Life's Little Instructions

Naka-receive ako ng isang email galing sa isang kaibigan (na itago na lang natin sa pangalang Menggay) about this “Life’s Little Instructions”, originally sinulat daw ni Jackson Brown (bakit me nag-pirate na ba nito?) bilang regalo sa anak nyang magsisimula na sa college. At gaya ng dati nainspire na naman ako sa mga ganitong panulat kaya naisipan kong gumawa ng sarili kong version na tatawagin kong uhmmm “Maliliit na Tagubilin ng Buhay” uhmmm parang tinagalog ko lang ah eniweys, balak kong ipabasa ito sa aking anak pag marunong na syang magbasa. O kung trip nyong ipabasa sa anak nyo pwede din basta ba marunong na rin syang mag basa.

Life’s Little Instruction		Maliliit na Tagubilin ng Buhay
Sing in the shower		Sing in a Videoke Bar. Parte yan ng kultura ng mga Pilipino.
Treat anyone you meet like you want to be treated.		Be nice to anyone you meet. Lalo na sa mga pwedeng mautangan. You’ll never know when you’ll need them.
Watch sunrise at least once a year.		Watch fantaserye only once a year. Nakaka bobo yun pramis.
Never refuse home made brownies.		Never refuse a shot from street drunkards. Baka mabugbog ka.
Strive for excellence and not for perfection.		Strive for excellence only not perfection. Because nobody’s perfect so why strive for it.
Plant a tree on your birthday.		Plant a tree if you can find any open space to plant on.
Learn three clean jokes, if you can find any.		Learn to be humorous, kakailanganin mo yan para sa mga teacher mo sa school.
Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.		Return borrowed vehicles specially if its not yours.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.		Never waste an opportunity to tell someone that his/her zipper is down.
Leave everything a little better than you found it.		Leave everything as is, lalo na sa ibang bahay para hindi ka mapagbintangang magnanakaw.
Keep it simple.		Remember the K.I.S.S. word, Keep It Simple Stupid!
Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures.		Think big things comes in small packages, except if its the balik bayan box, where “the bigger the better” is more appropriate.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.		Become the person who you really are, wala nang plastikan.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.		Forgive but never forget, para hindi na maulit di ba.
Say “thank you” a lot.		Say “thank you” not “tnx” and mean it.
Say “please” a lot.		Say please all the time.
Avoid negative people.		Avoid manyak people.
Wear polished shoes.		Wear shoes please!
Remember other people’s birthdays.		Remember people’s birthdays and remember it’s the thought that counts so no need for gifts.
Commit yourself to constant improvement.		If your improving it means your learning, if your not improving you’re a special child.
Have a firm handshake.		Choose people you’ll shake hands with, remember the manyak people.
Send lots of Valentine cards, sign them.		E-cards na lang, tipid pa.
Look people in the eye.		Look people in the eye except those with sore eyes.
Be the first to say “hello”.		Be the first to say “hu yu?”
Return all things you borrow.		Return all things you borrow except the things na na-arbor mo na.
Make new friends but cherish the old ones.		Make new friends but keep the old ones, specially yung mga pwedeng mautangan.
Keep secrets.		Keep secrets, but not to papa.
Plant flowers every spring.		We don’t have spring season so plant Ampalaya instead, me pakinabang pa.
Have a dog.		Yes, have a dog, dahil minsan mas me sense pa sila pag kasama mo.
Always accept an outstretched hand.		Always accept free foodies, it don’t come often nowadays.
Stop blaming others.		Stop blaming others, unless kasalanan talaga nila.
Take responsibility for every area of your life.		Be responsible. Ganung ka simple.
Wave at kids on school buses.		Wave at people you only know. Nakakahiya naman kung magwawave ka sa di mo kakilala.
Be there when people need you.		Be there when people need you, unless uutangan ka lang, think twice.
Don’t expect life to be fair.		Don’t expect, ganung ka simple.
Never underestimate the power of love.		Never underestimate the power of Bumbay.
Drink champagne for no reason at all.		Drink champagne if you can afford one.
Live your life as an exclamation, not as an explanation.		Live your life with no explanation, pake nila.
Don’t be afraid to say “I made a mistake”.		Don’t be afraid to say “I made a mistake”. Say “Paking shet I made a mistake!”
Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”.		Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”. Say “who cares?!”
Compliment even small improvements.		But remember, ”You need improvement” is not a compliment.
Keep your promises no matter what.		Don’t make promises you can’t keep, sabi nga ni Anabelle Rama “Karma yan dong!”
Marry only for love.		Marry only once.
Rekindle old friendships.		Rekindle old friendships, lalo na yung me mga utang sa yo.
Call your mother, and your dad, if they still happen to be alive.		Call your mother, and your dad, if they still happen to be alive, because no one would answer if they’re dead, haler!
Count your blessings.		Yes, Count your blessings and say thank you for each one