01.29.2024

Remember to sleep early because the repercussions of sleeping at 4am one day is equivalent to three days or more of sluggishness - not feeling well and other stuff. You are not as young as you used to be, and you don’t exactly have a healthy lifestyle.

Social Media Balance

My mind is all over the place right now—I'm going full speed through my social media accounts, and so many thoughts are running through my head. Which content belongs where? What do I do with all of it? I like the idea of Brainpickings - I think that’s where my pensive thoughts will go. I originally wanted Avixxi to be more personal, but honestly, I don't want to share anything too personal. I think it will focus on my workload and passive income stuff. Period.

Moving Forward the Path

I wasn’t much of a goal-getter when I was younger. In fact, I didn’t know what I wanted as I was growing up, and for a long time, it remained unclear what I truly wanted out of life. Slowly, though, I began to move toward the goals I now have in mind.

It’s been a slow progress, with many obstacles along the way. But when you keep your eyes on the goal, and continue thinking and dreaming about it, somehow, you’ll find yourself moving toward it. Call it the power of thought - or actions driven by those thoughts.

Now, my heart is set on one goal, one that will benefit all of us. With my fingers crossed, I still don’t know exactly how I’ll get there. But I know that with time, effort, energy, and hard work, I can make it happen. It won’t take long, and while it’s not a flawless or foolproof plan, all I know is that I want to reach that goal, and I’m confident I will, eventually.

A Day of Surprises and Small Wins

I just finished washing the dishes and tidying up the kitchen. I’m truly exhausted, but I find myself looking forward to writing about how my day went.

This morning wasn’t like my usual routine. For one, I finally managed to get up and clean our SUV. It’s never easy cleaning a car, but I really enjoyed seeing how clean and shiny it looked afterward. The bonus was basking in the early sunshine and sweating from the effort. I actually love to sweat - not because it makes me feel clean, but because I feel detoxified (sweating is one of the liver’s ways of detoxifying, after all). I need that to improve my overall health.

Come to think of it, I don’t complain about cleaning as much these days. It’s become a habit, and I often find myself organizing one thing after another. Of course, there’s always the inevitable PC interruption (which, I think, is necessary to keep a bit of fun in my never-ending household chores).

Then the ‘big box’ was picked up by Forex. This box contains various items for our family back home - some new, others old, and, of course, the usual body care products and canned goods. After that, it was back to cleaning.

Hubby came home and told me we needed to head to DPS for my written driving test. Uh-oh. I wasn’t ready! But seeing how much effort my husband put in just to accommodate me, I couldn’t say no. So, I faced the inevitable. In my haste, though, I forgot to bring my receipt, which really irked hubby. I apologized and told him I would take the test if they’d let me, even without the receipt. And they did!

Though I had to wait a few minutes before they decided to accommodate me, I finally took the written/computerized test. I didn’t exactly ace it (I skipped two questions and got 21 correct), but I PASSED!

That was definitely the big payoff of the day.

Afterward, we went to the mall, not for shopping, really, but because hubby had a meeting. He dropped us off at a nearby mall, where my kids happily ran and climbed around the indoor playground. As a treat, I bought some Bath & Body Works products and a few things for the house.

Well, that’s a wrap for today!

Spoken Dreams

I know, I can be that ambitious. But when I started voicing my dreams out loud, I didn’t get the enthusiasm from my husband that I was hoping for.

I know these are big dreams, dreams that will take time and hard work but I’m willing to put in the effort. I guess I just need to stop talking about them and start working on them. I want him to hear about my dreams, not dismiss them. After all, dreams are priceless and free - so why not aim high?

Typhoon after Typhoon

The weather these days seems to be changing drastically. Everything has become highly unpredictable and unstable.

We all remember the devastation caused by Typhoon Ondoy - an undeniably tragic event, particularly in the Luzon area. Among the heartbreaking stories was one of a family that suffered unimaginable loss, with seven out of nine members perishing. Now, another typhoon is approaching, described by CNN as larger and deadlier, with stronger winds and heavier downpours.

The challenge for Luzon is that they have not yet fully recovered from the impact of the previous typhoon, and the arrival of a new one exacerbates the situation. To make matters worse, landslides and flash floods are increasingly likely as the softened ground poses additional risks.

For your safety, please move to higher ground if possible. Those living near mountainous areas should take extra precautions.

Let us all pray for the safety of our fellowmen, wherever we may be.

Five

Today is a very special day because it marks the 5th birthday of my second child, Orville Francis. It’s also the day of his Filipino examination, which he completed earlier. Impressively, it only took him 10 minutes to finish! Time truly flies, and it’s amazing how quickly children grow.

Now, I have someone who sweetly asks me, "Nanay, do you want me to massage you?" He then playfully punches my back (hahaha) - always finding the spot where I want the massage. He watches over his little brother and shouts whenever his brother cries or gets too close. Even though he doesn’t like sharing, he lends his toys to his little brother, showing moments of compromise and care. He negotiates how many spoonfuls of food he should eat and is always quick to ask permission or apologize when he does something wrong.

However, when he has a tantrum, he can be quite difficult - bratty and stubborn to the core. Yet, just like his sister, one stern look from me is usually enough to bring him back to his senses. I admit I’m a disciplinarian; I spank only when necessary, especially if they ignore me counting to five (since they know what happens if I reach five). Pretty strict, huh? Well, I’m the sole disciplinarian in the family, so the responsibility rests with me. Sigh.

Anyway, happy birthday, my dear boy! I wish you endless blessings and happiness!

A Sense of Purpose

A sense of purpose is the best driving force to live.
When you have a reason to live,
you will never have a reason to quit.

========

I remember the times I went through hell and back, fighting with my inner self just to survive. Every time I thought of giving up, I held on - for my children. They are my purpose and one of the biggest reasons I keep going.

Just recently, something I read made me cry my heart out. It was a line from a food magazine that said, "Pursue your passion with all your heart." Those words struck a chord deep within me, reminding me of the things I’ve always wanted to do - like dancing and cooking.

And today, I took a step forward. I found my way back into the kitchen! I made Vanilla Macaroons and a no-bake Oreo Cheesecake. Now, I’m getting ready to whip up Crispy Belly and Meatballs for my eldest’s birthday tomorrow. I’ll be sharing these recipes soon on my food blog.

And yes, I’ll be dancing again - very soon!

Good Words

A long time ago, during a phase when my once-exciting life led me to moments of contemplation and introspection, a friend shared words that profoundly changed my perspective: "So what? It doesn't make you a lesser you." These simple yet powerful words reshaped the way I view life and its challenges, reminding me that no matter what we go through, our worth remains intact.