I have the coolest lola!

My grandma is the coolest in the world. She's over 85 years old (I was the one who lost count of her age) yet here she is playing Wii with us! Haha super fun! She's not fast enough though. I think she's playing bowling when this photo was taken. Look at my cousin (extreme right), sobrang tawang tawa sha pinipigilan niya lang. Baka ma-pressure si Lola mahiya na maglaro. haha

when the 'undo' function is not available

It just seems that I have a knack for learning things the hard way. I just don't know which is better - to be the person who often commits small, common errors, or the person who doesn't commit errors as much, but when error is committed, the impact is bigger. Obviously I am the latter. Or not. There's only silence from the other side of the world...

Then there's the pH level from negative seven. I blame that on the sound waves that must have transformed somewhat from the sender to the (un)intended receiver, and it was blown out of proportion. Thanks to a kind soul (who has a three-letter name) who enlightened me. I really felt a lot better after the talk. Name starts with M.

So this morning, another good, good mentor lifted my spirits up. I don't know if it's ignorance, stupidity or lack of judgment on my part but it certainly was a learning experience. If I ever shed a tear, it was when this person (whom I truly look up to) told me I shouldn't worry about it and that eveRything will bE fiNe.

There's no CTRL+Z. That's fo shiz.

doin' that thing you do

I just have to say that right now, it sucks to be me. There are things that I don't want to do but must do to keep things in order. I've spoken with several people and they all said the same thing. If you want change, you have to instigate change. And for certain people, there are certain degrees of responsibility. I know that I have to step up and own it, to play the role. It's just so freakin' hard to let it out. At one point, I want to be truthful... but I also don't want to hurt. I know what I should do, I just don't know how to do it. I also don't want it to feel like a task that's imposed on me.

How do you cite the cold facts, call out underperformance, and in the same way try to lift a soul that you know is unhappy? It's not easy to go down on someone and afterwards, say everything will be alright. Life is unfair and sometimes, when you make mistakes, you need someone to point it out to you just so you know. It's for your own improvement and I hope that after this you come out a better person.

It's like when you squeeze a calamansi over a wounded nipple, sprinkle a little salt and cover it with band aid. Then when you think the nipple has healed, yank off the band aid.

Jeeeeezaz! The last two sentences aren't totally connected to the whole thought of this post.

can't stop

The world I love
The tears I drop
To be part of
The wave can't stop
Ever wonder if it's all for you
The world I love
The trains I hop
To be part of
The wave can't stop
Come and tell me when it's time to

Whutevah!!!

This one made my day. haha! I don't know this kid at all but she's soooooo cute and really funny! Talk about literally playing with a kid.

TMI syndrome

I was a bit more inhibited when I was younger. I wasn’t the type who’d easily open up to other people; even to the school’s peer counselors and my close relatives. It was hard to get to me… there was a certain level of friendship and trust to establish before I’d be comfortable to share my personal life with anyone.

Back then, I joined social networking sites for fun. The primary reason was just to be there. While some of my friends endeavored to grow their friends list, I used the accounts I created to view other people’s profiles. I wanted to see what they were doing, how they spent their time, who their friends were, and how cool they presented themselves (truthful or not). I wasn’t really concerned with growing my network (I won’t add you if I don’t know you).

It took me a while to be comfortable with the whole social networking thing, but eventually, I opened up and started posting photos, filling up my profile, writing testimonials, and blogging. Of all these, blogging is most effective to me because it’s therapeutic. I get to write about anything, rave or rant. I get to keep my thoughts and be reminded of them. When I read my previous posts, especially those that are years old, I still remember where I was when I wrote them, why I was feeling what I was feeling.

My mom asked me, if it’s something personal, why do I need to keep it online for the world to see? Why not the old school journal? The answer (vs. old school journal) is simple. Typing is much more painless than doing it longhand, and it also doesn’t take up physical space. So mom (if one day you get to read this), I’ll just blog so you wouldn’t have to nag me all the time to throw away stuff and manage the clutter in my room. You know I have a problem with letting go of sentimental stuff, even my Sweet Valley collection.

The increased usage of (or access to) the Internet and the proliferation of social networking sites such as Friendster, MySpace, Multiply, Live Journal, and what not have all contributed to the openness that we’re experiencing today. Increased individualism, they say. These sites encourage us to share our lives, reach out to other people, and look into their lives as well.

The openness in cyber world can sometimes be carried out in actual verbal conversations. At one point, most of us are probably guilty of sharing too much information (TMI). Some people can take their blogs so seriously they’re oversharing already.

Wikipedia defines TMI as "a slang expression indicating that someone has divulged too much personal information and made the listener uncomfortable." This happens to me sometimes when I go drinking with friends, I hear things I don’t want to hear (haha).

On my part, oversharing happens but not in a way that whoever I’m talking to becomes uncomfortable. More often than not, I overshare in a sense that I become too transparent with my thoughts and feelings, allowing people to see right through me. Especially in professional environments, I do recognize that people should be more careful not to overshare so as not to make themselves vulnerable or expose their vulnerability. One time, while reading the papers, I heard someone say, "Crush ko talaga si Kirk Long! Pangalan pa lang, crush ko na siya... Kirk LONG." Tssss... Revealing to much (yea yea!).

There’s an exception to the rule, though: when we’ve established that level of friendship and trust, oversharing could even be healthy.

Crush ko rin si Kirk Long! Haha

Random Photos

Tiffy posted a few photos from elementary and highschool in her multiply site. Haha... brings back the memories! PM recesses, highschool plays and rehearsals (I directed Florante at Laura and Fili - while I was afflicted with hepatitis! they failed to bed rest me), tambay after school, intrams (could've played volleyball or softball but i chose tug-o-war. less jabar, shorter completion time), canteen (that caught fire and was resurrected), spelling bee (and my famous "avalunge" - was asked to spell 'avalanche' e shempre mali yung dinig ko. what's new? tie-breaker pa naman yun), teachers' birthdays, christmas parties, swimming parties, sleepovers, Baguio/Batangas/Tagaytay trips, after school movies, ATC and SM (SM???), Hard Rock/ Fat Tuesday/Cable Car/Pep's nights... the question is: what did we not do?


This photo was taken during Family Day in Nursery. Can you spot me? I'm in the background, rightmost. Aminin niyo na. Cute.

This one was taken during Intramurals in 3rd year highschool. Oh.my.gawd. I look like a dork (na walang poise). As in totally! (Laguna Beach accent, please)

And finally, this last photo doesn't really have anything to do with elementary or highschool. I just took this on the way to work this morning. Wala lang. Jabar. hehe

Saging lang ang may puso!

This will go down as one of the most ridiculous lines ever delivered in a Filipino action movie... Even my 10-year old cousins can do better!

Love-driven leadership

A few months ago, a friend sent this quote to me about leadership just when I was beginning to learn to be one. And I agree with everything the author said. When you become a leader, what you do is not as important as who you are.

A person can grow two ways: horizontally and vertically. Horizontal growth is when you broaden your horizons, meet new people, learn new things and widen your network. Vertical growth is when you advance spiritually and this is where happiness and contentment play a big part. When you learn to appreciate the good things in life, the blessings you have, you tend to move to a higher level of existence. And this vertical growth is further amplified in leaders because when you become a leader, you are exposed to the opportunity to allow others to advance through you. And when they do, you'll feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that transcends all rewards and recognition.

What distinguishes love-driven leaders from tyrants? Great affection coupled with the passion to see others run at full speed towards perfection. Love-driven leadership is not urging others forward without concern for their aspirations, well-being, or personal needs. Nor is it being the nice guy manager who overlooks underperformance that could damage a subordinate's long-term prospects.

Instead, love-driven leaders hunger to see latent potential blossom and to help it happen. In more prosaic terms, how do children, students, athletes, or employees achieve their full potential? When they're parented, taught, coached or managed by those who engender trust, provide support and encouragement, uncover potential, and set high standards.

-Chris Lowney
HEROIC LEADERSHIP
(Best practices from a 450-year old company that changed the world: The Society of Jesus)

And I'm still learning to be one.

caught in the undertow

Sometimes, some people just don't understand. There are certain situations in life where you just have to learn to RESPOND, not REACT.





It's happening all over again, but this, too, shall pass.