Read 2010/1: The Game of Life and How to Play It

by Florence Scovel Shinn

What a perfect book to start a new year~ Recommended by AD, my partner-in-crime in Project Abundance.

What I love about this book is that life doesn't have to be hard. It is hard when you say (or think) that it's hard. When you worry about something, you only attract that something to you. It says in here that we have to believe in God, the Infinite Intelligence, and trust in Him and what He has planned for us.

I do believe in God and that everything that happens, happens for a reason. But what I kinda had difficulty taking in from this book is the seemingly absence of the concept of free will. We have this grand plan of things working for us and supposedly, if we resist it, things could get all wrong and we'll end up sad, poor, etc. etc. I don't know. It's just hard to really take it all in, sans questions. Where there is an effect there is always a cause; there is no such thing as chance. So, parang everything is predetermined? This is much harder to believe than "There are no accidents (Gojocco, ca. 2000)." Siguro dito galing ang destiny shizz?

But I do believe in positive thinking and the power of affirmations. I mean, it's free! All I have to do is repeat said affirmations every day. What have I got to lose? Nothing. If it doesn't work, okay. But what if it did? Bongga, diba? And it's not some kind of cult here, it just asks us to trust in God and put away all our worries.

The Law of Karma~ this is also one of the guidelines I live by. Karma is Sanskrit for "Comeback." What goes around, comes around, right? What you sow, you reap. Don't do to others what you don't want others to do unto you. At least I try to live by this rule and I try to tell others to live by this rule, too (esp. my girls at the spa). It's just that I feel I can't be around these people all the time and all I can do is trust that they wouldn't do anything wrong/bad. If they did? Well, karma's a bitch, baby.

I tell you, this is a great book to start the new year with because it helps you try to banish all forms of negativity and just focus on the good. Bawal ang kontra-bulate!

Repeat after me:
"LOOK WITH WONDER AT THAT WHICH IS BEFORE YOU."

Panawagan

Saw this on my tumblr and just thought of posting it here, baka makita niyo lang siya. Pero iba talaga nakakuha ng atensyon ko, haha. Ewan ko kung mage-gets niyo.

John Lloyd ♥

Oh why oh why do I have a feeling na merong makakarelate dito nang bonggang-bongga?

Eeep. John Lloyd! ♥ ♥ ♥ I really don't like Bea but she seems to be in most of John Lloyd's projects. Bea must be my Sisyphus. Anyhoo, guess I'll be doing a countdown again...

20 days na lang ;)

PS. Out of all the Tabing Ilog boys, John Lloyd's the most successful to date. And to think he wasn't even that famous then. Maybe it pays to have good speaking voice na hindi boses palaka. LOL

Inferno

Warning: This is going to be very incoherent. I may not even make sense. I won't even try to make sense.

Hay ang hirap namang maging in a limbo. It's like I know I could do so much more but then again I think I am happy with my life as of the moment but there are still some things missing in my life but come to think of it, I'm so much luckier than most people but then again there are still so much to do and so much to see. Kung hindi mo maintindihan, pareho tayo.

According to a Stacie Orrico song, there's gotta be more to life than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me. Well, that's how I feel. I'm finding it hard to find the perfect balance between contentment and "living life to the fullest." Ah basta, feeling ko ewan. Ewan talaga! I think I must do my vision board na para at least I will be reminded of what I still want to achieve, madali kasing makalimot pag walang visible reminder. Out of sight, out of mind nga naman. Eh bakit... Nevermind. Argh.

S03 E06: Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler

It just keeps getting better and better, just how I like it. But really, don't the CIA know any better than to keep making the Buy More as their rendezvous every frickin' time? Especially with today's technology, like GPS and similar shizz, it could be easier for the enemies to detect that there's something going on in there. But, not my problem.

Although I must say I was a little disappointed that there wasn't much about Chuck+Hannah. I was expecting more of this and how their "relationship" would flourish and make Sarah jealous, but I guess that would have to wait. Patience is a virtue. I think Sarah still hasn't predicted the threat that is Hannah. Casey referred to her as the newest Buy More-on. Funny! I just love this show.
I really really like Hannah but I don't know if I like her for Chuck or just because she could be instrumental to Sarah finally admitting, without retracting, her true feelings towards Chuck. Even if Sarah doesn't admit it, her eyes give her away. I think she has fallen for Chuck and because carnal rule of being a spy is "Spies do not fall in love," she's putting up this front expected of her in her line of work. But this is where Hannah comes in handy, to evoke those feelings.

The other nerd herds are circling Hannah like vultures circling their prey, even Morgan has got his eye on this one.
Jeff and Lester are creepy creatures, I swear. But Morgan stumps them in the creepiness department since he uses stalked information, like when he has Swan Lake playing in the background because he found out it's Hannah's favorite. But what's funny is that he completely forgets about Hannah when he founds out that his best friend may be keeping secrets from him.

This week's mish (Chuck's term for mission) is for Chuck to develop this IT geek Manoosh as his asset. Manoosh has constructed an intersect, with the aid of The Ring. This episode is somehow very reminiscent of Chuck's very first episode. Aside from the reasons why the government is after them, they kinda have the same profile. They even look alike, which I think is sadya. But Chuck is cuter ;)

But according to my sister, Manoosh could be Chuck's brother, especially given the fact that he was able to make an intersect. Hmm... Nah. I don't think so. Gut feel. Though I am still conflicted with Hannah. I'm thinking she's not because she just seems so innocent and fragile, but then again Kristin Kreuk has her Street Fighter background meaning she could do kung fu or something like it...

What breaks my heart is Chuck is beginning to learn the ropes of spy-dom. First, he rejected Sarah's elopement proposal. Then, he lied to Ellie, straight-faced. He betrayed someone's friendship. He even threw a blade at someone, not a gun but hey, it's a start. I don't know if I like this new Chuck and Sarah agrees with me. I like the old, geeky Chuck.
It's eating Chuck and I'm glad to know that he still isn't comfortable with all of these spy stuff. It doesn't come easily to him and I hope that in the end, he will not become a full-fledged spy. Speaking of the end, I have a feeling that this season could be Chuck's last. With Morgan and Ellie set to find out what's Chuck up to, sooner or later, he's going to be found out. Being a fan, of course I don't want Chuck to end but all good things must come to an end, right? And it's better that they end it while they still have a nice storyline going on. Plus, I want to know how the story will conclude. Wow, has it been really three years already? Really, time flies fast. Super fast. Next episode, please :)

what diet?

Sometimes I wish I were anorexic or bulimic. I'm not and I'm in love with food so much that the pounds just keep on coming!

Bah.

In God's Time

Maybe there really comes a point in one's life when you start worrying about your future in the romance department BIG TIME... Being in my late 20s and haven't been in any relationship - whether short or long, serious or fling-fling lang, MU or whatever you may call it- none of those, so I won't really know what I'm missing out on. I don't know why so many people are fussing so much about this subject like crazy, like their life depended on it. Of course, I do want to be in a relationship too, get married, have a family~ the works!~ but of course, these will all come in God's time, I believe.

My kinakapatid came over last Wednesday to have her brows groomed. But of course, aside from that, chika time also included. We walked about lots of stuff but mainly about love lives. Both unattached and SSB (single since birth), we mostly have the same concerns and other chuva. Ang kinaibahan lang namin, she's actively looking whereas I am still hoping that the one for me, the one by Divine Right, will fall from the sky and ring our bell. She is currently sad and frustrated, most especially with her love life or lack thereof. That's when I start dishing my Happiness is a decision mantra and how our happiness depends solely on ourselves and once you let it depend on external factors, then you'll never truly be happy. I am not preaching to her or anything, I am just sharing what I'm practicing and thought that maybe that could help her overcome sadness. She's sad that until now, she remains single. Scrap what I said about the one falling from the sky, that's just some wishful thinking, who doesn't want to make things easier for them , right? Although I believe that one must network and go mingle, I think that it will all happen in God's time, because God knows what's best for us, right? She said she's getting tired of this "In God's time" reply, that what if you want to be happy RIGHT NOW, doesn't God want her to be happy right now? So I told her that happiness is something that should not be dependent on external factors and if ever she feels sad, she should not dwell on those stuff that makes her sad. But she said that for her, when one feels sad, you should feel it. Well yes, but after for a moment, you must know when to stop feeling it and move on. Like what I tell my cousins, my sisters and friends, I want to get married, have kids and all other things that would entail a family life. That's is what I want in the near future, I specifically indicated in the near future because time is of the essence. And all I want to be when I grow up (or older) is be a shopping housewife and mother. BUT in the event that it won't happen, I vow to not mope and curse the world. Although there's nothing else in the world I want to be than that, I wouldn't let it define me. It may be what I really, really, really want but then again if it's not for me, maybe God has other plans.

I feel she really doesn't want to get out of her misery just yet. Actually, I don't know if it's really just about the lack of a love life or maybe it has something to do with her father's death a year ago. So I really can't say we are on the same turf because in addition to not being in a relationship, she's also dealing with her father's loss. I've told her everything I know which I think could help her with what she's going through because I've gone through a somewhat similar period in my life and that's my way of helping. Everyone has his own way of coping. Maybe she just has to feel it like what she said and maybe when she's had enough, she'll just snap out of it. I just pray that she'll be fine soon.

I still maintain that if it's yours, it will be yours in God's time. I won't doubt. I'll just believe. I'm perfectly happy right now. My happiness doesn't depend on anything and anyone. Siguro sa hormones ko pa.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.