Lux Thinking Aloud Lover 8:13 AM Lover Ever since Taylor Swift released her Lover album, I listened to it almost every day. It's not only a feel-good love-filled album but I like the theme of it. I love pink (as you can see on my page). But since c oronavirus hit the world, I stopped. I did not only disconnect from the news and social media, I also stopped listening to Lover. You may not know the weight of that but that's a big deal for me. Lover by Taylor Swift is my mood booster. It's my upper. But because I was so mentally affected and drained by this pa ndemic, I had to listen to only worship songs and inspirational talks for weeks. Looking back, I think I shouldn't have stopped listening to Lover. If it can lift my spirits, that's God's way of cheering me up. God can be found even in the secular. So, today I listened to Lover again. I sang along, I danced a little (while sitting on my office chair) and yes, my spirits have been lifted. Thank you Taylor Swift for your songs. Thank you God for the gift of music. I am writing this with Lover playing in the background and I'm swaying to it. Hang in there. Soon we'll get better (like what she said in one of her songs in this album). Your turn What playlist are you listening to at the moment? Who's your all time favorite artist?
Lux Thinking Aloud Catch Up 7:22 AM Catch Up I was going to watch Friends again after my work but my former office mates started a video conferencing. So, we had a catch up session for a few minutes. We just checked on each other, talked about life in this time of c oronavirus, memories we share and and our work when we were still in the same company. It gave me a sense of normalcy. Talking with people I've known before this pandemic about our lives pre-c oronavirus helped my sanity somehow. Gratitude list Catching up with friends God's steadfast love Entertaining videos on YouTube This imperfect but blessed life By the way, here's the Oratio Emparata you can pray for C OVID-19: Oratio Emparata God our Father, we come to you in our need to ask your protection against the C OVID 19 that has disturbed and even claimed lives. We pray that you guide the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its transmission. Protect the medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and compassion. We pray for those afflicted. May they be restored to health soon. Protect those who care for them. Grant eternal rest to those who have died. Give us the grace in this trying time to work for the good of all and to help those in need. We implore you to stop the spread of this virus and to save us from our fears. Grant all these through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. We fly to Your protection, oh Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petition in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, Oh, glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. Our Lady, health of the sick, pray for us. St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for us. St. Roch, pray for us. St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us St. Pedro Calungsod, pray for us. Your turn When was the last time you called someone? What do you always pray for?
Dating 4 Best Tips For Using Online Dating Sites In Canada 3:28 AM Are you sick and tired of coming home from another unsuccessful date? Well, there's the online dating world to increase your chances of finding a good match. Create a profile on one of the Canada Dating Sites. Write a good description about yourself, and be ready to meet potential partners in one place. Here are 4 tips to help you find your soulmate using online dating sites in Canada. 4 Best Tips for Using Online Dating Sites in Canada 1. Look for the right dating site Don’t settle for an online platform until you read about their security. The majority of free membership sites don’t provide their members with the required level of safety. It's better to create a profile on a paid membership website for security purposes. Ask around. If it's a good site, it’s highly likely some of your friends or someone they know is in it too. Look for online reviews of popular dating sites.Check also the age and other demographics of the members and see if they're of your interest. 2. Don’t get your hopes up Although there’s a much wider choice of potential partners online, it doesn’t mean that you’ll instantly find one. You have to be brave to make the initial step. Just like face-to-face dates, don’t expect every conversation to be a success.Be patient and don't get your hopes up. 3. Be honest One of the most significant rules about online dating is being entirely honest about who you are and what you look like. Be transparent and truthful when creating your profile. You can’t expect to find your soulmate if your relationship is based on lies. When possible, don’t use make-up filters or photoshop. Eventually, you'll have to meet the other person face-to-face. Don't make them feel tricked. 4. Keep trying It could take time to go through the numerous steps of the get-to-know process in online dating. Accept the fact that you might go through plenty of unsuccessful conversations and dates. It’s not common to find a partner on the first try. Be persistent. Conclusion If you want to succeed in the online dating world, make sure you’re realistic, persistent, honest, and extremely patient!
Freelancing Accomplished 4:15 AM Accomplished Like what Alanis Morissette said (or sang), I'm tired but I'm happy. I took two training courses and certification tests today. Thankfully, I passed. So that's two additional badges to show my clients. And a lot more info I can use as a copywriter, content strategist and email marketer. And that left me feeling exhausted but accomplished at the end of the day. Giphy What's new Browsing through my YouTube feed, I saw this video about organizing and I was instantly hooked. I love the ASMR in the video and how good she is in organizing her house. Her home is so neat and clean and her daughter is cute. I love to keep my closet and our apartment orderly as much as possible too. But this woman is goals! You should check out her channel Hamimommy. Gratitude list My husband who takes care of me every day and supports my endeavors. I still get clients and inquiries. Citron tea. 🍵 I was able to watch an online rosary live from the Cathedral. My newborn nephew. I still haven't seen him personally but my sister keeps sending his photos. He's so cute! My family and friends are safe and healthy. The certificates I've earned in the online courses I took. And to DigitalMarketer for giving them for free for a limited time. Their courses are really expensive, mind you. After getting a taste of what they offer, I know why. It's high quality education for online workers. Screenshot from my Credly Your turn What's your greatest accomplishment? What are you thankful for today?
Lux Thinking Aloud Self-growth 8:24 AM Self-growth It may still be Easter holiday and it's my paid day off but I thought I'd make this day productive for my self-growth. I finished my Direct Email Marketing certification training and got my certificate from Digital Marketer. In case you don't know, that is a big deal for online workers. It's an 8-hour course plus quiz. I also took their Copywriting Jumpstart Pack. I was a little exhausted from information overload but that's okay. I'd rather be exhausted from learning than from doing nothing. Giphy This c oronavirus may have given me some anxiety but I promised myself I won't let it be the end of me. This crisis will not paralyze and stop me from moving forward and onward. I refuse to get stuck. My God is bigger than this p andemic, more powerful than this virus. I may have slowed down but I will not stop. Giphy I went back to social media after a week of disconnect. I'm taking it slow as I know I'm still not 100% okay. Filtering the news and info I consume, trying to avoid toxic topics and forcing myself to focus on my faith and not on my fears. These are just a few of the things I'm trying to do now. The enemy is so good at discouraging me a lot lately. I think all of us right now are being attacked more than ever. Hell must be buzzing right now from all the minions busy going around torturing God's people. I know we're all affected by this p andemic. We may be safe from the virus but mentally and emotionally, we're all suffering. But I know we can get through this. I decided I will end this p andemic with a bang in my self-growth. When all of this is over, I want to see myself victorious and not defeated. Your turn What areas of your life do you need improving? How has this p andemic helping you grow?
Faith Easter Sunday 7:54 AM He is risen! I don't know about you but I felt I finally put down that heavy weight I've been carrying around for a while now when I realized it's Easter. I love this day. Easter is a wonderful reminder that all sufferings end. There may be hardships today. Our cry may feel like it falls on deaf ears. It may seem as though the night never ends but Easter is here to remind us that morning is not too far away. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. -Psalms 30:5 Easter Sunday Today is different of course because we can't leave the house. But I told my husband we need to celebrate somehow. Jesus defeated death! Giphy That is HUGE. And 2,000+ years may have passed but it's still worth celebrating. So, after almost an hour of browsing through my food delivery apps, we finally ordered pizza. Maybe because we've not been eating outside food for quite some time now due to the q uarantine, I thought that pizza was hea-ven-lyyyyy. Gifling Binge-watching We spent the rest of the day watching movies. At first we watched Onward. A kid's movie that has a surprisingly deep and emotional message about family. A touching story of two brothers who both wanted to see their deceased dad one last time. I highly recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We also watched the last episode of Young Sheldon season 2. As usual, we laughed out loud. And finally, we finished the first season of The Chosen series. Also a must watch! For the first time since the q uarantine, I can honestly say that this has been a great day. Your turn How did you celebrate Easter Sunday? What are you thankful for?
Faith Black Satruday 3:09 AM Black Satruday A day of total bleak silence for Jesus' followers after His death. Imagine their grief from losing a friend and a teacher. Their hope. Wow, imagine losing your hope! Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air...but only for one second without hope. -Hal Lindsey That must be one difficult time for the disciples. They had to deal with their personal loss, their confusion of what's happening, maybe even pain of betrayal (I really thought He was the One. Why did He let it happen? Why did he not fight back if He was powerful?). They also had fear. What if they would come after them next and make them suffer the same way? There was uncertainty of the future. Black is an apt word to describe that day. It must have been figuratively the darkest time of their lives. Our Black Friday It got me thinking about what we're going through today. Our present life is filled with uncertainties. When is this l ockdown going to end? What will happen after this? What changes await us? What kind of person are we becoming during the darkest moment of our lives? Do we doubt like Thomas did? Do we hide from the world like an injured dog? Or do we, like the women of Galilee continue our connection with the Lord and follow His commandments? The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. They went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. -Luke 23:55-56 I'd like to claim I did what those women did when I had my Black Friday. But I'm more of a hiding and doubting kind of person and it will take me a few days before I get a grip and move on. This crisis is like the longest, most silent, most excruciating Black Friday we're all experiencing at the present. This will be over soon. While it isn't, I will keep holding on to God's promises. That's all I can do really. He is my hope, my refuge, my source of strength, my inspiration. He went through all the pain of Good Friday and went radio silent on Black Saturday because He knew Sunday is coming. Your turn What is your Black Friday? How do you deal with times like these?
