Counting My Blessings, Sharing My Dreams

It’s new year’s eve so I am obliged to put my 2013 adventures in writing along with my personal goals for 2014. This is my way of: (1) sharing a testimony of God’s love and generosity; (2) clearing my thoughts of negativity; (3) publicly committing my personal goals; and (4) sharing my happiness and dreams with family and friends who find it worthwhile to read my blog entries.

Eat Less, Save More and Do More! – this was my mantra for 2013. Recounting my blog entry last year, I listed 5 goals for 2013 – the verdict? Let me revisit these personal goals starting with those which I have accomplished. Yes, I failed with some but still happy with how the year turned out.

(1) GET FIT – Committing myself to regular workout sessions at Gold’s Gym since March and a fruit diet over summer, I was able to lose 28lbs from my frustrating 192lbs starting weight. Progress fluctuated over the months but I am now confident that I won’t go up the 170 mark and determined to keep it that way! I now feel better and more confident – I can wear whatever I want as long as I can afford it. Haha!

2014:  Last year, I clearly stated that I don’t want to get ripped. This year, I want to get a little ripped and as a friend of mine would declare, we’ll have bora bodies by summer, else; no beach life for us. Ha! This means, more time in the gym and since I don’t want to bulk-up, I might try swimming – no, I am committing to regular sessions in the pool!

(2) A GREAT SUMMER GETAWAY – Yes, the annual Isla Verde trip with family during the Holy Week happened and because of a team-building engagement, was able to go up north and explored La Union and the Hundred Islands! To cap the year off, also toured the country’s summer capital which I think, is also a hit during the ber-months.

2014: Boracay and Palawan are on the list! That is, if I will be able to achieve a beach-able body by summer. For this, I have to commit to my fitness goals and of course, save money for these trips.

(3) TEACH, (4) SOME MORE CEREBRAL ACTIVITIES & (5) HOMECOMING were also on my list. Failed – I wasn’t able to enter the academe as planned. Failed – I still get bored reading business news unless required in class. Failed – Haven’t seen SJOM this year. Two out of five. Not so good eh?

While nothing compares to coming back home to San Jose, I‘d like to believe that this year taught me more valuable lessons – things which I cannot get from the newspaper or lecturing in the university halls. Not that I am downplaying reading business news and teaching because I wasn’t able to put a check on the tick box beside these goals, I just feel more blessed being under the circumstances which I found myself this year.

Went through tough times in my personal and professional life – for this, my heart goes out to my iPLUS family: my mentor – Ms.Josette; colleagues in the IRM-HR Group; my Talent Development Team and everyone who helped me out and even those who made the times more challenging. Of course, my family for keeping me motivated and inspired to do greater things and my Yamyam for being ever so supportive. I am closing this year, better than my 2012 self because God has blessed me with these people!

2014: I am compelled to come home to San Jose this year for our high school class reunion - It’s been 10 years since I exited the campus grounds and indeed, a lot has changed! It will sure be a lot of fun recounting my adventures as a teen with long-time friends. On the other hand, I am not giving up on developing the habit of reading business news and teaching – though I’m a bit iffy with the latter. Perhaps I’ll finish grad school first and then, re-enter the academe as a Professor.

God has indeed blessed me this year (2013) and I’m optimistic about 2014! My prayer this year, is good health and happier disposition for myself and family, to succeed in my new professional undertakings and be more financially stable. Indeed, if one clearly defines his goals and puts his heart to it, he’ll be unstoppable and success will be inevitable!

Keeping the tradition, here’s my 2014 List which I now treat as my personal KRAs (Key Result Areas) which have their respective KPIs (Key Performance Indicators):

KPI 1: Health – with a healthy body, one can do more! Aside from the fact that being healthy means being more productive as an OD Professional and taking on more adventures as a student of life, I am extending this personal goal to the keeping NaTay healthy. And of course, since I defined adventure partly as Bora and Palawan trips this year, healthier also means fitter – remember, a beach-able body by summer.

• KRA 1: Body Mass Index (BMI) down to 20 by April 2014

KPI 2: Wealth – having been blessed as 2013 closed, I plan and am committed to put this into good use! I’ll revisit my investment skills and engage in sound business ventures.

• KRA 2: Monthly investment activity
• KRA 3: Exponential increase in personal cash flow
• KRA 4: Bora and/or Palawan trip by summer and homecoming by December

KPI 3: Depth – more cerebral activity for 2014 as I take on new roles plus, the next three terms in grad school will be loaded as the comprehensive exams awaits us in Feb 2015. And as I welcome 2014 with these learning opportunities, I am preparing myself to acquire more knowledge and master more skills from work and from professionals whom I will have the chance to work with.

• KRA 5: General Weighted Average of 1.75 by December 2014
• KRA 6: Outstanding Performance Appraisal by December 2014

So friends, help me, pray for me? And to end this blog entry, I’m quoting The Feast’s Declaration of Abundance. Happy new year!

“Today, I receive all God’s love for me. Today, I open myself to the unbounded, limitless, overflowing abundance of God’s Universe. Today, I open myself to your blessings, healing and miracles. Today, I open myself to God’s Word so that I become more like Jesus everyday. Today, I proclaim that I’m God’s Beloved, I’m God’s Servant, I’m God’s Powerful Champion, and because I am blessed, I will bless the world, In Jesus Name, Amen.”

Regrets

 

“Who doesn’t long for someone to hold, who knows how to love you without being told?” I’m sorry for not being the soul mate I know you’re longing for – someone who deserves you.

How could I have been so selfish and unkind to someone who has shown me nothing but pure genuine love? I got used to being taken cared of that I neglected to reciprocate.

Now I’m left with no resort but to wait for your verdict. Fearing that the battle has already been lost, I drown myself with memories we shared.

You were there with me from the beginning. Held my hand when I was in doubt and guided me when I was out of focus. You were more than a lover, you have been my partner in crime for the last 5 years. I may not have been able to reciprocate the love and care that you’ve unselfishly shown but I am thankful that I was able to share the past 5 years with you.

You said to take my time and use this space that we have between us right now to re-think things – that this might be my chance to move out and change. The same thing which we discussed before when our journey almost ended. But, you didn’t give up on us then. You never gave up on me.

I don’t know what to think of or to wish for right now. One thing is for sure, I miss you already and this is just Day 1. The circumstances which I brought us to are far different from the ones we had before. The future is really uncertain but hey, I lived with that for the past 5 years and I don’t mind living for the present while I am in your presence.

I still love you but I don’t know what’s the best choice for us now. I pray that God would speak to our hearts and discourse with our minds and bring us to the place where we ought to be.

I am really sorry for hurting you. I really am. I love you. I still do.

EAT LESS, SAVE MORE AND DO MORE!

 

I’m not a writer but after writing my 2012 year-end blog last night, I felt much better – I was able to let go of the negativity and uncertainty which, I guess was there with me for most part of the year. And so, I’ll be doing it again, here are my personal commitments for 2013: EAT LESS, SAVE MORE AND DO MORE!

Starting my MBA dream kept me busy last year. Most of my decisions were based on this single goal – I didn’t want to compromise study hours and study-related expenses for other stuff. This 2013, I plan to spice things a bit and live more – and I claim that I will BE MORE!

1. GET FIT. I don’t plan to get ripped, I just want a flat tummy. For the nth time, I am committing myself to a healthier me and this time, I’m determined to succeed – so help me God! I am not sure if our company’s partnership with a fitness gym will push thru – great if it does! It’s so expensive to enroll in a gym! If not, then I will find good use for these dumbbells which I bought a year ago and Camp Bagong Diwa’s grounds whose just a stone’s throw away from our apartment.

2. TEACH. “Tao ka lang”, this is what I got from a friend when I told the group that I plan to teach – this is considering the fact that my “weekday days” (8am-5pm) is already devoted to my full time work while my “weekday nights” (5pm-11pm) are spent at UP Diliman. When I toyed on the idea of transferring to another school for my masters – this was one of the things which got me thinking – study masters for free and have the opportunity to teach! ‘Twas very tempting and honestly, I haven’t explored the potential of this idea yet – which I might in the next few weeks. I just got high last night that I decided to continue my masters at UP Diliman. Just like my MBA dream, teaching is one of my passion. Yes, I’m doing corporate training but a part of me longs to reunite with the youth. I think this will also help me feel younger – I feel I’m getting a year older each day.

3. FEED MY BRAIN. Are MBA readings and exercises not enough? As shared with you earlier, I plan to spice things up - add more flavor! I plan to read more of Bo’s works to quench my thirst for spiritual and inspirational stuff. Read business news – who knows, this might be part of the bonus question in the MBA exams! This year, I want to live a balanced life and I believe that starting off with having the right thoughts would be a great start!

4. INDULGE IN A GREAT SUMMER GETAWAY. I still plan to go with NaTay and Kuya at Isla Verde like we always do for the holy week but I think a few more VLs plotted in April or May wouldn’t hurt. Boracay and Palawan are the top choices but anywhere that will offer me something new to do will be great!

5. COME HOME. It’s been ages since I last visited my hometown – San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Often, my family and I would opt to stay here in Taguig or at least go to Batangas due to financial considerations. I would also stubbornly insist to stay here to avoid conflicts with relatives brought by the very nature of people I grew up with. This year, with a more mature perspective and a wiser use of my resources, I will come home – as for the conflicts, a few days won’t hurt I guess.

EAT LESS, SAVE MORE AND DO MORE.

Experts say that it takes 30 days to form a habit – then the whole month of January will be critical! I need to watch what I think, say and do. If I am to live a full life this year, I need to start now – that means, eating the right food and managing my resources (time and money) wiser.

2012 has been great and as for 2013 – it will just keep on getting better! Feng shui experts say that it’s the year of the Snake but I believe and claim that this will be my year! Cheers to a rich and fun-filled year ahead!