Lux Thinking Aloud Friday 3:10 AM Ahhh...Friday. Friday remains to be my favorite F-word. Because it's the last day of hustling. Yes, I can still keep hustling during the weekend. That's the advantage of working from home. But I choose not to. Unless I have a deadline and I need to extend. Friday gives me a sigh of relief.FridayI bet the world will be relieved once this p andemic is over. When we can finally step out of the house without the fear of C OVID-19...that will be the day.I see a lot of news about conspiracy theory. Doctors and scientists showing proof that this is just a plan with money and control as motivation of those who created this virus. We'll be heaving a sigh of relief if this will be not only proven but also stopped.No weapon formed against you shall prosper. -Isaiah 54:17When we can finally hug each other again without the fear of death, oh what a day that will be.GfycatBut until then, we must keep praying. I'm a believer of prayers because I've experienced its power first hand.We must not let this crisis hinder us from moving forward.I believe God is a God of abundance. Even in the midst of the desert, He provides manna and fresh water for His people.He will never let our cups run dry.He will never forsake us.I know I sound like a recording because I keep repeating this. But that's how I calm myself. Anxiety and fear goes away when I remember how powerful and great my God is.Friday. It reminds me to pause and enjoy what I worked hard for during this week.Someday, I'll be hustling for one day only and do what I like the rest of the week. It's possible and it's not wishful thinking because I know people who do this.I won't be lazing around for sure. I might still be glued on my laptop but I won't be stressing myself out with work.I'd probably be attending more online classes to improve my skills. I know, I'm boring.Or blogging a lot. I have pending posts especially those about my travels.adorablyobnoxiousOr be at a beach somewhere with my husband who misses our trips as much as I do.Or taking care of animals in a shelter.Despite all the problems and noise going around, I'm happy that I'm still able to look forward to something good.I'm always hopeful. I like that about myself. 😊Your turnWhat is your favorite day of the week and why?What are you looking forward to after this p andemic?
Lux Thinking Aloud Blank 8:55 AM This is my retaliation to you, blinking cursor on a blank page!BlankI can't think of anything to write because this is like a blank day. A day when it's neither blah nor boom! So I'm freely accepting this as a blank. Yeah, take that mocking blank page that's been staring back at me for 30 minutes. I'm not going to let you bully me into writing something long and inspiring.I just lost my aunt a few days ago and we can't even pay our last respects because of this p andemic.I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the last time I saw her was during the funeral of her sister.Our government is still pointing fingers instead of taking accountability and not taking this crisis seriously.Where's the calamity fund?!Turns out they're not obliged to reveal. It's futile trying to convince the blind supporters that they owe it to the people to be transparent. We're not in a cult. We can't just follow without knowing where they're leading us.GiphyNot going to guilt trip myself into being productive today.I would usually pressure myselfI've worked hard the past days. I'm going to listen to my body when it tells me 'enough' and 'take a break'.Being productive is important but mental health check should also be a priority.Research shows that we need to take a break and decompress so we can be at our best at work—and at home. Maybe we should ask if the life we’re working so hard to create is fun to live?-Tina Hallis, Sharpen Your Positive Edge: Shifting Your Thoughts for More Positivity and SuccessCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Matthew 11:28What do you fill your empty day with when you can't go out and find some entertainment outdoors?I listened to Harry Potter at home today.Basically Daniel Radcliffe who played Harry in the movie reading the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone book.(Hey, I can talk about Harry Potter all day. I'll never have a blank page again!)Brings back memories. College memories to be exact.This may sound dramatic but this is what I always say about this book: I helped Harry Potter out of his cupboard and he helped save my life.Yes, that's how amazing this book is. It's like a refuge for my lost college soul. Maybe it's the fact that Harry had to deal with the usual life challenges we also face but keeps his sassiness and kindness at the same time.It's the usual good versus evil but the plot will keep you on the edge of your seat. True story: I had to pull my lids up and hold it to keep me from falling asleep because I really needed to know what happens in the next chapter! If only I had the same dedication for my college books.TenorI've never had that experience with another book ever. If you know of one, send me your recommendation.Here's one more quote to ease you of your guilt if you feel bad about not doing something today:The mind should be allowed some relaxation, that it may return to its work all the better for the rest.-SenecaYour turnWhat book changed your life?What podcast are you currently listening to?
Lux Thinking Aloud Miss 3:35 AM Since the start of this qu arantine life, I've been missing a lot of things. I've realized there are simple activities that I took for granted. People I didn't spend enough time with because I thought I'll always see them anyway. Well, 2020 happened and cruelly took so many things away. Now I'm feeling an empty space in my heart.MissI miss my dogs. Their distinct smell, their high energy, their contagious joy, their unconditional and pure love and their silliness. Dogs bring me happiness that I can't find anywhere else.As introverted and anti-social as I am, this lockdown is surprisingly making me miss going out.My version of going out is church and eating out with my husband, running errands (though I don't miss those involving government offices), going to the spa or salon and watching a movie. Once in a while, I meet friends or family.I miss traveling. I don't travel as much now as when I was single. But I do miss seeing new places, relaxing, enjoying nature. I miss the feel of the beach sand in my toes, the smell of salt in the air, the cool breeze and the sound of the waves. Now all I could do is look at my travel photos on Instagram (In case you haven't yet, follow me @lifeandlove_blog). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Content + Copywriting (@lifeandlove_blog) on May 6, 2020 at 10:09am PD I miss shopping for my favorite brand on my affiliate store.I miss my two aunts whom we've lost this year. It's only May and our family already lost two members. They're both huge parts of my childhood. Speaking of which, I miss being a child when the only crisis I had to deal with was how to keep my broken toys so I don't get reprimanded. My childhood was not perfect. But it was memorable and I was full of hope and dreams.I guess that's what I miss the most about it. When I believed in everything and possibilities seemed limitless.I miss eating my favorite foods in my favorite restaurants.You know what else I miss?I miss being able to express an opinion without being shamed and ridiculed by those who don't share the same belief.I miss those days when we can freely share who we're supporting and not end up in heated debates.I miss logical and objective arguments. Now all you get are pointless rebuttals and personal attacks. 🙄Respect and freedom of speech seem to have lost their meaning and value.When I was young, we were taught to be polite to people especially to the elders. Oh, we will never hear the end of it if we went to someone's house and we forgot to say "Good morning".Now I see young people and they act as if it's not cool to be courteous anymore. Not all. But majority.What have we become as a society?It seems the more advance the technology, the more backwards we have become.I miss the simple life.Now, I'm not grumbling. I'm blessed and I know it.I'm grateful for:being alive and wellhaving a wonderful husbandhaving food on the table and a roof over my headmy family and friendsmy faith that's keeping me sanedoors of opportunities opening simple indulgence like watching FRIENDS and eating chocolatesI pray that this crisis will soon end and we can move our lives forward from this p andemic.If you've lost someone dear, I'm sending you my deepest sympathies and leaving you this verse:He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.-Revelation 21:4Your turnWhat do you miss most about your life before c oronavirus?What are you thankful for today?
Lux Thinking Aloud Loss 10:12 AM I looked at the photo of the body bag my sister sent and I was at a loss for words. How can someone I used to see alive, laughing and talking be in that body bag now? It's beyond me.My aunt died today. She's been sick and weak for more than a year now.Still, I grew up with her around and it's hard to imagine a world without her. Don't you feel that about someone? You know we all die eventually but when they're a constant presence in your life, you feel like they will always be there. Their loss brings shock and pain.LossIf 2020 is a person, it will be Dolores Umbridge. A heartless bitch who doesn't seem to run out of evil ideas and was born to spread injustice and hostility. ImgurMy other aunt (the sister of the one who just died) passed away last March. I'm still trying to wrap my head around not seeing her anymore whenever I go visit home and here I am mourning another death.Every day they see each other when they were alive. Maybe she took her sister's death too hard. Because when my cousin watching her stepped out of the hospital room, she removed the tubes that were helping her breathe.The last time I saw her was at the funeral of my other aunt.Since we are in the time of c oronavirus and in l ockdown, we will not be able to pay our last respect. No wake. No funeral. She will be cremated.May the Lord grant her soul eternal repose.He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. -Revelation 21:4Lost of freedom of speechI don't want to make this political but today, a big network was ordered by the government to shut down. It's the same network that was closed during the Martial Law.It's scary what is going on right now. The virus is not the only thing we need to be cautious about.GiphyWhat's going to happen next? The future is uncertain and scary. I especially feel sorry for the 11,000 employees and the people who relies on them.People are getting retrenched left and right and yet the government had the audacity to add 11,000 more to the statistics. In the middle of the p andemic? Really?While illegal Chinese workers flock and seem untouchable?Sigh.At a time like this, here's the verse I'm holding on to:The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. -Deuteronomy 31:8Please pray for my aunt's soul.Please pray that the evil plans of some people will not succeed.Pray for where you are for when it prospers, you will prosper too.Your turnHow do you deal with loss?
Faith Sleepless 9:17 AM Sleepless I am literally sleepless today. I took pain medicine yesterday for my headache and the caffeine in it is too strong. Despite me taking only half the dose. So here I am, feeling hangover from a drinking session I never went to. Still standing (or sitting down). Still hustling. The bad thing about not getting sleep is that our bodies are not functioning as it should. Previously, I wrote about having a life balance. Anything in excess is not good. And here I am totally sleepless. I can feel the effects of overworking my brains: dizziness nausea shortness of breath stomach upset uneven skin tone irritability Tenor My husband could attest to the last one. 🤣 If I will have to be honest, it's not just the caffeine that kept me awake. (I've already learned my lesson and only takes half the dose since that time I had palpitations.) But worry has once again conquered me. And no matter what tips you follow for getting a good night sleep, if your mind is filled with fear and anxiety, it's useless. I worry about what will come about after this p andemic. I worry about how the government leaders with selfish intentions would respond to this crisis. I worry about my career. I worry about a lot of things. Worry steals from today. As for me, it stole my rest. It stole my peace. It stole what would have been a more productive day for me. It stole more time I could have spent with my husband. Pinterest Instead of doing these things, I spent it trying to think straight. Trying to not lose my temper to my husband who's also in desperate need of sleep. Two cranky people who are also hungry trying to get by the day is not a good combination. I'm glad my husband is quick to apologize and even quicker to forgive. I spent today trying to function despite feeling lethargic and out of it. Antidote for sleepless night Searching on the web about sleeping, here's a verse I've found: In peace I will lie down and sleep for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. -Psalm 4:8 I feel bad for falling into this weakness again. When I worry and fear, I know I am insulting God. There are many times God commanded us to not worry in the Bible. But in my weakness, I allowed the enemy to make my mind a playground for his lies again. Lord, grant me the grace to believe and obey you. Calm my worries. Allow me to rest at your feet. May I sleep in Your presence tonight.Amen. Your turn What makes you sleepless?What are your tips for a good night rest?
Lux Thinking Aloud Blessings 7:47 PM Finding blessings when you're carrying a heavy burden is like searching for a grain of white rice in the white sand. It's HARD. Looking for things to be thankful for during this crisis could be difficult too. When you got furloughed and you don't have enough saved away, you don't have time to sit still and find blessings. You can only panic and worry about where you'll get your next meal. Blessings Every day, we are surrounded by blessings. From the moment we wake up---hey, that is a blessing in itself. Not everyone got that chance. As of this writing, there are 3.5 million C OVID-19 cases around the world and 248,245 deaths. Looking for blessings may be hard because we're in this dark time. So we need a flashlight for that. We need our eyes of faith. Yesterday I watched The Feast online. One of the assignments is to list down 100 blessings to thank for. From the smallest blessing to the major ones. The more specific the better. Kind of hard so I'll give it a try. But I'll start with 50 first. God's generous provision. God's steadfast love. God's mercy that's new every morning. Jesus laying down His life so we can live an abundant life. God's beautiful promises. God's faithfulness. Being protected from harm. A strong immune system. Being able to wake up today. Being able to breathe normally. My husband who tirelessly serves me and loves me unconditionally It finally rained! I get to sleep a lot longer than expected because of the cooler weather. My breakouts are healing. The internet. My laptop. My phone. Movies we're able to stream online. New videos from vlogs I follow. My nephew's cute, round, chubby face that always makes me smile. My nephew's recovery. Getting inspired to clean my husband's closet. That good, satisfying feeling looking at my husband's now organized closet. You have no idea! Inspirational podcasts I got to listen to while organizing. The Feast. Food on the table. Roof over my head. Clothes on my back. Therapeutic writing. Dogs. Pollution is clearing out. Nature is finally able to breathe. My tribe's support. Knowing that my family and friends are well and safe. Frontliners especially the health workers risking their lives to help stop the virus. Some people in the government doing their jobs with integrity and selflessness. People finally realizing they voted for the wrong people. Stay woke! 😎 A lot of animals have been spared as festivals have been cancelled. The sales increase in the vegan industry. People realizing the damage we've done to the planet and changing their ways. This time to relax and not think about stressful stuff. Being able to laugh. A beautiful and prosperous future. Chocolate bars. Tea. Food delivery services. A good shoulder rub from my husband. A relaxing shower. Clean sheets. Relaxing music. Speaking of which, I discovered something that helps calm me down. I love Ghibli films and it's great to hear piano and slow versions of their music. Your turn List the things you're thankful for and see how many you can come up with.
Faith Balance 6:31 PM Anything in excess is not good. For example, too little or too much sleep can be harmful to your health. Balance is key. Balance I always try to keep an optimistic disposition. But the older I get, I realized it's better to also be a little pessimistic. The sweet spot between optimism and pessimism is where we should be. I've learned that those who did not survive the holocaust were mostly the optimists in the group.Because when what they expected did not happen, it hit them really hard. They lost their hope. And I've shared this quote by Hal Lindsay before but I'll share it again: 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. From experience, I know optimism has an ugly down side. Indeed when you keep your hopes up, it hurts terribly when what you hoped for did not come to pass. The higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment. So, I like to keep a balance between being optimistic and pessimistic. We need to be realistic. We need to keep our balance. Dream big but also keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Love others but also give yourself the right amount of self-love. Work hard but rest well. Keep yourself in check. I believe keeping a balance between positive thinking and negative thinking is better for our mental health. That way when things don't go our way, we don't get too beaten down. When things turn out better than we expected, we celebrate. I love the verse about the balance of everything in life. There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 I hope we learn to find this healthy balance in our lives. Your turn Are you an optimistic or pessimistic person? What do you do when things don't go as expected?
