Your mantra for the week: My cheerfulness creates a new life for me.
Everyone will agree that they want to love and be loved, and because of this I researched on how this can be achieved more easily. I discovered that a few decades ago, a survey was done with 5,000 respondents about the qualities that make people easy to love and it showed that top on the list was cheerfulness.
I could not agree more because a cheerful person is capable of lifting others up from the doldrums and adding sunshine to an otherwise dark day. Most of all, cheerful persons are easy to get along with.
The second was friendliness (being easy to talk with, warmly polite and good-natured) and the third trait was having a sense of humor.
The survey showed that the three traits people like the least or did not like at all are:
- Being pessimistic, always expecting the worst and thus, getting what they expect. The Bible even reminds us that “the fear that you fear is upon you.”
- The frowners or those who constantly show disapproval, displeasure and irritation.
- Those who are gloomy and despondent. These people are generally described today as having bad vibes. They radiate so much negativity that affect all the lives they touch and the irony is that they are the ones that need most to be loved.
Last week, I wrote about every man being born with Original Goodness and my proof is that every man has the capacity to love. Those who are cheerful, friendly and have a sense of humor are the ones who express their love more openly, freely and generously.
On the other hand, the pessimists, frowners and the gloomy express very little of their capacity to love and, therefore, attract much less love into their lives. That, for me, is the Original Sin of many. And just like the Parable of the Talents, to those who love more, more love shall be given and those who have a little, even the little might be withdrawn.
So, dear readers, you now have an idea where you stand and surely as the Good Book reminds us, we can be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Here’s to greater cheerfulness in our lives. Smile and take a selfie!
Capricorn family
The Cornelissen family behind Fashion Interiors at Chino Roces Extension in Makati City, is the only family I know where the father, Paul Sr., son Paul Jr., stepmother Gela and daughter Megan are all Capricorns.
Only the fifth member Alec—whose birthday is today —is the lone Aquarian.
Capricorns are known for their perseverance—the Cornelissens have been in the furniture business for 36 years.
Many visitors are astounded and who always comment, “This must be the best-kept secret in town.” Call 6620391 for a visit and share the good news so it ceases to be a secret.
Gracie’s grace
Last Jan. 18, Grace Glory Go launched “The 2018 Fookien Times Philippine Yearbook” at C Lounge in Conrad Hotel Manila, with son Vernon co-hosting and his pretty Happee assisting him.
The C Lounge was filled with many familiar faces from government, business, society and the cultural worlds, which proves how popular and well-liked Gracie is.
This year’s edition is outstanding if only because four former presidents are featured on the cover. Our elected presidents now come from the signs Aquarius (PNoy), Pisces (FVR) and Aries (Erap, GMA and DU30). When the elections were held in November, we elected presidents from the other half of the Zodiac plate: Leo (Quezon), Virgo (Osmeña, Magsaysay, Ferdinand Marcos), and Scorpio (Quirino, Garcia, Macapagal).
An interesting facet of this yearbook’s cover is the commonality of the 4 leaders: PNoy “incarcerated” GMA, GMA “imprisoned” Erap, and FVR help remove Marcos. Truly bringing forth their own brand of change!
At the cocktails, many commented that when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was president, she failed to recognize many of the guests present even if she knew them. That evening, however, she was friendlier, acknowledging the presence of many to their surprise. Is she perhaps preparing herself for the prime position of minister when and if Federalism comes to pass? Unlike FVR, she came with an entourage in tow.
It was nice chatting with Jean Goulbourn and sister Frances; naturally, Conrad’s Hans Sy and Tessie Sy-Coson were happily greeting and posing for pictures with guests Felix Ang of Mercedes-Benz, the very active inner wheeler Rita Dy, Mayenne Carmona with Bulgari’s Mario Katigbak, Ann and Rene Puno, the lovely and very busy Anna Sobrepeña.
FB addicts
The Conrad food was excellent. However, the venue was a bit unusual because of the different panels that divided the Lounge. Despite all that, one could not possibly miss the “from left to right” group with their respective yaya taking pictures to upload on their FB walls, which they do almost instantly to make sure that their presence is known to all.
One of the interesting conversations I overheard that evening was between a lady showing off her newly acquired piece of jewelry to Bulgari’s Mario Katigbak. Her companion nudged her saying, “Stop sounding like a nouveaux riche,” to which the gentlemanly Mario replied, “It’s alright. When you have it, show it.”
On the way out, I reminded Mario that his statement is usually meant for boobs and not for jewelry… as we laughed away the evening.
E-mail the columnist at georgedfsison@gmail.com
