novice investor

It has been a week since I started investing in the stock market and I am a bit overwhelmed by the many things I needed to learn. However, I am also excited with it that I religiously wake up before the market opens and prepare myself before trading happens. When I think about it, ideas continue to fill and grow in my mind. I was glad though that I was not fully hooked into it since I needed to spend time with my real work and also with my commitment to the ministry. 

One of the discussions I had this week was related to passion and it is said of passion that it is something you can do with all enthusiasm and at times forget the passage of time while at it. So, is this my passion? Or is this only for a short time? If this is it then I need to really know my way around this. 

Personally, I find excitement and fun while investing in the stock market and I am hopeful that not only will we grow financially but that our country’s economy grow as well.

what legacy will you leave behind?

We cannot escape the reality that one day we will pass away and along with that is the fact that in one way or another we will leave a legacy. However, the kind of legacy you leave behind is up to you. So, what kind of legacy would you want to leave behind?

Looking at our history, there are many people who have left behind a legacy - some were commendable while others were detestable. We might think that it was the circumstances that led them to make such decisions but we have to realize that we do have a choice.

Some people think that leaving a legacy is confined to leaving behind inheritance off wealth and power. But it can be as simple as leaving a good name. A good name lasts for generations. Take for example, you joined a company where a family member previously worked and had a great reputation. They might expect a lot from you but deep inside they have confidence in you. Contrast this to a scenario when someone in your family left a bad reputation in that company - chances are high of you working harder to get promoted.

Another legacy we can leave behind is investing on the next generation. There are many cases nowadays of children growing up with values completely opposite to that of their parents. Many have neglected the significance of investing in the next generation. People have allowed the generational gap to widen further. We have to realize that not all dreams, ambitions, and success can be achieved in our lifetime. We can pass it on to the next generation. We can train and prepare them. Would you want to have them learn everything from scratch and achieve as much as less than you did? Or would it be better for them be knowledgeable and skilled as much as you and achieving double or triple than you did. Too often we live only for today without considering tomorrow.

But the most important legacy we can leave behind is living for eternity. We have to realize that when we came to this world we had nothing and when we leave it, we cannot bring anything with us. So in everything that we do, it is important to consider whether the things we do matter for eternity. I believe that would simplify things for us when we are at the crossroads of making decisions.

things that matter

"The saddest day of your life is when you're at your death bed and you stare into your spouse's and children's eyes and they stare into yours, and you realize that in that brief moment that you've been together, there was NO LOVE."

A friend shared this thought to me and I realized that sometimes we run after so many things that lead us to success and we forget the significant things of life. It made me think of the possibilities that could happen in the future. I might accomplish my dreams - wonderful home, great car, flourishing businesses, and all those great things we can dream of - but when my family is not alright, it is insignificant. After all, when my family is not whole, I, too am not whole.

corruption no more

I tuned in this afternoon to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee's hearing on military corruption. Although I did not get all the details as to what they were talking about (since I wasn't tuning in to the news these past few days), I could say that these are promising developments to the reforms that we have been longing for the Philippines. One of the resource speakers (from COA) mentioned that the problem was with the system and that it was not effective in preventing corruption. If this was the case, hopefully our government officials will do something about it and reform the policies. However, I believe corruption cannot be simply eliminated by creating a tougher system or policies. Corruption can be abolished when people begin to develop values - especially honesty and integrity.

I applaud the officials who have stepped out to reveal these anomalies (despite impending threats to their careers, life, and families). May we indeed see reform to our beloved country.