01 January 2015

NEW YEAR, NEW BLOG?

Not deleting this one, certainly. Will just do some layout adjustments (as if, drastic). I am telling you now, it wouldn't be interestingly creative in layout, since I will just be choosing from the default themes. Just better. 

The "change in me" new year feeling, urges me to revamp the blog - a New Year's Resolution.

A brain-juice-demanding work has inspired me to write even more to practice my grammar, communication and flair in writing. 

WILL REALLY, REALLY TRY to get this blog UPDATED as much as possible. Target posts include book insights, food reviews, travel diary, huge encounters, and random emotions. 


2015 excites me. It will really be an amazing year, for me and my blog. 


2014 - THE HIGHS

As I recall the good things that happened this year, after blogging the bad ones, I realized that I had an equally wonderful year. When I browsed through my Instagram photos, I pretty much had a lot of blessings in my bag.

1. Renewed relationship with my God. This was the highlight of my year. I have started my journey of knowing, praising, walking and loving Him even more. It started with a Sunday service in CCF (Christ Commission Fellowship - Alabang branch), and from that day, my heart couldn't stop worshipping His name. I thank CCF, my friend Richel and her family, the pastors, and other believers for being with me in this journey. "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turnining back.."

2. True friends. Old and proven. I owe these people a long-overdue feature blog (which I still commit to do!), but I know with or without it, I am surrounded with a lot of them. Tin, Karla, Kassey, Mikka, Kye, Trixie, Nica, Inna, Justine, Danica, Mhay, Aldrin, Jix, Mami Toni, Steff, Dian, Charmi, Richel, Kendra.

3. New friends. I may have lost a lover and a friend, but God replaced it with new people who made an impact in my year. Shoutout to my D-Group girls, led by my very inspiring discipler Ef. I am fortunate to gain more friends I met in my trips, from a friend of a friend, and at work.

4. Marriott Hotel Manila. I have been praying for this change since last year, but it came at the right time. My new job shifted my priorities, geared to focusing on my career more. It was exactly what I needed. Honestly, I am really struggling because it has been challenging what I am capable of, but I never felt so fulfilled with my work. I am seeing a brighter career path ahead of me now.

5. Looking and feeling great. I was such an insecure, and the heartbreak put my self-esteem even lower. Rather getting wasted, I fought back in a fab way. Found myself boxing - and loving it so, so much! It has been my weekly workout. I spoiled myself of trying to be pretty the best way I can. Taking fitness and self-care seriously now.

6. Climb a mountain. I made to Pico de Loro! It was so difficult for a first timer. Never felt so fearless in my life.

9. Eatprayreadlove. I have started this weekend lifestyle of going out, reading and hanging out alone. I enjoyed being all by myself, getting lost over a good book and being far from the noise. Lost track of the books I read, but thank you dear authors for stories that cut through. And the must-try-restos I have been, how I wish I was diligent in documenting, I had some awesome taste experiences on the books.

8. Extra joys. Watched the Wicked theater play. Witness a professional tennis game - IPTL, saw pro players like Murray, Sharapova, Tsonga, Ivanovic, Monfils. Free ticket to Priscilla - a must watch play indeed. Complimentary business phone. Beach island trip with friends. Ended the year meeting a cute guy (haha!)

9. Matured perspective. With all the things that happened, both good and bad, 2014 taught me a lot of things. It made me wiser than I was. I learned to be more appreciative, more forgiving, more humble, more understanding, more rational, more independent and more faithful. I gained lots of insights about how relationships should be, making me EXTRA careful of finding the right man. I see life on lighter and beautiful way than before. It should be taken seriously but I have finally accepted the idea of going with the "flow." Enjoying the simplest things, day by day.


I know I had a 10, 11, 12, and so on. 2014 was still bad, but equally great for me. Had a 360 degrees turn-around in my life, but I was glad of how it turned out to be. Always imperfect, but I haven't felt more satisfied with where I am right now. God blessed me with struggles and successes I have no regrets with.

2015, what now? 

2014 - THE LOWS

Bizarre. That's the perfect adjective to describe how my 2014 was. Who knew I would survived the year? Even I was surprised to end it with a genuine smile on my face. Crashed on the first half and took a flight on the second half.

Since I wasn't an active blogger this year, let me give you a round up of the year that was - highlighting the lows that grew as my highs.


HEARTBREAK. 
First real heartbreak. Yes, I have totally moved on from it, but it is true that "pain demands to be felt" as clearly told in TFIOS. A self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, idealistic and believer of fairytales "no boyfriend since birth" like me, totally didn't expect a tragic love story as what happened to me. I can still clearly remember the start of that ending, and how I started anew when it was all over.

I can proudly say that what happened to me was a story worth telling.  Trust me, how it fell apart was really, really bad (ask my friends lol). I was really at my weakest, for months, not to add the other bumps I had. I went through all stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Plus, forgiveness. Was I healed? Yes, but still scarred. Still, glad that I learned about love the hard way. It was a blessing.


BETRAYAL
Which is very much related to the heartbreak. It's not in my nature to ruin someone's reputation, and will never be, so no name-dropping. When I was a kid, betrayal for me was simply is when a friend chose to have lunch with someone else. Again, never did I expect to know it on an extreme definition. I thought I was good at choosing my friends - whom I can trust completely. And when I got my heart broken, I know that I never lack great friends to find comfort with. I may have failed to be a lover, but I know I will never ever fail in being a friend. Oops, but I did because I was so stupid. Actually, the worst part was someone made me stupid. How can a friend betray you for over a year, every single day, right on the face, and suck it all in? I dunno! I know I didn't deserve that, and noone did.

Her apologies was just enough to forgive her. But that kind of betrayal has ended the friendship. As much as she was not aware of how grave the pain she caused me, that's how much I know I can't be friends with her anymore. Since, betrayal taught me to be wiser.


BRUISED
Oh, literally. A very few know about this mishap in my life because I am really ashamed of it. I don't have a warm and happy family. We are just fine, far away. My parents are abroad and I didn't grow passionately open with them. My relationship with my sister is a total wreck ever since, and it got worst this year. I seldom see her in the house, because of her BPO work and her partner, and I can barely count the times we talk. I know she hated me, but I didn't (cross my heart). I just got used to our setup of not minding each other's business. I am really surprised with the two fights which got very physical. It was like those teleserye scenes - someone being beaten down hopelessly.

It was so devastating to even write. Such a dark experience that I all I could do was cry for a hero to save me. Healed all the bruises but our relationship is still left unresolved. Will get there, someday.


All these happened at the same time. You can realize how damaged I was. Rock bottom. But it resulted to to the confidence I have now. These tragedies sure did made me tougher and wiser - very much!

So how did I survive? God. It totally felt like the world gave up on me, but He never did. I found healing the day I started embracing His grace. Until now, it overwhelms me. How everything fell into place and the reasons behind all of it. My faith saved me, true story.

And that begins the 2nd half of 2014 - the ascend, the high, the joy.