She, With A Broken Heart

She is not going to take it sitting down.

Nor she is going to bury her head under her pillow and weary herself out by crying bitterly.

She is not shutting her pain down because she is a masochist, but because she has faith of a greater joy that will come after the pain and she wishes to appreciate and enjoy it for all it will be. She vows to make herself happier without you.

She will make the hole in her heart a start to make and do something good. No, better. And be better than ever before. And no, she will not do it with the hope of getting you back or making you fall in love with her again or more. But she will do it for the person who does not like to be stuck in the same place where you left her -- shattered and lonely.

She will live with the brokenness and slowly put herself back into place because it will help her lift others and be a testimony they too could make themselves whole again and be a better version of themselves. You only broke her heart. Never her spirit.

She may be lonely because she will miss the familiarity of you -- wit, sarcasm, lengthy conversations -- but that will not make her retreat into the dark corners of her room and drown in sorrow. That will make her seek out her friends and see the world and meet people instead. Perhaps, by leaving her, others will thank you for blessing and gracing them of/with her company.

For some reason, brokenhearted people develop eating problems. Either they binge, or they do not want to eat. She did the latter once before. But she vows that no matter how small the bites she will take and how long it will take her to bite and chew and swallow her food, she promises not to skip any meal. She swears to stay healthier and sexier than ever, for herself and for the next person who will take your place.

No, you will not hear her nagging or call you incessantly or stalk you. You never had her doing that before when you were, she sees no point of doing it now that you are over. You will not find her chasing you around. If there's one more thing she learns so well, it's to respect herself more.

She is not going to bitch you about it--whatever your reason/s for leaving her -- because that will be giving you the reason to believe you were right to leave her after all. She intends to prove you wrong and you will know about it - the woman she will become. But don't worry, she will not gloat. She will be gracious to wish you happiness still.

Remember this day that you give her up. You will realize, when you look back, she is, and always will be, the one that got away.


Note: Someone breaking up with you is not the end of the road. It's just a detour. Chin up. Be happy because you deserve it. Rock on, babes!

Words from Jamie Varon

Here are thoughts of wisdom from Jamie Varon (you can follow her on her Facebook page):

5 Ways To Teach Kids To Be Responsible Early

1. Divide the chores between the kids.
  This teaches the kids about the works in the house which is beneficial when they grow up, when they live on their own or have a family of their own. This also teaches the kids how to be responsible early on by doing their assigned tasks. Parents or older siblings have to follow through and make a ruling about tasks undone.

2. Let the kids work for something they want.
  Some kids have the tendency to be brats. They can be manipulative by pulling stunts, like pointing at the toy they want in a crowded store and cry out loud when they don't get what they want. But some parents also have the tendency to spoil their children, giving everything the kids want even to the point of excess. Some reason out that they love their kids. We all do. But we should love accompanied with discipline. Some said they want their children to have what they (parents) have or never had when they were kids. We got that.

  The thing is, by doing so, we are teaching the kids to be dependent. Giving in to all their whims is not healthy. If we want the children to learn how to stand on their feet and be the man or woman we want them to be, it does not start from there.

  If the kids want something, seal a deal by agreeing only if they do something in return for the favor. But parents, make sure you keep your end of the bargain because broken promises to children is disheartening and they have the tendency to remember it for the rest of their lives. Not only that it will affect their relationship with you, but also the trust they have for others will be severed. You can also do some activities that will make the kids earn some money to have their share in buying the things they want. But of course, the activities that should be involved are the ones that interest them so they would do it willingly, wholeheartedly and with pride.

3. Teach them to save.
  This does not only mean setting aside a part of their baon or the monies given. It could also mean not being wasteful on things. Writing papers used as paper planes, let them try using the scratched papers or old newspapers and magazines. If they eat, ask them to get what they think they could consume without leftover. Teach them the importance of saving water and electricity.

  If you could, show them something that tells how fortunate they are for what they have. My parents used to remind us about the hungry children in Africa, the children begging in the street for food, or how some people in the other parts of the world fight for clean water.

4. Introduce the reward scheme.
  There are children who act like responsible adults. But in most cases, children are children. They think of playing, watching television and messing with their toys. Parents, please avoid cleaning after their mess all the time because either it frustrates you, or they will expect you to do it all the time for them. Avoid shouting either and pushing them to do it.

  As parents, with calm authority, ask them to do the work they are capable of doing. Like making their beds when they wake up, putting their toys back on the shelf, doing their homework, folding their clothes, picking the litter from the floor and etc.

  Even the small tasks can be daunting to them and they grumble. Try rewarding them for doing the chores. For instance, serve them their favorite breakfast after they made up their bed, or let them play or watch television when the homework is done. Rewards do not need to be grand. They could be those little things that light your children's eyes or put a smile on their faces.

5. Teach them to be kind and humble.
  Children learn well from what they see. As parents, they look up to us as their idols. We could not only tell them to be kind and humble but we should live and lead by example. Begin the lesson at home by treating the house helpers well and avoid shouting at them or berating them in front of the children on some mistakes. Ask them to apologize when they commit mistakes, especially to the elders. Teach them to give when they can with what they have: old toys, outgrown clothes and shoes, extra school supplies, used books and reading materials, etc. Charity should begin at home.

10 Ways To Psyche Up Your Day

       

Photo by Google Image

          You alone have the power to make or break your day. Sure there are outside forces beyond your control but they will only affect you if you let them. There are some people that could get on your nerves but how they affect you depends on your reaction to them. It's important to start your day with a healthy state of mind. Here are ten ways to fire up your day and hopefully, they will help prevent you from being stressed out:

1. Be thankful you wake up.
           As soon as you open your eyes, say thanks.  If you believe in the Higher Being like I do, give thanks to the Lord for another day in your life. Everyday is a gift. Each day is a chance to do things better than you did yesterday, another day to be a better being and another day to work on your dreams.

2. Pray and surrender your day to God.
          In the movie Definitely Maybe, Will Hayes was walking in the streets of New York on his way to fetch his daughter Maya. While walking, he was searching through his selections of songs, played Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone and said, "It's a great feeling when you find the right track to go with the day.." and said again at the end of the song, "... but sometimes no matter how carefully you planned your play list, there is no right track for what awaits you."
          Life is a battlefield. Prayer is a weapon. Prayer is a shield. Praying is surrendering. You do not know what awaits you for the entire twenty-four hours you breath. So trust your life to the Highest Power, knowing you will be taken cared of. Knowing that you are leaning on The Rock propels you to live the day the best that you can with no worries. Here are few verses from the Bible that assure God will be with you: "I am with you and will keep you wherever you go" (Gen. 28:15), and "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).

3. Watch the sunrise.
          This is one of the most wonderful sights to set your eyes on early in the morning. Feast your eyes on the marvel as the sun's rays slowly crawl their way to earth, beautifully transforming the night sky and filling it with light. Inhale with it, fill your heart with the peace of the morning.

3. Sip your morning coffee or tea as you delight in the nature's morning wonder.
          Always, always it keeps you company when you are on your own basking in the morning peace while watching the sun rises. The smell of coffee alone can wake you up. Get lost in the moment. Delight your taste buds with the coffee or tea while feast your sight on the beauty that unfolds before you. Pure bliss!

4. Feel blessed for the people you love and care about in your life.
          For the most part, they are the reason for our living-parents, spouses, boyfriends/girlfriends, children, good friends. Show them love by giving them hugs, kiss them as you wake them up, cook them breakfast. Be affectionate.

5. Play some music to pump you up.
          Sort through your play list, turn on the volume and dance to the beat while going through your morning rituals. If you think you have two left feet, no problem at all. Trust me, with good and lively music, your body has the tendency to betray you. You will find yourself swaying or your feet tapping or your head moving from side to side along with the beat.
          I suggest that you choose songs with light, vibrant and dynamic feel. When you leave the house for work, it will stay with you. Your LSS(Last Song Syndrome) will help you get through the day. Workload may not be heavy, stressful and demanding, but sometimes boredom can get the best of you. When the stress or boredom bug seeps in, you can choose a song in your head. Sing it out loud or hum it or move your body with it and do not care who sees and hears you. When you're having fun and feeling good, other's opinion ceases to matter. Take notice of  how your steps get lighter and you can't keep the grin off your face. Time flies at work without you noticing it.

6. Exercise
          Sure you can do this while you're music is playing. It's been noted in scientific research that exercising releases endorphins, a chemical in the brain that fights stress and is associated with a feeling of euphoria. However, you have to listen to your body when do you feel most alive or lethargic after you exercise. If you feel alive after exercising, don't do it at night before going to bed or you will have to fight sleeplessness. Do it in the morning before going to work. If the effect is opposite and makes you feel tired, then do it at night to help you rest well.

7. Feed and nourish your soul.
          May it be from books, magazines, videos, songs, other people's advices or the Bible. It could be anything that reiterates the goodness of life and yes, the greatness of God. Not only that it makes you feel good inside, but it teaches that there are things bigger than yourselves, and it makes you see the world in better perspectives and understands people the way they want to be understood.

7. Be inspired.
          Think of someone you look up to, someone you want to emulate for some reason. Think of the people you love. Think of your dreams-travel the world, have your own business, own a house and lot, etc.-and think that your everyday struggle is a step closer to reaching them. Or, think of the next splurge you are saving your money for. It's not a cheap suggestion, but you deserve and have the right to spend your earning. Think of it as a reward to yourself for working hard.

8. Be random. Be silly. Hold on to some funny thoughts.
          Lighten up. Chill out. Prank someone. Laugh as much as you can. Find something amusing. Surround yourself with friends, acquaintances or colleagues who know how to laugh and can make you laugh. If you're alone and you need something to make you smile, pull out some inspirations from your memory, the ones you remember to be the happiest and made you felt alive and carefree.

9. Do something good everyday.
          It does not matter how small or big the gesture is, it's the thought that counts. Open the door for someone, offer your seat to the ladies, offer to make a cup of coffee for the office mate or throw your garbage properly... the list could go on. Doing those little things can make a difference to your day. If you're familiar with the adage "It's better to give than to receive", doing something for someone sounds like that. You reap a thousand fold of reward called happiness as a doer than being the recipient of the deeds.

10. Learn to fake it until you make it.
          On some days you don't feel great and everything seems to not work in your favor, fake it. Force your self to smile. Pretend you feel confident. Even if you're seething inside or you feel dead for some reason, tell yourself "Everything's great. Everything's going to be great." It helps to maintain a positively healthy attitude even if you don't feel it. Like the photo said above, change your thought and it'll change your world. :)

       

To Celebrate Earth Day: 13 Cool, Creative, And Innovative Ways To Recycle Plastics And Other Discarded Materials

April 22 is International Mother Earth Day. It's celebrated annually around the world to raise consciousness on the pressing environmental issues and how to protect the only planet we have. In our small ways we can take part in saving Mother Earth, starting from home. As our obligation as inhabitants of this planet, the very act of saving it should take root from within us. Can you imagine, if each of us has the same intent, the impact it has to our world in a bigger scale?

The price of progress is high; pollution, global warming, depleting natural resources, displacement of people to pave way for infrastructures, and garbage. We can't solve the problems all at once, but we can do so one step at a time. For one, we can recycle plastics to lessen the garbage.

Plastic (due to their relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility and imperviousness to water*) is widely used. But since it has a slow decomposition rate after being discarded as trash, it presents a problem to garbage disposal. Burning is not an option, though it's still practiced, because it contributes to the thinning of the ozone layer while adding to the problem in global warming. Thus, anywhere in the world, the echoing call for recycling.

In celebration for the Earth Day, here are 13 cool, creative, and innovative ways to recycle plastics and other discarded materials at home and in our community. (Except for the two photos at the bottom, all photos are courtesy of Google images.)


1. As building material (in replacement of hollow blocks... and this one really blew my mind):

                         

2. Use as replacement for pots:

3. As a vase and party decor:

4. As a broom:

5. As candy or nuts bowl: 

6. As pen/scissor/pencils stand/holder:

7. As make-up storage:

8. As art material:

9. As house decors (whether it's Christmas or not):

10. Tin caps as jewelry:

11. Tin cans as storage:

12. As bags: 

13. Foil packs as pillow stuffing:

Oh, here's a tip I learned from a friend a long time ago, and though it's not much, it impacted me in a way that it became more than a habit. It became a way of life. When you are outside and you have a piece of trash with you, e.g. empty foil packs of biscuits and "chichirias" or snack foods, but can't find a trash bin, you can roll it and do the overhead knot to compress (the idea is to save space) the garbage and put it in your bag until you can find a trash bin. Here:

The possibilities are endless. All it takes is creativity, imagination, and the will to be part of a greener earth. Anytime is a good time to start.



______________
* Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic