To Someone Special: Now, by MYMP :)

Now is all I know
Now is all I got
And I don’t know
If there will be tomorrow for us.

Now is all I care about
Now that you are here
Now that you’re the contents of my heart.

Now you’re all I know
Now is all I promise
And I don’t know
If there will be a future for us.

Now is all I live for
Now that you are near
And it was best that from the start it was clear.

Refrain:
Loving is not owning
We can let it go
We can let it go.

Loving is not owning
You can let me go
You can let me go.

Chorus:
There’s a reason
Why we love each other now
And we don’t know if this is forever.

There’s a reason
Why we are together now
And we don’t care if it’s not forever now.

Now is all I think about
Now that I am happy
And I’m not sure
If there will be a future for us.

Now is all I offer
It’s everything I got
And I still wish
That there will be a tomorrow for us.

(Repeat Refrain)
(Repeat Chorus)
Ad Lib
(Repeat Refrain)
(Repeat Chorus except last word)
(Repeat Chorus)

Coda:
We love each other now…

How I Survived My Quarter-life Crisis…

Wikipedia:
A crisis (plural: crises) may occur on a personal or societal level. It may be a traumatic or stressful change in a person’s life, or an unstable and dangerous social situation, in political, social, economic, military affairs, or a large-scale environmental event, especially one involving an impending abrupt change. More loosely, it is a term meaning ‘a testing time’ or ‘emergency event’.

It happened during the last quarter of 2008.

I felt I was at the peak of my career. I finished my Master’s degree on time, was invited to speak at various IT conferences and conducted trainings. I was even one of the SFD team leaders who were given special mention. Also, I passed the PhilNITS exam and had a great job offer at one of the software companies. It seems that I was really successful. But one thing was lacking: a lovelife. (Yeah, friends, I know…)

Until I met this guy in one of the trainings I attended. Guy X had everything on my Guy Checklist. A good diploma, title, nice and stable job, charming personality, responsible, Catholic, good son, and lives in the city where I wanted to live and build a family. Plus, he even had a car (ahem). Everything was perfect. It was just so hard to resist. I was supposed to be happy. I was. And I definitely enjoyed those times. Life was soooo good to me. But I had a gut-feeling that it was just too good to be true. I had everything I ever wished for. It didn’t feel right. I waited for the dark day to come.

And one day, it did! The relationship ended. Crashed. Crushed. Just like that. At first, I struggled. I wondered what was wrong with me. How could it happen to an awesome and fabulous girl like me?! How can I be a failure? It was just so hard to handle…at first.

But I handled the crisis pretty well.

I didn’t wallow in self-pity or turn into drugs, alcohol or commit suicide. I am a toughie. I just evaluated my life – took a closer look on who I am as a person and realized that there’s nothing wrong with me, at all! I am indeed fabulous! (in my own standards, at least…) 😀

This blog entry is not about “Surviving a breakup” so, I won’t focus on that. It deserves an entirely new entry.

Anyway, amidst all the “getting-over” and “moving forward”, I still had to deal with another dilemma: “Staying or Moving Out”.

I was confused about staying with my current job or moving into another field. It was not a simple decision because it involved moving to another city, looking for a new(and more expensive) house, meeting and working with new people and leaving the people whom I have worked with the past five years. It was a tougher crisis.

These were the questions that kept bothering me:

* Will I be better as a trainer or a teacher?
* Where do I fit: academe or industry?
* Who are the better friends: those in GenSan or those in Cebu?(A stupid question coz all of my friends are equally great!)
* Will I be happier in GenSan or in Cebu?
* Will Company X get hit by the global economic crisis?

But again, I was able to get through it with flying colors…

Here are the things I did:

* Pray – Spiritual guidance really helps
* Talk to friends – especially those who really understand what you are going through and are much eager to help
* Meditate/Reflect – Take some time to be with yourself. Examine your heart and identify your feelings. Know your deepest desires and priorities.
* Read books/blogs – You are not alone! Learn from those who went through similar situations

I am now a better and more mature person because of the crises I have gone through. I am single but happy. At least nobody’s making me cry over nonsense stuff right now. Haha.

And I realized that there was something wrong with my Guy Checklist: I missed the loyal, honest, mature and totally-into-me criteria. No wonder I got the wrong guy! Another thing I realized is that I have a fantastic job here in MSU, which allows me to enjoy the thing I am truly good at: being with and working with people! I will have fun with my current job and look for other opportunities a little later…

How about you? How did you handle your quarter-life crisis?

YOU can do it!

After a week of hardwork, I rewarded myself with 2 really worth-it movies – “Gracie” and “The Express”.

Both movies are all about sports. Gracie was about soccer while The Express was all about football. But beyond the athletics, I loved both films because of this message: “You can do it!”. Gracie was a girl who loved soccer so much she wanted to play on their school’s soccer team – the problem was, it was for males only. A female didn’t have a place in the team. But because of sheer hardwork, determination, and support from her family, she made it to the team! Wow. That was really amazing.

Ernie Davis of “The Express” was a Negro who was so good at playing football. Despite all the descrimination he got from the whites, he outplayed them all and showed them what he’s got.

No one can tell you what you can and cannot do. If you believe in yourself, focus on your goal, and give it your best shot, you’ll succeed in whatever you want to do.

What on Earth am I Here for?

I recently read Bo Sachez’s blog about Fulfilling My Life Purpose. It was as usual, a well written and meaningful article. It stirred me to reflect about my life’s purpose and ponder on these two questions:

Question #1: What do you love to do?

Question #2: Where do you excel?

According to Bo, in order to discern your purpose, you have to make an inventory of your gifts and rate them from 1 to 10

So here’s mine:

• Leadership/Organizing/Directing People – 7. I feel that this is my gift. I can safely say that I excel in this area. I know how to deal with and handle people. But I have more things to learn so it’s only a 7.
• Writing – 7. I love to write. I even started writing novels/short stories when I was 12. I loved reading so much and I figured I could also write my own book. But those were mostly love stories and I haven’t finished those pieces.
• Teaching – 6. I am not so sure about this rating. My teaching performance varies a lot because it’s affected by many factors such as: my interest in the subject, level of intelligence of my students, and mood of the day. Geez… But, I hear feedback from my students that I’m doing pretty well… Hmm…that’s very nice to hear and I sure hope they’re sincere about it. 🙂
• Painting (mostly landscapes and sunsets) – 5. When I was in high school, we were required to paint using charcoal and water color. I was totally in love with it. Some people said that I was good in it but I haven’t really spent so much time with it. It’s been like 8 years since I last painted. 😦
• Cooking – 4. I can cook and I’d love to learn more about it. It’s currently not one of my priorities though.
• Speaking – 5. I still have a lot to learn but I’m glad I’m improving quite a lot lately.
• Athletics – 1. Gosh. I am so poor in this area. I am a certified LAMPA. 😀
• Interior decoration, arrangement, etc related to house keeping – 1. I know I can do better in this area and I sometimes get into the mood of cleaning and keeping things in order but that happens once in a blue moon.

After coming up with this inventory, I have realized that I really have to focus and master the skill of leadership. Unfortunately for me, my current work doesn’t give me much opportunity to hone this skill. Although this skill is also very important in the classroom environment because essentially, you have to be a good leader to your students. Hmm…

Other important insights I gained from Bo’s article are these:

• Forget your weaknesses. Stop giving so much energy to them. Delegate.
• Focus 80% of your attention, time, and energy in developing your strengths.
• Focus the remaining 20% in developing your new strengths.

I will try to be a  laser rather than a flashlight.

A flashlight and a laser are both made of the same element: Light. But a laser is a thousand times more powerful than a flashlight because it’s focused light. A flashlight is pretty harmless, but a laser can cut through the thickest steel. – Bo Sanchez

Summer: A Typical Day

It’s been a fantastic summer so far. I’ve never learned so much in so little time. Hooray! 🙂

Here’s how I spend a typical summer workday:
1. Read Didache and thank the Lord for another wonderful day.

2. Read important emails and blog feeds (Bo Sanchez’s and Sacha’s usually).

3. Toast bread, drink Milo, and cook bfast.

4. Shower (I have to shower first before I use the computer to avoid hurting my eyes).

5. Start work at ODesk.

6. Prepare for the afternoon classes.

7. Go to class (1-4pm). Simultaneous class: It120 and CSC1 (Multitasking! Hehe… :D)

8. Go home and discuss with UK boss about ODesk assignment or just continue where I left off from my assignment.

9. Cook or eat dinner (I usually cook viand once a day – in the morning. Just to save – both time and money!). 😉

10. Watch a movie or TV. Or do social networking. Fun! Relax. 🙂

I am supposed to be playing badminton on Saturday mornings but my constant badminton buddies – Angem and Sir Monching are having a grand vacation so it’s currently out of my schedule.

Sartudays now are for the laundry (which keep on piling up since I worked at ODesk) and still work…at ODesk or checking papers…If I have money + time then I go out with friends, do the grocery or just shop around..

Sundays are for mass, laundry, or pressing clothes. Most of the time, I am a couch potato and just watch movies. =)

The Climb by Miley Cyrus

I like this song by Miley Cyrus. Very Inspiring. It concretely describes the state I am now at achieving my Life Goals… =) Just Keep Moving Forward and Have Faith!

The Climb by Miley Cyrus

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there’s a voice inside my head saying
“You’ll never reach it”

Every step I’m taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

The struggles I’m facing
The chances I’m taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I’m not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I’m gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

‘Cause there’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb, yeah!

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody’s gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It’s all about, it’s all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Movie Review: Taken

For those who haven’t watched the movie “Taken”, I suggest you do. I really, really enjoyed watching it. Nice treat! 🙂 I was holding my breath the whole time!

It was a good break from a very busy week!

Things I’m Good At

I am good at:

• doing Research. I love learning lots of new and exciting things on the Web especially about how it has changed the way people work, play, and live life. I love finding more about the latest in information technology including cool stuff such as gadgets and software. I would love to help you create new materials for your presentations by doing the research work for you.

• organizing events and leading people. One of the most successful events that I have organized is the Software Freedom Day 08 celebration in General Santos City, which earned a special mention from the SFD Organization. I was able to pull off some great talents from the students, fellow faculty members, and people from the government and business sectors. I have always dreamed of being an Events Coordinator for special events like Weddings. =)

• proofreading.

• making slideshow prsentations. I use them often during trainings/seminars/lectures.

I want to learn more about or get better at:

• writing blogs.

• Testing software/programs. I really love running tests on student programs and I’m interested on how people at industries do software testing (quality checks).

• image editing using tools like PhotoShop and GIMP and create special invitation cards… I have a lot of learning to do in this area.

• public speaking. I want to learn some techniques on keeping the audience/participants interested.

• teaching or mentoring. I want to improve my teaching skills in a way that motivates the students to learn more about a topic (even boring ones)

Working at ODesk: Things Learned

Weeeeh!!!!!!!

It’s been a week since I’ve worked at ODesk. I find it really cool and amazing! I learned about ODesk from Sacha Chua. I got interested so I created a profile at ODesk and took the tests. Luckily, I got a perfect score on the ODesk Readiness Test and managed to pass the other tests (HTML 4.01, English, Unix Shell Scripting). Yehey!!! *clap* 😀

With much confidence, I applied to 3 jobs: a Wedding Blog, Health and Fitness Blog, and Assistanceship in Writing a Training Manual.

Guess what? I was rejected for the first job because someone was already hired. BUT I got interviewed by an employer and he told me that the job I’m applying for is already filled but he wanted me to apply to another job that he posted. However, he required me to create a hub at HubPages and a lens in Squidoo, which I know I wouldn’t be able to do at that time because I wasn’t familiar with both platforms and I am busy preparing for my summer lessons. But the buyer said he read my blogs and he’s impressed with my writing. Awww…. I felt happy that he wanted to hire me for his other projects in the future. Happy! 😀

Luck struck again when I was interviewed for the Training Manual job. I was hired right after the interview and I was more than excited to start! 🙂

Some of the things I learned or re-learned are the following:

1. Using Skype for voice communications – And discovering that there are times when you hear the other person so clearly and he can’t hear any word from you AT ALL!

2. Using TeamViewer – I was amazed! And I’m already a techie! Imagine that.

3. Installed MS Office 2007 (with reluctance) because my boss required me to. We needed to have a common tool for the manual. Sorry, OpenOffice.org Writer….

4. Google Talk is clearer and better than Skype – in my case. Because I can hear my boss at the other line.

5. oDesk tools are fantastic! Wow!

Hmm… I can’t wait to receive my ODesk Debit MasterCard! Yipee! 🙂