Just saw a very striking message posted on facebook today, and it goes something like this: Today we are celebrating our independence day because we are free! Free to do almost anything, like throwing trash anywhere, crossing the street whichever way we like, whenever we like.
I remembered one of my classes back in college, our professor who is also a nun told us that freedom is not freedom without responsibility. God gave us freewill to choose what we want to do in life and intellect to choose wisely. But somehow, maybe, over time it got lost in translation that we forget to think about the choices we make and how these choices affect the present and the future. We become trapped in situations where, if in the first place we could have just chosen to avoid it.
I just realized that for months now I've been trapped in my own mindset. Thinking that everything I know will deliver the results I want at work. But I was wrong- so wrong. It felt like yesterday, I just graduated from gradeschool then luckily got accelerated to college. Now teachers are different, classmates are different and classrooms are different. I felt like a freshman getting lost in a huge university where I don't have friends, class schedules are long and no more spoonfeeding of information from teachers. I am on my own. I am on my own. Or was I really?
Bottomline is- I just have to accept change. "Don't resist it" as my mentor told me that night, when I was already feeling so hopeless and helpless. Just those three words and I knew I was doing something wrong about the whole situation.
On my way home, I decided to reboot my mindset right away. I looked back and reminisced why I wanted to be here now and why I signed that job offer. Then all of a sudden everything became clearer. And the support I needed suddenly appeared.
Set yourself free. Free from all doubts and fears. If there is anything right now that is stopping you to move forward; to love again; to learn, to unlearn, to relearn; and to forgive. Start now! Start with yourself. Set youself free!
Happy independence day everyone!
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Monday, June 11, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
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.
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.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Seat Stealers
I love watching theater!
It is totally a different experience every single time. I remember when I was a kid I watched "Ang Prinsipe at ang Buwan" (The prince & the moon). I can't seem to recall how the story ended but what I remember so vividly is how the villain character came out of the stage and scared all the little children including my then little-cutesey-patootsie self; it was absolutely hilarious!
As I was growing up I continued to patronize "teatro" And because I enjoyed each play I watched, I exposed my niece to it. Just recently, I brought her to yet another awesome play. It is the Filipino adaptation of Disney's The Little Mermaid Musical.
As we were waiting for the show to start we noticed that there are still a few seats in the middle of the orchestra. I wanted to move to have a better view but my niece stopped me. So I told her if the seats are still empty on the last 3 minute reminder, we'll move.
Just before the lights were turned off we transferred. After 15 minutes, 5 other people came in. They didn't bother to look at their seat numbers and sat down immediately. In short, I think we switched places with them without them knowing.
After the show, my niece being such a witty girl was teasing me that we were "seat stealers" and that we should be punished. I just smiled and told her that I didn't mean to do it.
On our way home, I remembered a quote that goes something like this "Most of the time the key to success is merely by showing up" I guess it would be much better if we add "...on time"
Odd as it may seem, even if I am wrong in the context of being honest in this situation. There are 2 things we ought to understand in getting what we want/deserve in this life 1) showing up is never enough 2) putting an effort to be on time or to do something about it, is always better. What happened to the ones who came in late can happen to anyone and to any situation. Just as you are waiting for that promotion someone else is doing the same thing or even better. Just as you thought you would never loose her love, someone else is there waiting for her to feel that she is taken for granted. And just as you are taking so much time to figure out what you really want to do in life, another year has passed.
Real life lessons can come from not-so-ideal situations to which our mind are not accustomed to see. I realized that everything happens for a reason. And the reason for me is to learn valuable life's lesson and share it with others.
It is totally a different experience every single time. I remember when I was a kid I watched "Ang Prinsipe at ang Buwan" (The prince & the moon). I can't seem to recall how the story ended but what I remember so vividly is how the villain character came out of the stage and scared all the little children including my then little-cutesey-patootsie self; it was absolutely hilarious!
As I was growing up I continued to patronize "teatro" And because I enjoyed each play I watched, I exposed my niece to it. Just recently, I brought her to yet another awesome play. It is the Filipino adaptation of Disney's The Little Mermaid Musical.
As we were waiting for the show to start we noticed that there are still a few seats in the middle of the orchestra. I wanted to move to have a better view but my niece stopped me. So I told her if the seats are still empty on the last 3 minute reminder, we'll move.
Just before the lights were turned off we transferred. After 15 minutes, 5 other people came in. They didn't bother to look at their seat numbers and sat down immediately. In short, I think we switched places with them without them knowing.
After the show, my niece being such a witty girl was teasing me that we were "seat stealers" and that we should be punished. I just smiled and told her that I didn't mean to do it.
On our way home, I remembered a quote that goes something like this "Most of the time the key to success is merely by showing up" I guess it would be much better if we add "...on time"
Odd as it may seem, even if I am wrong in the context of being honest in this situation. There are 2 things we ought to understand in getting what we want/deserve in this life 1) showing up is never enough 2) putting an effort to be on time or to do something about it, is always better. What happened to the ones who came in late can happen to anyone and to any situation. Just as you are waiting for that promotion someone else is doing the same thing or even better. Just as you thought you would never loose her love, someone else is there waiting for her to feel that she is taken for granted. And just as you are taking so much time to figure out what you really want to do in life, another year has passed.
Real life lessons can come from not-so-ideal situations to which our mind are not accustomed to see. I realized that everything happens for a reason. And the reason for me is to learn valuable life's lesson and share it with others.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Que Horror!
Driving in Metro Manila can sometimes really get into my nerves. There is a big difference now from the time when I started to learn how to drive. Before the problem wasj ust buses and jeeps loading and unloading wherever they please but now, we also have a lot of motorcycles. And they really don’t care if they are on the right lane as long as there’s still space. They counter flow, cut your lane and all sorts of ways and means to get ahead of you. It’s just crazy!
Have you ever wondered why we are like that? Why do we like to make “siksik”? (Sorry, as much as I try to refrain from sounding too “kolehiyala” -a college school girl here, I just can’t think of an exact English translation for the word right now) So have you ever wondered why? I have, many times in fact. Whenever I see people queuing at boarding gates I really don’t understand why almost everyone wants to be first when we all have assigned seats. Funnyisn’t it? In the malls people go where everybody is. At some food joints, we are likely attracted to go where there are a lot of people; believing they have really good food. When we’re with friends, we like to be so close to each other. The way we express ourselves almost always includes touching, tapping one’s shoulder, holding hands etc. I’m sure I am not the only one who has observed this around us. And I am sure you also have participated in queuing and squeezing in spaces one time or another. Don’t deny.
Human behavior is such an amazing phenomenon. The events I illustrated above actually are also reflected on Philippine art like painting. Try to search for photos of Philippine artworks. You will see that most Filipino painters fill the whole canvas with detail unlike Japanese art where the treatment is always minimal.This art form is often referred to as “Horror Vacui” or fear of empty spaces. I explained this concept to my half-Filipino friend who grew up in Europe for him to understand why people here don’t mind bumping into one another and why his Filipino relatives always give him a “high five” or tap his shoulders. Now he’s back in Italy and sure misses the warm touch and smiles only we can give.
Sometimes there are things around us that irritate us or make us feel so annoyed. It is so easy to say that there is something wrong to what we see and observe on a daily basis without much thought. In reality, it is just a difference in culture. And there is nothing wrong with it. I believe we can further improve as a country but we also can’t deny who we are.
True wisdom only comes from knowing oneself.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Inside the mind of a psyCEO
When youhear someone being called a psycho, what comes to mind? That person is crazy or out of his/her mind, adeviant person? Yes, usually the connotation is derogatory in nature. But isbeing different always a negative thing?
About 2weeks ago, I have co-facilitated a Management Workshop for a big localpublishing company. I got so inspired by the CEO’s message, in fact I’ve writtendown some points which I think are worth-remembering. But the real message Igot behind what was being said during her whole opening speech was this- shewas clear about what she wants to achieve. She said “When I started thisbusiness, I wanted to help people, others wanted to help people one at a timebut I’ve always believed I am different and that wanted to help more people so,I chose media as my platform. Back then, I just wanted a small office somewherein the city but now we’ll be having a whole floor and who knows maybe soonwe’ll have a building but that’s just it, I do not aspire to become Henry Sy oranything like building malls. I know my limit.”
Anotheramazing CEO who got big in 2010 was Edgar Sia II; he was only 20 years old whenhe had his first taste of running a business after dropping out from college ofarchitecture. He said “My mind was always somewhere else”. He handled businessesof small hotel, laundry mat and printing press and soon after a food stall in aparking lot imposed such a tempting opportunity. Then, Mang Inasal (Mr.Barbecue) was born he said “I wanted to define a different category to fastfood industry by creating one that is not of American influence”. 8 years later,he sold 70% of it to a bigger and older Filipino fast-food empire, JollibeeFoods Corporation (JFC).
The ownerof Jollibee had a similar story. About 30 years ago he saw an opportunity toown a business and started as a franchisee of Magnolia Ice Cream Parlor. Andwhen Mc Donald’s came into the picture in 1982, some friends were telling themto get a franchise too. But truth be told, he refused because he wanted somethingelse. If you listen to the lyrics of their company hymn, you’ll know exactlywhat he wanted as the lyrics go “We will make the whole world say, the best isJollibee.” From a small ice cream parlorto a global fast food chain, JFC has truly gone a long way.
With allthese stories of success, one important lesson to be learned is that sometimes it’sjust okay to be called a “psycho”- to be different. Who knows you might be the next psyCEOgenius!
Believethat you have the capacity to be anything you want. And never ever be afraid tobe who you really are, no matter what others say you should be.
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