Whatever you choose for yourself, give to another. If you choose to be happy, cause another to be happy. If you choose to be prosperous, cause another to be happy…. Do this sincerely  – not because you seek personal gain, but because you really want the other person to have that – and all the things you give away will come to you. Thus said Neale Walsch.

In the face of the massive devastations caused by typhoon Yolanda and the widespread demotivation caused by blaming and growing mistrust of citizens for government officials I feel going to another level could be of help. I for one would like to try the suggestion of Mr Walsch. Esther Hicks had a similar suggestion posted by Tato Malay on Facebook which I reposted.

During the birthday celebration of my husband recently, our former MBA student guided us through a drumming session. I got hold of a medium sized flat drum. I was a bit nervous. I worried I would spoil things for the rest of the group. Francis Gaspar repeatedly instructed us to LISTEN and to decide for ourselves when to join into the drumming. I kept hesitating. I got stuck in my risk-adverse self.

Eventually I mustered the courage to join and to let my particular beat be heard. As Francis signalled for us to drum faster and more intensely, I became excited and merged with the rhythm of the group. I was willing to make a mistake if one could be out of tune in that free, open activity. I had so much fun beating feverishly one moment then ever so softly as directed. I acquired an investigative and experimental attitude. Surprisingly I felt I didn’t have to be right; I didn’t need to know the best technique. I felt safe and happy by being myself. It was so good to let go!

I wonder if a drumming session could help our country. I wonder if it could raise the consciousness of our people and help us into recovery if not into creation.

In Manila, after weeks of being bombarded with news about the scandalous mis-use of taxes by government officials in high places and after th massive destruction by natural disasters like earthquakes and typhoons I read this from the Philippine Star: “Atheist  mega-churches take root across US, world”.

This atheist group attended more than an hour of music, an inspirational sermon, a reading and some quiet reflection. The only thing missing was God. This was reported.

This group does not want religion. At age 70 I may find not joining religion convenient but not the above version. I would welcome not having to go to chuch, negotiating a thousand or so steps with my cane. I wouldn’t miss at all the sermon which usually scolds and castigates those who went out of their way to go to church. Music? Not in our parish. I’m sure the parents and relatives of the children who join the choir are proud of the church music but I find it a distraction to my efforts to pray, to thank and to worship.

But doing away with God is an entirely different matter for me. Who would listen to my fears and anxieties if there is no God? With whom do I bargain if there is no God? Who can grant my many petitions other than a Supreme Being? Above all, only God will bother to take care of those atheists who don’t believe in HIM.

Practically everybody has become so alienated from the natural order. In the cities, except perhaps in Singapore, where their recycled water has been certified potable, one can no longer drink straight from the tap.

I remember when I was a child, we used to drink water from a big earthen jar. The water was cool always not cold. This was city life then
When the refrigerator became a household item we drank water placed in big glass pitchers kept inside the fridge. During the years when Tupperware became a status symbol, the glass pitchers were given away. This year, a nephew posted on Facebook the hazards of drinking water stored in plastic bottles. I told my husband about this and we immediately replaced our plastic containers. We have been drinking filtered water for almost two years now.

Our unit is on the 37th floor. This felt heavenly for me until I read that our bodies are meant to stay as close to the earth as possible. We don’t use an airconditioner; there is no need for one. Instead we have a humidistat that regulates the air.

Whenever I have an attack of helplessness I feel as though my soul is being detached from my body. I feel as though my essential strength is drained out of me. It’s a kind of dying.

On the contrary whever I feel I can make a difference in a given situation or when I am aware I can influence somebody I feel an inner glow as though I am radiating light. I know I can handle anything then; I am assured of a connection to somebody greater than myself. This sounds like I am attributing personal characteristics to the Supreme Being ala Rabbi Darfour”s treatise: anthropomorphizing God.

A simple example of the above is when I get difficult answers to my crossword puzzles. Funny how I feel so empowered by crossword puzzles. Many times when I feel gitated I lose myself in a crossword puzzle. Engrossed I enter into the zone of what Martha Beck calls the Infinity Loop. My husband experiences this when he meditates while swimming. It’s true, one can do wonders when the mind relaxes.

When I face the unknown no matter in what form, mundane or lofty I experience a level of faithlessness. I worry about our daughter in London. I worry about Emil. Of course I worry about myself!

I agonize over what delivered food to order to stay healthy. I feel anxious over reminders related to our picked-up/delivered laundry. I even fret over how best to shorten the dreaded task of defrosting the fridge.

Whenever I wake upbetween 1 AM and 2:30 AM I hear the unwanted barking of dogs and strain to hear the good omens of roosters crowing in various pitches. Quaint but there are roosters in metropolitan Vito Cruz lined by rows of condominiums, punctuated by shops like Jollibee and McDonald’s. Last year I spotted a rooster on the rooftop of one of the neighboring condos.

After all in Singapore in 2007 while walking to the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart I chanced on roosters outside an Indian temple. Urban planning?