Hi! How are you? Happy New Year!

By now, most of us are “back to our realities” - whether at work, in school, or our regular routines at home. I hope you, too, had enough rest and joyful celebrations with your loved ones. I hope the break energised you for what 2020 will bring us.

The blue door

2019 was a whirlwind of events for me. I just left my job at the end of 2018, and was being interviewed by some of the companies I tried to join, as well as trying to win some clients for my own endeavors. At the same time, I was rebuilding my personal life - seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and spending time with the family. I was trying to put a sense of balance to things while our family was undergoing some challenges and major changes. It’s as if issues were piling up, if you prefer to see it that way. Nonetheless, the hope for the new year was there. So with clarity that I will be doing marketing communications either for a hotel or a company that I like, I tried to put aside any other invitation that came. However, a persistent opportunity arrived. Little did I know that it will somehow be my answered prayer.
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In 2012, while I was working for a hotel, I was sharing to my friends the story of my thesis. How I pushed to do a non-traditional advertising campaign for an advocacy because I strongly believed in the project. I told them that if given a chance, I’d like to work for an advocacy again. Although I was still growing and having a great time with my employer back then. In fact, the learnings I got from that experience somehow molded my career path today, and I’m grateful to them. The study I did in college left a spark in me.

It was Pentecost Sunday when we went to Singapore this June, and I remembered one of the things I'm thankful for this year - joining a fellowship at work. 

My faith has always been a big part of me. Growing up in a religious family, attending a Catholic school up to graduating from a Catholic University. My faith helped me grow through the challenges that life has brought me, and guided me when others, too, needed some help or an advice. The hunger to know more about God, and being marvelled everyday by the fulfilment of His promises to us have been driving forces for me and my family.

Something that keeps me energised in the morning and grateful in the evening is the fact that despite the tests and some setbacks, God never fails to bless us. There is always something to be thankful for. Like the apostles who were tasked to preach the good news, we are all given gifts by the Holy Spirit. Knowledge and wisdom to understand and be certain about life - even simple ideas like what to write on a report or what to say to a customer, to the decisions we are able to make, keeps me grateful.

We are also blessed with so much strength. Being able to open our eyes each day is already a gift. More so to actually carry out tasks, travel, and discover things. 

God also ensures that we are never alone. The right people are always there at the right time to support and guide us. In those environments we continue to develop as individuals and as His children.

Truly, He never fails to provide and to envelope us with so much love. John 14:26

​For someone who’s usually on the front line, waiting on the sideline is one of the hardest things you think you could be in.
 
It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-doubt, to wallow in misery and self-pity, feel irrelevant and stuck. But remember that waiting is also part of the journey. There are other things that can be found in it, not just struggle. There’s beauty and tons of opportunity.

​​Every year I try my best to declutter my spaces, may it be at home or in the office. I see to it that I have enough area for “new things” and energy to come in. This year I feel I’m doing it differently. I’ve mentioned previously that I’m hooked on the KonMari method of tidying up, for the most part because of the now-popular Netflix show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.
 
A friend of mine argues that the show is getting popularity, but does not necessarily answer as to what will happen to collectors and people who are obsessed with history. However, I can argue that the show, or the KonMari method for that matter, does not impose the habit of throwing things away, of giving up history. On the contrary, it talks about saving things that “spark joy” for us - things that still have meaning that we want to bring them with us moving forward. Things that we actually use and are essential for us to live our lives the way we want to.

It has been a while. I started a few drafts in 2018, writing on notebooks, scratch papers, here, and anywhere I can put my thoughts on. But as an excuse, last year was crazy which then made me opt for channels that can be accessed easily. Though there is an obvious lack of updates here, I am glad we were able to survive 2018. It is a definite proud moment for us all.
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​In light of the new year, new you theme, I wanted to write something personal, my skin. I am well aware that I do not have an ideal skin, considering that I work in Marketing. Although over the years of being in the industry, I managed to get the confidence boost needed to not shy away because of my skin imperfections, I still want to take care of it. Not for anyone's approval, but for my own. After all, we only have one body, might as well take care of it, right?

June came in a hurry, and now we are almost done with half of 2018. At times, busy feels like an understatement, and if I am to become completely honest with myself, I am getting tired. They say there are two kinds of tired: one can easily be satisfied with sleep, while the other with peace. These past few days, however, I find myself thinking whether I am just experiencing a physical need or longing for something deeper. 

Feeling the second kind of tiredness is not necessarily work-related. It can be the effect of change or growth, a relationship, studies, dreams, or even life in general. But in the hope of salvaging myself from the brim of exhaustion, I revert to some practices that I have learned over time. My hope is this list helps kick our blues away.

I was checking some emails and social media notifications when I saw a memory that coincides with my Headspace reflection this morning. It was from 2010 - a high school friend quoted our conversation when I told him that he doesn't have to be "cool" to be in. Something that I still believe in. I think we all deserve to be in places and be surrounded by people who accept and appreciate our individuality. There is no need to pretend to like something or engage in an activity that you do not really value just for the sake of feeling a sense of belongingness. I think the right crowd will love you for who you are and for what you love or who you choose to love.

On a different note, I think that the diversity of interests in a group keeps it alive. Although commonalities attract us, learning something from someone you care about is a great step to discover yourself even more and deepen the relationship.

I start my day early. My body clock wakes me up between 3:30am and 4:30am, no matter how late I sleep.  I usually find it hard to go back to bed so I'd rather start my day than force myself by counting sheep.

​Before, my routine starts with a prayer, then meditation, then a home exercise, before going through the chores and responsibilities for the day. Now, I'd wake up, pray and then check my emails and messages, immediately going to my work mode.

As the day progresses, I'm usually looking for something I can't define or at times have some sort of irritation for something I cannot control. I realised that this is because I'm no longer giving myself time, again. Wanting to finish as much as I could within the day, I'd rather work than engage in other activities such as conversing with other people. Yes, my days are filled with meetings (tons of it), but having real conversations, where you explore the depths of life or the shallowness of it is something that I miss. I also miss writing, writing for the sake of it, not because it's part of the job. After all, writing copies, editing texts, making reports, and what not is what I usually do on top of other things.

Today's meditation helped me think about these things. I realised that how you love yourself is reflected by how the world loves you. When you choose you, giving yourself time to laugh, heal, and grow, the world will compensate it by giving you opportunities to continue doing so.