The Cooling Stream

A group of farmers is getting ready to go to the farm. It is a clear and sunny morning.

As they walk along the narrow path to their farm, everyone is seen smiling, chatting, laughing out loud or humming some nice tunes. It is a refreshing morning where the morning dew can still be felt in the air. It is just wonderful when the cool breeze continue to blow through the body.

And so the group of farmers begin their new day of work.

The harvest is plentiful. It is a wide stretch of yellow ripen paddy farm. There is so much to do.

The farmers put down their loads and rest for a moment. Sipping some well-brew coffee or tea and puffing a stick of cigarette. Then start another round of talking and laughing.

The farmers get ready to harvest the paddy. They start to look serious, planning and doing their respective tasks. There they are, very organized, doing what they are called to do and what they are good in doing. Everyone is contemplating how to do the works well. Silence rules, though here and there, you can hear some traffic noise, the chirping of the birds, and the flowing of the stream.

The weather is fine and cool. The farmers are cheerful and of high spirit. And they accomplish much in just a short time.

The farmers then has a short break, and you can see that they really relax. Another round of coffee or tea, another stick of cigarette, and another round of talking and laughing.

The work continues until noon. The farmers are working hard without a hint of complaint or frustration.

Then they rest for their lunch time. And they eat heartily and are satisfied. Feeling exhausted, some of them take a nap. Some go ahead sharing some topics of interest. Nonetheless, they really rest from their work.

After lunch, another round of work. This time takes longer still, under the blazing hot sun. Big drops of sweats all over their sun-tanned bodies. But there is no time to spare, the harvest must be done fast. No one grumbles and no one talk unnecessarily. It is another round of hard and tedious work.

The cool evening wind has arrived. The sunset just beyond comprehension. The farmers are ready to go home. It is a fulfilling and meaningful day. They have work their hearts out. Everyone is bring home a broad and beautiful smile, ready to have dinner together.

This is work. This is life. And the farmers are enjoying every single bit of it. LOL.

• They celebrate with food when they are happy. They feel loved. They eat and laugh and jeer. Eating has become a means to have fun.
  
• They eat like a glutton when they are depressed or worrisome. They do not feel loved. They eat and cry and mourn. Eating has become a means to pour out all their complaints.

Some people eat whenever they have physical needs:

• They eat because they are hungry.
• They eat to stay alive.
• They eat to get that extra energy to do work.
• They eat because they are fatigue.
  

Some people eat whenever they have social needs:

• They eat merrily whenever they are together with family, friends and colleagues. They have so much to share and to learn about. Eating has become a means to fellowship.
  
• They eat like a wild man whenever they are alone and bored. They have so much to scream and shout. Eating has become an outlet to release all their grievances.

Some people eat whenever they have personal needs:

• Some eat to gain weight.
• Some eat to lose weight.
• Some eat because they simply love food.
• Some just love to eat certain food items.
  

Some people eat because that is what normal people will do:

• They eat because the clock says that it is lunch time or dinner time.
• They eat because the food is there. And they just can't help themselves.
• They eat because the company is celebrating a happy occasion, or mourning for a sad loss.

Whatever is your reason, eat slowly and chew your food properly. Eat heartily. Relax and smile. Shout and jeer if you must.

Enjoy your food, enjoy your work, and enjoy your life.

Sitting on a rocking chair, staring at the distance hill, admiring the beauty of the surrounding housing estates and landscape, drawing longer breaths of fresh and cool air, and beholding busy people chasing after hectic lifestyles can really bring peace and joy incomprehensible. All of a sudden, everything seems to calm down and life seems to have come to a standstill.

Sometimes, getting away from our normal pace of life for a time of rest and relaxation can really do great wonders to both our body and our soul. All of us know and recognize that, but only few who are really striving to create times to enjoy that little moment of rest and leisure.

Modern life is too fast-paced. More and more people are feeling increasingly stressed and impatient. We all need to calm down a little to recover ourselves and to once again enjoy our life. After all, the chief end of man is to worship and to enjoy God forever.

I enjoy my 10 minutes break rocking a chair. Sometimes it drags on for another few minutes. Sometimes I eventually doze off in the afternoon breeze and start to snore. Whatever it is, I feel refreshed and ready for another round of activities.

I never intent to have an afternoon nap in the first place. I just want to rock my chair, relax my mind and enjoy my moment of peace, my moment of rest and my moment of inactivity. I rock my chair back and forth, I swing my hands, and let my foot and my leg kind of jiggle lifelessly. Should I go into a nap, I do it unintentionally...... It just happens naturally.

So I sleep... so I snore... so I am relieved, refreshed, and renewed for new challenges...Come what may... I'm ready...LOL.

Enjoy your life.

When we are stressful, we feel very tired. Our moods change all the time. And we cannot concentrate on our works.

When we are stressful, some of us will cry or laugh for no reason. Others just can't sleep. And some may have serious headaches and heartaches all the time.

When we are stressful, some of us become fearful of our surroundings. Others have nightmares every single night. And some may have sweaty palms all the time.

When we are stressful, some of us always feel hungry and thirsty. Others easily provoked and wanting a fight or a quarrel. And some may prefer to indulge in sinful living.

Some stress really hurts and spoils our life all the time.....

Nonetheless, we must manage our stress well.

Let's...

• Avoid all negative thinking.
  
• Avoid jumping to conclusions too fast.
  
• Avoid over-exaggerating the real situations.
  
• Avoid being too sensitive about what others think and say.

Let's...

• Face our stress positively.
• Take a time off if necessary.
  
• Pursue a new hobby or sport if we must.
• Just cry. Crying can relieve anxiety.
• Look for a hiding place to calm down. Read my article concerning the River Of Life.
  

Remember

• Good stress management can spur us to greater success in life.
• In life, there is no easy way out; no pain no gain.
  

Enjoy your life by managing your stress. Do you agree with me?

Life has its many ups and downs. By sleeping through and forgetting the reality of life is just not the correct way to solve problems.

Set up your plans for the day and work through them carefully one at a time. Enjoy every bit of your life. Be more sociable and more caring, sharing love with those in need and learning more from others.

Enjoy life. Take a deep breath and clear you throat. Move a little, shake a little, and smile and laugh more often. Walk around, look around and enjoy a wider and a fuller view of everything you see. Wash your face and blow your nose if you must... but please don't go to sleep.

There are so much to do... both for yourself and others. And the world cares and God cares.

Enjoy work. Work is fun. Work is nothing but a game. lols.