A recent incident made me realize the importance of numbers in our lives. The numbers I am referring to are not limited to bank accounts, credit cards and PINs. But, let me include the hotline numbers of banks.
Imagine, that incident had forced me to go to the office at five o'clock on a sunday morning just to search for my bank account and credit card numbers including its respective hotline numbers. Because on that morning, I need to inform my banks that my plastic sheets got lost and requested for an immediate temporary suspension.
Let me share with you some important reminders regarding numbers. Let's count from one to three.
One. Always keep a written copy of all your bank account and credit card numbers.
Two. Always keep a written copy of all your bank's hotline numbers.
Three. Always keep a written copy of your family's and friends' phone numbers.
And most importantly, always leave a copy of these written numbers not only in your office but also in your home.
Last warning however, keep the copy in a safe place. Hmmmmm… don't tell me that I did not told you all these. 
One piece that had inspired me for years is the poem Desiderata. The author is Max Ehrmann, a poet and lawyer from Terre Haute, Indiana, who lived from 1872 to 1945. Thanks to my friend, Van.
Take some minutes of your time to read and be inspired. Here it goes …
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
There was a time when I got hooked with the X-Files series. In fact, I have a collection of books containing the details of each episodes in every season. In the recent past, I have also enjoyed some shows like Survivor, CSI, The Amazing Race, Fear Factor and kapuso's Extra Challenge. Early last year, I have started campaigning for Lost; the emmy awardee for best drama series. And most of the time, our idiot box is always switched on to Discovery Travel and Living.
Recently, our local cable operator has provided a free 24-hour 7-days-a-week Pinoy Big Brother channel … "and the rest is history"… hahaha! From the classy Discovery Travel and Living, we have moved to 24/7 PBB. Well, the Pinoy Big Brother syndrome has finally plagued our household.
I wonder what the PBB phenomenon has brought us. Personally, I believe that the PBB housemates are a reflection of ourselves — the viewers. Their experiences and characters can be related to our own experiences and characters. On the downside, we have a human instinct of always trying to search and talk about other people's lives. These could be some of the many reasons why peeping most of the time at the 24/7 PBB is irresistible. Anyway, it is good that the second season will be over soon.
Now, call me a boob tube addict…
There are certain times in our lives when we feel like going back to our past. There is this longing of revisiting the place where we used to live. There is this excitement of doing again what we used to do. There is this comfort of meeting again some people who had been part of what we are right now. Things change. Places transform. People evolve. And we have no capability to reset the world and go back to the time that we want to have a second take.
Wait … I can do that, actually… By being the returnist.
I can live and write the present. And in the future, we can return to that present even if it had became the past. Hitch … let's enjoy the ride.
