Saw this Pepper Day linkup and thought Perfect! This blog needs waking up! I usually accompany that (this blog has had a few wake up calls lol) with trying out something new. Launching a few projects within the week and needless to say, I’m excited how it’ll turn out. Figured I needed to do something to divert my attention from the news and current events that pull me down from prolonged exposure and re-channel my energy to more productive pursuits. I also don’t want to feel helpless with all that’s going on and so the projects are my way of helping out while learning something new, in the process. Wish me luck!
It’s been almost a week since I got back from an extended stay in a small town surrounded by great, seemingly untouched mountains just a few hours away from the city. It was a much needed ‘retreat’, digital detox and all, and a spontaneous decision after an out-of-town trip during Christmas. Within this ‘time-out’, husband and I found a secret beach, ate good, wholesome food (I caught on late, air fryers are such game-changers!) and visited a few historical sites from our weekly exploration of this small town and surrounding areas. It was easier to safely distance physically in a small town surprisingly outside the radar of holidaying tourists. With refreshed minds and worries left behind, we also managed to start a few passion projects and even get short-listed for a startup grant by a venture capitalist. Nothing is set in stone but just having a few things to look forward to and learn in the process are welcome opportunities, especially after a wearying 2020. Entering a new year with some good news helped achieve a new year ‘high’, however fleeting, and flex some of those ‘hope’ muscles. I’ve decided to not make any big 2021 plans and just take it one day at a time. I only plan to not take any blessing or opportunity for granted, make the most of my time and take care of myself and my people, and hopefully have more than enough to help others around me.
How about you? I hope you’ve had some good news or encouragement this new year💜
These trees hid the secret beach we found a few weeks ago.I had a view of this mountain from the balcony of our temporary home over the holidays.A quaint cafe in the courtyard of a museum we visited one weekend.A garden cafe in the middle of nowhere.One of the oldest cathedrals in a UNESCO Heritage Village the country.Inside the cathedral.
This week felt like a turtle crawl in a bit of a haze. Mid-week I was actually surprised it’s not yet the 2nd week of December. Usually, I make a mental note of things to accomplish in a week (on paper if there’s a lot), a grocery list of things that have run out prior to the scheduled grocery trip and then semi-plan something else to do or find someplace to go. I limit list-making to these now but I used to be big on lists.
One list I started recently that I’m actually excited about is the list of ideas that come to me anytime of the day. I don’t filter anything yet, but maybe when it gets too long I can start hacking at it. Right now it’s a bunch of things I want to learn, some projects I can tackle this year and next. It’s a good exercise and I highly recommend it.
These days I’m also spending more time in the university of youtube and academy of podcasts for learning or entertainment. I still love reading (long-form on good days or listicles/list posts on lazier days) a few times a day, but warming up to other styles of learning (aural/linguistic) other than my usual visual, solitary or kinesthetic approach.
I’ve always considered myself an optimistic person. That is, until the last few years. This year? It’s more of a struggle just to cheer up. Trying out meditation and having a sort-of morning routine helps to at least get up and get started on things to do, with acute consciousness of an invisible weight in every step. Is this what it feels like to be in the brink of a revolution? Who knows, and lives to this day? Some days, I just long for a reset.
Yet there are days few and far between with spurts of inspiration, when ideas pour like heavy rain my hands can barely keep up writing or typing them down. These days seem full of options. These are blessed, sweet days to remember this otherwise weary year by. I try to get as much done on these days, not knowing when the next ‘train’ arrives.
Never one to bother with optics or appearances, it still feels exhausting sometimes to hear rumors or lies being spread around about me or other people I know. Pandemic or not, it still surprises me how people can have the energy or mental space for nonsense like these. On a bigger scale, the media makes this worse. Some say we live in a post-truth era; it gets harder and harder to get the facts straight with the proliferation of fake news, deepfakes and propaganda-driven traditional media outfits or social media. How does one cope with this crisis without succumbing to the deep dark, if hardening oneself or not caring is not an option? I’m still learning, but I have a few ideas: bury my head in a book, dive into painstaking research, connect with kind people/kindred spirits, or find solace in nature. Oh, and there’s gaming, too, if you can guard against addiction.
A special visitor to my blog left this in one of her comments. Bless her! Never fails to make me smile. Sharing it here in the hopes of spreading some good vibes.
Up until last year for at least five years or so, I’d get myself a planner each year and once or twice, I managed to snag the Belle de Jour power planner before they’d sell out in bookstores. It’s a unique planner with more than the spaces for daily/weekly/monthly schedule slots, a calendar and a few pages for notes/reminders. It had a health/period tracker, motivational/inspirational quotes, goal tracker, challenges, a membership card and discount coupons/vouchers for use in partner establishments like gyms, cafe, spa, etc. It was very useful especially for serious planners like me back then 😉. In 2019, I got more zen and put less pressure on myself, took it easy on the To DO lists and re-evaluated my life goals. This soul-searching started in 2018, the year I got married and considered starting a family. I realized how I’ve changed and wanted different things for myself and soon-to-be family, and started on a different path in terms of career and where I want to start a family.
Photo credit: Rappler
And so I was on this path when 2020 hit and needless to say, most of my and my partner’s personal plans were hit, either delayed/postponed and/or drastically changed. Our move to NZ was halted when I couldn’t go back to start a new job there due to travel restrictions. A baby will have to wait, largely due to the pandemic. After the few weeks/months of adjusting to the crazy times, we started an I.T. business, a natural progression i guess since my partner and I are both in the industry albeit in different fields. Not quite part of the plan but something that felt right. If anything, this year has given us more than enough time in our hands to reflect more about our lives and be more intentional with our time.
I found this very informative talk/video encouraging, stimulating and hopeful in almost equal parts. While the responsibility lies largely on this generation, it helps paint a brighter future if we start getting our act together as a global community and start working together instead of in silos, enormous challenges in themselves but not impossible. Which other generation has had the privilege to solve the world’s problems with all the information we need at our fingertips?
Another video I found highly informative and inspiring is this ted talk by Simon Anholt. It’s encouraging to know that about 10% of the world’s population share the same values/perspective as global citizens/globalists. That can make up a country with the 3rd highest population in the world. If you think in these terms, know that you are not alone in worrying about our future and where the world is headed.
Hello! It’s been awhile since we got together for coffee. Let’s change things up a bit and go on a road trip, grab coffee on the way, shall we? Let’s go.
First early Christmas decor spotted. No halloween things spotted so I guess that’s off the table for most people.
Phew! Didn’t really expect to hit some traffic this early. The skies are a bit gray but I don’t think it will rain, not soon anyway. First order of business: let’s get you and me some coffee in our system.
View of Taal VolcanoMore of Taal Volcano, a unique and dangerous beauty found in the south of Manila, Philippines, arguably the smallest active complex supervolcano on the planet. Taal lake partially covers its caldera or crater. And more. First road trip and nature walk in months!All squared up for kindasquare
I ordered a latte for myself and a cappuccino for you. These cakes/pastries are making my mouth water. I’ll let you pick this time.
A square cake from a bistroBurnt Ube (water yam/winged yam/purple sweet potato among its names) Cheesecake goes really well with brewed coffee. Hubs been craving this for days: apple tart from Rowena’s.How about some chocolate crinkles?Sylvannas, anyone?
I haven’t told you, one of the reasons we’re here is to do a site survey. We’re building our first house over there, leaving the busy city and trading condo living for this, maybe for good. Work and business are lining up especially these past months such that we can all work remotely with the teams and hold most meetings online. We’ll probably just go back to the city once or twice a month with the processes we put in place, fingers crossed. I just know I can get more writing done here, go for a hike every week and swim in the lake or nearby beach any time we fancy. And hubs can finally have some space for a workshop for his furniture projects. Having this to look forward to definitely makes the long hours and everything else thrown our way this year more bearable.
How about you, what gets you going/how do you pick yourself up especially on days when getting up seems harder, you feel sluggish or too crazy to work? Do you get those days, too?
Let’s drop by the garden near the fruit stands and souvenir shops we wanted to check out last time. Don’t forget to wear both face masks and shield as some shops don’t let people in without both on. I’m picking a random spotify playlist on. Any rock out song you have in mind for the drive back? Ooh, these are good ones.
Thanks for playing along. You got some nice set of pipes, my friend. Bye for now. Take care and until out next road trip.
The coffee share is hosted over on Eclectic Alli. Here’s the link to join in. Also linking to Kinda Square for the cakes and Taal volcano shots.
It’s been a little over seven months since self-isolation and while I have adjusted and been a lot more productive now than in the first three months, hubby and I have made a habit of bonding/decompressing over a nice meal, dessert or drinks while watching a movie, docu or series, some days. Here are some recommendations to add to the first list I posted months back here. This time around we decided to give Amazon Prime and Apple TV a shot.
From Netflix:
Cobra Kai
Ratched
Away
The Old Guard
Snowpiercer
Anna
To The Lake (Russian)
Enola Holmes
The Social Dilemma
And these (on days when you just want something really light and/or distracting enough), if you haven’t already:
Umbrella Academy (very interesting plot and well placed twists!)
I know, that’s a lot of shows/movies and too much screen time. Enough for a decade or so. Sigh. Anyway hope you find this list helpful. Feel free to make suggestions in the comments and I’ll check some of them on the weekends 😉😉
I blog about life as an Autistic female with Bipolar 2, giving parenting & marriage my best shot. I am a passionate Advocate for Autism & Mental Health. I'll make you laugh & cry. And I promise you the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth.
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