Daily thoughts - New Year, New Life

Every new year I believe almost everyone I know tries to come up with a resolution. Its a fun way of ushering in the fresh year, full of possibilities and exciting things to come. I for one have been doing that every year. Of course at the conclusion of each 365 days, I contemplate whether I was able to bring myself to commit to those resolutions. Sometimes yes, sometimes no, there are times also its half half, meaning i am able to do it then some unforeseen event stalls me from seeing that resolution through. Nevertheless, i always think that a new year is also a clean slate. Just like the New Diary/Journal I always get. I have been jotting down my thoughts for 20 years now (or more I think if I remember it correctly). Its fun to look back and read some of the crazy thoughts Ive had growing up. Also when i I see a pattern of fail moments I shake my head and wonder why I manage to not see the looming disaster when it has happened before. And i just want to kick myself and ask why did  that.. AGAIN???

It makes me smile though. Life is just so sweet despite mistakes Ive made in the past. besides, i wont be where I am, happy and just overwhelmed with all the blessings Im getting, hadnt I gone through all those stupidities. Lolz. I just feel that everytime another year rolls by, I can reinvent myself again and start over.

. so yeah, i think its cool to make resolutions, no matter how frivolous some may sound. its your life, so you have the rein on how to run it. dont let anyone spoil that fun for you right?

so for me, I plan to be happier this year and find also a job that is fulfilling and doesnt thrive on exploiting its employees and clients. I experienced having the worst job in my life last year and I dont intend to make that same mistake again. LIfe is too short to waste one day to be unhappy.

I also revised the my daily to do list:

1) take my vitamins (and remind the spouse to do the same)
2) Pray (should be on top of the list but this list is in random order)
3) Drink lots of water
4) Exercise (every other day)
5) Eat at least one fruit everyday (veggies too - bananacake, carrot cake and frenchfries dont count)
6) Think of all the things I should be grateful for
7) Draw
8) Compliment someone (and be sincere about it)
9) Express love to my sweetie (yihee)
10) Have a cup of Joe (dont exceed 5 cups per day)
11) Have breakfast
12) Learn one new word in English, Nihonggo and Spanish
13) Have some quality time with the family
14) Send an email to my brother/s.
15) Never stop thinking of adding another good thing to add to this list

Sounds like a lot? nah, i realized I used to spend more time on facebook and it doesnt have any return of that invested time. Knowing that Im living on borrowed time, makes me value it more.

One more thing I learned is how to be a "tourist" again. I remember that everytime me and my husband flew for trip, we were brimming with excitement and happiness. We were appreciative of being able to see new places. I am gonna apply that in my day to day activities from now on.

I know that there will be days that will be rough..but if most days I can be happy, I will try to be. Because the truth is, life may be over before you know it. Just like a short holiday trip, enjoy the ride and take lots of photos and relish the memories. Life is just so beautiful for us to take it for granted. Another year is a gift that we should be thankful for. Make the most of another year by living and not simply existing.

Happy New Year!! God Bless everyone!

happy new year from a fat elf

Daily thoughts- Fair weather friends and lovers..not worth it.

a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine just told me about a predicament he was in. he is seeing a girl who he thinks is "the one". everything seemed fine until he lost his job and had no choice but to rely on her. Initially it was her idea, he wasnt really keen on "sponging off" of the girl, he just felt it kinda went against his principles. But the girl seemed to really want him to stick around and let her foot the bill until he manages to get on his own feet. at that time it seemed to be the most plausible arrangement. Besides she claims she really loves him.

So he decided to stay, thinking it really was okay. Unfortunately, it wasnt that easy to find a job. the days stretched into weeks, and finally a month. Thats when she started whining. she suddenly came up with excuses like she has to save money and has to remit to her family yada yada yada. she let out this long dramatic monologue about how it hurts her that she cant help her family. In short, she was actually fed up with him having to rely on her..yes after a MONTH.

I couldnt believe it either. I had to ask my friend whether the girl was probably sending money to a family member who was sick and badly needed help financially. But no, that wasnt the case. The girl simply felt guilty she wasnt able to put away money especially at this time of her life that she can afford it. WOW. I didnt even want to comment. To pour more salt to my friends' wounds, she even lightly hinted that he probably would have saved a lot of money too if he hadnt lost his job.

OUCH. Right through the heart and the groin as well. I cant even imagine saying that to a man..especially a man I CLAIM TO LOVE.

It could have been the perfect opportunity to show and prove that their LOVE could weather any adversity. especially a minor crisis as this one.

I felt really sad..for my friend. He found a woman who was going to be there only when things looked up for her.

It was sad to witness that there was an expiration date for kindness and generosity in their relationship.. money mattered more than the special thing they had going. she didnt trust that he would eventually find a way, and just supported him anyway at least for a few months more, without doubt or pressure.

The good news now is he finally found a job.

and now i see they are both "happy". of course, things are in their favor. everything is again hunky dory.

Not so long ago, I met a man and we had a tough time during our first few years of married life. It was hard but worth it. We never discussed the issue of who is giving more in the relationship (in terms of money). In fact it was that experience that brought us closer and made us appreciate everything we have now. We learned to be more practical and grateful. MOst of all it made us realize who truly are our real friends.

It never crossed my mind that there should be a timeline for generosity. If  someone asked me even, question, i would have been very insulted.

In my opinion, if you love someone, it would never even be an issue. the moment it becomes, then its already over. just my 2 cents.

Daily thoughts - A long distance love affair

it has been several months now since i moved to nyc. so far im really having a blast. im enjoying the sights the food and everything else that ive been dying to experience from the time i started watching the show sex and the city a decade ago. im always in awe of the new things i see everyday.


ive gotten quite spoiled in fact because they do have a lot of good restaurants here. i dont remember a day that i never went without a good dessert. every weekend i get to also go out and do a little shopping. I try to live within my limits though and im saving so I can move to my own apartment.

it has been really great all in all and i cannot really complain. there are a lot of reasons why NYC is the number one destination for tourists who go to the USA.

but living the comfortable life here hasnt stopped me from thinking of the cats i left behind in the philippines. technically they arent all my cats but i grew fond of them while i stayed there temporarily before permanently moving here. 3 of those cats i left behind are going to join me here soon. my main issue now is what s going to happen to the rest?

im terrified and upset to even think about it. right now im in the middle of  trying to extend the cats' stay at my family's house. not everyone share my sentiment in keeping the animals and honestly i dont really have control over that. im million miles away and if they decide to get rid of the cats, all i can do is cry and be really sad over it. i just love those cats. in fact i send money every month for their food and litter. im even planning to send in extra to pay the help who cleans my room because my blind cat boomer lives there for now.

the 3 cats im getting are in a way "safe". because my brother knows im getting them very soon.  but the rest of the housecats arent so. their "lease" is about to expire. and that is something ive been trying to not think of for the past few months. however i knew this issue will pop up sooner or later.

so im planning to blog about it until i hopefully find a home for the other cats. i believe that somehow one kind soul may share the same love i have for these animal. and if by some great chance that good samaritan may even want to share their home with at least one of these cats.

until then, i wont stop trying.