I am Corporate Junkie.: October 2014

Oct 31, 2014

Would You Quit If You Needed To?

"In the 50s women believed in home, children and prayer. In the 60s it was "do your own thing." The 70s were all about "being liberated". In the 80s it was becoming "superwoman." In the 90s we were tapping at the "glass ceiling." In the first decade of the 2000s, we went "green" and became environmentalists. What's next? We're exhausted!" -365 Things Every Woman Should Know by Emily Barnes

When I first read this book, that quote did not really sink in. I was at the peak of my career when I got married two years ago. I had a lot of time, that's what I thought. Seriously though, who doesn't want to be superwoman, right? I never entertained anything else aside from climbing the corporate ladder. Passive income or building my own business was never an option, not even if I can do things on my own terms. That sounded boring. Corporate life is exciting. Stressful, but exciting. Corporate was just the only way for me.

And then, I lost my second pregnancy. Lying at the hospital recovering from my operation, I did a little introspection of my life. What am I doing? Where do I want to go? What are my priorities, really? These questions bogged me until the time that I knew the reason why I could not maintain my pregnancies. I was tested positive for APAS or Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome.

First, it came as a shock. Why have I never heard of this syndrome before? If I had, could I have kept my second pregnancy? Of course, there was really nothing much to do except move forward. And so, I underwent a lot of treatment and was given an advice to just rest -- to rest from my job, to take a break from the corporate world.

It was a laughable thought at that time. Me? Quit my job? But then, somewhere along the way, it just happened. I just knew I had to quit if I wanted to have a baby. So me and the husband jumped the gun.

5 Reasons Why You Should Start a Small Business

I started my career in JG Summit and I have the utmost respect for the man who built his empire, Mr. John Gokongwei. He is a visionary but at the same time, so humble that you would not think he owns one of the country's biggest conglomerates.

It is just right that I again draw inspiration from him now that I am dealing with the biggest change in my life. Being a stay-at-home wife is a very challenging phase for a corporate junkie like me. For over ten years, I have been a willing slave to corporate life. I loved the pressure and the deadlines. I loved meeting people. I loved doing presentations. I loved every single stress that it offered me. But all that has been changed.

Mr. John, in a speech he gave at the 20th Ad Congress, said:

"The important thing to know is that life will always deal us a few bad cards. But we have to play those cards the best we can. And WE can play to win!"

I was played with a bad card. Or so I thought. At the onset, it looked depressing. But now, I have realized that it is all worth it to leave my corporate life for a family that I want to build.

Now that I am at home, I knew that I needed to grow my own business, no matter how small. And so my shop, The Accessorist PH, has been revitalized. Over the past few days, I have arranged my to-do list on how to proceed with my business. It's only now that I have all the time to finally work on the back-end and legalities of building my business. I have already registered my accessory shop under DTI (will do one post on how to do this) and by this week, I will be getting my business permits already.

I Blog Because...

Before I tell you why I blog, I would like to tell you a story.

Once upon a time, there was this girl. She was not your typical girl. She climbed trees. She went with her male cousins and uncles to go bird-hunting. She loved designing paper dresses but didn't really like playing with them so she just made a lot of them and give the dresses (and the paper dolls) to her younger sisters. She loved books. She liked cutting funny or sometimes, sarcastic comic strips and gluing it on her notebook. She kept a lot of diaries. That's where she kept all the letters, all her thoughts, her poems, everything.

There was one thing she was really bad at, though. Keeping her things. So as years passed by, all those little treasures were lost. Sometimes, when she would try to look back at the events of her life, she gets nothing. Seriously, there is nothing. She could not remember a thing. So she would puzzle things together or sometimes doubt herself if those memories were just figments of her imagination.

How I Discipline Myself To Write

Last October 19, I subscribed to Jeff Goins' Intentional Blogging Challenge which I encountered from one of Patty's post. As the name suggests, it is a series of challenges for you to intentionally allot time to writing. Ever since I became a housewife, I have committed to myself to do the things that I had no time for when I was still in the corporate world. On top of that list would be writing, reading and resting.

Writing seems to be the easiest thing to do but really, it is not. You have to crack yourself for the right words, the right topic. Sometimes, you wait for that "wind" to inspire you to come up with a great article. This is what I have been relying on in the past so you could expect quite a predictable result: I only wrote whenever I felt like it. And that happened once in a blue moon especially since I was swamped with the challenges of my job.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

So I signed up with Jeff Goins' Intentional Blogging Challenge to push myself to write more. As they say, practice makes perfect. On the first day, he requested us to make something out of an often wasted space in our blog, the About Me page. I was so inspired that I was able to put together something which I am quite proud of and I thought, "Okay, that's a start."

Now, the group is already on their Day 12 and I have been lagging waaaay behind. I am still fixing my Day 2 Challenge and this particular exercise has struck a cord: What is my blog's focus?

Coffee + Pups + Everything Nice

Staying at home most of the time is really unnerving. This is especially relevant to people who have always been "out" all their lives. Out for a meeting. Out for a party. Just out. Transitioning from a phase when you were all over the place and to now when you are cocooned to take things slow and stay at home can be pretty hard. However, there is one little trick to make it a little easier for you... for us, homemakers. Injecting a little extraordinary activities to our dreary routine.

So I am sooo glad to be able to go out last weekend (Saturdays and Sunday are sacred to me and the husband now, to solely spend together and/or with family) and stumble upon this awesome new place in the north.

So....

Do you like coffee? How about dogs? Let's say we throw in a little pup, I mean, cupcake? Would that be something of interest to you? If you said yes to the first three questions, then I would like to introduce to you some cuteness overload -- Barkin' Blends Dog Cafe!

Pet cafes first started in Japan with cats as the "residents". The Japanese believes that it is therapeutic to be in the company of felines at the end of a stressful day. The idea for these places is for you to be able to "pet and play" with the kittens especially if you cannot own one. Dog cafes are now becoming popular in many places around the globe such as in Korea, Singapore and Thailand, among others.

I could not stop being giddy just writing about this post because I am still in dog haven. So, Edzel's boss posted these cute lil pups last night. Curious as I am, I asked her what it was and she introduced me to this new coffee shop in Katipunan, Barkin' Blends.

Barkin' Blends just opened last September and is located just behind Shakey's Pizza in Katipunan.

Source: Barkin' Blends' Facebook Page

It is located at 91 Rosa Alvaro Street.

Cute little paw prints will guide you to the cafe.

This is how it looks at the outside.

Barkin' Blends has two areas: the Human Zone and the Dog Zone.

This is the human zone.

You can order some beverages. Here is the list of their menu.

How to survive staying at home for 17 days

Seventeen has always been a special number to me -- my own lucky number. Edzel and I were officially together on a 17th and got married on the same date as well.

My stint in Canon started on March 17, 2007. Today, October 17, is supposed to be my seventh year and seventh month. However, I am on my 17th day of being a stay-at-home wife (I refuse to call myself unemployed, anymore). So as my own little project, I am listing down the 17 things I learned while, uhh, yes, staying at home.

It is okay to mope. There was a reason why you are now staying at home. Re-focusing your priorities can be tough. But you don't need to do it on Day 1. It takes time to adjust. Cut yourself a little slack.
Exercise. When I was still working, I had my own little exercise. Dancing (and singing) inside the car while stuck in traffic. Walking from one department to another to discuss something with someone. Going to McDonalds at the Piazza for my morning coffee. I think (I wish) that I burned some calories there. But now, I have to will myself to stand up from my desk (or bed) and do some exercise. I am planning to attend some yoga classes by next week but in the meantime, I have been learning from Adriene. If you do not have the time yet to go to a yoga facility, get to know Adriene and visit her site here. I found her on Youtube and I liked her instantly.

I bet this caught your attention! Haha! Go check her out :)

Reblogged: What APAS did to my lifestyle

Inside, I was proud. Yeah!

You need to boost your immune system. Make it healthy - healthier.

I gave a blank stare. What?

It is strong but it is not healthy. It is strong because it is fighting... a lot. We need to fix that.

Reblogged: LIT for LAT (About Lymphocyte Immunotherapy)

Anyway... the succeeding sharing will be for those who are in the same boat as I am in my effort to also raise awareness. I have noticed there has been a lot of people who are having difficulties getting pregnant. This, however, is only about people who have repro-immuno cases.

So after all the tests that I had, I was required to undergo paternal lymphocyte immunotherapy or LIT to boost the activation of my LAT (linker for Activated T-cells) which is important for the pregnancy as well as generate a positive tissue cross-match with the husband.

In my previous test, we found out that I was too compatible with the husband. What does this exactly mean?

Reblogged: Tests. Tests. More Tests.

To celebrate the two months that I have carried my little one, I would like to re-post about APAS and my current condition to hopefully shed some light to those who are suffering from the same disorder. I am lifting these articles from my other blog and decided to centralize all my journey here. There has been an alarmingly increasing number of people who are suffering from repro-immuno disorder. It is a grueling and challenging journey and I hope that you could send a little prayer along our way.

Being diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APAS) is tasking, both financially and emotionally. Nevertheless, you have to do what you have to do.

In the first quarter of the year, I have undergone a lot of tests to determine which specific syndrome I am suffering from. Having lost two pregnancies, I already transferred to a high-risk obstetrician (perinatologist), Dra. Valerie Guinto who is affiliated with St. Lukes Global, Asian Hospital and PGH.

These were the tests that she required of me --

1. Primary Immunodeficiency Panel

Reblogged: Tests. Tests.

Note: Last October 4, 2013, I lost my second baby. While I am happy that I have a little angel in heaven, the pain does not really go away. I was talking to a friend the other day about the loss that we feel for a loved one and we agreed that it still does not become easier despite the years.

To celebrate the two months that I have carried my little one, I would like to re-post about APAS and my current condition to hopefully shed some light to those who are suffering from the same disorder. I am lifting these articles from my other blog and decided to centralize all my journey here. There has been an alarmingly increasing number of people who are suffering from repro-immuno disorder. It is a grueling and challenging journey and I hope that you could send a little prayer along our way.

--

Once confirmed with APAS, there are so many tests that one has to undergo. This, I will put in detail in my next posts. One of the tests being done for Category 1 patients is LIT or Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy. LIT, according to www.repro-med.net is procedure whereby white blood cells from the prospective father are injected into the skin of the prospective mother.

According to the website, this is to "allow immune recognition of fetal tissues under circumstances that identify embryonic tissues whether they be the product of maternal or paternal genetic programming as friend. Failure to recognize embryonic tissues leads to insufficient development of tolerance mechanisms and, by extension, a decrease in the generation of tolerance-producing T regulatory cells. LIT may augment the development of tolerance possibly by increasing the numbers and appropriate distribution of T regulatory cells."

While I have not fully grasped the whole notion of LIT, I would like to share with you the tests needed for it. Me and my husband had to undergo a Tissue Cross Matching Test which actually determined that we are "too compatible".

Reblogged: More About Reproductive - Immuno Disorders

Note: Last October 4, 2013, I lost my second baby. While I am happy that I have a little angel in heaven, the pain does not really go away. I was talking to a friend the other day about the loss that we feel for a loved one and we agreed that it still does not become easier despite the years.

To celebrate the two months that I have carried my little one, I would like to re-post about APAS and my current condition to hopefully shed some light to those who are suffering from the same disorder. I am lifting these articles from my other blog and decided to centralize all my journey here. There has been an alarmingly increasing number of people who are suffering from repro-immuno disorder. It is a grueling and challenging journey and I hope that you could send a little prayer along our way.

--

Before I go to the tests, I would like to discuss again more about repro-immunological disorder. I stumbled upon this site which has been very, very informative and has answered all my questions about my condition.

To quote from Reproductive Immunology Associates, one in every 200 couples are too genetically similar to achieve a successful pregnancy. They are saying that one among 200 couples will experience two or more recurrent miscarriages. That is way higher than the incidence of parents giving birth to children with Down Syndrome (1 in every 800) and children with Rare Disorder (1 in every 20,000). I am comparing this to the latter because I have also been involved with PWD causes.

Reblogged: The Fuss About APAS

You miscarry once and the world crashes down on you. You promise to do all things right the next time like go to bed early or eat the right food and so on, and then, for the second time, you lost your little angel again.

While drowning in the effects of the epidural, I could barely muster the words, "What happened?"

Scared to be a housewife

"I was my living my own metaphor. A man sets out on a journey, dreaming of a beautiful or magical place, in pursuit of some unknown treasure. At the end of his journey, the man realizes the treasure was with him the entire time. I was following my Personal Legend, and my treasure was my capacity to write. And I wanted to share this treasure with the whole world." Foreword of The Alchemist 2014 Edition, Paulo Coelho

At four years old, I spent time in a duyan under our mango tree, dreaming to be a writer someday. You see, I grew up in this really small town of less than 25,000 people called Pulupandan (Pulo ng Pandan) and there was really nothing to do. No cable, no Internet. We had a family computer which we gladly shared with almost any kid in the whole block. When my parents gave me some Christmas money, I did not buy toys. I bought books. It was because of those books that I learned how to daydream. And when you daydream a lot, you want to put it on a piece of paper. And so, my love affair for writing began.

Are you an island or are you an investor?

In our world today, people are afraid to make friends. We are afraid to trust, to take risks. We put up walls around us and it is hard to get through. It could be for the fear of getting hurt or judged, or we genuinely believe that we can stand alone on our own, be an island.

Being an island is safe. You do not attend to other people's feelings or thoughts. You can just do anything you want and not care. You just attend to your territory. Some people are happier this way - to be left in a me, myself and I state.

But some, if not most, people need relationships. And for relationships such as friendships to flourish, we need to invest. Stephen Covey once mentioned in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, about the emotional bank account. We have to make a deposit all the time. How? By being courteous, kind, honest. By honoring commitments. Through this, we build a reserve for our relationships.

Corporate Junkie No More.

“Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls...are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.” - James Patterson, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

My career defined me. That is exactly the reason why my blog was named as such -- because I lived for and loved my work. And probably a little too much.

Quitting a job that I loved beyond belief was one of the hardest decisions in my life. I loved what I do. I loved Canon... I still do. A younger version of me would have never thought of ever stopping to be the corporate junkie. But an older version of me would have scolded me if I chose to stay.