Instead of chasing happiness, enjoy it. Instead of putting off life until later, live it fully where you are.
There is only the slightest connection between your external circumstances and the level of genuine joy you experience. This moment is, more than anything else, what you make it.
There are endless varieties of positive and negative influences in your world. Yet the only ones that resonate within you are the ones you actually choose to identify with.
Your very nature is to be alive, aware, creative and spectacularly effective. Let go of your doubts, and allow your true nature to shine through.
Take a loving inventory of all that is right with your life. Focus on those things that have real value, and they will grow.
You have every reason to live more richly and joyfully today than ever before. Choose now to let the best of who you are be free to fully live.
-- Ralph Marston
It's my first time to spend Christmas (and New Year) away from home. It's a different feeling going through the Christmas-rush shopping for people other than close family, friends and godchildren. I just want to feel that sense of Christmas spirit no matter where I am or whom I'll spend Christmas with.
Holidays are coming! Malls' have extended their hours for last-minute shoppers (like me!), further down discounts (cooool!), people at work have gone off for vacation, less cars in office parking and filled-up parking at the malls, Christmas lights and music everywhere (I put some lights on my balcony and christmas cd in my car hahaha!), Christmas cards, gifts, parties...
But I still can't help but miss Manila's Christmas...simbang gabi then puto bumbong and bibingka, parols, saving coins for those makulit kids singing carols with their improvised instruments, kris kringle, Divisoria, bazaars, decorating the christmas tree, wondering how old your mga inaanak (at sino sino nga ba sila) so you can buy more suitable gifts, queso de bola, goldilocks or red ribbon's christmas cakes, Purefoods ham, mom's or dad's arroz caldo, and the list goes on.
To mom, dad and Rayms, Merry Christmas! (I have to end this kasi baka maiyak na ako hehehe! )
Last Thursday, I had my first (grown-up) picture-taking with Santa. Move over kids, Santa said I can sit on his lap. It was Hidden Lake's Christmas party. There were snacks and treats and horse-drawn carriage rides for all the residents. Feeling Christmas-y!
We went to watch an IMAX 3d movie at Indianapolis State Museum. I can't remember if it was my first time to watch a full-length 3D movie but I really enjoyed it. We watched the Polar Express which I haven't seen yet. I like the story, it's cute. At first I was having difficulty with my eyes adjusting but after a few minutes, I was getting the hang of it. I felt like I was in the movie and not just watching it. Kewl!
We also went to the Indianapolis Zoo. I was thrilled seeing a polar bear, a huge walrus and cute meerkats though I also pity them. I remember those cartoon films like Happy feet, Nemo, Madagascar, etc where the animals are being confined in the zoo while people are delighted watching them. Anyways, the zoo has this dome and a dolphin show. The show wasn't as great as I expected and the dome was solely for dolphins. Singapore's Underwater world and the dolphin show at Sentosa are way much better.
The White River Gardens, part of the zoo, has this beautiful conservatory filled with christmas flowers, plants and a featured showcase of mini-trains and parks. The ensemble was so pleasing and relaxing.
Do you have a particular song that whenever you hear it, whatever mood you are in, it just makes you smile, pump up the volume and begin singing?
"Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing Thanks for all the joy they're bringing Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty What would life be? Without a song or a dance what are we? So I say thank you for the music For giving it to me"
Speaking of music, I'm proud to say that I come from a family of musicians. My dad, who is now retired, started playing trumpet and later on he had his own orchestra. I remember when I was much younger, I would see him listening to his old tape recorder and writing music notes. At that time, I didn't understand why he had to rewind the tape everytime and copy the tone in his piano and then write the notes on this white-colored lined paper (I think they call it white staff paper). Yun pala, he was writing notes for every instrument of his band, for every song that they will play. Imagine! Sobrang hard work non! But of course, that was long time ago, hindi pa uso ang technology sa music.
It's not hard to imagine my mom would've been wooed by my dad's talents. I remember listening to stories that he and his siblings were invited to go to different barrios to play their music. Well, it is still happening now, except that the siblings are playing with their own bands or families in different countries. To name a few, the first on my list is Uncle Roy, a keyboardist, who is a member of Society of Seven. They're playing regularly in Las Vegas (with Lani M.) and based in Hawaii. Too bad I missed the show when I went there last 2004. They also had several shows in Manila and I remembered they have this Broadway-like production numbers, hilarious antics and celebrity impersonations. Uncle Roy imitated Tina Turner and Michael Jackson. He was really funny and very good!
It's all about jazz for my cousin Rachel. She is a famous jazz artist in Malaysia. She sometimes performs with her dad, Uncle Ador, plaxing the sax. I haven't seen them perform but I will someday when I go there.
And of course, my favorite, my brother, who is a very good vocalist, not to mention he plays guitar too. I was practically stunned when I first saw his college-band video were he was singing this hard metal music. My brother, who looks like an angel (ehem ehem!) singing a loud, full of rage music?! Is this why your friends baptized you with the name Rage? Just kidding, Rayms! I appreciate your music no matter how irritating they are. Hahaha! I still have your video in Gweilo's singing and playing Jeepney :) I miss you so much, happy happy birthday!!!
Basically, all my relatives from my dad's side are musicians.
As for me, ayun, wala akong natutunan na instrument! Actually, I tried to learn playing a piano and guitar but I stopped. Then singing but out of tune. Oh yes, I remembered we had this all-female band from my previous company and I was the trying-hard vocalist. Oh, that was fun! And it was just really for fun! And so, naging audience na lang ako. I just enjoy watching and listening to my family, friends and my favorite celebrity singers. I know... you would say, si Regine. Yeah, I influenced by her music since high school when I watched her first major concert on tv. From then on, I tried not to miss any of her major concerts and shows.
Well, I guess I can't really get tired of music...and can't live...and couldn't have lived without it (...in all honesty, what would life be?...)
It's my first time to spend Christmas (and New Year) away from home. It's a different feeling going through the Christmas-rush shopping for people other than close family, friends and godchildren. I just want to feel that sense of Christmas spirit no matter where I am or whom I'll spend Christmas with.
Holidays are coming! Malls' have extended their hours for last-minute shoppers (like me!), further down discounts (cooool!), people at work have gone off for vacation, less cars in office parking and filled-up parking at the malls, Christmas lights and music everywhere (I put some lights on my balcony and christmas cd in my car hahaha!), Christmas cards, gifts, parties...
But I still can't help but miss Manila's Christmas...simbang gabi then puto bumbong and bibingka, parols, saving coins for those makulit kids singing carols with their improvised instruments, kris kringle, Divisoria, bazaars, decorating the christmas tree, wondering how old your mga inaanak (at sino sino nga ba sila) so you can buy more suitable gifts, queso de bola, goldilocks or red ribbon's christmas cakes, Purefoods ham, mom's or dad's arroz caldo, and the list goes on.
To mom, dad and Rayms, Merry Christmas! (I have to end this kasi baka maiyak na ako hehehe! )
Last Thursday, I had my first (grown-up) picture-taking with Santa. Move over kids, Santa said I can sit on his lap. It was Hidden Lake's Christmas party. There were snacks and treats and horse-drawn carriage rides for all the residents. Feeling Christmas-y!
We went to watch an IMAX 3d movie at Indianapolis State Museum. I can't remember if it was my first time to watch a full-length 3D movie but I really enjoyed it. We watched the Polar Express which I haven't seen yet. I like the story, it's cute. At first I was having difficulty with my eyes adjusting but after a few minutes, I was getting the hang of it. I felt like I was in the movie and not just watching it. Kewl!
We also went to the Indianapolis Zoo. I was thrilled seeing a polar bear, a huge walrus and cute meerkats though I also pity them. I remember those cartoon films like Happy feet, Nemo, Madagascar, etc where the animals are being confined in the zoo while people are delighted watching them. Anyways, the zoo has this dome and a dolphin show. The show wasn't as great as I expected and the dome was solely for dolphins. Singapore's Underwater world and the dolphin show at Sentosa are way much better.
The White River Gardens, part of the zoo, has this beautiful conservatory filled with christmas flowers, plants and a featured showcase of mini-trains and parks. The ensemble was so pleasing and relaxing.
Do you have a particular song that whenever you hear it, whatever mood you are in, it just makes you smile, pump up the volume and begin singing?
"Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing Thanks for all the joy they're bringing Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty What would life be? Without a song or a dance what are we? So I say thank you for the music For giving it to me"
Speaking of music, I'm proud to say that I come from a family of musicians. My dad, who is now retired, started playing trumpet and later on he had his own orchestra. I remember when I was much younger, I would see him listening to his old tape recorder and writing music notes. At that time, I didn't understand why he had to rewind the tape everytime and copy the tone in his piano and then write the notes on this white-colored lined paper (I think they call it white staff paper). Yun pala, he was writing notes for every instrument of his band, for every song that they will play. Imagine! Sobrang hard work non! But of course, that was long time ago, hindi pa uso ang technology sa music.
It's not hard to imagine my mom would've been wooed by my dad's talents. I remember listening to stories that he and his siblings were invited to go to different barrios to play their music. Well, it is still happening now, except that the siblings are playing with their own bands or families in different countries. To name a few, the first on my list is Uncle Roy, a keyboardist, who is a member of Society of Seven. They're playing regularly in Las Vegas (with Lani M.) and based in Hawaii. Too bad I missed the show when I went there last 2004. They also had several shows in Manila and I remembered they have this Broadway-like production numbers, hilarious antics and celebrity impersonations. Uncle Roy imitated Tina Turner and Michael Jackson. He was really funny and very good!
It's all about jazz for my cousin Rachel. She is a famous jazz artist in Malaysia. She sometimes performs with her dad, Uncle Ador, plaxing the sax. I haven't seen them perform but I will someday when I go there.
And of course, my favorite, my brother, who is a very good vocalist, not to mention he plays guitar too. I was practically stunned when I first saw his college-band video were he was singing this hard metal music. My brother, who looks like an angel (ehem ehem!) singing a loud, full of rage music?! Is this why your friends baptized you with the name Rage? Just kidding, Rayms! I appreciate your music no matter how irritating they are. Hahaha! I still have your video in Gweilo's singing and playing Jeepney :) I miss you so much, happy happy birthday!!!
Basically, all my relatives from my dad's side are musicians.
As for me, ayun, wala akong natutunan na instrument! Actually, I tried to learn playing a piano and guitar but I stopped. Then singing but out of tune. Oh yes, I remembered we had this all-female band from my previous company and I was the trying-hard vocalist. Oh, that was fun! And it was just really for fun! And so, naging audience na lang ako. I just enjoy watching and listening to my family, friends and my favorite celebrity singers. I know... you would say, si Regine. Yeah, I influenced by her music since high school when I watched her first major concert on tv. From then on, I tried not to miss any of her major concerts and shows.
Well, I guess I can't really get tired of music...and can't live...and couldn't have lived without it (...in all honesty, what would life be?...)
