Slim's Exhibit Entry: Maria Clara, abanico approach

I have no idea if I have made it to the exhibit.  I want to be there so much.  I have done the best I could and I have learned from it.  Whatever the outcome is, I shall be grateful.  I finished it.  The "She looks pregnant and it's a simple complicated dress" was resolved in a span of two weeks.  It was an experience.  I have done my part and if God wills it, I shall be included.  That becomes a bonus. :)

The Maria Clara short dress. Hand woven yoke.

Maria

Thank you for the lessons 2012!

"Matutong bumangon sa pagkabigo."

It's nice how a children tv show could tell me so much - straight to the point.

I remembered watching Wansapanatym when I was a kid and it's nice to know that ABS-CBN has managed to keep the show running.

The episode I watched last Saturday was about a lady who got stuck in the past and was blaming the past for everything she was not in the present.

To cut it short, it is simply saying that there are things in life that must happen in the past (even bad) because it is directly relative to the future; and we should not interfere.  Because you know why? It always has a better reason behind it.  As for the present, we should embrace it and learn to be happy and grateful... always.

It is hard, I should know; but I think that's the only path to go - to be happy and master to be happy no matter what.  Many people will hurt us, leave us, sabotage us, break our trust or our hearts, make us cry, make us feel unworthy, etc. but we must learn to get up and fight these negative vibes in our lives.

What's worse than being sad is being sad while being in a sad situation. We should fight for our joy. Because if we don't, nobody will.

This is going to be my last post for 2012.  I'm making peace with my past (Thank you for the lessons 2012!) and I'm heading towards a beautiful 2013.

To impress or to influence?

I read something tonight that I had almost forgotten. It was from my journal from The Purpose Driven Life. It said, "At some point in your life, you must decide whether to impress people or influence people (Chapter 35)."

I think, between the two, the difference lies on "why" you do something? Do you do it to be applauded?  Or, do you do it to help other people -with our without applause?

Which do you like better?
  

No Smoking Please

Not only it was my birthday last Dec. 8; it was also my first year of freedom from a former bad vice, smoking. I thank God for making it possible. More so, for Frannie who had been God's instrument to motivate me and support me in my quitting. 

If I can do it, any smokers can do it, too.

You just have to make a decision that you'll do it. Then, commit. Literally, make a decision and commitment that you want a healthier and better lifestyle. YOU HAVE TO WANT IT.

Think of it as a challenge. And, just think of it this way, "smoking is a form of self-destruction."

Do it for yourself, your family, people around you who hate it, and for the people who will enter your life.  Ask for God's help and He'll definitely help you.

By quitting smoking, I gained nothing but healthy confidence that "Yes, I can do it. And when I could be successful in this "thing", I can be successful in anything." True enough, it will just give you a boost of right amount of confidence that anything is possible if you just make a decision and a commitment to do it.

This is the formula that worked for me: decide - read - prepare - set the date - commit

1. Decide that you'll quit smoking.
2. Read first the symptoms and what to expect from quitting.
3. Prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically! 
4. Set the date. I really chose Dec. 8, 2011 (last year) and never looked back since.

NOTE: E-cigarettes never worked for me so did the "unti unti/ dahan dahan".  It only made me crave more. It took me years to realize that if you really want to quit, you just have to do it COMPLETELY, Cold Turkey.

5. Commit. Just commit.

Believe me it is doable. :)

Habits

I read before that it takes 21 days to form or break a habit and I have not forgotten that ever since. 

In 2011, I gave it a shot. I started being so general about it until it became more specific later on. 

From I would change my life to I would change my lifestyle to I would change my routines to I would change my habits; until, I asked, What specific habit did I want to change?

My illustrated list

...

...

...

To learn to say NO - one habit at a time.

No to bad sleeping habits (It was a struggle because I was a nocturnal.)

No to cigarettes (I admit, it was the hardest.)

No to cursing/swearing (...or at least lessen it.)

No to drinking too much (It was easy.)

No to negative self-talk (Hard yet doable. I'll get there.)

No to instant and too much coffee (I'm sleepy all the time but it's fine.)

No to stress (It just means I must learn how to handle it with ease and grace.)
No to resigning (OSRP is my 5th, that explains it.)

How about you, what habit would you like to form or break? Why not try the 21 days and see what happens? It just might work for you, too. Who knows? :)