Thursday, April 19, 2007

tickling my fancy

i just took a "career interest inventory" test to find out if i'm where i'm supposed to be. i wasn't surprised with the test result. i was told:

"Daisy, based on your responses, your top career area is Fine Arts

Careers in this field often demand that you be a naturally creative person who possesses a unique perspective on the world, and ultimately you want to share that vision with others. Most likely, you have a deep and rich inner world that needs an outlet. Whether you're into music, drama, painting or another artistic field, you probably possess a heightened appreciation for experiencing the world on a sensory level."

i'm doomed.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

wishing for wishing wells

hmm, bad day... sing happy thoughts...

"i wish, i could go back to those fairy book tales
forget the real world a while and seek the seas of the talking whales
a place called wishing wells and magic spells;
where everything starts at once upon a time, long long ago
ends happily ever after..."

lalalalala...

Saturday, April 14, 2007

reality bites

just for this week, my mom has been riding with me all the way to citi and during that time, 2 of my officemates saw her with me. both exclaimed later at how young my mom looked that they initially thought she was my older sister. one even suggested that i get tips from my mom, seeing as how well made-up and more "kikay" she is than me. ouch.

mind you, this is not the first time this has happened. from the time my sis and i were in high school, there've been instances where my ma's colleagues would say that the three of us look just like sisters. you could brush these comments off as mere flattery, but there've also been countless times when strangers mistook us kids, as her siblings.

considering she's 27 years older than me, this could only mean either of two things: she looks really young, or i look really old. or it could mean both.

Friday, April 06, 2007

27 Things I'm Thankful For

No point denying it, I’m now 27 years old. So instead of whining, (which I noticed, I frequently do) I’m listing down 27 things I’m grateful for. (This is also in celebration of the Holy Week) Warning: for everyone who know me as contra-sentimental, this piece may shock you a bit. =p

1. Life. Although at times I may feel down and wish that I could just sleep the whole day away, I’m still grateful for being alive. He has blessed me with 27 years of life, which I should’ve used more wisely. But today’s a new day, and I’m set to do more positive things from now on.
2. Parents. I’m really lucky to have such patient, understanding, and loving parents as I have. Any parent, who’d have me as a kid, surely deserves to be canonized as a saint. Without them, my siblings and I wouldn’t be the persons we are today. Love ya, and I promise to make you prouder of me.
3. Siblings. I probably couldn’t have gone through childhood and puberty as sanely as I did, without my younger sibs. I’m thankful for my one and only sis, Belle, for being my partner and acting like the older one through most of my misadventures. Thanks, Jong, for being tolerant of me, during times of misunderstanding. Carlo, thanks for being my voice of reason and for being not afraid to point out my flaws. Love ya, guys.
4. Best Friends. Awee, Cheeky, Yang and Angelo: you are the greatest friends a person could have. Though we’re miles apart, my heart will always be next to yours. I’m lucky to have met you and I couldn’t imagine the last 10 years of my life, without you guys in it. Here’s to more years of laughter and happy tears =)
5. Good Friends. Living away from my best friends, would’ve been utterly unbearable without my other friends. I’m thankful for the support they give me day-to-day, and I’m sorry for not realizing that sometimes. Pining over friends who are far away, usually stops me from seeing how wonderful they truly are. Thanks, from the bottom of my heart.
6. Househelp. Thanks to Maning and Mely, they make our lives a lot easier and more comfortable.
7. Pets. Our dogs, Bullet and Chiqui never fail to uplift my sagging spirits. Thanks to them, I’m still able to re-connect with the child in me.
8. Work. I’m lucky to have work, when millions are still jobless. I may often complain of the workload, but bottom line is, I’m still thankful I have work. Thank God also for the people I work with, they make the long work hours bearable.
9. Money. Some say that ‘money is the root of all evil.’ But I think it’s how you use it that makes it evil. I’m thankful for money because it provides for me, and allows me to enjoy what I’ve worked for.
10. Talents. Thank God for giving me talents, (used or seldom-used) as I’m hopefully able to give joy to others with it.
11. Books, TV and Movies. These things helped me go to places I’ve never been, and live a life other than my own. Thank God for the talents behind every book, TV show and movie.
12. Eye sight. I can never imagine my life without being able to see things: sunsets, sunrise, movies, books, people.
13. Manila. ‘Manila, Manila, I keep coming back to Manila. Simply no place like Manila. Manila. I’m coming home.” My best childhood and my best coming of age years have all happened in Manila. ‘Nuff said.
14. Cebu. It took me a long time to appreciate where I’m living. Now, it would always be home to me. Where else can you live in a bustling city, that’s a few minutes away from the beach or from the mountains? Heaven!
15. Fine Weather. What’s Cebu without great weather, all-year round? A sunshiny day always puts me in a good mood.
16. Nature. ‘Stop and smell the roses’ I’ve never actually done it, nor will I ever do it, but I thank God for all the good things He’s created. I’m thankful for the beach, mountains, trees, animals, the sun, etc.
17. My Body. It’s far from being the ultimate body of my dreams, but it’s mine and it’s the only body I have. I’m thankful for not having any disabilities or any sickness.
18. Good Food. It has never been absent in any aspect of my life—be it celebrating a happy moment, or nursing a sad heart. I thank all those who had a hand in preparing those delectable dishes. Yummy!
19. Coffee. What’s a good meal without a fine cup of coffee to follow it? Never would’ve survived those late-night studying and early morning trudging to work, without my brew.
20. Warm Bed. I thank God for having a warm bed to sleep in, when others have no choice but to lie on the streets.
21. Sense of Humor. This has gotten me through some bizarre and trying moments. Thank God for sarcasm.
22. Music. Each memorable part of my life has a theme song. Without songs and music, life would be deafeningly boring.
23. The Internet. Through the Internet, I’m able to do a lot of things, have new discoveries, and most of all be connected with loved ones.
24. Budget Airlines. Thanks to those who are constantly trying to make airfare cheaper. Now, everybody can travel.
25. Mobile Phones. Texting has made all of our lives much more convenient. It’s much easier now to look for people by typing “WRU?” than dropping ‘tatlong beinte sinco’ down the nearest payphone.
26. Spas and Beauty Salons. A woman’s life would never be complete without a monthly trip to the salon/spa for a much-needed R&R.
27. Weekends. Time to take a break and catch some ZZZZs.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD LIFE? - Jim Rohn

The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home. Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and that is living a good life. Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for me would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the list. A list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation. What would constitute a good life? I've got a short list.

1) Number one, productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it.
To try your hand, other people have tried their hand; here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.

2) Next are good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you.
A few years ago I lost one of my dearest friends. He died at age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend, somebody who would come and get you. Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me we'll have a party." So you've got to have both, real friends and casual friends.

3) Next on the list of a good life is your culture. Your language, your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality, energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to the world.

4) Next is your spirituality. It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature, it's what makes us who we are, different from animal, dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.

5) Next - here's what my parents taught me. Don't miss anything. Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the movie, don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possible can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possible can. This has served me so well to this day. Just before my father died at age 93 if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere every night.

Live a vital life. Here's one of the reasons why. If you live well, you will earn well. If you live well it will show in your face, it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can give.

6) Next are your family and the inner circle. Invest in them and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho.

So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa I'm in Israel." He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, "Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93.

If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that opportunity. Here's the greatest value. The prophet said, "There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person caring for another." There is no greater value than love. Better to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself. One person caring for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions.

So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire.