A Sudden Surprise

A Sudden Surprise

At precisely 5:00 AM, on a Monday morning, the alarm clock rang. Bobby's eyes sprang open, and he stared at his apartment ceiling. The alarm clock continued its steady buzzing, its ring droning on like an angry hive of bees. Bobby felt a wave of annoyance wash over him as he listened to that buzzing sound. He struggled into a sitting position, and with a shaking hand, pressed the sleep button. The alarm clock fell silent. With a smile, Bobby laid his head back on the pillow. He closed his eyes and began to snore, a deep rumbling sound like a bear hibernating in a cave.

Five minutes later, his mobile phone rang. Irritated, his hand fished for it under his pillow. He held the phone close to his ear and pressed the call button.

"Hello?" He mumbled as he blinked his sleepy eyes.

"Bobby?" A scared, timid female voice sounded on the other end.

"What is it Jenny?" He said. "I'm about to get ready for work here. Can't it wait?"

"No, it can't." Jenny said. "Your my boyfriend Bobby, and you need to know."

Bobby felt a wave of panic flood over him like a broken dam. He had a bad feeling about this. He gulped and said as calmly as he could...

"Know what?"

"Well, I know this might be hard. But I missed my period this month. And...um...well, I think..."

Bobby's breath rose up and down like an overused locomotive. He gripped his phone tighter, his knuckles turning as white as his pale face.

"You think what?" he finally croaked.

Jenny took a deep breath and said in a calm, clear tone:

"I think I might be pregnant."

Bobby's throat constricted and his heart hammered in his ears. He stared dumbly at his apartment wall.

"Bobby? Are you there?" Jenny said over the line.

Trying to control his panic, Bobby took a deep breath.

"Yeah, I'm here." He said.

"So? Aren't you going to say something? Anything?" There was an ugly note of displeasure in her voice.

"I....unh" Bobby finally stammered.

"Bobby! Say something!" Jenny screeched. Her voice sounded like a banshee in her fury.

Bobby felt hot all over. Sweat poured down his face, and his hand trembled as he gripped the phone. His stomach gurgled like a pent up volcano waiting to explode. Visions of squawking babies filled his eyes. He coughed.

"Baby, I just remembered that I owe the pizza guy. So I..."

"What!?" Jenny screamed. "You dare to change topics? At at time like this? I should..."

Bobby shook as he heard Jenny screaming at him over the line. His throat felt raw, and his eyes watered. His whole body trembled in convulsive shakes. He croaked into the phone once more.

"Baby, I'll call you back. I promise." He hung up. He winced as his ears rang with the haunting echo of Jenny screeching in his ears. He sighed. What should he do?

As he sat and pondered on his bed, he heard the sweet chirping of robin's outside his window. Their music had a calming effect on him, a sweet tonic to soothe busted nerves. As he listened, he felt a wave of peace wash over him, as if a wise mentor was whispering in his ear. Bobby smiled and stood up. He felt more in control now, almost ashamed of his previous behavior. He knew what he had to do.

"I'll go for a walk." He said as he opened up his dresser drawers.

sunlight

in the city

a day of dreams

Are You A Breakfast Champion?

coal furnace

oatmeal

in a bowl

Do you often feel drained during the day? Chances are you are suffering from a missed meal. And breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Think of your body as a furnace. To be at maximum efficiency, the flames must be kept hot. Feed the flames with coal. Coal is the food you eat. It is the energy that will keep you going throughout the day. But you must not feed your body with just anything. Only good wholesome foods like grains, fruits, and vegetables should make up the bulk of your diet. The body was designed to be its most efficient with simple, natural foods. Feed it the proper fuel.

This applies especially for breakfast. The word itself is a clue: breakfast means "break the fast." After a long night, the fires in your body need to be re-lit. Eating a good healthy breakfast is the first and most important step in navigating the trials of the day. What you eat will of course depend on the country you live in, but here is an example of a healthy breakfast:

1. A bowl of oatmeal
2. A cup of yogurt
3. A slice of fruit like an apple or orange
4. Coffee, tea, or orange juice
5. A lean piece of meat like turkey bacon (optional)

When you eat a breakfast like this, you ensure that you give your body the best possible nutrients to start the day. You will not feel sluggish, and there will be a spring to your step. Daily tasks will seem easier, and you are less likely to have mood swings from a missed meal. Everything will be more natural to you.

So feed the fires of your body with the best coal. Never skip breakfast. It will take time to adjust, but your body will thank you for providing it with a healthy meal every morning.

Think Small To Be Big

climbing

Mt. Everest

baby steps

Before you looms Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth. Nestled between Nepal and Tibet, the mountain rises to 29,028 ft (8,848 m). Many have tried to climb the summit and have failed. Fewer have succeeded. Will you be one of them? What is the secret to tackling such a giant monster?

The answer is to take baby steps. Mt. Everest represents all the hard tasks in your life. They seem big and intimidating, with no clear or easy way to proceed. But these hard tasks can be conquered. The trick is to start small. Every foot that you put forward adds to the momentum. Soon you will realize the path to the summit is easy and pleasant. But you must not let the mountain conquer you. Many fail because they never begin. The great height of the mountain puts fear into their hearts. They shrug their shoulders and say it can not be done. But you know better. All the Mt. Everest's in your life can be defeated if you take it one step at a time. But you must begin. Do not be afraid. Take your first step and you will reach the summit of all your goals in life. Start your journey today.

Are You Seeing With Your Eyes?

shells on the seashore

a chest of gold and silver

to a collector

Imagine yourself walking on a beach. The sun is high in the sky, and the wind blows through your hair. You feel the warm, soft sand between your toes as you stroll down the seashore. A gleam in the sand catches your eye. Curious, you stoop down and pick up the object, carefully brushing the sand away. In your hands is a seashell, with small circular spirals shaped like a snail. You study it for a moment, admiring its shape and form as you turn it over in your hand. Then, with a shrug, you toss the seashell into the sand and continue your walk.

To be a lifelong learner, you must remember the example of the seashell. On the outside, it may be an ordinary thing, with nothing that gives away its valuable price. Do not trust your eyes. Appearances can be deceiving. That ordinary seashell may contain a pearl of priceless value. And now the opportunity is lost. With one careless gesture, you threw away something that could have changed your life.

The lesson is simple: to grow in knowledge, you must cultivate a desire to love the simple things in your life. It if often the simple things that are the most useful to you. Take for example, the food you eat: simple, plain foods like whole grain bread, grapes, cheese, and olives are far more beneficial to your health than the heavily processed food you find in many convenience stores. And so it is with many things.

Do not shun the ordinary, for under that simple appearance, may be a chest full of gold waiting to be discovered. Be a collector of the simple things you encounter in your life. You will be well rewarded.

Are You Tired Of Being Tricked?

an empty

noodle bowl

April fool

Tricks may be for kids, but as adults we soon tire of these nasty surprises. Most people crave order in their lives. It is in our best interests to carve out a little space for ourselves; a place where we can retreat and reflect upon the sudden surprises in our lives. Still, that is only the beginning. What if we could somehow deflect the tricks thrown at us? To disarm the surprise before it hurts us? There is a way.

The secret to disarming surprises is to treat everyone and everything with a healthy dose of skepticism. The old maxim we learned as children--do not talk to strangers-- applies even as adults. As adults, we must talk to people of course, but when we do we should be wary of what they say. Treat their information as suspect, until it can be verified. Listen to what others have to say, but trust your instincts. They will often guide you in periods of doubt. If you have ever had a feeling of uneasiness when you attempted to do something--stop, and back off. This is your intuition warning you of danger. Rethink your plan and attempt another solution.

Do not be a fool on April fool's day, or any other day. Be skeptical of all that you see, hear, and do. Learn to trust your instincts and intuition. They will guide you on the right path. Stop being tricked, and take back control of your life.