Merry Christmas

Hello! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I'll be out for a while and hopefully comes back by January 5! I will miss you all, guys! See you then!

Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!!!!

Love til You Can

When we are happy about ourselves, and about the things that are
happening around us... when we are happy with the people we are involved with... when we are happy because we generously give and share our love with others without any expectations... when we are happy because we are confident of God's love for us... surely, it will manifest on our everyday deeds, actions, and words.

Life has too many to offer! Never waste time hating someone... Always forward and never backwards...

Remember that "life is too short to wake up with regrets... Love the people who treat your right and let go of those who don't! Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, LET IT! Nobody ever said life would be easy, they only promised it would be worth it."

Treasure the people you love and forgive the people who caused you pain and heart aches. Life is all about LOVE anyway! Love while you still CAN! Have a lovely weekend to all!

HOME

My past two-weeks were spent in travels. I was really busy the whole time and all I long for was to get to my bed and sleep. My mind was too pre-occupied with a lot of things... mostly of workloads with deadlines to meet. I was kind of mentally exhausted!

On top of that, emotional stress also hit me because of some personal issues! What made it even worst is that my health and my spiritual life were also impaired! I can only spend too little time in praying and reflecting (though I made sure never fail serving as a lector in our chapel and parish every Sundays, that's TOP priority). I had episodes of asthma attacks (I only experience asthma under emotional distress) and a very bad cough for the past several days!

Yesterday, I decided not to go to work because I felt so wasted and tired. I just wanted to be alone and reflect on the things that happened for the past weeks. I was really touched upon hearing the song 'HOME' by brian mc knight... it refreshed my spirit. I realized that, really, I have forgotten my Faith. I got too self-centered and work-centered that I missed the things that matter most.

When we get too busy with so many things and we get too down and troubled, we long for rest and yes, we still find our WAY BACK HOME...

Thinking back when we first met
I remember what you said
You said you'd never leave me
I let go of your hand
Built my castle in the sand
But now I'm reachin' out again
And I'm not letting go

Till you
Hold me
Mold me
Sometimes I feel so all alone
See, I gotta find my way back home

So why don't you
Shape me
make me
Wash me whiter than the snow
I gotta find my way Back home

Master upon my knees i pray
I just want to be the clay
Put your arms around me
Place my life in your hands
Lord, I know I'm just a man
I know you understand
This time I'm not letting go

Till you
Anoint me
Appoint me
Sometimes I feel so alone
See, I gotta find my way back home

So why don't you
Chastise me
Baptize me
Wash me whiter than the snow
I gotta find my way

'Cause I'm lost and alone
I've been wandering
Long enough to know
Humbly I search for you
And I'm not gonna rest

Till you
Choose me
Use me
Sometimes I feel so alone
I'm on my way back home

So why don't you
Direct me
Bless me
Wash me whiter then the snow
I'm on my way
Back home

Work Under Pressure

Oh, I missed 'blogging' so much! I've been too busy lately... I could not even take a look at my e-mails... hopefully, I can bring my laptop in my travels... but, it's not that practical cause I don't have 'we roam' or any device for internet connection... and it might just cause me 'pulled elbow' or muscle cramps...hehehe!

Anyway, I hope to visit you all, guys when I come back on December 8!

Just one of my candid shots in our latest convention in shangri-la hotel... I didn't look too stressed (well, it's my job to make all things look easy and neat...grrrr)! But let me tell you that I only had 2 hours of sleep before the convention and prior to that... I never had enough quality sleep at all because of the preparations, etc... well... whenever faced with too much stress, I always just tell myself "All things shall pass" ... "this convention shall pass... and I can have all the time to sleep and relax" and it did!!! It is my rule not to panic or to stay calm most especially when under pressure! And it works all the time! My boss just couldn't believe how could I possibly handle so many things, all at the same time, yet so calm and cheery... hmmm, well I guess I just want to look good and feel good even when I'm not... that's all I got, anyway!

Always remember the GREATER Blessings!!!!

I Was Wrong and I AM Sorry

When conflicts arise, it is always safe to point our fingers to others without acknowledging our own shares of mistakes. Sometimes, it takes a brave heart to accept other’s inaccuracies much more accepting our own weaknesses.

Everytime Joel and I are caught up with heated arguments, we make sure that one of us must stay cool while the other one does all the talking. It is our agreement not to get angry all at the same time no matter who’s right or wrong. It should be one at a time. He may take the moment of pouring out all his things while I listen and absorb everything. The same applies to him when I take the center stage!

Honestly, it’s hard to follow this rule! Most of the times, I will try my best to control my flaming emotions but sometimes, I can’t help getting pissed off. Joel is different, though! He never gets angry when I become too pushy!

I read from a book (Healing Wounded Emotions), that it is not bad to get angry. It is a normal reaction of a person especially when he is hurt or someone has done something unpleasant or annoying to cause harm and injury. What matters is how the person handles that emotion and the next steps that follow after feeling angry.


When You are Wrong and I am Right

I always believe that there are three sides in every battle. Your side, my side and the right side! It is too biased to say that I am right and you are wrong and it is very shameful to admit that I am wrong and you are right. I remember the homily of our priest last Sunday. There are three things a person must do when faced with anger:

a. never make decisions when you are angry because 99% of that decision is wrong. Remember that when you are angry, you are ruled by your emotions. The mind finds it hard to think logically when the heart is agitated. Let things cool down then decide what to do next.

b. shut up when you are angry. We can’t be too careful with the words we say when we are mad. Most likely, we might speak the wrong words which we will regret afterwards. Hurtful words will only add up to the injury. So, it is better to just shut up and wait til everything is settled.

c. cool-off. It is advisable for couples/partners to take a cool-off when they disagree too much with each other. Instead of bragging and nagging each other, take some time to cool-off, not for the purpose of ending the relationship but just to give space and enough time to feel and think clearly. You can’t be effective anyway everytime the stimulus of your anger is there around you. All the more it will trigger the pain and feelings of anger.


I am Sorry

The final step to heal disagreements is acknowledging your mistake and accepting the apologies offered by the other party. It is not enough that you forgive. You have to acknowledge and accept the request of forgiveness.


Once the flame of anger subsides, admittance of fault follows. This usually happens for couples. They come to a point when both parties admit that it’s their fault and finally realized that both has their shares of mistakes. An effective communication is helpful in resolving conflict. Effective communication means expressing the things you need to say with an equal share of listening with the person you are communicating to. You have to express your feelings and to be heard and to be listened to. In the same way that your partner deserves the same treatment as well!

It is not demeaning to say sorry. It is actually a very brave act. To humble down one’s self is a very good offering not only to the people we hurt but also to God. Accepting our faults will take away the cobwebs in our hearts and will make us calm and peaceful! We can sleep at night without the anxieties and guilt. It helps our spirit to be healthy and physically, it will make our system work normally and more efficiently! Nothing beats a healthy spirit!

“Always do your best to avoid, at all costs, the necessity of experiencing the negative results of anger. The healthy release of anger must be presented in a way that empowers the relationship; anger expressed without blame, without pointing fingers. To avoid unnecessary pain, it is important to learn that anger must be expressed with an attitude of acknowledgment; acknowledgment for the responsibility you have for your equal share of the upset.”

My Palawan Experience

Just got home from Palawan... we had a book launching and gheeh... I was the one who actually launched our new titles. It was quite a nerve-breaking night because the AVP suddenly did not cooperate and I have to do some ADLIBs... I wasn't able to follow my script and I have to reshuffle the sequence of events! Gosh, I was too nervous but I couldn't show it in front of hundreds of people... so I just took the embarrasment all in and just gave my best shot! I called for the storytellers for the launching of our new storybooks and good thing, the AVP finally worked when the story telling was over! So i was able to proceed with the launching of our new textbook and interactive CD-ROM! Gosh, it's an experience I will never never never forget! God, thanks that it's really finally over!

I had no time to stroll around the beautiful Palawan... but hopefully, we will have our company outing there this coming summer! I hope to get back and really enjoy PALAWAN!

Before I end this post, I want to thank Joan for sharing this award to me and Fibe... (this award came from Blue)... thank you so much girl...

Have a good week to all!

Time to Clean Your Windows

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside.

“That laundry is not very clean,” she said, “she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband says, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life: What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge.