Living on my own…

Three years ago, one morning, my mother told me, “mag-board ka na”… what?!! I don’t have plans for that. I’m enjoying my life with my family in Cavite. Even my work is too far from our house, I used to commute everyday and it’s ok to me. After one week, I have a new home, have new housemates, have a new life. At first, I was so excited to the fact that I’m living on my own, will be independent and no mother to scold you when you go out too late. My very first housemate was Jade, Tin, and Elphie.  This people I knew before, only seeing them at work and suddenly you’re together in one roof. A lot of adjustment happens.  Our first day is our busy day. We buy things for our little home, appliances, plates, pillows etc., everything is new. That time I’m really into watching TV and movies so I bought a TV which is my first investment. The next day, we don’t want to work and just wanted to stay because we feel at home in our new place. It felt good when you’re the one manages, designs, and clean you own house, which never happens to me in our house. That time, I never knew how to cook, never wash my own clothes, never been to a market meaning no idea running a home. That was the huge adjustment for me.  It’s nice to think that I can do whatever I want but do I really ready for this? Is that easy to wash clothes?  How’s my food?  How will I survive? A nightmare!! Hehehe… With all this, I learned what you called “pakikisama”. It’s too dyahe if you’re tamad, if you’re burara, if you do not know everything. Shocks!  I accepted the fact that I’m the only one to wash my clothes and as time goes I think I perfected my washing ability… hahaha… Learn to clean a house with the help of Tin, who is so good in housekeeping.  Taught me how to mop, clean the comfort room and the tiles, brush the walls etc. For in fact, I never tried doing it in my own house. I’m ashamed of myself but at the same time proud because I can do it pala. Everything was so easy; just love what you’re doing.  The really funny thing is how I learn to cook. My very first dish was taught by my brother who is only 12 that time. Too dyahe!  Pork steak which he knows to cook because he saw my mother cooking it. My three gorgeous housemates we’re the first to taste my first masterpiece. I go to the market alone, pick the best meat (I think), make “tawad” for the price with my listahan at my hand… hehehe… The lunch time comes. I was really nervous, honestly, what if they don’t like it? Happy to say, they said it was taste good (I don’t know if it’s really true) but the meat was kinda matigas pa (at least it was taste good for the beginner) hehehe… And then I find cooking a habit.

             Pakikisama is the key word.  I learn to give and sacrifice something for others. Be patient because we are different individuals with different attitude.  It’s more easier if we knew each other since childhood but it’s not. Before, I really hate seeing the timba in the comfort room empty, but I used to it, seeing it always emptied. My side, I just want to have a stock.  What if the water supply suddenly stops? What will happen to us without water? Hehehe… I hate a messy room but what can I do? I can’t say to them, clean the room as you goes. I respect them.  So I teach myself to be used to it… hehehe… A lot of my habit and attitude changed.  When it comes to money, I learn to budget my allowance. Pay the bills, worry for the due date, worry for our food supply, worry for everything that is important in running a home. Learn to save my money wisely, make tipid when necessary.  The only sad part is during those holiday season and when you’re in sickness. Luck for me because Cavite is just a two-hour ride so I can go home during those times. But I have housemate who lives in Bicol, who only have the chance once or twice a year to be home. How sad?  Just think of the loneliness you will suffer if you’re the one. During sickness, I learned that it’s only myself I can depend on. Even when you have fever, you’re the one to buy your own food, medicine etc. In my experience, last month, I suffer on a sever allergy which caused my skin to turned red, I panic and really afraid. An allergy from the food I ate (they said I was poisoned), ginataang tulingan, my favorite food. I told to my housemates about it but of course they have their own thing to do. I’ve texted my family but they can’t do anything but just to reply what will I do and medicine to take. I need to be strong, my head was heavy, my heart beats super fast. I ate a lot of sugar every minute, how I really hate eating sweets. Until afternoon, I really wanted to go to the hospital because the redness never stop and the sugar has no effect but too shy to asked someone to accompany me. So Jade texted a friend (who had a doctor friend) and asked for a medicine. So what will I expect? Of course, I’m the one who bought my medicine with the rain outside. Luckily, after taking the expensive medicine I feel fine.

            The lesson I want to impose here is that living independently is not an easy way. If you’re not ready and matured enough, you can’t take it. You’re just ended missing your family badly.  If you don’t have the guts, you can’t bear it that you might burst into tears. If you run of money, you can’t come to your parents and asked for extra money that easy, you have to solve it wisely. What’s the essence of living alone if you’re always calling your parents in times of need? Learn to teach yourself living independently, learn to be strong, have the courage to face everything, and endure the hardship of living on your own.

talking about religion…

The topic that is really hard to explain to someone who has a different belief as yours, I thought. I’m avoiding it because in my area where I’m sitting; on my right is a cute Iglesia ni Cristo, next beside her is an astig boy who don’t used to go to church but he believes in God, a pretty chinita who is a sacred Catholic who wants to be a nun, and our boss who is sitting not far from us is a Jehovah’s Witnesses believer. So what do you think will happen to us if we talk about religion? But others may say, this is an interesting discussion.

             That afternoon, because we run out of topic to discuss, the astig boy asked our insights about our beliefs towards God, religion and practices. We came to a point where we are about to have a fight, a debate about the issues. I’ve realized that despite of it, it’s really important to be fair, to understand each other because we have our different views.  It’s really good that you can share your thoughts to others. Your not about to give judgment, to give sermons, to correct what is wrong. In our convo, its enough that you listen, share and it’s up to you if you believe what you hear. My perception didn’t change but it’s good that I share to them what I’ve learned, what I’ve read and what I’ve experienced. Questions like: do you believe in God? How many God do you have? Is religion really can save you? How will you save? And more like that. Wow!! It’s really amazing hearing someone talking about God.  It’s nice to know that they are listening to you as if I have lot knowledge about God. I was afraid at first because I might say something that is against to other but of course we can’t avoid it. Thanks to them because we are all broadminded, open-minded, and fair enough. It’s really inspiring that you can share you thoughts about God. It gives me smile when the next morning, astig boy jokes us that he reads his bible and want to share what he reads (hehehe). We inspires him daw and I think he’s lying. Because he sticks to his beliefs but it’s a good thing that his interest is there, and starting reading the bible. Thank God!! And all of us agree, we better talk about our life than our belief because we get too serious… the atmosphere gets hotter… hahaha… I know there would be next time and I can’t wait for that… Ciao!

Writing my first blog @ the office…

What can I say? I never knew what’s blog for. Why everybody is into it?  I thought blog is only for some articles that inspire you, that you want to share, that you want to post. Until someone told me that it is not only for that. I told myself, I want to try it. But I’m not used to it. Write what’s on my mind, share what I’ve experienced, and show to the public what’s my insights. But I’ll try, so here I am writing my very first blog. At first, it was really hard constructing sentences (maybe bec. I’m doing this while I’m at work hehehe), but I found it nice and replacement to my boring and sleepy times here in the office. Hahaha. Speaking of my boring and sleepy moments, you know what; we have a lot of activities just to fight our boredom. We have a puzzle day where we answers all the mind games, you will see who’s the smart one, who’s the not so smart (hehehe), who’s the genius. Listening to our mp’s, ipod or to our fave DJ’s in the radio. We have this fave station, LSFM, the dj’s was so bubbly that we laugh out loud all at the same time. It’s like we’re crazy because the one who’s not listening is wondering what’s happening to us. Hehehe. Or food trip that it’s like we have a party at the office all of the time. Food is everywhere… wow… So I may say, life at the office we’re like as if we’re only playing while at work. Just want to share this… wheew… I finish my first blog… hahaha… I hope you’ve got something here… (I doubt)…

Beating the Blues…

What do you do when your friend comes to you out of great sorrow, or from dealing with feelings of loneliness, hurting from the fall-out of grief, fighting depression, or just deep into the funk?  How about sharing one or all of these “blue-mood-beaters.”  Perhaps you’ll discover they will work for you as well.

 It’s maybe too simple… but start with asking God for strength to overcome this mood you find yourself stuck in. 

Follow that by saying to yourself, “Self, I’ve been here before, felt this way before.  It did not come to stay, it came to pass.”  The hurt or pain may not leave permanently… but the present mood often lifts.  

Deliberately switch your thinking.  Shift from unhappiness to one of those pleasant memories of growing up; put something pleasant into the thought mill.  Change your mind from the negative to the positive.  

Take a long walk.  Cook for your lunch or dinner.  Bathe your pet.  Wash the clothes.  Do something outside.  If that’s impossible, do something active indoors.  

Count your blessings.  Even get out a sheet of paper and begin to list all of your present blessings, your past blessings, and what you anticipate as blessings in the future.  

Help someone else who might be in worse condition than you are.  Find a neighbor, a friend, a sister, a relative.  Get out of your shell of self-pity and place yourself in a positive way in somebody else’s.  

Check to be sure this particular mood is not caused by physical reason.  Do something brave that friends will do, go see your doctor for help.  

Have the confidence that if you have really placed yourself in God’s care—that someone or something will come along to help you through your mood or test or trial.  Believe that God will help you deal with the unthinkable, bear the unbearable.  

It helps to remember that every other person you meet has also had to deal with some of the tough problems of life, been depressed, been hurt, been lonely, and been grieving.  And some of these have not had the many tools available to you to cope with their needs.  Take heart!  

Believe that tomorrow will be a better day!  Have faith in the future!  Have faith in God!  Have faith in relationships!  Believe it!

 

Lovers

Some people are “gifted” lovers.  They know how to make folks around them feel love, especially the love of Christ.  The principles are the same in families as well as in churches or anyplace people meet.

             LOVERS smile a lot.  Something caring and contagious flows through them.  It’s inviting, warm, gentle, and kind.  

             LOVERS treat you as someone really special.  Warmth and welcome quickly turn into genuine friendship.  They like you as wonderful person and do not hesitate to say so.  

 

            LOVERS’ faces light up every time they see you.  Their hugs, handshakes, and personal words make you feel totally accepted.  Quickly they invite you into their conversation, group, or home.  Instinctively you know that you have a place in their hearts.  

 

            LOVERS make knowing Jesus and living in Him so attractive.  If coming close to Him is something like coming close to them, it has to be wonderful.  

 

            LOVERS know God.  You sense that they tap into the true source of love often and regularly.  The overflows of their lives show that the fruit of the Spirit is love.  

 

            LOVERS are generous with compliments from the heart, quick to see your strengths, and tender with your weaknesses.  

 

            LOVERS have flaws.  Sometimes their weaknesses hurt us more than those of others from whom we expected so little.  

 

            LOVERS sometimes become victims of our rising expectations.  We, and so many others, want to treat them like close friends.  No one can keep up with the demands of true friendship for so many people.  We can easily expect lovers to do more for us than is reasonable.  

 

            LOVERS have many who will rise up and call them blessed.  And rightly so.  They have blessed so many for so long that it only seems right to give them a little gratitude and appreciation in return.  

 

            LOVERS do incredibly good to all within their sphere of influence.  Its little wonder then that the most often repeated commandment in the New Testament is “love one another.”  

 

            LOVERS are made and not born.  To become a lover is a matter of decision, attitude, and commitment to become and be a lover for the rest of life.