Joy

Happy Monday! Pondering on this... “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”  -  Kahlil Gibran Aren't we at our best when things are at its worst? Don't the most pressing times reveal our character, or the lack of it? Are we not proudest of trials overcome more than the milestones achieved? Mas masarap ikwento. That's how I always look at a TEMPORARILY difficult situation. How would I want this story to end? We are inspired by successful people but to most that I have had the privilege to talk to, they can only share the journey, the hurdles, the pains and those moments that made them all surpass them. There is hallowness in just the victory as compared to the richness of the experience of struggle. Whatever you are going through right now, ask. How would this momentary challenge look like in the story of my life? The journey continues... # joyinmetoday # economyofinspi

Happy Monday! It's a day after Father's day and I could still not think of a more appropriate topic for my post today than to tell you about my TATAY. You see, much of who we (my siblings and I) are is because of him. He is strict, old school, not emotional in the most part of our growing up (but is now super emo) and was a force to reckon with at home. Nonetheless, he was never distant, he was not cold, he was always involved and his teachings were so ingrained in our dai ly lives. He is a contrast of many things and that is also how he taught us most of what we learned from him. Of all the things he is, there is one thing I learned from him that stands out: that is to where we should base our CONTENTMENT. Instead of teaching us to aim high, he taught us to be good at what we do and feel good about ourselves when we produce the best quality with our work. Instead of encouraging us to live big, he encourage us to be happy with what we already have and to

Happy Monday! Nagutom ka ba?  :)' The key to happiness is choice. Whenever we are forced to do something with the consequences we are faced with, when there is no way out, when there is no alternative, that is when it becomes difficult to be happy about it. What money buys is a choice to spend or not to spend. What knowledge gives is the flexibility to solicit knowledge or to give them. What health gives us is the choice to be vigorous or to be chill. What privacy gives us is the choice to put information out there or keep it to ourselves. Why the picture? Masarap ang tuyo pag pinipili mo sya kainin, hindi pag sya lang afford mo kainin.

Happy Monday! Yesterday, I was reminded of a lesson. While having breakfast at my friend's resort in Batangas, one of her staff came with some duhat (Java plum) and thinking that he bought if from a store, I asked him how much I should pay him. Sheepishly he replied "Libre po ito eh. Di naman po laging pera ang pinaiiral." (Translation: This is for free. It is not always about money.") Initially taken aback by his response, I apologized and thanked him for the fruits (wh ich turned out to be from his own backyard). Little did I know that my friend also offered to pay him for the coconuts he brought us the night before and he is just so over our trying to pay him for his kindness. That felt familiar. I used to understand this. Back when I was in Antipolo, it also felt this way. Your fruit tree is enjoyed by your friends. You entrust your whole house to a neighbor when you are on holiday. You entrust your kids even. You can reach out and ask for any