BEING PREPARED
Nothing else brings me more comfort than this. I believe and have to admit that being prepared for almost anything reduces the amount of happiness I could ever have at the palm of my hands. Yet, I have embraced the ideology that too much of anything is not good. I'm trying desperately hard to balance things and do away with the extremes to which I have been so accustomed to by natural force - extremes to which I was uberly blessed or inversely cursed beyond prayers. I've seen time and again that extremes on one side could never have existed without extremes on the other. I've come to appreciate bits and pieces of every experience that comes my way... to take baby steps so to speak. Though I don't get as much joy as I used to have when I lived with reckless abandon, I've also been able to cope gracefully with the extremes on the negative front.
I believe this has been my way of not having to learn the adage, "Patience is a virtue," the hard way. There's always a simple path to take to make life a little bit more less complicated. It has been comforting to be able to categorize bliss and misery as time-bound. Every day is a new opportunity to make it better than yesterday, every minute and every second, a chance to raise the bar a notch closer to achieving a life well lived.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
I think it is not being selfish to seek out the things and opportunities that bring joy to ones life. We owe it to our selves. We have but one life to live. We are unique. We have our own preferences and priorities. Making decisions that weed out experiences, choices and individuals for that matter, that complicate life and make happiness more elusive is an affirmation of ones self respect as well as ones self worth. It is, however, important to consider others (their welfare and their being) in our decisions. Yet, one must bear in mind that we make our own decisions after careful examination of the conditions. It would be very difficult to base decisions on others without considering if we have in fact already neglected our own selves. That's the worst that can happen. Selflessness is for those who can afford to be... for those who can take it without regret... for it is indeed rare to find humans who seek nothing out of their own worth and generosity. At some point, someone is bound to take count. Others are doing the same... some are just more transparent about it than the rest.
We all seek happiness. And in my experiences as well as in my knowledge of the experiences of my fellow human beings, I have found some profound reason as to why we do what we all do. We all want to be understood... to share and belong... to speak and also be heard... to care and be cared for... to love and be loved... to contribute and be acknowledged for it... and most importantly, to amount to something more than just matter (anything that occupies space and has weight).
I think it is not being selfish to seek out the things and opportunities that bring joy to ones life. We owe it to our selves. We have but one life to live. We are unique. We have our own preferences and priorities. Making decisions that weed out experiences, choices and individuals for that matter, that complicate life and make happiness more elusive is an affirmation of ones self respect as well as ones self worth. It is, however, important to consider others (their welfare and their being) in our decisions. Yet, one must bear in mind that we make our own decisions after careful examination of the conditions. It would be very difficult to base decisions on others without considering if we have in fact already neglected our own selves. That's the worst that can happen. Selflessness is for those who can afford to be... for those who can take it without regret... for it is indeed rare to find humans who seek nothing out of their own worth and generosity. At some point, someone is bound to take count. Others are doing the same... some are just more transparent about it than the rest.
We all seek happiness. And in my experiences as well as in my knowledge of the experiences of my fellow human beings, I have found some profound reason as to why we do what we all do. We all want to be understood... to share and belong... to speak and also be heard... to care and be cared for... to love and be loved... to contribute and be acknowledged for it... and most importantly, to amount to something more than just matter (anything that occupies space and has weight).
Saturday, April 14, 2007
EASTER ESCAPADE
I had second thoughts writing this for fear of jinxing it. Nonetheless, I've viewed it as a way of acknowledging the blessing and being appreciative of it. Thus, it merits being logged here... afterall it is my blog.
Black Saturday: I spent it at the Hilton with Omid and his family. Food was great... loved being at the beach and getting myself burned. I just love the combination of iPod + beach + sexy chix on the beach. Simply, euphoric! Anyway, had a great swim (I do need the exercise to flat out that growing belly) and also I had a good time playing with my bro on the sand (I could recall really playing with him was like a decade ago!) Since he didn't know how to play volleyball, we transformed the sport to soccer. Imagine kicking the ball with sand splashing to your face! Good thing I have my shades for safety.
And then, like flash of lightning, my hischool barkada texted that we will be going to Sumilon the next day. It was 3:00PM and we were to camp out at a friend's place at 10PM and leave 4AM that upcoming dawn. Red alert! Scramble! Went home at 7 and got scolded for deciding on short notice (I think all of us got a piece from our rentz) and for not literally asking permission (I was just saying that I will go and expected a YES... Darn the short notice! I felt bad about it but I can't do anything to make the short notice any bit longer. it goes with my rule that I can change only what I can.) Well, just have to take it and acknowledge that I may make unpopular decisions at the spur of the moment, but have to recognize the fact that I am mature enough to take good care of myself amidst also good company. That is part of growing up and that I definitely embrace. So I packed and went. I was grumbling inside and feeling guilty but I know for a fact that it will just be taken as it is and it will die down the moment I will be back (and indeed it did!)
We were 10 all in all... was expecting just 8 but apparently my friend's GF brought along her cousins as mandatory chaperones considering the size of our group. So we took the Ceres bus to the South and in 3 hours we reached Oslob. It was quite an achievement for me. It's quite odd that I have toured over 10 US cities and I haven't even trekked Cebu beyond the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-lapu. I took lots of photos as I always do for my trips.
Sumilon is an island off Cebu. Took a short 10 minute boat ride from the Sumilon Resort's dock at Oslob and we landed at the island itself. We went kayaking, swimming in the rough rapids as early as 8AM. Took photos and had buffet lunch all 10 of us plus some other people who were in the resort. Food wasn't as I hoped for considering the PhP1,200 we EACH spent for the resort package. Nonetheless, I took it as an escape from all that office work... and from all of reality and the fee wouldn't be that much of an issue. Like I said, it was an escape... escapade.
In the afternoon, we swam in the infinity pool. I took some photos where we sat by the gutter... upper body background was the sea and lower body backdrop was the pool. Magnificent! From the pool, I could see the Southern tip of Cebu province. So serene, peaceful and utterly simple - mountains, trees, banana trees, huts, simple homes... ergo, the laidback simple life that I've always wanted. 20 years from now John... hopefully!
After swimming, I practically ran out of things to do. It was just blazing hot and my sunburn just can't take more sunbeam (take note it's my 2nd day of being at the beach) So we went to the gazebo resto with a pool table and happened to find a mahjong set. Awesome! We undoubtedly burned the whole afternoon just playing mahjong. We had so much fun playing it, I felt stupid playing mahjong when I should have been squeezing every bit of the beach experience. But spending time with my friends, slash, trip buddies was the essence that completes my brief day's-worth of escape from reality.
And then... I got to talking with one of Angie's cousins. We enjoyed playing mahjong such that we talked a lot and realized we were in the same industry, I.T., and as of the moment, working right across the street from where I conduct my daily duties. She was very soft-spoken yet was always generous with her thoughts - interesting and sharp witted. I can already sense that first arrow approaching me like a mile away.
It was time to catch the bus home. We left dock at 4 only to find out that buses on the Cebu shore were so full that we had to take whatever bus that could still accommodate all 10 of us. We left 5:30 and settled for a non-aircon bus. I couldn't sleep in the bus like most of my buddies did since the driver's behavior was way beyond my safety standards. Well, for what it's worth I'm here in one piece blogging in the wee hours of the morning.
It's almost a week from that brief vacation and I just got to write this thanks to reality's way of taking control of my life. I do need to get myself a real life. A very real one at that. And hopefully, God-willing and with prayers, this lady would be that someone I've always wished for. And like I've realized in a year or two, the treasures in life are the people who are capable of giving appreciation as well as being magnanimous enough to be on its receiving end.
I had second thoughts writing this for fear of jinxing it. Nonetheless, I've viewed it as a way of acknowledging the blessing and being appreciative of it. Thus, it merits being logged here... afterall it is my blog.
Black Saturday: I spent it at the Hilton with Omid and his family. Food was great... loved being at the beach and getting myself burned. I just love the combination of iPod + beach + sexy chix on the beach. Simply, euphoric! Anyway, had a great swim (I do need the exercise to flat out that growing belly) and also I had a good time playing with my bro on the sand (I could recall really playing with him was like a decade ago!) Since he didn't know how to play volleyball, we transformed the sport to soccer. Imagine kicking the ball with sand splashing to your face! Good thing I have my shades for safety.
And then, like flash of lightning, my hischool barkada texted that we will be going to Sumilon the next day. It was 3:00PM and we were to camp out at a friend's place at 10PM and leave 4AM that upcoming dawn. Red alert! Scramble! Went home at 7 and got scolded for deciding on short notice (I think all of us got a piece from our rentz) and for not literally asking permission (I was just saying that I will go and expected a YES... Darn the short notice! I felt bad about it but I can't do anything to make the short notice any bit longer. it goes with my rule that I can change only what I can.) Well, just have to take it and acknowledge that I may make unpopular decisions at the spur of the moment, but have to recognize the fact that I am mature enough to take good care of myself amidst also good company. That is part of growing up and that I definitely embrace. So I packed and went. I was grumbling inside and feeling guilty but I know for a fact that it will just be taken as it is and it will die down the moment I will be back (and indeed it did!)
We were 10 all in all... was expecting just 8 but apparently my friend's GF brought along her cousins as mandatory chaperones considering the size of our group. So we took the Ceres bus to the South and in 3 hours we reached Oslob. It was quite an achievement for me. It's quite odd that I have toured over 10 US cities and I haven't even trekked Cebu beyond the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-lapu. I took lots of photos as I always do for my trips.
Sumilon is an island off Cebu. Took a short 10 minute boat ride from the Sumilon Resort's dock at Oslob and we landed at the island itself. We went kayaking, swimming in the rough rapids as early as 8AM. Took photos and had buffet lunch all 10 of us plus some other people who were in the resort. Food wasn't as I hoped for considering the PhP1,200 we EACH spent for the resort package. Nonetheless, I took it as an escape from all that office work... and from all of reality and the fee wouldn't be that much of an issue. Like I said, it was an escape... escapade.
In the afternoon, we swam in the infinity pool. I took some photos where we sat by the gutter... upper body background was the sea and lower body backdrop was the pool. Magnificent! From the pool, I could see the Southern tip of Cebu province. So serene, peaceful and utterly simple - mountains, trees, banana trees, huts, simple homes... ergo, the laidback simple life that I've always wanted. 20 years from now John... hopefully!
After swimming, I practically ran out of things to do. It was just blazing hot and my sunburn just can't take more sunbeam (take note it's my 2nd day of being at the beach) So we went to the gazebo resto with a pool table and happened to find a mahjong set. Awesome! We undoubtedly burned the whole afternoon just playing mahjong. We had so much fun playing it, I felt stupid playing mahjong when I should have been squeezing every bit of the beach experience. But spending time with my friends, slash, trip buddies was the essence that completes my brief day's-worth of escape from reality.
And then... I got to talking with one of Angie's cousins. We enjoyed playing mahjong such that we talked a lot and realized we were in the same industry, I.T., and as of the moment, working right across the street from where I conduct my daily duties. She was very soft-spoken yet was always generous with her thoughts - interesting and sharp witted. I can already sense that first arrow approaching me like a mile away.
It was time to catch the bus home. We left dock at 4 only to find out that buses on the Cebu shore were so full that we had to take whatever bus that could still accommodate all 10 of us. We left 5:30 and settled for a non-aircon bus. I couldn't sleep in the bus like most of my buddies did since the driver's behavior was way beyond my safety standards. Well, for what it's worth I'm here in one piece blogging in the wee hours of the morning.
It's almost a week from that brief vacation and I just got to write this thanks to reality's way of taking control of my life. I do need to get myself a real life. A very real one at that. And hopefully, God-willing and with prayers, this lady would be that someone I've always wished for. And like I've realized in a year or two, the treasures in life are the people who are capable of giving appreciation as well as being magnanimous enough to be on its receiving end.