Gift-giving: My Least Love Language
Who doesn't like to receive gifts?
Whether it's big or small, everyone is eager to open wraps especially if received from loved ones.
It's also a good thing to give your loved ones a gift. It feels good to see them happy. Their smiles are way priceless. No matter how much it costs, it's the thought that truly counts.
However, no matter how good the idea of gift-giving is, not everyone is grateful enough. Recalling the classroom Christmas Party we had last December, exchanging of gifts is one of the activitie. When I announced to my students that I'll be joining them, they were excited. They were expecting that I'll give the best gift. Whoever will receive my gift (moneto/moneta) they thought aould be the luckiest.
Morever, I have a student who is PWD (Person With Disability). She is a late bloomer. She acts immaturely than her classmates. She also wanted to join the exchanging -of-gifts activity. But I know her classmate wouldn't like to receive gifts from her, so I decided to exclude her. I'll be the one to give her a gift instead so she'll not be left -out.
My moneta's whish list was an oversized t-shirt. I am not really good in choosing an item for a gift. Maybe it's the reason that I don't like to give one. I become very anxious and indecisive in choosing an item for someone. All I want is to impress my receiver. I don't want to receive any negative comment as they open my present. Moreover, I am not into wearing oversized t-shirt that's why I let my sister chose the item for me. The chosen item is really of good quality though.
Fast-forward, we already received our individual gifts. However, my heart shattered seeing that my receivers were not happy of my gifts. My moneta scornfully said that the t-shirt is too big for her. I didn't get it why she requested for an oversized one.
Moreover, my PWD student (another receiver) almost threw away the t-shirt that I gave her. She said that it doesn't fit her even of she hadn't tried it yet. I even asked her if she liked it but she said "No!" She just took back her word wjen some of her classmate reprimanded her for beong ungrateful.
I really cried deep inside. They didn't know how much time I invested just to choose the best item for them, even of I wasn't feeling well. Those items even exceeded on the agreed price, th0ugh I removed the price tag so they won't be intimidated.
Sometimes, I don't really get it why some are just too ungrateful. It should be thought and the presence that should matter. Maybe others are just too concern of the material things they can get or received.
Being reminded of the past related experiences, maybe I unconsciously got this from home. My mother is a kind of meticulous. For a lot of times, she really complained on the gifts that I gave her. I perceived it that she didn't like my gifts. Maybe I didn't choose thd best for her or she's just hard to please.
Nevertheless, it hurts not to be appreciated on the efforts you've made.
Have a great day everyone! It's been two months since the last time I made my presence here. I'd became so busy with different aspects in life that I barely managed my time. I was dealing with health issues, beating deadlines at work, pursuing professional growth, catching up with friends, etc.
Finally I'm back. I am excited to read your stories here and to share mine as well. May we continuously support each other. Lovelots!🧡
Celebrating Mother's 60th Birthday
Sixtieth birthday is a very big milestone for anyone who've already celebrated it. It denotes a life-long accomplishments amidst ups and downs.
We've celebrated my mother's 60th birthday last Wednesday (December 7). We celebrated it with our family. We just had a simple dinner after mother visited our chapel to light a candle and pffer a prayer.
I actually planned to have a grand celebration for her, since it's the custom for most people's 60th birthday. Besides, I've promised myself long ago that I will buy her a letchon baboy (pork lechon) when her 60th birthday comes. But life hit differently. Months ago, my mother went through eye surgery due to a cataract. It's a very costly operation, excluding the needed medications afterwards. My father's reserved money for her grand celebration were all spent for her surgery.
I also ran out of budget. I got sick so the money I saved were spent for medications. I also needed to pay debt that was overdue. And I have to undergo teeth procedures that require a big budget. Plus needless to say, the whole pork lechon is very expensive now compared. The cheapest one in our area is already 10k.
I was torn between giving the best that I can for my mother and going after my budget. It really took me weeks to decide. But prior to that, I consulted my family's point of view, especially my mother.
Gladly, my mother understands my situation. Though it would feel more special to have a ot celebrated grandly, but we should not force what we really can't afford. So, I just ordered meal package from a trusted supplier. We also have the other meals cooked by my sister.
I also bought her a dress since she always wanted to have a new one. I am really happy seeing her excited while fitting her new dress. My mother is hard to please so I let her choose the dress for herself.
Before her birthday, I actually felt bad that I wasn't able to fulfill my promise for her-- a grand 60th birthday celebration. I felt like I was not giving her my best. Growing up, I've seen how hardowrking my mother is. I witness how much struggle we had but she and my father manage to take care of us. I wanted to give back more than how much I already gave. But I honestly can't afford it for now. I dont want to be in debt again, as much as I could.
Later on, I've realized that there are ways I can give back my parents more than the material things. I remember what my father told me years ago. He said that more than any material things we can give, they need more of our respect and understanding. It really hit me to the core. No matter how much I'll give them, it would be useless without the respect and love that they deserve. So eventhough I cannot give her that grand celebration, I promise myself that I'll be better for her.
We ended up having it celebrated simply within the family. It's how we used to celebrate birthdays. We just pray and eat delicious foods together. For us, the most important thing for us is gratefullness for another year added to life.
We're really happy that our mother is now an official senior citizen. It's another big achievement for her. She can now finally enjoy seniorhood's privileges. I look forward for a bigger celebration for her in the future. But for now, let's just savor the moment.
Thank you for reading!💛
Messy Place is a Messy Mind
Our psychological aspect is largely affected by our physical environment. What we think is reflected by what we often see.
This is the scenario that I often experience at home or at work. I don't like an unorganize and messy environment. I always make sure that my closets are in order. I try my best that my shoes are clean and organized. I make time to label my files at work. I get upset when things tumble down.
However, things sometimes become unmanageable due to loads at work. With ky current hectic schedules, I find it hard to manage my life at home. With our new bureaucratic policies, there are school activities which need to be held during weekends. And it's every exhausting in our part. Those are supposedly to be spent for rest and personal life.
With that scenario, I often left my room unorganized. Most of the times, my bed is left unfixed. Unfolded washed clothes are still at the corner of my bed. My shoes are turned upside down. My room is sometimes left unclean and it's pissing me off!
I even get reprimanded by my mother sometimes but I'm burnout at work and there's no energy left for me to fix my room every single day. There are even times that after a long day of work, I just eat, wash my face, and do nothing else but lay on my bed.
Unconsciously, the messy place that I have (not always😁), drains off my energy. This largely contributed to the reason why I no longer want to finish my works at home. I can no longer think clearly provided that my sight is also unorganized.
Recalling the days back, I feel relief when my room is put into order. I'm excited to rest on my room for I can feel the comfort that my cozy bed provides. Whenever I finish cleaning my room or our house in general, I feel the relief. It's like I can now have time to deal with other things in my life. My thoughts are also placed in order. This experience of mine is actually backed up with a study, as cited from an article I've read online. It says that if you want fight off stress, you should clean or organize your room or place first.
Even at my workplace, I really get irritated when my students do not initiate to clean the room. I also get upset when my files or books are disarranged. For me, an organized and clean environment is very important. I cannot deal with other things when the room that I'm in is not yet in order.
With this, I promise myself to find time in a day to organize my things no matter how exhausting my day is. Mental health is very inportant, so we should take care of it by cleaning our room first😁.
Have a clean and green day!💚
📷 *The lead image was downloaded from pexels.com.*
The 30-day Buying Rule
It's Christmas time and Christmas sales are hunting us left and right. It's the season of giving so businessmen are grabbing the opportunity to hook buyers. With the 25%-50% discount on some top products, who wouldn't be tempted to buy the items?
A few weeks ago, I bought a branded black t-shirt through a famous online shopping app. I've always wanted to buy that shirt since it fits well on any color of pants or shorts, though I don't badly need it. It's just a personal want. I even ordered a pair of chic sandals. These were on 15% sale so I grabbed it.
The following day, we had our conference at work. It was about our upcoming Christmas party and the Town Fiesta events that we'll be participating in. With these activities, we were having a discussion on our monetary contributions. I suddenly remebered the items I placed online! Those will be an addition to my expenses.
My mother's birthday is also approaching. It will be her 60th so we need to prepare for it. Additionaly, in the days coming, my "mga inaanak" (godchildren) will be expecting for gifts. I will be in a tight budget this Christmas season. My bonus is already alloted for paying debts and other uses. I will be realigning my budget again to meet my needs.
Expecting more payables during Christmas season is actually not new to me. I just didn't learn the lesson enough. I was just complacent since I know that I'll receive bonuses.
With this situation, I promptly remember the 30-day buying rule (thought it's too late sometimes😁). I read this from articles online as one of the budgetting tips. This rule is only applicable on our wants or luxuries in life. Of course, the needs should be bought immediately. The rule says that if you really want to buy something but you're out on tight budget, you should give it a second thought. Just because it's on sale doesn't mean that you'll have to ruin your budget for it. With your other relevant expenses, you'll need to think of it first for 30 days or less before deciding. After that time frame, check yourself if you still want to buy the item.
I've already applied this to myself and it worked. Since I follow online shopping stores, it's sometimes inevitable that I get tempted in some on-sale items. This is one of the reasons that I often lost track of my budget. After thinking of it for 30 days or almost, my cravings were gone. I even decided to look for cheaper alternatives. Thanks to those piesces of financial advice I read and heard online. I've also realized that bargaining items is just a marketing strategy. So why not wait for the time when you can actually have the money for it.
I know that 30-day of thinking is too long. You don't necessarily have to follow the exact number of days. You can have it in two or three weeks before deciding specially if the item is costly. What this budgetting strategy implies is that we should learn how to create a budget for ourselves no matter how big or small our income is. We should consider our needs before indulging in our wants. It also teaches me to buy only the necessary things. We should always prioritize our needs. And if I really want to buy something, I should save for it.
It's not bad to spend for our luxuries, especially if we are working hard everyday. We must treat ourselves too. But we should not forget that our actions have domino effects. We should be careful in spending our money. If we will be out of budget before the next pay day comes, we will surely suffer. And there's no one to blame for it but us. As the saying goes, "Do not spend more than what you can afford."
Have a blessed Sunday to all the budgetarian ladies and men out there! Thank you for reading💛
*The photo used was downloaded from pexels.com*
Undergoing tooth cleaning and filling procedures
*Dental care is part of one's overall health. Sadly, this is also one of the most neglected routines of the majority of the people. As long as we don't feel that our tooth hurts, we don't mind seeing dental specialists.*
This afternoon, I decided to see a dentist for teeth procedures. It was my first cleaning session after the long two years. I was hesitant at first especially that the service fees are also increasing.
Teeth cleaning is not a comfortable experience. You'll need to wide open your mouth for almost an hour. Then as much as possible, you should try your best to relax your tongue inorder to avoid being pierced by the cleaning tools. Additionally, the tingling sound produced as the tools clean your teeth feels so uncomfortable.
Even if I've already experienced this, I still got nervous whenever I spit blood after garggling. Due to tartars stuck on my enamel, it's inevitable that my gums were hit while cleaning. My mouth really got hurt.
The thin water hose inserted in the mouth while the procedure was done felt really uncomfortable. If you accidentally remove the inserted hose, the water would rundown to your body and you'll get wet. But I was also amazed that my mouth didn't get full even if the water kept on running and getting in.
Since I am about to have my teeth bracing procedure, I need to have sound sets of teeth as advised by the dentist. Here comes the tooth filling procedure to cover the damaged tooth surfaces. It is locally known as tooth "pasta". I thought only two surfaces must be covered, as what she told me on my first visit. I was shocked when she said that there are five damaged surfaces that need to be covered. I was nervous not only on the procedures but also on the necessary amount I am about to pay (700 Php each😰).
It was my first time to undergo tooth filling. It hurt more than the simple tooth cleaning. The damaged surfaces must be cleaned and scrutinized thoroughly. The tingling sound became more intensed. A gel or wax was also applied in the surface to remove the bacteria. Then, a synthetic tooth filling was inserted lastly. This part hurt a bit because this should be implanted on the surface.
After the tooth is covered with a synthetic material, the top surface is polished and formed just like a real molar tooth. A very thin aluminum was also inserted for a while to make sure that there's a proper distance between the filled tooth and the next tooth. Then, I was told to bite the paper-like polishing material inserted on the newly filled tooth. I was told to bite it in frontward, backward and sideward manner. I repeatedly did this until the bite evened. I felt odd at first, like something's new on my mouth but I became used to it later.
I really admire the dentists on the meticulous kind of job they have. Dentistry does not only require exceptional knowledge on the nature of tooth and its parts but also courage and strength. They are courageous enough to pull out hard-growned tooth, even if it's on the last and almost unreachable part of the row. And they must have enough strength to do this. They also remain calm despite of the blood coming out from wounded surfaces. Imagine also the different mouth they'll have to examine, with different smell and condition. Plus the looks of decayed tooth are actually gross and terrifying!
Due to limited time and budget because of enexpected add-ons, I will continue my tooth sessions the following weeks. It will be another uncomfortable session but it will be totally worth it at the end. Wish me good luck guys.
Thank you for reading my story for today🧡 Have a teeth-rific Saturday!
📷*The image used was downloaded from Unsplash.*
A Rainy Friday
I was not able to go to my workplace this morning due to a heavy rain. I decided to stay at home than to risk my self driving a slippery road.
Classes are cancelled due to Orange Rainfall Warning as released by NDRRMC. However, we teachers are still obligated to be at school to ensure that pertinent documents and other important equipments are safe.
It's the life of a teacher. Even during typhoons, we must be at school unless it's signal no. 3 already. We have to keep the school ready and safe for the possible evacuation of nearby residents.
But of course, we also have the right to decide for ourselves if the risk is manageable or not. Especially those who are living far from the workplace, we have to consider first our safety on the road and our family's situation at home.
For this morning, I decided to just stay at home. I would just be driving my scooty at work and I will surely get wet even if I'll wear raincoat. I'll just wait until the weather calms.
Also, I fear that the river under the bridges might overflow and will cause damages on the road or the bridge. For hours of heavy rain, that would be possible. If that will happen ( of course I don't wish for it), I prefer to be stuck at home than at my workplace.
I actually prepared myself while waiting for the rain to stop. I prepared my bag already. I even cooked my lunch and prepared my lunchbox. I've also took a bath though it's really cold. I had put-on my working clothes also so I can go anytime if the rain stops.
How I wish I just live near my work station so it would be easier for me to get there regardless of the weather. I won't spend much time thinking wether I should go or not. Also, I will no longer explain to my boss why I would be hours late in this kind of weather.
I've also been informed that the water level at our work station is now knee-level. It's quite alarming already. I really have to wait for the rain to stop so I will not have a hard time in parking my vehicle.
For now, I'll just do whatever I can while waiting. I'll just finish my other paper works here at home through my laptop. And fix my room shortly.
I'll go later when it's already safe to travel.
Thank you for reading! Have a good and safe day.💛
📷*The photo used is mine.*
Growing out of comfort zone: MY PUBLIC SPEAKING JOURNEY
*Public speaking requires a high level of confidence and charisma. You should be ready with the numbers of eyes looking all over you. Above all, you must be prepared with the ears that may disagree with your discussions.*
Most of the people I know are not comfortable with public speaking. It is a stenuous task that requires heavy preparation. Also, not everyone is open to criticisms. It's a brave thing to speak while everyone listens.
I, too, don't feel comfortable with speaking in the crowd. Though I am speaking in front of my classes everyday, I am still anxious to speak in front of a bigger crowd. It's in another level to speak in front of someone more life-experienced than me-- colleagues and parents.
I am given speaking tasks the entire Saturdays of this month. Together with the other trainees, I am tasked to cascade what we've learned from our Division-based virtual conference on language literacy last September. We've already started last Saturday and we still have two more weekend sessions to go.
It was my first time speaking in front of my co-educators in the district, though I'm already years in the service. Most of the time, I am just doing hosting jobs, which is more manageable than public speaking. With hosting, I am not required to speak for hours continuously.
The experience was not really easy. My audience know well of what they are listening to. Some of them are even more knowledgeable in the field for they are already years ahead in the service. I can still remenber when some of my listeners disagree on one of my explanations. I stumbled but pretended to handle it well. I was not prepared for situations like this. Though I already explained it further, still they insisted their side. Since I am the speaker, I tried my best to continue with my discussions, pretending to be unbothered.
I was ashamed of what happened. I was hurt. I felt disrespected. I took the situation against them, at first. But later on, I realized that I deserve the blame. I did not prepare enough for this big task. I was not able to prepare due to my teaching workload. But actually, I was lost due to my procrastination. I spent more time thinking how will I carry this it out than preparing for it. I was too complacent.
Initially, I was really uncomfortable with this task. I am not used to speaking in a big crowd. Though I am not bad in articulating, I lack the confidence. Maybe it's also due to my introvert personality. Oftentimes, I prefer to write than to speak.
Last Saturday, I was also given a speaking task during the First Quarter General Parent-Teacher Association (GPTA) Meeting. I was tasked to introduce our school's literacy program to the parents, since I am the shool's reading program coordinator. Luckily, the parents love the program and nobody objected its implementation.
Out from this experience, I've learned valuable leassons on public speaking which I can now share with you.
**Prepare ahead of time**
The quote, "If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail" by Benjamin Franklin really hit me. I did not prepare enough in my task since I thought it will just go easy. But it didn't. Enough preparation will also lessen your speaking anxiety. Study your topic. Familiarize all of its aspect.
**Write your own script/cue card**
It is very important especially if you are not used to public speaking just like me. Write your lines in order to avoid experiencing mental block. However, do not everything to avoid confusion. Write only the parts of your talk. It will only serve as your guide in order not to get lost while talking.
**Know your audience**
This will help you in establishing rapport to your listeners. You will become aware on your choice of words. You will be able to adjust on your speaking behavior, too. You'll get to insert punch lines that they can all relate. You've got to be tactful in dealing with professionals and sweeter when dealing with kids.
**Be confident**
High confidence level is a must in speaking. You need to have a command of the language so your listeners will believe you. Feeling nervous is inevitable in a speaking task but you need to handle it well. That is what they called as grace under pressure. Good posture and relaxed face are indicators of confidence
**Smile often**
Based on my experience, smiling gradually fades stage anxiety. When we smile, we start to feel good. This is due to happy hormone released in our body called **Endorphin**. Before I start with my speaking task, I smile to make the audience comfortable with me and to let them know that I'm trying to be fine with what I am doing😁.
**Simplify your topic**
Before starting your discussion, make sure that you understand your topic first. If you don't understand your topic enough, you will not be able to explain it well to the audience. That will surely result in trouble. Also, it will become more difficult for you to settle differences of opinion.
**Be ready for disagreement**
Always be ready for disagreement. It's one of the main reasons why it's very essential to be well-verse on every detail of your discussion. Try to be calm when your audience disagree with you. It's a human nature. Address their disagreement respectfully.
**Dress appropriately**
Dressing-up is a kind of communication. If we are given speaking tasks, we have to dress appropriately, preferrably a formal or business attire. It will also leave them an impression that you prepare for this task.
**Rehearse**
Try to practice in front of the mirror or in front of your family members. If you're uncomfortable doing this, you can just practice talking in your room. Hear yourself on some flaws and on which part you need to improve.
**Ask the Lord's guidance**
Above all, do not ever forget to ask the Lord's guidance on your speaking endeavour. You may do all the necessary preparations prior to the event but it's the Lord's mercy that will grace your ways. Don't hesitate to ask for His guidance, and He will always be there.
Public speaking is not really an easy task that's why many refuse it. But when you accept this challenge, it will help you grow. It means facing your fears bravely.
Speaking in front of a larger crowd, helps me discover my potentials. This even make me more confident. Being assigned with a speaking task also implies that they have a trust on you. So don't waste the opportunity. Accept it and grow from it.
I still have two remaining speaking sessions these coming Saturdays and I have to prepare now while I still have ample time to do so. I am still nervous but I am braver now than my first speaking session.
Thank you for reading! Don't forget to comment below your similar experiences😊.
**The thumbnail photo was downloaded from Unsplash.*
Driving in the Rain
It was night time. Literally I drove my scooty all the way home. It was a rainy night drive. It was an experience for any rider who doesn't have a better choice but to ride home despite of the weather. But as I felt the harsh raindrops touching my skin, as I strived to drive attentively, I've realized lessons about life.
I seldom ride my scooty at night due to higher risks on road. Driving at night entails limited vision. No matter how clear visioned we are, our eyes won't see things in the dark, except those that illuminate. We are not gifted with night vision that can scrutinize things even with lights off. Unlike with driving at daytime, we cannot see the road meters ahead. This means, we have to be more alert, especially with the stray dogs that might suddenly cross the street out of nowhere.
We need to be more careful, too. No matter how flushing our head lights are, these cannot compare daylights. We have to open our eyes wider for bumpy roads and other riders' defective signal lights. Plus, it's harder to get through busy roads at night. We have to take heed of the riders who go out of their lanes and animals that might suddenly cross the street.
Staying focused while driving at night is also a challenge. Our body is naturally set to take rest at night, so we'll have to try our best not to get asleep while driving. Plus, the night insects are flying freely on the road. These will unhesitatingly hit our bare eyes while on the road. And needless to say, the cold air puts us shaking on the road.
The ride gets even harder if it rains. Our wet eyes would have a hard time seeing the road clearly. The risk even gets higher due to foggy or zero road visibility at times. The harsh raindrops also hurts the skin and might get us catch a flu. Staying focused at times like these is truly a challenge.
But the same with life, we cannot always wait for the storm to pass before we'll continue with our journey. We cannot pause our life just because we're in its uncomfortable phase. Problems and challenges will always be inevitable. Easier said than done but we need to remain focus on our goals.
The same with driving, we'll have to stop if the risk is very high. But we can't stop forever or else we'll be left behind. We need to continue so we'll reach our destinations, so we'll hit our goals. All we need are focus, courage, and faith on the Almighty God.
It was already dusk and I was still on my workplace. Luckily, the rain got bearable so I decided to drive home. I was almost left alone in the campus, thanks to a few of my colleagues who also waited for the rain to get light though they just live near the area.
I got home slightly wet but I'm still thankful that I safely made it through. My scooty was tired too, so I put it in a good rest.
Driving is fun but the same with life it will not always be a light journey. No matter which road we'll be at any time of the day or night, we need to be extra careful, mentally present, responsible and patient.
My Prologue
Hello everyone! It's my first time here. I like to pen my thoughts and do it often. It's a kind of stress-reliever for me especially when I'm at the height of my emotions. There are times that it's better to write down our thoughts than to share it with others. You'll receive no judgment at all. Most of the time it's when you'll just want to let it out and not to hear for any advice.
I've done a few researches regarding this platform beforehand and I find it beginner- friendly. We just need to be a bit creative in sharing our thoughts, and that's what blogging or writing is all about. It's even safer here because of the rules enlisted. It will save us from personal attacks. Opinions here are well-accepted, as long as thoroughly reviewed prior posting.
And the best side of it is earning while writing. It's the reason we're all here hehe. If we can earn the right way with just sharing our thoughts, then why not. It's a great past time for anyone. With the world's soaring inflation rate, we shouldn't just wait anybody to put us food on the table. We need to do something. We need to use our skill. And if we could, we need to stand out, not just survive.
Looking for the right platform where I can start with my writing journey has been in my thoughts for a while now. I'm not a pro, but I can write simple articles at least. There is something in writing that we all here, love to do.
Well I guess, I'm in the best place to share my day-to-day thoughts. I would love to hear from you too. I'm excited to learn from your what and whereabouts.
Thank you @Murakamii.7 for introducing this to me🧡 Thank you so much for the help. I owe this to you. Best of luck to our life endeavors💫
Hello everyone! It's my first time here. I like to pen my thoughts and do it often. It's a kind of stress-reliever for me especially when I'm at the height of my emotions. Well I guess, I'm in the best place to share my day-to-day thoughts. I would love to hear from you too. I'm excited to learn from your what and whereabouts. Thank you @Murakamii.7 for introducing this to me🧡 Thank youso much for the help. Best of luck to our life endeavors💫
@criscribbler