Today…
I will never hide my talents.
If I am silent, I am forgotten, if I do not advance, I will fall back.
If I walk away from any challenge today, my self-esteem will be forever scarred,
and if I cease to grow, even a little, I will become smaller.
I reject the stationary position
because it is always the beginning of the end.
Vigan Ilocos Sur Sept 2011
Today Series 16/22
Today…
I will face the world with goals set for this day,
but they will be attainable ones,
not the vague, impossible variety declared by those who make a career of failure.
I realize that you always try me with a little, first,
to see what I would do with a lot.
ALiya’s profile by the bay, 2011
Today Series: 15/22
I have been lagging in my reading lately, finding so many excuses why i havent finished yet the bookssss i have started… Then here’s Jolo prompting me to read yet another book… This time, Hunger Games… I dont wan’t to touch it because i haven’t gone past the 2nd chapter of 1st Percy Jackson (he had already finished the series!)…
Then came the announcement of the movie of HG! Jolo asked me if we could see the movie together on its first day before his bday….. (which I gratefully agreed, for the fear he might bring someone else)…. BUT on the condition that I will read the book! Oh-ohh!
Since it was already 10 days before the screening, i reluctantly devised a plan to read 30 pages a day! In time for the movie day…. (Imagine that this is the busiest month of my life because of tax season!). Yes, I reluctantly started this book – this juvenile book!
Well, you’ve probably guessed by now what happened next!
I was hooked!
3 days after, done! (and if it was not really busy tax season, i could have done it faster)….
Then the movie….
Then on his birthday, eventhough we already have the first book, I bought the trilogy books (the only one available in bookstore)…
Guess what? i have finished the two books in record-breaking pace!
Now, i have to pester Jolo to read them too, and fast! Or else….. 
Today…
I will condition myself to look on every problem I encounter today
as no more than a pebble in my shoe.
I remember the pain, so harsh I could hardly walk,
and recall my surprise when I removed my shoe….
and found only a grain of sand.
Cagsawa Ruin, Mayon Volcano, Daraga Albay Bicol, Nov 2011
I know it is not a pebble, but this picture seemed fit with the subject, while almost all of us worry about small things other people have bigger tragedy in their lives. The rock in the pic is one of those spewn by the volcano when it erupted in 1814 that killed almost 1200 Filipinos (see story)
Today Series: (13/22)
Since I read this wisdom, I have look at problems differently. I took comfort on this insights as I face some hurdles. A pebble in my shoe. Looking back now with those seemed to be big problems in the past, one can see that we all came through, and how menial is the issue now…
Today…..
I will run from no danger I might encounter today, because I am certain that nothing will happen to me that I am not equipped to handle with your help. Just as any gem is polished by friction, I am certain to become more valuable through this day’s adversities, and if you close one door, you always open another for me.
Today series 9/22
1st time to blog from my iPad2
Eat Pray and Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
It’s nice to find a book you want to “savor”… not wanting to rush reading and yet enjoying every page… wanting to go on, but keeping the pace slow so it will last much longer… this is THE book you can call a “companion”… (best to read in airports and beach) nice… proud to say I’m not yet finished with it…
Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
An intriguing book that makes one “dizzy” on plot and sequence but also loving it thinking how clever it was structured. I am not a ‘romance’ reader, but this one qualifies as that with twist of sci-fi?! Not yet finished, because I’m having hard time “digesting” because the idea of “predetermined destiny” is kind of “off” and against compared to my theory of “butterfly effect”… anyway, this book is a source of good discussion between me and jolo, that’s why I am keeping at it.
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Got curious when featured in Readers’ Digest and found the first few chapters as intriguingly interesting. Though quite theoretical its not conventional. “The Power of thinking Without Thinking” it says in its cover… it said don’t overthink… but hey, It made me think quite a lot in every page…. thus, I’m still at it. (a good LRT companion too)
ABNKKBSNPLKo by Bob Ong
Jolo picked it up, convincing me it will help his tagalog vocabulary. A local book which Jolo and I found funny, light and yet insightful about simple things. I was enjoying the first few chapters (I have to read it first to know if it is suitable for Jolo, or needs PG), when Jolo found me amused and smiling, thus he took it, read it in few days, lent it to classmates and friend… and since then, haven’t seen it yet again to finish it… haay…
God, I thank you for this day.
I know I have not accomplished as yet all you expect of me,
and if that is your reason for bathing me in the fresh dew of another dawn,
I am most grateful.
I am prepared, at last, to make you proud of me.
Tsamba Pic: Sunrise! Club Paradise, Coron Palawan
Today I will start my “Today” blog-series, featuring bits from Og Mandino’s “Seeds of Success” from the book “Mission:Success”…
this is my sort of scroll of prayers (with 20 resolutions and lots of appreciation for Today’s gift from God), this I recite almost every morning, and almost know by heart, this prayer guides me through my day (and life)!…
I want now to share this with you!
Today Series 1/22
Every night, Aliya will always have her books before sleeping. It’s what she call “istoyi-taym” She gets not just one book but several books for her to “read,” well, she just actually telling stories “bulol-bulol” from the pictures. When its time, she asks me to read for her. And that’s our finest moment! And mind you, it’s not “solemn” reading good for a sleepy child, but she likes it to be complete with all sounds and actions and mimic of voices. That’s why at the end of it (4 stories at the minimum), mommy was exhausted, and Aliya was “alive” again.
Come to think of it, i been doing it since Jolo was a kid, then with Lean, and now Aliya. It’s seems that while my kids can “graduate” from this ritual, their Mom cannot!
Well, I know, when I’ll look back at it, it’s our finest moment!
I ve been catching up with my reading marathon… it has to be 101 in1001 days, right? I have read somewhere that a kid read1000 books in 365 days, well she had done that while traveling, in between places, perhaps. Me, I manage to do reading actually while in LRT, car, and in the loo :> other than that, the time and places are too hectic…
Well, what I have been reading or in the process* of reading:
Not bad, that’s almost 10% of my target. And that’s aside from business and “people” books I ve been reading while waiting my turn during training, and re-read of Harry Potter 7, to refresh me before and after the movie… :>
Jolo grew up with Harry Potter… so am I. Love the movies… and very much the books… Magic!
We can’t have it all! We can’t be “lucky” all the time…:)
While last week was a “Colorful Week,” this week was a “Demented Week”…. well I am not complaining… Because I know “this too shall pass…”
Rather than enumerating what happened, I’ll just recap here my feelings and thoughts (good or bad–sensya na) and the lessons and insights I’ve learned out from it (and that’s the important part naman!)
People can be so mean just to make sure that they look good to the management.
Professionalism speaks many language and has many perspective
“you should be on top of the situation!” has suddenly become a tagline of people who actually are not on “top” but want to impress that they are! Huh!
siya na nga! “know-it-all” and “blamelessly perfect” people annoy me so much….
Remorse is not their trait….
two big words for the week: accountability and accounting…
Well, life must go on…
Inspite of it all, I am keeping my values and I am still “intact” and not “losing” myself.
My first instinct is to fight back, but restrained myself, if I’ll do that, I will just put myself to their “level,” and because that was not the right thing to do
for the sake of my people who are working hard for the projects, I just have to be more “loud” about it. Just blowing the horn here and there. I owe it to them!
just have to learn the lessons out of it and improve!
I still believe that the world still belong to few people who are WILLING to make their hands dirty! (click here)
I will not allow this week to be uneventful… I am still grateful for good graces and blessings that came my way this week!
Opportunity to give lectures to new staff
Have fun in our badminton night with friends and staff
Reading good books this week, of course including Bible…
A chance to attend Gung Ho seminar again, this time as a judge and had fun (again)
Am happy to give up a book “What so Amazing About Grace” to a wonderful person, Bro Jojo Baldo (I really wanted to give him “The Shack” by Paul WM Young, but can’t find one at National’s)
Getting ready for the teambuilding next week, me as a team captain for blue team…
And my week will be capped-off by a nice family outing tomorrow. yeheyy!!…
Started the week with GungHo seminar by Bro. Jojo Baldo. Very uplifting, enlightening and we had a great fun. It rubbed again my spirituality and made me re-think of my goals and my “hidden” talents…
Can’t help but be amazed with Jojo’s requested tomb’s epitaph ” Live Fully, Died Empty”
Have created in just 2 hours music clip “Climb” using Movie Maker.
Made new friends!
Made progress with the business research with my Kuya!
we opened two stores on the same day
Have made efforts to motivate staff and kids!
New church where we attended mass last Sunday, St Joseph the Laborer, Meycauyan
Met my SVS partners and made great plans ahead!
Prospect for adventure: March- Subic; April- Visita Iglesia at South; May- Bohol; June-Boracay; July-Coron and Mama’s Diamond Bday
Haven’t written yet our adventure at “Hot Air Baloon Festival”
Not getting progress with my planned housekeeping works…
Finished reading “Perfect Match” by Jodi Picoult, now reading “My Sister’s Keeper” by same author… Books by nice authors are just sitting in my bookshelf without me knowing it…
Starting reading bible again, started at Samuel 2 and found them full of drama…
I’m still sick…
less time with Aliya because of early schedule of training
Spent more time with staff (pizza time on Friday)
Playtime with Lean
Looking forward for long-weekend at Mama’s
I have this book lent to me by a dear staff “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom… and it is a great read! I started this afternoon and I know I can finish it in a flash… but I can’t… or I mean, I don’t want to. Very seldom that I do this in a book… prolonging its ending, savoring its every page and every word, absorbing the wisdom and enlightenment. Just like we do to a favorite food…. we savor its taste wanting it to last….
“Don’t let go so soon. But don’t hang on for so long”
This true-to-life book is about “living to the fullest, with compassion and love” and the advice came from a dying man, Morrie. If we can only stop and think that we can die anytime soon, we will do things differently, or shall I say, meaningfully. At one point, I envied Morrie for he knew that “it” is coming, thus he became focused of what he’ll do for the remaining of his life. Unlike most of us, we dread dying but we are not actually doing anything to appreciate life as if death will happen in the next 100 years.
I will not make a review of this books… I will not try to. I just want to share my experience while reading it and some of the enlightenment I had. I rather share here some of the quotes that hit….
About Dying and Living
“You know, dying is just one thing to be sad about. Living unhappily, that’s another matter.”
“Do what the Buddhists do. Every day have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, “Is this the day I’m gonna die, little bird? Huh? Am I ready? Am I leading the life I want to lead? Am I the person that I want to be?”
“When you realize that you are going to die, you see everything much differently. So every day you say, “Is today the day I die?” When you know how to die… you know how to live.”
“I mourn my dwindling time, but I cherish the chance it gives me to make things right”
see other quotes here
******
In retrospect, I may have shunned “this” topic about death and dying, but I believe I am “preparing” for this. As you can see the essence of my blogs and my journaling is actually living my NOW to the fullest… seeing life at its finest, seizing every opportunity to be happy and be compassionate. I am learning and there are lot more to experience….
I hope one day when I near “it” I would be able to say that “I took each moment as it came for all that it is worth…”
Just like to make an emphasis of the “first-time”
It’s just the same feelings of awe and excitement, eventhough the experiences have already happened before. Pardon, if I am just too “babaw” (shallow) when come to this. Well, I am just enjoying life and what it offers…. everyday….
Below are some accounts of what happened to me on last Friday and Sat…. (that I can add to my 101 list).
seen the tiger head going to Baguio (Kennon Road), I was still awed by the enormity of it, since I always remember it small.
been to Mines View again and seen the monochromatic landscape of mountains (but I’m bother by new four tombs in the bottom of the ravine )
ate at Rose Bowl and the pata tim was so delicious
amazingly did the travel back and forth of Baguio in just one day
seen the vast Hacienda Luisita
enjoyed our interview of applicants, they are all qualified, but unfortunately have to accept only two.
I learned that the Marcos bust on the mountainside was already gone (I just thought it just suffered some damage or vandalism — sayang…)
ate at the famous (1st) restaurant of Aling Lucing (sisig)…
nice stay at Fontana, I like the feeling of relax mode (and the greenery, nice bed sheets, quiet streets and the new grand lobby)
seen the new upcoming 2 stores of Puregold (Baguio and Angeles)
started reading the book “Judas Strain” (I think I can finish it in less than 4 days — record-breaking!)
Vincent Van Gogh had an interesting life story. The song “Vincent” was so popular that I never realized that it pertains to this person until I read the book “Lust for Life”….. He symbolizes hope, perseverance and despair. He is a “never-too-late-to-try-anything” icon to me!
We should not judge him by his eccentricity, for few people (like him and Michael Jackson) should be bold enough to be one for us to understand our own limitation and longings.
His art is another thing, his art symbolizes boldness, playfulness, vivid colors and uniqueness. Frugality is not in his vocabulary. When it come to art, it has to be “care-for-nothing” and “be-true-to-yourself” and, as my Kuya said, “total abandonment!”
Since I was 14, I was an avid fan of Og Mandino, a great inspirational writer. I borrowed, I photocopied or just sourced from everywhere just to get a hold of his books. I even scrimped on my meager allowance to buy his books. Just to lent it to others (and never returned), just to share how this good writer has to say. My Kuyas are fans, too. We talked endlessly about the meanings and messages of the books. My Kuya Lito and I even searched for other books mentioned by Og, and even “sleuthed” the Bible for the mysteries mentioned in the “Christ Commission.” (By the way, great memorable moments spent with my Kuya Lito were the times when we shared comments about books, mysteries, Og and Van Gogh – but that’s another story!)
One of my favorite sayings by Og is “Remember that those who have fewest regrets are those who takes each moment as it comes for all that it is worth!”
The daily prayer “Seeds of Success” from the book “Mission: Success” is also a favorite that I recite-in-my-mind this 27-paragraph long creed while riding the LRT going to work.
OG is a great influence in my life and I can still quote his words to this day. 
