25 is the this is it year!

25 is the year when a woman celebrates like it’s her second Debut Day. And it happens when the 25th year strikes at a time in your life when your single, successful with whatever you do, and happy inside and out

However, I have no biggie celebration for today except that my relatives are coming over for dinner tonight courtesy of my mom. Other than that, I am simply treating myself for a day in the spa

Birthday wish?

It is to have the kind of life that God wants me to have – no matter what that is, I suspect it is grand according to His plan!

If that means going all out for my dreams, facing my fears and braving what I haven’t tried yet, opening my heart to life and its challenges, and accepting what is beyond my control – I promise to keep it strong in the Lord.

And now for the fun part (or simply to have something to keep this blog busy, hehe)… for the whole month of July, I am launching a poll about your favorite birthday quotes! You can send them to me via email here, or just drop a line to me on twitter here.

Who knows, YOU MIGHT GET A GIFT FROM ME ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!

For my share, I am posting my top 3 favorite quotes:

#3 > The old believe everything; the middle-aged suspect everything; the young know everything.

#2 > As long as there are birthday Gifts, I don’t mind celebrating my birthdays everyday

and… for my Number 1, of course, it has to be this…

#1 > I have been 25 since I was 25

So go! and send your 1 favorite birthday quote and I’ll give you some luuuurrrve on your birthday!

july presscon: i’m single again!

A good friend shared a link from the Quarter Life Lady, and since then I’ve been ever inspired by her posts. I particularly like her Read Advice section, especially the part when she says (read below). It just struck a chord in me… felt like a confirmation that I just did what has to be done…

No one wants to waste her time in a relationship that isn’t going anywhere. With this in mind, my best advice is to pay attention to the red flags that indicate that he isn’t a good fit. Many women would save themselves a whole lot of heartbreak if they accepted the red flags and continued their search for a better fit.

Amen to that, ladies.

When you’re in your mid 20’s you start off thinking where you want your life to go. You just happen to  self-evaluate. Some would claim they would undergo the process of  “life-evaluation” because you have never been so sure that now is the time to take charge of your future. Sometimes this process entails a break-up heart-break.

I’m not very good at break ups. In fact, I cannot stand face-to-face “we-need-to-split-up” drama before. Even if it was a mutual decision, the guy would often be the one to drop the right words. I sugar-coat things so I just leave this up to them.

Recently was a bit different because I think I was straight-forward and logical when I dropped the bomb. I don’t think I was harsh too, just serious. And I’m proud to say I made my point to be fully understood. It was, afterall, not a bad break up. It was different from all the others (mga sampu sila, jowk )

Apart from this, I think the most distinct thing about my recent repeat-contract with “Single Records”, is that I truly feel deep in my heart that it was the right decision, and I have nothing to regret about it. Some women are regretful after a break up. They think of all the “what-could-have-been’s” and all that “sayang” stuffs. Not to mention the endless worry if they will ever be married or just remain single forever! This time it’s different for me. Maybe it’s due to the fact that I am transitioning, or I got fed up. Either of the two, I still believe I have the right reasons.

I thank the Lord for all His patient help to me. Knowing that I am someone who normally cannot stand for her decisions especially when it involves her emotions, I think God really held me tight on this one so I won’t back off. More than that, it is His assurance that He is in control of the situation and that He has our best interests in mind gave me the peace I can only imagine and desire for during a heart break period. No point to question or to regret.

If you think about it, maybe God was just saving me from myself.

what comes with age?

They say age is just a number. But one cannot deny the fact that there are certain issues that take place as an individual ages. Even if we all wish we could stay 23 forever, there are certain things “new” things in life that have to take center stage in our lives.

Next month, I will be celebrating my 25th birthday. I have no plans yet except to accommodate presents – so this serves an early notice to you guys

To tell you honestly, I still do feel like a 20-year old girl. I still laugh at the same jokes, and cry over the same things (i.e. an impending heartbreak, for instance). What has changed are my priorities and concerns. Sure we all want to secure the future of our parents in their old age, help out our younger siblings, and especially establish a stable and comfortable life for our future family. But when you’re 18 or 20, you don’t necessarily jot this down in your to-do list with a due date on the side.

I think it goes differently when you’re in your middle or late twenties. You now have (or you believe you have) the power to work on these concerns. Inevitably, you teach yourself to take “calculated” steps. What I mean by this is that you now think about the path to take, very very well before taking action. If that means shifting careers, taking on a new or additional job, or even dumping a partner you think won’t contribute for the purpose you want happening in your life. You also get bothered by your conscience because you don’t want to hurt people along the way while you take this more serious mission (though sometimes, you just won’t be able to help it). These are the risks involved now including the part when you will experience a tinge of loneliness and anxiety at some point. Sad but true.

To wish that I am 19 again is immature. So what I do want to say is that we can all hope instead, for better days – even if there will be more concerns to think of, more emotions to exhaust, and more numbers added to your age.

Note:

This isn’t my happy-birthday-post yet. This sounds more serious than festive, anyway

the sportsfest, and some ‘in-action’ shots

The 2009 SFC Sports Fest was more than a success! It was a revelation of all sorts! Last Sunday May 24, I saw a lot of my friends emerged as marathon champs, badminton buffs, and basketball star players (ehem.. teh boyfriend)

I’m not an athletic girl. In fact my grades in P.E. look unusual for a normal kid. hehe. But last Sunday was some kind of a competition, sports challenge that I enjoyed. I love winning – and losing – and laughing all together! Sports is not my thing, but laughter is! The badminton challenge that I joined turned “kenkoy” as usual… hehe

Look here:

romzkeepomski so sporty!

Just to share a few of my “caught-in-action” shots. Yes, these are not so good, but I love the fact I got them in live, active movement. Hehe. All are taken from a distance, so pardon the not-so-sharp edges.

looks like some NBA game

and this too (sorry for the photo splurge, thought they look like some NBA play cards.

looks like some NBA game, too!

The Sports Fest was fun – the perfect bonding moment for the community. These are the times when you forget differences, and work as a team instead. Even the best, or holiest communities get into rifts and issues. There are no perfect groups, as there is no one perfect individual, except Him who deserves all the glory

Going back to my shots, I think I’d begin taking “in-action” subjects, like the guy above. I just hope he knows that there are more, far important things in life apart from shooting baskets.

What is wrong with the world today?

What is wrong with the world today?

The whole Pinoy nation is going ‘gaga’ over the video scandal of Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili. A senator has lambasted the former in his senate privilege speech (Where does this lead to? Can they finally levy laws on Internet scandal proliferation? or pa-pogi lang?) I just hope that people will stop patronizing the dvds of that scandal being sold in the streets. As for us Pinoy SEO’s, let’s drop the profitable chance of getting loads of traffic by promoting this video scandal online. Let us not be part of the evil deed.

DOH announces confirmed case of H1N1 flu in the Philippines

Just tonight, Sec. Duque of the Department of Health confirmed a case of the A(H1N1) Influenza virus in the Philippines. I swear I chilled to death! You know why? My friend just arrived from China (an infected country). She came here and we made beso-beso… and she has some sort of cough and colds. I’d like to think she isn’t a carrier or something – but that same night I got myself a sore throat in the making! Hehe! I don’t know if this is funny, or a cause for alarm. Lols.

I got even more alarmed when the news says, “Isang batang babae ang nakumpirmang positibo sa H1N1 Influenza virus!” HEHEHE. If I develop fever, I’ll rush myself to the doc immediately.

And I still don’t have water in my apartment! Lesson learned: Check first with your land lady if she’s really paying the water bill. The worst thing is, the whole Villamor area will also be off from water supply in the next 2 days.

Tell me, what is wrong with the world today?

on love and change

This is among the signs and symptoms of someone under quarter-life crisis. You’re falling for someone else even if you are strictly committed already… but you know you are not a bad person…

Girl 1: So kamusta na kayo ng boyfriend mo?

Girl 2: Ok naman kami… sya ok sya…

Girl 1: eh ikaw?

Girl 2: I just feel like I want him to remain a “constant” in my life forever… but I’d like to marry someone else.

Girl 1: So you just need him now for a companion, you mean?

Girl 2: I don’t know.

some drama here

I think I’m going through quarter-life crisis. I want to run away from it as much as I want to but they say it’s inevitable. This thing strikes like an expected guest I’ve finally opened up to. The rush of wanting to be on track of the rate race… the worry of a bleak future… the anxiety of making choices. Suddenly I’m starting to think of not only what I would be like, but HOW it’s gonna be like years from now. So I start evaluating my choices. I begin to identify which (or who) should be included in this stage of my life so I won’t have regrets in the future.

Sadly, when I enter this “evaluation” process, we could be hurting some people – because we need to make choices. Maybe if I were just to stop using my head I could be happier now; yet I hesitate because I might be miserable in the future.

For whatever it is, I just want you to know that it’s not, and will never be easy, letting you go… and you will always be the one who had more years… more loving years with me.

A Whole New Light

A Whole New Light

I am working on a Saturday morning in my new found apartment, with my trusty Sun Cellular 3G/HSDPA Modem plugged in my laptop. Living this life has always been “the dream” to me. I was planning for this for the past few months, but was not actually keen on doing it immediately (like last week). I’m sure my friends already know the story behind it.

Anyway, living the single life in your own terms is both liberating, and lonely at times. Liberating in the sense that you make your own choices in whatever. You have to trust yourself, and to have faith in God that He will take care of you. I’m budgeting my cash for bills to pay, and all the other obligations that need to be met. Given this kind of freedom goes with responsibility. I’d like to think I’m choosing to be disciplined to do my work, and to think of the consequences before I take any action. It makes you have a sense of higher accountability to yourself when things go wrong. I’ve always believed that even if it seems we don’t have any other choice in this world, the bottom line is that you cannot have anyone to blame actually – but yourself. Because choice has always been present in your hands, really.

As I’ve said, it can be lonely too. This feeling is a universal emotion, by the way – even for married people anyway. Sure I have the boyfriend around, since they just live nearby but it’s kinda anti-social having this routine: home-based seo work, alone in my apartment, munching chips with soda. I’m glad the boyfriend shared with the expense of buying the TV coz I’m starting to go crazy with all the silence here. Haha!

I’ve always lived away from home since I graduated from high school. I lived almost a year in our family home since April of 2008. It took a lot of adjustments. I thought I would never learn to live with it. That’s why I’m surprised to feel quite foreign in my own pad now. But I guess, It’ll just take some time and I’ll soon be able to adjust.

For now, I’m contemplating my next goals to take. Life should never stop without learning anything new. I’m hoping to learn more, experience more, and realize what it’s really like to finally be at peace with your self. I’m opening my doors to a whole new light.

Fighting Laziness

How it feels like on a blue lazy day - with tons of work to do, actually

Procrastination (sometimes also called laziness) can be a sign that you’re doing something for the wrong reasons. If you love doing something, you just do it. You don’t need to make excuses, coping mechanisms, or fool yourself into doing them. You just do them. Maybe you aren’t doing something you love doing? Experiment. Find something that you just can’t stop doing. Your laziness will evaporate.

- Ed Womack of webmaster-talk.com

So I thought the above statement would help during my down-and-lazy days, but actually it kinda worsened the feeling. I’m now wondering if I am doing something not my “love” – coz if it’s not the case, then I should be just striking it off and proceeding to work! I thought I’ve found my “niche” in SEO. But there are days when I just feel so and so… is there really such a thing as a burning passion that motivates you your whole life through?

The sad part of this side of my life is, I get lazy during work-laden days… especially when tasks won’t fall in line. Yeah, I know I’m supposed to be kicking my ass to work when you’ve got lots to do.

Blogging helps fight laziness daw – eh what if I’m lazy to blog? Thus this short post. Hehe.

Push me to work!

Too Blessed To Be Stressed!

I am writing this down not to air my grievances, or spell of what has been unfair in my life lately, and especially not to speak ill of someone who has treated you not like family (even if you are supposed to be family). I won’t write about that. Washing linens in public, sharing private sentiments, isn’t my style.

After all, the title says it all – I am too blessed to be stressed.

I thank the Lord everyday for blessing me much more than I can ever imagine. I think the secret to it all is not just hard work or the drive to succeed. It’s mostly because I think I’ve been ever thankful for everything that I have. A good job – home based at that, supportive friends, a loving boyfriend, being able to help out for the family (even if she doesn’t see it), or even just the fact of waking up alive every morning are all blessings to thank for in my life.

I will not say that I am not afraid if one day the Lord will take these all away. I also get scared of the thought. But there is more to the Lord’s wisdom than just being scared of the future. They say too much worry is a sin. I know if you are not stepping on anyone’s foot, you will be guided along the way.

Even if I have been hurt countless times by someone who should be loving me, or at least be grateful I’m not being a ‘pabigat’ in the family, I’d rather just keep my silence and take all of it in stride. Anyway, if I think about it it’s not me who’s got nothing in this life, really.

Maybe that is the reason why it’s so hard for her to see the good side of things – or the luck of not having to worry about my future because at least I tried to work out my own life. But you know, I’ve always believed that regardless of your situation in life, one cannot stop living (unless you want life to pass you by), and one should always give thanks – regardless!

So I am writing this down because I think all of us are really too blessed to be stressed in our own lives. We could be busy about a lot of things to sustain living in this planet. We could be weary of all the hassle and bustle of daily responsibilities. Add to that is the occasional occurrence of heavy problems and challenges to face. But in all these, one should not be all complaints. If life then has no purpose but to endure problems, then we better be dead. But God isn’t allowing that in your life yet, right?

Because there is so much more to relish, to learn, to experience, and to be thankful for in this life. And please, I’m not saying this because I think life has been good to me (in fact, it’s been unfair as I’ve mentioned earlier). But I choose to look at it in the positive light. Stress is only our response to the situation – airing offending grievances in public could be someone else’s pathetic way of doing it.

But not me, not ever. Revenge is to the Lord’s for those who have been treated unfairly.

And above all these, I think I am too blessed to be stressed, anyway!