Gardener of Thoughts

I have been working and living in Salalah, Oman for eight years. Actually, the province is officially called Dhofar and Salalah is the capital. But in the tourism industry, the name Salalah represents the whole province. From July to September of every year, Salalah is transformed into lush, verdant paradise. It’s called “Khareef” or monsoon season. You wouldn’t believe you’re in the Middle East!

Local and international tourists come here for nature tripping, not shopping. There are a few malls here but not as massive as the ones you find in Dubai. If you want to enjoy Salalah, bring a tent or a mat, and some foldable chairs. Be ready to drive in your SUV at dawn so you can catch the magnificent sunrise.

Some public beaches are very accessible from the main roads while some are hidden and secluded. These isolated beaches are great places for unwinding and meditation. You will also find fertile coconut and banana plantations.

When you’re young, time and energy are your currency. Use them to learn and master skills that will help you gain financial independence. And even if, eventually, you land another full time job, extra skills will be handy for a side hustle. Remember, one source of income is never enough. Here are five skills that young people should have. And the good news is, there are free resources you can access to learn them.

1.Baking and cooking

The pleasure that food brings is unequalled by other desires, and so people will always crave for it. And they will always be willing to pay for something that satisfies their hunger and comforts their emotions as well. Therefore, baking and cooking are money-making skills. Fortunately, the internet is generous with free recipes and culinary tips. Take advantage of them.  For better profit and to avoid losses from spoilage, make products that have longer shelf life. Examples are cookies, candies, pickled veggies and sardined fish. Make sure that you also know proper costing. Sales don’t always mean profit. Many great bakers and cooks fall into bankruptcy because they didn’t know that they’re selling at a loss!  Learn this skill and eat to your heart’s content.

2. Phone and computer repair

Who doesn’t use these gadgets these days? Every gadget, no matter the brand, is bound to fail in one way or another. If you know how to fix PCs, laptops, tabs and phones—you will not go hungry! You will always have a customer. You should be good at both the hardware and software aspects. And because technology continually evolves, you need to keep yourself updated all the time. You can start practicing with your own or your family’s gadgets. If you’re a Filipino, you may avail of TESDA’s free course on Computer Systems Servicing.

3. Copywriting

Do you have a flair for words? Copywriting may be for you. Copywriting is a type of persuasive writing intended for use in advertising and marketing.  The purpose of the product—called copy or sales copy — is to generate sales and profits. Aside from typical advertisements we see on mainstream media, copywriters also write product descriptions, advertorials, e-mails and website content. With the far reach of the internet, business organizations have to make their presence felt in the digital world. That is why there is a great demand for copywriters. Almost everything you see on the internet is a form of copywriting. You need to be creative, research-oriented and excellent in your native language and in English. You should also have an eye for details for the editing and proofreading tasks.

You can read free articles about copywriting to improve your skills. Check out websites of well-known businesses—from retailers to real estate developers—and you will see great examples of copies. Then, try to write your own. You can create your own blog where you can post samples of your work. Also, you can contact companies and offer your initial service for free, on the condition that you can mention them in your resume and include them in your portfolio. Remember, only your initial service is free.

You may join platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr to find copywriting and other freelance opportunities.

4. Driving

The growth of online businesses and e-commerce also spurred the demand for delivery services that need riders and drivers to deliver the goods, literally. Therefore, if you enjoy driving a motorbike or a van, you can join the fleet. Of course, choose the best company and platform. Pay may be minimum, but you can get tips from generous customers. It’s not easy to find free driving courses, but it depends on where you are, your connections and your family. A lot of people learned driving from a family member, especially fathers and older brothers. You need a budget for gas to master driving. For this gig, you need not just a valid driver’s license but also a cool head and superb navigational skills. Of course, you should be at least 18 years old.

5. Gardening

Gardening may not appeal to you if you’re young, but you will reap rewards if you manage to psych yourself into it. If you have the space, you can grow ornamental plants and edible herbs. The lockdowns have somehow reignited people’s interest in flowers, plants and herbs. In the new normal and even in the post-pandemic scenario, people will still likely spend more hours at home. People are redecorating and landscaping their homes for better ambiance. Those who have been into floriculture and gardening pre-pandemic time have earned money selling their orchids, roses, snake plants and bonsai trees. On the other hand, the demand for organic, fertilizer-free herbs such as oregano, mint and sage has increased because of people’s serious attention to health and better diet. Edible herbs can also be made into tea! Aside from the potential profit, gardening also boosts a person’s mental health and well-being. If you visit rural areas, seeds and cuttings can be obtained cheap or even free. Pots can be made from recycled materials.

The best time to learn new skills is when you’re young. (And the second best time is now!) Don’t waste your spare time sitting idly. Learn the skills that pay the bills!

One of the biggest heartaches that a person can experience is not having a child when you really want to be a parent. It causes so much emotional pain—-not only because your personal desire has not been granted, but also because of the insensitivity of society. Childless couples are often the target of sarcastic jokes and comments, especially in Asian cultures. And that certainly adds insult to injury.

If you are childless, you have been deprived of a unique kind of joy that only children can bring. However, being childless has hidden blessings. Once couples have accepted and acknowledged that they cannot have children, they can move on to find these invisible blessings.

1. Less worries and stress. Being a parent is a roller coaster of emotions. When you become a parent, you constantly think about the welfare of your children. From their infancy up to adulthood, you never stop worrying about them. There are always nagging questions in your head. Can the baby breathe? How is he coping in school? Is she being bullied? Why haven’t my kids come home yet? Can they get a job after college? The worries are endless. But if you’re childless, you don’t experience this level of anxiety.
2. Being spared of the worst possible heartache: death of a child. With all the crazy things going on—-crimes, accidents, juvenile suicide, diseases, natural disasters— death is everywhere. The fear and threat are real and hitting people closer. There are so many young people dying, causing unfathomable pain on the parents. It is a pain that never leaves you and never heals. It is a kind of pain that hangs like Damocle’s sword on every mother and father.If you are childless, this possibility does not exist. In this context, being childless is a big blessing.
3. Less financial worries. It is expensive to have children. Baby food, diapers, clothes, tuition fee—- everything costs a lot. Many parents work two or three jobs in order to provide for their families. They have to give up many things—-like their own medical check ups or a new pair of shoes —- to make both ends meet. If you are childless, you have more available money. You are also less likely to have huge debts and loans that most parents have to pay until old age.
4. More time for yourself. You can take care of your health and have access to expensive health services that many parents skip. Also, you can focus on your other interests; like joining a charitable organization, starting a business, or learning a new skill. You can learn how to play the piano, or start working on that novel you have been meaning to write.
5. More time for your partner. You can devote more time to your spouse and make sure that his or her needs are met. If your marriage is based on love, being childless should not ruin your relationship. You can spend time together in romantic places and enjoy adventures that couples with children rarely do. Candle-lit dinners at nice hotels, trips to exotic places. Use your time and resources to strengthen your bond.

If life did not give you the child you wanted and prayed for, don’t waste your time crying , complaining and comparing. The child you never had saved you from a lot of hardships. The child you never had gave you freedom to do many other wonderful things.

You can find collateral beauty in childlessness, if you will seek it. Life can still be amazing!

Forty. That’s generally accepted as the start of middle age. And it ends at 60. This is a difficult and challenging period. Here are the reasons.

1. You are starting to have health problems. Your body starts to feel the impact of the unhealthy lifestyle that you have indulged in during your younger years. Your blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels are off the charts, and you need a regular visit to your doctor.
2. You are dealing with teenage kids who are at the craziest stage of life. Your unpredictable, rebellious and entitled brats provoke you all the time and give you endless worries.
3. You are dealing with your own senior parents who need attention and medical care. Giving your own time to aging parents can be hard if you yourself are unhealthy and problematic. You are lucky if they have enough savings and insurance to cover their expenses. However, if they don’t, you end up spending for their medication, caregiver fees and others. This is really tough if you’re poor, or even if you’re middle class. You have to work longer hours to make both ends meet.
4. You have become physically unattractive. Looking at your naked self at the mirror makes you cringe.   Wrinkles, receding hairline, curves at the wrong places. Your self-confidence starts to erode.
5. Your marriage has become boring and dysfunctional. As years pass, “life” happens and marriages tend to lose their spark. Arguments and conflict arise frequently, and many relationships crumble. Divorce and separation ensue.
6. Job burn out. It’s not really the job, but the long years that you have been hustling. Every little thing in the office annoys you, and issues that are tolerated by most people become intolerable to you. You are exhausted after the first hour of work.
7. You realize that none of your dreams has come true.  The high-paying job, the beach house, the awards, travels to exotic places—not even one came to fruition.

Yes, middle age is a tough age, and the first tip to survive this is to be aware that it is tough.  Acknowledge this fact, and work gradually to alleviate the situation. Start with your health. This is non-negotiable. Eat more greens, reduce processed food and cut down on sugar. Exercise can be as simple as stationary jumping for three minutes.

Do deep breathing when you’re stressed. Inhale slowly for eight seconds, then hold it for seven seconds, and then exhale slowly for eight seconds. Repeat.

Practice calm communication with office mates, kids, spouse and parents. If a marriage is beyond repair, split amicably.

Find a source of income that can be automated. You can sell through dropshipping, or create and sell an online course that features your skills, like low-carb baking and carpentry As long as your income depends on the number of hours you work, you will never have enough money. As you grow older, you will be less and less capable of working.  So, it is about time to learn a new business model.

Work on that dream, even for twenty minutes a day. Whatever it is. You will be surprised where those twenty minutes can lead you.

Remember the oft-repeated saying:  Life begins at 40…(or older!)

Volcanic eruptions. Massive earthquakes. Severe storms and floods. Widespread diseases. Are these things happening because they are written in the Bible?

No.

These phenomena have been happening for hundreds of thousands of years—even millions of years. Geologists, archeologists and scientists have confirmed this. On the other hand, Jesus Christ was born between 6 BC and 4 BC—quite recent in the context of world history. The New Testament was written within the period of 100 years after Jesus’ death. And the Old Testament was written from about 1200 BC to 165 BC. The writers of the Bible (and other Holy Books) used these extreme phenomena to teach moral values. They knew these events have been happening for so long, and they chose to incorporate them into their teaching. And there is nothing wrong with that.

In a Sumerian epic written four thousand years ago, there was a great flood that killed almost all humans, except the hero Atrahasis who was saved because the god Enki appeared in his dream. Enki told him to build a big boat and bring on pairs of each animal. And you all know what happened next, right? Because the story is so familiar to us. Yes, Noah and his ark! Only the names are different, depending on who is telling the story.

We have to re-evaluate how we interpret the Bible.