Since anyone knowledgeable with videos can upload anything he wants, YouTube has somewhat become contaminated by junk videos that present no meaning at all. Worse, some people abuse the system by writing offensive comments that can be considered as trash and immature.

However, if you are a person who exercise good judgement, you will know when to avoid those and how to find valuable videos that are worth remembering. I applaud video creators, who post insightful clips. They truly understand that a thing of beauty is meant for sharing.

Below you will find videos which I personally like as they inspire me and make me reflect on life.

You probably had seen some (if not all), but it never hurts watching them again. To go directly to the YouTube page of the videos where you can also read viewers comments, click on the title. Otherwise, simply click on the Play button of each video below to start watching:

1. Young Tiger Woods Wins British Open (1 min)

2. Dancing Prisoners (4 min 25 sec)

The video has been viewed approximately 11 million times, and has caught the attention of bigtime and international press. As a result, the inmates dedicated a dance to the whole world and CNN featured them on its website with their heart-warming stories of rehabilitation. I hope every prison in the world does something productive instead of letting the inmates hurt each other.

3. Everyday (5 min 45 sec)

4. My Name Is Lisa (6 min 26 sec)

5. The Shot (30 sec)

That regular guy is me. And when my awaited day arrived, I finally hit a winning shot for the first time in my life. Somehow, my dream came true. (Additional information in this post.)

—–

I know some of these clips might not mean anything to you. Some of you probably have your own selections, and that is perfectly acknowledged, because I also understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So allow me to take this chance to say that I am truly thankful for the video creators who shared their masterpieces with public viewers. Their geniuses make it worth the stay in YouTube.

So, Tuesday morning, during my computer class, I asked my grade 2 students to write in their notebook what Christmas means to them. I required them at least 2 sentences.

When they were done, I collected and read all the 25 notebooks. I was surprised by their answers: none of them wrote about Santa Claus. Zero.

As a matter of fact, Baby Jesus was their main answer, followed by these keywords: Love, Sharing, Caring, Family. (in random order)

Sure there are a few students who also answered “time for fun“, “getting presents” and the like. That’s part of the tradition.

These kids are 7ish-8ish years old. They are at the tender age of innocence and will believe almost anything a trustworthy adult would say. So I wondered: How come Santa Claus was left off? Do they “already” have an idea who Santa Claus really is?

My curiosity didn’t end there. The following day, I had the 1st graders, so I took the chance and interviewed random students by asking the same question: “What does Christmas mean to you?”

The answers were basically the same as the previous grade. This time, however, a couple of students finally mentioned the name Santa Claus. Still, it’s just a blip on the radar. And I felt good they are not materially obsessed.

I just had to laugh at some articles that blame the changing times if kids associate Christmas with material things. The point is, we want kids to realize the true meaning of Christmas, but it is us – the grown-ups – who color Christmas with money and attach Santa Claus to material things. The kids are just the reflection of us.

And then we write or talk about how kids today don’t get it.

Maybe we need to look at ourselves at the mirror and ask why.

Bring the kids to church; learn who Saint Nicholas really is and teach the kids why he – as Santa Claus – is a great symbol for this season; give something to the less fortunate without asking for return. These are some of the practical things we can do to teach them the real meaning of Christmas.

I watched my students play in the computer. And I thought: Christmas spirit isn’t really lost yet, but it depends on me and you.

And you don’t even notice it.

When you are taking a shower, and an idea suddenly hits you, you want to rush out of the bathroom and sit down in front of the computer and start typing.

Because when a writer starts to think, he feels his ideas are unique; or at least feels he has found a creative way of presenting old thoughts. It’s hard to pass it up. A passionate writer wants to finish writing in one sitting because he feels when he loses his grip, a big chunk of himself is gone. When that happens, the writer feels restless. I know. Because that’s how I feel.

That’s why sometimes, I feel I write better when I’m sleepy. Or should I say, “still sleepy”, because the only time I feel sleepy is when I wake up abruptly from a slumber. I don’t feel sleepy at night. I feel tired. And when my eyes feel tired they automatically close and I fall into sleep.

When I’m sleepy, the quietness of the dawn and the freshness of my mind combine to form a unique thought — at least to me. A thought that I feel could inspire others. Or teach. Or help. Or anything useful. A thought that I think could change the world. And wonderful thoughts deserve the best choice of words.

I always think I’m alone when I’m in this state. Is that weird or lonely? I don’t think so. I just think most people do not understand when a writer begins to dwell in his own world and why he has to do it.

So I did the logical thing. I asked the person who I think will understand me best. The person who I want to be with for the rest of my life.

“Andie?” I asked my girlfriend. “Will you understand me when I am writing?”

“What do you mean?” she asked. And I said, “when I’m like this.” and I described my state to her. She likes it when I am talking to her. I think most girls do when their guys open themselves.

She understands, and said. “Yes.”

I was happy, but I really do hope she does because writing is important to me. So I chuckled, and told her, “You know this won’t be the last time, right?” I didn’t expect or need any answer.

My fingers tapped the keyboard as my thought wandered in the quietness of the dawn, as the rainy morning of our 3rd Anniversary arrives.

(Click on their names to visit their blogs)

1. Vic Grace – Lately, you’re always the first to comment so I guess you deserve to be the first here. I love reading your blog, you have great content and it’s easy to read. Thanks and Good luck with the money-making adventure!

2. Jennifer HIll Ertmer – I still don’t know why your “I” is always in uppercase. Thank you for the visits and the great comments! I love reading your stories especially about little Miss Maya. By the way, are you going to monetize your blog too?

3. Cris – my fellow Filipino, thanks for always coming by. Keep up the good work with your blog.

4. Squaretan – a Sports fan who never gets tired of updating his readers with Sports events. NBA is just around the corner, maybe you could post about it once in a while?

5. Ottayan – A guy who never runs out of ideas. Thanks for the visits

6. Gleb Reys – Thanks for visiting and commenting and good luck on your new webhost!

7. Priscilla Palmer – Thanks for the visits and comments. Good luck on your upcoming book!

8. Ms Whatsit - a teacher who also loves cats and cooking! Hope the cinnamon sticks work for you if you decide to try.

9. Edward Mills – I enjoyed writing about 36-Hours you started. Thanks!

10. Peter C. – one of my brightest students at St. Aedans. Good luck with your studies and thanks for the visit!

11. Jonathan Velazco and Labelle – two of my first visitors here, thanks for visiting and commenting! Keep in touch!

And to the following bloggers who stumbled upon my site via blogrush, google, and/or other sites:

Danny @ Blogs for Money, Chris Velazco, K. Williams, Canuckle Head, Natural Woman, African Boy, Eddie, Rinnah, Tina Kubala, Jaya, GettyCash, My Personal “Keep Me Up To Date On The Top News” blog

To my friends, like Jojit, Elmer, Elaine, Melissa, The Godfather, Adis, Mrs. Perdomo: thanks for stopping by and taking time out to post in the guestbook and/or comment box, I appreciate it!

To my family in the Philippines, I know you’re reading my posts, based on our online calls. To my sisters Shandz and Sade, thanks for posting in the guestbook! Take care of Mama. Special thanks to my Father who keeps on motivating me that my topics are good.

And of course to my girlfriend, Andie. When my eyes are tired, she’s the one who helps me proof-read my entries before I post them. Thank you for supporting me in every endeavor I take. Advanced Happy 3rd Anniversary! :* :* :*

To all MyBlogLog community readers who visit my site, thanks! And to the thousands of unknown unique IP Addresses, thanks for dropping by and hope you become “known” soon — like Alex, Anon, and Guillermo, who already posted even though they still don’t have blogs/sites.

Thanks a million! Feel free to come back anytime!

Normally, after I laid out my plans for the day, I would zone out everything and carry out my plan. If I get interrupted by favors indirectly related to my regular work, I would accept it and politely say “I’d finish it as soon as I can.“

But today was a lot different from my normal Friday, which is supposed to be lighter, compared to other days of the week. Today, I had to endure extended work and a couple of distractions. (I felt the need to sugar-coat the word “distractions” and use “challenges” instead, but, decided against it because they are what they really are: distractions.)

Since I had to beat a lot of deadlines this day, I had to invoke my “Level 3″ multi-tasking skills to get the jobs done. Missions accomplished, but at the end of the day, I was physically exhausted.

You might ask: “Isn’t it much easier to just decline the requests and simply do what you’re supposed to do?“

It’s not, if you live in a society. It’s hard to say no when people are depending on you. It’s difficult when you know that these kinds of distractions are once-in-a-blue moon situation — they don’t happen often. So you have to be considerate.

Multi-tasking is not always doing two or more things at the same time. It is also the ability of doing other productive things while waiting for the other one to be accomplished. The art of multi-tasking is stealing idle time of one task to achieve another goal. It is tough, because you tend to lose concentration on one thing as soon as you start doing the other.

Multi-tasking requires grace under pressure, and not so many people have it. The ability to switch back and forth different tasks without losing poise and focus requires a lot practice. Fortunately, I was trained to do that when I was in college, particularly during the thesis period. I remember “coding in my head” during breaks, and I happily would resume programming upon seating in front of the computer.

When I know new tasks are looming, I strategize my multi-tasking. I prioritize and drop the less important immediately. I make sure I stay calm. I like the idea of watching myself like I am on TV. How do I look from the audience perspective? Do I look irritated or busy? Do I still smile when people greet me? If my answer is no, I will gather myself and turn the work pace a little slower. Now, I am saying this because it is beneficial to me. I realized long before that I can be efficient and effective under duress and I feel good about it.

If you haven’t done it before, I encourage you to practice multi-tasking because distractions are unavoidable, no matter how well you organized your day. If by the end of the day, you feel that you are more productive than ever and you loved what you did, then that’s a good sign that multi-tasking is for you.

So the question popped: “Did I improve over the years?”

And then my thoughts drifted to my other characteristics. Am I still ALWAYS late? Do I still spend a lot of time watching TV? Am I a better teacher now? Did I expand what I know about technology?

Am I a better person now?

Truth is I have high respect for people who always work hard to be better: may it be on the personal aspect or professional. They are people who are driven to success and they know how to invest on their future. I should know, because I see them everyday; I work with them; I talk to them; I read about them. These people who strive to be better are always hungry for knowledge and they embrace new challenges.

And they are the people I’m trying to emulate.

Am I a better person now?

I can say I’m a little punctual now, though it still needs improvements. When I notice I get distracted watching re-runs of sitcoms and old movies, I turn off the TV and switch the radio on and continue what I am supposed to do.

I am a better teacher, yes. I continually ask seasoned educators from my school for suggestions and observe how they teach. This year, our school principal made us watch a video of Harry Wong (link is for the book) on how to be an effective teacher, and it is very helpful. I can say I manage my classes A LOT better than the way I did 2-3 years ago.

Thanks to the internet, I am able to update my technology skills. And as for this blog, I see to it that I spend ample time to improve its layout and its content.

Improvement should never stop. So if this post has somehow enlightened you and you decide to be better, do something about it and do it now, because learning and improvement do not end as soon as results are gained.

In fact, what I’m going to talk about is “When NOT to say NO”.

Sometime in my early 20′s, I needed something personal done, and to make it happen, I also needed someone I can trust to do something big for me. So I turned to my friend, who I knew I can count on. I came to him with high hopes and told him the plan and seeked his help. But to my surprise, I was denied.

I’m not the type of guy who asks for help all the time, so I was taken aback by the rejection. I knew he can do the favor, and it wasn’t his nature to reject someone. The thing was, I also knew he was in to this “LEARN TO SAY NO” practice. I am his friend, and he was giving me that “no”-routine? I felt it was not right, but I didn’t say anything and acted like it was nothing. But it wasn’t. It still bothers me.

I am okay with that saying no habit, only if done correctly.

So when do you not say no?

When a favor was asked of you no matter how small or big it is, and you know you can do it, then say yes, especially when someone is really counting on you. Stop practicing saying no just for the sake of it. Do you really have anything to lose? Nothing really, if you think about it.

Is it really going to kill you if you say yes?

I don’t think so.

A person will not come to you and ask for help if he knows you are not capable of doing it.

It’s about a man who died a “failure“.

Here it is, from Fulghum’s Book (thanks to Richard Seah for posting this in his site):

JOHN PIERPONT died a failure. In 1866, at age 81, he came to the end of this days as a governent clerk in Washington, DC, with a long string of personal defeats abrading his spirit.

Things began well enough. He graduated rom Yale, which his grandfathre had helped found, and chose education as his profession with some enthusiasm.

He was a failure at schoolteaching. He was too easy on his students. And so he turned to the legal world for training.

He was a failure as a lawyer. He was too generous to his clients and too concerned about justice to take the cases that brought good fees. The next career he took up was that of dry-goods merchant.

He was a failure as a businessman. He could not charge enough for his goods to make a profit, and was too liberal with credit. In the meantime, he had been writing poetry, and though it was published, he didn’t collect enough royalties to make a living.

He was a failure as a poet. And so he decided to become a minister, went off to Harvard Divinity School, was ordained as minister of the Hollis Street Church in Boston. But his position for Prohibition and against slavery got him crosswise with the influencial members of his congregation and he was forced to resign.

He was a failure as a minister. Politics seemed a place where he could make some difference, and he was nominated as the Abolition party candidate for governor of Massachusetts. He lost. Undaunted, he ran for Congress under the banner of the FreeSoil Party. He lost.

He was a failure as a politician. The Civil War came along, and he volunteered as a chaplain of the 22nd Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteers. Two weeks later he quit, having found the task too much of a strain on his health. He was 76 years old. He couldn’t even make it as a chaplain.

Someone found him an obscure job in the back offices of the Treasury Department in Washington, and he finished out the last five years of his life as a menial file clerk. He wasn’t very good at that, either. His heart was not in it.

Died a failure

John Pierpont died a failure. He had accomplished nothing he set out to do or be. There is a small memorial stone marking his grave in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The words in the granite read: Poet, Preacher, Philosopher, Philantropist.

From this distance in time, one might insist that he was not, in fact, a failure. His commitments to social justice, his desire to be a loving human being, his active engagement in the great issues of his times, and his faith in the power of the human mind – these are not failures.

And much of what he thought of as defeat became success. Education was refirmed, legal processes were improved, credit laws were changed, and, above all, slavery was abolished once and for all.

Why am I telling you this? It’s not an uncommon story. Many 19th century reformers had similar lives – similar failures and successes.

In one very important sense, John Pierpont was not a failure. Every year, come December, we celebrate his success. We carry in our hearts and minds a lifelong memorial to him.

It’s a song.

Not about Jesus or angels or even Santa Clasus. It’s a terribly simple song about the simple joy of whizzing throught the cold white dark of wintersgloom in a sleigh pulled by one horse. And with the company of friends, laughing and singing all the way. No more. No less.

“Jingle Bells.” John Pierpont wrote “Jingle Bells.”

Simple joys

To write a song that stands for the simplest joys, to write a song that three or four hundred million people around the world know – a song about something they’ve never done but can imagine – a song that everyone of us, large and small, can hoot out the moment the chord is struck on the piano and the chord is struck in our spirit – well, that’s not failure.

One snowy afternoon in deep winter, John Pierpont penned the lines as a small gift for his family and friends and congregation. And in doing so left behind a permanent gift for Christmas – the best kind – not the one under the tree, but the invisible, invincible one of joy.

In Richard’s site, he updated it by saying the story was inaccurate, based on the email he received. But that doesn’t matter anymore. The important thing is we understand the moral of the story: no matter how many times we think we failed, we are successful in one way or another.

-Saedel

PS. There are tons of good stories by Robert Fulghum that I’ve already read and kept. The first Fulghum book that I liked is “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten“. Lots of inspiring and heart-warming stories that will move you.

I should say, Gleb’s list fired me up! Probably because upon reading his list, I realized we have something in common. Here is my own version of list, which is in no particular order. If you know me personally, notice that I kept everything realistic and achievable:

Professional Growth

As a teacher (Computers and Math), I want to learn how to effectively teach and convey my message to my students. Improving classroom management is also one of the important things I need to pay close attention to. On the other hand, as a tech guy, I want to be updated on the latest technology. Getting outdated is one of the fears of a tech person. Also, it is my long-time goal to obtain technical certification, so it needs action now.

Read books

I have this bad habit of opening a book and not finishing it. If I have more time, I will allot more of it for reading. I’ll start with 1 book and finish it in two weeks (one week if the book is light and short.) 

Workout

I consider myself skinny. But as I age, many people notice me getting bigger. To burn some fats, I should run, or play basketball or start practicing martial arts with my friends, or anything that makes me sweat. 2-3 hours of workout a week should do it. I want to lose these love handles!

Cook

I discovered I enjoyed cooking, but the dishes I make are really simple. So, if I have more time, I’d try complicated (and healthy!) dishes like the ones we see in magazines and cookbooks. Maybe Ms. Whatsit can post some tips in her blog!

Room Chores

Do the laundry, clean the room, etc. You know, I hate doing those. It feels like a complete waste of time and I end up procrastinating. But I ‘need’ to do it because I don’t want to sleep in my own filth. Besides, it is more enjoyable to work in a clean room. Problem is, I don’t know where to begin. Good thing I found Priscilla‘s post: Begin Where You Are.

Sleep

I lack sleep, which is the result of me wanting to do a lot of things at the same time. If I have 36 hrs more per week, I would sleep for an extra hour per night. I believe the key to have a beautiful day is to have a beautiful good night sleep.

Others:

• Learn the road by driving and travelling
• Re-discover my passion for guitar
• Dance lessons
• Finish all those pending jobs! (broken computers, unchecked papers, etc.)
• Watch movies (I honestly can’t remember the last time I watched at the cinema)
• Meet up with old friends

36 more hours is a lot, that’s why I wanted to write more goals. But I have to cut it short, and prioritize. I also wanted a more balanced approach by combining work, personal growth and rest. While writing this post, I realized that 36 hours free is not given, it is made.

If you wish to make your own list, post them in the comment box or make a post in your blog and link back to this post. I’d love to hear your own list. Make sure to include Gleb‘s and Ed’s. I believe Ed Mills is compiling lists, which I think is a very good idea. If you want to be included, then mention it in Ed’s post.

Enjoy!

1. David Rogers – For writing straight-to-the point entries about self confidence.
2. Gleb Reys – for sharing articles and tools useful for Personal Development. Thank you also for adding me up to your Personal Development List!
3. Priscilla Palmer – for writing inspiring posts about Personal Development. Thank you for linking me up and responding to my post. I was thrilled and honored. Your approach is so down-to-earth.
4. Ms. Whatsit – for writing informative posts about teaching. I also have a good feeling you’re a very good cook! Thank you for responding to my posts. I hope to be included in your blog carnival.
5. Lisa Parisi – for sharing experiences as an elementary (Gr. 5) teacher. In my opinion, you choose the right words to describe your insights.
6. Steve Clark – for opening the door of blogging for me.

Thank you very much to all of you. You’ve been an inspiration to my young blogging experience.

-Saedel