Don’t you find life to always be filled with stress? Doesn’t it seem like there is always something that happens which encompasses our entire attention, and thus drain our positive energy? As our society grows more and more complex, finding true peace becomes more like trying to find an oasis in the desert. My life is a busy one as well, as running a company and all of the stress & demands that comes with it, definitely takes its toll over time. Therefore, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of the methods that I use in my life to find peace and disconnect from the daily routine:

Accept what is
There is only so much we can affect. What we cannot change, what we cannot influence no matter what, should not be a concern to us. This is what I notice with so many people, in that we focus and linger on things which we have no control over. Why worry about something that all the worrying in the world will not change? Why care about what other people think of us when we’re not even sure what it is they are actually thinking? Once you open the blinds to this fact, and start accepting what is that you cannot change, you automatically relieve yourself of a mountain of stress and anxiety. It’s like a huge weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Taking this path is following a road towards peace.

Meditate
If you do not meditate yet, you are missing out on a very important activity that can change your life. Meditating for 20 minutes daily can have an enormous impact in all areas of your life. Take a look at this post I wrote 100 Benefits of Meditation. If that doesn’t convince you to start meditating, I don’t know what will! If you have a lot on your mind and you feel like your thoughts are driving you crazy, meditation can help you find peace. Simply close everything, sit back, close your eyes, and clear your mind of every single thought. Focus on the emptiness. You will be surprised what a mere 20 minutes of meditation can do to turn things around for you. If you have trouble meditating, I would suggest getting a professional guided meditation CD, which will help you get used to this level of peacefulness

Spend time in nature
We spend so much time confined in buildings of steel and concrete and bricks that we quickly forget where we come from. It is natural for us to be in nature, and this is why it feels so good and it is so peaceful when you take a walk in a park or bike on a trail in the forest. As I am typing this blog, I am looking out my window to this gigantic tree in front of my house. Watching its stillness, with the wind blowing through its branches calmly, it is a sight that not only inspires me, but that I find peace within it. I have blogged before about how I enjoy biking and one of the reasons is that it brings me closer to nature. It is something you just can’t experience in a car. If you feel overwhelmed, take a stroll outside where there are tons of trees and far from the city. Be there and just enjoy the sights, the sounds, and the peace.

Learn the power of a smile
Whenever you are laughing or smiling, something interesting happens. Not only does something happen on a chemical level to make you feel better, but it also stops all stress and negativity from entering your psyche. A simple smile can make such a difference. For example, the other day I mishandled a dish and it fell on the floor, breaking into pieces, creating a big mess. Now, I could have been angry with myself for being clumsy and thinking “here’s another reason why life sucks!”. But I did the opposite. I began to smile and kind of make fun of myself for not being able to hold on to that plate properly. As I cleaned up the mess, there was no bitterness or anger. As a matter of fact, I did it with a smile on my face…I did it with peace. So whenever you find yourself in a similar predicament, just think of the silver lining, and don’t be shy to poke fun at yourself. You will quickly realize that peace finds its way much more easily to you when you smile.

Think outwardly
What I mean by this is that most of the time, we are so consumed within our own problems that we can no longer see the forest from the trees. Therefore, it helps to remind ourselves how big the world is. Take a moment and read up about some other countries, cultures, and the likes. Be aware that the world does not revolve around your problems. I find that when I hear about a tsunami or an earthquake killing hundreds of thousands of people on the other side of the world, my problems aren’t really “problems”. Looking beyond ourselves is very important in finding peace and it leads me to my next point.

Care about others
You will never find peace by being self-consumed and only worrying about your own needs and wants. When you begin to genuinely care about other people, so much goodness comes right out. This only helps into solidifying your inner peace. It can be people close to you or pure strangers, but any act of kindness and goodwill eases your way towards peace. When I help other people, I stop focusing on my so-called problems and realize that my life isn’t so bad after all. This rids my entire being of all the stress and feelings of overwhelm. There is great peace and wisdom in thinking and caring about other people, which we are blind to when we are too deep within our own selfish ways.

Never lose hope
Hope is something you can never afford to lose. With hope you always have a path towards peace. Whenever we get too stressed out and overwhelmed within our own life, we forget that hope. We forget that the sun always shines after a rainy day, and that this is merely a bump in the road. I find immense peace in just knowing, deep within my heart, that everything will be ok. With hope, I know that whatever is seemingly terrible, is only temporary and that soon enough, things will be just fine. This lifts off all of that negativity from my entire being, and I feel better pretty much instantly.

Embrace your beliefs
I am not one to pick or favor one belief system over another, so whatever it is that you believe in, embrace it with your entire being. Be within your faith 100% and peace will find its way into your heart. Now, we may all disagree on each other’s beliefs but one thing we must all agree on is that having a solid, healthy faith is crucial in founding a proper conscience that helps into guiding us towards peace and wisdom. There is a reason why research has shown that people that are deeply devoted to their faith have a higher life expectancy and are less likely to have diseases such as cancer. This is because they experience more inner peace, which is important if you want to increase the quality of your life.

Keep learning
One thing that provides us with much stress in life is the fact that we always worry about not having all the answers. Just accepting that you do not know everything, and that you are open to always keep learning is a tremendous step to take towards achieving inner peace. I find great joy in learning all kinds of different things, and just being aware that I am growing as a person each and every day provides me with great feelings of peace. Accept that life is one big journey of never-ending learning and you will find yourself closer to experiencing true peace within yourself.

Live in the present moment
Most of the time, what we worry about is relating to something either in the past, or something that hasn’t happened. Living in the present moment erases all such thoughts. Why worry about something in the past that we cannot ever change? (see point #1, accept what is). Why worry about something that we are not even sure will happen or not? This is why in the present moment, you find true inner peace. In the present moment, there are no problems and no concerns. There is only stillness, and it is within that stillness that you can uncover peace. I used to be such a person that worried all the time, to the point where I had trouble sleeping. Once I learned to live in the present moment, I stopped thinking about the past and any potential future, and just worried about being ever-present in each and every moment. My life is definitely more peaceful since then!

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“What time are we gonna go?” She whined. The head director turned to her and signaled 10, for 10 minutes.
“Who are we waiting for anyway?” The director no longer answered her. Just as she was about to complain yet again, a cab pulled up by the side. She was beginning to get anxious. She knew who was going to get out. She closed her eyes for 3 seconds, wishing it wasn’t true. But as the person in the cab got out, the sky seemed to turn gray.
“Why is he here?” She whispered to the director. The head director just gave her a knowing look.

Their eyes met just as he got his things together. His heart started to beat so fast that it felt as if all the blood pumped straight up to his head. It was her. She was here. Though his emotions seemed to overwhelm him, he didn’t show any sign of surprise. If surprise was what he was feeling at that time. People around them seemed oblivious with the sudden pause. And before anyone could notice, he grabbed his things and hugged the head director. It had been 4 years after all.
“How are you?” She asked him as she kissed his cheek and hugged him.
“I’m good. How about you? You’re looking lovelier than ever.”
“Oh, I’ve been so busy, I don’t even have enough time to go to salons anymore.” The director blushed and tapped his shoulder.
“Well, it must be a gift then to look like that without any effort then.” Trying hard not to look her way again.
“What do you do now? I heard you’re like a manager or some sort.”
“Uh, I’m getting there. For now, I just write stuff.”
“You were always good at that. Now, let’s get going.” She led the group into their respective buses.
As the engines started, a faint shout seemed to echo. “Wait. Wait for me.” Rae, the class queen, appeared through the crowd,running towards them.
“Where’s Arnold?” Looking for the butler that usually accompanied Rae.

◊

To be continued..

So what happens if a similar dream occurs? Or if it’s the same person? Should you think of it as somewhat of a coincidence or destiny? How do you welcome dreams?

You see, I’ve always had this dream about her and how I become this overly martyr type of character. I’d be hurting and bruised, and she would just watch me or make a futile attempt to help me.

Then it hit me. I’ve never gotten over her. I know that my being so selfish and insensitive before had hurt her. I did that. And this is retaliation for the pain I’ve inflicted her. It may seem minimal, but it deflected twice as much on me. Had she told me about what was really going on, and what has been happening to me, this could have been easily avoided. But it is what it is, life.

Being too stubborn to face any issue, I walked away from any relationship that required me to DEAL with it. So any way of closure wasn’t even possible. Now they’re slowly creeping back into my life. Yep, I’m in deep shit, because mostly I’ve cut off ways of communication. Isn’t that just great?!

Up to this date, my ability to forget astounds me. That is how I managed to disassociate myself from recently inflicted pain. It lingers ever so often when I find myself lost in thought. Mystery solved. But will I jeopardize what I have for something completely insane?

Dreams can either break you or make you. Dreams not of your future, not of what you wish to neither be nor accomplish. Dreams that are triggered when you are in deep sweet slumber, where you would often wake up either grinning or sweating. Dreams created by the little things you have come to notice throughout the day and your mind simply takes little pieces of them and makes it into something that makes sense. Lets you remember of what you have ignored for so long.

We need to talk..

The story continues…

More comprehensive updates coming soon.

Can’t wait to watch Percy Jackson and The Olympians. I just think Annasophia Robb would have been perfect to play Annabeth Chase. Oh well.

This is one of those moments where I feel the need to be preoccupied.
This is one of those abrupt pauses in my life where I have to stop and reflect and worry about the world I live in.
The halt hinders me from moving on forward. I’m losing balance.
I suddenly feel so out of it.I didn’t connect with people. I merely

I can not bring myself to tell anyone of this for I fear judgment and criticism.
For I know well deep inside what is to become of their words.
And this awareness deeply saddens me. For I know that in spiritual guidance alone can I find self-content.

Books

Got suggestions?

Focus

As a human with such impulsive behaviors, I am forced to restrain myself from any form of indulging into temporary happiness. Although I get easily distracted, once I have set my mind on something I think of all things possible to get it.
An attitude of “I-get-what-I-want” doesn’t really fit me. As I mentioned, I easily get sidetracked so it’s no surprise at all if I happen to forget today about what I was really into yesterday. Troublesome you think?
That’s why I make sure I keep a note of whatever it is I want to get or want done so I won’t forget. Boy, being in my age is kind of hard. I mean, I’m too young (prolly) to be a bit forgetful.
So does this affect my passion? Passion for what you ask.
Art. Life. Love. And all the other details that come with them.
I do believe I’m a very selfish person. Even though I do good deeds every now and then, or people perceive me as someone who’s too naive to know anything, I am in fact the opposite. For the little things, I do not mind whether it’s a battle of morals. For those life-altering situations, I carefully dig into my 6-feet deep mind and unearth any sensible answer.
Sometimes, I get in too deep and I sort of lose myself. Lose, in a way where I seem to be arguing with myself already. You’d know if in one if you see me looking so dazed, staring at nothing (perhaps, all the time).
I know though, that there’s someone out there who’s just like me. Maybe you. Not a serious matter really. Pretty much all about finding sense out of something that doesn’t seem to have any.

Maybe I’ve been watching too many movies. I need to get out more. Read a good book (No teeny-bopper vampy novels here). Have a long vacation out of the city limits. Go climbing. Anything that can take my mind from the busy life.

I know that in my age, I may be too young to think about getting my own place. But I believe it’s a good way to get my life moving. I don’t want to be stuck in one place, I don’t want to be forced to feel obligated to owe anyone anything. I need to go to greater places. I need to move out. I need to get a driver’s license. And of course, I need to buy a car.

How I hate money and the trouble that comes with it.

Time to get some shuteye.

So much for creating a continuation for the stories I had posted here.
How about we talk about updates. Now that’s something I won’t have to worry about editing some infos.

Well, as you may have noticed, it’s been over 2 months or so that I’ve posted an entry.
I’ve been busy this past few days. I’m currently undergoing some training (work stuff), which will most likely be done by the first week of December.
Second, I’ve enrolled myself for CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate) Training. Being a graduate of BSIT kind of helps, but I don’t think I’m really cut out for the technical or hardware stuff. I’m more into graphics designing.
Third, we have an upcoming event. An event which will take place at CAP Auditorium on December 16. As expected, I’m one of the participants/performers. If it’s not that obvious yet, yes dancing is my passion ever since I was a toddler.
Fourth, I have been living my life.
Fifth, I’m trying to make sense out of it all.

The CCNA training will last til March of next year, I’m still thinking about dropping out. Understanding what our trainer’s been teaching us is not that big of a deal. I’m not some mediocre student who will merely study it thru the internet, read thru the books just to pass. I GET the topic. I honestly don’t think I would need to learn all of this things when I move on to another job in the future. Although, with my current job, it does help. The schedule you ask? Well, two days/sessions a week and ten hours per session. Sometimes, it would take it’s toll and I’d have mermory overload. I didn’t come in today nor will I be attending tomorrow (I’ll explain later.)

As for this skill upgrade training (for work), it’s messy. The schedule is fine, but the schedule of those who’s supposed to handle us is messy. Add to the aggravating part, I can’t nor do any of my batchmates understand this certain trainer. Sure he’s really technical (maybe), but he just doesn’t have the gift to impart knowledge. He did mention that the training we’re going through, we can pretty much study it over the internet. But then what’s the point of going through some dagnabbit training if he can’t teach us anything?! I’m really peeved. It’s a drag to be part of the batch who’s been deprived of technical equipment to practice on. It’s not that I’m complaining. No, rephrase that, I AM complaining. I can’t learn anything within 10 hours of training at this point. I guess my only hope is from someone who’s passed this training to teach me about it. I might learn more. One of the things I’m beginning to hate more throughout this training is this particular person who doesn’t seem to know where to fit in. He is such a drag that if there were people in the room and he suddenly comes in, people would stop talking and walk out. He doesn’t know what a joke means and pretty much thinks he’s all-knowing. During one of our lab exercises, he had gotten pissed off and started to raise his voice. He’s insinuating that he has little patience. Well, FUCK your patience. You will never survive in this type of industry with that kind of attitude. Add to that unfortunate fact that your appalling attitude and personality matches your physical appearance. Double negative. I hope God finds you and lights your way to achieve humility. *no sarcasm here*

For our dance practice, we only get 2 hours a day, five days a week. So far, it’s been good. Well, it’s better than last year’s choreography. And what about our skill upgrade training? Our trainer would give us an hour to have dinner around 6pm, same time our dance practice starts. So I’m basically skipping dinner for it. *insert echo here that says Passion*

Our Christmas Party’s theme for this year is The Academy Awards.
No, I will not wear a dress nor a gown. And yes, I will be wearing a suit. Not some typical suit though. I’m hoping the tailor would get what I wanted the suit to look like. We have movies to present as well. Movies made by the different teams from the office. I get to be an extra in our entry. We’ll start shooting tomorrow and they said we have to get up and meet early. I’m guessing it’ll take all day so I won’t be able to make it to our CCNA training again tomorrow.

Another special occasion will be on November 30. This day will mark our first anniversary as a couple. Suprisingly, the longest relationship I have had other than what I have with my TV. We’re planning to celebrate it on the 29th at a hotel or something. Honestly, my mind is in a stretch right now that I’m not really thinking about it too much. *This is what I get for getting involved in a lot of things* Hopefully, I would have enough time for it.

Amidst the chaos, I’m finding it hard to find my muse. No inspiration or whatsoever to bring life into my words. I’m finding it hard sometimes, when my heart starts to linger somewhere else. Got to focus.

I don’t even have enough time to question about life. Oh what to do?

Til next update

Don’t get me started with explaining my animosity and hatred in detail.
I understand that “Hate” is a very powerful word. One must use it to refer to something beyond dislike. As for my situation where I have to deal with lazy ass sibling that honestly I am not even proud to have.
I am angry at the thought that he even has the right to say that he’s been holding it all in. What does he have to fuckin hold in? His breath? How I wish he’d run out of it and just drop dead.
Death is a grave thing to say about someone. But that someone, for me, deserves it. For all the things he has caused, he doesn’t have any right to complain nor order people around. For he has no worth in this world that people should listen to him.
How I hope and pray he leave this house that he’s not even helping when it comes to paying the bills.
I am very pissed off. I’m paying for most of the things he’s using here at home and he thinks he can just use stuff without my consent?! He knows damn well I don’t like it when he uses my stuff. He’s taken people and things for granted for so long now, I wish God would just take him away somewhere far where he can just shrivel up and die.

Die you good-for-nothing jackass! Die!