Happy Thought: Friday at Home

It's been sort of a hell week, not the worst I had in my life, but it was a definitely a hell week nonetheless.

Deadlines, Deals and Stupidity were constantly present which are perfect ingredients for work stress. That's why on the last hour of Friday at work, I was grinning hard feeling my heart was about to burst.

I picked up my bag, went to the parking lot and at 9 pm went to Mc Donald's drive-through for my dinner. I was not in the mood for dining out. Not in the mood to drink. I was not in the mood to party or even go anywhere else. I just wanted to go home straight, play with my dogs, eat my take out and blog.

Sometimes Friday demands uncomplicated plans. Sometimes Friday is best spent at home.

Happy FRIDAY!

Happy Thought # 12

Happy Thought # 12: When dogs learn the trick

I was practicing with Bruce earlier on the lessons he learned yesterday. Unlike some people I know, dogs have far better retention skills than some humans. They listen and they follow. 

I was doing the Leave It - Take It exercise with him a while ago. I put a bacon in front of me and asked him to Leave it. He stopped, sat beside me and ignored the food, well at least he acted like he was ignoring the food. The important thing is he asked for my permission before he did anything to it. You'd think they won't listen, but they do and my heart just fluttered with pride and happiness.

Happy Thought #11

Happy Thought #11: Coffee Shops


Coffee shops are very special to me. They remind me of a phase I had to go through five years ago. And because of these cozy coffee shops, I was able to keep my sanity, got me focused and still allowed me to become productive while recovering.

There was a time that I stopped working for months to recuperate from physical and mental burnout. I didn't recognize burn out for what it was until slowly I felt really utterly miserable, tired, unproductive and negative. My life had become toxic. I didn't know what I wanted anymore and it was as if time was slipping away from me fast. I couldn't remember what my goals were and I received crap from almost every angles that I just recycled them to also produce crap. I knew I had to stop before it got worse that I'd go out of my mind with the fear of stabbing everyone I hate with a pencil.

So I resigned from work and decided to rest. I went to the province to stayed away from Manila. I enrolled myself in a class even to reignite my mind and give me the pleasure of learning something new again. I also stayed connected. I did what I wanted to do that I had no time of doing. To Blog.

That was when coffee shops came in. I would spend hours there writing and surfing. I relished the feeling. The mood was relaxed but at the same time I was producing something I wanted, that really mattered to me. Everyday I would take that trip and hogged the spot for 5 hours at least. I'd go home feeling energized and refreshed. It was a daily routine, going to the coffee shop, making it my office. Office without mental anguish and physical stress.

But I knew I had to get back on track. I went back to work, faced new challenges and moved to grow from one place to another. Thankfully, it would never be as bad as before. Somehow that dark experience taught me to find balance. As for the coffee shops, I don't go there for hours anymore. I would just go get my coffee, read occasionally but rarely I'd go there to blog and surf.

Yesterday it was a delight to get a glimpse of my previous routine once again. Since I had to wait for someone, I did the next best thing. With my laptop and kickass internet connection, it was a no-brainer to spend the remaining hours in a cozy coffee shop. I blogged and surfed for two hours max. I was able to clean my email, update my documents and blog.

Coffee shops would always be a happy thought for me. I would never look at it the same way ever again. I knew that for months I spent my time there, I was able to reconnect and be productive. They transitioned me from a bad place to a positive place and I'd forever be grateful. I'd be looking forward to an opportunity to spend time there again.

Happy thought # 9

Happy Thought # 9: Going Home

I was having second thoughts of considering this a happy thought. It really depends on the circumstances. In mine, it's always been a sucky feeling to leave Cebu or any sanctuary you call home for that matter. For so many times I've traveled back and forth, this feeling of going back to Manila never changes. It's like your happiness is slowly being sucked by an unknown black hole of responsibilities, stress, work and traffic. But I've to accept that Manila shapes my life, my career, my love, my family, my responsibilities and my pack. I think the thought of going back home to resume what I've left is a generally happy thought in itself. Cebu may be my heaven, but Manila is my life.

Sad to leave Cebu, I know I'm not getting the end of the bargain. With all the blessings that I've received and the hardships I may face, I still cling on to that grain of thought that I'm a very lucky girl. I get to enjoy both worlds at the palm of my hand. Staying too comfortable and too happy makes life boring. I will always love Cebu and for sure I will be back. It's only a weekend and a plane ride away. But for now, I'm just happy to be heading home.

One thing I try to do is to see the brighter side of things. Going home easily means reuniting with my pack, my books, my room, my siblings, my car and my love. And for that, I'm truly thankful and happy.

Happy Thoughts #6 - 8

It's been three busy days of happiness that made me forget about logging in and staying connected. Except for the scheduled phone calls I make, checking up on the dogs in Manila, talking to Mitch and occasional calls from my dad, my cellphone is pretty much non-existent while I'm in Cebu.

Three happy thoughts for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Happy Thought # 6: Landing 

I've been accustomed to flying ever since I was a baby. I don't know about the rest of you, but I've always anticipated the landing part wherever the destination. It's the excitement of anticipating when the wheels would actually touch the surface. I would always look at the window and brace myself for the wheels to make contact. Then the much awaited full breaks kick in. Imagine traveling at 200 miles/hour then you have to move heaven and earth to make it slow down at such at a calculated phase due to the short distance given to you. This is a cool mixture of technology and human efficiency. I sometimes judge the efficiency of the crew on providing graceful landings.

The softest landing I could remember was on my trip to Singapore on my way to Bali last 2004. We were riding Singapore Airlines. Aside from the gracious flight and superb meals, I could remember how muffled the landing was. It was as if we landed on foam and we had to second guess if we were actually on the ground.

The hardest, most exciting (nerve wracking) was on one of the Cebu Pacific Flights to Caticlan. I understand the crew had to make use of a short runway. But it was intense and the breaks had to be at a maximum that I had to place my hand on the seat in front of me to minimize impact. These things are fun. For others it may be nerve wracking.

For my Cebu Flight this weekend, landing was smooth, not the best out there but efficient enough. And our pilot was a female Guevarra. Cool.

Happy Thought # 7: Traveling Light

I hate...hate traveling with lots of bags to carry on. That's why I make it a point that I don't travel with my aunts and mom. They like to bring stuff that they don't check in. If I travel with them, it's automatically two additional arms to carry their stuff. Sometimes my arms get numb by carrying two to three bags of knick knacks and pasalubongs that weigh like a ton. I'd always wonder what they put in these things! Come to think of it, they've already checked in boxes! I hate carry ons because you'd get stressed putting them in and pulling them out from the compartments. That's why I vowed to myself to always travel light and avoid being on the same flight with the carry on ladies. 

I usually carry on a tote bag with me where I put my wallet and essential stuff. Sometimes, I also bring a backpack for things that could not fit in my check in bags. But I always keep my hands free because I would usually carry on a book or a cup of coffee. I want to be in and out of the airplane as fast and hassle-free as possible. I'm the type who'd rather pay for excess baggage then carry all the stuff with me. I'm also the type who would rather patiently wait in the bag carousel. I got this thing from my dad. My dad is a light packer. He hates to check in as well as he hates to carry stuff. He would just usually have a personal body bag and a small carry on bag for his clothes and nothing more. 

I love hanging on airports and traveling, but I hate having to carry too much. Checking in bags is the way to go for me. 

Happy thought # 8: Unpacking

Everyone who knows me well knows that I hate packing. I get ultimately stressed. I don't like putting stuff in a limited space. I hate to plan which clothes to bring. I dread this part in traveling. Sometimes I would pull out clothes three days or even a week in advance just to minimize the dreadful impact. I buy new toiletries, new underwear and I don't carry old ones. I know it's weird but I hate putting old clothes in a bag. It's like they don't belong there. 

The pressure in packing is you tend to forget things and I don't like forgetting things. Down from sunblock to my book. I realize that packing is an art and my hands are not made for art. I don't have the surgeon and artistic hands. I hate geometry either, I guess those are things you'd need to be good at in packing.

But if you like traveling, I understand you have to endure this part. During my long travels, I am independent enough to do it but my mom, dad and ate Ne couldn't help themselves but inspect and re-pack it for me. They have this logistical efficiency that I don't have. Minutes before I leave, they peek at my luggage and repack it with so much speed and efficiency. It's like they are ashamed to let me out and check in this luggage of chaos. I always deserve a scolding of course. I would end up sitting there like a kid receiving all the words of disappointment, but so as long they repack it, I'm good. 

Packing is stressful, while unpacking is a different story for me. I love to unpack. I like to put my luggage in my room, open it, take out my clothes, put it in the closet, get my toiletries out and put it in the bathroom. Settling down for me is emptying my luggage as much as possible. Unpacking is a way of reorganizing my life in this unfamiliar territory. I want everything to be in its proper place before I enjoy my vacation. I think that's just the way I work. 

Happy Thought #5

Happy Thought #5: Completing stickers for a Starbucks Planner
Nov. 3, 2012

Today is the start when Starbucks would give away stickers for you to complete so you could get the popular Starbucks planner. I think the yearly planner has garnered a huge following for a Starbucks crazed country. Every year they change designs. Previous years they had this huge leather bound planners, last year they went eco-friendly with wood cover designs, which I think was pretty cool, my favorite so far.

Last year, I got three planners before Christmas. As I've computed, every planner would cost me 2000 PHP ++ worth of coffee. My dad and boyfriend say I'm insane. And I know I'm the type who never uses a planner.

I'm always for the coffee anyways, which has always been a part of my day, but now that every drink order comes with a sticker that would eventually get me a planner, hell I'm not complaining. Even though I don't like planners because it's really not effective for me, I just like the thought of completing and redeeming one. There's a sense of success and accomplishment when you hand over the completed batch of stickers. And it's always fun to start again. I'm happy to get something extra from my coffee consumption and I would always be happy to give it away.

Happy Thoughts #4

Happy Thoughts #4: FRIDAY
Nov. 2

Don't you just love Fridays? I don't think I would have to explain. It's the end of the work week for most as weekend is within reach. No point in getting too competitive and stressed today. It's time to relax and get excited. 

Happy Thoughts #3

I still have a few minutes before November 1 ends and get my happy thoughts for today published.
As some may have noticed, I'm strict in plucking out happy thoughts for the day.

Halloween costumes.

I saw pictures in Facebook of friends dressed up as someone else together with their kids and family. They dressed up for a village trick or treat, office affair or simply they just want to have fun.

Dressing up, especially for Halloween is a cool and fun experience. It's the only legitimate time of the year to dress up silly without people thinking you're a lunatic. It's even highly applaudable if they see you go in full detailed production.

The thought of a fun halloween Trick or Treating with complete all out costume and good vibes make up a very happy thought. I hope for next year, I could organize some Halloween shindig. Listing it down for 2013.

Happy Thoughts Post #2

Happy Thoughts Post #2: The Month End.
Oct. 31, 2012.


It's already October 31st, the last hold of the Beer-fest Month. One more day and we'll see the light of November. For most of the processes and projects I've been to, month end days are the worst. This is when reports are consolidated, accounting books are closed and the overtime cycle continues. At work, no one even really likes the month-end.

But I'm liking it for a different reason this time. No matter the circumstances, I've always been grateful when I end a month. It's a reminder that there's another slate to start again and if the previous month was so bad, it's the perfect time to just shove it to the past.

Ending the month is always a pleasure because of the excitement that the new month brings. The end is a strong reminder that there's a new beginning.

Happy thoughts post #1

Every day I thought I would try to post one happy, inexpensive, natural and comforting realization, feeling or occurrence that remind me that life is essentially good. It doesn't have to be grand, well at least not for me, but it's something at-the-moment and really amazing in my perspective. It could be like a stormy night with a cup of coffee and a good book. The feeling of enduring one more day before vacation as if you're about to burst with excitement. It may be getting an official notice that you have a clean bill of health. Simple things that life brings that we tend to ignore in this fast paced, materialistic world. I intended to do this at the start of the year, but what's the point of delaying but to lose the extra drama?

As much as possible, I won't try to lose that sense of gratitude and wonder for something so natural and simple because taking pleasures in the simplest things that life gives us is a constant and strong remedy to jadedness and hopelessness. I'd like to always think that I'm extremely lucky and that everything that I want in life is here or within my grasp. These thoughts, as they say, make life beautiful.


HAPPY THOUGHTS POST #1: Sunny Mornings 
Oct. 30, 2012 (Tuesday)


It's a brilliant sunny morning  today though I'm not really a fan of the heat and sun, I really don't mind. Generally I like the gloomy, stormy weather, but once in a while I take pleasure in acknowledging that the morning sun brings colors  to life with a mood of endless possibilities.

Morning sun rays are also supposed to be healthy. I remember my parents would try to bring us to CCP for a morning bike workout when we were kids. I was generally pale and hated the sun even then and they would share that I should at least try to sunbathe in the mornings, before 10 AM, as the sun rays are supposed to be giving us essential vitamins at this time. This is called in Manila as "pinapaarawan." They do that in newborn babies actually. They would bring the babies out for a morning walk and have them enjoy the early rays of the sun.

Healthy morning sun with a good cup of coffee, bacon and eggs and a good internet connection reminds me that life is good.