kung hei fat choi!

It's that time of the year again,when our mouths become strained from chewing all the "tikoy" that's being given. The year of the Rat is still over a week away but now is still a good time for one more of those lists to start any year....

(I didn't write this and YOU may have already have this in you inbox but it's still worth listing.)

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Record your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to____ today."

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is
manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts .

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life .

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does .

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about .

24. Burn the candles, use the nice bed sheets, Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business .

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time .

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. So stop complaining about the weather, the job, the rents etc etc

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

34. The best is yet to come.

(there's supposed to be 40 but the message ends here.I-forward na nga lang, mali pa.)

Happy New Year!

January blues

It's only the middle of January and I've managed to break ALL of my resolutions for 2008. I purposely didn't post it here (so no one could keep track) and still went down in flames, in record time at that.
1. I made a promise to myself that I will diligently watch what I eat and exercise more. Well, for the past couple of weeks, I've been to a birthday dinner, despedida, reunion every weekend and only managed to go to the gym 4 times. Well, maybe 4 1/2 times. The half-session was when I was midway into my workout and got an invite to watch a filmfest movie (which is subject to a different rant for another day). This weekend will be our barangay fiesta, so don't me to just sit back and watch.
2. December 2007 for me, was very exciting and tumultuous all at the same time. happy kinda sad, like the line from song,??? I forgot which song. I'll remember last month for the rest of my life when the most wonderful thing happened to me that could very well change my life, in a very good way of course.
3. In a fit of impulsiveness, i sent my curriculum vitae (nee resume) to 2 Architectural firms outside of the Philippines. A former officemate asked me to try apply for work in their firm in Singapore. I did, and yesterday I got a call from their representative to setup an interview. I purposely do not apply for work abroad primarily because I want to make it big here. It's already been 15 years and I've only got some minor successes to show for it. If I do accept their offer, i will have to renege on a lot of my previous commitments but on the other hand, If I stay, i see a lot of opportunities for me this year. I think it's time for me to think things very carefully.

I need to keep my chin up from hereon. It's notevenFebruary and already I'm in mid-year slump mode already.

sad but true

Sigh. Started the new year with a whimper, like last year. After hearing mass, My Mom, Carlo and I ate our media noche and waited for the new year on TV. I went outside and watched as our neighbors ignited their fireworks, sparklers and firecrackers much like last year. I only watched with only my thoughts to accompany me. I'm hoping that everything will be OK for 2008. I'm wishing it'll be safe for my family and my loved ones. I'm praying there'll be no more disasters for everyone. I sincerely wished all this, and much like everyone, I do hope it'll come true.