• Life Lately

    Things I Am Thankful This 2020

    December 29, 2020

    Many things happened in 2020 that were not expected. Who would have thought that this pandemic would last for several months? I thought in a month or two, things would get better, but it did not. The pandemic brought us a lot of learning. Gladly, I still have work and I am working from home. My sister got back to being a nurse. My nephew turned one. Dad passed away. Typhoon Ulysses hit us and left a great impact. And so on.

    God is good.

    Even though I was discouraged by the time Daddy left us, He never left me. I have learned to accept the fate that daddy is gone and he is now in good hands. He had suffered enough. He did the best that he could.

    Life is unpredictable. It changes along with every individual. Today you have and tomorrow you may not have. Be thankful for the good that stays with you. – Rashida Rowe

    I am thankful to my family, especially my mom. Do not give up. We can do this. Keep believing and trusting. I know we can overcome all the trials we face today.

    To my sister and BIL, hang in there. The best is yet to come. We are all in this together.

    To my nephew, you are amazing. Thank you for bringing so much joy to the family.

    I am beyond grateful to my relatives. You are truly a blessing to us. We will never forget the tireless support, especially in times of distress. Thank you for extending your arm when we needed a hand.

    I am thankful for having good company and good colleagues. I am happy with the help I have received since day 1. Thank you for your usual support.

    Thank you, thank you, everyone.

    Most of all, thank you self for not giving up and for striving hard in these trying times. I am so proud of you. Always take good care of yourself.

    Just keep going.

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  • Random

    Why I am Loving Work from Home Now

    October 30, 2020

    I used to fantasize about working from home. I really do, but it changed when I started working from home. It is far different from what I pictured and read. I cannot think of a reason why we are not allowed to go home to our provinces and work from there. I assume that the province is safer than the city.

    There are a lot of misconceptions about what it is like to work from home. If you can remember my post, Why Work from Home is Not for Me. I have mentioned 4 reasons why it is not for me.

    Today, I am sharing why I am loving it, after months of settling into my home-office set-up and new routines of working from home.

    What is it about working from home that I am so taken with it right now?

    I am more rested. I do not have to get out of bed early to pack my lunch and get ready for work. I can spend less time getting ready for work. 35 minutes is plenty of time already.
    15 minutes (shower and getting dressed), 2 minutes (setting-up workspace), 18 minutes (preparing breakfast and coffee)

    I can sneak out and tend to personal business, like picking up my groceries, cooking my meal while attending a meeting, or chatting with my nephew.

    I can listen to loud music, use my headsets, and sing my heart out without worrying about anyone being disturbed. I do not mind them (my neighbors) anyway. They do not mind me either.

    I can focus on one task at a time. There is a less chance of distraction. No more unimportant meetings and interruptions from coworkers. Kidding! Read: How to Stay Focused

    The weather does not prevent me from working except when I am really under the weather.

    I can talk freely to myself. Hello, me! How is it going? You know how much I love talking to myself. We disagree most of the time. It is totally normal btw.

    I have the option of taking a midday break, aka power nap. The reason why I am unable to respond to your messages immediately during midday. That can wait till 1 pm, right?

    I can work on whatever clothes I decide to wear. Except for times when I need to attend meetings that need to have the camera turned on. Nothing like that seems to have happened as far as I remember.

    I can either work in my bed, in my home-office set-up, or elsewhere in my apartment.

    Everything I need is within reach, including food and drinks.

    I do not have to be sneaky anymore whenever I use the comfort room.

    No more office dramas and politics. Although, I miss office conversations sometimes.

    I do not get swayed by trying out a new drink or restaurant. I stick to what I already prepared for lunch and snacks.

    I can have my dance breaks instead of the normal stretching that I do in the office.

    And most of all, by staying and working from home, I am safe from communicable diseases (not just Covid-19) and getting sick will be far less common.

    What do you like best about working from home?

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  • Next Question

    How I Celebrated My Birthday

    August 24, 2020

    Things did not go as planned. But everything turned out well. This birthday is the most memorable birthday I ever have. Never did I imagine myself celebrating my birthday alone. But hell yeah! I managed and loved the idea.

    My insomnia hit me. I was up till 6am watching Netflix movies, tossing and turning in my bed. Mom called me the minute I was about to shut off my eyes. My nephew was looking for me. I heard him saying Chicha, Tatata in the background. My nephew was not grumpy that morning. He was just looking at me, smiling, and giggling while feeding on milk. What a wonderful sight to start my day. Then we both fell asleep.

    Read: How to Celebrate Happy Birthday Alone

    I woke up past lunch time, checking on birthday messages. I immediately get up and prepare for lunch. I decided to cook Pesto Pasta instead of what I planned.

    I almost forgot the cake. I ordered Mary Grace Cheesecake thru FoodPanda. I rely mostly on FoodPanda these days.

    By 3 p.m., I decided to lit my birthday candle and sing myself a birthday song. It was the saddest out of tune birthday song.

    Happy Birthday, Self!

    While I obviously miss my family and friends, I enjoyed the day so much more than usual. It was my first time celebrating my birthday alone. My birthday turned out great. I was able to actually appreciate life.

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  • Life Lately

    Thirty-Six and Thankful

    August 23, 2020

    Would you ever know that I am now 36 just by looking at me? Nah, I bet. I just turned 36, and I am pretty proud of it. That is right. I do not have to be coy about my age. Not anymore. I used to lie about my age. Do not get me wrong. Lying about one’s age is regarded as socially acceptable. People often think that I am a bit younger than I am because of how I carry myself and express myself. I will never get tired of hearing people gasp when I tell them my age.

    This is exactly what a 36-year-old looks like.

    It is hard to believe that I am this age. I am a little past halfway through life, and I still have a lot of living to do. I am looking forward to having my own family (fingers crossed). Life requires us to keep on going.

    It is TIME for the next chapter.

    I thank God for making my life so beautiful. I am so blessed to celebrate another birthday. A lot of appreciation and love are sent to each of you for your kind birthday greetings and wishes. It means a lot when you send me greetings on my birthday. You made a great day even more exceptional. Hearing from you slightly lessened my despair at turning a year older.

    I cannot thank you enough, Lord Jesus, for bringing me this far in my life. This may not be what I had dreamed of, but you have blessed me with a life of good health, happiness, peace of mind, and good fortune. Such presents are worth more than all the money and treasures in the world. Please keep my heart away from sadness and my mind away from worries. [
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  • Next Question

    How to Celebrate a Happy Birthday Alone

    August 21, 2020

    Spending your birthday alone can make you feel desolated and miserable, but this is not a bad thing at all. With the current situation, and the majority of us are still in quarantine, there is nothing wrong with going solo on our special day.

    So what if there is no one around on my birthday? It does not mean I cannot enjoy the special day alone. Even though my family and friends are miles away, there is no reason to celebrate birthdays alone when there is technology. What is the use of video calls, anyway?

    Sometimes, we need to be alone. Not to be lonely, but to enjoy our time being ourselves. – Anonymous

    The best way to feel less solitary is by celebrating and having a great time. Our birthday comes only once a year, and we should not miss celebrating it even if we are alone. Whether it is birthdays or anniversaries, celebrations do not just stop during a worldwide pandemic. The pandemic took a great deal from us- our daily normal routine and even our jobs. Do not let it ruin our special day, as well.

    Here is how (I plan) to celebrate and enjoy (my) birthday alone while still being safe and healthy.

    Start the day by getting up early and giving thanks. There is no better way to start the day than by getting up early. This puts us in a good mood for the entire day. I am not a morning person, but I will try to wake up a little earlier on my birthday. I promise!

    Enliven my place, like hosting a big party with birthday banners and inflatables the day before my birthday to get into the party vibe. Waking up smiling, seeing your home decorated, is a pleasant feeling. For birthday banners and balloons, check out happydayph at Shopee. I received my orders a day after I placed my orders. That fast!

    Watch a live broadcast of the Mass. Since my birthday falls on a Sunday and public masses are still suspended, watching Mass online is one way of staying connected with the parish and the church. Thank God for technology!

    Treat myself to a delicious meal. Who does not love good food? For lunch, I will cook Pinaupong Manok, and for dinner, just Pesto Pasta. Or better yet, order via Grab Food/FoodPanda.

    What is a celebration without a cake? So what if no one brings me cake this time? I can get it at any rate. Buy that cake I have been looking forward to tasting. I love the minimalist cakes of Wadough’s and Aegyo Cakes. I could have secured a slot on my birthday if only I inquired earlier. All August slots are already taken as early as July. I still have Mary Grace Cheesecakes in my options, anyway.

    Binge a new series (not necessarily a new series) while having cocktails. I am planning to start watching “The 100″ on my birthday. I have not seen that post-apocalyptic fiction drama yet. There are lots of TV shows on Netflix. I bet it is well worth a watch because it is highly recommended by the Netflix Community. And yes, having cocktails while binge watching.

    Lockdown is only temporary. When this is over, there will be a time to celebrate with our loved ones. Plan a great party or trip for when everything is over. Or just begin to think about next year’s party celebration.

    Before the clock meets 12, write about things I am thankful for  or anything that I would like to remember about my birthday in my journal.

    Missing my family and being sad on my birthday is really OKAY. I realize that it is not as bad as what others are dealing with. I know I am not alone in this fight.

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