Dear All

Our 1st LC sharing question for 2011 held @ A+P's home is:

SHARING QUESTION: Do we regard ourselves as truly active Catholics? How does my "active Catholic life" - e.g. prayer and sacramental life, attending Mass regularly, going for confession...etc - help me in my relationship with my spouse?

Bert & I didn't get to go beyond sharing that we ought to get our little family rosary session going again this Jan, as now the girls come home late & are in the morning school. It's quite a challenge to make a common time to pray as everyone is busy with school/office/house work!

It was nice that we got some time to ourselves today...Bert sent the car for servicing, so we had time to "date" again..just leisurely breakfast, then lunch, then shopping. We never really had "solid" couple time last year, (only when the car is serviced!) so mental note...need more couple time this year!

Looking back at 2010, it's been a "cultural" events year for our family. We never attended any concert or arts/theatre together as a family, and it was a nice and new experience for us. The year-end of kinda of sad for me as my dad had a few episodes. Having spoken to and comforting my mum, I realised how negative my views get after talking to her. Tiffany had commented on it. So instead of being influenced by my mum, I try to make her count her blessings instead of remember the hurts and pains.

I read a handy guide on being happy. Top most on the list is STOP COMPLAINING!

This is the website : https://iknow.com.sg/MembersContent/TipsiKnow/JanuaryIssue/The7SecretsofHappyPeople/tabid/401/Default.aspx

Tips By: Kari Farmer

1) live in the present

2) have strong relationships in their lives

3) know who they are and act the part

4) do not complain

5) doing what makes them happy

6) see the positive side of everything

7) compassionate and understanding

When I think back to my carefree days as a child, I make up my own games to entertain myself. (that is point 5). I make friends with other children not caring if they are rich or poor, can speak English or Chinese, and just have simple fun. I don't worry about tomorrow and just focus on the present (that is point 1).

I know my parents love me unconditionally (that's point 2) as a child. I know I'm just a kid and don't care a hood what I am wearing as long as it's comfortable for me to run in and am decently covered up (that's point 3). I do complain somewhat then but less so than as an adult! (that's point 4). If I can't find other kids to play with, I play make-believe games with the furniture around the house (I guess that's like point 6). I wasn't good at being compassionate I guess as a child, but I learnt it when I saw my parent cry when Kong-Kong and Ah-Poh passed away (that's point 7).

Now, as an adult, I try to keep counting the many numerous blessings God has given me.

I try to catch myself complaining and stop it.

I tried the experiment of living in the now for a day, and not worrying about the future...it feels fantastic! My senses are highlighted to fully appreciate the people and goings-on around me at the present time.

I thank the Lord for great friends like LC couples, the PRE family, the Choir, SCC and the praying parents and the parents of my children's friends, plus true friends from my "working" and NETs days.

I try to see the positives of situations, as most everything has 2-sides of the coin. Why waste time grumbling about the down-side of things. The thing has already happened, so just move on. Failure is the stepping stone to success, that's what Bert always remind us!

I now make time to do things that I enjoy rather than feeling like I'm always "giving" to others. The children know I have my time, and sometimes mummy & daddy time. So I do painting whenever I feel like it, play the piano just for myself, try out new recipes, do crotcheting, do a sport of retail therapy.

Do at least 1 new thing you've never done before this year.

One of my previous boss shared that in his family, each member writes out a thing they want to achieve for that year. So that by the end of the year, they can look back with satisfaction that they have achieved something new. I like the idea and was astounded by it. For our family, it's not so ambituous as his....it's something simple like e.g experiencing a theatre show together as a family (something new to us). Or taking a junk cruise as a family. Or for the kids, getting a bronze award for swimming etc.

Compassion and understand comes from living with others. Being moved by those less fortunate than us and being thankful for what we have. The kids learn such values from emulating us. So we have to be constantly good role models for them. If we fail, they will remind us...:)

Love

Theresa