pretty lil things part 2

my elixir

this pen made my day :)

Miss-ings

I miss my stickers

I miss my colored pens

I miss reading a book and highlighting a quote

I miss writing about nothing

I miss the scent of fresh mornings

I miss the sunlight

I miss my Saturdays

pick and roll

pick and roll

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

9:12 AM

I am not  a basketball fan (nor a sports fan in general :) ). I am oblivious to the terms and rules the game applies. In a male-dominated workplace, I'd get woozy over high spirited conversations involving games and plays. Men from the top down to the ranks speak like its all in a basketball game. Seemingly coded, I cannot disregard the intensity each word contains and the effect it brings to the men (and very few women) out in the field. Today is no exception. The boss just sent an email with a "pick and roll" message. To catch up, thank God there's Google :) Quoting from Wikipedia;

The pick and roll (also called screen and roll or shortened to screen roll, any of which may be hyphenated) in basketball is an offensive play in which a player sets a screen (pick) for a teammate handling the ball and then slips behind the defender (rolls) to accept a pass. In the NBA, the play came into vogue in the 1990s and has developed into the league's "bread and butter".[1] Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pick_and_roll>

For a moment I forgot about the pending message I need to reply to. I got drawn into visualizing (with Google photos haha...) the new phrase I learned and how it relates to me. What prevails is my current work situation wherein most often I would feel weighed down because of the tasks that never seem to dwindle. Overwhelmed might be apt for the moment. Before I get on with this, let me say honestly that I love what I do. I firmly believe in my heart this work is a gift. In here I am able to maximize my potential, do away with idleness and hone skills I never knew I can do. Not only in the work per se but how it affects my personal life as well. Of course, part of the gift is the responsibility to care for it. But more than what it is to me, is how it is for my colleagues who labor each day. At least to what I can see. I am a witness to their dedication and hard work. I can readily pinpoint those who would sacrifice much of their personal time just to shoot a few more goals to move the game. These men rarely get to see the sun set as they fix their gaze on their monitors, one on one with *Clarity in a do-or-die-end-of-day match, just so the numbers come clean and hefty at the strike of seven. Bahala ug mamuti na ang screen ug mata sa kadugay :)  At times, unintentional but integral to the work, one gets elbowed by the other and the heat goes high. At the end of the day, when everything settles down, each would say "part of the game" and moves along. Enduring the scorching heat, weathering heavy rains and surviving internal pressures these people take it one day at a time, one challenge after another. They console themselves with a cup of coffee and a few jokes on the side to keep going. When time permits for a short pause, they would share in bits how their family thrives. Men, I realize always have a soft spot for their children. And all hardships get light and bearable when the family they value the most come across their thoughts. It's not even about the pay anymore, although admittedly it's what we all aspire for, but for the person that sits across us and the many others in their respective work stations across our side of the Island. To each, they readily became the player who "picks" giving the other colleague the floor to set up a play and "rolls" to receive the pass for a shoot. There are no longer star players, we only have team mates. For each play, everyone banks on each other to deliver one great game. One day at a time.

Gutsy and tenacious team in Mindanao. That's how we were tagged when we closed the recent May with a whooping dunk. But we are still far even from half-time. We cannot sit comfortably and let the muscle pains get hold of us. We have a game to win.

because we are One

because we are One

Monday, May 19, 2014

9:05 AM

because we are One

The recent weekend was a blast. Together with 28 other singles from KSD Community, I went to a fun-tastic summer outing in Iligan City (and beyond :) see pix for elaboration). With the full support and consistent encouragement from our District leaders, the singles' outing was finally pushed through. To fully grasp the exhortation to cultivate single life within the Community, I wanted to have a deeper sense of understanding of the state of life we presently live out. Other than the obvious definition of the word - Not married or related to the unmarried state, I found some helpful synonyms;  One, Individual, Undivided, Unity.

This season in our lives, we are blessed with the precious time to know best who we are. Our identities take shape into the mold our Creator has designed us to become.  The stage is set for us to fully express our God-given identities. While we enjoy the comforts of home, the nurturing of our parents and the guidance of our community, we get to exercise the disciplines of discernment and handling responsibilities. When we want to engage into any endeavor, it gets our undivided attention. How we fare today reflects much about the future we build. Intrinsic to what we are now dictates who we will be someday. All the more, while we are still young and single, we must be in unity with our true selves, with our God. Inconsistency is un-acceptable. We can't possibly say we want to love the Lord and refuse to accept and take responsibility over our state of lives at the same time. Someday soon, if not already is now, we will each be taking in significant roles that will shape our own families and the entire society. Let's contribute. Let's stay young and joyful. You (and me) are not just single. You are that One person who can make a difference. And you know  exactly how to do that while having  the time of your (single) life.

strings attached

strings attached

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

2:10 PM

I have the tendency to store up things I don't necessarily need. It took years for me to unlearn bit by bit this habit. Some easier to let go, others harder to part with. I make it a point to do my de-cluttering ritual once a year, either during my birthday or Christmas.  Something in the act gives me a sense of calm and accomplishment. Letting go of my stash somehow gives me a certain feel of spiritual cleansing. And it's always a happy drug for me. Apt for new beginnings.

I am not your regular home organizer therefore a one-time general cleaning is all I can manage :)  I'd wonder how I manage to keep so many. Receipts I wanted to keep to remember dates, wrappings because they're pretty, boxes because they might come in handy. The list continues. Some proved to be useful in time of need, most left forgotten as soon as stacked. I have the same attitude towards life.  In 2003, I took up a course in Professional  Education. I didn't plan on teaching, I just wanted a diversion  from my work. Thirteen years passed, only my filed Transcript bears my name. Other than that, I just practically shelved it away until the credentials got invalid. Same scenario happened in 2012. The tone deaf me just one day bought a guitar and took guitar lessons. It was supposedly easy. I just need to properly hold the guitar, strum then play. Much to my surprise the Music teacher first asked me to count and tap harmoniously. Repeatedly. And I never felt so uncoordinated in my entire life.  It took some courage to admit I was really offbeat. So the guitar has to be shelved, too. Among the many others, I seem to have grown a pattern of getting into some things I knew beforehand I was not apt for. At the expense of time, money and some even with emotional investments. The more costly a decision is made, the harder it is to part with. Most wasteful, too.

Tomorrow, I will let go of the guitar. Thankfully not to waste but to a sister-samaritan who can play beautiful music through it. At last my guitar can find peace and a real home. This parting reminds me more, the next time I engage into and welcome something in my life, I better be certain I will be able to use it well and not put it to waste. Else, it'll be just another unplayed guitar.

the Sun and the Tree

the Sun and the Tree

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

7:51 AM

Once upon a time there were two best friends. One is Sun and the other Tree. They loved to play and do things together all day. They run up the hill, swim in the lake and pick up berries from the field. One bright morning, Sun and Tree went out to play and were having so much fun. Along their way, Sun asked Tree "Will you go and leave me someday?". To this Tree readily replied, "Never. I shall not."  And off they went to see an old cave to play hide and seek. The second time Sun asked Tree  "Will you go and leave me someday?". Again, Tree replied, "Never. I shall not."

Now it was Sun's turn to be the it. She counted one to ten and Tree went off looking for the best place to hide. Alone and counting, Sun was unaware that behind her the monster Night was sneaking up to get hold of her. And he was getting nearer, closer to Sun who still kept counting. "...seven...eight...nine…"

Meanwhile, Tree went out too far to hide. From where he hid, a silvery blue bird landed and gave him a curious look. Then it flew away leaving an awestruck Tree following closely. The bird flew far away but Tree won't give up the chase. Both tired from flying and chasing, they come to a halt. The now annoyed silvery blue bird asked Tree, "Why do you keep chasing me?". "Because you keep flying away", Tree replied. "Can you be my friend?" Tree further asked. "I don't want to be your friend. Go away!". Sadly, Tree turned his back and started walking away. The bird felt sorry for being mean but was too proud to call back and apologize. Sulking, Tree kept sighing and wondering why the bird won't let him be his friend. In a far distance, he heard a faint cry calling his name. "Sun!", he suddenly remembered. It was already getting dark.

Captured and dragged, Sun tried so hard to free herself from the claws of the Night. She begged and cried. "Please let me go. My friend will be sad if he comes back and find me gone". "Let your friend be. I have some good use of you. I will lock you up in the Sky together with the Stars. You will be my possession and no one can take you back" Night roared. And so, Night took Sun away and carried her up into the sky, far from the reach of anyone. He put on a chain in Sun's ankle and told her to stay put. Alone and afraid, Sun cried herself to sleep.

Tree was already too late. Nowhere in sight can he find his friend. He was so sad and sorry that he did not move and leave. He wanted to stay in the same spot thinking that Sun might return one day. Many days passed , the sorrowful friend kept bowing his head and punishing himself for leaving his friend. Up in the sky, Sun sees her friend in a sad plight. She begged and begged the Night to let her go. Still Night wouldn't let her.One day, when Night went out, secretly she found a crack in the sky. There she found her way to peek in and look down upon her sorrowful friend. But she couldn't go farther. Her chain was too strong to loosen. Every day she made an attempt to escape, opening up more cracks to make her way out. Night soon discovered what was Sun up to. Furious, he cast a spell on his captive. "Because you want so much to escape from the Sky, I shall let you have your way. But! No one can ever look at you. You will be so bright that anyone looking at you will go blind. And to your friend I will cast a spell as well. Because he won't ever move away, I will let him grow roots and leaves. He can never run and play again. And when you are gone, he will die."

And so it happened. Since then, as each day begins, the Sky would crack up and the Sun will come out. The Tree down below raises up his head and greets his old friend. And then all sorrows melt away and  a new day of adventure begins. One day the Sun asked the Tree "Why did you not move away?". The third time the Tree replied, " because I told you I will never go and leave you".