You have the longest hours of each day compared to the rest of the year.

You have the densest air compared to the other months.

You're the coldest too as the Holiday cheers go on.

You're like me. I want to slow down, and yet the world wants to speed up.

No time to have slower mornings. No time to have warm restful nights.

I don't celebrate you, and neither do you.

Despite holding space for my birth, we have no affinity.

Dear December, my cells recall. In your days, I lost half my heart.

In your days, my heart recalls the pain.

And yet, Dear December, you demand, more than I can offer.

I ask of you to hold me warmly.

Offer me your compassion; that I may live differently in your days.

That I may be, even when I can't.

Dear December, for all of my years, we'll be together.

Dear December, when will I fall in love with you again?

POV: You've just received your Reiki Level 1 attunement.

Reiki is a healing modality which originated from Japan from Mikao Usui. The first level is designed to be used for self healing. And healing is more than just removing illnesses or pains and aches--it is all about shifting your nature into positivity in every aspect.

How were you attuned? Did you have a sensation during attunement? How long ago were you attuned? Do you have a full belief of the benefits of Reiki and how it can work for you?

While I'm not here to be your teacher, I can share with you some ways you can truly make Reiki work for you (aside from healing yourself).

When we are attuned, it is usually our hand chakras that get activated and Reiki energy from your lineage flows freely on your hand chakras. They are emanating from both your palms and the top of your hands.

Your first instinct—and perhaps what you've been taught—is to lay your hands on different parts of your body for healing. But here, I’d like to share some practical ways Reiki can support you in your everyday life.

Food.

We all need to eat, and an average human eats about 3 to 5 lbs of food in a day. That's a lot if you think about it. What if you're eating your favorite food each and everyday? And what if you can make that food bring you even more happiness and sustenance that it normally can?

And yes, you can do that! With Reiki, hover your hand above your food visualizing a white cleansing light coming out of your palms and into your food. Now, while that can look a bit weird in public, then you can support the plate with your palm and imagine that light passing through the plate and cleansing your food thoroughly.

Try that a couple of times and observe the food that has no Reiki, vs one that you intentionally sent Reiki energy to.

Water.

Our bodies are made up of 70% water. It has been scientifically proven that water exposed to beautiful, pure notes becomes energized. In the same way, water that is spoken to with love and kind words also becomes positively energized.

Imagine how you can amplify the positive charging by using Reiki from your hands!

Using glasses or mugs that aren't made up on very synthetic materials, think clear transparent glass or a clay mug, put your water in and simply hold with both hands for a few seconds as you visualize the Reiki energy from your palms are infused in the water.

Test out the taste of a Reiki infused water vs just plain water. How does it make you feel when you drink the positively energized water?

Wounds.

Now, we all get sick or injured at some point in our lives. As a Reiki practitioner, you're not immune to aches and pains—but the good news is, Reiki can still work wonders for you!

I've tested this time and again, and it never fails to amaze me. When you get a cut or a bruise, after cleaning it (you can even use Reiki-infused water!), place your hands over the area and visualize Reiki energy flowing into the wound.

I've had deep cuts that would normally take weeks to heal, but with Reiki, recovery only takes days. And as a bonus—because I know how much faster my skin heals with Reiki—I dab a bit of retinol on the scar. The result? My skin often looks like it was never wounded at all!

P.S. Please don’t injure yourself just to try this. Simply observe how Reiki helps the next time you get a wound naturally.

Wallet.

The real reason why wallets frequently get stolen, is because money (the notes and coins) are handled by different people all the time and ends inside your wallet. Money has dirty energy, let's admit it (unless maybe it came fresh from the bank--like a new note or coin!).

And in a similar logic that you might be able to relate to, like attracts like. Hence, money can attract thieves and pickpockets. Now you know what to do better? Reiki your wallet!

If you commute and still need your notes and coins (who doesn't, anyway?), don't forget to send Reiki energy to your entire wallet. You don't have to do it for each note or coin! Just hold your wallet between your hands, maybe like in Gassho or prayer position. Visualize the Reiki energy penetrating your wallet and covering every content of it in Reiki energy.

Enjoy the new safety of your wallet!

Keys.

You know this all too well. Keys are still an inevitable part of our security and our household, but still tend to lose our keys all the time! And the reason may not be very surprising. It's probably because your keys need to be invisible and have a low-key energy (pun intended!). We may hide it all the time (just like how we hide our wallets), and hence, its energy tend to be small.

But we don't want it to "hide" from us because we own that key and we want it where it's always safe and we can find it. Some of us may want to use AirTags or other trackers, but here's a FREE hack for you, the newly attuned Reiki practitioner: Send Reiki to your keys!

Hold your hand in Gassho (prayer position) with the key between your palms. Set your intention that this key will always be safe and never wander from your possession. Visualize the Reiki energy from your palms, covering it like a white ball of light.

With your keys receiving Reiki, it will always be "attuned" to you. It will have energy and not the small kind that you've always subconsciously programmed it to have. The bonus is, it won't get stolen and it won't get lost!

Gadgets.

Ooh, everybody loves retrogrades! --not! especially not if Mercury is the one in retrograde! Because Mercury is the ruler of communication, gadgets related to communication--hint, hint, the whole internet is a form of communication!

Most gadgets like phones, laptops, tablets, etc may suffer from minor tech glitches. They could suddenly freeze, get bricked or maybe prevent you from connecting with other people via social media or chat apps.

Nobody appreciates that, and especially not during these times where gadgets are front and center for work, networking and finance too. The quick fix? Send Reiki to your commonly used gadgets, especially the ones you can't go on a day without.

Let me share an experience from back when I was just starting to become sensitive to energy. At the time, I was working in a building with a cell tower on the roof. I’d come home completely drained, often with a splitting migraine. Even more strangely, whenever I sat down to use my computer, it would start acting up.

This went on for the entire stretch of the Mercury retrograde that year! I ended up sending multiple devices in for repair—and even had to replace my phone. At one point, I was so overwhelmed by the constant tech glitches and energy disturbances that I started wearing gloves, just to shield my devices from the energy I seemed to be picking up at work. That’s how intense it was!

Books.

If you're studying, this is for you. Books are great sources of knowledge, but let's admit it, some author's way of writing will make you doze off and never get to pick up on anything. I know, because I'm like that too, sometimes!

But when it comes to academic reading, we've got no choice but to peruse the material for learning. But here's the catch, you can make it work for you and learn from it a little bit easier than how you normally felt about the material.

How do you do that? If it's a book, simply hold it between your hands in Gassho position and set the intention to allow this book to be consumed with ease and allow the learnings to be inculcated in you. For different material forms, like PDFs and or printed pieces of paper, you may simply slide your hand over the physical paper or on the screen for a PDF version.

And the possibilities are endless here. Signing a contract? Bank passbook? You know what to do!

My parting advice

Be playful, be curious. The beginning is always very fun because the "old" pattern is still fresh in you, but you now have the opportunity to explore far better patterns of living that is beneficial to you and fun.

Welcome to a better version of yourself. At the end of the day, don't forget to send your physical body the Reiki energy that you are able to transfer to things around you.

Ghost month is mostly observed by Chinese cultures and in some countries like Singapore, Malaysia and China. In the Philippines, there's a growing culture adaptation that's making more people aware about beliefs surrounding Ghost Month.

Ghost Month happens on the 7th Lunar month of each calendar year. In 2024, the entire Ghost Month celebration happens from August 4 to September 2; and the peak date will be on August 18th. It is said that during these days of the Ghost Month, the gates of the underworld opens and allows ghosts (or spirits of the passed) to mingle with their living loved ones. The borderline or the veil of separation between the physical world and the spirit world is blurred temporarily, which gives passage to more spirits who want to visit loved ones and roam our plane of existence.

Is Ghost Month Bad?

Short answer is No, and Yes. The 30 day celebration isn't bad in itself, but the volume of spirits that roam around with us can taint the energy that we have built so far from the start of the year. Spirits bring more Yin energy and can sometimes cause a bulk of "sticky" energy around us. This can feel heavy to wade through especially in already difficult and challenging times.

For example, it is ill advised to start a new endeavor, like a career change, or a new business because these activities require more Yang energy to move forward with intensity and passion. Having a heavier cloud of Yin spirit energy during the Ghost Month can hamper your efforts and cause delays, setbacks, etc. What is encouraged during these days is more time to rest, to flow with the Yin energy and solidify your inner spirit.

Let's Talk about our Pets

We're done and familiar with the common Dos and Don'ts for people during Ghost Month, but we haven't given much thought about what goes on for our furry companions during these times. How can we ensure they're set for protection and relaxation during these days?

Here are some Dos & Don'ts focused on your pets and you:

Think about colors. Red & Black are major no nos for the Ghost Month. They attract more spirits to hang out where there are reds and blacks. Consider removing or replacing them temporarily with brighter colors.

Water. Because spirits carry Yin energy, and water is yin, it will attract more spirits. As walking habitants, our pets are not naturally thriving in water element. Avoid swimming excursions and/or walks near bodies of water, especially naturally occurring ones. A walk near swimming pools may be ok though, but not at night.

Cleanliness is light. Clean areas where your furry friends love to hang out. Maybe dust out their pet beds, or send them to laundry cleaners. Water fountains tend to be neglected too. Pay more attention to your animals' accessories and hangouts.

Move away from the dark. For dogs, try to keep your walks earlier in the evening, rather than later. Avoid paths that aren't well lit, or those where the trees cast lots of shadows. For cats, temporarily keep your outdoor kitties at home. The Ghost month invites accidents and unfortunate events. Keeping them indoors would be for the best.

Good vibes. Forget everything, but don't forget harboring positivity. Laugh more, play more with your pets. If there are lingering health issues, best to have them addressed early on. If you can, pray and meditate some more. You may choose to meditate near your pet or put their favorite bed beside you when you do.

Semi precious stones can also help your furry friends navigate the days of the Ghost Month. As some animals may be more anxious than others, some gemstones are helpful to help them feel calm.

Summary

Here's a chart for your reference. If you're available, tune in to DZRH Live, later tonight, August 3, 2024 22:00-23:00, where I will be a guest to talk about these tips for our pets during Ghost Month. See you all tonight!

For questions and/or consultations, contact me at https://www.voicelesswhispers.org or send a message via Facebook from https://www.facebook.com/the.voiceless.whispers/

More than two decades ago, we first heard of Dr. Dolittle in that Eddie Murphy comedy movie. It was very novel at that time and fun to watch animals really talk to him as natural as the English language. Who didn't think this was a great work of fiction, right? I know, I did!

The fascination

I remember, in the year 2010, my first cat (the one I consider my soulmate), Nyey was a little over 10 years of age, when I had the interest to talk to her. She was very much my own child and I had experienced caring for her since she was born. I was so keen to understand her preferences, to honor her choices in life and also to include her in my decision making. I had hoped for and searched for ways to be able to "talk" to her. It was then that I learned of them, called "Pet psychics", who can communicate with animals. Being I'm a bit of a psychic myself back then, I chose to reach out to a psychic in the US (PS: I'm still friends with her up to this time!)

It was the most beautiful thing money could pay for! Being that I am from the Philippines, every dollar is expensive. My cat is my soulmate, and it was a cheap price for me to pay to be able to communicate with her. Back then, my questions started simple. I would ask her what she wanted for her birthday, if she was happy, if she liked her food, etc. Over time, we formed a deeper bond because of this. I would look at her and talk to her in our native language knowing that I had this confidence that she understood the language of my heart.

The trigger

As she grew older, my questions became more profound. "I need to know if you are in pain"; "I want to make you feel more comfortable, is this cat house accessible for you?"; "I need to do X (this) for you, I really need your consent". She and I became closer and inseparable. Each time we did this "communication", it's like our hearts exchanged energies and we became brighter and stronger together... until she passed away and left me devastated.

Her passing indeed left a hole in my heart--the same heart that welled with so much joy and happiness after each communication with her. This kicked me into a downward spiral to depression--from which I found my calling!

I came back to my animal communicator friend after some time and reached out to my cat on the rainbow bridge. Her message, her words resonated deep inside that void she left inside of me, and I vowed to make her proud of me one day.

The birth of an animal communicator

I decided to talk to her myself. This is how it started.

I scoured for the right teacher. It was tough to find one who resonated with me. I had to really try. When finally finding the right one, it felt like home, safe and supported. That's when my gifts were nourished. My teacher, Cheri, empowered us, her students and taught us in a very supportive way.

At first, it felt unnatural, crazy, almost. But when you get the details that you don't know and really see the animal's personality, that's really what got me going. It took me more than two years to finally give in, and offer my skills to the public.

I'm a certified animal communicator. I'm also a Reiki master. My journey has taken me from healing myself to healing others, and now, my goal is to give animals a voice to reach out to us, their human guardians.

Enter Voiceless Whispers

My mornings usually start with asking my cats what they want to eat. Why? They also have preferences. While it's true that they are creatures of habit, they also have moods, energy levels and tolerance levels. Since we, the human guardians, are usually pre-occupied with thoughts of what's going down for our day, we don't hear them as much, even if they send us loud messages.

Prior to understanding how to "communicate" with them, I would waste food. I would end up throwing away cans and cans of food (to our community stray cats). I couldn't afford to waste the cat food, that's why we bring down the food to the usual spots of our community strays. Now, my cats and I, we're in sync. I can buy cat food with confidence that they will be eagerly consumed like favorites when served. I am also able to identify their quirks in terms of food bowl colors and placement and timing.

These days, my cats communicate to me more easily and I can reach out to them if I have a grave concern (like my two male cats always fighting). The house feels more harmonious and restful (until they will all start playing and throwing around the pillows and boxes around the house!).

What Voiceless Whispers can offer

I provide services for healing and animal reading. As a Reiki master, I am able to impart Reiki healing for your animal in the way they need it. I am also able to impart healing through other modalities, if the animal would be adverse to Reiki.

More importantly, I want to give your animal a voice to express themselves to reply to your queries and also send their message to you.

When you have the confidence that you and your animal is in sync and is working together towards a common goal, it will be a more meaningful companionship. Knowing what your animal wants/needs contributes to them feeling more loved and appreciated in your life. Moreover, consulting them about big decisions in your life such as getting married, moving to a different house, and travel plans will make them understand that they are important for you.

Isn't this how we'd like to treat our animal companions? We call them our fur babies, right?

If you've got questions about Voiceless Whispers, you may connect via:

https://www.voicelesswhispers.org

https://www.facebook.com/the.voiceless.whispers

Hoping to talk to your animals soon!

Some while back, read: almost a decade ago, I started learning how to play the violin.  It didn't really work out for me.  Back then, I had the energy, but didn't have the money to support classes and buying accessories for my violin.  Some years later, I donated my full size acoustic violin to Caritas Manila.  Who knows, there might be someone more gifted who deserved to give my violin a new life it needed!

Fast forward to 2022, and I decided to revisit my love for the violin.  Now, I have the money and all I need now is time– time to work on my passions before all is too late!

Why an electric violin?

I was previously learning the violin with an acoustic full sized Hofner violin.  It sounded very beautiful but I had trouble practicing it at home because our house was very small and the violin was very loud!  Back then, mutes were not a thing yet, so I only ever get practice time when I visited my teacher's studio (which was at walking distance from our house).

The acoustic violin is always so aesthetically pleasing to look at and provides great feedback during the learning process.  You'd definitely always love to pick up your violin and play with it.

However, this time around, I had different considerations. I'm seriously going to put in time to practice, and with that, I wanted something I would love to hold but will not sacrifice the quality of sound; and also assist in practice time.

As I currently live in a condo, and while it's not the smallest, it also isn't the biggest.  I don't have a room I could spare to set up as a home studio to give way for my hobby.  With the help of another violinist friend, I requested a recording of how an acoustic violin would sound with a mute– and yes, it still sounded solid within the rooms of my unit.  

As another major concern, I have discovered that I have sensitive hearing. At noisy places like malls, cinemas and public places, I have to wear ear inserts (I use Flare audio calmer earplugs) to tone down the noise. I knew that picking up an acoustic violin would bring rage to my eardrums 😅

I also wanted to try a different approach to learning because I discovered that you can play the electric violin using bluetooth technology!

Upgrade syndrome

It's been a couple of months into being a beginner, I'm currently at level 3.  My first electric violin was from JB Music and I loved it, up until I have better ears for a more beautiful tone.

I decided to go for the Yamaha Electric Violin YEV104BL, which I had to purchase abroad via Amazon and had it shipped to Johnny Air as the destination. While it was an expensive feat, it was worth it. Reading and researching online, I heard that the default setup of the YEV has quite a tall bridge– and knowing that I have small hands, I had it sent to a luthier to trim the bridge down a little bit. From Johnny Air, it went straight to the luthier. I had to wait another week to get it and continue my learning journey.

Doing that, was the best decision I've made for myself.  Not only did it sound a lot better, but I also sped up my learning game.

Encouraging setup

So, the first thing you learn about electric violins is that you can change the way it sounds using amplifiers. I did my research, and being that I love all things small, I went ahead and picked Fender Mustang Micro amplifier for my setup.

It was seamless and very handy! It's rechargeable and folds neatly when not in use.  There are so many combinations that you can try to make your practice sound exactly the way you want it to!

The next thing is probably going to be the speakers (along with your choice of cable, of course).  Again, I wanted to keep things small, being that I'm only a hobbyist.  

I picked this Joyo portable acoustic amp because of its portability and also since this amp works well with the impedance requirement of the violin. Picking a different amp would add distortion and maybe pipe down the sound of a violin.

At the beginning of my beginner level 1, I prefer to quickly pick up my violin and play. I had that need for a stand where I can prop it up safely and be ready and available for me again when I'm available for a short practice. Being a beginner, most practice sessions were short, but frequent. Because of this, I bought this violin stand (see photos above).

For my scores, I prefer using my iPad, so I just use my old tripod stand with this special holder for my iPad which I really like because it can hold my iPad mini up to my iPad Pro 11" quite nicely.  When not on my tripod, when I prefer to practice sitting down, I have a sturdy clamp on my desk where I can screw it on.  Works great for me when I do short bursts of practice.

Now, here's the fun part. Because I'm lazy, I normally no longer play with the Joyo amp on. I went on a hunt to find a setup that will allow me to still hear my violin without the speaker. Having the Fender Mustang Micro amplifier is a huge advantage.. here's why: it opened a whole new set of options for me!

At first, I was satisfied with just having my wired earphones plugged into the micro amp, but then I gained access to something else that again opened my setup to new possibilities. While I was looking for something to use for travel, I picked up Airfly wireless transmitter. This was initially intended for inflight use, because the wired ones were really a bother.

With the availability of bluetooth, I can now connect my violin to my preferred choice of output– whether to my favorite bluetooth speaker: Muzen OTR speaker, my Airpods Pro, or even to a dream amplifier like the Yamaha THR30II Wireless Desktop Amp!

Other tools used: Pirastro Korfker rest, Marshall Major IV headpones, Kreddle Cushion, D'Addario NS Micro Violin, Holstein Freedom Chinrest

And, lastly, since I'm still a student, I use my handy dandy Insta360 Go2 (not yet Go3) 😜 camera to record my practices so I can submit to my teacher for checking and feedback.

Here's my latest submitted work: A major scale in broken thirds.  🫣

So, there goes my modest beginner setup.  Did you like any of it? I hope you found some items useful for your own practice! Happy practice!

In a gist, this holiday happens every August 8th.  This is a cosmic alignment of the Star Sirius (the brightest star in the night sky — which, ironically, is most visible astrologically under the Leo sign), the constellation Orion’s Belt and the Earth.  It is said, this portal starts between July 26 and ends August 12.  The peak of the celebration, is on August 8th.  

Simply looking at the number 8, it is a number that is often associated with grace, infinity, flow and wealth and prosperity.

Photo by Mika Brandt on Unsplash

How can it affect us?

This is the perfect opportunity to manifest new beliefs, to push forward plans and projects and a period of growth in terms of self work.  It is a time to re-evaluate your goals and identify those that works for you and what don’t.  It is an invitation to bring forth those that you have neglected to see, and make it visible for you to take action.  

It is a huge nudge for action and self introspection, in order to come out successful.

What’s it like for me?

For me, I felt like I was in a rut in the last few weeks.  I felt absolutely no motivation to move, or do any of my hobbies.  For the life of me, I almost thought I was slipping back to depression.  I did more meditation and self-reiki to help me feel unstuck.  Even my work wasn’t moving in the right direction I wanted.  It was like a stand-still, a waiting game.

When August landed, it was a surge of a roller coaster for me.  Believe it, or not, I had some food poisoning and I was out cold last 4th of August.  I couldn’t move at all, couldn’t speak, couldn’t eat.  I had a terrible headache and the stomach pain was unbearable.  The incident didn’t make much sense at that time, but a few days later, I had a surge of new energy and motivation.

On the 8th of August, the peak of the Lion’s gate portal, all my work got the much needed flow and I was even able to complete 3 more pieces of stories! All the tasks I have put on hold suddenly had been completed and I felt so accomplished in just a day, compared to the last two weeks of my life!

My reflections

I’m always grateful and overjoyed whenever we have our Animal Insights circle.  My teacher, along with my classmates of Animal communication decided to have this monthly meeting and share our wins and joys of animal communication work.  

We reflected on the Lion’s Gate essence today and we received our own messages which are both empowering and eye opening for each of us.  Let me share mine with you:

I picked one card from each of the decks I have nearby.

My first card is the Freedom card from the Wild Mystic deck.  As an intuitive reader, the moment I picked this card, I realized, the message is still consistently aligned with the messages I have had for myself in the last few weeks.  

This card calls for ease and grace.  There’s a message about expansion in a graceful manner.  There’s a dance of balance that’s much needed, more like a give and take ebb in your life.  And the narwhal is a very strong message of calling out to what magic is in your life.  Narwhals are medium sized mammals with a tusk.  They’re commonly referred to as the unicorns of the sea.  It’s calling out to us to come back to dreaming and manifesting that we truly want.

Reflect on: How do you invite magic into your life? Are you letting magic flow into your life with grace?

The second card is 9 Perception from the Shamanic Healing deck.  9 is a number that signifies close to culmination.  You’ve been planning something, or a project that’s brewing but hasn’t been out there to be cherished by the public.  You need to get it out there.  

From the deck’s own explanation, it brings in the play of energy with perception: “With energy, sometimes, a slight shift in perception is all that’s needed.”  And, again, we see the Yin & Yang symbol here which calls for balance.   The card clearly calls out growth that comes as the foundation and requirement for the next coming days.

Reflect on: Are you being rigid by not letting things flow naturally on its own? What could be a good perspective shift in order for you to get things moving?

And before I drew the last card, my spirit guides told me I was going to get Yellow.  And true enough, I couldn’t help but smile because, indeed, I pulled the 22 Yellow card from The Secret Language of Colors deck!

This card, is most definitely focused on the Solar plexus color and strongly resonates with the Lion’s Gate which is a manifestation of boldness, strength and light.  And coincidence aside, a lion’s mane is always depicted in yellow!  This calls out to us to purify our body and strengthen our self image.  The solar plexus is connected with our feelings of confidence and our self image.  When we strengthen that image, we strengthen the solar plexus which in turn provides us with a strong resolve to move forward with our goals.  Isn’t that great? Everything lines up so naturally!

And when I read back on the guide of that deck, yellow is said to be “the color of intellect and mental stimulation, Yellow can also help you think more quickly and clearly.  Purify your digestive system with Yellow rays of light.”  Truly, I somehow was glad I had that purging when I had food poisoning! Wouldn’t you know?! — the universe was helping me kick off that digestive power by purging toxins within my body.  Truly astounding work done on me!

Reflect on: How are your purifying your body to get it moving towards your goals? How does yellow make you feel?

There's so much inner work that needs to be done.  This is the time to take advantage of the energies that are surrounding us.  Make use of this time as a kick-off for whatever you need motivation for.  

Happy roaring!

Late 2019 started the global pandemic crisis on COVID virus.  Since then, there has been drastic changes in our lifestyle, our diet and general hygiene too.  Needless to say, the abrupt change in our ways of life has taken a huge toll on our self-care, and especially our mental health.

What is mental health

While 2020 was the year of the worst days of the COVID outbreak, 2021 didn’t exactly turn out to be any better, especially for me.  Being an introvert might have saved my sanity in 2020, but getting into an accident in 2021 made self-care almost impossible for me.  All my good habits, exercise regimen and healthy eating went out the window.  The hard work was lost and I would have to rebuild myself again.

During those times, I was already suffering from the death of my best friend, and grief wasn’t exactly a nice thing to keep lingering while having to battle against economic difficulties during the pandemic, adding onto the burden of having to move jobs.  Mental breakdown was apparently happening to me.  

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

• Biological factors, such as genese or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems

The origins of "Mental Health"

While mental health has been recognized for quite sometime now, I must have heard it more prominently in the news and on social media during the pandemic crisis.  With this, I did some digging and learned that "Mental Health" has been an idea since the early days of 1843!

At first it was coined as "mental hygiene" after the civil war, by the psychiatrist Dr. J.B. Gray.  His concern was to promote mental hygiene through education, culture and religion.  

In 1893, Isaac Ray, a founder of the American Psychiatric Association, provided a definition of the term mental hygiene as "the art of preserving the mind against all incidents and influences calculated to deteriorate its qualities, impair its energies, or derange its movements. The management of the bodily powers in regard to exercise, rest, food, clothing and climate, the laws of breeding, the government of the passions, the sympathy with current emotions and opinions, the discipline of the intellect—all these come within the province of mental hygiene." (Rossi, A., Some Pre-World War II Antecedents of Community Mental Health Theory and Practice. Mental Hygiene, 1962, 46, 78-98).

I strongly recommend reading this article.  It describes the evolution of mental hygiene into different institutions and people who promoted the importance of mental stability throughout history.

Why should we care?

Have you ever been through a heartbreak? A fight with your family or your closest friends? Didn't any of these affect the way you did your work or your day-to day functions?  These are simple examples of common stressors that affect our mental stability.

Good mental health is characterised by a person's ability to fulfil a number of key functions and activities, including: the ability to learn. the ability to feel, express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions. the ability to form and maintain good relationships with others.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a perfectly amazing day without anything bothering your thoughts and adding to your worries?  That's why we need to tend to our mental health.

On top of that, the lack of care for mental hygiene may possibly lead to worse illnesses and degeneration of memory and perception of happiness.

Here are some of the main groups of mental disorders that are known:

• mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder)
• anxiety disorders
• personality disorders
• psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)
• eating disorders
• trauma-related disorders (such as post-traumatic stress disorder)
• substance abuse disorders

While one might have a knee-jerk reaction and say they don't have a mental disorder in order to free themselves from stigma, I would like to call you out from doing that.

A mental disorder is nothing to be ashamed of.  I believe that, even anxiety and excessive worrying and/or ruminating from negative thoughts could be a form of mental instability.  A ruling on a disorder would surely come from a doctor's diagnosis of the patient; but only if the patient has been brave enough to consult a doctor.  Self-awareness and frequent reflection are important in gauging mental stability of oneself.

Is my mental health safe?

From experience and from research, I know that we may have all been through different forms of mental stress that took away stability and positivity in our lives.  Here are some causes of mental health illnesses:

• Genetics (heredity): Mental illnesses sometimes run in families, suggesting that people who have a family member with a mental illness may be somewhat more likely to develop one themselves. Susceptibility is passed on in families through genes. Experts believe many mental illnesses are linked to abnormalities in many genes rather than just one or a few and that how these genes interact with the environment is unique for every person (even identical twins). That is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental illness and doesn't necessarily develop the illness. Mental illness itself occurs from the interaction of multiple genes and other factors -- such as stress, abuse, or a traumatic event -- which can influence, or trigger, an illness in a person who has an inherited susceptibility to it.
• Infections: Certain infections have been linked to brain damage and the development of mental illness or the worsening of its symptoms. For example, a condition known as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDAS) associated with the Streptococcus bacteria has been linked to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental illnesses in children.
• Brain defects or injury: Defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Prenatal damage: Some evidence suggests that a disruption of early fetal brain development or trauma that occurs at the time of birth -- for example, loss of oxygen to the brain -- may be a factor in the development of certain conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder.
• Substance abuse: Long-term substance abuse, in particular, has been linked to anxiety, depression, and paranoia.
• Other factors: Poor nutrition and exposure to toxins, such as lead, may play a role in the development of mental illnesses.

While causes predispose you to become more susceptible to mental disorders, there's still a lot of factors to consider.  Here are factors that serve as triggers or stressors:

Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness include:

• Severe psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
• An important early loss, such as the loss of a parent
• Neglect
• Poor ability to relate to others

Life events that can trigger are:

• Death or divorce
• A dysfunctional family life
• Feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger, or loneliness
• Changing jobs or schools
• Social or cultural expectations (For example, a society that associates beauty with thinness can be a factor in the development of eating disorders.)
• Substance abuse by the person or the person's parents

As you can see, it might be more common to experience a little bit of mental instability.  While not every mental instability can lead to a disorder, it is still important to be vigilant and self-aware at all times.

My plight

The last three years have been extremely difficult for me. From the death of my dear best friend, my grief through me off course.  I lost days, weeks, months of my life.  I didn't celebrate anything because I was in pain.  Sadly, I let grief eat me away very slowly.  My memory started degrading.  I used to be able to tell dates and remember weeks of memories until I couldn't even remember this morning's meal, nor the day's date.  A year later, I was forced to move jobs and the difficult schedule took a big slice off of my health too.  I had a really tough time coping with juggling everything that's happening in my life and the things I had to attend to.

When I thought I was ready to move on, 2021 gave me another challenge.  I flew off my bike in an effort to swerve away from a motorist who had sped up instead of veering away from a cyclist merging into his lane.  My health has yet to suffer another setback.  It took me at least three months before I was able to start rehabilitation of my left shoulder.  

It was during these months that I considered getting two kittens.  I figured, looking after them would take my mind off my unchanging condition.  Within the year, I have repeated attempts to get back to my exercise routine and healthy habits.  Sadly, all of those attempts failed.  Not even a quarter into the year, one of my kittens fell ill with several diseases, and later on, he turned out to have feline leukemia.  Before the year ended, I had to deal with another death.  I couldn't figure out who to talk to.  

My partner dealt with the same losses I did, but he took it quite well.  Sadly, because of the lack of proper self-care, I couldn't come out of the series of unfortunate events in my life.  My new job was also putting a dent in my health and the difficulties of coping with work requirements; and the new environment is still very trying for me.

It felt very suffocating.  Being alone everyday (I'm a remote worker), was also not helping my condition.  I tried checking with several online clinics for a consultation with a mental health professional--but most clinics were either closed, not doing face-to-face consultations, or just unavailable.  I almost gave up, until..

Evolve Self PH

During these times, I found myself crying at work to my manager. My manager, she was my ray of sunshine as she listened to me and encouraged me to seek professional help. Thankfully, I found Evolve Self on Instagram.  

Evolve Self has different avenues to connect with you to offer their services.  I'm so glad they did.  I immediately scheduled a voice call with them, as I felt I would be a bit uncomfortable with a video call, and a chat would be too slow and impersonal for me.

Who is Evolve Self PH?

It is COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY-BASED life coaching services, wellness coaching services, and venting out services. The main goal of Evolve Self PH is to help its clients EVOLVE - GAIN a RATIONAL, OPTIMISTIC, and WORTHWHILE Mindset about oneself, one's world, and one's future. The services can be availed anytime at the comfort place of the clients. Clients can choose what mode of communication they preferred. It could be via chat, voice call, and video call. Clients can also request webinars that are related to psychology and mental health.

In addition, Evolve Self PH also creates online podcasting via Facebook live. The topic are mostly about how to take good care of mental health. Everyone is welcome to listen. Aside from podcasting via facebook page, the public can also learn some content about mental health via Evolve Self PH Facebook page and Instagram page.

Evolve Self PH is founded by Bernadette P. Sabater. She is a licensed Psychometrician, certified life coach, certified wellness coach, and certified health coach. She graduated at University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi with the degree of Bachelor of Science major in Psychology in 2019. She is top 1 in professional audit in Abnormal Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Psychological Assessment, and Theories of Personality during her college days. She is also a top 1 in the mock board exam of Pathways International Review Center. With the same year, she passed the licensure psychometrician board exam with a good rating. She also went to Medicine school to pursue Psychiatry since she is passionate about understanding mental health concerns but later on she decided and find her way to study Master’s in Clinical Psychology at the University of Santo Tomas. Thus, she is currently studying her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at University of Santo Tomas to become a licensed psychologist soon. She believes that mental health is a vital aspect just like physical health. Everyone’s mental health should be a priority. Second, people should never judge and degrade what someone is going instead we validate and help what we can do. Remember “we all need guidance in our life, especially during our darkest moments”. Support our loved ones, friends, and the people around us. Depression can hit the strongest, smartest, most successful, and even the most religious. If their kindness and positive energy has ever saved you please let your empathy save them back during their darkest moments.

- from Evolve Self PH

About self care

Self-care is such a big yet vague buzzword these days.  On a personal level, it means looking after the self in terms of physical, emotional and mental health.  It means recognizing that our individual selves require time and attention, too, as much as our jobs and day-to day functions.

With our unique personalities, there are different ways we can come to enjoy self-care.  However, some general guidelines include:

• Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
• Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated. A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Also, limit caffeinated beverages such as soft drinks or coffee.
• Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.
• Try a relaxing activity. Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy such as journaling.
• Set goals and priorities. Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to be mindful of what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.
• Practice gratitude. Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Be specific. Write them down at night, or replay them in your mind.
• Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
• Stay connected. Reach out to your friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.

I know that some of the guidelines seem to use very big words.  If you find yourself wondering what activities you enjoy, I highly recommend picking up a journal. When a feeling strikes, write it down.  Soon, you will know what makes you happy, what makes you sad.  This will help you understand yourself; and also identify activities that uplift your mood when you are down.  These would come in handy when you are dry and out of creative ways to stay positive.  

When in need

When you understand yourself, you will be better equipped to fight against the early signs of mental instability.  Here are some early warning signs of trouble:

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

When I spoke with Tin of Evolve Self, I admit I had a lot of these warning signs.  It almost felt like I was a stranger to myself.  During our call, at the start, I was reluctant to openly accept her words as I poured out my emotions onto her.  However, I was deeply grateful that I did soften my heart to a stranger who was willing to share her time with me.  She went above and beyond in making sure I felt safe and that I accepted how normal my current emotions were.  I didn't need to validate them. It was mine and it was okay.  I was grateful for her words that were like pieces of artifacts falling from heaven, making me realize how I could integrate them into my current situation.

Some might say, if you have family and friends, why look for some stranger to talk to? Good question. Read on..

For so many reasons, with familiarity being the top reason, pouring out your concerns to your family might be bringing a wounded self to the place of injury.  And, somehow, speaking to a friend might conjure up familiar words and phrases you've been hearing all your life.  It would be like arming yourself with the same weapons that you somehow already have in your arsenal.  You may also feel a bit awkward discussing your issues with someone you already know, or even feel afraid of being judged.

I know that a professional would always respect your privacy and values, and in the same way, they carefully address the root of your pain without injecting their own values onto you.  It is highly recommended to find a professional you can trust and with available avenues that make you feel comfortable.

Before you go..

If you should take one thing from this article, it is that mental instability is normal and nothing to shy away from.  Know where to seek help and support and always be in introspection with your individuality.

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.  Be safe and healthy always.  

I was raised in a family who eats a mixture of both vegetables and meat.  My parents didn’t come from affluent roots, so we learned to live within the means of their salaries and savings.  Back then, so many of the diseases and disorders that we currently know of did not exist.  

Kids were taught about GO, GROW and GLOW foods.  It was textbook knowledge that calcium comes from dairy (milk) and that protein comes from meat.  At least, that was the only truth back then.  

In the family, I’m the only one who is lactose intolerant.  Unfortunately for me, my mother loves milk.  She would advise that milk is taken first thing in the morning and before bed.  She would buy the best milk that our budget can buy; and would be excited to pour me that cold fresh milk.  I always loved its texture and taste, but I didn’t know that it was the cause of my suffering.

From what I recall, I was never adverse to eating meat, but I always did prefer the white meat, especially seafood dishes.  However, because we came from an Ilocano root (Northern Philippine provinces), we do love serving vegetable dishes.  I would always prefer greens to anything that’s on the table.  This, however, wasn’t how my sisters would prefer their meal.  They are true carnivores!  To me, it was a benefit.  I get bigger servings of the greens I love.  They can both fight over that meat for all they want! 😅

On a side note, having been raised in a family of Ilocanos, we love our food to be on the salty side.  My mother would always use soy sauce, fish sauce and salt to season any and every dish.  Spices were not a thing for us.  And, on mornings that are lazy and cold, coffee and bread is always a go-to because my mother’s staple food is bread.  Needless to say, both my parents are hypertensive.

Fast forward to the current century, so many different diets were born for different reasons.  Let’s tackle some that I think are important considerations for picking a diet.

1. Lifestyle related changes.  Sometimes, moving to a new location would present some challenges in procuring the staples that you love  or have gotten used to.  Highlands in the Philippines have more fresh produce compared to the cities; and they cost less too.  Importing the vegetables to the cities add more cost.

2. Economical.  For obvious reasons, vegetables are a lot cheaper than meat sources.  You can find vegetables in wet markets for as low as Php 20 ($.25) and you can already have a meal (given that you need only one ingredient).

3.  Sustainability.  Sometimes, you’d rather change your diet for global sustainability reasons.  Vegans  choose to patronize goods that aren’t animal (and animal by-products) sourced.  In the long run, this is the most sustainable way of eating.

4. Health.  When people usually change diets, this is the biggest reason for their switch.  There are huge benefits to changing a diet, as it can propel you towards good health; however, this is not a bullet proof solution to disease cure.  One diet cannot solve all problems of the human body.

Vegetarianism

I classify myself under this diet group.  I eat 99% vegetables and I prefer them in their raw form.  I like to see the leaves and their skins and their real colors and shapes.

In 2015, I suffered one scary mild stroke.  That same day, I called myself a vegetarian and simply stopped eating meat.  Prior to that date, I was already diagnosed with hypertension and was already taking anti hypertensive medications on a daily basis.  However, becoming a vegetarian didn’t solve my problems.  What I gained though from this switch is a major weight loss and an obvious spike in my energy levels.  I was fuller, longer; hence, I ate less but was always happy when I ate vegetables.  That was my major win.  

Veganism

Here in the Philippines, I find it difficult for one to become vegan.  Almost every other product in the commercial market is an animal by-product.  Leather belt, wallet, clothing, dusters, etc.  Your favorite milk tea has milk! and milk came from animals!   🐮

One can say that vegetarianism is a sub class of veganism.  Vegetarians can still eat eggs or milk if they prefer.  I myself am an ovo-vegetarian since I still eat eggs.

Nowadays, more food in the market are becoming vegan-friendly.  They cook without the aid of animal by-products and some even go to the extent of preparing veganized versions of the normally meat-filled dishes.  Think Beyond Meat, etc.

One major win, vegans and vegetarians are probably eating more proteins than the meat lovers'!

Flexitarian

This is seriously a new diet that’s still emerging.  A flexitarian would sometimes eat pure vegan / vegetarian meals and sometimes switch back to eating meat.  It all depends on the season, their intentions and/or maybe their locations.  Their schedule of change is entirely their own choosing.

Pescatarian

My partner is a  pescatarian.  His diet is mostly comprised of eating seafood and a little bit of vegetables.  If you eat only white meat, then maybe you could be pescatarian too.  This includes crustaceans, fishes, etc.

Fruitarian

I met someone who claims he doesn’t eat anything that isn’t a fruit! 🍇  I was surprised to hear this.  He said, he eats only purely fruits everyday and he prefers them in their original form.  Skin and all.  So, he packs his fruits wherever he goes because he can’t always find places to eat where there are fruits.

Carnivorous

Well, meat-eaters.  Meat lovers.   Think, chicken, beef, pork, seafood.  And everything in between.

Allergies and Intolerances

In the early 2000s, there was a rise of people suffering from autoimmune diseases.  These diseases vary and create cells that attack healthy cells within the body simply because they don’t recognize it to be part of a body’s fuel or one that is called food (regardless of whether it was indeed edible or not).

Let's define terms first.

An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune disorders. – https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000816.htm

Allergy: an abnormal reaction of the body to a previously encountered allergen introduced by inhalation, ingestion, injection, or skin contact, often manifested by itchy eyes, runny nose, wheezing, skin rash, or diarrhea. – https://www.dictionary.com/browse/allergy

Surely, if you have an allergy, you’ll know how it feels.  Each one of us experiences different reactions to different food sources.  Some would have swelling, or itching, and some won’t even be able to breath.  This is a danger to our health and sometimes, can be fatal.   Make sure to ask your parents if you had known allergies when you were younger.   Every 5-10 years, our bodies would adapt to our lifestyle and diet.  What you were allergic to before might not affect you anymore, and vice versa.  

Do not forget, that the human body is a big piece of artificial intelligence.  If you eat something too often, you develop some form of immunity or allergy in the end.  You need to vary your food intake and make it beneficial for your body in the end.

When I was younger, I loved green peas.  I ate it in several different forms of preparation (in soups, in vegetable dishes, as a snack, dried, fried, baked).  Fast forward to today, I have developed some form of allergy to it.  Same with peanuts.  However, milk is a different story for me.

Enter Intolerances

I would always know how to right down my allergies in medical forms.  But intolerances is a different  ball game altogether.  Nobody even asks for that in forms!

Food intolerances: A food intolerance, or a food sensitivity occurs when a person has difficulty digesting a particular food. This can lead to symptoms such as intestinal gas, abdominal pain or diarrhea. – https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/food-intolerance

Simply put, intolerances mean, your body cannot tolerate something.  If it can’t, it will make up different excuses for you to remember that your body doesn’t like it.  These could be in the form of a mild headache, dizziness, stomach pain, itching skin, diarrhea, etc.

In 2017, I was still battling several illnesses.  One of them was hyperthyroidism.  This is another form of disease that affects the central nervous system and the circulatory system.  I had different medications and I wanted to up my game to become healthier.  I took my blood to have it tested for food intolerances.  It was an expensive laboratory test, but I was determined to have all my questions answered.  I was a migraine-girl and I hated living like that.  Every other thing hurts.  

Until I got my results, everything was difficult for me to understand.  I couldn’t find a nutritionist in the Philippines (nobody was responding to my queries for consultation).  So, I started learning on my own.  I learned that I was intolerant to a lot of my favorite foods and had to learn how to swap them around.  I also learned not to eat the same kind of food in three straight days and would rotate my meals every 2 weeks.

If you have frequent symptoms of headache, migraine, dizziness, bloating, etc, and is otherwise healthy without any illness, your diet could be the culprit. Learn what your intolerances are and move from thereon.  I have not had that much migraine attacks anymore.  From a daily migraine attack, I was able to reduce it to 2-3x per year.

Intolerances go beyond these petty symptoms though.  Prolonged ignorance of these foods might cause you to acquire an autoimmune disease.  Your body will think you are feeding it an enemy and attack your own cells.  In the long run, you might become allergic to these foods, or that your symptoms could end up in mild cognitive impairment. So, take it seriously.  You don’t have to completely eliminate them from your diet, just keep them to a very low minimum—like once a week is fine.

These diets are not a bullet proof cure for any disease

Why?  That was also my question before.

When I turned vegetarian, I still had hypertension.  I didn’t want to depend on medication alone because it was a sorry excuse for living.  The medications also slowed my metabolism and made me fat.  The last straw for me was when a same-floor neighbor told me I was getting fat, and my sorry reply was that I’m under medication that can increase my weight.  It sounded like an excuse to me, so I tried to change things! 🙈

I learned about several things that helped me later on and helped others too.

1.  Intermittent fasting. This practice amps your metabolism and burns your stored fat.  Be careful though, this won't work for those with thyroid diseases and/or diabetes.

2.  High intensity exercises in a fasted state.  It burned more calories and helped me become stronger down the road.

3. Blood type eating: eat best foods for your blood type and limit those that are bad for you.

4. Spices and minerals and vitamins are king.  An imbalance of minerals and vitamins affect our central nervous system and circulatory system.  

Vegans and vegetarians are prone to fatigue and anemia from the lessened intake of vitamin B12.  Vegans probably consume more soy than those who eat more of unprocessed foods—so be careful if you’re a vegan choosing fake meats over eating vegetables in their real form.  Processed foods still contain more of the unwanted chemicals produced during processing.

Pescatarians are prone to suffering hyperthyroidism because seafood contain more iodine than other food sources.  Moreover, crustaceans have high purine which may lead to gout and/or arthritis.  Crabs and shrimps also have higher cholesterol sources, so watch out for hypertension again.

Fruitarians should be wary about their blood sugar.  Fructose is still a sugar that is produced by fruits and may not be as bad as man-made sugar, but it is still sugar.  The body does not need sugar.  Read that again.  Rice and other starchy vegetables like potatoes already produce the sugar that the body might need, so anything extra is bad—they all go straight to your blood.

Carnivores should also worry about gout/arthritis as meat is a high source of purine.  On the side, meat production is not globally sustainable because it creates heat and consumes more water.  There’s also the risk of animal diseases, parasites and the consumption of antibiotics injected into the meat for preserving them.  

What’s your choice?

The flexitarian may be a laughing stock amongst all the diet groups.  Some might feel like what’s the point? They probably cannot commit to anything that’s why they choose this. 🤷‍♀️  However, I’d say, they probably make the most sense out of every other diet.  

The Buddhist principle advocates this.  When you are on your own, prepare your meals the way you want to.  They way your body prefers.  If you are sick (say, lacking in B12), supplement or eat other food sources as your doctor would advice.  If you are in another home, eat what your host serves you (as long as you don’t puke)  🤢  I for one, I tell my host, they can serve me anything but I prefer vegetables over white meat and could no longer eat meat from animals who walk.  It makes me upset.  If they can’t serve any of these, I would prefer to bring my own food or buy outside.  

Personally, every two weeks, I try to buy from packed meal deliveries for variation and to let my body try other food, as long as I avoid my allergens and keep my intolerances to a minimum.

There's no easy way to hack the body.  It's a combination of common sense and listening to how your body responds to what you eat.  Remember, eating is a complicated process.  The taste isn't everything.  We become what we eat.  

Stay healthy everyone!

In 2013, I left Facebook and just stuck to reading news.  During these days, my feed was so convoluted with political views and opinions from the ongoing election around that time.  

In 2015, I opened an Instagram account because, I noticed that there’s less of opinions going around and just beautiful photos posted and most of them spark motivation and positive emotions.  I quickly took to liking this platform of limited sharing and only photos for admiration.  

Fast forward to today, I decided to come back to Facebook.

Quarantine days

At first, for me, it was just surviving with less needs, and just staying at home.  Keep your head down, stay at home and survive.   Every day, I would hear in the news how fast COVID was spreading and the demographics of where it’s most concentrated at.  During these days, it was just about the numbers, and the hope that it will all go away soon.

Three months in, and it’s now a new way of life.  Biking to grocery, biking everywhere I need to go.  No more jumping outside for me, because I’m afraid to go brain damaged jumping with an N95 on.

Another three months later, and I’m feeling like I am alone.  With all the social media going on, I feel like there’s a big disconnect between what’s happening in real life vs what I see online.

I need to see what’s going on..  In. The. Lives. Of. Real. People I know.

People I know

You meet someone, say hello, and file their name inside your head and be done with them.  These are people we call acquaintances.  You met them, and that’s it.  

Once you add them on Facebook, you open your lives to them.  They know your likes, your preferences, where you do your grocery, the colors you prefer; maybe even where you work and where you live.  They become your friends (?)

But the people you know in real life, are the people you wouldn’t forget.  Or would you?  

After seven years of being away from Facebook, I started adding some friends back online.  More than half of them don’t remember me anymore.  Or, should I say, don’t want to connect anymore?

The people I know.  If only they know..

Facebook shows what people care about

The things you care about are the things you post online.  All. The. Time.  Some post mostly memes, some posts gossips, some about pets, plants, and some about heavy political perspectives.

It’s mundane and easy to share anything you like on Facebook.  Unlike Instagram, a picture is a picture.  One square with a limited capability of text description is all that it has to convey what you mean.  You can’t share Youtube videos, you can’t share a tweet, you can’t share anything more than what fits in that square; and most of the time, it has to be yours.

Facebook allows you to gather everything you care about and slam them all into your wall.  This can tell me a lot about a person.  Who are you, really?

Me, I care about people caring.  Caring about things that’s supposed to matter: Life and Relationships.  

Truth be told, I wanted to do service to the people I know.  I want to be able to pray for someone who might have lost a loved one to COVID.  I wanted to be able to say, “it’s going to be ok” to someone who needed it.

However, I saw something else… again.

Facebooks shows you how people can be ugly

Exactly because Facebook accepts (almost) anything for posting, you can share anything you like.  Forgetting that, you have friends who can get hurt, who can get offended.  

It can also encourage you to post when you’re in deep anger or a strong emotion when you may regret what you’ll say.  

I be-friended some people I know (again) because I wanted to re-connect.  Sadly, some of them added me just for the number.  Some added me so they can invite me to like their pages (but won’t like my page back for some reason).  My logic is all about give and take.  Some added me just for kicks.

Again, I am discouraged being on Facebook.  I suddenly remember the reason I left.

I’ll leave it be

There was one friend I was trying to look for.  I was thinking of what I was going to say to him.  He used to be a funny guy.  But when I searched for him, I was dumbfounded and heart broken to hear, he already passed away some years ago.

Maybe others don’t value the connection, but these things are part of life.  Not knowing when a friend is in need or is dying or just died is just leaving us in the dark.  Not being able to offer a prayer as a sign of closure is just sad.

But then again, some even add us because of an awful agenda.  Is this how millennials make friends now?  I’m traditional.  Back in my days, you make friends by offering something to the connection.  It’s called friendship.

Facebook sometimes makes me feel like we aren’t humans; but to some, the connection works.  So, I’ll leave it be.  If anyone asks, I’m on Facebook because COVID made me do it.

At the beginning of the outbreak of COVID19 in the Philippines, our President hastened his decision to halt travel to and from countries of infection.  During that time, we were in celebration of the Sinulog Festival in Cebu where there were a lot of tourists coming in to visit.  I for one, was there.

When we came back, there were rumors of a complete lockdown that was going to happen.  We were just recovering from the Taal Volcano eruption and certain news stations had to make a “leak” to make them look like they had legitimate, firsthand news.  

With this kind of rumor, the masses went into panic buying.  And because we don’t store a lot of food, we had to compete with the rest who felt the need to buy food good for months!

I felt deep remorse for the rich who only got to fulfill their survival needs, while the medium wage earners and below classes had to scour for food across different grocery stores, and some inter-city

This is the ugly mindset of Filipinos where (1) this media source had to make a first move so that they could claim rights to the information announced, and (2) stay ahead and survive despite the situation of others.

“Bigyan niyo kami ng tulong” - Give us help

And then Extreme Enhanced Community Quarantine.  Even grocery runs were extreme uncomfortable, and difficult.  Only one person per household is allowed to go out.  Work was suspended.  I had to make the runs because, as per household logic, “I had a stronger immune system, and I did not belong to the ‘compromised’ age groups.”

It was difficult planning which items to get, as I don’t have a car (and cars were prohibited during these times).  Budget was also important.  The credit card bills of last month was still there, the mortgage was still there.  

To some extent, I knew I would have to eat canned meat at some point if the imports of vegetables would be halted.  I had to change my mindset.  But to some, it was as if don’t need to make changes because all the happenings is not their fault.

Even Boo felt like we had to be given some form of help.  Like somebody would come in and give some form of support.  Like food.  

“I told him, would you eat just noodles for the rest of quarantine period? It’s not nutrition; that’s called eating for eating’s sake.” And that’s the kind of help that can be given around.  That’s the kind of help you’re looking for?

As I ponder about the people who lost jobs, of course, the next question is, where to get money.  When the government started this idea of a financial aid, of course, I wasn’t waiting for some, but Boo was! 😅

I understand that those who suddenly lost jobs would have needed some form of help, especially since we are all taxpayers anyway, but the middle class citizens were hit the most.  The government didn’t see us as “poor” or low-income; but we were not given any peso for assistance.  This might seem unfair to most, but to me, growing up very independently, I know how to save for extended period of draught.

In the news, I strongly commend those people who went out of their way to see the opportunity in everything.  These are the kind of culture that I wish to see in most Pinoys one day.  Not merely asking, but trying to see the light beyond a tiny peephole is where we can all start to become positive game changers.

“Wala naman ginagawa ang gobyerno” - The government is doing nothing

I’ve heard this over and over again.  Not only from Philippine culture, but this is a shameful statement of any citizen saying that to their own government.

I’m guilty of not liking this current Filipino government.  There are some good that has happened, but there’s also a lot that was lost.  Let’s not forget the victims of the drug killings where innocents were also sacrificed.  However, I’m not one who would rant out that the government is doing nothing.

Something is happening, every day.  Yes, everyday, there’s change.  However, the changes that are taking place might not be in favor for you and you probably hate it.  Me too, if it were the case for me.  But I don’t agree to say that nothing is done.  I believe that everything done and planned for by the government is always for its people.  

Some might not make that much sense, and some might be agreed on, but without sensible planning, yes.  But there was something done.  If the implementation is improper, then there are repercussions, but is there such a thing as a perfect government?

The takeaway is, try to help and not instigate anger and revolt.  There is no point dividing an already divided culture by spreading hate and disgust to your government.  Hope that there will be more rulers who would be sensible and patriotic enough to put the country first before themselves.

“Kanya kanya” - To each his own

Here in our Barangay, I have seen some extraordinary effort from our Barangay Captain and his crew.  There were several instances when the cases would rise and there were some youngsters and teens out on the streets without reason.

He would send out several cabs with megaphones calling out to these people to stay inside the house.  Some would heed, yet some would still go out not even wearing a mask.  

His message would start: “Tulong tulong po tayo..” (Let us help each other..) asking us all to care for each other by wearing masks, staying inside and wash hands.  When I listen to his callout, I feel quite proud that he’s doing a good job by being a compassionate leader and uniting his barangay to watch out for each other.

And he would later, display his contact number publicly, asking everyone for help to call out those that they see outside and report to him immediately so that his barangay officers would address the matter immediately.

We managed to get our active cases down to 1, just before General Community Quarantine in June.  However, there are still some isolated cases where you’d hear the people say, “bahala sila” (let them have their way — in a sarcastic tone).

"Alam ko ang gamot sa COVID-19" - I know the cure to COVID-19

This might be the trigger for this post.  I’ve heard this a few times over from different close people and from acquaintances, even.  Some will send me a link and some, well, they have a different story.

You know how it is when someone tries to convince you of something.  They talk fast, they look like they have an epiphany (and some even really say they had an epiphany of it).  It’s like the same statement underneath, “It’s hard to believe, I almost don’t believe it too, but it’s true”.

And it’s true because..?  Because, they have a link for it.  I ask them for the link and it goes to a Youtube page that was narrated by Siri.  Or, that it has  highfalutin words or extremely uncommon medical jargon explaining this or that about COVID19.  It’s been months already, short of 3 months before it gets to a year, and I’m not about to believe anything anymore.  

Sadly, some even knocked at our door to say, that God had told him that a Sauna bath would cure COVID19.  Maybe it will, but God told you that?

“Patay kung patay”  - (I’ll) Die if I should

I’ve saved this for last, because this is the worst I’ve heard so far.  Some of the “compromised” senior citizens are the ones who usually say this a lot and I’ve heard this from those who are close to me as well.

I absolutely abhor this mindset.  This is very selfish of people to say, because, unless you live alone, you should still be advised to follow the regulations for COVID19 control.  

Since some people might be asymptomatic, it would be difficult to say if one person is already a carrier of the virus.  Going out and mingling without reason can be an avenue to bring home the virus to someone with a weaker immune system in your household.  

This statement is absolutely not one born out of courage, but from extreme insensitivity and recklessness.  It does not matter if you’re afraid to die or not, but to die of a disease you can easily prevent yourself from contracting is stupidity.

This is one of the biggest reasons why, up to this date, we can’t be seen without masks (and also now), without full face shields.  Because these selfish people can’t be held responsible, not even for themselves.

One day..

One day, we can all look back and tell ourselves we contributed to the taming of the virus in our own communities, by simply staying put and being responsible for others’ health as well.

One day, I hope I can be able to say to all my fellow Filipino, “This is why we are able to have nice things”

In late January 2020, one of the famous volcanoes in the Philippines erupted.  

Over 450,000 people are estimated to be residing within the 14 km danger zone of the Taal Volcano. On 12 January, alert level 4 was raised and surrounding towns evacuated. As of 6 a.m. today, @NDRRMC_OpCen reports that over 7,700 people are in 38 evacuation centres. Photo: OCHA pic.twitter.com/HyXlYFufUz

— OCHA Philippines (@OCHAPhilippines) January 13, 2020

As the Taal volcano in Batangas was only 100km away from Metro Manila, NCR, the thick ash fall also affected us here.  Vehicles would gather thick ashes just from overnight parking when left outside.  It was difficult to breathe so, masks were essential.  

I remember, our lobby guard would distribute surgical masks to us when we were going out without our own masks.  I really appreciated it.  I had one that I use from time to time whenever I would walk instead of commute.  It saves me from my allergy to smoke and pollution. 😷

With the prolonged ash fall, I opted to buy a valved mask from Cambridge masks and got one each for me and Boo.  This saved us from the hassle of buying a surgical mask each time, since the mask was reusable and washable.  The mask was N99 so the filtering of the particles was very efficient and allowed us to breathe better.  Another deciding factor was because it was valved, it didn’t fog up my glasses.

The tale of the surgical mask

On declaration of the outbreak, in the Philippines, masks were not yet very accessible.  The health department itself had shortage of medical masks for health workers and hospital staff; moreso, regular citizens couldn’t get a hold of surgical masks in the market—and if there were some, the prices were insurmountable.  The regular “Juan” would not afford it; especially since, buying just one would mean buying one everyday that you’d have to go out.

When finally the IATF passed a regulation on the prices, the surgical masks would always run out, since it was still effectively the cheapest that can be bought in the market. Even with the cheap price, I could not bring myself to choose the surgical mask for several reasons.

1. Reports of abuse from the manufacturers themselves was enough deterrent from buying them.  I was so scared to think I could be sniffing those dirt, bacteria/virus from the wrong manufacturer.  🤮 See article below: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3907216

2. The disposal of surgical masks are causing environmental problems, especially because the materials used for the masks are not biodegradable to begin with.  🌏

These masks are mainly made of non-woven fabric such as polypropylene, which is between 20 and 25 grams per square metre in density. Polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester are some of the other commonly-used materials in surgical masks. While they keep out bacteria effectively (although not necessarily that of the virus), the masks are plastic-based, liquid-resistant products that have a long afterlife after they are discarded, ending up in landfill or oceans.   - Excerpt from https://earth.org/covid-19-unmasking-the-environmental-impact/

Finding a more sustainable, effective protection

The Cambridge N99 valved mask was a little bit more on the sustainable side for me.  The use of the mask would take around 3 months to 6 months depending on the nature of the environment it is always used in.  Although it errs on the more expensive side, it was still producing less waste in my opinion and was working effectively for my use.  It doesn’t add fogging to my glasses, which I’m really pleased with; however, it is extremely difficult to use it for outdoor activities like walking, running, cycling (and jumping).  Over time, the mask would become less breathable since the particles would be lodged in its filters.

The N95 medical mask was also another option for me.  We tried to purchase some from nearby pharmacies.  We’d use it for 2-3 days and dispose it, but it was also difficult to use because of the straps that it had which goes to the neck and one at the back of the head.  Eating would become a chore because simply pulling out the mask off the face would expose the inside part, risking contamination.  Aside from that, it would mean taking off any overhead accessory and would sometimes get caught in the temples of my glasses.  🙅‍♀️ It was a no-no for me.

The last choice was to use a surgical mask.  However, the mask would not provide efficient breathability and would always fog up my glasses.  It was uncomfortable to use outside because it would keep the sweat inside your face until you take it off.  The inside of the mask was always in contact with your nose and the lips also making it difficult for your voice to come out clear.  So, it was also difficult to talk. 🙊

Discrimination against Valved Masks

By June, we were still using our valved masks we got in February.  It was still a go-to for us because of the many things we like about it.  Late June, WHO has released an article that valved masks are not recommended because it does not protect others from yourself.  While I was still able to move about using it, we’d get awkward glances from people.  I tell you, if I would only look sheepish in public, I’d probably get some scolding.  Unfortunately from them, that’s not how I carry myself in public. 😒

Aside from just wearing valved masks, I am deeply regretful to hear that people has lost their sense of humankind by discriminating even the health workers—thinking that they walk around carrying the virus.  😑 If they sincerely believed that the surgical masks and the PPEs didn’t do a good job of protecting its wearer, then why buy them in the first place??

In general, I feel spiteful against people with such mindset.  They aren’t only illogical, but they are also selfish. 😠

We canceled our pre-orders for the next batch of Cambridge masks we were supposed to get from the UK because of this announcement.  I was glad that they weren’t shipped before this announcement because it would be such a waste of money!

The next goal was to find the right mask..

GCQ. General Community Quarantine; a little lecture

Metro Manila was put under this Quarantine measure.  To expound briefly, we began with “Community Quarantine” because they didn’t want to call it a “lockdown” since the terminology brought a scare to the public.  One week later, it was called “Enhanced Community Quarantine”.  This was the strictest measure where no one was allowed to go out for reasons other than buying medicines or buying food and only one designated person per household is allowed to do this.  There were no open public businesses, no public transport as well.  Only the grocery stores and the pharmacies were open—and food and medicine was scarce, even when the government said otherwise.

A couple of months latter, we moved to a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine, which allowed more industries to operate.  Food industries and courier services were back.  Transportation is still at about 30% operational and they tried to open public trains for transport.  And then we were moved to GCQ.  It’s a more relaxed quarantine measure, but it was problematic since the transmission was still happening because more workforce were coming back to offices.

The IATF declared measures for back-to-work new normal and that included face shields.  They required the shields only for those who had to work with face to face transactions like bank tellers, cashiers, etc.  Mall goers had to wear face shields as well, but it was not imposed down to the letter.  

We skipped buying the cheapest of all face shields because they looked flimsy and the cover would easily be damaged and would end up getting blurry anyway.  As we picked the face shield we wanted, we opted for one that would aid vision as well as support the activities we could use it for, like cycling.

When I’m not wearing my eyeglasses, this was what I’ll wear for short trips to the store where I won’t have to read a lot or look for things.  My vision is extremely short-sighted so I would have to walk very close to the things I would read/buy.  Buying from the building convenience store was easily achievable without my glasses, or simply picking up deliveries from the lobby was an easy chore.

However, the real problem is when I would have to go out and be out for longer, like doing groceries myself, queueing at the bank; wearing all these “gears” would look so absurd.  I think this is more than enough deterrent to go out without an appropriate business outside.  My face and head couldn’t handle everything that I have to put on it!

Unfortunately for all of us, there will always be uneducated people who are not aware of what’s going on and what’s proper.  In the last grocery run I made, Healthy Options at Powerplant mall, discriminated me and would not let me in because their staff thought I was wearing a valved mask.  

Even with the painstaking effort of getting rid of my valved mask, I still suffered from the ignorance of other people.  Worst, even after writing to Healthy Options about my experience, I was just told to just comply.  Comply to what??  Their staff wanted me to put on a surgical mask on top of my KN95 mask.  Did they even think that's a wise decision? What about asthmatic people? KN95 masks are already less breathable than cloth masks but they offer more protection.  Be careful with stores like these, they have failed to train their staff properly.  Poor service.

More expenses

As of two weeks ago, I have been hunting for a full face shield that will work for me.  I have a lot of bad experiences with the different gears that I used that they have become specific requirements for my hunt for the right face shield.

1. It should cover up to the chin.  Well, this is the definition of a “full-face” shield.
2. It should allow me to see through the shield, meaning the shield should not be blurry. If it wasn’t clear, my astigmatism gets triggered and I get headaches; moreover, I would end up just lifting the shield just to see properly making it ineffective for me.

3. It must be easy to put and take off.  With the temperature scans here and there, if it’s difficult to wear, you would have to take time to wear it after taking it off, even in public, which would expose you anyway.  Also, it would be difficult to eat or drink in public if it’s not easy to remove.

4. Should be easy to pack.  Since I would not be able to cycle while wearing it, it should not be easily broken when put inside the bag.  The cheap face shield we got got dents when I put it in the bag.

5. Can I ask that at least it doesn't look funny to wear??

To date, Boo still wears the half visor especially when he’s cycling since we bought it to be usable for cycling and to aid in low light conditions.  As for me, I feel like I couldn’t wear it anymore.  We have a new one coming in, hopefully it addresses all of my above concerns.

Frankly, I’m afraid of this society because discrimination seems to be accepted these days.  I’m afraid that one day, simply walking away in silence wouldn’t cut it for me.  I don’t want to respond to stupidity and discrimination and ignorance, but society and the government’s frequently changing rules and requirements are not doing the people a service.

Asking people to keep changing face masks, and face shields is becoming unbearable, even for me.  What will I do with all the valved masks we bought? What’s next, IATF? Should we all start wearing PPEs in public?  Should I start burning my clothes now?

What the future holds

I’m not sure what the future holds and how long this pandemic will plague us all.  We only have to keep carrying on.  However, for most of the people, it’s either they don’t care about the virus, or that they care too much and their paranoia is hurting others (like this ignorance at the mall).  

If I may, I’d like to call out each and everyone to be responsible and move about as if they’re all infected—to prevent further infection if they ever were asymptomatic.  Always protect yourself and others.  Stay tuned to the news and follow them to your best ability.

Let us all stay healthy and safe from the virus.  At the top of it all, stay sane while doing so. 🙏

It's no secret that using Nokogiri for parsing is quite slow and the speed is relative to the size of the file you need to parse.  

Nokogiri is a DOM based parser where you read the file and build the tree in memory before you parse the contents.  This works fine for small files, but when I was trying to load a document that was more than 1GB in size even in a 16GB memory, performance and lockups would happen.  Moreover, I had problems where the import became inaccurate because of the failures.  Even with the use of Sidekiq, it doesn't address the issue of high memory consumption and lockups of resources (memory, Redis).  

Enter SAX parser: an event based parser, which means, it reads the file per line and forms an object when it encounters the closing tag.  Together with Sidekiq batch processing, this solves the high memory consumption, resource locking and inaccurate parsing.

ONIX for Books is an XML format for sharing bibliographic data pertaining to both traditional books and eBooks. It is the oldest of the three ONIX standards, and is widely implemented in the book trade in North America, Europe and increasingly in the Asia-Pacific region.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ONIX_for_Books#:~:text=ONIX for Books is an,in the Asia-Pacific region

The task at hand is to process more than 1M data for books every week, in two split batches of 1+GB and 400+MB ONIX files.  With the previous approach of using Nokogiri, I had to babysit this process and monitor the nature of errors as it happens and make adjustments to handle them accordingly.  The errors would be around 33-37% each run.  The bigger the file, the higher the error rate.

Here's the approach that addressed the issues:

The XmlFile creates the object that holds the attributes for the parsed document.  It logs the number of records that were processed and the filename of the document.  The records that are imported will refer to this XmlFile object as well to trace back its origin.

class XmlFile < ActiveRecord::Base

  def sax_process
    require 'saxerator'
    self.update_attributes(parse_start: Time.now)
    total_products = 0
    input = File.open([Rails.root, "/public/xmls/", self.filename].join)
    parser = Saxerator.parser(input) do |config|
        config.adapter = :ox
    end
    parser.for_tag(:product).each do |product|
        props = XmlFile.remap_hash_object(product).with_indifferent_access
        if # conditions
            ImportWorker.perform_async(props, self.filename)
            total_products += 1
        end
	end
    input.close
    self.update_attributes(parse_end: Time.now, total_products: total_products)
    Mailer.completed("sax process", self.filename)
    File.delete("public/xmls/#{self.filename}")
  end

  def self.remap_hash_object(product)
    props = {}
    # do some processing here
    props
  end

end

Main import processor:

After the parser has formed one object/record, it then passes it to my main import processor and does some processing and branches the work some more to other specific workers.

module MainImporter
  def self.import(props, filename)
    # Set your main variables
    store_ids = [1]
    volume_price_model_id = DEFAULT_VOLUME_PRICE_MODEL
    props = props.with_indifferent_access

    # Do some processing
    # Call other worksers after product import: image worker, author worker, category setting worker, etc
  end
end

And finally, Sidekiq.  The best part of using sidekiq with batch processing, is that you can control if you will have that batch pause or stop.  When the batch processing starts, you have an id for the batch that you can check in again and stop it as needed.  It can also update you when the batch has completed.

class ImportWorker
  include Sidekiq::Worker
  sidekiq_options queue: 'low', retry: 6

  def perform(data, filename)
	MainImporter.import(data, filename)
  end

  def on_success(status, options)
  	Mailer.status_update("Import Worker", status).deliver_now
  end

  def self.process(filename)
    batch = Sidekiq::Batch.new
    batch.description = "Process ONIX file #{filename}"
    batch.on(:success, self)

  	require 'saxerator'
  	x = XmlFile.create(filename: filename)
	x.update_attributes(parse_start: Time.now)
    total_products = 0
    input = File.open([Rails.root, "/public/xmls/", x.filename].join)

    parser = Saxerator.parser(input) do |config|
        config.adapter = :ox
    end

  	batch.jobs do
        parser.for_tag(:product).each do |product|
            props = XmlFile.remap_hash_object(product).with_indifferent_access
            if # conditions are met
                perform_async(props, filename)
                total_products += 1
            end
        end
  	end

    input.close
    x.update_attributes(parse_end: Time.now, total_products: total_products)
    File.delete("public/xmls/#{x.filename}") if Rails.env=="production"
  end
end

After this change was implemented, our processing was cut down from hours for the 400+MB file to just under 30 minutes and the bigger file to just under an hour. The accuracy was better and more records were parsed and processed; and the error rate dropped to only 1-2%.  With this improvement, we are now faced with a growth of records imported to ~800K records per week depending on the added.  

I was doing remote work before the pandemic made it look cool 😎 For over seven years now, I’ve worked from home and I loved it.  However, it’s not for everyone, I know.  If you’re new to this, and would like to know how I made it work, keep reading.

First off, nobody would deny that there are benefits as well as challenges to going work from home.  If pre pandemic, you were not doing so much work at home at some point (maybe on day that you had to catch up on something you forgot to finish at the office, or maybe working over the weekend for some freelance project), all of these might be alien to you.

The Benefits

Zero time needed for travel

If you’ve always arrived for work just a minute or two later than your supposed time-in, but traveled about an hour or so just to get to the office, you’d definitely love working from home!  The beauty of it becomes more luxurious if you hate your daily commute route, or if you're always missing breakfast (not by choice) and can't grab coffee before your commute.

Work in your most comfortable clothes

The last time I ever wore a uniform was in high school. Read: 1990s.  I’m not a big fan of looking like every other person in the room wearing one shade of shirt or dress just to make sure we all work for the same company.  It’s a mood killer and definitely sounds boring for me to be wearing the same clothing everyday even when I don’t feel like it.  Double whammy for me if it’s in the shade I have strong feelings against.  (Hint: orange)

All your favorite tools are at home

I’m particular to the things I use when I work.   Tools should work for you to make your day job more productive.  Imagine sitting in an uncomfortable chair that you’d have to think about it more than 50% of the time.  That’s a train-of-thought killer!  And how about that piece of headset whose earpiece feels like it’s digging out a bigger hole in your ear canal? Nope.  I'd usually go the extra mile to bring my own headset when I still used to work at an office setup, and I'd miss my split keyboard everyday.

You can control the lighting and temperature of the room

I prefer the cooler season because I hate the heat; but working in a semi-freezing room temp is equally unproductive for me.  I would fidget a lot and think about getting warm tea or buying noodles just to wake me up and get me warm; and sadly, changing the AC temp might not be accessible for each one of us because of different preferences.  I remember starting to work in the pantry on days when the cold was unbearable! I was afraid I might end up wearing an eskimo coat inside the office just to make me comfortable enough to work! 😆

Another sensitivity concern of mine, are my eyes.  I have eyes that can’t handle bright lights.  I don’t turn on my lights until it’s about 7PM in the evening.  All my screens are on eternal night mode with only about 5-7% of brightness on.  When I’m in a room with extremely bright lights, I get the feeling that my energy is draining fast.

You can get your bills done online

Before going remote, this is one of the things I had to get set up.  I made sure, a lot, if not everything that I need to buy/settle can be done online.  I went through different measures to make sure I have the accounts that I needed for whatever purpose they fulfill.  Some can be paid better via Gcash, while some can be better paid via PayMaya, vs PayPal, etc.

During the early days of the shutdown for the pandemic control, none of the remaining bills that I had can be paid online.  It was extremely stressful.  Fast forward to today, I’m glad they’ve made provisions already and everything can happen within the comfort of my home office setup.

Make your favorite meals at home

Now, this is tricky.  I know that for most of you out there, getting stuck at home meant gaining more weight.  I have gone through this myself, as a matter of fact.  In the first year of my working remotely, I gained a whopping 20lbs simply because I have access to food that I love and I can eat anytime.  This can quickly go out of hand.  No more walking to train stations, no running after buses, no standing in long queues for your commute means cutting the amount of energy spent.  And, everyone knows the recipe for weight gain is = more calories in, and less energy spent.

Fast forward to today, I maintain a daily routine and have been doing intermittent fasting for about two years now.  When I started, I lost about 12lbs, then in the next  year, I lost 7lbs more.  I work out every morning for at least 30 minutes, unless I feel sick; and I eat vegetarian meals for only twice a day.

You can work in isolation as needed

We all have that time when we are crunched down for time and we are required to deliver something.  What do we do? We put on that headset and pump some inspiring music to get it done.  Read: Leave me alone, I’m busy.

This is easier done at home—as long as you have a door to where you work!

Now, it’s not always a walk in the park when you do work remotely.  I’ve been through tough times and it’s difficult to rip yourself out of the routine to try and do things differently.

The challenges

Waking up close to your work hours

Because you work at home, you feel like you may have some more extra energy after work hours.  Pre-pandemic times, you may just walk out of the door and go meet some friends or do something fun.  That’ll surely burn off the extra energy and get some good night’s rest after.  But pandemic days are here; too much Netflix will bite you the next morning.  I’m guilty of binge watching sometimes and I wake up too close to my working hours.

What I’d do is just go straight to my computer, skip the whole morning routine and just pick up the chores one by one during mini breaks.  It sometimes also helps reset the brain if you’re doing something where you’re kinda stuck in.

Loss of personal hours

Don’t be guilty if you just go offline past 5pm.  It is technically after work.  In a normal office setup, you’d be in the office at about 5 minutes after 5pm still waving your colleagues goodbye, washing your mug and cleaning your space.  But, let’s admit it, you were offline in your head by 5pm sharp and on the dot.

Sometimes, there’s this perception that when you don’t see a person working, he/she might not really be doing anything.  However, there are metrics for that, and I think, asking someone to work longer hours without reason or extra pay is cruelty.  Show your work as proof!

Environmental factors

Given any other circumstance, I’d always prefer remote work over office setup.  Except maybe during political campaign days and the peak days of summer.  

In Manila, the peak days of summer is between April and May.  The humidity would make you go crazy, and the whole day of using the AC is a big bite of electric bill by end of the month.  And campaign days, will make you pull out your hair just the same.  All the roads would be filled with noisy jingles randomly throughout the day!  My solution? Is to hit the coffee shops for a break from their noises.  However, it's something that's not possible (yet, at least here, atm).

Sometimes internet/phone connection is a problem

I was lucky I had a plan upgrade sometime late 2019.  I was enrolled in a Teacher Training Online and my internet current plan wasn’t so good anymore.  There were several occasions where I was without internet for a month and a half, and no one from the bureaucratic monopoly of my internet supplier would help me.

I actually ended up renting a seat at a co-working space near me.  Packing all my essentials, it almost felt like I was running away from home.  I had to bring my lunch, my split keyboard, my planners, my machine, my mini stand, my mouse, etc.  I could have just used a gym bag for everything I needed! LOL 👩🏻‍💻

Intermittent noises

If you have meetings at certain times, you should be ready to know when the noises usually happen and schedule around it.  For me, loud truck horns happen between 9AM-10AM, hence I don’t schedule calls during that time.  There are isolated cases of couriers duck taping their packages to their motorcycles. You’d hear them loudly ripping the tape like they're pulling a weapon out to fend for their lives.  😄Seriously, you’d think that ripping duck tapes is their workout everyday!

There’s also the pigeons who coo very loudly and make these mating noises out my window.  Sometimes, it just makes me laugh 😅

More expensive in terms of electrical and phone/internet bills

If and when you suddenly choose to go work from home, don’t forget your bills.  Sure, there’s an automatic saving in terms of the transportation costs and the fast food items that you always buy for meals and snacks, but your electric bills and phone bills will also grow.  Factor that in when you ask for extra.

It’s easy to get distracted

Nobody’s looking over your shoulders, true.  But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your daily goals in check.  Facebook-ing for your mini break is fine, but don’t go overboard.  There’s a difference to “distracting” yourself for a quick break and just plain and simple “not doing any work”.  People will know if you’ve been slacking.  It will show in your performance and the work you’re able to turn in.  

Unexpected disturbances

This is probably my biggest, most hated part of working at home.  Ringing home phones, that frequent doorbell when you’re not expecting anyone, the deliveries who ask you to come down and meet them at the lobby like, is it not their responsibility to deliver it to you?!

It’s quite a quiet day though during pandemic days because nobody gets to visit.  At the moment, all deliveries are just left at the lobby, so I can efficiently pick them all up after all the work is done.  

Advice, anyone?

You’ve heard the raves and the rants.  If you’re still here, here are my advice for you if you want to thrive as a remote worker.

1. Compute your electrical consumption.  Turn on the AC/heater for the whole day, if you know and have access to your meter, go and check the reading for a comparison.  Figure out a workable estimate of your monthly consumption.  This should be your max.  On days when it’ll be unnecessary to use them, you’ll save some cost already.

2. Compute your phone bills.  You should also add these up for your expenditures.  You’ll probably need to make some calls anyway, so it’ll always be part of your operating expenses.  Don’t forget your mobile plan.  This is always a backup that you’ll need in case your landline has problems, or calls won’t come through.  Mobile internet is also my backup when my internet is down.

3. Compute your taxes.  What’s the usual amount that you’ll have to pay on a quarterly basis.  Factor that in for your salary requirement.  Include your social security, health insurance, etc.  These are also considered part of operating expenses.

4. Upgrade your internet package.  This is a no brainer.  You used to depend on the company’s internet and freely complain when it’s slow.  You can’t do that anymore.  Get a package that suits your needs.  Remember, factor in the number of people and gadgets in your household, especially during pandemic days when most of the household members are just home.  That’s got to be a large bandwidth you’ll need to work comfortably.

5. Designate one part of your house for office setup.  Ideally, this is a room, but if you don’t have a room for this, you can just designate a section for working.  This is not only important for people to start respecting your space, it also puts your mind into “work-mode” when you’re in that area of the house.  Make sure you have the comfortable table height and chair to work on; otherwise, get one.  You’ll need to invest on this because this will affect your physical posture when working and avoid RSI.

6. Have the right tools.  This is yet another no-brainer.  If you don’t own a headset you’re comfortable with, for listening music, taking calls, get one.  You’ll feel bogged down by cheap headsets and taking calls from your laptop would sound so unprofessional (especially if working from outside a room setup).  Other than that, get an AC/heater if you need one.  The right mouse, extra monitor, keyboard helps too.  And aside from gadgets, I have a planner beside me that I can easily reach when I need to write or reference from, so some paper and pen to scribble ideas quickly is also helpful.

7. Have a routine.  What’s your ideal day like? Write it down.  Then make plans and changes for that to happen.  Nothing beats having your mind clear before starting your work.  And when routine is amiss, it can also set you off of your goals.  

Knowing when you’re supposed to get up and thaw your ingredients for your next meal and when to start cooking/eating is really a game changer.  The more you have your schedule down, the more you’re likely to succeed bagging your goals for the day.  Read: it also means you get off earlier from work.

In the long run, you'd appreciate setting the time for health and exercise also a priority as you continue to enhance your productivity everyday.

8. Know and set your triggers. There’s so much you can accomplish and remember to do in a day, if you set triggers.  It’s like chaining habits.  For example, when you wake up, immediately drink water.  As soon as you sit on your working chair, set the priorities of the day, followed by checking emails, and so on.  If you have one action trigger another, then you’ll find yourself chaining habits.  You’re more likely to be consistent rather than just waiting for motivation to kick in.

Another useful example, is when you’re getting stuck in a piece of item you’re working on, you might want to stand up and leave the desk, or for me, I take the laptop and try to work from a different spot. Usually, the change of energy where I work can help me come up with new ideas and probably solve the problem.  And, I don’t recommend you do this, but sometimes, I find that working lying down helps too! 😝

So, who can make remote work work for them?

Everyone! If you’re willing to put in the work and the discipline, this could turn out to be your most productive days of your career.  I know that it’s a challenge for those with kids at home, especially toddler ages, but if you make changes, it is possible for you to be able to work at home quite well.

Got other ideas? Let me know.

Everybody needs groceries. At whatever point in your life, you’ve been to a grocery store.  Either your mom brought you as a kid, or you always insist to come along.  It’s a feel-good place for everyone because you’ll get to to home with what you need and what you want to eat.  

Health inside the isles

The beauty of going to grocery stores or supermarkets is that, there’s a multitude of choices for everything that you need.  From edibles, to household items, your favorite grocery store has them.   I think, it’s in the varying choices available to us that we get easily swayed in buying the “wrong” item.  Wrong, because it’s not made with the right ingredients, in that it had more calories than the other brand, in that, you never really needed it, but got it anyway.

There’s a certain truth to the psychology that you should not do your grocery when you’re hungry since you tend to buy a lot of items that only satisfy cravings but not necessarily provide enough nourishment.  I find that I buy more chips / snacks when it’s close to the next meal and I’m feeling hungry.

Another thing that’s affecting your budget and your health is going to the grocery without a shopping list.  You might end up with items you don’t immediately need, or food that you only wanted.

Learning to read your items’ nutritional labels at the back is one of the life changing habits I have learned to develop.  Being a person of several intolerances, I try to minimize, if I can’t totally avoid certain foods.  It’s a difficult challenge for me, especially avoiding food items that contain milk when 95% or more of the population consume dairy milk on a regular basis.

Over time, I have mastered these and had made my grocery more efficient.  I feel proud when I come home with a hefty bag of groceries but didn’t make a lot of bad choices.  It’s more savings and more investment for my health.

COVID 19 Groceries

When the quarantine period started, it was difficult getting groceries.  There wasn’t a lot of options for buying online and those that I frequented didn’t have this online grocery shopping facility as well, nor were there deliveries.  I had to ride my bike to the nearest grocery where all my needs were available.  I had to go through several checkpoints and declare my business for being outside.  It was really one of the toughest experiences I have triumphed and lived to tell during these early days of extreme quarantine period.

Fast forward to today, I am again adapting to the changes around me.  At first, I was only looking online for options to buy my food.  Being vegetarian is sometimes a double edged sword.  You either have a nearby local market, or you don’t.  So, in the beginning I had only a few options.

Even before COVID19, I was doing some shopping from Homegrown Organics.  I loved it here because I can get Kale (it’s my favorite leafy green).   I am able to buy my greens, tubers, herbs and even plants!  However, during quarantine, even as they have expanded their services (which was really awesome because they were only one of the few options for vegetable deliveries), the quality of the products diminished.  

It was great though that they employed several displaced jeepney drivers as their delivery riders, but some had really horrible attitude towards customers.  My last delivery was done by a rider who slashed into my mangoes and potatoes because I asked him to come up to the unit and deliver.  The next day, I also found that some of my vegetables were of poor quality and rotted immediately.  Even as I submitted a review of my experience, customer service did not attend to it (never did, to this date).  And so, I removed them from my desired list of reliable grocers.

Enter Bukid Fresh.  When I left Homegrown deliveries, I came across Bukid Fresh from Instagram.  As I have tried my first delivery already, I am able to put in this short review of my experience.  

First, it’s difficult to time your needs for vegetables to their schedule of opening.  They close their stores after a batch of delivery is fulfilled, and reopen again to take orders.  Take note that during this time that I have been eyeing their service, there was no pattern of predictability when their next schedule for reopening will be.  Maybe you can still check their posts and see customers asking for the next date of store reopening.  

Second, when you’ve already placed your orders, it might not be delivered for the next week or so.  This is what I find to be annoying.  The delivery date is at most a week after your order date.  You might actually go hungry in between the order time and delivery time if you’re only relying on them.  

Third, I love their bayongs—however, for customers like me, I don’t really have much use for the bayong that they use for deliveries.  The idea of returning bayongs for your next order is great but, because of the time difference in order time and delivery time, I ended up placing a big batch of orders of vegetables I had difficulty consuming before they expired.  Needless to say, I opted out of them as well.  However, for this case, it’s not them.  It’s me. 😊

And then the rolling store came to us.  This is my saving grace.  They’re here only twice a week though, so carefully planning the use and quantity of my vegetable haul is important here.  The catch though is to visit them at the right time.  If you needed seafoods, it is best to arrive by 9am; for fruits, even earlier.  Buying at a later time would mean less people, but you’ll have to settle for the leftovers as they’ve already been picked from.  At the moment, this is my preferred way for getting my vegetables (non leafy greens).  It’s a comfort to know that the vegetables are cheaper and easily accessible.

For the greens? Drumroll for my favorite source of leafy greens:  Go Future Fresh.  If you haven’t already heard about them, go follow them on either Facebook or Instagram.  I learned about them when I chanced upon a packaged Swiss Chard while doing an in-person grocery at Rustan’s Marketplace at Rockwell.  I got curious because I actually wanted more Swiss Chard after the first pack was done.   I checked them out and then tried some of their greens.  After my first order, I was obsessed.  I have been buying from them since.  

What I really love about their greens is that: (from their website) their greens are hydroponically grown and harvested just hours away from delivery to you.  To me, plain and simply, this meant less pesticides, and less of the “soil-like” taste from the leaves.  More hours of munching away and easier and faster cooking too.  On top of it all, they have a great customer service.  I’ll be a forever customer ❤️

What about the non vegetable items?

Now, while I’m vegetarian, my partner is not.  He’s pescatarian and eats mostly just seafood.  For him, I still have to turn to usual grocery store shopping.  However, even though it’s already in General Community Quarantine (GCQ), grocery shopping at malls still pose some risk.  Yesterday, we tried to do our grocery shopping at one of the SM Malls near us.  He went to the hardware store to buy some bulb replacements (but there was none available), while I queued up for the grocery entrance.

The grocery entrance is too difficult to get to because the queue is extremely long and the movement is extremely slow.  My estimate is that it would take at least half a day to just get inside to do your picking.  Queueing at the cashier is yet another feat.  Ouch!  And since we don’t have a helper, wasting time like this isn’t an option at all.

Enter MetroMart.  Before COVID19, I had difficulty with this store.  I tried to schedule a delivery for my cat’s birthday cake and their poor customer service (still currently poor, mind you), didn’t really help me out so I had to just buy the cake myself.  That was almost a year ago.  

These days, I did try their service and there were some pros and cons.  Let’s start with the Pros:

1) It was easy to pick from which store you’d like to buy from.  Being that my residence is at the heart of the Metro, the supermarkets that I frequent was accessible from the scope of their areas of coverage.  I could even pick which branch I’d like them to shop from.  During the early days of extreme quarantine, there was only one available to me.  Yesterday, when I checked, a lot of other grocery stores are now open.  There’s Assi, FamilyMart, TrueValue, S&R, Robinsons, etc.

2) The app is easy to use, but sometimes, the classification of grocery items is off.

3) I can choose to pay via credit card.  This is the easiest option for me since my bank is not within my city, I don’t tend to keep a big cash on my person.

4) You may actually shop for somebody else!  I’ve been thinking of doing some grocery for my mom and have it sent over to her address.  I’m not sure if she’s getting all that she needs at this time and we don’t live together.

5) You can set a schedule for the delivery, and it’s broken down into hour long segments!  Now that’s a plus for me.  Here in our condo, they no longer allow deliveries to come up to the unit (such huge inconvenience, really) and I couldn’t go down whenever every delivery would arrive, so setting a schedule and have Boo pick them from downstairs is a major bonus!

Now onto the Cons:

1) They have a minimum amount for each order.  It seems the minimum is different per store though, but getting to the minimum is quite challenging sometimes.  You’ll have to pad your orders with items that you may not immediately need, or not within budget.

2)  You don’t have a guarantee that your items will all be available.  This is such a bummer.  My last order was kind of small, I needed a few important items and I padded my order to get to the minimum amount.  When it arrived, I didn’t get what I needed.  Most that arrived were those items that were added only to pad my order.  This is extremely wasteful of time and money, really. 😧

3) Without good customer service, you’re really gambling.  My first order, I sent them an email and nobody replied.  The thing is, even if you paid for, say 4,000 Php, when some items aren’t available, the amount in the receipt is what will be charged to your account.  The relief is that, it will always be lesser than the amount you have authorized this store to debit from you.  Still, customer service is virtually inexistent.

4) There’s a shopper’s fee and the delivery fee is even separate! In total, you would be adding about 400-500 pesos to your cart’s total.  I find this really expensive, but sometimes I just have to settle because I don’t have a whole day to spare just for queueing at the grocery store.  

For the special needs

I’m a person with so many intolerances.  I have really weak digestive system having suffered from a lot of disorders when I was younger (read: also being continuously fed dairy milk since birth).  I explored the sources of my discomfort and learned so much for myself until fast forward to today, I can tell when I’ll have tummy discomfort and from which food.  Food logging has helped me so much that I’ve become aware of what serves me and what hurts me.

However, developing and maintaining health for such discomforts is sometimes very expensive.  I have to avoid most nuts but I’m super happy and doing well with Macadamia.  I turn to Healthy Options for my other needs that I definitely wouldn’t find at any local grocery store.  So, even if it’s quite expensive, this is relief from getting sick quite often and staying away from debilitating migraines too.

My faves from Healthy Options are their Vegan butters, the teas, Brown Rice pasta, Quinoa, gluten free Oats and my favorite Sweet Potato chips and Spinach Better Chips.  The only cons I could think of is that if you're a member, your points aren't updated via online grocery shopping; and two, well, prices are absurdly expensive at times.

For other rare needs, I always turn to The Vegan Grocer.  I love this store because it caters to us vegetarians and to the vegans.  There's a lot of options too! Sometimes I just time-sinked into choosing what I want.  The cons for me, is that 1) they don't have delivery; you'll have to book for a rider after your payment, 2) they have odd store hours, 3) sometimes the ordering takes a long time.  If those don't bother you, then this is probably a vegetarian's/vegan's heaven 😇

Alternatives

Although there are other alternatives, these are what work for me at the moment.  Most of what I need I can find here and I'll stick to these until I find better options and cheaper alternatives too.  How about you? How do you do your groceries these days?  

Do you know your life values?  Do you know if you’re moving towards the compass of your life? Where do yo want to go? Where should you really go?

I encountered the question of defining values in a podcast I listened to, by chance, some weekends ago.  The doctor of psychology asked, “what’s your values?”  I paused—not to think, but to suddenly wonder, why I couldn’t answer the question.  What are my values, really?

She discussed that goals, while they’re easier listed down, as we have always been taught in school or in time management or seminars, are items that we want to do.  Those that we want to achieve.  They are, in quick definition, something we want but do not have yet.  Agree?

But values, are different.  They are you.  They are in you.  These define you.  Values are usually one word, or one phrase, that you strongly resonate with.  Something that you feel are of core importance in your life.  Values are the compass of your self to which you align (or should align) your goals with.  

When I was listening to this doctor describe the problem of her patient (identity not disclosed), the patient enumerated so many goals, and mentioned so many of her successes, to which it was admirable that she’s achieved so much.  However, the question of her happiness and contentment and definition of success was amiss.  The reason being, was that, her goals were not within the lines of her values.  In fact, she didn’t know what her values were (too)!

Enter stress

Stress is such a giant word that, even though we are able to define it in many ways, it still escapes us what it truly is, and what it means to our physiology and our psychology.

Stress could mean, waking up early even when you had only less than 5 hours of sleep because you have to get to work.  On some cases, it’s the pressure from someone who wants to coerce you to do something you don’t agree to.  And for others, it is the burden of handling finances beyond their current capability.  Some of these might look like external sources that influence the presence of stress in our lives, but the real reason may be behind not working with your core values.

What are the core values?

According to the said doctor who was doing the podcast, she asked her clients to work on defining her values before her next session with her.  So, I eagerly listened to her.  She mentioned the Values Card Exercise which was an exercise that has been adapted from Miller and C’de Baca (2001) and is the source of this version of the Values Card Exercise.

I went ahead and checked this out and the Values Card Exercise had 70 cards that were different values that a person could live with in different variance of importance.  (Note that there are many variations of this exercise).  Now, these values, are all elements of positivity.  They all influence and enrich the lives of people who are aware of their core values in life.  While some might read: “Beauty”, “Wealth”, “Fame”, they aren’t the worldliness that come to mind when these words are encountered.

Each value, is an essence within a person that enriches their lives and therefore result in immense feeling of success, completeness and may imbibe similar effect to other people.  A value realized, is one that improves the life of the person him/herself and all those around him.  It brings into fruition the goals that are very much aligned to these values.

Still not convinced?

You think that anything is possible if you set your mind into something, yes.  Maybe something that you never thought you could do, but now you’re able to—even if this is something not aligned with your goals.  I salute every individual fighting for their goals.  However, have you not seen a person, who seems to sleep like a baby every night, spends less time thinking, spends more time laughing, but everything seems to be falling into the right place at the right time for him/her? Have you asked yourself why? How?

Let me tell you what I realised: Values.  It’s everything.

Knowing your values is like setting your compass to your wonderland.  And then you’ll notice, why the wind is blowing in the right direction.. why your sails look so happy and not fighting against the wind.  Your speed is propelled by at least twice the expected speed.  You’re moving easier, and faster. This is the secret.

All your other goals, whatever they are, if you align them to the right values will be realised faster and better, and results are always far greater than that of which you have anticipated.

Successful people are successful only if they feel like they are.  Those who seem to have “everything” but still commit suicide has seriously lost track of their values.  You don’t need to work very hard all the time in order to be successful and be happy.  If this interests you, read on.

The exercise

Because I’m my own patient 0, I went ahead and downloaded the Values Card Exercise.  After my day was done, I printed out the cards and cut them to size.  Doing this before bedtime, ensures I don’t have anything else in mind that I need to get to.  I like to have everything sorted before sitting down to contemplate on this.

So, this is Scenario 1.  I just put down all the cards in front of me.  All 70 of them and I just read each of them.  Each one with the value in the middle and beneath it was a brief explanation / meaning.  Reading through it, I was overwhelmed.  How was I supposed to discard 60 and only pick 10 in the end?! It was madness.  It seemed like telling myself all the other cards were not important.  However, that’s not the case.

I recommend that you start to pick out the cards that show something that you feel is "Not Very Important" to you right now.  It doesn’t mean it’s entirely nonsense, but think of it as something that you can definitely live without, at the moment.  Thinking about it this way, made it easier for me to sort my pile.

One of the few cards that were easy to discard as “Not Very Important” was the Fame card.  The reason being, is that I’m an introvert.  It’s not very important for me to be well-known.  As fame, is, in a multitude of degrees very different from being recognized, or from being accepted.  

This first wave of exercise, opened my eyes.  There are so many values to live by, that we can pick from; and that there are so many, that you are able to granularize what they mean to you (as described, fame is different from recognition and acceptance).

Scenario 2

This next phase, I was so pleased that I was able to say to myself that I have only the cards that are “Important” laid out in front of me.  That was the beginning of difficulty.  No, really. It was difficult!

Now, the next pile to fill is the “Somewhat Important”.  To me, it was a little bit triggering.  It is important that, to complete this second scenario, you must be able to cite examples of cases and feelings and ideologies that come to mind to describe how a certain value is for you.

For example, I find it so difficult to discern how Logic and Simplicity could be separated from each other.  How was I supposed to pick between the two?  I had to really identify what each value meant for me.  Logic for me, meant that I put sense in everything I do for my life.  My life could be simple with minimal needs, but I may not be living in the right logic.   Furthermore, if I live as a minimalist, would not buying a comb be logical? Would owning only one big swimming pool be simple? Would it also be logical?

Within me, the debate for several other cards was a difficult feat.  With each card that seems to be related with each other, I had to further differentiate what they meant to me.  The goal is to leave only 10 cards behind.

This is my pile at the end of scenario 2.

And finally, sorted values

Once you are now left with only 10 cards, you need to arrange them from most important to least important.  As if you haven’t dealt so much with discarding seemingly “all important” cards, you still have to rank these most important ones according to weight! 🙈

It was a no brainer for me, what put at the top most priority: "Purpose".  I have always sought Purpose in everything.  This is all connected with what I do for work, why I do it, and why I work for a certain company.  Why it’s easy for me to become a minimalist, and why some things just really is a deal breaker for me.  Purpose defines me.  At the beginning of Scenario 1, I have already put Purpose as my #1 for this final scenario.  

I remember telling myself, then, in fact, I knew my top value all along!  😅 I just didn’t know how to define it before I discovered this Values Card Exercise.

After a grueling hour and a half, I have completed this Values Card Exercise.  Here are my top 10 values.

So what’s next?

“Here I come, happiness! Here I come success!”, yes that’s literally what I told myself after.  Why? I’m excited because, all the other goals that I have set for myself before, which seemingly doesn’t bring me much content and gratification can now be transformed to something that will bring my values to front and center.

Let me explain how these values can now shape your goals.  Let’s say one of your core values is Leisure; and you have a previous goal to travel to Vatican.  You had your itineraries set for tour of several churches and museum to fulfill your spiritual needs, etc.  To make your goal work for you and bring you more happiness, you might need to cut down on the tour and allot time to relax and recover.  Maybe a half day for the tour and a quiet time to read a book by your hotel room or out under the sun (if that’s your thing).  The result would be immensely beneficial for your soul, and your heart’s contentment.

Now, I must leave you here.  I can’t say how excited I am to revamp my goals and align them with my values.  I’ll give it half this year and I’ll let you know how this works for me and my happiness.

I’ll let the sails take me now to where I want to go (figuratively and literally) ⛵️

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch! I wish you well in figuring out your own set of values! and hope that it takes you to a place of happiness and contentment ☺️