Luneta Park: Dad’s unexpected visit

My Dad.

We were riding the Jeepney to visit his good friend in the nearby hospital when he said: “The last time I was here was when you were a baby.”

My Dad, is one of the most kindest and most patient man you’ll ever meet. He worked hard to feed a family of five kids and give all he can to help my Mom and her family. The most generous man I’ve ever met. I learned from him the value of loyalty for the company you work for, to be a good friend to those whom you cherish the most. He said that we need to learn to be more kind and be more compassionate of others.

He worked as a supervisor in a food corporation for 39 years. I am his very proud daughter. And did I mention that he is the extreme opposite of my Mom.

He always tell me to forget the men who broke my heart. Forget them right away. They do not deserve the attention I give them. Yes, I am open to my Mom and my Dad about my relationships. I am lucky to have parents who does not judge me by my decisions and accepts all my flaws and imperfections. I’m so grateful to have them in my life.

Going back to my Dad’s Saturday adventure, after visiting his good friend. We ride a jeep going back to the park. I told Dad that we need to drop off, he looked around and got a little bit excited, so I let him walk today in Luneta Park. If you can only see how his face lights up! God, how I wish I can take him to all the places he would like to go.

While we were walking he said: “They made it bigger and much better than it was before.” then he continued walking along the path smiling.

It would be a wonderful plan to take Dad to other good places too. Places that need him to walk longer and restrooms should be nearer. And the air is fresher. I might need to save more for the family. But for today, I think I did a great job. From a sleepless Friday night for me to a more rewarding Saturday walk in the park with my Dad.

Christmas is just around the corner

Only a week before December starts and a lot of people are into the Holiday Cheer. I hope next year will give us more reason to smile, meet new friends and cherish good memories with old friends and families.

Here in the Philippines, if you’re a catholic we celebrate the Lenten season by going to church either early morning or late at night. In my hometown, we have a festival and we have a band waking people as early as 5 am to let everyone know it’s time to go to church. That’s what we call Misa de Gallo My kids can do that, unfortunately for me I need to work night shift so I’m not able to. But It’s best to encourage teens to experience and participate in the community. By doing so, teens learn to appreciate what they have in their neighborhood. By participating in these activities, it creates good memories too.

Apart from the celebrations within the community my neighbors are organizing a small party for all of us, exchanging gifts for the kids and for the adults, then food sharing.

Inside the house, my kids and I are planning to just keep the celebration simple and we might skip the decorations for this year. It depends really on how you plan it with the kids.

It does not really matter how simple or extravagant we celebrate our holiday season, what matters most is that we are grateful for another year that has passed and we are still together as a family, as a couple (if you’re in a relationship). And that the real message of Christmas is in our thoughts and hearts.

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 niv

 

 

Quote for the day

I love you, I would like to be near you, I’d like to have your arms around me, I’d like to hear your voice in my ear, but that’s not possible now so, I love you…  love liberates, it does not bind – Maya Angelou

How are you thinking today?

How are you thinking today?

Noticed that I never asked “what”, it’s different isn’t it?

How are you thinking, is it positive or negative?

Is it about being in love or being heartbroken?

Being grateful or not having enough? 

You have to watch what you’re thinking about, I need to tell you – negative thinking backfires at you.

Not to the person who hurt you or the events that had happened.

Are you aware of your reactions to circumstances that happen to you?

We all should be.

Do not convince yourself of the failures you had, it’s in the past.

People make mistakes and that’s okay we need to learn the lesson.

Think that everything happens and that’s the result, I learned my lesson so now I’m letting go.

Let’s focus on the positive and never let the negative thoughts live inside your mind.

Don’t damage and hurt yourself.

Break that habit of thinking negatively. Fight it off of your system.

Do not and I say do not ‘replay’ negative thoughts in your mind,

Our minds are so powerful, what we think about becomes our reality in no time.

And you don’t want that same negative thing happening to you again and again.

you have to stop that before it damages your mind.

I lost my mom in 2013 and it had a bad effect on me for many months.

And because I was thinking so negatively and I complain a lot, I lost a lot – my job, relationships…

And I realized it too late or so I think.

I began to remove my focus on what had happened and I studied a new skill, I studied food service and I became a barista. Something totally different but emotionally rewarding. And since that’s the first opportunity that happened to me, I acted on it.

And it helped me changed my mindset, I became I better person than I was before.

So we need to be open to change and there should be a willingness for growth and change.

I said to myself:

Don’t say you’re fine, you’re not!

You don’t have a job…

you lost your spouse, bad relationships at work and personal. How can you be fine?

Act on it, do it… don’t sulk on your feelings… live.. go out… live to do it.

find a job, meet someone new… learn a new skill, meet new friends, try to apologize to old friends if things are okay then you’re lucky if not… move on.

just don’t get stuck just thinking about it… act on it!

Do it now…

but it’s not really easy 

and It’s not okay BUT

there’s a huge change in yourself if you just act on it

there’s a big difference in your behavior and reactions if you work on it…

and there’s that positive, cool change you’ve been longing for if you just do something about it

Just go out and try… try to be positive… you’re an amazing person lot’s of potential

If you want to have good results then you need to act on it… And believe that it will happen and you’ll going to get what you want because you’re not just fine not having it…you DESERVE it!

Today I’m thankful for…

… the good food we eat, The clean water that we drink…

… the good internet connection…

… the supply of electricity and water for our daily needs…

… the warm coffee…

…  a very charming friend…

… my teens going home safely today…

… the cool afternoon breeze…

… seeing smiles everywhere I go…

… hearing children singing while playing along the streets…

… that Justin Bieber music… so catchy hehe

Today I’m thankful for…

… seeing a lot of people in the cemetery remembering their loved ones.

… meeting new friends and seeing how wonderful beings they are.

…. the food that we eat and the clean water we drink.

… letting our kid neighbor win in the Halloween contest

… my beautiful children and for the time we spent with each other

… all the love I see as I pass by our busy street – people holding hands, kissing, giving hugs, warm smiles

… this fine, very relaxing Sunday

… another day to listen to good music and watch cartoons with the kids

… another day to write another wonderful article

… waking up after a good sleep

Forgiveness

” Forgiveness means ceasing those feelings of resentment and revenge towards someone who did you wrong.”

If someone had offended you today, I hope that you’ll be able to forgive. To give your heart and mind that peace you deserve.

Some people use the word Bitterness without truly being objective about a situation. And being offended in any form – verbally or physically is as hurtful as the other or even worst.  When we forgive we know that there is an acceptance that we are all human and everyone make mistakes. We forgive, but it does not mean you can let other people offend you over and over.

I admire you for your strength of forgiving others, even though you know these people are not deserving. If we forgive others we too, deserve to be forgiven for our mistakes. And in forgiving we find peace. But if you still have that feeling of resentment inside you, I hope in time you will be able to forgive and let go. I wish your heart heals soon so that you can truly enjoy the wonderful life you have and the all the good things you deserve.

If you hurt someone today, I hope you’ve learned your lesson and have the strength to ask for forgiveness. Don’t force someone to forgive you, give people space and the time to heal. And be kind enough not to hurt someone else again.

That’s how wonderful our life is, every day we are given the chance to forgive and be forgiven.