Once more, it is made clear to us that we live in a small world. Twelve innocent persons died in Paris, a tragedy that touched lives everywhere.  We mourn and try to face the loss and the divide, fast becoming an abyss. We can only hope that soon we can find solutions to close the gap that’s staring us in the face.

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Sometimes in the professional world, when we are bypassed for a promotion, our sights tend to focus on the outside, blaming the manager who could not see our value, skills and accomplishments. And so a wedge is unwittingly created. At home, a child gets failing marks; a spouse joins friends instead of returning home to family. Perplexed, we lash out and put the blame on work demands that’s taking over our lives.

But in the equation of human relationships, we consistently forget that we also bring something to the table. We are participants thus have responsibility as well for the child’s low marks and a spouse’s loss of interest in family life.

Lives do not fall apart overnight. A stone will not erode with a single rainstorm. Marriages crumble over time. What happens is that hurt and resentment begin to accumulate, dialogue, a key to building relationships in the professional or personal realm, is forgotten.

Perhaps taking the first step towards that all-important conversation is nerve wracking. “What can I say? How do I start? Will I be respected after this? Am I not being a dummy for bringing it up?” We all have had these thoughts at some point when facing a discussion over a sensitive issue.

“It takes courage not to be defeated by one’s own weaknesses and negativity, courage to be happy,” Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist leader in Japan, said. These are words that are worth their weight in gold, words to live by.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

The year 2014 is about to end.

It is that time of the year when everyone looks back on accomplishments. It is also when the future beckons, to look forward to. For some, it is time to seriously think about dreams that have been on the back burner for many years. Keeping in mind that pursuing one’s dreams is not the same as being self-centered, it is important to take some small steps to achieve one or two of those dreams in 2015. But how to do exactly that? Following are some suggestions that can make dreams within touching distance.

1)    Have a vision of your dream. For example, if the dream is to spend a month in Milan, Italy, mixing with the locals, then learning Italian is the first step. See yourself in a classroom or with a tutor, keeping this in mind as you save up for a beginner’s course. With determination and discipline, one can also begin learning about its culture by going online to sites that offer information and even language podcasts.

2)    While you’re online, some checking on what it will take to live in Italy for a month. For instance, find an estimate of daily expenses; cost of staying at a bed and breakfast compared to rooming with a family. Know everything there is to know about living abroad, in particular Italy.

3)    Be flexible in making your plans. Challenges and disappointments will come up. Adjust accordingly but hold on to that dream. Make certain that family and friends support you. As we’ve often heard from successful people “Quitting is not an option” in any endeavor especially when it comes to you dreams.

4)    Be on the lookout for negative thoughts that come your way. When it does happen, think about the plans towards achieving your dreams and the completed steps.

More important, continue to visualize yourself in that dream. Whether it’s a trip, getting courses to learn new skills, or going back to school, experience them and sense them as if it is already happening. Remember that dreams are alive because we hold on to them.

Best wishes for a happy 2015!

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

In a few days, 2014 will have ended. The time for New Year’s Resolutions is here again. The thing is how do we stay on track for New Year’s Resolutions in 2015?

Generally, after the first week of January, the best intentions go to the wayside, forgotten in the juggling of family and work. Perhaps, keeping it simple is the approach to use.  So here are some easy ones to consider:

1. Give ourselves credit. Sometimes we forget where we started and how far we’ve come in the journey. It is good to take a break, remembering that our lives are all works in progress.
2. Practice active listening.
3. Drink more water and try green tea instead of sodas and coffee.
4. Donate clothes or household stuff that are not needed. If finances are on the tight side, organize a garage sale. It’s a win/win situation as others can use stuff that may be unnecessary to you.
5. Make every effort to stay in touch with family and friends. Use email and social media. The cliché that ‘life’s short’ is a reminder to appreciate the present.
6. Be punctual; credibility increases with punctuality. Being prompt for appointments and meetings shows respect for other people’s time.
7. Organize and avoid accumulating clutter. A disorderly environment mirrors a cluttered mind.
8. Make every effort to spend less than you earn. When possible, begin saving at least 5% of your monthly salary. Rainy days don’t announce themselves.
9. Be more positive in looking at negative situations. Go into the thinking mode of “a solution is available, I just haven’t found it yet” when faced with challenges.
10. Take the time to just be. Start with turning off the phone for ten minutes. Practice the art of doing nothing. It may be the only time you hear your body.

Sticking to 2015 New Year’s Resolutions is the goal but more important is staying on track every day to achieve a balanced physical, emotional, and mental life.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

Living up to its name, The Help, once again reached out to the community of Tagaytay City in the province of Cavite. Engaging in the immediate neighborhood and contributing to its improvement is key to The Help’s overall business mission.

Though threatened with possible typhoon Ruby’s landfall late in the evening of December 7, staff at The Help arrived at the Injoy Life Children’s Home to share the season’s holiday spirit. Residents, 13 young ones, go to a nearby school. In their free time, they busy themselves with gardening activities. But on Sunday, expectant faces waited for the day’s program of speakers, prizes, and games.

The program consisted of an opening prayer led by one of the children, a group song and dance performance, and a message from The Help’s owner, Ms. Astrid Escover-Stanek. Games, as well, involved the young residents in the day’s event.

Keeping in mind last year’s typhoon Haiyan that devastated Tacloban City in Leyte and other cities in the surrounding islands, tremendous appreciation for good health, support of family and friends as well as the continued backing of the local government was expressed by the orphanage and The Help.

Meanwhile, joyful squeals from young and old alike resounded in the community hall as everyone laid eyes on the ready-to-eat boxed spaghetti, chicken and rice lunch. There were sacks of rice and blankets, for the orphanage while art and pencil kits, and school provisions such as paper and pens were for distributed to the orphans. Bathroom, kitchen supplies, and canned goods were also in the gift bags.

The Help thrives in a tradition of sharing and giving back to the community that continues to nurture staff and their respective families. Ms. Escover-Stanek comes from a family steeped in charity and sharing with the community. Influenced by the values of her parents and extended family, she has, over the years, made certain that the civic aspect of the business is actualized through the bi-annual community outreach activities of the company. A profit and loss statement is one measure of business success. However, only community impact and its relevance insure business longevity.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help