READY FOR 2014

Inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project book, my friend Donch’s birthday gift to me, which I only got to read during the Christmas holiday, I am blogging about my goals and resolutions for 2014. I actually did the same thing last year but after noting that only a few of my 13 resolutions for 2013 materialized, I need to do this differently this time.

Following Gretchen’s example, I will assign a goal/resolution to a certain month. And after reading the book, I realized why I wasn't very successful with my goals and resolutions. The most obvious reason is I wrote it down in January 2013 and forgot about it. I didn't go thru the list again to remind myself what I'm supposed to work on. I also didn't keep track of my  progress or results.Then the year just flew by.

Writing it down is good but I should also be checking my progress regularly to attain better results. Also, by assigning just a few goals on a certain timeline, I get to focus on it and it becomes manageable. Like cutting it into bite sizes.And I have to confess, some of my previous year's plans were too ambitious, not logistically and financially possible. Though at the same time, I also do believe in just putting it out there in the universe and letting the heaven and the stars conspire to make it happen. 

So, for January,  I've decided that this will be about promoting good health, vitality and good disposition. Thus, I will do the ff:

1. See my doctor for my annual breast check-up/ultrasound and for another reason which I won’t write down here anymore. I need to see a heart doctor too. It’s been 10 years since I was diagnosed with MVP or Mitral Valve Prolapse and lately, I experienced more frequent palpitations and heart burn.

2. Exercise. The mere mention zaps my energy. I just do some stretches and breathing exercises in the morning when I remember it. I used to like jogging. But the last time I did was months ago. I even ran marathons before. I really have to find time to do some exercises religiously or at least 4x a week.

3. Maintain my current diet, which consists of at least 8 glasses of water, daily intake of fruits and veggies in generous amount and few slices of meat. I also make sure I don’t leave the house without having eaten a banana, sandwich or cereals, at least.

4. Re-introduce vitamins into my system particularly- C, E, B complex, iron. I also want to try a supplement for the eyes.

5. Get 8 hours of sleep. To do this, I have to sleep at 10 pm and wake up at 6 am. I don’t know if I can actually do this. While writing this, I have doubts if I can get things done with too much sleep. I normally sleep between 11:30 pm to 1 am and wake up between 6 and 7 am. And still, I never got to write as many stories or complete a novel as I wanted. Anyway, let’s give it a try.

6. Smiling as a way of life. As part of my resolution to being loving and kind, I figured this action will improve my mood for the day and help me to be more loving and kind. Back in November, I resolved to smile and greet people I meet in my building esp. when I ride the elevator with them but I frequently forgot to do so. Sometimes, embarrassment got the better of me. I hope I do better this year.

      For each month, I’d like to do something I haven’t done in my whole life. My bucket list for 2014:

1. Play the violin in front of an audience.

2. Visit Batanes or any place I haven't been to in the country.

3. Publish my first book. 

4. Give my one month salary to charity. (Am not sure if I can do this. Haha!)

5. Attend a wedding by myself. (This could be for my January. My good friends Mike and Angel are getting married.)

6. Go paintballing.

7. Go to Paris or any city I haven't been to outside the country.

8. Join a painting exhibit. (How? Help!) 

9. Visit Malacanang. (Why haven't I been there before?)

10. Ride a boat on Taal Lake. 

11. Ride a horse. 

12. Go skating.

13. Do a Visita Iglesia.

14. Attend Pahiyas Festival in Lucban or any festival in the country.

I'm excited and I already have people in mind to do these things with. Anybody interested? Let me know. Let's do it together. ;p

20 THINGS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR FOR 2013

2013 is almost over and I can’t wait for 2014 to begin. But before I start planning for my resolutions and goals for the New Year, let me just recap and see how good the current year is for me.

the things that went well for me in 2013:

1.  I got to bring my family (minus my brother; plus my soon-to-be-brother-in-law) to that beautiful place on top of the mountain called Monasterio de Tarlac, where a relic of the Cross of Jesus is kept and His magnificent statue stands.

2. I finally enrolled in a French class in UP Diliman and learned how to say, Je m’appelle Sachi. I also passed the evaluation test and I can attend French 2 already.

3. I continued to attend our bible study every Wednesdays. Our 3^rd and last module will end in January. But come February, there’s another weekly spiritual event that I signed up for.

(My primary goal in this endeavor was for me to get to know God more and to have a more intimate relationship with Him. I also hoped I'd be more loving and kind but this part has not been easy. But, I also learned to be more forgiving and patient with myself so I am taking things slow and giving myself time to learn and progress. I am glad I have my friend, Michi, who is also a colleague who is constantly observing me and my actions towards other people and she calls my attention when I am being mean to her and others.)

4. In my quest to have a balanced life, I needed to have a healthy soul so apart from the weekly bible sessions, I also joined a whole day retreat at the peaceful greenery of Sacred Heart Novitiate, where I felt God’s immense love for me, strange as it is, through the rustling leaves, swaying branches as the wind moved by. I hope that I shall not forget that day.

5.  If anything, I managed to start my day with a prayer, scripture reading and spiritual journal. Thanks to Joy’s gift last Christmas- Companion, as my guide. Maybe I have missed a few days. But those are very few, like only 10 out of 365 days.

6. I was part of a political campaign during the national elections. I like that sort of thing. Unfortunately, I was part of the boring team preparing briefers. I only got to join campaign rallies thrice and part of the backstaff for 1 tv and 2 radio interviews. Back in my province, I organized a small sortie of sorts to give away flyers for a day, which included my nephews aged 4 and 7. They were so thrilled!

7. So glad my boss won a seat in public office and that he kept me as one of his staff. I wish I got to explain this clearly to our chief of staff. He took it to mean I was happy to be part of that public office.  There’s a difference. 

8. I made new friends during the campaign and with some new people in the office. I am thankful for them. I have a lot to learn from them about humility, being pleasant and good-natured.

9. My parents and I visited Bangkok and we had a good time eating tom yum and pad thai.  

 10.  I swam with whalesharks!!! Also called butanding. (This will go in my book as one of the highlights of my life along with surfing in Bali back in 2012.)

11. On financial matters, I managed to attend 1 financial seminar. I got my money back from someone who swindled me. Little by little, I was able to grow my investment in the stock market thru Citiseconline and mutual funds. By November, I got approved for a lower interest on my real estate property, thus lower monthly payment so I have more to put into my monthly investment scheme.

12. I didn’t die! I could have drowned while swimming as the current surreptitiously brought me to the deep end when my friends and I went on an expedition to Sumilon in Cebu but by God’s mercy, I didn’t. My friends, Rhei and Jinj and a well-meaning hotel guest, Joseph managed to keep me calm and most importantly, afloat while waiting for year for the lifeguard to rescue me/us from the sea.

13.  I celebrated my 40^th birthday for a cause at a home for women in crisis with dear friends. Special thanks to my good old friend Monique and her husband Arnold for the help.

14. I felt like an angel when I was able to give our parish priest and 2 parishioners tickets to Kerygma Conference in November. I know fully well how much Fr. Ralphie wants to hear Bo Sanchez livethe moment I had those spare tickets, I asked my mom to invite him.

15. I was gifted with 4 books this year, 2 of which are – Bo Sanchez’s Abundance Formula from a newfound friend Tita Pat, and Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project from my good old friend Donch.

16. I am more positive in my outlook in life than in the previous years. I think I am more forgiving, lighthearted, easygoing and happier now.

17. I am glad that an opportunity to help the fashion industry opened up for me and while having coffee with old friends, some ideas were floated for us to start some business on the side. I hope something good comes out of it. That’s all I’m going to say for now. Will write about it when something has materialized.

18. I love getting a massage and this year, my friends and I made 3 new spa discoveries: Nuat Thai along Sct. Limbaga and Ahavia Lounge Spa along Sct. Torillo; and Blue Water Day Spa at Capitol Hills (for special occasions only. Unlike the first 2, Blue Water is a bit expensive for me.) Instantly, they became our favorites. I love Blue Water's mini-theater room where you get to watch a movie while getting a massage, complete with popcorn and iced tea. 

19. I was so lucky to be at Megamall this month when Fr. Joey Faller held a healing mass at the chapel on its 5th floor. Talk about being at the right place at the right time! I also got to go to a confession in time for Christmas and got the opportunity to receive the gift of glitters from Mama Mary. But unlike my seatmate, a kind elderly woman who showed me the glitter on her palm, I didn't get any (Fr. Joey said, we can all pray and ask for it anytime.) but just the same, I was just happy to be there feeling God's presence in my quivering heart (the good kind).

20. Our family’s answered prayer for my brother and his wife - a little darling angel of a daughter - our greatest blessing!

      With all these, I couldn't thank God more. Here's looking forward for more of His best for me and my family this coming 2014!
     
      How about you? What are you most grateful for for 2013? Tell me about it. Happy New Year everyone!