Lesson of the Five Balls

-
“Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls.

The balls are called work, family, health, friends and integrity.
And you’re keeping all of them in the air.
But one day, you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball.
If you drop it, it will bounce back.
The other four balls – family, health, friends, and integrity – are made of glass.
If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.
And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls,
you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.”


—James Patterson, Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas

I just finished reading this book, a very lovely one. It spoke of life and how we must learn to appreciate it and value every day of our lives. It speaks of listening, of understanding, healing, forgiveness, and taking time to allow ourselves to enjoy the people we love. And to always tell them how much you love them, no matter what the odds are.

Comments

Anonymous said…
i've been familiar with this passage but reading it over and over again reminds me of the most valuable things in our lives.
this is so true.
thanks for sharing, sheng.
4/21/2010 7:01 AM
Kayni said…
i love this, and nicely said. thanks.
4/21/2010 7:05 AM
kg said…
nice, nice!

but i've always regarded work as being below family, health, and friends! :)
4/21/2010 3:36 PM
Anonymous said…
off topic : thank you for taking time joining in the little fun in my blog. i must say your words are a strong contender for the prize! hehe. maraming salamat, sheng! enjoy your day! =)
4/21/2010 4:02 PM
princess_dyanie said…
parang i read na. anyway, yay, you're done with the patterson book! yehey!
4/21/2010 6:11 PM
Ibyang said…
thanks for sharing. those are great reminders for all of us :)
4/21/2010 8:04 PM
eks said…
drop the rubber ball and indeed it will bounce back. teka, kelangan bang i-juggle ang mga bola? hehehee.
4/22/2010 3:46 AM
escape said…
carpe diem! value what we have now or else will end up being the saddest person on earth.
4/22/2010 7:10 AM
witsandnuts said…
I received something like this in my email and SMS years ago. Until now, I remember it because these are good words to live by.
4/25/2010 12:58 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Warning! Allergic Reactions Appear

-
Image
And what would that be? You would surely ask that. Last week, I found myself scratching my legs because they are so itchy. There's this blotches in it wherein the skin looks like it has been stung by a bee, or a mosquito bite. I scratched it and whoa, it became wider. It was all over my legs, mostly near below the knee part. I was aghast at what has become of my legs, and thinking it was allergy from something, I bought myself Celestamine for the allergy. Celestamine is an anti-allergic medicine. However, this med will surely keep you drowsy. A few hours after I had the pill, the itch and the blotches were gone, leaving my legs some map-kind of red leftover from my scratches. And so i was happy. The following day, I had been watching my diet and the foods I eat, thinking the allergy came from the santol I had(though I ate none of it again), the blotches were again visible in my legs. This time, it spread through my arms, and my hands. I felt very itchy that I could only cry my e...
Read more

Famous Cultural Landmark in Surallah, South Cotabato

-
Image
We went to Lake Sebu last Saturday to celebrate my brother's 16th birthday, and while on our way to witness the majestic falls, we were already planning to drop by Surallah to check out their most famous cultural landmark, the round ball. I do not really know how it was named the Round Ball since it seems so redundant to be called as such but to question it, honestly, won't give you much intelligent answer as we also have round balls in Koronadal City and General Gantos City. Actually a rotunda, but ever since has been called the Round Ball. Unveiled last March 15, 2011, it’s towering, obelisk-like central piece of a 2-string lute points straight to heaven , silhouetted by the blue sky at more than 60 feet above the ground. Called he’galong by indigenous T’bolis, the slim lute seemingly grows from the core of a huge, endemic , bulb plant bohong, the elongated leaves of which spread out in radial fashion . ( via ) I have heard about this new landmark that Surallah boasts o...
Read more

The First Ever Traditional B'laan Wedding Ritual I Witnessed

-
Image
It was a beautiful Saturday morning when we visited Kinilis, in Polomolok. I was with Nanards and two visiting friends from Davao City, Emi, and her American husband, Joshua. They wanted to go see the kafe balos because it has been very famous now, and they wanted to invest into the business. Sir Fred mentioned there was a tribal wedding that very day so it was a fortunate day for us to witness something different, a customary tribal wedding rite. We went inside the house for they explained to us that the traditional B'laan wedding is being held inside the house of the bride where the couple has to sit on a mat and surrounded by relatives and witnesses. The bride was very beautiful that day, she was adorned with T'nalak inspired accessories, and her hair was placed with a beautiful headdress made of brass. Her hips was surrounded by a brass belt where hundreds of small bells were making noise each time she moves. And she was fully clothed in a colorful B'laan attire, and s...
Read more