Have you ever wondered how you get to where you are now and where the path still will lead? What are the forces that drive you? This site tries to capture life and its essence. A collection of different talks and thoughts about people making a difference. The why's, what if's, and delve into life as bits and pieces fit the puzzle we call Life. Let's all be brave in trudging through our footprints.
2011 is said to be year of the Metal Rabbit which is a good prediction for my sign. I'm born under the year of the Rabbit and this year promises much needed peace and tranquility.
My New Year's Resolution to expand my territories brought me to the online guidance of online marketing mentor Jomar Hilario. Signing up to his class opened my eyes to a whole lot of possibilities to broaden my chance of securing my future financial freedom. Getting old but financially independent is everyone's dream.
Thanks to Jomar, he introduced the whole online club to his very own mentor. After all, one can't be an expert without having been coached first. So now, let me introduce you to Brendon Burchard, author of The Millionaire Messenger and Life's Golden Ticket. Founder of Experts Academy.
A summary of the book questions your existence:
Did I live?
Did I love?
Did I matter?
Can you truthfully answer all in the affirmative?
You've seen my other blogs, you know how a blog should look like. For sure you have something in your life that you're passionate about. So from there let's begin making what you know as your greatest asset.
Watch the short video I have inserted in this post and then dwell on it. To help you, I have enumerated below the gist of the video:
Here is what I have to say here. Your PASSION is your TOPIC. Me? I love to bake, cooking is mandatory or else i will starve. From simple posting of pictures in facebook with loads of friends liking and commenting on it, I started blogging about it.
This is my second blog. All about learning and inspirational stuff that I think matters.
My third blog is about my life here in Bonn. The events and culture that makes you enjoy life to its fullest. See Expat Life in Bonn and you can also add us up in Facebook.
Would I stop at three blogs? Of course not! I still have loads of stuff I am passionate about.
If you are interested to keep in pace with the technology driven world and at the same time secure your future earnings, then you could start by making a list of all the things you are passionate baout. Painting, basketball, teaching autistic kids, snowboarding, or even lovebird breeding. Anything! You will be amazed that theres a number of people who would like to know what you know about these stuff. That will be your topic. Claim it.
Ready with your paper and pen and try to brainstorm after you watch this video.
2. Pick your audience.
3. Discover your audience needs.
4. Define your story.
5. Create a solution.
Example is by making products as a solution or a program.
6. Put up a website.
7. Campaign your program.
By doing strategic sequence of promotions.
8. Get promo partners.
Pick your choice from gurus, sponsors and affiliates.
9. Post free - content.
10. Focus on value, distinction and service.
Customer service or plain doing good in the world.
Questions? Post them here. Interested? I hope you are! So what's next? I will answer that once I hear from you.
As Brendon Burchars said it, Live fully, love openly and make a difference today.
All of us have a love story to tell. Some might be in their happy ending part, or for some, still looking. Whatever your present relationship is now, we all go through these stages one way or the other. It is seldom that one finds their true love at the first try (like my mom), but eventually death still separates them.
Watch this story of how love buds, flourish, and if not taken cared of, can die down. Please leave a comment or share your experience at the bottom.
He called her his "unicorn". Unicorn became the most important imaginary animal of the middle ages and Renaissance when it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, a symbol of purity and grace, which could only be captured by a virgin.
Even Leonardo Da Vinci wrote something about unicorn in one of his notebooks. "became the most important imaginary animal of the middle ages and Renaissance when it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, a symbol of purity and grace, which could only be captured by a virgin."
Very sweet isn't it to be dubbed as unicorn. To be rare and hard to tame. And yet, if you have seen the end of the story, what then?
Six stages in a Relationship were outlined in the story.
Stage 1: The Meeting
How did you and your boyfriend / fiance / husband meet? Fixed date? Friend of a friend? Very seldom I think is by chance. We all are wary of strangers. It is much safer to meet someone that was recommended or you share a mutual friend with. Much easier for background check. But I know some friends who met their husbands through the dating website. I tried that before, but it didn't work for me. You really need to be dedicated to schedule a chat session. Most of whom I have met I have noticed were either lying or trying to get into my bank account. As if I am rich! Point blank is - its hard to trust someone these days. My present boyfriend? He was my student. No! I'm not older that him! It was a continuing education course.
This is the "official" courtship stage. How conservative the courting or how traditional depends on where you live and your upbringing. Most American films we watch jump from meeting stage to the "bed stage" all in the same night. There is even a rule of dating only until the third (or fourth) time before determining if you want to dump him or keep on seeing him. Some says don't send him sms daily for it will look as if you're too clingy. My point is, be you. I was courted by a Peruvian. And boy, they are totally different from my Pinoy suitors. What my big brother advised me was don't conform to his way of courting just because you're in Europe or that that is the way they court ladies in Peru, but to let him conform to your idea of courtship. Too tough for him to be conservative, so I dumped him.
It's so nice to see the story show the real way of getting steady -- by asking the girl if she wants to be his girlfriend. That lays down the openness in the relationship. Some would just say they are officially a couple of they sleep together or if they stopped seeing others. But why grope in the dark. It is not unmanly to ask and make it official.
I know a hotel cleaner here who slept with someones boyfriend and told the girlfriend that she and the guy have a relationship. All because he slept with her. It failed to dawn on her that he never ended his real relationship with his girlfriend and that he never wanted to be seen with her.
In my homeland, this stage is critical for a girl doesn't want to be dubbed as too easy if she goes steady immediately after meeting the guy. More than three months of chasing is safe enough.
Shadow of Truth. Image by SDeluz.
Stage 3: The honeymoon
No, honeymoon is not solely for newly weds. It is the stage of courtship (yes, it is still courtship) that both parties are high in the Eros stage of love. Eros being a passionate physical and emotional love based on aesthetic enjoyment.
Honeymoon stage is now going out as a couple unlike the chasing stage where you tend to go out as a group. It is also official to each family that they are going steady. Meet the parents? Not much. It's too soon for that. Some who have good family relationship wants their parents to have a say in the relationship, so thus, the meeting.
I had this impromptu meeting with the father of my Fil-Am boyfirend before. He called me up saying he would like to meet me up on my lunch break. I was at work and being a professor doesn't entail you the freedom to jump out of the office once the lunch hour chimes. After tidying up my room and having short talk with some students, I went to see him in a fastfood chain a few buildings away from where I work. Suffice to say he was pissed off for waiting 15 minutes. He said that is impolite gesture in the States. I didn't comment on that maybe due to naivety or pure respect not to talk back. I was just baffled with his desire to meet me and even my boyfriend who was in the States at that time was bewildered to the sudden interest of his father. Gist of the meeting was that he was trying to see if I'm a gold digger. He laid down upfront the amount my boyfriend was making in a year. Was I interested? I was too stupid to make any right remark but I do remember just asking about his job. Hey I heard the figure but I don't know the exchange rate so I cant convert the amount. I was not really interested and I can't even recall as of now how much he said it was. It was only when we broke up after almost a year that I understood the reason for the visit.
Walk by faith. Image by SDeluz.
Stage 4: Comfortable
Comfortable under the thesaurus is as such:
Main Entry: comfortable
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: good feeling
Synonyms: adequate, agreeable, appropriate, at rest, cared for, cheerful, complacent, contented,convenient, cozy, delightful, easy, enjoyable, enjoying, gratified, hale, happy, healthy, hearty,loose, loose-fitting, made well, pleasant, pleased, protected, relaxed, relaxing, relieved, rested, restful, restored, satisfactory, satisfying, serene,sheltered, snug, snug as a bug in a rug, soft, soothed, strengthened, untroubled, useful, warm, well-off
How do you describe your present relationship? Is this the same as Agape? Not really but bordering into it. Agape covers this stage and the next one which is "tolerance".
Let me tell you this, even if you have been going out for so long, never stop trying. Courtship should never end at the honeymoon stage. Do something different every once in a while. Light up the fire! For if not, you might succumb to the next stage.
A pair on its own. Image by SDeluz
Stage 5: Tolerance
You tolerate his tardiness. His inability to remember what to bring in the family outings. Her nagger side. Her unending to - do list. The burnt toast. The uncapped toothpaste. The shoes on the foyer. The unwashed dishes. The list could go on and still you can find fault. They say never go to bed angry and yet both of you can do the silent treatment for a week.
Yes, this is still part agape for love can still bring forth caring regardless of circumstance. There is always a plateau in every relationship. EVERY. Yes, we all go through this. Even husbands and wives. Ask any marriage counselor. That is why they are there. To resolve the "tolerance" stage and make sure it doesn't go to the next level.
I could say my present relationship is in this level. No, we don't hang up on each other or forget to call at all. But we try not to forget to call and we try to find new things to do. That is why I have this blog. It helps us see things in a new perspective. All of our shared outings that we post here or in our other blogs keeps us in track of each other. It makes all new experiences a joy to do.
Hoping....Image by SDeluz
Stage 6: Downhill
Seldom do people stay on this stage too long. Either you're a masochist enjoying being despondent all the time. Or you're a sadist reveling in the pain of others. Don't go this way. Either you do a major overhaul or jump the wagon!
Stage 7: Breaking Up
I applaud the couple who go about this stage in a civilized manner. Talking it out instead of hurling bad stuff in each other's faces. Some even use their social media walls to slander each other. Breaking up is hard. But once you decided to do it, then gather a support group to help you stand by your decision. Read books. Love yourself first so that you would heal. What I find that helps most? Distance. Time heals, but distance helps erase the memories. New cafe to hang out with. New faces to socialize. New places to see. It helps. Believe me.
It takes two to tango. Analyze what you did wrong. It is not 100% the other parties' fault. You have a hand at the downfall of your love story as well. Think what you need to change and what you need to work on. And after all these...move on. We all deserve a happy ever after.
There is a quote that says "Life is but a stage and we are the actors". And I ask, can it not be a dance floor and we the dancers? For we move to the change of time. We sway to the shift of political views. We jump to any exhilarating news enfolded unto us. We dip, pirouette, split and do back flips for any opportunity, good or bad, that life throws us.
My earliest documents dance presentation was nursery school. I don't know how it happened nor do I have any idea how I was tapped to perform. All I can remember was dad and I visiting his friend to borrow the son's jeans and white long sleeves for the dance number.
I think it was year four in primary school when I started the Menudo fans Club and five of us class buddies started performing in school programmes. Of course, using all Menudo hit songs. Don't tell me you don't know Robby Rosa?
If I have the inclination to dance, why didn't I or my parents encouraged me to develop this? We are a very conservative and practical family. Extracurricular activities are frowned out by my dad during highschool for i might not give proper attention to my studies. Besides, it doesn't matter how many stage performances you've done in school. What matter is the grade reflected in the report card. So instead of attending the chess club, painters club, volleyball varsity after school hours, we were directed to go straight home after school. Some activities are part of the class projects though. For that, we were encouraged to bring home our classmates and practice at home. Pretty much convenient for me and we have enough space at home for that. But I did rebel a bit, I don't know how I did it but I was able to perform in a number of school dance presentations and was even part of the sophomore cheerleading squad that made the championship. Some teams I did try out on like the chess team. I tried out, got in but didn't pursue it. i just want the challenge of making it in the team. All of these I did without making a dent in my school grades.
College days, boy was that tough! I didn't even look for any extra curricular activity. I only participated in one tiny bit of cheerleading stint which won us the gold in the College Intramurals. Sad to say, I don't even have a picture of that escapade. Only the cheerleading outfit tucked away under pile of old clothes in my closet back home. It was my trophy.
After graduating, my first taste of real job was as a professor and what I did on my first semester was start a dance troupe. It was aptly known as Quiver Flex. We even did a main live band - concert with sponsors and the whole works at Cavite Colliseum.
The only time I paid an instructor to teach me the moves was summer 2001. My mom and I enrolled in Ballroom dancing and as of now, the only thing we can remember was that that was the first time my dad showed symptoms of unknown malady.
So whats the happy ending? Sad to say, not everything has a happy ever after. I plunged head on to my corporate career after that and was lost in the crowd.
Do I have any regrets? Nope. Nada. Living in a developing country makes you practical. Besides, there's not much organization then that train kids about this. Not even summer camps. If there were any, living in a province and being financially constrained was another problem. maybe nowadays its different. And when someday I have my own kids, I will make sure it will be different.
There's still my last chance for a dance....my future wedding dance. ;-)
I have first read this in the waiting room of my dentist's clinic. It was part of our bi yearly check up and I never tire seeing this on the poster hanging on the wall. I was in highschool and yet for me this already makes sense.
We grew up never hearing praises from our parents nor is it normal for any of us to be saying anything praise worthy. Maybe its lack of time, poverty or being independent, we never seem to stop and praise each other. Ridicule. A dagger look. That's pretty common to shut us up. That's why late 2004, after my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I was shocked to overhear him say to a visiting friend that he was so proud of me because I was so professional everytime we meet with his doctors ( I happened to be in the medical field). And that he is thankful that I shouldered most of his chemo expenses. Also that in a way he is embarassed because he depleted my savings. I stopped on my track and was so overwhelmed with emotion that I don't know how to react. After all these years, he was praising me. That was my biggest accomplishment. To hear my dad say that out loud though not on my face. I thought he hated my career driven workaholic way because we came from a culture that women should be home carers.
"Tragedy of life is not what we suffer, but what we miss."
How do you want to be remembered? A loving daughter? loyal friend? magnanimous teacher? fearsome adventurer? caring child-minder? sweet girlfriend? charming wife? Whatever adjectives may describe you, at the end of your life, would it all matter?
If you have watched the attached video of Steve Job, he gave three stories from his life. Three important stories that made his life and completed who he is right now. Do I have a story like that to tell? I'm not sure. I'm not adopted. Although I have thought about it when I was small due to favoritism in my family. But that is just childish me thinking then. Unlike Steve, I have a college degree. Two of them actually plus numerous certificate of accomplishment to affiliate courses and licenses. So what makes my life special from Steve's? Nothing much. I'm not a CEO nor did I invent any computer gizmo. I'm just a simple me, still trying to etch my life in this vast world.
I was brought up by my parents with the idea that education is the only thing they can give me as inheritance. For no one can take it away from me and no one can put a value to it. True. So I studied, though not as hard as I want to. Earlier, I've been studying only to add up on my list of credentials. Then lately, I began to see that I really like studying. That learning new things excite me. My line of expertise is Allied Health Sciences, but due to continuing education, I'm here now learning the art of web blogging and earning passive income from it. Who would have thought I will be courageous enough to delve into html's and css's.
I felt stagnant before for my degree wasn't really my passion. I don't like messy stuff nor yucky wounds. Then as my patients found joy from their smallest improvement, I learned to love what I do. Unfortunately, some of my college classmates think that being successful in our field means we should be in America working under a prestigious clinic / hospital. I didn't follow that road. I made my own. I made a couple of business back home but due to lack of management expertise, both collapsed. Did I get depressed? Nope. It was lesson learned. I was able to get my ROI (return of investment) before my previous businesses collapsed though.
I'm no expert on life. Just living it day by day. But with new knowledge in hand that everyday is an opportunity to learn. How? I'm now into this online marketing course that gives you input in all areas of your life that you can tap to earn passive income. Did I step on anybody to get to where I am now? Proud to say no. I didn't marry any old man to be able to live abroad. I didn't fake any documents to get my job. I didn't succumb to debt just to get out of the country. I used my out most potential that was handed to me by my parents. My education, free will and determination to rise above all. With or without education, as proven by Steve Job, you hold your future in the palm of your hand. You shape it. I'm still shaping mine. I hope you're continually doing yours also.
What are we here for in life? We are not here just to live but to be a blessing to others. When we say salesman, what comes into your mind? A persistent man selling his wares and doing non-stop talk? We all are salesperson. We may not know it but its true. How do you gain acquaintances? By introducing yourself of course. By giving a short description of what you do which basically makes up the introductory phase of getting to know and beyond the ice breaker stage. By getting someones attention is a way of selling yourself. Are you someone easily liked? Are you sell-able as an acquaintance? Do people like talking to you or are they repelled by you? No man is an isalnd and by reaching out, we are opening ourselves.
Here is a special prayer I once read way back 2004. I retyped it on a green paper and hang it on m wall near my office table. I read this every morning before. More like my mantra. It helps me touch ground. Breathe in my friend and enjoy Og Mandino's The Salesman's Prayer.
"The Road Not Taken" is a poem by Robert Frost, published in 1916 in the collection Mountain Interval. It is the first poem in the volume and is printed in italics. The title is often mistakenly given as "The Road Less Traveled", from the penultimate line: "I took the one less traveled by".
"The Road Not Taken" is a narrative poem consisting of four stanzas of iambic tetrameter and is one of Frost's most popular works.
Ive read this poem when I was in elementary and again in second year high school as part of our English subject. I even used this as my teaching demo the first time I applied as a professor. It was a very simple poem talking about making decisions in life. How one decides and how one reacts at the end.
My road not taken? Not to marry young. I had friends eloping and having babies right after college. I even had college classmates who are single moms. I didn't marry young not because lack of boyfriend, but of choice. My fiance left me for another girl because I won't compromise of his offer to marry and live with his family. I have this image in my mind that having a family should be starting on your own. Not adopting a whole family. That one shouldn't marry at all if one is not financially stable to nurture children. Now, all of my friends kids are in grade school and one going to high school. Until now I can't fathom their guts and courage to stand up for love and against their parents wishes. Am I envious? Not really. I was not forced to marry anyone just because of pregnancy. This is what I want. Freedom. To taste life. To experience all it has to offer. Now, I'm ready to settle down. I have taken my road. Its time to diverge to someone else's.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,
