Eclipse

Eclipse by Richard North Patterson was the book I finished this month. I actually started this a few months back but I was very busy so I couldn’t sit down to finish it.  It’s a very compelling book and very relevant to our life now.

This book really makes you ask yourself some tough questions. What price are we all willing to pay to maintain our lifestyle? How do we measure the value of human life? How do we balance business, politics, environment and people?

The book talks about a fictional country called Luandia. It was very well described and I can imagine the events as actually happening.  It is just so sad that a country who has rich resources would go to ruin.  You’d really think that the discovery of oil would help everyone in the country. However, as we all know, only a handful get to benefit from it.

The recent turmoil in the Middle East and Africa really highlights the fact that being oil-rich is no guarantee for progress and growth. Governments have a huge responsibility in putting things in order. Companies also have a responsibility to conduct their business in a manner that is respectful of the people and of the environment. These words are easier said than done. Relationships are complicated. Politics and business are complicated. There’s no easy fix. There’s no easy way.

It is very easy for me to sit here and blame governments, blame businessmen, blame criminals. But we all play a part. We’re all interconnected. One person alone didn’t cause the problems nor can one person alone solve the problems. But one person can influence the people around him. And they can then influence others. It’s like the concept of pay it forward. Let’s all pay it forward. Let’s all make small changes with our lifestyle. Let’s all be more mindful of how we use our resources. Let’s all call for clean governments. Let’s all support businesses that conduct their business in an ethical manner. I am hopeful that together, we can all institute change. These problems may not be happening in our own backyards but we all share the same Earth and protecting their part of the Earth is protecting our part as well.

 

I’m back! (Hopefully)

I can’t believe it’s been two  months since I last wrote here.  It’s been a hectic November and December.  It’s a new year and hopefully, I can pick up the habit of writing again.

The last thing I remember writing about was the new job I found.  As I’ve said, it’s not regular so I felt that I had to take full advantage of it when work is available. Unfortunately, that meant I didn’t have much of a life the last couple of months since  I was always working.  I felt like I was even working more hours than if I did have full time work outside the home.  It’s kinda hard to stop when no one will tell you to stop.  I haven’t read a book in months.  I haven’t read any blogs. I haven’t tried new recipes.

I think it’s time for a fresh start.  Hopefully, I get to do the following:

• Limit the number of hours I work (and stick with it!)
• Blog regularly (I hope weekly)
• Try out a new recipe every month
• Finish a book every month
• Get back to appreciating the simple things in life

This is a very simple list and I’m sure easily accomplished.  I just want to clarify, though, that I’ll do these things as long as I feel that they are contributing to my quality of life.  If I read a book just so I could say I did so but I’m not enjoying the experience, then that defeats the purpose of the list.  The list is a guide for me to enjoy my life as these are the things that I love doing.  If my interests change, then my list will change as well.

I hope this blog will continue to serve as an outlet for me.  I’m not really a great writer and I really feel small when I compare my blog to others that are so wonderfully written.  I just remind myself that I’m doing this for me, as a venue to express my thoughts.  I’m not trying to gain a following nor am I trying to make a career out of writing.  I am actually surprised that there are people who read my blog.  I am happy that some people take the time to ready my ramblings.  Thank you very much and I look forward to continuing on with you in this journey we call life.