ABC STARS Inspires

There's a light at the end of the tunnel... William Tucker always wondered that since three months ago, he had been dreaming about a tunnel.  But, inside that tunnel was as radiant as the sun. It was not a dark tunnel like the usual quote people say. And, its lights are coming from a prism. Literally, the white light manifested in a spectrum of colors. He works as a farmer, in a region called Key North, and he has six children. His wife is a teacher. "Paula, I dreamed about the tunnel again, and it's getting more amazing..." He told his wife upon waking up on a Thursday morning. She whispered, "Okay, do tell me about it". William told the dream, excitedly, for about an hour. Then, he paused and drank a glass of  water. He proceeded to tell his wife that there is really something going on. He further added, that when he took a cab in the city the driver told him that the recent hurricanes that the country was experienc

Gary Neutown was inching towards his parents' graveyard, with a cane now, while the scorching afternoon heat almost melted his body. He noticed two young lads following him. The older boy asked him, "where was he going?" Gary, playfully, said, "to heaven..." Then, the younger boy smiled, and told him, "look up...  there it is... hello, heaven." Gary asked the two boys, "what are the two of you doing here?" "We are looking for candles, Sir!" "Well, well, well, not a lot of candles now, All Saints' Day is over," Then, he looked at them with forlorn eyes. He took out his wallet and gave the two brothers a bit of cash. Catching his breath and, barely, making an audible sound, he said while he was walking away, "study hard... for your future children..." Soon after, Gary Neutown, peacefully, died  in his sleep. His time on Earth had ended. Begin from the

My early morning exercise, just the usual walk, well, a long one was, extremely, memorable. After the finish line, so to speak, I went to buy grocery items.  Going home, I took out the Bottled Juice I bought. It was just a small one. I finished it in 3 gulps.  Then, I held it in my other hand. For a long time. It is standard operating procedure for me to bring a trash back home and put it inside a recycle bin. At the intersection, almost eight meters away from the house, a man driving a modified bicycle with a large container for recyclable items, providentially, appeared. I asked him, "You want this?" and I extended my hand for him to see the empty bottle. He nodded and said, "Thank you!". I thought to myself, "Wow!!! what an honest, decent, and noble way to earn a living". He, even actually, helped me do mine as well. As I am writing this one, I am also earning a living out of an empty bottl

So what if you are right and they wronged you? Let them be wrong. Let them live their own lives. In the end, He will make straight every crooked road... Always remember these words from one of the greatest writers in history: "I always feel happy. You know why? Because I don't expect anything from anyone. Expectations always hurt. Life is short. So love your life. Be happy. And keep smiling. Just live for yourself. And before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you pray, forgive. Before you hurt, feel. Before you hate, love. Before you quit, try. And lastly, before you die, live..." photo credit: sandklef San Gimigniano, Italy. Father and son via photopin (license) License: (license)

I had a happy childhood. There was one memorable afternoon that I realized, that God blessed me with the best parents that I needed to have, in order to fulfill my own mission on Earth. One rainy afternoon, my younger brother and I, were taken along with our parents to The Manila Hotel. Then, our father led the way to the restaurant. I still remember the name of that place. Café Ilang Ilang . It was sheer opulence. It was not extravagance though, but, it is the best. Excellence. In one word. It is only now, that I had an awakening as to why our parents treated us for a grand meal at that place. They wanted us to see and experience what the best is, in its grand-full-scale-splendor. It made us aspire. And, the value of excellence became ingrained in our consciousness. It meant that we had to strive to be the best. We saw how the team of employees of the hotel conducted themselves; with utmost dignity, competency, commitment, dedication

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Scott began to think about his late father.  He never met him. He died when he was three years old. And, ever since then, he would always ask his family about him. Scott was born on Christmas Day. He was told that his father wrapped him in fancy paper with Holiday trimmings for the family picture. Every Christmas Season, and especially, on his birthday, he would wonder about him. Then, he would take out from his small wooden chest an old picture. It was the old Family Christmas Photo. Then, he would stare at the tree. It was the brightest tree he had ever seen. His mother, told him, that during those times when his father was alive, the whole family would drive down south and ask a farmer for a tree. A real pine tree. His older brother, Abraham, enthusiastically, told him that the pine needles would fall off as days passed by, then, the Christmas scent filled and ling

So, it is Christmas. I am reminded by the very first time my nephews and nieces were served breakfast with bread from Atlantic Bakery. They, particularly, love the version of the long French bread, " Le Baguette ". It was during the annual Christmas Season reunion. A long time ago. My European family asked me where bread without sugar could be bought. I was told most of the bread are sweetened and, hence, they are sort of like cakes.  I searched everywhere. Then, only to discover that Atlantic Bakery has them. Thank goodness! The healthful selection of bread that they offer are exceptional. Essentially, for people with diabetes or a predisposition for the aforementioned malady. With such company vision; noble and with utmost concern for their customers, I surmised that it is not an easy feat from a business perspective. And, it made me wonder, how come, the bakery outlets are not using air conditioning units when common sense would suggest that