Saturday photo

"...when workers are pushed to their limits through no fault of their own."

In times of crises, no matter how hard we try, there will always be that possibility of unintentionally neglecting one group of stakeholders in our organization.  In this time of pandemic, in the education sector, that group of stakeholders is the teaching staff.  The natural focus of attention are the students, as they and their needs are perceived to be the most 'vulnerable' to neglect and to poor quality of service.  The members of support staff, especially those whose employment are not protected by permanence, are usually the next focus as they are perceived to provide the assistance that are crucial in maintaining the continuous provision of services to satisfy the needs of everyone in the Institution.  

The teaching staff are perceived to be the provider of the very reason why a learning institution exists - the generation and transmission of knowledge... education.  The quality of the service depends on how committed they are, and how brilliant they are in their fields to sufficiently provide the education that the students enrolled for in the learning institution, in the first place.  Therefore, much is expected of the faculty members; they have to show expertise, efficiency and effectiveness in teaching at all times - regardless of circumstances, (COVID-19) pandemic notwithstanding.  Even when the world was turned to a 'deer in headlights', everyone still expects the faculty members to be in control, efficient and unperturbed by the pandemic, even when they themselves are vulnerable to the deadly effects of the pandemic.  Unfair?  Aren't educators so used to being subject to injustice in this world?  Aren't we the most maligned people - accused of incompetence when a student cannot or refuses to learn because of factors that are not even within the educator's sphere of influence, and therefore, the reason of that student's failure?  We are the most convenient excuse for failed parenthood and failed national and societal leadership; and we are rarely remembered in the success stories of students, and in their moments of triumph.  Sad?  Of course, it is!  But we are used to it.

So, yesterday, I received daggers of complaints from a parent on two of our faculty members - not so much on the quality of their teaching but on the technicalities of delivering instruction online.  Apparently, we are supposed to turn to experts on full online teaching and learning overnight, and that we are solely responsible if students are unable to adjust and fail to do so satisfactorily.  My knee-jerk reaction was to send an email to my colleagues, and let them know about it... with some gentle jabs.  But I turned the page of my daily spiritual readings yesterday, and I found a lovely message that was so apt to the situation.  I thought I'd share the message in today's featured photo because I felt like I was 'scolded' by the Lord yesterday... and it was quite sobering.

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Wednesday happy pill...

...unexpected but understandable.
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by PAM

Myung-soo (center): 

"What did you just say?

What did you guys do in my workroom?

What happened after the hugging?"

I cannot look at these photos, blurred as they are, without laughing uncontrollably.  It works everytime! 😂 

This 'happy pill' is from "The Heirs" (a.k.a. "The Inheritors")... and, yeah, it's a Korean TV Drama, and, uhm... I soooo love it! It is my all-time fave, and I can spend a whole day just watching and re-watching it. I laugh and cry... get mad, get agitated... and then laugh and cry again, and then fall in love over and over again just watching the 20 episodes. I cannot get enough of it. This much I admit, uhm... without shame! 😅

This 2013 KDrama starred that beautiful man, Lee Min-ho, who was at his most beautiful phase in life playing the beautiful young man in the series, Kim Tan, and the A+ Korean actress, Park Shin-hye, who played Cha Eun-sang. Together, they made such a cute young couple in a Cinderella story that makes one fall in love. Never mind that Tan can be that typical spoiled conglomerate son sometimes, and Eun-sang can be that annoying damsel-in-distress who can't make up her mind and fight for herself most of the time. They portrayed 18-year-olds from opposite backgrounds whose entwined environments prevent them from enjoying young love, so what do you expect? But when they're being cute, they are so naturally adorable together, they just make you smile whatever your circumstance. Tan is so funny and adorable when asserting his feelings and trying to win Eun-sang's affection, and being hilariously possessive when he tries to be protective of her. Lee Min-ho became Kim Tan, truly 😍; and Park Shin-hye quickly became my fave KDrama actress, of course. 👍😊 

The series also starred a host of wonderful actors and actresses who were all great in their roles and whose on-screen chemistry was so spot-on that I felt... they were my second family. 😌😊 I did have a 'love-hate relationship' with Choi Yeong-do (played by Kim Woo-bin), but it's leaning more towards 'love' just because he was usually very funny. 😄 But, yeah, there were so many heartwarming moments, and this scene from Episode 13 was one of my favorites - totally hilarious! The adorable Jo Myung-soo, who was Kim Tan's and Choi Yeong-do's friend and played by Park Hyung-sik, was very funny in the scene pictured above. His chemistry with Kim Tan was at its best in the said scene. It didn't feel like they were acting in a KDrama at all. At this point, it being the 13th episode, it felt like watching your own friends engaged in a banter, and you can't help but be proud of being their friend. 😎😊

When I'm having a tough time, I just rummage through the episodes of this KDrama, especially episodes 2,3, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19... and it gets me through the tough time with a smile. Just like Eun-sang, Kim Tan has become my, uhm... silver lining. ❤😊

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QOTD

QOTD #27: Ah... what we preach, and what we do.
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by PAM

"There can be an imperfect happiness (felicitas) attainable in this lifetime, in proportion to the exercise of Reason (contemplation of Truth) and the exercise of virtue."  

  - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles (paraphrased)

I've always believed that, if we were motivated by the right outcome in what we do, life is itself 'the pursuit of happiness', or more correctly, the pursuit of perfect happiness. 

In his book Summa Theologiae, I gathered that St.Thomas Aquinas defined 'perfect happiness', or beatitudo, as that mystical vision of God, which can only be possible in the afterlife.  It is in consonance with the belief of St. Augustine who said, "our heart is restless, until it rests in you," in his adoration of God. Unlike St. Augustine, however, St. Thomas Aquinas believed that we can still achieve 'imperfect happiness', or felicitas, in our lifetime.  This can be achieved in contemplation of the truth.  And the happiness we

St. Thomas Aquinas
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

achieved in the actualization of our natural faculties is "in proportion to the level of truth accessible to Reason".  

Therefore, our own rationalization of our actions, in which we exercise our mental faculty in aligning our actions with the contemplated truth, can help us achieve felicitas. That imperfect happiness that we feel in all that we do can give peace of mind and joy.  This enables us to realize the truth more clearly in our continued contemplation, helping us to see with clarity the higher purpose of the life we live.  The more often we exercise contemplation, the sharper our vision becomes, and we become more receptive, too, to God's revelation of the truth - in answering our prayers.      

This is why, in our workplaces, shared vision is very important.  When everyone understands the leadership's vision, and it is clear to everyone how the actions that our Institution or Organization are pursuing are in harmony with the vision through clear rationalization, then it is easy for everyone to happily play his or her role.  Note that playing one's role though involves personal contemplation, and therefore, putting one's mental faculty to use, and acting accordingly.  When one is deprived of actualizing his or her own natural faculties in playing his/her role accordingly, and is forced to merely follow instruction without contemplation, then felicitas cannot be achieved.  I imagine that this is why there are many people who are unhappy in their workplaces, or who become unhappy when new leadership comes to be, and new policies are crafted and implemented without mutual respect and without regard to everyone's natural right to actualize natural faculties.  

In view of the above, I imagine, too, how it is impossible to be happy in a country ruled by a dictator, especially if that country knows what democracy is and has thrived in democratic environment before where actualization of natural faculties is supported, and in fact, encouraged.         

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Birthday wish...

...in the time of pandemic.
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by PAM

A birthday wish... in hope and faith.

Birthdays are supposed to be happy occasions - a break from one's usual daily grind; a day to make a special wish, and experiencing the fortifying solemnity of faith that that wish shall be granted.  

Birthday can be that 'one fine day' of quiet contemplation and reflection, a soulful thanksgiving, or simply just being lazy and being left alone to enjoy some quality "me time"... with a good book and a good music playing in the background, or a day of leisure writing or re-watching a fave movie or TV mini series, or old music videos... or just being surrounded by good vibes all around.  It can also be a gathering of loved ones, some fun sharing of anecdotes, or sharing some moments of warm togetherness, or an opportunity to laugh loudly and happily, making fun of each other to disguise deep affection, the expression of which on ordinary days can otherwise make everyone feel awkward and uncomfortable, or playing fun games with the aim of just being foolish and crazy-happy... with good home-cooked food passed around to keep feeding that appetite that grows with the feeling of happiness and satisfaction.  Or, it can be a combination of both... a day of remembrance that, in all that we do, we take a step closer to the fulfillment of our fate - God's plan, and a step closer to finally seeing His face... a moment of pure love when there is nothing else to feel but joy.

With the "new normal" in this world that was taken over by COVID-19, I found that birthdays are still happy occasions, in a more laid-back way.  There is that simple joy while being physically remote than usual from most of the celebrator's usual crowd. Strangely enough, it wasn't all that bad, especially when we allow ourselves to be treated

My simple birthday plate this year. The simplicity
does not diminish how special the day is.

by life with that most precious gift of time.  Time for contemplation and reflection... time for devotion, time for God... time with God. 

This year, I get to spend my birthday 'quietly'. I made time for myself... I insisted to make time for myself. I refuse to remain a slave of one's, or a few people's, refusal to see why God might be allowing this hideous COVID-19 to take over our lives, which is for us to re-discover the path towards Him... for us to abandon the paths that we invented and built in our foolish belief that we have become so great that we can build a better 'highway' towards a kingdom of the same grandeur as His.  I refuse to be a pawn to one person's obsessive desire to own excellence... by pushing everyone around that person to sprint exhaustively to reach the numbers that, to that person, define excellence.  It is painful to watch that person's fierce push, believing that excellence in time of pandemic can be measured by numbers rather than the real feeling of joy for having collectively accomplished something of impact on people's lives from shared vision. Too bad that we are missing the golden opportunity to re-discover God... and each other; to make a real difference in people's lives so that they, too, can re-discover God.  And, it is sad that that person is taking all the pawns in a direction that spells peril, frustration and disappointment through the emptiness of mere compliance.

Pardon me if that sounded like arrogance and judgment on my part.  I admit that I am not in the position nor do I have the moral ascendancy to make that person see how mistaken that person is.  And yet, that person might be right.  After all, it is possible to be right and foolish at the same time, isn't it?  Ah, but this birthday is not about such foolishness, and I have a few more minutes to continue celebrating it.  Therefore, I leave a mark of this special day here... while I continue rediscovering the path towards my fate, while I pray fervently for strength, wisdom and love in my heart to resist foolishness without having to push back and risk hurting others... and shepherd my own flock to where true happiness can be found.  

I rest my weary heart and troubled mind in God, and I hope that He grants me my wish on this special day. Amen.

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Photo credit:  I own the photos.  The first was taken in my front yard, and the second was taken on my birthday dinner.

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