Prayer for my stressed mind & soul

It's just Monday, but it feels like I've been working for how many days already. All my energy were used up and I haven't even accomplished all the tasks I listed in my MONDAY TO-DO LIST. =( And tomorrow, will also be another busy day. It's the last day of the month and I have to finish the payroll. Poor me.

I've been trying to memorize the Serenity Prayer. It's like an encouragement to my stressed mind, body and soul. It's a prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr.

I want to share this to all of you.

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

7 FACTS about ME

I seldom reply to memes. It's not that I'm too lazy to think about what to post (sometimes, hehehe) but I really don't have much time anymore. Well well, here's my reply Mich. :) Seven FACTS about yours truly.

1. STRESS MAKES ME FAT. Yeah, it's true. The more I'm pressured, the more I eat. Even during school days, I always request Mama to buy some cookies & junk foods when I have exams & long quizzes. Munching while studying keeps me awake all night! :) hehehe...
2. I'M TURNING 24 BUT I STILL LOVE WATCHING CARTOONS. I love watching The Powerpuff Girls, The Tom & Jerry Show, Spongebob and The Little Lulu Show. I also love to collect Piglet & Pooh stuffs.
3. I AM AN UNICA HIJA. I'm an only child. Used to be a spoiled brat but somehow learned to accept the fact that I cannot have everything that I want to have.
4. I AM A FRUSTRATED BUSINESS WOMAN. Super frustrated but still hopefull. I've been through a lot of different small businesses, but I failed. I do know the basics of bookkeeping and accounting. But I was just too lazy to account everything. My fault. So? I always end up with making tapal because I forgot where did I used some of my capital and even the profit. Nawala lang. Hehehe. It;'s either spent on worthless stuff or used it to pay some other debts.
5. ASIDE FROM BEING AN UNICA HIJA, MY MOM IS ALSO AN UNICA HIJA. Yep. My Mama is also an only child. That makes my family so small, sa Mama's side.
6. I LOVE VIOLET & PINK. Violet used to be my only favorite color before I met Ian. Ian is a friend who became a boyfriend but due to personal matters, the relationship went back to the same level, being just friends again. He love punk so much and he associates pink to the music genre. Pink is punk daw. hehehe. Ako nakikisabay rin, that's when I learned to love pink until now.
7. I LOVE TO BE IN THE KITCHEN. Not because of eating, but because of baking. And now, I've learned to cook, I've been thinking of taking culinary arts in the near future. Matagal pa siguro, wala pa akong enough na ipon. Hehehe. I find happiness in cooking ;)

Now that I'm done, I'm tagging Trish, Megan, Rocelyn, Eunice, Dorsey, Nicole & Danielle. :) Have a happy weekend everyone! :)

I Made It! :)

Yeah! I finally made it! I've achieved one of my long term goals, and that is to be able to stay longer than four months in a company. I really can't believe it. Parang kailan lang... I can still remember how Mama and Lola used to doubt my decision of accepting the job offer. They keep on saying that Davao is way too far and maybe the company would just give me a minimum wage. But I didn't listen to them. I kept on telling them that this is a a chance that I really have to take. I told them I want to learn how to be independent. I think accepting the job opportunity is one best way for me to become emotionally and financially independent. And yes, this career experience that I'm going through right now gave me more than what I expected.

Looking back, I've made a lot of realizations. I realized that no matter how busy and happy I am here in Durian Republic, I would still long for the comfort and warmth of my little hometown. There's really no place like home. I already learned to love Davao, but I would still want to settle down in Bacolod. I also realized that cooking is not that hard. ;) And so is doing the laundry too (syempre with the help of the ever useful washing machine). I also realized that I need to have longer patience and I should be more disciplined in everything that I do so that I can be more productive and efficient not only in work but also in terms of house chores (no choice, wala akong maid dito! hehehe) and other extra curricular activities. And another very significant realization that I made is that CONSTANT PRAYER, PRAYING THE HOLY ROSARY & HEARING (DAILY) MASS CURES DEPRESSION & HOMESICKNESS. Tested and proven by yours truly. :)

Sweet success. :) This is what I'm feeling right now. Another goal to pursue is maintaining my savings account until the end of the year. And another is to really take good care of not only my job but also my other small business (sidelines!). I know I can make it. I just need to have more faith in myself and with God :)

Thank you so much to all my family, friends (including those whom I've met through blogging), and to all my co-workers for believing in me and for all those encouragements. I know that without you guys, I wouldn't make it this far. And most of all, thank you so much Dear God for never leaving my side.

Yeah I’m Fat.. but I’m beautiful :p

Yesterday, I decided to change my hair style. I’m sick and tired of my long hair. I’ve been having second thoughts since last month because I know that if I cut my hair short, I’d look fat. No no.. I’m not slim either, but having a short hair would make me look like a siopao. Hahaha =)

July 14, 2007

July 22, 2007

But I really wanted to have a new look. And it’s so expensive to maintain a long hair. As what I’ve expected, almost everybody in the office commented that I look fat with my new hair style. So? Mataba naman talaga ako ah? But I’m still beautiful. FAT IS BEAUTIFUL ;) Hahahaha :p

I’m planning to go back to the gym next month. I’m still trying to fix my budget. I really want to get back in shape, not too slim, just the average type of body that I used to have last year before I arrived here in Davao City. And by the way, this day marks my 1st year here in Durian Republic. And tomorrow, I will be celebrating my 1st year anniversary of hard work & patience in Waffle Time, Inc. Yahooo!! At last, I’ve succeeded in one of my long term goals. Another goal to pursue is my savings plan. Short term goal, before my birthday this coming October, my savings account should have atleast five thousand bucks in it. And it should double by the end of the year. I know I can make it. Discipline. Discipline. Discipline. And patience too. I need to have both. Wish me luck friends ;)

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Last July 21 is my beautiful grandma's 77th birthday. My mama prepared a little celebration for her since we're really on tight budget right now. I enjoyed talking with my Papa Gil (my Lola's youngest brother) and also with his wife, Mama Aida last Saturday. Mama invited just a few guests, all of them are actually our relatives. I've talked to Lola and I'm very sure she was happy and contented with that little celebration though I'm not home. It's my phone calls and the present that I've sent her that made her happier I think. :) Syempre... the only grand daughter, spoiled pa! hehehe :) I love you Lola! May you have more birthdays to come. :)

TGIF ;)

I am happy! :) Thank God it's Friday! Time passes by so fast whenever I'm busy. Tsk tsk tsk... Got a lot of reports to update. I need time management.. Whew! Can't think of something to post now. Maybe next week :) I'll just post a simple prayer. I just want to express how thankful I am for everything.

Thank you Lord for never leaving my side. :) Thank you for all the good and bad experiences, they molded me into a fine young lady that I am today. Please do continue to bless me, my family and my friends. Please keep my family away from harm, keep them safe always in Your Holy Hands. :) Amen.

Saving for the rainy days

I'm back :) Joni's post made me think of blogging about it too. I want to share my way of saving for the rainy days. Last year, I've managed to allocate at least 10-20% of my salary every payday. I've accumulated a not so small yet not so large amount by the December 2006 but came January, I have to go home to attend the burial of our Lola Puring, my Lola's older sister. And when I went back here, I was shock to discover that all my savings vanished in thin air. Teeehee :D How did it happen? Just like Tina, I'm also wondering why money go away so fast? One would take at least 15 days of hard work to earn it and then in just one day, swoosh... hahaha :) Wala na! :/

So here I am now, back to scratch. I actually asked a friend to help me with my savings. I know I just need to have discipline and a basic knowledge in budgeting but I really think that having someone to constantly remind me that tomorrow might be a disaster day will make me achieve my financial goals smoothly. I once again opened a savings account with BPI since it's also the same bank where our salary is being onlined. I enrolled my savings account online so that I can schedule a monthly transfer from my payroll account to my savings account. My friend back in Bacolod is the keeper of my ATM Card. She volunteered keep it for me so that I will not be tempted to use make withdrawals ans she will also check my account every payday, to see to it that I am paying myself atleast 10% of my salary.

From January until May, kakarampot lang ang savings ko. But I've partnered with a friend and invested my little savings in a small business. Now, my invested money earns atleast 5% a month. Not bad at all. :)

It's really important to pay ourselves first before others every payday. It's one way of making our future secure. You can never tell what will happen tomorrow. It's a good thing if you've got lots of friends who are all willing to lend you moolah when you're sick if you don't have enough cash to pay for all your medical expenses, but one can never tell. What if all of your friends and even your family are also having financial difficulties? What would you do? You see, it really pays to save. Just like Tina, she was able to make use of what she had saved.

I recommend Francisco Colayco's book to those who want to learn more about the importance of savings. Mr. Colayco suggests the 80-20 rule or also known as the Pareto Principle. Save 20% of your active income (income from regular job) and budget the 80% for your daily expenses and other needs or maybe wants. It's a must-read book for all yuppies out there :) Let's make it a habit to save. :)

Food Trip

Yesterday after work, we went out for dinner. Four of us from the office and also our Territory Manager who arrived last Thursday for a surprise visit, scouted the streets in the downtown area looking for a good resto. Syempre, we were all looking for an Eat All You Can buffet and our feet took us to Dencio’s Kamayan.

For only Php98.00, we filled our stomachs with delight! Yummy! Hehehe.. Too bad I wasn’t able to take pictures of the food that they have served but I really like their Chop Seuy and their Java Rice. =)

Later, I will be watching Transformers. Hehehe =)

B-R-E-A-K

Yeah! I need a break, as in B-R-E-A-K! Everyday seems to be a busy day. After doing the payroll, there are still a lot of reports to finish and then it's clearing period again. I feel like dying :( But on the positive side, I've been monitoring our sales everyday and I really want to thank God for the super duper blessing! :) Our area is doing good compared to last year's sales and compared to other area also, we're really doing well this past two months. I salute all our outlet crews, OICs and Supervisors for the job well done. I hope and I pray that this will continue until the end of the year. (Lord please... it's the only thing that makes our big boss smile! :) hahaha...)

I still haven't watched Transformers, even Fantastic Four! :( I'm gonna watch Transformers this Saturday afternoon after work. I need a big break and I've got to treat myself :) I need to be good to myself. Hehehe :)

Still have a lot of things to do. Ciao! :)