Today is My Birthday!

Today is my birthday!

First of all I praise and thank God for His continuous blessings to me.  I may not have it all but at least I am thankful enough for what I have.  I can say that I am not only a year older but wiser and will strive to be even better.  Yes, the best is yet to come!

As I woke up early this morning, I meditate on all the good things that happened to me.  I recalled the people that I met from my past employments, acquaintances from the gym, my classmates in law school and college days, running team and etc.  I am very blessed to be able to know them and I can see that they greeted me "happy birthdays" on Facebook.  That is more than enough for me to ask for.

I also recalled the places that I visited for the past years.  God allowed me to have the chance to visit wonderful places such as Baguio, Tagaytay, Ilocos Norte and Singapore.  Those places still lingers to my memory same as the people who I was able to get to know with.

Time flies so fast but memories will linger to us longer and even until the day of our last breath.  

My father died last year in the month of April.  I will not forget him.  I will always recall him in my memory and heart.  Sometimes I can't get hold of my tears when I remember his last day in the hospital. Farewell to you Pa.  I forever treasure you in my mind and heart.  Although you are no longer here specially today, I promise that I will make you proud of me there in heaven. 

Today is my Birthday and I blow my flickering candles with my nephews and neices around me.  It reminds me that no matter how old we get there is always in us a child like feeling specially in blowing a birthday cake.  I may not have that grand birthday today but I am thankful that I have friends who greeted me and I blow the candles of my purple cake with silent wishes and prayer for more birthdays to come, success in work and career, health, travels and more friends. And the last thing is I am hopeful that I can achieve more goals in this gift of life with God's guidance. 

"Count your age by the number of memories, 

not by the number of years."

Mornings of Tranquility with My Orange Fishes

Hi there!

It's been a while that I was not able to write something in this blog section of mine.  Well, to update you a little of me, I am currently looking for a full time employment again since I resigned from my work last September 2014.  It was a good decision since I was able to relax and rest with the graveyard shift that I was assigned to work as a Virtual Assistant.  Right now, I am just staying at home with some very few projects that I was able to get as a freelancer.  Despite that I still feel lucky since with lots of free time I am able to spend some moments of tranquility especially during my morning routines at the house. An early morning meditation of mine nowadays is to enjoy the sight of my 7 orange colored fishes that sometimes can lead to a blank stare out of nowhere and beyond my little aquarium.  That makes my mornings complete before heading to the kitchen for my apple cider vinegar drink or a cup of coffee.

Just recently, I bought 7 pieces of orange colored fishes and planned to set it up in an old dusty aquarium.  Once I arrived at the house with these precious orange fishes, I immediately washed the unused aquarium to make it usable and habitable to my precious selected orange colored fishes (gold fish species but I am not sure).

After setting up my aquarium, I can see that the seven fishes were hesitant at first but after being able to adapt with their new environment, they started to swim endlessly as if looking for something to eat.  I feed them only a little fish food every morning since someone advised me that overfeeding can kill them.

It is very relaxing to stare and enjoy the beauty of swimming fishes in an aquarium.  On my part what I really love about staring into fishes in an aquarium are the following facts:

• It reminds me to keep on living.  The endless swimming in any direction of the fishes in a passionate way of swishing back and forth with their tails reminds me that life is a survival. Fishes want to survive and even more so for human beings.  Life is a survival and we must deal with it.
• It is an effective therapy not only for the eyes to see their wonderful scales shining in the sunlight but pondering over them is effective in reducing the levels of stress and anxiety.
• Don't get tired of seeking.  I can see the 7 orange fishes swim in the aquarium as if forever looking for food despite already done feeding them.  I learned that life is full of opportunities and it is just right there waiting for us to grab it at the right time.

Here is a picture of my little aquarium with the characters of Bendable Jake and Bendable Finn from Adventure Time:

So why not set up your own aquarium at the house and see the wonders it will bring to your health, quality of life and tranquil moments.

Sickness and Rainy Days

It is true that our human body can be compared to a machine.  Our human body contains several types of interconnected tissues, organs and nerves that plays a significant role in keeping in good running condition or our health in tip top shape.  Machines are also made of several pieces that if the other individual part is missing, it can not fully operate and function.  However, in my opinion, human body is more precious than a machine since human beings are the one who created them.  On the other hand, exposing our body to harmful harsh elements such as a bad weather can sometimes affect our physical health.  Just like an overused and not well maintained machines it need to rest and a must calibration with a mechanic.  In terms of human body, there are varieties of doctors who can help us determine what is wrong with our malfunctioning.

Speaking of malfunctioning of a human body, there are varieties of factors that affect our health such as a rainy days.  Rainy season is one of the contributing factor for colds, headache and fever.  

Last Saturday night I joined a night run (Amazon Ignite Your Night) event here in Cebu and drizzles started even before the run which started at 10 pm.  When the race started, I experienced to feel wet not only with my own sweat but mixed with mild rain.  I finished the 10 kilometer race in 1 hour and 20 minutes and headed home immediately after it by riding a taxi.  When I got home, I did not dry my hair. I just stripped and threw my clothes to the laundry basket and wear a shirt and I plunged ahead to the bed to take a good night sleep. When I woke up early in the morning, I started to feel chilly and hardness of breath.  Clear liquid occasionally oozed out from my nose.  I just self medicate with the usual Neozep, Biogesic and Bioflu.  The 2nd day my throat started to feel itchy and I take Bactrim Forte as told by my mother to kill those cough causing bacterias.  I failed to report to work during these days since I felt so tired and I'm afraid to sneeze and contaminate the germs to the workplace. But despite that I still reported despite the cough after my consultation with a doctor.

On the 3rd day, I went to the Adventus clinic for a consultation and the doctor's finding was an upper respiratory tract infection.  Well, I was not only drenched by rain sprinkles during those night run but a few times before that especially when I get home from work.  In fact when I came out of the house headed to a consultation I was drenched by rain again and I just went back to the house to took a bath.  Damn weather can greatly affect this human body that we have.  It is annoying specially with the cough which a phlegm can be grossly specially when it is yellowish.  I have no choice but to deal with it and take the medications recommended by the doctor.  I just don't have to complain since rainy season is part of our life cycle.  Without rain we will be in drought and when it rains we can get sick.  So better take a cover the next time when rain comes pouring.  A lesson well learned for me to take care of my human body that is more superior to a man made machine.

A Free Fare for an Accidental Free Slap

A few months ago, I was accidentally slapped in the right side of my face by a lady pedestrian along San Carlos or P. del Rosarion St. in Cebu City Philippines.  It is normal here in Philippines that the mode of transportation is through a jeep ride if within the city route.  As I await the usual 17B or 17D route jeepney ride in going to the place of my work in Lahug IT Park, an unknown lady raised her left arm on an approaching jeepney without realizing that I was at her side.  That incident resulted to an accidental slap on my face.  I have an impulse to to slap her too after that one but I did not.  (I maybe not watchful too...)  

I said to the lady that next time she better watch out before extending her arms so not to cause the same  experience to another person.  She did not replied but I said to her in a plain Cebuano language.  That accidental slap was only a mild pain but who is a normal person in this earth wants a slap in the face considering we really value our face even though it is not as precious as any reigning queens or princesses.  Considering her hands are not that miniature, the slap still caused some burning sensations.  

As we rode the same jeepney going to IT Park, I was seated at the other opposite end.  I hated her for what she did.  Even though seated already in the jeepny I was still experiencing some hatred or whatever.  But hey, she did not mean it.  It was just only an accidental slap.

When the lady alighted the jeepney at JY Square she told the driver that her fare is for two.  I wondered why since she was alone.  She immediately told me that my fare was already paid by her.  I was astonished.  I was doubtful if I have to thank her or what.  The cause of the free fare was the accidental slap on my face.  That was not bad after all.  I just stared at her when she walked along JY Square with an open mouth gaping for what to say.  I may said some bad words or comment to her after the incident but somehow she was still nice in paying back with a free fare.  Whoever was that lady she was doing the right way.  I feel not bad about the accidental slap as I arrived at my destination route in IT Park.   

Thanks for the free fare lady!

Will you survive without a Penny?

Can anyone survive without a single penny?  Maybe those people who live a long time ago during the stone age did not depend on a single penny to survive.  But nowadays, any sane human being can't really survive without a single penny.  And what about if you have the finances but somehow you get lost with your spending and realized later in disbelief that you hit the limit and indeed you hit the bottom line of the finances.  Out of the blue you may wiggle your fingers into an empty pocket or wallet.  I hope that this will not happen to me in the future.  Oh, help me God almighty.  Please provide me with all my wants and needs.

I was able to read a very brilliant quote from Oscar Wilde that says : "When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I'm old I know that it is."  I greatly agree with this.  Generally, people have in mind that money is evil or it is the very source of an evil mind.  Some want to kill someone or rob some wealthy businessman just for the money.  Some lure any man or become whores just for money.  It is a matter of fact that money is a very controlling factor that everyone depend upon to live today.  But the only reality is to make sure that you are on the good side of it.  Make use of money to make your life for the better and not for the bad.  I am still thankful that I survive this everyday life depending on my income as an employee.  But somehow I still have to keep track with my boundaries and limits.  We can't buy anything that we want in this planet.  Happiness and everything does not depend on money alone.  We better find some simple alternatives of happiness.  Live simply, be contented and stay happy with what you have are some of the very simple key. 

An Unforgettable Mountaineering Experience

Last March 9, 2014 I joined for the first time a mountaineering adventure that proves me that we can overcome whatever difficulties we face with the power of positive thinking.  All is mental.  Climbing a wall of rock or hang on with a vine or root of a tree are one of the obstacles in a mountaineering trail.  Others who are used to it may take it easy but for the first timer like me those obstacles were not quite an easy task.  I consider myself lucky since I can say that I am physically fit given my daily routine with the gym.  The only thing that was a negative factor for me during that day at Bonbon White Rock trail route was my fear of heights.  As I climbed up the obstacles of the trail route, it gave me a tingling sensation with my nerves for the fear of falling and no one can save me except myself so I must keep on moving on with the group.

During the not so easy trail route I asked one of the guide if there will be more obstacles way up and he said that it was only 20 percent what we have been through.  To be honest I was really frightened although I was able to cope up but my fear of heights was heightened when one big rock got lose when one of the group member stepped on it.  I was able to take a glimpse of the big rock that I was suppose to get hit if I was not located at the left side of the trail route.  The rock flew and I saw it with my own eyes.  I kept on thinking of all the negative what ifs.... we have to move on instead of dwelling on the negativity.  I'm lucky to be alive and all credits and thanks are all to God the highest.  

The part that somehow changed my way of thinking and I can't really forget was during the rock wall climbing.  When it was my part to go up, the two guides instructed me some of the basic rules in getting through with it and I hesitantly replied "Can I do it? Oh my God!"  But their response was "Do not ever think that you can't do it.  Just don't look down."  That simple phrase changed me.  I said to myself "Yeah I can do it.  If they can do it then why can't I."  It was all mental and all getting by with this world where we live can be effectively be dealt with by thinking positive.  Dealing with our difficulties is just a mental thingy in this world that is just a challenge that we can keep up and get through with it.  If I say that I can't do it then I'm signalling my brain that I really can't do it.  But once we will say this "I can do it" magic words to signal our brain.  Our body will coordinate with the brain with the statement no matter what.  "I can do it" is a great mantra for me and the mountaineering experience proves it to be right.

Water is Extraordinarily Precious!

I'm thirsty and I don't want to get dehydrated that will leave my lips cracked and my body weak.  I need to drink water not only every couple of hours and every day but all throughout my life as long as I have the (not so free) access to it.  Water is a precious commodity that is very essential for every human being's everyday existence.  Without water we can't cook our food, drink our favorite beverages, wash our dirty clothes, clean our comfortable rooms in our homes and the most important thing is we can't take our personal hygiene consisting of taking a bath and brushing our teeth.  Water is very essential in our daily existence in this planet not only for the human being but for the animals, plants and other living things that will not survive absent this special and magical element.  It has been said that people can survive much longer without a food but can't stay long without a water.  A single drop of water can dampen the thirsty lips and save some more of a precious time of living.

I was able to witness a dying plant that almost got completely withered if not for the timely saving grace of sprinkling a needed amount of water to let it go back to live standing still in it's pot and embrace the sun's glare.  Water is valuable to this planet where we live and exist and I wonder why people do not value it since I was able to witness and saw some people who wasted enough of it instead of preserving and conserving it just in case in the future we will run out of it.  It is true that we can regain back a droplets of water through water's life cycle.  But we may regret it that in the end we may just discover the scarcity of it that it may cost more than the value of our food in the table or double and triple the price of our gasoline.

Life is too short to be wasted and so with water.  Water is in abundance now but who knows in the future if the supply of it will make our life more miserable as it may become no longer a cheap commodity.  Water nowadays isn't free as often pay for it with our local water facility just to have an ease of access for a clean water at our homes, offices, etc.  I envied those real free water that was once enjoyed as completely free from the streams, lakes and ponds that some of them exists until today.  Water is essential for our survival and it is indeed extraordinarily precious.  It is not yet too late for us to preserve or conserve our water sources.  My own act of saving and preserving my water consumption may help a lot.