Lux Thinking Aloud 2019: My Year Of Firsts And Milestones 1:49 PM 2019 has been my year of first and milestones. It's amazing that even in my thirties, my life is still fun, full of surprises, twists and turns, and I still get to experience some firsts. Allow me to share some with you. 2019: My Year of Firsts and Milestones 1. I got hitched! Just when I was at peace with the possibility of growing old with my dogs, life threw a wonderful surprise. This 2019, I got married. It was not a perfect wedding, but it was beautiful. It was a testament of God's faithfulness not only to me but also to my husband. We both waited in faith. Sometimes, we question God's purpose and plans. Waiting may be bitter, my friend, but the fruit is sweet. Use waiting as your time for learning, improving, exploring, and enjoying. I always tell my single friends to enjoy every moment of being alone. Cherish the life of being single. Embrace even the loneliness and emptiness. Because it will be over before you know it. 2. First time to kayak. This may seem trivial for some, but this is a big deal for me. Because though I love going to the beach, I have an irrational fear of the open water. We went to Palawan for our honeymoon. It's dubbed as the most beautiful island in the world. And it didn't disappoint! Minus the influx of tourists that's causing traffic in some roads, pollution (not as bad as Metro Manila for sure), and some locals milking on tourists, the island itself is a paradise indeed.Stunning view, gastronomic experience, bonding with my better half. It's an experience I will never forget. 3. I transitioned to Veganism. I've never been a big fan of meat though I grew up in a carnivorous family in a culture that LOVES meat. Living on my own, I most often than not prefer less or no meat in my meals. 2016, I declared that meat was back on the menu. That was because I was testing different restaurant foods due to our plan of putting up our café. Thus, I believe that it is due to culture or tradition that our minds have been conditioned that it's okay to eat meat. But we have a choice. We should listen to our conscience. What weighs more? Your cravings or your compassion towards the innocent? Supporting cruelty against animals or showing kindness to all creatures? Science supports the idea that humans don't need meat to be healthy and survive. Spiritual (vegans) believe God gave us plants for food in Genesis 1:29: Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." Personally, science and religion aren't my reasons for this decision. My dogs made me do it. One day I realized that if I will never ever eat dog meat because for me dogs have souls. So, why do I keep eating other dead animal carcasses? What's the difference really? Farm animals are just as innocent and sentient as pet animals like dogs and cats. via Alba Paris Art Did you know that pigs are smarter than dogs? My other reason for going vegan is the condition of our planet. Earth is estimated to be 4.54 billion years old. It was thriving before us, supposed intelligent and superior species abused the resources it generously provides. There is nothing wrong with progress. I love how technology has been making our lives better. But to sacrifice another creature's life to satisfy a fleeting craving or in the name of fashion when there is a plethora of alternatives that do not involve suffering and death is crazy and selfish. It's never too late. Go vegan for the animals and for the planet. Whatever we give to Mother Nature, she gives us back a hundredfold. When you go vegan, your body will thank you later. 😉 Check out these athletes who were surprised about a huge (pun intended) improvement they've experienced shifting to a vegan diet. 4. Got premium clients. I've been working for years with cheapskates. I have encountered fakers or fraud. Lesson: don't believe every product review you see online. Especially if they're about 👉 these brands. On the last quarter of 2019, God finally answered my long time prayer to bring me to the right people who can help me grow. I've found a tribe of freelancers who give premium quality service and earns premium in return. It's my first time to pay for an online membership. And the money I invested was not a joke. I prayed a lot about it and I had to pep talk myself into hitting that enroll button. I enrolled literally on the last minute. Lol! I'm a frugal person. But if I have to be honest with myself, I'm also scared when it comes to taking risks when money is involved. I've made a lot of wrong investments and decisions in the past. I don't want to repeat those mistakes. But I also thought, "Why am I stopping myself from taking a leap if the result is what I've always wanted to achieve?" Why do I let fear hold me back from trying something new and expect to get a different result doing what I've been doing for the past years? There are proofs from real people that this method works. How can I prove it myself if I won't try? I said I must see results in three months! I will follow the teaching inside the tribe and apply it otherwise I just threw away the money I worked hard for. A little before three months was over, I closed a deal with a premium client. And I know it's only the beginning. You are the only one stopping yourself from moving forward. Take calculated risks, my friend. Or you'll miss out in life. How was your 2019? Was it also a year of firsts and milestones? No matter, I wish you had a memorable one and I hope this 2020 will be even better for you.
How-To 7 Pros Of Working From Home With Tips 10:15 PM If you love what you do, it isn't your job; it is your love affair. -Debasish Mridha If you can work in the comfort of your home...Doing what you love to do...Earning more than what you're currently getting...Having more freedom of time...Why wouldn't you? Working from home is not stress-free. There are still challenges. But deciding to do it was the best career change I've made in my life. Because the advantages of working from home are more significant than the downside. Here are 7 pros of working from home that I've discovered. 7 Pros of Working from Home with Tips 1. No dress code You still need to look decent when you have a video call. You can dress up if you want to, but that's the advantage of working from home. No one will judge you even when you're in your sweats or pajamas all day.Let's face it, not having to wear a bra also feels more freeing. 👀 As long as you deliver your work, your clients won't ask whether you've showered or not. (Though I do shower to wake myself up. Just thought I'd let you know before you presume I work like this 👇) Gfycat When working from home, you can wear anything comfortable without worrying about breaking any rules. Because you make the rules. 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIP: Invest in a good blazer or a presentable top/shirt that you can wear during an interview or conference call. Giphy 2. Commute or drive to work no more The distance between your workplace and your bed is just a few steps away. Some even have their bed and their home office in the same room. No more hassle of waiting for the bus or cab. No more long lines and fighting your way in the crowd so you won't miss the train. No more danger of getting robbed on your way to and from work.You don't have to worry about arriving or coming home late because you're stuck in traffic. Most importantly, no need to brave the weather just to get to work for fear of being reprimanded by your waterproof boss. Call Center Life 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIPS: Don't work as much as possible in your bedroom, especially on your bed. This will help you stay productive and avoid the temptation of taking a nap during your working hours. It also conditions your mind that your bedroom is for relaxing and sleeping. So when you step inside the bedroom, your mind knows it is time to take a snooze.Keep your home secured at all times. It may be safer to work from home, but it doesn't mean you have to be lenient regarding security.Don't forget to invest in security, such as antivirus software to protect your computer work from hackers and a sound home security uk alarm system to protect you from thieves. This will give you peace of mind whether you're working at home or taking a break.It's hard to focus on both if your home safety is in question, right?How is your daily commute to work? Share your craziest story in the comments.Disclaimer: I wrote this post pre-p a n d e m i c 2018 and edited 2019. Please don't get offended by this gif. Giphy 3. No office politics or challenging people to deal with Don't we all have that annoying person at work we dread seeing? Have you not put on your headphones and blasted music in your ears to block the noise of nonsense gossip around you? And does it not irritate you when someone who works less gets recognized more just because they're drinking buddies with the boss? Is your boss a toddler trapped in an adult's body, throwing tantrums when things don't go his way? How many times have you faked a smile or tried to look calm even when you feel like throwing a fit yourself? Sarcasmlol When you work from home, you eliminate this kind of toxicity in your life. Giphy ⭐ LIFE TIP: If it costs you your peace, it's too expensive.Unsubscribe from other people's drama. Some people are not worth your time and emotion. 4. Choose your view Whether you want to work in front of your window, in the kitchen, or anywhere in your house, you can. Bring your work outside or in the coffee shop for a change (that aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee is a good stimulus). Giphy Or better yet... 5. Travel with your work You can bring your work wherever you go as long as it's convenient and you know you can still be productive. If there's a good internet connection and electricity, you're good to go. New place, fresh ideas. 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIP: If you need to bring your work on your trip, set aside a day and time for work. You don't want to ruin a beautiful holiday. I don't advise bringing your work when you travel for leisure. Not only will it add to your luggage, but it also beats the purpose of vacation. Pinterest 6. More time for yourself You can finish your work either at the time agreed with your client or whenever you want, depending on your arrangement. Since you don't have to take the time to commute from home to the office and vice versa, and no colleague is inviting you to unwind after a stressful day at work, you have a lot of extra time in your hands. If you want to keep your day productive after working, you can run errands, clean your working area, organize your files, update your blog if you have one, watch a tutorial or inspiring speech or learn from other people in the same field. Or relax. Sleep. You need it. Catch up on your reading. Take a walk. Meditate. Work out. Serve the community. Get a massage. Find a new hobby.If you like to earn more, you can use your extra time to look for another client or work on some extra gig. You are the king/queen of your time. You do you. Giphy 7. More time with what matters most When you're staying home, you get to see the people or the reasons why you're working. You have the luxury of spending quality time with your loved ones. Go on a date with your partner. Meet a friend. Spend more time with your pets. One of our dogs sleeping ON my foot while I'm working. Had to capture that precious moment in-between editing. Clingy dog #1 Clingy dog #2 UPDATE: Now that I'm married, I spend more time with my husband. He accompanies me when I need to work outside due to inevitable instances like a power outage. That's an unplanned and productive date right there. You can't have it all. Like everything else in life, nothing is perfect. There are still challenges with working from home. 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIP: Google and YouTube tutorials are your friends. When I first started, no one in my circle doing freelancing. But because I was determined to make the shift, I researched it. I attended seminars. As they say, if you want something wrong enough, you find a way, not an excuse. Join a fantastic group of freelancers. Here's one I highly recommend 👉 The Freelance Movement Workshop. This is where I learned freelancing hacks. I wish I knew when I was starting. Once you've found your rhythm, you keep learning and improving your skills, and you don't forget your BIG WHY. You will find that the pros of this work far outweigh the cons. Question for you: If you're already working online, what are your struggles? What do you think are the pros of working from home? If you're not yet making this incredible career, would you like to know how?This post contains affiliate links, so I'd get a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. This helps me maintain my site. Thanks in advance!
Life Lessons Lessons Learned On My Way To Getting There 1:25 PM If you do not know where you come from, then you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know where you are, you don’t know where you’re going. And if you need to know where you’re going, you’re probably going wrong. -Terry Pratchett Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like life is passing you by. One day you wake up and realize that most of your peers are now getting on with their adult lives, getting married, and having babies. And here you are...still drunk in love with your being single. It could be terrifying when negative thoughts start to enter your mind. When people make you question your choices, you begin to also doubt yourself. That is if you don’t have a solid conviction of who you really are, what you want, and where you are going. On my way to getting there, I’ve learned how to make the journey light, and I’m sharing it here with you. 1. Know exactly what you want. Where exactly is your ‘there’? Living without goals is like driving without direction. You keep on going around in circles. You don’t get anywhere simply because you don’t know where you’re heading. If you know exactly what you want, you can change your strategies or change your timetable and still know it’s okay because you haven’t forgotten your destination. You have a clear vision of where you’re going so you don’t go astray. You may have stopovers or detours, but keep your eyes on the prize. What do you really want to do, and where do you want to go? Giphy 2. Be friends with people from all walks of life. Younger friends are fun to be with because their excitement and curiosity are contagious. They keep you young and updated. Friends who are about your age share the same sentiments. You can share notes about your past experiences, struggles, and plans. They are your reality check. Friends who are more mature or are ahead of you in this life journey could be amazing life mentors. They will guide you and help you avoid making the same mistakes they did. Entrepreneurs have different mindsets and lifestyles from people in the workforce. See things from different perspectives by forming friendships with business owners and employees. Every person you meet has a story, and their story comes with lessons for you to learn. Giphy 3. Do something today that your future self will thank you for.They say money speaks only one language. “If you save me today, I will save you tomorrow.”Learn how to manage your finances. The people who laugh at your frugal ways will one day come to you and ask you for help. (True story!) Take care of your health and secure your future. Learn how to be truly rich. Enjoy the present, but don’t forget to save some for tomorrow. You don’t want to be begging for money when you’re too old or maybe too sick to work. Yes, YOLO! But you only live once, so you might as well not live miserably, right? That piece of steak looks good, but is it really worth it when you know you’re putting your life at risk? Not to mention the debilitating effect of the meat industry on the environment and, of course, the suffering of the animals just for you to get your plate of juicy steak. Your future self will thank you for your choices today. Choose selflessly and wisely for your health, the planet you live on, and the future. Giphy 4. Travel more. Visit a new place. Traveling changes your perspective. You realize that you are a tiny speck in the vast universe. Your primary concern, like your change of career, what other people would think, not having a date for Valentine’s, not having enough clothes in your closet, or not getting the latest gadget, will become insignificant. CALVIN: If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live much differently. HOBBES: How so? CALVIN: Well, when you look into infinity, you realize that there are more important things than people do all day. Imgur 5. Help someone. Your job title, the trophies, and the rewards you received may be impressive and could give you euphoria. But there is a different kind of high when you give without expecting anything in return. Help someone who is not capable of giving you back. At least not directly. Because kindness begets kindness. The love (or hate) you give will eventually come back to you. Have you ever been a part of a ministry and witnessed God’s work through people helping other people? You will be amazed. Giphy 6. Let go. You can never enjoy the present if you keep looking back at the past. As you age, you realize that some dreams are worth pursuing and others are not your dreams but someone’s plans for you, like your parents. Let go of the people who are holding you back. Let go of your excess baggage to make your journey getting there easier and lighter. What are the things that are weighing you down? Is it guilt? Forgive yourself and ask for forgiveness. Confess. Is it an addiction? Seek help. Is it your inner critic? Learn how to silence it. Is it worrying about what people would say? Why does it matter anyway? Is it the limitation you set yourself? Change your mindset. Is it a toxic lifestyle? Learn how to live healthily and live happily. Is it fear? Do it afraid. Is it your lavish ways? Simplify. Giphy Sometimes you get to your dreams fast, and sometimes you face detours. Sometimes on your way to reaching your goals, you realize life is more than just about pursuing a career and living according to society's dictates. Sometimes you get lost and find a better dream, and sometimes you see...a better you. I’m getting to my next chapter. Just taking it slow, enjoying each step, but getting there. How about you? Where are you going? What lessons have you learned on your way to getting there?
Lux Thinking Aloud Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy 10:31 AM You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. -C. JoyBell C. As I grow older, there are crazy things I had to quit to be crazy happy. I have zero regrets in doing so. Are there things that are stopping you from living a life filled with joy? Quit them before it's too late. Don't get me wrong. I'm a believer of keeping on. That is, keeping on with the good things and chasing dreams. When it comes to the negative stuff, I am a quitter. Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy Quit crying over spilled milk When things are over and done, there's no use holding on to it. When an opportunity has passed and you failed to grab it, you'll never get it back by still wishing you should have or thinking about the what ifs. Should have, could have, what if. Simple phrases with a lot of weight to carry. Quit crying over spilled milk. You can always buy another. 😛 "Kids, you can't cling to the past. Because no matter how tightly you hold on, it's already gone." -How I Met Your Mother Giphy Quit living my parents' dreams for me I don't want to cause my folks any headache, so I let them choose my career for me. But in doing so, I was slowly killing my own purpose. Needless to say, I was miserable. You can never be happy living other people's dreams, even when you're doing it for your loved ones. That's because you have a different calling. Your heart wants to lead you somewhere else. Claiming other people's dreams as your own buries your calling deep down that when you finally want to do what you really want...it will take a long time to dig it out. You'll be walking around thinking, "But what do I want? What am I supposed to do?" So a friendly reminder to parents: let your kids discover what they're good at, nurture their gifts, and support their ambitions. Because whatever it is that they keep envisioning for themselves and gives them fire in the belly, that's what they're meant to do. That's their anointing. That's their purpose. You have no idea how much they can accomplish if you let them follow their passion. Giphy Quit waiting for things to happen I've delayed a lot of things and had to choose option B many times because I needed to wait. I needed to wait for someone to be available or I had to wait for the "perfect" timing. I've allowed stress into my life by beating the deadline because I've waited for inspiration to strike. I've waited for people to pay back money they borrowed when they obviously have no intentions to do so. I've waited for someone to accompany when I can totally go on my own. I've waited for apologies from people who never showed regrets. Waiting for things to happen is wasting precious time. It will drain you in the long run. Let go of things you can't control and make peace with yourself instead. Forgive yourself for waiting and for stealing your own joy by doing so. Giphy Quit chasing people Chasing people includes forcing myself to be friends with people who obviously don't want me involved in their lives. Some people may play an important role in a certain episode of your life, but you don't need them until the season finale to complete your story. Quit chasing them! If they want to be in your life, they will make an effort to be. Two things you will never have to chase: True friends & true love. -Mandy Hale Giphy Quit taking crap from others There's a very fine line between kindness and stupidity. The more you some people kindness the more they abuse you instead of appreciating and reciprocating your kindness. You have to accept the fact that there is goodness in everyone, but some people chose a different path. They've made their choice. Now, make yours. In this tough, cruel, wicked world (I like to be dramatic sometimes), you need to stand your ground or you'll be trampled over. When life pushes you around you have to push back. Quit settling I'm done settling for mediocrity. I'm done settling for second best. I'm done settling for a high paying job but is slowly turning me into a zombie. I'm done settling with housemates from hell, with friends who are pulling me down and hinders me from becoming more. I'm done settling with "just fine". I'm done accepting measly pays for my writing gigs. Giphy Quit toxic people Surrounding yourself with gossiping, procrastinating, condescending people will make you like them too. I'm not comfortable doing these things. I don't see myself doing the same things in the years to come. So I cut my ties with them. And boy, what a weight lifted off my shoulder. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. -Jim Rohn Giphy Quit being hard on myself I used to always blame myself when things don't go well. Even in relationships where it takes two to tango, I always thought it's solely my fault. Are you still wondering why this post is called Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy? I was crazy! Giphy Quit fixing things and people I tried to fix people who are otherwise happy with where they are no matter how messed up their lives are. I tried to make them see reason. I tried to mend broken relationships and in the process, I drained myself empty. But what's crazier is that I'v met a lot of people who are doing the same thing. This disorder is rampant. I think it's universal. We need to quit it quick. Giphy Quit fighting every battle I used to be feisty. It seems there's not a fight I would surrender to. I was fierce. Obviously, I was always exhausted and preoccupied with unnecessary things. I have little time left for self-improvement. I've realized that walking away from a fight is not cowardice, it's courage. Choosing which battle to fight is not lack of bravery, it's boldness. And some people just don't deserve your time and attention. Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. -Mark Twain Tenor Quit eating meat This is an ongoing argument in the society. And I know I mentioned here on the blog a few years ago that I went back to eating burger. But I've changed. Dare I say it, I am more enlightened now. Since I've originally written this article in 2016, a lot of things happened. From a happy carefree single gal, I got married. I quit my full time high paying job to freelance. I've traveled to different places I used to just dream about. And my dogs made me a better soon. They proved to me that animals are intelligent, sentient, kind and capable of showing love and loyalty. Sometimes, they're better than some humans. 🤷 I realized that if I will not support killing of dogs for food because they are family, why do I continue to support the torture and killing of other animals just so I can satisfy my cravings? If I will not allow anyone to hurt my dogs, why do I patronize businesses that test on animals, or use animals as commodity? It didn't make sense to say I love the planet, I support causes for the environment and I love animals when I have a dead animal part on my plate. Going vegan goes beyond diet. It's a lifestyle. It's not a hype that will go passé in the future. The future is vegan. Being vegan is about quitting cruelty and choosing compassion and kindness. I quit meat not because I'm crazy but because it's crazy to support the killing of animals for my palate's satisfaction. I quit meat because I love the earth...especially the animals. Giphy I didn't realize how crazy things in my life were making me miserable then. It took me years to finally let go most of them. I had to for the sake of my sanity. And because I have finally allowed God to fix me, and allowed myself to heal from my brokenness that caused me to do these crazy things. Loving myself more means I need to quit the things that are not contributing to my well being. I'm a quitter. And I am a damn happy one. What crazy things do you think you need to quit to be crazy happy? Gifs from Google images.
Dogs 4 Reasons Why Dogs Are The Best 9:24 AM Why Dogs Are The Best Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them is wrong.-W.R. Purche We have 17 dogs at home. 17 fluffy, crazy, zooming fluffy balls.It's crazy. But you know what? They're worth the money spent on vet visits, food, medicines, and grooming...The time and effort to clean after them...And waking up at 3am because they need to go or a leaf moved and it spooked them. 😄Because...Nothing compares to the loyalty and love of dogs. Dogs are indeed a man's best friend.They are friends for life.Dogs are simply the best and here are 4 reasons why.4 Reasons Why Dogs Are The Best1. Dogs can cheer you up Stress is inevitable. But you don't need a shrink if you have dogs. Just hug your dogs. Or join them in their crazy games. Their silly antics are enough to turn your frown upside down. 2. Dogs are great protectors Dogs see you as part of their pack. And they will give their lives protecting their own. 3. Dogs are loyal friends When the world turns its back on you, you can count on your dog to stay.There are stories about dogs not leaving their humans when tragedy happens, asking for help when a family member or another animal is in trouble or injured, and even sleeping on their human's grave for days. Do you know Hachiko? His story of loyalty left the world amazed. He's immortalized with a statue. One of our dogs died and his best pal stopped eating for days. He wouldn't sleep. He would sit and look at the part of the yard where we buried his friend. We even caught him lying beside it. Only when we let one of the new puppies play with him every day did he start to recover and cheer up. 4. Dogs can teach us lessons in life Dogs bite their enemies but they stay loyal to their friends. They show kindness to humans and to other animals that will put the self-righteous to shame. They're selfless, unconditional, and all-out when it comes to giving their love. Looking to their innocent eyes is a great reminder of what matters most in life. If forcing your dogs to take selfies is a crime, then I'm guilty. My phone is full of dog pictures, videos, and our selfies together. Taking selfies with your dogs? Which OPPO #SelfieExpert smartphone produces the best selfies? OPPO is no doubt the #SelfieExpert smartphone. But which OPPO smartphone is the best choice in taking selfies with your dogs? OPPO F3 There's Oppo F3. It has a dual front camera. One 16MP camera with extra-large pixels and one double view group selfie camera. So that's perfect for either taking selfies with one dog or taking a group selfie with all 17 dogs. Although in my experience, that's quite impossible as it's so hard to keep them still when they're together. But then OPPO F3 has a Palm Shutter that helps make it easy to take that snap. It also has an anti-shake feature so even when you can't hold your dog still while holding the camera, you'll still be able to get a clear and crisp photo that's ultra HD. The rear camera is 13MP that lets you get awesome night shots even during late-night selfie sessions with your dogs (I take photos of them sleeping beside me too). The thing about having dogs is that you don't only bring your essentials when you go out, you also bring theirs. So the lightweight, thin and sleek design is perfect to bring along during leisurely walks, going to the vet, or running errands. Having dogs will make you alert. You should always be on your toes. OPPO F3 has advanced upgraded touch access that's fast, accurate, and responsive. So no time is wasted trying to unlock your phone when another epic moment happens. You'll surely capture it! OPPO A39 OPPO 39 uses a front camera with extra-large 1.4um pixels and a 1/4-inch sensor. They have higher light sensitivity and frame rate, so you take stunningly beautiful photos. It also enables brilliant night shots with its 13MP rear camera. It's also lightweight at 147G and has a handsome arc edge design. Its 5.2-inch 2.5D HD screen is easy on the eyes. You can store as many selfies with 32GB RAM 32GB ROM. That solves the problem of not having enough space. It makes taking unstoppable selfies possible. If you're out with your dog for a long time, you don't have to worry about the battery. That's a 2900mAh battery. Both OPPO F3 and OPPO A39 have Beautify 4.0 that makes an already great selfie even more stunning. Each has its own unique and impressive qualities. Personal pick Honestly, it is tough to choose. But...Considering that we have more than just one dog and it's always been an epic fail to try to take a group selfie with them, I'd go for OPPO F3 on this one. If only to solve the predicament of taking a group selfie with all 17 dogs. Agree? Do you have a dog? Why do you think they're the best? Which OPPO #SelfieExpert smartphone do you think will produce the best selfie? Update: Because of this article, I won an OPPO F3 phone. Thank you OPPO Philippines and Nuffnang Ph!
