I am Corporate Junkie.: February 2013

Feb 26, 2013

Always be my Paulo

AN EXCERPT FROM ALEPH --

"I love you," I tell her. "I love you because all the loves in the world are like different rivers flowing into the same lake, where they meet and are transformed into a single love that becomes rain and blesses the earth.

"I love you like a river that creates the right conditions for trees and bushes and flowers to flourish along its banks. I love you like a river that gives water to the thirsty and takes people where they want to go.a

"I love you like a river that understands that it must learn to flow differently over waterfalls and to rest in the shallows. I love you because we are all born in the same place, at the same source, which keeps us provided with constant supply of water. And so, when we feel weak, all we have to do is wait a little. The spring returns, and the winter snows melt and fill us with new energy.

"I love you like a river that begins as a solitary trickle in the mountains and gradually grows and joins other rivers until, after a certain point, it can flow around any obstacle in order to get where it wants.

"I receive your love, and I give you mine. Not the love of a man for a woman, not the love of a father for a child, not the love of God for his creatures, but a love with no name and no explanation, like a river that cannot explain why it follows a particular course but simply flows onward. A love that asks for nothing and gives nothing in return; it is simply there."

On writing: Cinderella. Or so she thought.

Of cinders and ashes and broken promises

Of love or hate, apathy or pain

Of hope or moving on, of staying still or letting go

How does one really know what to do?

The once glittery carriage has turned into pumpkin

I should have known, it’s not a fairytale I am livin’

Where princes turn into frogs and start breaking your heart

Where princesses are just maids wishing for a new start.

I am in a pumpkin-arsed carriage still looking for salvation.

How do I look up when I know that

I am no Cinderella after all.

On Writing: Letting Go

“No matter how dark it is for you now, God will put the sun in the sky tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, the day after that.” – Left at the Altar, Kimberley Kennedy

It is true. Let go and let God.

I am a deep-rooted Catholic since birth and I have never been ready to give up my Catholic faith. I remember praying the rosary every 6pm with my family every day when I was in elementary school. I used to hate it – having to kneel for around 30 minutes when I could play outside. Forgive me, I was just a kid.

I was part of it all - the summer catechism, Flores de Mayo, everything. I graduated from a Catholic school during my secondary years, was part of the choir and the Lectors’ Guild. I was a very active Catholic.

Unfortunately, I slipped a mile from where my faith was after graduating in high school.

For the longest time, I have been looking for my faith. I attended Christian services and I also loved them. But nothing really touched me to the core. I prayed but I was not really serious about my obligations. I always had an alibi. I was not religious, I was spiritual.

For some extent, that was true. I still communicated with my God; perhaps more often when I was in trouble. That was the sad part. It was probably a one-way street with only Him listening to me – all the time.

About a year ago, I was introduced by one of my Christian best friends to this fusion – The Feast. It is a two-hour service with the traditional Catholic mass, then another hour of the things I liked in a Christian service -- the praises, the songs, the wisdom that Bro. Bo Sanchez and his team share with the people. And then I knew that this was my Church. This is where I want to grow my faith.

And again, as I usually behave in these commitments, I was not able to follow through.

But last Sunday, I was able to do what I have wanted to do for a long time – go back to PICC and attend the service. What Bro. Bo Sanchez said on his first spiel gave me goosebumps: You were meant to be here. God brought you here. It was surreal. Even Father Erick Santos, in his homily, seemed to talk to me – thank you for waking up and sharing this day with Christ.

Funny how I always go back to Him when I am trouble. And He always gives me an answer, in some way or another.

Be still, Balot, be still. The wonderful life I prepared for you was already written even before this started happening. Never mind the pain, it will all pass. Trust and let go. - God

And I deal with my problems one day at a time. Hour by hour. Minute by minute. Knowing that I cannot do and fight for things on my own anymore. And all I can do is let go.

xx,

Corporate Junkie

P.S. If you are interested in The Feast, you can experience it for yourself. For PICC schedule, it happens every Sunday every 8AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 3:45PM. Check out the 25 venues where they are available -- visit www.lightfam.com for more information.

On Writing: The Rise of the Dementors

"If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself." - Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

I had a long talk with a friend yesterday and we were talking about how sometimes, we just couldn't get along with certain people. After some introspection, I was able to enumerate some general characteristics I do not like --

I do not like negative people and how they try to pollute the good ones around them. Their pessimism is poison and it is contagious, sucking the happiness out of anyone.

I do not like people who count. When you give, you do not expect something in return. People who do things for the sake of reward usually do not get what they want. First, they exude this aura that they do things only for recognition or a prize. Second, when they are disappointed of not getting what they wanted, they turn into bad eggs.

I do not like mediocrity. I always believe that you have to give it 100% most, if not all, of the time.

Lastly, people with superiority complex. They always think that they are better than anyone else. While it may be true, I think that it would be better if they leave the recognition of their talents to other people and not blow their own horns.

Even worse are the people who think they are better than anyone else but noone recognizes them. They are stuck with less friends, less successes and droplets of happiness.

I pray that these are not projections. If I turn into these monsters, my friends, please rein me back.

xx,

Corporate Junkie

Light Bulb

"...If you expect people to do things your way, you're going to have to give some hints as to what that way is." -Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants

I had a light bulb moment several months ago when a mentor told me about this one very important thing about relationships, may they be on a personal or professional reference -- SETTING EXPECTATIONS is the first step to harmony.

A lot of us always assume that everyone around us behaves or thinks the way we do.

I did.

I have always thought that I was a very transparent person and that my actions or few words could have encapsulated the things that I would have wanted to express, carried out or what-not. I almost always relied on a basic assumption that people operate on the same common sense and should therefore, act in one general direction.

I was wrong.

Common sense may not be common after all. One's judgment on things may be entirely different from another and this could stem from a lot of factors like upbringing, their environment, among others.

For example, I had this discussion with a friend on mobile phones and technology. For him, it was common sense that you have to revert every missed call you had because it is equally important and urgent. For me, however, I believed that IF it was important and urgent and I missed it, it is common sense to send an SMS about its gravity. He could be right and I could be wrong.

This little eureka moment of setting expectations actually did wonders to my interface with people. Spoken words, ergo, communicating, indeed did wonders. First, it sets a clear pace and environment for everyone; second, it eliminates the cause of misunderstanding, false assumptions and disappointments as well.

All is well when it begins well.

xx,

Corporate Junkie

This post is for my InstaCC 021113 challenge -- light bulb. Add me on Instagram -- Username: Corporate Junkie

Omikuji: Fortune on Paper

On a chilly afternoon of February, I visited the Sensouji Temple in Asakusa, Japan. Foreigners and locals alike flocked the temple.

Patterns

Yesterday, I decided to make a Chinese New Year Resolution -- to keep up with my InstaCC challenge and simultaneously, write about the topics which it asks me to take photos of. InstaCC is an Instagram-linked app which provides everyday photo challenge for a year.

So of course, I am failing. This entry is actually for the photo challenge yesterday. Geez, I really have to work on my dedication for these everyday thingamajigs.

So... InstaCC February 10 challenge is about Patterns.

According to my handy Webster, pattern is described as a decorative arrangement; a model to be copied; instruction to be followed to make something; a regular way of acting or doing; or a predictable route, movement, etc.