Winning the Andrea Corr "Lifelines" CD+DVD care of MommyWrites. This was a very unexpected win (as the winner was based on Random.Org), but of course I am very happy about it.
I have heard of this giveaway back then, but I forgot to bookmark it and I wasn't able to join. Since the author behind MommyWrites became a friend of mine in Facebook, I got to read her status saying she extended the deadline as she was giving away four sets of CD+DVD, and there were only three who followed the directions correctly. I quickly checked her blog and did all the steps to join the giveaway. I forgot when the draw will be, so I was so surprised to see this message on my Facebook wall.
I always think I don't have luck during contests (especially if the winner is randomly picked) and raffles, but I keep joining because of this principle - "The Law of the Seed." Reposting an inspirational article I first posted on my Multiply account in 2006:
Take a look at an apple tree. There might be five hundred apples on the tree, but each apple has just ten seeds. That's a lot of seeds!
We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more apple trees?"
Nature has something to teach us here. It's telling us: "Not all seeds grow. In life, most seeds never grow. So if you really want to make something happen, you had better try more than once."
This might mean:
You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job. You'll interview forty people to find one good employee. You'll talk to fifty people to sell one house, one car, one vacuum cleaner, one insurance policy, or a business idea. And you might meet a hundred acquaintances just to find one special friend.
When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so disappointed. We stop feeling like victims. We learn how to deal with things that happen to us.
Laws of nature are not things to take personally. We just need to understand them - and work with them.
IN A NUTSHELL
Successful people fail more often. But they plant more seeds.
When Things Are Beyond your control, here's something that you must NOT DO so as to be happy: You must not decide how you think the world SHOULD be. You must not make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave. Many times, such thoughts can bring you spiraling down into more unhappiness.
On the other hand, let's say you expect that:
Friends SHOULD return favors.
People SHOULD appreciate you.
Planes SHOULD arrive on time.
Everyone SHOULD be honest.
Your husband or best friend SHOULD remember your birthday.
These expectations may sound reasonable. But often, these things won't happen! So you end up frustrated and disappointed.
There's a better strategy. Demand less, and instead, have preferences! For things that are beyond your control, tell yourself:
"I WOULD PREFER "A", BUT IF "B" HAPPENS, IT'S OK TOO!"
You prefer that people are polite...but when they are rude, it doesn't ruin your day.
You prefer sunshine...but if it rains, it is ok too!
To become happier, we either need to:
a) Change the world, or
b) Change our thinking.
It is easier to change our thinking!
IN A NUTSHELL
It is not the problem that is the issue, but rather it is your attitude attending to the problem that is the problem. It's not what happens to you that determine your happiness but rather how you think about what happens to you!
{Source}
Although I don't join every giveaways / contests I see around the blogosphere, I don't really hinder myself to join because winning sure feels so good.
I am now anticipating my CD+DVD. Big thanks to MommyWrites for this great giveaway. Now... I sure hope I win the Anlene Milk giveaway I recently joined. :)
Stay happy, everybody!
