Me before You aftermath

Remembering the recent book that I just finished reading a week ago, I just can’t help but think about my life. Me before you is a fiction book which in general tackles about how you should live your life despite your doubts, fear, limited possessions, lack of confidence to pursue your passions and ofcourse, letting go of someone you really love. It’s a story where I can relate my life in so many ways. Aside from being such a heartbreaking story, I really find it motivational. So to attest that this book has touched my inner core and somehow changed my perception about life, I’m going to share some of my favorite lines that I highlighted. Anyway, upon reading Jojo Moyes book, tissue is just the best companion I ever had. It brought me to tears! 

“I hadn’t realized that music could unlock things in you, could transport you to somewhere even the composer hadn’t predicted. It left an imprint in the air around you, as if you carried its remnants with you when you went.”

“I will never, ever regret the things I’ve done. Because most days, all you have are places in your memory that you can go to”

“Some mistakes… Just have greater consequences than others. But you don’t have to let the result of one mistake be the thing that defines you. You, Clark, have the choice not to let that happen.”

"Astonishingly, not all girls get dressed just to please men."

“Push yourself. Don’t settle. Just live well. Just LIVE.”

Quality vs. Quantity

Over the years, I’ve encountered different circumstances in my life that somehow changed my perception on things or people around me. I always thought having so much around you, like gadgets, clothes, shoes, bags and all the good stuffs in the world regardless of its worth  are what matter most. Same goes with having plenty of friends, I’m always thinking that if you have countless of peers you are less likely to be alone and you will have shoulders to cry or to lean on. Well, at some point in our lives, quantity did matters to us not until you’ve finally learned that above all of these, it’s quality that counts.

I’ve come to know now that it’s not really the number of things that you possessed or countless of friends in your life that you have that counts but it’s how useful or sensible they have been throughout these years. I know, it’s hard to just let things go especially when your life has been attached to it for so long but I also realized that if that certain thing has no use anymore, it’s best to just dropped it down rather than stressing yourself fixing it.

 This can be applied too in your camaraderie. Time will really come that some of your friends you thought are real will unconsciously or intently betray you in a way that you didn’t expect. Since that time I learned about it and unfortunately experienced it, I have these trust issues already. It doesn’t matter to me anymore whether I only have one or two friends left as long as they are genuine to the extent that even if I’m not around, she doesn’t hit my back. I mean, I’m through with fake friends. I’m done with those type of friends who keep pulling you down, treat you as their adversary, keeping a secret from you, and lying at you. I'm not even sure if they should still be considered as friends. I don’t need a pain in the arse. I’m fed up with people who are only good when they needed something from you. It’s true that too much is bad for you so why waste time with people who bring you so much stress when you have some few true friends to fill your life with happiness, right? Let’s start living a life with quality of friends that lessen our agony in this world full of fake and treacherous people.

So yes, better yet, start unloading some of those baggage you are carrying and just focus on the things that only matters now. 

Bicol Diary: Calaguas Sunset

When was the last time you glanced at the sky and appreciate its beauty?

This afternoon, when heaven was on its golden hour, I can’t help myself but stared at it. Once again, it was at its finest. Sunset never fails to amaze me. If there will be something I will never get tired of seeing, it would be between the sun kissing the day goodbye and the night coming in. it’s just the best time of the day that reminds me of a lot of beautiful things. It reminds me that God is beyond amazing.

And speaking of Sunset, Calaguas, aside of its crystal clear water and fine sand, this beautiful island also got this amazing view to grasp this wonderful hour that makes someone like me to love this place even more. I won't mind spending again another day or two in this place without internet connection. Srsly, that day when I was there I never felt worried about things in connection with facebook, Instagram or the world wide web itself. The only thing that bothered me that day was having no communication with my loveones. As far as I can remember, I never told them that the place I’m about to set my foot in is a rural kind of area in which you need to take an hour ride of boat before getting back to the urban life. Forget about the big and strong waves you will go through. Lol. And though I was a bit afraid when we already reached the middle where nothing you can see but full body of water, I would still love to go back there and again, gaze up at the sky and be amaze of it. Not to mention the stars falling from the sky I saw that night. It was one of the rare moments I wanna happen again and when it does, I’ll make sure I’m already with someone who makes it even more special. J

How about you? What particular event in your life that makes you feel good or better? I don’t mind if we both have the same in mind. Sunset is just as irresistibly amazing as God. J

Life is short

Have you ever had that dream that you are going to die? And thank Goodness because you were able to wake up before you see yourself in a coffin where people would look at you and feel compassionate about you. Aww. What a nightmare! Death is just a scary word to me.

This morning I just had that kind of dream. I was in a scenario where I’m surrounded by people I knew but I haven’t met yet in personal. We were so happy until a baby polar bear bit my hand that causes my blood in my lower body to run out in exaggerated way. Lol. I can’t explain. And now it’s making me do a research about diagnosis or probabilities that could possibly happen if you are being bitten by those large animals. If I were to base it on the movie “The Revenant” starred by Leonardo DiCaprio where he was attack by a big black Polar bear, I will likely to survived except that it’s a movie and he is the main character which makes him impossible to die. Haha Though at first I thought he will die and get a second life but what happened was, he gradually survived.

Anyway, what makes me came up with this idea of sharing to you about my near death dream is the thought that Life is really short. And just like what happened to Christina earlier today, anyone could lose their one and only life in just a bit of anything. Recently, she was just having her concert and then few hours after, she’s gone. Life is truly unpredictable. No one can actually tell when or how it will be taken from us. And as far as I can vividly remember, throughout that nightmare where I’m about to die, all I’m thinking about was that I’m afraid of leaving my mom and my other loveones that I keep on thinking about them while trying to save my life.

Nevertheless, next thing I know is that I’m not literally and figuratively ready to die yet and I think the only way for me to stop believing the ethos that life is too short is when I already live my life well. As of this time, I still have so much to do with this life I have. I’m not even in the halfway yet. so I hope that God above will allow me to enjoy my life first before my time is up. And though bears are bit of scary, I would still love to see those in reality and no, not to let them eat me like what I had in my dream. haha

Bicol Diary: Take me to the Beach

I'll look back on this because it was life and I decided to live it.

Summer time is ending and I'm still daydreaming of beaches so might as well I share my pieces of adventure to different shorelines I had months ago.

Last year, I got a job that allowed me to explore more places in our country. It was the best job I ever had yet anyway. It brought me to places I didn’t know exist. And as a first timer field researcher, I was so lucky to be assigned in one of the most beautiful regions in the Philippines which is BICOL.  Aside from being known as the house of Mayon Volcano, this region is more than that. There are so many other beautiful places such as beaches to be explored or atleast, to experience. Thank Goodness I got to do both and that made my love for travelling deepened. Here we go to my overview of beaches I've gone to.

Sorsogon

Ticao Island, Masbate

Altamar, Ticao Island, Masbate

Calaguas Island,Camarines Norte

On my coming posts I will give you more information about each of these resorts. For now, let me just recall those memories I made there.  Among of these beaches, Calaguas Island is my favorite. I don't mind going back to that beautiful island. WOW. JUST WOW was all I kept on saying when we got there. I was in awe. Indeed, God is amazing! He never cease surprising those who explore. 

Little things I thank God they Exist

In this generation despite of all the cruelties happening around us now, there are still some things that make me feel grateful about. And those talented and creative people who come up with these brilliant ideas leave me in awe. The stuffs listed below are mostly my companion when I’m alone or sometimes when I wanted to escape once in a while from reality and contemplate.

Coffee

Who wouldn’t enjoy a cup of coffee every morning, on rainy days or during exams and you need to stay up late at night to study? I must admit that I’m not a coffeeholic kind of person but ever since I had those sleepless nights where I need to stay up late just to review my lessons for the board exam, this caffeinated liquid was my best companion. And whether you agree or not, its smell! I would kill one or two hours inside a coffee shop just to smell the scent of it! One of the best!

Music

Aside of making its lyrics as your status, tweet or caption, the sound of every beat and message of the songs are just a perfect way to lose yourself from stress and mood swings. There is something about it that makes me feel like I’m in another world. And yes! Who wouldn’t feel at ease on listening to mellow playlist when you got your broken? Dear! It’s the best torture! Lol. But! Yeah! Music is one of the reason I thank God I’m alive. *exageratedfeelinginserthere Indeed, classic Abba is true when they sung “thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing, …the joy they’re bringing”. Ops! The song is currently playing. 

Book.

First of all I’m not like those book nerds who constantly read books almost everyday of their lives but similar to them after finishing a book, it makes me hard to get over the characters. Give me a week or two to forget the feeling the book left me. lol And personally, book is a big help and one of my best buddy in broadening my vocabulary and that’s the main reason why I like to read. J

Internet

Do I need to say more?  I think it’s just the only thing in the world that turns someone from being extrovert into introvert and whose entire life is dependent to anyone but miraculously became independent because why not, she got this whole thing where she could ask something and in secs, the answer is up and yes! Internet got social medias too where a very shy type girl or boy can be a superstar in just a matter of likes of her thousands selfies! Lol! But in my case, it’s different. Aside from helping me easily connected to my friends and loveones, it also made me an instant activist! Haha! But srsly, I thank God world wide web exist because it simply helps me to become a better person by getting inspired by successful people and it allows me to see another side of a person or the world itself. Overall, internet is something I struggle a day without! Lol.

  

And there you go! Those 4 are just some of the many things that make me feel extra happy and yes! turn me into a constant Thank-God -for-this kind of person every day! How ‘bout you? :)

A Letter I wrote to Myself

 Be who you are. Stay as you are. Be YOU. Don’t pretend to be someone else.BE YOURSELF ALWAYS.

 And the list goes on. These are just some of the words you hear from people who give you advice when you try to please someone, make them happy and atleast sway them to like you.

In this generation where a lot of people particularly women or young ladies trying to stand out among others, be someone YOU SHOULD BE and act in accordance to what really makes you happy and not on how others dictate you to be nor what is popular. But then it’s easier said than done right? It’s so hard to keep it real especially now that there are so many disparaging individuals who throw bad words over someone else and bad-mouth them to anyone like they have known that particular person for a long time. Yes! Some people nowadays are so quick to judge without even having full knowledge as to why a person act or talk the way she does. And whether you agree or not, Social Media has a big impact on that. Somehow, we are what we are because of what we see on internet.

 But hey! Never change yourself just to prevent those criticisms from coming. Never pretend you enjoy basketball just because your crush likes it. Don’t wear that dress that makes you look saggy just because the girl on Instagram said it was comfy. Do not eat that food that so expensive just for you to have something to share on Facebook. Don’t post that photo that makes you look like a porn star just to gain hundreds of likes. But tell the world that you enjoyed that muddy ride with your friends, share that spoiled but yummy fried chicken that you accidentally overcooked for the first time, tell anyone how much you are comfortable with that natural tanned skin that you got from your parents’ genes, post that photo that doesn’t need more filters because you think you are already beautiful with that barely naked face, say those words that you think is right and if it’s not, you still have the right to express yourself anyway!

Whatever it is that makes you feel good and happy and as long as you are not hurting anybody, do it! Don’t think twice just because people will judge you. Honey, there will always be a number of people who will remain negative about you no matter how good you think you are. People will always have something to say and you? You just gotta have to keep on going. Your world will never stop for them nor revolves around them. So whatever! We only got one life to enjoy this fun adventure. Never compromised yourself!

And these are the words I wanted to tell myself. 

I hope you find peace and happiness in minding your own kind world! 

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