Not Your Average 14 Year-old

2014 started with my first trip to Dubai. I had full six days to admire the city and appreciate its magical appeal. It was like Disney's Aladdin, my favorite cartoon of all time came to life right before my very eyes. It was a city with the most audacious projects in terms of infrastructure. Each and every turn you'll see something majestic and grand. They have the Burj Al Arab (World's tallest all-suite hotel), Burj Khalifa (World's tallest tower) and Dubai Mall (World's biggest mall) just to name a few. 

My personal favorite was this view of the Atlantis Resort in Palm Jumeirah. 

And as they say, all good things come to an end.

Coming home little did I know, another twist of fate is about to happen. From a very euphoric state to extreme despair. A very heart broken me. It was a problematic time, I was not performing well, I was not getting along with people and I was not myself. This continued on for several months and I can't figure out what went wrong. I don't like what I'm doing, I don't like what I'm getting and simply don't like to do anything. It seemed like everything that I'm trying to accomplish was failing every single time. I was on the brink of giving up.

Until one afternoon, I was spending time with my 14 year-old niece in her bedroom. She showed me a photo of a grafitti she saw near her school and it says "I love you (my niece's full name)". So asked her what if the person who wrote that was not her type, how would she react. She told me with her exact words "Ok lang yun tita at least may nagka-crush saken" (That's ok at least there's someone out there who likes me). "Be thankful for what you have" she even added.

This girl never fails to amaze me. I then realized I must stop complaining and start moving forward. Stop dwelling in the past and appreciate whatever or whoever is around you even if you may have wanted something else. There is always a reason why some things in our life stay and some go, most of the time you don't fully understand why but sooner or later you'll definitely know, you'll definitely grow.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"- Dr. Seus

Are we meant to be?

I was out last night with some close friends from medical school for our monthly get-together and updates (a.k.a "chismisan sessions").

Our fun and insightful dinner conversations progressed from Piolo Pascual being spotted with Mark Bautista at Belo's Clinic, then the most likely follow-up topic was of course KC Concepcion's new show then showtime's finale episode that morning to K12 educational system implementation and finally PNoy's handsome and hunkylicious PSG hehe. Glad we didn't touch on the impeachment trial for I think it will seem like we are getting old indeed.
Then we talked about some friends we know from school, updates on who got married, who will get married and the likes.

And the story that gave inspiration to this blog was when we were talking about someone (let's just call that person "negatron" to protect his/her identity) who is so negative about starting full-time hospital work- complaining that there will be little or no time to do other things like friday dates, saturday booze and night out, lazy sunday afternoons etc.. I admit I felt that way too before and it is one of the major factors why I left, aside from the fact that I wasn't able to handle physical and emotional demands of being a doctor. Then my friend said, which I think is a very good way of looking at it- "negatron" must accept that being a doctor is the life. It is not as if you are erasing or depriving yourself of a component of life. It is really just a choice to commit to your passion.

What is your true passion? It is never too late to find out today. Ask yourself "What will bring me true happiness?" the one that will last until your days are over.

We only have one life to live, so why waste your time on things or people that only makes you sad. I guess it all boils down to making that one solid decision -to be truly happy. And that happiness depends on you, on how you define it.

And that, ladies and gentlemen is how you'll know if you and what you're doing or whoever you are with are simply.... meant to be.

HHWW

HHWW a colloquial term fondly used by Filipinos to refer to couples who are Holding Hands While Walking. This gesture is, I think the simplest way to express love and/or to declare couple's "being together" to the public.

Aside from couples, parents also hold their child's hand in crossing the street, strolling in the park or mall and comforting them when they feel pain or feel scared. I remember when I was little, I am not-so-fond of going to the hospital because of... yes, you guessed it right- the most dreaded, injection. One time I got sick and they had to do a blood extraction to find out what was wrong. The nurse and medical technician couldn't calm me down as I refuse to be cooperative with the procedure. They were holding my arms so tight as if I was a criminal caught red handed and struggling to escape. Up to this day, I remember that scene vividly in mind and the only thing that made me feel safe and secure again was my mom holding my hand.

Hand holding and its many heartwarming effects could lead to stronger friendships and relationships. When you hold a friend's hand in grief, it could be worth more than the words you could ever utter to bring her/him comfort.

But sometimes when you are all alone and lonely, the only thing you can do is to hold your own hand. And there you'll realize, that you are in a perfect prayer position.

Let us not forget, behind all the glitter and the merriment of this season- Of hand holding and fun bonding, today is special because of Jesus.

Merry Christmas to you all! And have a more meaningful holidays through prayer.

"Two Hands" Gouache on Paper

JUST QUIT!

Looking for something you lost or misplaced can sometimes get frustrating.

And it always happens to me.

I don’t know why but every time I organize my stuff I end up forgetting where I kept them. Sometimes it’s better put all my “daily” things on top of my desk to see them quickly.

But have you ever noticed that when you stop looking for a particular thing you lost or misplaced, it suddenly pops out from nowhere. And you wonder how come you didn’t see it when you were looking for it? Even if you already turned your room upside down. I haven’t found any article or scientific explanation on this extraordinary event, but I think it happens to most of us. Raise your hand if you agree! 

If the same principle applies to finding everything in this world, would you stop looking for love? According to Erickson's stages of development, at the age of 18-35 people naturally seek for  mutually satisfying relationships primarily through marriage and friends. To my aunts this is called the "marrying age" and you SHOULD get married. It is a must. Every reunion the first question they ask me is "when are you getting married?" If I answer, I have no plans yet. They will continue to probe and ask why. I'm sure some of you have experienced this once or many times now if you're still not building your own family. And because of this we sometimes feel pressured to find it.
 
A lot of people rant endlessly on why they couldn’t find their perfect match. They try to search for it, conform for it, and change for it and so on. But nothing really matters. Because there is a perfect time and place for everything as in everything! not just love. Your plans and your life will unfold and make sense. So don't be pressured but BE PREPARED.

So to all the single ladies & gentlemen out there put your hands up! And just quit finding it!

Let life surprise you.

TINY COFFEE BEAN

I love perfume shops! 

(I know the title for this entry is tiny coffee bean, don’t worry we’ll get to that in a while wag atat! Haha you can erase that confused expression on your face now =P)

As the door opens, you are welcomed by a fresh flowery and a bit of sweet fruity combination of scents; an experience that’s nice to have every time! Choosing a perfume to buy is a tough job. There are just too many choices to choose from. And the longer you stay inside the store the harder it gets for you to distinguish one fragrance from the other. You soon develop adaptability to the scent. And the scent eventually becomes ordinary or plain even if it’s actually good.

Day in and day out our activities become a cycle. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between days. (Or was there any difference at all?) We develop adaptability to our routine. We sometimes lose that pleasurable feeling of excitement to life, like the feeling when we first enter a perfume shop.

In perfume counters, they usually have a small container of coffee beans. Never underestimate its size. It might be small, but it is enough to induce “reset” to the olfactory fatigue we experience when adaptability ensues. As in life, there are tiny coffee beans ready to help us “reset”; it could be a person, an event or a feeling like love that can change the way we see ordinary things.

Find your tiny coffee bean and see every day as if anew. Do something different now!

On Love and Inspiration

I’m not a writer until this came
It just felt right, words flowing endlessly on my mind
Love is not only seen between two people
It can take different forms and expression
Surprisingly can be hidden under ones nose
See it even when your eyes are closed
Feel it even when you’re all alone

Love is there all around
Sometimes you only need to know yourself to find love
It is not in another person’s presence
It is not in the flowers or chocolates and gifts given
It is in you, it is in me too

You’ll know love when you find love as they say
The real love for me is that it cannot be taken away
The love within your heart
That transcends time and heals all wounds

Self love can destroy you only if you allow it to overwhelm your trueness
But self love if used fittingly can bring you love and inspiration
That can last for all seasons
It will enable you to connect with your Infinite Intelligence
A guiding force of great opportunities not known by your average thought

A discovery of a deeper realm of self
A journey that you’ll never forget
It will change your life, as it changed mine

I’ve searched for love in so many directions
Changed myself to adapt to a thousand different fallacies
I thought I had it all in control
But all is temporary until
True love and inspiration came from the genius
The genius within me hiding all these years
Waiting to be recognized and to be unleashed

Before I’m just someone who happens to do all sorts of things trying to please
But today, I am that someone who can do all sorts of things with great love, effort and profound understanding of self and the power of the infinite

The passion
The intense and burning desire
Backed by faith and nurtured with love
Anything and everything is possible
I LIVE my life exactly the way I want

I know exactly what I want
I know exactly what to do
I know that I am doing exactly the things that are meant for me to do
In my own pace, in my own race

Today, I am a different person

Better than yesterday

Even better tomorrow and a day after tomorrow

Until all my tomorrows are done.