God said: Let there be light!” (Genesis 1:1). God spoke – and light and life resulted from his audible voice. Because life was created by the word. That is why it is in the nature of every person to listen. Like a parabolic mirror, our souls are created to listen to the eternal space of the hereafter, to try and sense whether a word, a sound or a voice is trying to reach us from there, in order to fill us with a meaning.

It’s nothing new that I love music. And, I know that Filipinos also love big tunes with great words and beautiful melodies, especially when it comes to classical music.