Key Lessons: February 2018

Last month’s lessons are pretty much like timely reminders.

1. I reaffirm this: “All is well that ends well.”
2. Convictions cannot be taught, but may be caught.
3. God is always preparing us–for tomorrow, for next month, or for 20 years from now.
4. Before doing anything–always ask yourself, why?
5. It’s okay to be vulnerable, but be so to the right people.
6. God lets you go through it so you can grow through it.
7. Bad experiences are life lessons wrapped in unexpected packaging.
8. Whether it’s at work, an interview, or in friendships–be yourself.
9. There’s always a reason that it’s an open door.
10. Be there for people.

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Unfinished Business;

I started a writing project last year and I only got through half way.

I plan to finish it in the next few months, but this time around I think I’ll make my answers toward the “short and sweet” side. And more like poetry than prose.

Prompt #20: Describe a Memory

Key Lessons: January 2018

Constant reflection is an important practice. Here’s some of the reminders I collected in January:

1. There are inconveniences or even pains we have to endure in order to retrieve or access what’s eternally more important.
2. Never let go of your hope and vision for the future. It’s the only thing that can keep you going when the process becomes painful or confusing.
3. There is no breakthrough without the “breaking through.”
4. Always treasure moments of rest.
5. Don’t let the rain at the end of the day make you forget the sunshine that woke you up in the morning.
6. Things take time, relax. The seed doesn’t turn into a tree overnight.
7. In the same way, what you invest in now may take time to produce its returns. Have faith in your investments. Don’t begrudge it for taking its time to unfold naturally.
8. Tragic things often happen to cause us trudge away from even more danger.
9. The world is dynamic, but temporary.
10. Do not be consumed by the temporal.

Cover photo was taken during my flight to Thailand to attend the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2018. We were about to land when I took it. 🙂

Motion and Stillness

I remember the first time I realised why people take so long staring at photos displayed in museums. I can’t remember what I was looking at, but I can still recall the sensation of  emotions and thoughts mingling. There is something unique and fascinating about looking at the brush strokes and the colors blending together. The particular beauty of focusing on individual sections of the painting, then stepping away from the artwork to appreciate the majesty of the whole. Also, when I look at paintings, my right brain seems to enter a trance of manufacturing words and words and poetry.

There’s also that similar sensation that I get when I look at photos. Maybe it’s why I really got into tumblr in high school. Photos can really capture a thousand words. Just the other day as I was skimming through photos from the past months, I saw this one. I took it while I was in the car and we were passing by these fields, on the way to a resort.

The Heart of Prayer

Nowadays, people have become confused about what prayer is really about. Sometimes, people portray it to be a holy act reserved only for clergymen. Sometimes, we limit it to litanies and memorised religious poetry. Sometimes, we think it’s some kind of skill that only some people can do. Like a balancing act or a note only certain vocal chords can reach.

Pasasalamat

Pasasalamat, n. gratitude or indulgence

In the past few weeks, including the closing weeks of 2017, I had a lot of fleeting moments of immense gratitude.

Noticing something I bought months ago that’s propped up on the bookshelf, or remembering an experience that was once a prayer, or seeing faces of people I have come to love all over facebook. Each time — flashes of joy spreading through my body accompanied by humbling gratitude from the overwhelming realisation of the love from my ever-faithful God.

Here are some things that have made me feel that simple but powerful gratitude.

AliExpress for Filipino Buyers

I have several reviews of different shops and websites to do. I’m doing this one first since I just got my package yesterday–which was a real thrill! Happy mails at the start of the year are exciting! 😀

For those who don’t know what AliExpress is, it’s a retail platform owned by Alibaba. Much like Lazada or Shopee, there are different sellers who use this platform. Buyers come from all over the world. This post will be written for buyers here in the Philippines, so the process may be different from others.