30+ Reasons Why

I realized lately how birthdays give me a better sense of reset, like a near-death experience minus the adrenaline rush from escaping danger.

July is my birth month and my birthday is in a few days.  I don’t really like to celebrate it but I love getting all pensive before the actual birthday.  This time though, probably because of everything that’s happening, I’m a lot more introspective, ultra-sensitive and extra sober.  Today I feel extra grateful and decided to list down why, or what for.

1. Good health – This is always a given when I count my blessings but more so now with the global pandemic situation.

   

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2. My husband – We got married 2 years ago and was in the process of migrating when Coronavirus hit us all.  I left the country before him while he’s still finishing up some work locally,to get a job, look for housing options in country #2 and did other things to hit the ground running.  After months of stay in country #2, I came back to sort some stuff and that’s when all the lockdowns started.  I’m glad I got back in time and isolating with him than apart.  Through everything, he’s been a reliable partner and a rock.  He’s always been, but this has been tested and proven repeatedly especially these last few months.  Oh, not to mention his humor, an added and welcome bonus in this time of coronavirus.
3. Boredom – I’d like to think I’ve always had a healthy appreciation of boredom, but my appreciation for it increased significantly the past few months.  While adjusting and coping with concerns and stress early on during isolation, these days I’ve managed to take it in stride, live with it and use it to my advantage.  I was able to take 6 online courses, learn a few recipes/staples and even bake!  From one of two of the courses, I got inspired to start a business that could potentially be a life-long career for me & hubby.Whether or not it becomes successful, just getting to try and work together on this gets me excited and motivated every day.

   

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4. This blog – I have almost forgotten about this until one day when I felt the urge to write and read blogs again.  How can I forget how cathartic this is..?  Found some gems to follow and new bloggers to support as well.
5. Netflix – Need I say more?
6. Book – They let me travel and experience a lot vicariously.
7. Having a home, not just a house
8. Food – my source of simple joy and comfort everyday  (And nutrition, of course).
9. Takeout – to take a break from cooking 😉
10. Delivery – for the laziest of days.
11. Having a balcony – to get some air without donning a mask or face shield, the works.
12. Airconditioning – because summer is back with a vengeance (or never left?) where I am now.
13. Magic The Gathering – My husband introduced me to this and I got hooked on the artwork, then the game.
14. The Internet – for connecting with friends/family.
15. My brain – for working properly and not running out of ideas.
16. Airbnb – one of our reliable sources of income.
17. Good coffee
18. Ice cream 😉
19. Eggs 😉
20. Cheese 😉
21. Spices and condiments 😉
22. Art
23. Music – especially the ’90s!
24. Businesses that have opened, especially groceries and restaurants!
25. Masks and face shield – keeping me and everyone I know covid-free.

    

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26. Frontliners – I’ll be forever grateful to them!
27. Paying work – pay cut or not, it keeps us afloat especially at this time.
28. Alcohol
29. Mobile phones
30. Laptop/Computer
31. Bathing/Shower
32. Apps
33. Refund – Especially for those trips not happening this year
34. Pillows (and bed, of course!)

    

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35. Beer
36. Ergonomic chairs
37. Wheels – on chairs, vehicles, especially bags

    

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Wow, I enjoyed this exercise 🙂 I realized I can go on but tried to time myself for this post.  Spirit lifted, nonetheless.

A Birthday Project

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I’ve never been one to care about gatherings or celebrating birthdays, but this time especially, I almost can’t stomach celebrating while thinking about others in crisis in this pandemic situation.  At other times, that can be a problem for me, caring too much.  In this case, I think it’s…justified.  My birthday is in a few days and in the past, my friends and I would gather to simply hang out or do some sort of charity.  It hasn’t been consistent but this time, I’m deciding to make this a yearly thing.

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I was encouraged to find others who’ve gone the same route, sharing their experiences or projects publicly or anonymously online to inspire others.  Now I’m actually getting excited to plan.  Do I come up with 37 (my age) random acts of kindness, like someone did before?  Perhaps this can be a month-long project, in lieu of celebrating for more than a day, kinda like a birth week or birth month thing.  I’m sharing some ideas I came up with below.  Very much open to ideas or even collaboration:

• Build an app where people can safely (and freely) seek help emotionally, by connecting with mental health workers or professionals (volunteers).
• Raise funds to give care packages, safety kits and some grocery to the homeless or those who lost jobs or are stuck due to the travel restrictions in place.
• Give food and drinks to frontliners I know or living around me.
• Pay for someone’s meal/drinks at a restaurant/cafe I visit (takeout, of course).
• Pay double for the fare next time I ride a grabcar/uber.
• Support small and local businesses by buying more from them and giving a good or at least honest review.

All my ideas thus far.  Feel free to pitch in:)