Low Battery Level
I was typing an article last night when a notification on the laptop suddenly pops up. Is says that the laptop has already low battery level and so I have to connect it to the charger.
And that made me realize that we humas are also like gadgets. We gets low energy level too and we have to recharge to regain it. It was already pretty late at that time and I was reminded that we can only take so much for a day.
We can only take so much for a day.
As I was saying, we can only take so much for a day so let us know when to stop and to recharge. Like gadgets, we can't perform on our full potential if we are running out of energy. And if we keep on overworking ourselves while charging, like using a phone while charging, we will only cause more damage to ourselves.
Rest is essential.
For a gadget to last long and to perform to its full potential, we have to charge it regularly everytime that its battery level becomes low.
That's what we should do too. I know we all want to be productive but we have to take it easy. We thought we are being productive by working non stop but no, I mean yes, we are being productive but the negative type of productivity.
In relation to this topic, I have here a recommended article written by @shewrites.17 entitled: "**Obsession** **with Productivity**" wherein she tackes points about **knowing productivity** and **unhealthy productivity**. https://read.cash/@shewrites.17/obsession-with-productivity-272c1e40
She has also given an emphasis about **quality vs. quantity** and she also share **indicators if our productiveness is being unhealthy** as well as some **tips on how we could avoid it**.
It's a great read and will surely be worth of your time. You can check it out right after reading this one.
Rest if you need to and let's not compromise our health over productivity. There is a right way to be productive and that's what we should do.
Recharge and be energized.
We can do better if we are well rested and we can definitely perform to our best and full potential if we have all the energy for that.
Take note that we are humans and we don't have superpowers. We can do it all, all the things that we have to do but there has to be rest in between.
Do what you can do as long as you have the energy but once the notification that our battery level is low, start saving up your current works, recharge and rest.
Productivity in resting.
Don't think of resting as a waste of time for that will also contribute to our level of productivity.
The more well rested we are, the more productive we can be. Aside from that, resting doesn't mean sleep all the time. It can be a break for us to breathe.
We can also do meaningful things while resting. Resting can also be a leisure time for us. And if we are happy, all the more that we can perform better on our task.
A tired body and an unhappy heart will not do us any good. It's nice that we are pushing ourselves to our potential but what it is to push if we don't have energy left?
Again and again, let me say this again. Come on, just take a rest!
Before I connect myselt to charger tonight, I just wanna say thanks to @foryoubtc09 for filling up the 3 spots of my sponsorship block. And to Ate @Jane for another sponsorship.
Also, to all my current sponsors, thank you all so much! Be sure to check the articles of these amazing users.
Thank you for reading this far. Have a good night and have a good day. :)
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**Let's Learn Rubik's Cube** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/lets-learn-rubiks-cube-a715c61c
**no internet connection** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/no-internet-connection-603c33cd
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Let's be friends! Connect to me through:
**Telegram - @marygoaroundd**
**Twitter** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
**noise.cash** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement.** **Encourage and be encouraged!** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 163
Date: 16 November 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Topic: Rest, Productivity
A Million Dollar Question
I was not totally productive today but glad that it still turned out good. I woke up so late, around 10:30am, and my brother caught me in the act. I mean, he caught me still sleeping at that time. Geez. He have the tendency to be a nagger but it seems like it's my lucky day since I haven't heard any word from him since this morning.
I still didn't get up when he woke me up though. I just can't help it but to finish the story that I was reading on Wattpad. Actually, I already read that before and I'm just re-reading it. It's a story written by **makiwander** as a part of the series **Temptation Island**, in collaboration with **RaceDarwin** and **CeCeLib**. It's the book 2 of the series entitled **"Sweet Surrender"**. I really cannot be trusted with reading specially if I still have some other things to do because once I started, I won't be able to stop until I finish it. Yup, Wattpad is life! LOL
I basically started my day at past 2pm already and at that time, I still have a topic to review for my long quiz that will start on 3pm. I ended up not reviewing at all since 3pm comes so fast. I don't know what to expect with the result of my exam, hoping to passed though.
Anyways, sorry for that update that you didn't even ask. LOL
My sister and I went to the neighbor's house to do a bible study. We have known them for so long and ever since, they have lived a very simple life. Recently, they were able to sell a land that is their inheritance from their parents and that leaves them a few million peso. Suddenly, they became a millionaire.
I kept on thinking, if I happen, and if you happen to have that much money, what are you going to do with it?
Some of us might think about good investment so that it'll grow but as for them, I mean our neighbors, they decided to have their house to be fully finished. They bought an aircon for every room and even to their living room. Basically, the whole house will be airconditioned. They also bought a 50 inches smart TV, what an upgrade from the old bulky TV that they currently have.
I don't have a say weather they did a smart move on where to spend their money but I must say that they know what they want and that they know what they are doing.
I've seen many game shows and competition that is giving a million peso as a reward and everyone are so eager to win that prize. Everyone seems to know where they are going to spend the money. But if we were to think about it, a million peso may be that big amount but if not spent smartly and in the right way, it can easily be gone.
Money is something that we all need. It is a necessity and we really should be careful on spending every bit of it. It's hard to earn money (*unless they are a corrupt politician*) and it's really saddening how it can be gone in an instant.
We have families to feed, bills to pay and needs to buy. So let's treasure every cent that we have and spend it the smart way. Avoid impulsive buying and be careful in identifying your needs and wants. It's not bad and it's not wrong to spend for ourselves, to treat ourselves with something that we want but needs should come first so that in the end, we won't be having a hard time managing our finances.
For those who are struggling financially, let's continue to pray for God's provision on your lives. Also, may you be able to find a stable source of income where you can get money for your needs.
Spend your money wisely!
Also, let me just add this one.
We were watching Vincenzo earlier and there's a portion in there where they found out that there are golds that is buried somewhere in the building. Everybody are so eager to find the gold and for nights, that became their focus, hunting for the gold.
Going back to the money talk, money is good and is a necessity but take note that it is also the root of all evil. Let's not let our desire to have more money bring the worst in us. Don't let greediness overpower us.
And that would be all. My mind is really blank to think about what to write so I just let my fingers do its work. And here you go. This is just random and out of the blue but I do hope you get the thought of what did I just said.
Thanks for reading this far! :)
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**Telegram** - @marygoaroundd
****Twitter**** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
****noise.cash**** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. ****Encourage and be encouraged!**** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 162
Date: 16 November 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Topic: Money, Finances
The World Outside Home
It's Sunday! My favorite day of the week, the only rest day that we have.
I slept at past 5am last night (*morning*), well, technically, it's already Sunday. I woke up before 8am, and that leaves me with only almost 3 hours of sleep. It doesn't matter though, I'm already used to it.
I started my day with eating breakfast, right after that, I set up the TV on our living room so that we could watch our online worship service.
This week's preaching was about **Foundations of Healthy Relationships.**
**Scripture Reference**: Ephesians 2:19-22
Three Points:
**We are Created for Family**
**We are Called for Partnership**
**We are Commanded to Serve Together**
Anyways, if you are interested, you can watch the preview of the worship service at this link -> **Foundations of Healthy Relationships** https://fb.watch/9gQ7RvmRig/
After the worship service, I feed my nephew his breakfast while I read articles at read.cash. It's actually a series from @meitanteikudo entitled: **The (Not So) Perfect World****.** If you are looking for a story to read, I suggest you to read this one. It's a very simple story and you'll feel like watching every scene since it'll flash on your mind while reading it. At least for me, I feel like I have witnessed all the scenes in the story. https://read.cash/@meitanteikudo/the-not-so-perfect-world-intro-9c9642ee
*Check out the link I attached on the title. Compilation of the links for every chapter can be found in there.*
Time flies and lunch time came. We had a very nice lunch, we had pork legs, I don't know how the viand is called though. They have a different term for it in Bulacan but it looks very similar to Adobo but they added pineapple juice and sugar on it. Nevermind what it's called, what's important is that it really tastes nice. Hehe
I finally took a bath after lunch then my sister asked me to join their online bible study. But it was posponed since the others are not available. During the afternoon, we just hang out on our mini garden in our front yard. The weather is so nice earlier. It's sunny but it's not that hot since the wind is cold. We just have random conversations in there as I pluck out my sister's white hair.
At 3pm, I took an afternoon nap, then my nephew woke me up at past 6pm asking for his milk. What a way to interrupt my sleep. Geez. Good thing, he's really cute so I let his slide. LOL
I look out for him for a bit, feed him dinner, and here comes my favorite TV show, **Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.**
I have always been a fan of this ever since I was a kid and watching this opens my eyes and my mind to the world outside our home.
I have always lived, and still living a comfortable life. We're not rich but I grew up with contentment having all the things I need, never lacking with anything. And it just pains me to see other people out there who are struggling for their basic needs.
For tonight's episode, there's this 14 year old girl who is suffering from a skin disease. I forgot to take note the term for her condition but turns out, it is genetic and she got it from her ancestors. On her 14 years of existence, never once she have seen a doctor to check up on her condition.
Through the program, she was finally checked up by a doctor and that's how they found out about her condition. What pains me more is that there is no cure for her disease and the only thing they can do to lessen her pain is to give her lotion, mild soap, and other dermatology products that can soften her skin and hopefully, to lessen her pain. The mere thought of her living with that condition for the rest of her life really pains me even more.
This just made me realize that there is world outside this happy bubble where I am right now. We are so lucky for having all the things that we have now. So, let's be grateful for all that we have. There's nothing wrong with wanting to have more and to achieve more but let's appreciate all the things we currently have and let's not take everything for granted.
So, let's take this opportunity to thank God for providing for all our needs and for giving us all that we have right now. Let's thank Him for giving us a good health, a comfortable home, for letting us eat 3 meals a day, for giving us snacks, for giving us nice clothes.
Truly, `His grace is sufficient for us for His power is made perfect in our weakness.` (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Be appreciative, stay thankful and grateful! We are blessed and let's thank God for it.
Also, let's always include all our brothers and sisters who are in need in our prayers.
Thank you for reading this far. Blessed Sunday everyone! :)
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Let's be friends! Connect to me through:
**Telegram** - @marygoaroundd
**Twitter** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
**noise.cash** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. **Encourage and be encouraged!** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 161
Date: November 14, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Topic: Daily Life, Realizations
Let's learn Rubik's cube
Ever since elementary, I already find it fascinating seeing how my cousins skillfully solve a Rubik's cube. When I was on high school, my brother in law's nephew had a vacation in them and he happened to be good at Rubik's cube, he tried teaching me but I wasn't able to learn it but before he go home since vacation's over, he left his 3x3 Rubik's cube with me and that's when I tried teaching myself on how to solve it through watching a video on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaltgJGz-dU
Above is the same tutorial video I watched from which I learned how to solve a 3x3 Rubik's cube.
I was on the shower earlier when I have thought of this random idea about writing about Rubik's cube and how I can relate it in real life lessons. So, let's see how it goes.
There is no perfect formula or exact algorithm on how we can live our lives
First step to solve a 3x3 Rubik's cube is to make a cross. As a beginner and a first time learner on how to solve it, this feels like the hardest step for there is no exact algorithm that we can follow into making a cross. What we need here is deep thinking and analyzation on how are we going to make a cross that is properly aligned its respective color in the center piece.
And if we are going to relate it to life, indeed, there is no perfect formula on how are we going to live. We make our own steps and we just hope for the best. We analyze our actions and we think hard for our next steps. There is no prepared steps for us, we have to find it ourselves, we have to figure it out.
Life is a process
After figuring it out, that is when things will get clearer and we'll get a glimpse of the next process. But this time, things can be a little bit easier.
After making a cross, we have to align the corners and that is also the step wherein we can finally finish the first layer. After the first layer, we have to align the edges on the 2nd layer before we can finally proceed to the last layer.
Life is a process and we can't proceed to the next step if we're not yet done with the previous one. Well, there are instances wherein we skip steps and proceed to the next step without even accomplishing the previous one, but that will also be a waste of time since we'll still have to go back to the previous steps and fix it so that we can tell that we are finally done.
Life is a step by step process and on each process, know that we can take our time. There is no time limit on how fast or slow are we going to solve the Rubik's or on how much time are we going to spend on this particular process. The point is that there is a process but we can always do things on our own pace. No rush. Trust the process, be in the process and soon enough, like the Rubik's cube, we'll be able to solve it.
We have the ability to influence others
Going back on the time when I learned how to solve the Rubik's cube, I think I was on Grade 9 or 10 that time and I used to always bring my Rubik's cube at school. My seatmate was in awe so I taught her how to solve it. I was also able to caught the interest of my other friends and I also taught them how to solve it. Until soon enough, all of them on my circle of friends and almost all of us in the class learned how to solve a Rubik's cube. It was so fun racing with them on who's the fastest into solving the Rubik's cube. LOL.
But the point here is that we can use what we know to influence others and to share our knowledge to others. We know what we can do and it would be nice to do what we can do so that others can see it and because of that, we can inspire them to do the same.
Let us use what we know and what we can do to influence others in a good way. We'll never know, maybe the simple thing we know can help a lot of person and works like a domino reaction like what happened to our whole class learning how to solve the Rubik's cube.
Learning doesn't stop, it evolves
It has been so long since I last played Rubik's cube and so recently, I purchased different sizes of Rubik's cube and that is 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 and 5x5. I only know how to solve the 3x3 but I wanted to learn the other cubes too.
On the very same day when I receive the parcel, I quickly learned how to solve the 2x2 and on the next day, I can already solve the 4x4 but still, I need to have a guide on the last layer since there are lots of parity that can show up and there are different algorithms that I can use to solve them. Some are too long that's why I haven't memorized it until now.
But my point here is that learning doesn't stop. We might already know how to solve the 3x3 but we can always look for another things that we can learn. And this time, it evolves for we are going to learn a much harder thing.
Learning is continuous and there will always be new challenges that we will face but just like the Rubik's cube, everything is possible to be solved. We just have to allot time, effort and energy into learning how to solve it.
I have been playing the Rubik's cube a lot lately so that must be the reason why I was able to come up with this. There are still a lot of lessons that solving Rubik's cube have taught me but this is it for now.
I hope that we all learned how to solve the Rubik's today. I mean, not literally the Rubik's, but the lessons that it has taught me. Hehe
Anyways, thank you so much for reading this far. Till next time. :)
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**Telegram - @marygoaroundd**
****Twitter**** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
****noise.cash**** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. ****Encourage and be encouraged!**** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 160
Date: November 14, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Topic: Life Lessons, Learning
no internet connection
**Hola people!** This one would be short for this is just about what happened to my day. My three recent articles are kind of serious stuffs so I've been contemplating if I'll publish a somehow related content tonight or just a laid-back one. In the end, I chose the latter. Maybe I'll be back on writing my usual stuff the next day.
Today was very different from our usual day and that's because there was a power interruption earlier from **8am until 5pm**. No electricity means that there's also **no internet connection** and that truly made a big difference. It's just that I'm not used to not having an internet.
But instead of dwelling too much on it, I let my positive side to reign on me. That was really a long 9 hours of not having an electric power at all so what I did was to make use of my time wisely -- well, just slightly since I was really unproductive the whole morning.
Since I know that there would be a power interruption, I made preparations last night and that includes fully charging the laptop and downloading all the needed materials that I will need for reviewing so that I can access it even without the internet. But the problem is that I forgot to inform my housemates that there would be a power interruption. **I woke up at around quarter to 8 in the morning** and the first thing that I did is to tell them about the power interruption so that they could buy load and have a mobile data for their online class.
Then we ate breakfast, Ate and Kuya prepared for work and the moment they left home, **I came back to my sleep.** LOL. Told you, I'm not so productive in the morning. Hehe
**I woke up before 12nn and when the time struck 12, I finally get up.** We have 3 dogs at home and so I feed them first before I feed myself. After eating, original plan was to take a bath and to start reviewing but I decided to **bathe the 2 dogs** first.
To conserve water, I used out water pump outside home and asked my niece to pump it for me as I bathe the dogs (*bright idea, yeah?*). The dog leash is missing and it was so hard to keep the dogs steady as I pour water in them. And bathing them made me wet too since I have to hug them so that they won't get away. (*I hope to remember to buy a new leash the next time. LOL*)
After bathing the dogs, I saw my dirty slippers and so since I'm already beside the water pump, I decided to brush it first. While **brushing my slippers**, I heard the familiar bell from the ice cream vendor so I immediately asked my niece to get my wallet and asked her to buy **dirty ice cream** for us all.
**At around 2pm**, I'm finally done with my slippers, then I took a bath. **At quarter to 3pm,** I went to my favorite spot for studying and that's on our mini garden on our front yard. I really didn't feel the absence of electricity since it was so windy in there.
I then do my personal devotion before finally reviewing my lessons. **At 5pm,** we prepared the items that we're gonna sell on our live selling. That was also the time when the electricity came back. After setting up for the live selling, at around **5:30pm**, I took my midterm exam on one of our major subjects.
I can take the exam until 10pm tonight but our live selling starts at 7:30pm. I have 1.5hrs to take the exam so I decided to take it at 5:30 so that I'll be done at 7pm for me to still have time on eating dinner before live selling began.
**At 10pm**, we're finally done with the live selling and that's when I finally had a hold of my phone and I was able to check my noise.cash notifications and was able to reply to replies on my post in there. It's quite a lot so after nonstop replying, noise.cash told me that I was posting too fast and that's when I finally decided to clean myself up and take a half bath. https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
**By 11pm**, I ate sandwich and prepare coffee for myself as I open the laptop and reply to the comments to my previous article. I was supposed to read articles first but I felt that my body is too tired already so I was only able to read 2 articles. I was about to go to bed already but I thought I'll publish this first so here I am now, typing this as of the moment.
There you have it and that's it! I wanna lie down already so I'm gonna end this here now. Thank you for reading this far even though this is not exactly interesting. It has been a pretty long day and for sure, another long day is waiting for me tomorrow since I'll be helping out with the store and we'll prepare the orders we had tonight.
**Good night folks! I hope you had a great day and I hope you'll have a relaxing weekend ahead! :)**
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****The Basics of Commenting**** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/the-basics-of-commenting-365f6fea
Let's be friends! Connect to me through: https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/doing-the-unthinkable-899f3d60#let039s-be-friends-connect-to-me-through
**Telegram - @marygoaroundd**
****Twitter**** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
****noise.cash**** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. ****Encourage and be encouraged!**** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 159
Date: November 13, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Topic: Daily life, personal life
Alibis and our other lies to justify ourselves
From my **previous article**, I have talked about **mistakes** and how we are meant to make one, or two, or maybe a lot. We are meant to make mistakes, it is part of life, and whether we like it or not, it goes hand and hand with success. https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/meant-to-make-mistakes-f25129f7
Our every success will always be associated with mistakes and failure. It's like answering a mathematical problem that needs trial and error. There is no shame in making mistakes however, if we habitually make one, that's when it would become shameful.
Mistakes are good but only if we will use it as an avenue for learning so that on our next try, we'll know better and that we'll not make the same mistake again.
Mistakes have the power to help us, it's part of our growth, but we are hindering its power if we don't recognize our own mistakes and blame it to others instead. Or worst, make alibis for it.
**Now, let me ask you these questions.**
*How many times did you not do what you have to do and in the end, make excuses for it?*
*How many times did you say you'll do something but you end up not doing anything in the end?*
*How many times did you delay of doing something even though you're free at the moment?*
*How many times did you made a mistake and chose to not acknowledge it?*
*How many times did you make a mistake and blame it on others?*
*How many times did you know you were wrong but you still chose to make excuses for it?*
*How many times did you lie about something just to save yourself from scolding or maybe humiliation?*
**You made a mistake and you know it. Yet, you chose to make excuses for it. You don't want to take the blame so you just blame it to someone, or even to something.**
This hurts. I wasn't able to dodge my own questions and I was hit right on the spot. Guilty as charged. I won't come clean on this alibi thingy. I remember plenty of times that I made an alibi. I always plan my to-do list daily but end up not accomplishing anything and I can tell a countless reasons why I wasn't able to do it even though I know that the sole reason for it is my laziness.
I also have fair share of mistakes which I denied that I did. I also have many mistakes what I didn't own up, I put the blame on others, I was adamant to accept it. There are times that my pride is too high that I won't accept that I was wrong and I'll keep on insisting that I was right.
There are countless of times that I made an alibi for not being able to do what they have told me to do. I was once an habitual liar and I've learned my lesson. There's no benefit that I can get from it.
Mistakes are meant to help us, to teach us, to make us grow and when we failed to accept that we make mistakes and make excuses for it, we are giving up the chance to change and improve.
So, a friendly reminder, let's not waste our time planning the things that we should do and afterwards, explaining why we weren't able to do it. I mean, I get it, it's just way easier to find excuses than to find time to do the things that we need to do but we shouldn't be like that.
If we want to be successful, then let's also accept experiencing failure. But note that experiencing failure doesn't mean we failed or that we are a failure, we are only becoming a failure if we keep on becoming experts at making excuses.
Let's start doing, let's start finding a way instead of finding for an alibi just to cover up our mistakes. Maybe we thought we are covering it but no, we're not. Because the moment we make an excuse for a mistake we made, we already made two mistakes.
Let's not waste our time, energy, and creativeness trying to think of a way to save and justify ourselves. Instead, let's use all those resources that we have into learning from the mistake we made and to doing and being better the next time.
What's keeping you from doing anything? It's high time to stop all those excuses and to start making progress. If we really want to do something, for sure, we can find a way to do that something. As the saying goes, *"if there's a will, there's a way"*. And the others who didn't really want to do something will always keep on looking excuses for it.
*I'm going to repeat this again*... Mistakes are good but only if we learn from it. And we can't learn from it if we won't acknowledge it. Mistakes have the power to make or break us. If we continue to hinder it's power to help us, all the more reason that it will break us. But if we accept it and not make excuses for it, then we will be able to learn from it. Therefore, it would lead us to change for the better and to improve, and eventually, to success.
**Take note:** If you want to be successful, then do something. It's not a matter of luck and if someone told you that it is, don't buy that alibi.
With that, let me leave you with this verse from **Proverbs 14:23** saying: `"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."`
Recent article: https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/meant-to-make-mistakes-f25129f7#recent-article
**meant to make mistakes** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/meant-to-make-mistakes-f25129f7
****Doing the unthinkable**** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/doing-the-unthinkable-899f3d60
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****The Basics of Commenting**** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/the-basics-of-commenting-365f6fea
Let's be friends! Connect to me through: https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/doing-the-unthinkable-899f3d60#let039s-be-friends-connect-to-me-through
**Telegram - @marygoaroundd**
****Twitter**** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
****noise.cash**** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. ****Encourage and be encouraged!**** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 158
Date: November 12, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Topic: Life lessons, mistakes, learning
meant to make mistakes
This week is the week, known as hell week for students, a week wherein we have to face a lot of examinations. Our midterm exam is scheduled this week and thankfully, a little bit of '*kasipagan*' hit me and so I was able to write my reviewer earlier.
That's how I review since I find it effective for me. Writing it down makes the lessons to retain in my memory. Reading it, writing it, and reading it again is just an effective way of reviewing.
While writing, there's this one word wherein I made a mistake. I wrote '*gratified*' instead of writing '*gentrified*'. And just like that, thoughts about mistake instantly flows like a river.
We are humans, we have the tendency to make mistakes, it's normal to make mistakes and **we are meant to make mistakes**. It's just that, there are different kind of mistakes and we should be careful not to make the kind of mistakes that we can't correct.
As a kid, we usually make mistakes and we are allowed to make those kind of mistakes. We can do all sort of mistakes and everything will be **forgivable**, our age and our childhood is to blame on those kind of mistakes. We are kids, we don't know what we're doing and that's enough reason to **justify** our actions.
Kids are prone to make mistakes. That can also be the reason why when we are on elementary, until grade 3 if I remember it correctly, we are only allowed to use **pencil** for when we make mistakes on our writings, all we need is eraser and it'll be so easy to erase and replace.
I guess, what I'm just saying is that there are kind of mistakes that we're allowed to make, the kind of mistakes that can be easily **erased** and can be easily **corrected.**
But when we are on grade 4, we started using **ballpen** already, maybe they thought that we are old enough for our writings not to be too messy and not full of erasures. Though we can still make mistakes, correction tape is there to the rescue. But there's a con, yes, we can still correct it but the place where we make mistakes will still be visible and we will always be reminded of those mistakes.
That was still on elementary though, where our school supplies is still complete and we have correction tape for our mistakes. Until high school, actually. We still got that correction tape. But as we grow older, that seems to be not essential anymore. The mistakes we're making are irrevocable and once done, we can't do anything to take it back.
Like once you turn in and submit your exam on google form, your response cannot be edited anymore. And we really should be careful on these kinds of mistakes. Yes, they cannot judge us for making those kind of mistakes for we are allowed to do so but let's do it for ourselves, let's not make a mistake that we will regret.
Going back to what I've said above about *mistakes that are still visible*, I actually think that it is a good thing. It might look bad and it can ruin the neatness of the paper or the writings, however, it's nice to be reminded of the mistakes we have made so that it can be our guide to not do that ever again.
*We are humans, we make mistakes, but let's not use that as a license to make more mistakes. Mistakes are essential for our growth but I don't think we are really growing if we keep doing the same mistakes over and over again. So, let us allow ourselves to grow by also allowing ourselves to make mistakes but at this time, let us always make sure that we learn from our every mistakes.*
I feel like that I am overusing the word '**mistake**' already. To end this, let me just repeat what I've said above, but shorter this time, of course.
We are humans and we are meant to make mistakes. Don't be too hard on yourself whenever you make mistakes because it is something that we can't escape. It is unavoidable and what we can only do about it is to learn from our mistakes and even from the mistake of others.
With that, allow me to end this with this saying: `An intelligent man learns from his mistakes but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.`
**Be wise! Make mistakes but make sure to learn from it. :)**
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Let's be friends! Connect to me through: https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/doing-the-unthinkable-899f3d60#let039s-be-friends-connect-to-me-through
**Telegram - @marygoaroundd**
****Twitter**** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
****noise.cash**** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. ****Encourage and be encouraged!**** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 157
Date: November 10, 2021
By; immaryandmerry
Mistakes, Lessons, Realizations
Doing the unthinkable
We are humans, we have limitations, we know what we can do, and we know what we cannot do.
Sometimes, there are cases that we were able to do something that we think we cannot do. That we can do something that never did we imagine we can do. That we didn't even notice that we're already *doing the unthinkable.*
**But how were we able to do that? Why did we do that?**
I think it's about the forces, it's what pushes us to do that. An example force that I know is from my past article about desperation and how that force was able to make us do something unimaginable.
And just like in the desperation, such forces are great but it can also be the other way around since it can also force us to do something bad. https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/desperation-2b308aa8
Going back to the main topic, for this specific article, I want to talk about this force called "**love**".
May it be love for family, friends, for someone, and even for material things.
Love is good, we live in love, I believe we are all capable of loving and it is just so nice to love and to be loved and to spread love.
However, all things have its good and bad side and love, no matter how good it sounds can also push us to do something that we shouldn't do.
For instance, there are people who rob and do illegal things just to earn money and feed their families. They love their family too much that they are willing to go to that length just to provide for them.
Another negative thing about love is the love of money which is known to be the root of all evil.
But let's not focus on those kinds of love. Regardless of ita negative side, we should still have hope in love, believe in love and continue to love. Cliche as it may sound, but I do believe that love makes the world a better place.
We just have to use this force the right way. Let's have and give the kind of love that the Lord have for us. The kind of love that is very forgiving, merciful, generous, and the love that always pripritize and look for the well being of others. The kind of love that will make everyone around us happy. The kind of love that will bring smiles to people.
Geez. I feel like this one that I'm writing already sounds so cheesy. So not me. Will stop here for now.
Anyways, this article was inspired by my brother.
**Story time.**
My older brother have a 5 year old daughter who's studying at day care. DSWD opened up a TikTok competition featuring activities that a family can do during this time of pandemic.
Never did I imagine that my brother will do a TikTok video that even includes dancing. Never in my whole lifetime I have seen him dancing, he hates it and is too shy and grumpy to do it. But he did anyways, because he loves her daughter so much.
And I must say that it's worth it. They were chosen to be the representative of our whole city to compete with the rest of the participants on the whole Region III.
This makes me feel so proud of my brother and his own family. What a great dad he is, and I'm telling this without bias.
May we all give that kind of love who can do everything for our loved ones.
Thank you all for reading this far. Spread love! And always use that force in the right way. :)
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**The Power of Tipping: Take Part of the BCH Growth** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/the-power-of-tipping-take-part-of-the-bchs-growth-6266799e
**The Basics of Commenting** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/the-basics-of-commenting-365f6fea
Let's be friends! Connect to me through:
**Telegram - @marygoaroundd**
**Twitter** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
**noise.cash** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. **Encourage and be encouraged!** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 156
Date: November 9, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Forces, Love, Random
Nephew #2: He who doesn't talk
Sunday was supposed to be my rest day but I didn't get any rest at all. I have this nephew, he's now on Grade 10, maybe he got his laziness from me but he sure took it to the next level, ah no-- scratch that. He took it to the highest level! I saw his google classroom and there are at least 30 activities that are missing, meaning that the deadline was done and he is still not passing it.
Good thing, his teachers gave us consideration so we worked full force today just so he could meet the grace period that his teacher has given him.
He might have given me stress and he got my rest day, but he has given me a topic today. LOL.
For most of you who know me, you might also know that I do have a lot of nephews and nieces and this one is my 2nd eldest nephew and the eldest one of my 3rd sibling.
Among my nephews and nieces, he's the one who got my characters the most. We clash most of the time, but we always get along well for having the same interest.
***First,*** *both our favorite subject is Math and what we dislike the most is Filipino.*
***Second****, we have the same taste about what to watch. May it be movies or KDrama.*
***Third****, we are both Potterhead.*
***Fourth****, we stan the same KPop group (EXO), and we always watch KPop survival shows together.*
***Fifth****, he's my Rubik's Cube buddy. We're now learning the 4x4 and 5x5. I got the 4x4 first while he learns the 5x5. We're gonna switch cube once he's done learning the 5x5.*
***Sixth****, we both have the tendency to become kind of OC. Geez. Both of us are so organized, even to the point of washing the dishes. Hehe*
***Seventh****, we both have poor eyesight.*
***Eight,*** *we are both lazy, only that, as I've said above, he took it to the highest level. And that's the reason why we clash most of the time. He's so lazy! Ugh.*
We really do have a lot of similarities and I won't be able to end this if I'll tell it one by one. For now, let me just tell you more about him.
He used to be a very happy kid who isn't shy. When he was a kid until he's on his primary years, he is known to be the most talkative student in the class. I remember that he's always seated next to his teacher, on the teacher's table since he always talk to his seatmates even though they are on the class and the teacher is discussing.
Before, he doesn't complain when we want to take a photo of him. He'll always smile and post on the camera but as he grow up, he became shy, aloof, and introvert.
It feels like it's just yesterday when he was still that cute, chubby and bubbly kid but he have grown up so fast, and tall. He's around 5'9 now I think and I know he'll even grow taller on the following years.
**March 2020**, that was the time when pandemic hits us and we were put on lockdown. He was Grade 8 at that time, at that time, maybe it's part of him growing up that's why he doesn't really talk that much at home but we know that he's still very active in school. The same talkative boy from Elementary so we aren't really alarmed.
Going back to lockdown, since then, he kind of isolated himself on his room. He doesn't go out at all unless he needs to eat, take a bath and go to the comfort room. We only see him during meal time as we eat together. After more than a year of pandemic, he suddenly turned out to someone who doesn't talk.
I mean, yes, of course, he can talk but the words he speak is not even 10 words a day. When we talk to him, his only response is a nod or a shrug. He won't speak unless he needs to. Even to chat, all his replies are only like sign.
**He's now 15** and it's hard to deal with a teenage boy specially that there is no other boy in here that is around his age that he can talk to. But thankfully, he's now watching with us when we are having movie marathon or a KDrama session. The rubik's cube I bought also helps to make him speak. He speaks when he's teaching me some algorithms that I don't know.
And when my other nephews and nieces, his cousins are around, he still socialize with them and be noisy with them.
Our problem with him right now is about his studies since he's not taking it seriously. He's now on Grade 10, almost done with Junior High School so we need him to at least do his requirements but he's not doing anything. He's part of the special section on Science, Technology and Engineering (SP-STE) so he really have to fix his grades.
He stresses us again with this matter but hopefully, he won't let this happen again on the next quarter.
Heya! I would like to thank you for reading this far. LOL. I feel like just few more months, you'll be able to know our whole family tree if I'll keep on publishing contents like this. Haha
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading this one. Till next time! :)
Let's be friends! Connect to me through:
**Telegram** - **@marygoaroundd**
**Twitter** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
**noise.cash** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. ****Encourage and be encouraged!**** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 155
Date: November 8, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Family, Personal, Random
Getting back on track
I've been in this platform for more than 9 months already. A lot has changed, I know I improved a lot, but I feel like I am kind of drifting these days. Well, I do have a valid reason for that. It has been a crazy October for us, very eventful and all of those are unexpected.
When I posted my 9th month celebration article, I look back on the past 9 months that I've been here and upon looking back, I saw how much I've changed. I saw how I was before and I don't like how am I becoming right now in terms of my activity here on this platform. https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/looking-back-for-the-past-9-months-c6e8e21a
Not publishing regularly is acceptable for me but the reading activity and my interaction, it's almost zero. As someone who used to and is still promoting engagement and interaction on this platform, I feel like I'm not being true to myself if I cannot do what I am telling everyone to do.
***Anyways, now that I have stated the negative side, which is so not me, let us now take a reroute to the positive side.***
It's good to know that I know my shortcomings and it's even better that my mind is now set to do something about it. Hehe. Sorry for that kind of introduction, this is just actually a goal setting for this month of November wherein I plan to get back on track just the way I used to before.
For this month, I only have these goals which I think is enough for everything else to follow.
Engagement and Interaction
Will plan to get back on track by reading more. I will make sure to become more active, to read more, to explore. I owe it to the community. Besides, I cannot expect to have more reads if I don't read myself. Not that it is necessary but just how the saying goes, "you cannot give what you do not have" only that it's the opposite for me, *"I cannot have what I cannot give"*.
Going back, I don't really have a solid plan but to read more, and to make sure that my notifications will be emptied each day, and by emptying it, I mean reading the articles that will show up in there. Well, that would be impossible because I know it'll be a lot, but at the very least, I'll read all of those that will interest me.
I also missed writing something about the platform, helping newbies find their way, meeting new friends through reading the work of others so I will focus more on that. I've been going in one direction these days that I failed to see what's around.
There are lots of newbies, we really are growing and that's a good thing. It's just me who's having a hard time to keep up so now that I'm getting back on track, hopefully, I'll be fast enough to catch up.
Daily Grind / Daily Article
I truly enjoyed not setting a goal the last time and it's nice to write without pressure but I honestly miss the pressure. It's a very effective indicator for me to work and write something. Also, this will also increase my activity in the platform.
It might not be a long article daily, some might be short, some might be just casual and personal, but I'll try to show up each day with a new publication. This is me trying to challenge myself. Let's see if I'll be able to do it.
......
I just thought about it and I realized it's really hard. So let me give an allowance for myself, let's say 5 articles a week. Let me have 2 days of rest. hehe
Claiming the badge back
How long has it been since I lose the badge? It was such a good friend to me and I'm really missing it now. Well, main reason that I lost it is because of lack of reading activity. Going back to the first goal, I can only make this goal possible if I will be successful on doing my first goal.
Wish me luck with this one! It would be really nice for me to have that diamond badge back.
Geez. Here I go again. I feel like I'm not making any sense. LOL.
I think it's better to end this for now. Apologies for this kind of writing, too much for trying to be casual. That's it. I'll make it as a goal to engage more and to interact more. It won't be easy given my busy schedule but I do believe that we can make it possible as long as we really want to do it.
Expect me showing up to your notification! Looking forward for the next days, looking forward for more readings and I am so looking forward to meet new friends. Yay!
**To more engagement and interaction! See you all on your comment section. :)**
Let's be friends! Connect to me through:
Telegram - @marygoaroundd
Twitter - **@marygoarounddd** https://twitter.com/marygoarounddd
noise.cash -**@immaryandmerry** https://noise.cash/u/immaryandmerry
Also, you can join me in my **noise.cash channel** in giving a **Daily Dose of Encouragement**. **Encourage and be encouraged!** https://noise.cash/c/daily-dose-of-encouragement-z6r9dz47g
Article No. 154
Date: November 6, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
readcash Goal / November Goal
November 1st
We all have different ways and traditions on how we celebrate Halloween. For some, they grew up dressing up on different costumes and going door to door in the neighborhood to do some trick or treat. Just like what we usually see on movies.
Opposite to it, that's not the culture I grew up with. November 1st is like a family day to us for all of us were gathered together, we cook and buy foods, the delicacies are always present, then at the afternoon, we'll go to the cemetery to visit my father's grave.
We'll go home when it's already dark, eat dinner, light up candles and enjoy the rest of the night. I also remember a memory during Halloween where me and my cousins will pull up some prank like putting a white sheet or white blanket over our head, bring a candle or a flashlight, then knock on the windows at the houses around the neighborhood trying to pretend like a white lady trying to scary. LOL
That's what we usually do, that's what we always do. I'm already so used to going to the cemetery ever since I was a kid. But for this year, cemetery has been closed that's why we weren't able to go but that's the only difference. Despite not being able to go, we were able to have some family day wherein all of us were able to relax and just enjoy with the simple foods we have and each other's company.
We had a nice breakfast together. My sister in law prepared grilled tilapia for breakfast. It was so good and I was so full. I use soy sauce with calamansi and chili for the sauce. Fish sauce would have been better but we don't have any. Still, it goes well with soy sauce.
Then they cooked caldereta for lunch and were once again so full. This is what I really missed going in there, just simple viands, simple meal, with a great company. Nothing grand but it was the best.
At noon time, I hang out with my cousins and I wasn't able to resist them when they asked for some treats. I don't have much money and they spend it all. LOL. We just bought some milktea, pizza (just the cheap one, still tastes good though), and puto (rice cake).
Then I lied down on my cousin's sofa, fall asleep there, I woke up 2hrs later and my family isn't home. They go to my aunt's house and they left me. That's what I get from sleeping. Haha
They cooked biko (another kind of rice cake) and macaroni soup for our merienda and that's what I eat after I wake up. I then go out again to hang out with my cousins. As night time approaches, we had a little drinking session. Just a bottle of brandy while we're having nice conversations about nonsense stuffs that we find funny.
The night's going smoothly, another cousin came with her girlfriend and they bough more drinks. That's when my cousins requested me to stay for the night but sadly, my sister didn't allowed me (bummer). There's still much work to do the next day (which is today) so I missed the fun.
At 8:30PM, we are back at home. Around 9PM, my cousin started a video call with me just to tease me for not being able to join them. LOL. It's fun watching them get wasted. Everyone's noisy and they all have stories to share. We talked for almost 2 hours until their done. Then they sent me a video of my other cousin who dived on the mud. Haha.
I was not able to join them but I'm glad I was able to join the fun through a video call.
Before, we usually stay for 2-3days in there but the circumstances have changed now. We recently lost a loved one and as much as we wanted to stay, my sister will still have to fix some paperworks for the burial.
One day isn't enough to have fun and catch up but I'm still glad we were able to celebrate the All Saints Day together even a short period of time. Truly, a day doesn't have to be grand, there's no need for a nice place, no need for a lot of foods. Simple get together is enough as long as we are with the people that we want to be. Family will always be the best company for me.
I'm now looking forward for **Christmas** since that will be the next that we'll go home. Can't wait already! AAAAAAARRGH. hehe.
Anyways, this is it for now. My body is so tired right now. It's such a quick turn of events. From a relaxing halloween to getting back to the real world. I still have to catch up with my studies since I have been busy with the business for the past weeks. I really hope to stay at home and focus but my sister is asking me again to stay at store. Can't say no, we're understaffed and I'm the only one who knows how to run it well.
Apologies for my ramblings. I just like updating you guys even though you're not asking me. LOL
Thanks for reading this far. I hope you did enjoy the long weekend. Holliday is over, break is over. Back to work, back to studies but we got this. Fighting!
Article No. 153
Date: November 2, 2021
By: immaryandmerry
Daily blog, personal experiences.
Keep the faith going
October has been an eventful month for our family. We have celebrated birthdays this month, I celebrated my 21st birthday this month. A lot of good things has happened, we are safe, healthy and God is continuously providing for all of our needs. God has been so good to us and it is just so easy to thank Him for all the good things that are happening to us. Because that's how it works, right? It is so easy to thank God when good things are happening to us but what if it doesn't go that way? ***Can we still thank Him even in bad times?***
A lot has happened to us that I almost forgot that it's the end of the month and I can't missed writing an article for my **devotion series**. And I want to thank God for bringing us into this situation that I will be sharing to you in here.
I have been so open for what was happening in our lives lately. I shared how one of the family members tested positive for Covid19 and how he was admitted to the hospital. I also shared the situation at home that they have to stay on quarantine while I take charge of the business for a while.
I shared the progress of our patient, how his condition is getting better, how it get worst, how we transferred him to another hospital, and sadly, how in the world that in a span of 2 weeks, from being healthy as a horse, his condition leads to death.
***Going back to my question above, can we still thank Him even at these times?***
The Story of Job
*Before I answer my own question, let me just share to you this story from the bible where we can relate our current situation. This must already be familiar to you since this is a story that I have been hearing ever since I was a kid. But still, allow me to give the gist of the story.*
Job is a wealthy man, a very prosperous one. But much more to that, he is also a faithful and a righteous man. He's a good man who's living a happy life but Satan used it against God. Satan says to God the Job is only good because he's living a happy life, so to prove Job's faith, God allowed Satan to make him suffer with the condition to not harm him.
Satan then take away Job's livestock, servants, and children. Yet, he remains faithful and he still gives praises to God. He then suffered from a skin disease and his wife tells him to reject God but he refuses.
His friends come over and gave him advise but he told them it was worthless for they are encouraging him to turn his back from God. Even Job cannot understand what is happening, he didn't deserve all that but despite all losses and suffering, he remains faithful to God and he gives Him praises despite the situation.
Job has truly proven his faith so Satan leave him eventually. Later on, all the losses that he have experienced, God doubled his possessions and gave it all back to him.
**Praise God for the life of Job!**
Going back to my question, it is true that it's hard to thank God during bad times but just like Job, life won't always be good and happy, there are tests, trials, losses and sufferings but *God would want us to remain faithful until the end.*
Just like how life won't always be happy, it won't always be bad either. But what matters is that regardless of the situation, we still thank God and we still give Him glory and praises.
**As for us, there is still a lot to thank God for.**
We transferred our patient to a private hospital, he lasted there for about 3 or 4 days and in that short period of time, our hospital bill has gone up to more than PHP400, 000. But praise God because we don't have to pay a single cent at the hospital. Turns out, when the cause of death is a severe case of Covid19 and the hospital bill is less than PHP700, 000, the family of the patient won't have to pay for anything.
So we will be able to get a refund from the initial payment we made while he was still admitted and praise God again for we will also receive a check from the hospital. Our prayers was for God to give us financial provision and this was the answered prayer that he has given us.
Another thing to be thankful for is that even though our loved one's physical body is already dead, we know that he is now with God on His kingdom so praise God for that. No more pain and sufferings, he's now experiencing and enjoying the eternal life that the Lord has given him.
***To live is Christ and to die is gain.***
We thank God for everything that has happened. It was a tough time but we have to keep the faith going. We are keeping the faith going for we know that God has a purpose for everything and we thank and praise Him for that.
**Glory all to God!**
I want to take this opportunity to give you all a reminder that life won't always be good, we won't always be happy, not all things will go our way. There will be tough times, we will experience sufferings and losses but whatever happens, *in good times and in bad times, let us always thank and praise God.* ***Let us keep the faith going.***
We may not understand what is happening but know that God is in control.
With that, let me leave you with this verse from **Isaiah 55:8-9NIV** saying
`“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.`
`“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.`
All glory, praises, and honor belongs to God and Him alone.
Thank you all for reading and once again, let us continue to thank God for everything that is happening in our lives. Thank you, Lord!
`#152 - October 31, 2021`
`Written by: immaryandmerry`
the end...
**TRIGGER WARNING**: *Personal, Emotinal, Covid19, Illness, Death, etc.*
**Previous articles related to this matter:**
A Whirlwind Kind of Day https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/a-whirlwind-kind-of-day-91fc5c38
Trigger Warning: The Attack of Covid19 https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/trigger-warning-the-attack-of-covid19-41daf898
Things happened so fast and never did we imagine that we will reach this point so soon.
Symptoms have shown, he had a check up, was hospitalized, tested positive for Covid19. There were complications and he also had a pneumonia.
He stayed for a week at a public hospital, we thought he's doing good, but last Friday, he asked us to transfer him to another hospital and on Saturday, we were able to transfer him.
Sunday, 9pm, he was scheduled for a CT scan and that's when they saw that his brain is swelling and bleeding. He also had a stroke and his pneumonia has worsened.
At Monday, 1:30am, we're in the middle of our sleep when the doctors are asking for our consent to intubate. That was tough. They say it could help for his breathing since his pneumonia is making it hard for him to breathe but there is no assurance that he'll get better.
Before he was hospitalized, he was asked beforehand if he will consent to intubation if worst comes to worst and he was against it.
It was hard, we wanted to fight, but we're afraid he'll be more uncomfortable with it and it was against his will. That was so tough and emotional time for the family. I remember us being gathered at our living room, with am awful silence and with hint of tears in our eyes.
Around noon time yesterday, we received another call from the hospital saying that the doctor want to do brain surgery on him, to stop the bleeding and reduce swelling however, there is no assurance that he'll wake up after that.
Another tough time for we have to make a call. And they have come out into the decision to not do the surgery. His medication was given continuously but he's already a DNR patient so when his heart has flatlined, they won't perform CPR anymore.
Few minutes ago, we received another call about his status. Oxygen level has came down to 20 and the heart beat is getting slower and slower almost hitting the flatline. They say that his heart could stop beating any moment so we are currently on stand by. Once it stopped, they will go to the hospital to have everything settled.
We're almost reaching the end. I know it's sad but hey, don't be. The time that we have made a decision about the intubation, we already prepared ourselves and have already accepted what possibly could happen.
As much as it pains us, we don't want thim any longer to suffer so when we were asked earlier this morning, we just told them to continue the medication even just for this day so that he'll be comfortable, at the very least.
We just spend the remaining time talking to him, sharing the gospel again and again telling him to repent even on his mind. We have confidence in God and since the beginning, we have already surrendered to His will. Whatever it is, we will accept.
So praise God for His goodness! Praise God amidst this situation and may His name be glorified. He have guided us on every decision, He keeps us sane, and He gives us peace and comfort.
I just really want to share this but rest assured that I feel so light as I was typing this. God is good. We have our peace and we already accepted this. You do not need to be sorry.
Besides, this is only the end for his physical life but he have an eternal life given by Jesus Christ. Therefore we should celebrate for the good life He lived and for the eternal life that he will now live.
Indeed, **all glory and praises belongs to God**!
Here are some prayer items and I'll appreciate it if you can include it in your prayers.
Pray for peace and comfort for his family.
Pray that he'll be comfortable on his remaining hours, no more pain.
Pray that he have repented on his mind and once again accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and savioir.
Lastly, pray for financial provision for us.
We are selling a land but there has been a problem with the transfer of land title. We're already fixing it but hopefully, it could be faster.
***He truly lived a good life. He was one of the most respectable man that I know. Very rational and very logical to talk to. Praise God for the life he lived!***
**UPDATE:**
**Time of death:** 1:03am
**Date:** October 27, 2021
Thank you very much for reading this. I hope you didn't get carried away for this could be heavy for you. Thank you so much in advance for your prayers. I really appreciate it.
`#151, October 27, 2021`
`By: immaryandmerry`
Kuya tough love
I remember fearing him when I was kid.
His voice screams authority, his commands are the law, what he says, I should do. That's how my young mind sees it back then.
I feel like washing the dishes is a punishment. I feel like sweeping the floor is a punishment. I feel that every household chores are punishments.
I feel like waking up so early in the morning to eat breakfast all together is a punishment. I feel like eating vegetables is a punishment. I feel like afternoon naps is a punishment.
Everything that he's making me to do, I feel like it's a punishment.
He always gets mad when I don't follow what he says and I always hear words from him whenever I am not doing what he tells me to do.
Even though I am obeying him, I feel like he's nagging at me whenever he speaks at me.
That's the reason why I have been so distant to him. I can't stand being near him, there is always a distance. I avoid sitting next to him on the dining table and I also avoid eye contact with him.
Hate is a very strong word and I don't hate him before, let's just say I'm not so fond of him... I can't stand him.
He's even way stricter than my brothers by blood. Way stricter than my mom and my sisters. Who is he to do that?
But later on, as I grow up, I started appreciating what he is doing to me, for me.
I appreciate that he taught me household chores so that when I am at someone's home, perhaps my friend's home, I know how to act well.
I appreciate that he cares for my health and well-being by forcing me to eat my vegetables and to sleep at noon.
I now understand that what he's telling me makes sense, those are words of wisdom, and it does not meant to hurt me, it is meant to teach me.
Being the youngest, I admit that I am kind of spoiled by my family. All of them are giving me a comfortable life. If not for my brother in law's iron hands, I won't be the person that I am right now.
He's the one who balanced my family's treatment to me therefore I can say that I am spoiled but I am never a brat.
Now that I am growing up, I started realizing and appreciating all those what seems like punishments for me before. All of those are for me, that's what my young mind fails to understand before.
My relationship with my brother in law is really unusual. I suppose not all brother and sister in law's relationship are not like this. That is why I am lucky to have him. By blood or by law, he is my brother.
Earlier, we went to the hospital to pay some bills and it feels nice to seat at the shotgun seat while he drives and we talk smoothly about random things that interests us both.
Gone is the distant me towards him. From being so distant, from being not able to stand him, I can now comfortably talk and stay close to him.
Actually, I already wrote an article about him before. I already wrote quite a few articles that he is involved. In fact, Ate @Jeaneth even have a nickname of him. "**Kuya tough love"** as she addressed him, just like the title of this article.
Going back, just what I told before that I will tell again this time, he will always be one of the best brothers that I will always have. And oh, his hands aren't made of iron right now. It feels like it is made of soft fabric, so soft and comfortable that you just know that he cares.
LOL. I suddenly thought of this while we were talking on our way home earlier. Awkward moments no more. The less than 1hr of travel only feels like 10 minutes. I didn't even noticed that we're already home.
Let's talk about you this time. Do you also have that kind of "**tough love**" on your family? Care to share at the comment section?
Thank you all for reading this far. Till next time! :)
Article No. 155 - October 26, 2021
Trigger Warning: The Attack of Covid19
I already shared before about our situation at home. This is kind of a continuation about what is happening now after a week. I can't find myself to sleep right now, nobody in the house seems to fall asleep and here's the reason why. https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/a-whirlwind-kind-of-day-91fc5c38
Last week, October 13, 2021, Wednesday, my brother in law's step father who is truly close in our hearts was admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath, pneumonia and his diabetes was also acting up. He has symptoms for Covid19 and so on October 15, Friday, we were informed about the result of his PCR test and it came back positive.
He was sent to Covid ward therefore none of us can come and take care of him. The hospital he was in is a public hospital so we understand that they can't update us very often so we only rely on calling the nurses to monitor our patient and patiently wait for the doctor's call to inform us about his health which only happened twice on his one whole week of stay there.
On October 21, Thursday, we received the doctor's second call and it was a good news. His pneumonia has gone better, if his oxygen will stabilized and if he'll force himself to eat some food, he will be discharged soon. But on the next day, our patient called us and asked us to transfer him to another hospital. It is so heartbreaking hearing him trying hard to speak because he's still having shortness of breath.
Still on the same day, we tried inquiring to other hospitals that are private around the city and the bad news is they have already reached their patient's capacity. He was listed as number 22 on the waiting list. We tried to another hospital and as much as I don't want any form of bias or favor, we couldn't help it but to seek help from a doctor that we know who works on that hospital. With their help, we were able to transfer there.
They transferred him to a private hospital earlier and the moment we says him, it was really heart breaking. Last Thursday, we received a good news saying he's soon to be discharged but his physical condition is so far from that. He is conscious but unresponsive. He couldn't even lift or straighten his arm, more so to move at all. He looks so thin and lifeless as we saw him, even just on the video.
He might be groggy because of the medications and also because he hasn't been eating well. He wasn't even able to eat all the food that we sent him during his stay on the hospital.
Because of that, they had to put an nasogastric tube or an NG tube in him. It is inserted through his nose, down to his throat and esophagus, and into his stomach. All his medications and foods will be liquified and will go through it. Hopefully, by doing that, by giving him foods, he will be able to regain his strength on the next few days.
Now here's another worry. Aside from his health, we are also worried about the hospital bills. Our bill from the public hospital is 52, 000 pesos or more than a $1000. That's already not a joke but that's way cheaper compared to private hospitals where he's in right now.
But of course, regardless of the bill, he deserves to have the best care. We can't continue to let him be alone. Right now, they are already on the private hospital, my sister was left there to monitor him. They are in a private room but there are boundaries for my sister's safety. She's also wearing a PPE for her protection. At least this way, he have someone to accompany him.
But what we're worrying about are the hospital bills. The room costs PHP50, 000 or $1000 per day. The medications and the doctor's fee are excluded. It's really heavy for us but what can we do if he keep worsening on the public hospital and that we're getting crazy and getting worried and worried each passing time waiting for the doctor's call to inform us about his health. Besides, the patient is the one who begged us to transfer him to another hospital.
Another problem is that we need our sister in here. Her children needs her, our business needs her. If we are going to hire a private nurse, we have to pay around $165 or PHP8, 500 per day. Now, our plan for tomorrow is to try looking for an outside individual who will agree to look after him in the hospital. The nurses from the hospital will do all the work, the only work of that one that we are going to hire is to monitor the patient's oxygen since it has to be replaced every hour. Hopefully, we could find someone who is willing to do that.
There are so much things that we are worried about but we have faith and we continue to hope in the Lord. He's our great healer and provider and I know and we have faith that we'll get through this.
Right now, we only resort to prayer to keep our minds and our hearts at peace.
Tonight, I will be sleeping with this verse from **Matthew 6:34** saying `"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. ... Each day has enough trouble of its own."`
What we need most right now is your prayers. That can be a huge help, actually, that is more than enough. Let us pray for his
fast recovery
for him to regain his strength
also for financial resources.
We don't know where to get money for bills but God will provide. We just hope that his stay on the hospital won't be that long because if he stays in there for more than a week, we couldn't afford it.
Anyways, thank you so much for reading this and I hope you didn't feel to be carried away. Thank you so much for this platform for allowing me for this kind of content. I was able to let it all out and now I feel light. I have my hope in the Lord, there is nothing to worry about.
Thank you so much in advance for your prayers.
I appreciate you all. Thank you so much!
**UPDATE:** His sugar level is unstable, it tanked up earlier but it's going down now. Good news is that his oxygen is now normal so from high flow, it's now on 80%.
We already got a replacement for my sister that will accompany him to the hospital. So my sister can go home later once her antigen test came back negative.
As for the financial aspect, some relatives promised to help and praise God for giving us a good deal for the sale of our land. It's sad that we have to sell an asset but life is more important than that.
Your prayers for fast recovery will really be appreciated. Thank you all so much!
Article No. 154 - October 24, 2021
To this member of #ClubBrokeBCH, a teammate for puyatan, yep, @Bloghound this is you. LOL.
A big thanks for the sponsorship!! Cheers ☕!
Looking back for the past 9 months
Cheers to 9 months!
**January 21, 2021 - 11:59PM**
That was the exact time that my account has been created in here. And today marks my 9th month on this platform.
I didn't even noticed that it has been 9 long months, for me, everything feels like yesterday and that made me want to look back about my previous experiences on the past months.
So, for this month's celebration article, I would like to look back for the past 9 months.
**Month 1 -** **Embracing BCH through read.cash** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/embracing-bch-through-readcash-44788e4a
***"Write and earn, read and learn."***
That has been my mantra ever since. We have to write for us to earn, and we should read for us to learn.
My first month in here was really amazing. It took me 2 weeks and 13 articles before Rusty finally noticed me. 2 weeks and I only made $2.50 but surprisingly, I ended up with a hundred bucks on my first month.
A huge contribution to that is the $20 I receive from a single user from my story "Through the Lense". https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/through-the-lens-92bb8036
My first month taught me to be patient and that in time, all my efforts will paid off.
**Month 2 -** **Welcome to my humble abode!** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/welcome-to-my-humble-abode-6394c7c0
2 months of being a user, read.cash has been my home that I haven't skip a single day without spending time on it. It is kind of addicting, as well as the noise.cash.
In here, I said that this platform is about self expression, having the freedom to create and to improve, in our own pace and in our own ways.
I also stated that the reason I stay in here is the greatness of this platform and that we have to spread awareness about it to share the opportunity to others which I think is what all of us is already doing right now... seeing a lot of new users who have lots of potential.
I also mentioned 4 of the wrong things that we are practicing and I think some of us right now are still doing it wrong so might as well share it again right now.
***Focus on earnings.*** We all want to earn, but this shouldn't be the sole reason why we stay here. Read.cash is more than just earnings. I hope we all know this by now.
***Failed to mingle with others.*** I have been promoting interaction since the very beginning. Without mingling with others, I don't think we can survive here.
***Failed to recognize own mistake.***
***Failed to commend one self***. I kind of failed with this one too. When we are publishing something, we have to be confident on what we wrote. We can't convince others to believe us and like what we wrote if we don't even like it ourselves.
**Month 3 -** **3 plus definitely more months with our beloved bitcoin cash** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/3-plus-definitely-more-months-with-our-beloved-bitcoin-cash-4876bf6f
March, my favorite month! I made a goal and I was able to achieve it during the first half of the month. However, April fooled me, Rusty started being cold to me.
It's not all bad though because as I've said, I still achieved my goal earlier than expected and this isn't all about earnings.
March, I had a lot of interactions between my other co-writers in here and that's when I started exploring the crypto-verse. (*6 months later, still a noob. LOL)*
**Month 4 -** **The Fall of the Rocketship** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/month-4-the-fall-of-the-rocket-ship-fe35064c
BCH hits its ATH this year which is around $1600. But it has been a buying and selling gone wrong for me.
I was able to sell some of my BCH at $1600, then BCH goes down at $1200 and I thought that was it. I bought at that price, set a limit order to sell at $1500-2000 before I go to sleep. I woke up that next day and dang, BCH drops down at $700.
I just lost a hundred bucks overnight, but I just consoled myself with the idea that it was worth the learning.
**Month 5 -** **Self Assessment and Realigning BCH Goals** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/month-5-self-assessment-and-realigning-bch-goals-5611a904
The last week of March until the whole May and the first 3 weeks of June, Rusty has been consistently cold to me. I barely earn a dollar on my articles but I am more persistent than Rusty.
He is cold but I consistently kept on writing. There is no giving up when you are enjoying, and that is way more important than earning... at least at this platform, it is.
At this time, I have already written 77 articles. 30 of those was ignored by Rusty. A hurtful truth that it's not everyday Christmas.
I kind of lost my drive because it was a straight 2 months of Rusty's coldness but I didn't let it win over my system. Instead, I use it as an opportunity to realign my goals and it made me more desperate to improve my craft.
**Month 6 -** **A half year journey of finally achieving 1BCH** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/a-half-year-journey-of-finally-achieving-1bch-f649b731
Well, the title says it all. After 6 long months, I was finally and officially become a 1BCH hodler.
It wasn't easy, with Rusty's coldness and all that but with the right effort, right perspective and a great suppprt system, it is possible.
Aside from achieving 1BCH, this was also the month wherein I was able to write my 100th article. I also got to be a member of **#Club1BCH** at this month.
What a great month, isn't it?
**Month 7 -** **ft. the #Noiseristificationism** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/month-7-ft-the-noiseristificationism-7e399dd3
Who haven't heard about this yet? If you still don't know this, then click that link above to know more about this amazing family that we were able to create in this platform.
This was originally a group chat created by **carisdaneym2**, from being the 13th member of the group, we now have 146 members.
Most of my close friends in here are members of this group who got each other's back not in the way to cheat the system, but to guide each other to follow all the rules in this platform.
**Month 8 -** **ft. My Time Management Tips** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/8th-month-ft-my-time-management-tips-e23859ba
I am a really busy person. I have so many things on my plate that sometimes, I feel like it will overflow.
But I believe that God won't give us something that we can't handle. It's just a matter of time management and we can definitely finish everything that is on our plate.
**Month 9 - Trying to catch up.**
As I have said, I have a lot of responsibilities from the outside world and read.cash just feels so different right now, not in a bad way though.
It has and is and will always be a great platform for me. I feel like I'm just getting behind these days. There are lots of newbies and that is really a good thing, it only means that we are all doing our part in sharing the opportunity that this platform has given us. And it promotes bitcoin cash awareness as well.
I just missed the old me. The very active one. The one who observes the platform a lot, the one who finds newbies to guide. I missed spending a lot of time and making a lot of friends in here. As of now, I am really trying to catch up. But if I am being quiet, know that I'm just here, maybe just around the corner, making my observation as usual.
Speaking of obervations, allow me to share few articles that I made before which I think could be helpful for most newbies and even to old users.
**Paying back for the value they have given us** *(I like using the term "paying it forward" now though)* https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/paying-back-for-the-value-they-have-given-us-ab482fbc
***Engage. Interact. Build a camaraderie.***
That was the ending point that I left in there. It's all about how we can pay back, pay it forward rather, to those users who appreciates our works.
***If you want more reads, read more! If you want more views, then be visible!***
I'm just saying that we can't expect to receive something that we couldn't even give. It starts with us. The more we read, the more that we will be visible to others, and in that way, we can have more reads.
I'm not saying that we should read the work of others expecting that they will read our works in return, what I am saying is that if we want more reads, then we also have to learn to read more. Period.
**3C's to Practice here at read.cash** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/3cs-to-practice-here-at-readcash-91ce67e6
***Credits*** - this is one of the things that we should never forget. May it be credits to photos we used, credits for the information that we searched, and credits to another user where we got the idea about what to write.
***Courtesy*** - we have different beliefs, traditions and religion in here. We come from different countries and we have to respect all those differences. Another thing that I am pertaining to in here is giving courtesy to our beloved readers by paying it forward to them.
***Camaraderie*** - find friends, interact! Read the works of others. Don't just publish your article, leave it, and wait overnight for the tips. Don't just read it, or worst not read it at all, and just tip it. Show your courtesy at the comment section, as much as possible. Not that comments are required, I'm just saying plese do comment if you can. It's a nice way of showing your courtesy to the writer of that article.
**The Power of Tipping: Take Part of the BCH's Growth** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/the-power-of-tipping-take-part-of-the-bchs-growth-6266799e
In here, I have shared how powerful tipping is. By tipping you are being able to:
***Support co-writers***
***Contribute to read.cash development*** - 10% of our upvotes proceed to read.cash fund for the site's development.
***Growth of Bitcoin Cash*** - all our tips adds up to the market cap.
**The Basics of Commenting** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/the-basics-of-commenting-365f6fea
In this article, I just shared the following about commenting:
***Why comment?***
***When not to comment?***
***When to comment?***
***How to comment?***
It's nice to look back on the past 9 months but I am also looking forward for the following months.
I hope to catch up soon to you all! Thank you for reading this very long experiences I shared with you.
To more earnings, learning and growth for the following months! And hey, if you're a newbie, can you please tell it to me on the comment section just so I can say my infamous line once again that is: "**welcome aboard!**" LOL.
Anyways, I really appreciate you reading this far. Till next time!
Cheers to 9 months!
Article No. 153 - October 21, 2021
The Comforting Darkness
6 days ago, I shared our situation on my article A Whirlwind Kind of the Day. We had a family member who got sick and his RT-PCR test result also came back positive. https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/a-whirlwind-kind-of-day-91fc5c38
Some members of the family, specially them who are at the store was exposed to him therefore they are considered as closed contact. Because of that, they have to stay on home quarantine for 14 days.
The positive one is currently admitted to the hospital. His oxygen level isn't normal yet so we are seeking prayers for that. And the other family members are just at home and they are all fine with no symptoms. We are just waiting for 14 days so that they can finally go out.
I wasn't exposed to the virus because I just stay at home for my studies. So the only way they thought for our store continuous operation is for me to stay in charge.
Last week, when they got home, I was the one to leave home, together with my niece to stay at the store for a while. Today was our 5th day staying here and it is really a struggle. I have to work and study at the same time during the day. Aside from that, on the first few days, I have to cook for our food and that wasn't easy for me. I'll share those cooking experiences on another article.
As I was saying, this has been pretty tough for me. And I am honestly extra tired today. I already ran out of clothes so I did my laundry earlier. We also had a delivery and we had to put it on the storage room upstairs. I was so tired climbing up and down the stairs for countless times.
This was really hard but I can say that I am managing it well. Thank God for that. Also, another reason that's keeping my sanity is the comfort that darkness brings to me.
I am kind of a nature lover person. I always love seeing the surroundings, the sky and all those beautiful views. Every night, I find comfort in the darkness.
The building of our store is located just beside the road and for some reason, I find it comforting to stay out for a bit during night while watching all the vehicles that are passing by.
That photo above is the very view that I watch everyday and even though the vehicles are noisy, I can somehow find peace with their sounds along with the darkness.
Another thing that I love about this darkness thing is the moon. Our place seems to be located in a perfect place because the moment I go outside at night, the first thing that I can see when I look above is the moon.
The moon is just so beautiful and its beauty have this kind of magic spell that can give a feeling of relaxation to my soul.
There's this whole street near us that is full of street food vendors. It is so alive during night time, many people (who are not afraid to Covid19 LOL) are in there.
Is is kind of crowded but it somehow give me a nice feeling. It is such a great escape from this pandemic because in here, all the people are happy eating into their heart's content.
This is just a random photo of our public market during night. There's nothing special about it and there is no specific thing that I like about the photo. I just love how dark it is, with a little amount of light.
Just random photos from somewhere in here. I can't explain it too but I love this kind of darkness that I can't help myself but to take a photo of it.
Trees and a street light. Trees has always been my thing. I love it when it's green and I also love seeing the dark side of it. Just another random capture I took since I find it really great to look at.
Every night, with my companion over here, we walk for a bit in this quiet place where all establishments are already close.
Before I finally locked up our doors, I always take our dog first for a quick walk for him to also pee. It was such a nice walk, very quiet and the coldness of the wind is very relaxing. A quick walk is all I need to put my mind into the right perspective.
It is tiring, very tiring, but a quick walk feels like to magically put my stress and tiredness go away.
Lastly, the sunset. This always reminds me that I made it again today. That I did a great job today. I always feel so accomplished as I watch the sunset. I always feel proud of myself for surviving the whole day.
Sunset will always be great. For me, it is a great reminder that I did a great job. I made it. I made it!
I don't exactly know why the sight of darkness is giving me this feels. I don't sleep well but just the mere sight of darkness gives me rest.
I can't explain it for I don't even understand it myself. But what I do know is that it brings me comfort and I love it.
*How about you? What do you think about darkness? What can you feel towards darkness?*
Anyways, thank you so much for reading this very dark article of mine. I hope you did like this kind of darkness too.
Till next time! :)
Article No. 152 - October 20, 2021
*All photos are mine but I have to change it into low quality so that I can upload it. Poor internet connection. *sigh
Branding Random Words with Your Own Style
Yes, random!
I have lots of topics in mind about what to write but I can’t seem to compose it right now. Good thing, there is **#PromptFactory** with the help of **randomwordgenerator** to the rescue. Without further ado, let’s give this a try. https://read.cash/c/prompt-factory-1aa9 https://randomwordgenerator.com/
Thumb
They say thumb is the strongest finger, but I do think they are all pretty much the same. And what I know is that all together, they are the strongest.
Another thing with thumb is that it is the finger that is closest to the heart so when we pray using the 5 fingers pattern, the thumb is the part where we pray for all the people that are closest to our hearts. For easy remembering, we even use the acronym **FRANCO** that stands for **F**-Family and friends, **R**-Relatives, **A**-Acquaintances, **N**-Neighbors, **C**-Classmates and churchmates, **O**-Officemates, if there’s any of course.
Hard
A sudden memory about something hard comes to my mind. When we were on Grade 10, when the BER months has started and the Christmas season has began, our section decided to do a ***Monito Monita*** (exchange gift) every twice a week. Every exchange that we will have, there will be a certain theme and one of those is “something hard”.
The gifts are just so hilarious since we only do that for fun. We were just high schoolers and our budget is very limited so we set a minimum of 20 pesos or just $0.40 for the exchange gift. I can still clearly remember some of the gifts that is definitely worth remembering.
I remember that we were so excited about the gift that one of my classmate brought. It was on a big box so we really expected something good or at least decent from it and when the time comes that the recipient of the gift opened it, the content is a *buko.* Well, it is indeed hard.
There was also one gift and maybe it’s from one of those who are smart. It was a book about logarithmic functions and there was even a note saying “something hard… to understand”. Oh well, that will pass.
Install
The first thing that came to my mind as I see this word is whenever we check that box stating that we agreed on the terms and conditions of whatever software of application that we are installing. You know, that checkbox, that we just check, without even reading it.
I’m not really techy and my knowledge about computers are limited, but I can say that I have few knowledge compared to my family who always asks me for a rescue whenever they are having trouble on their gadgets. They thought I know what I’m doing but what they didn’t know is that I am just courageous enough to try and to explore, not even minding the possibility that I can break their gadgets.
Also, since installing means putting something in place or fixing it, can I include here the assembly and disassembly of a system unit? The first time we tried doing that is when we are in Grade 7, I was just 12 or 13 that time. We work in groups and it took us almost 2 hours to disassemble and assemble a functioning system unit. But after a few times of practice, on average, we were able to do it individually in less that 10 minutes. It’s not that fast but there’s a huge improvement. I don’t think I can do that anymore though.
Remark
Remarks! Synonymous to comment. I remember the usual remarks I always have on my report card during my primary years. All of my teacher says that I am excellent, however, I should really try to not to go to school late. I always got a check on the ‘tardy’ category because even though our house is just few meters away from the school, I am still always late.
And that remarks seems to stay up in their mind until now. Whenever I see my previous teachers, their remarks is always “*uy, ang laki mo na ha. Parang dati hinahatid ka lang ng mama mo kasi palagi kang late*” (hey, you’re a grown up now. It seems like it’s just yesterday when your mom always sends you to school because you don’t want to go to school if you’re already late). It was kind of embarrassing so there are really times that I just choose to hide from them. LOL
Allowance
How I wish and hope to receive allowance. Since the pandemic and we just stay at home, my allowance has ended too. They stopped giving me allowance for I don’t even go out of home, and maybe they don't see the need for my spendings. I bet this is also the thing that most students misses the most. We miss our allowance! Moms and Dads, bring back our allowance, please!
Anyways, I guess this would be all. I didn’t expect it at all to turn this way. This somehow end up with me reminiscing good old memories. I must say, this is really such a nice exercise so let’s thank the man who knows a lot of things that is behind this prompt. Hey senpai @meitanteikudo, thanks for this. You really did saved us from writer's block.
And hey to you who hasn’t tried this yet, if you're running out of ideas about what to write, you can try this one. This is pretty simple and a nice writing exercise. You can just choose any random words, choose as much as you want, and then try explaining each word in your own way, not the typical way of defining it. Just do it on your own way and on your own style.
Read the original article of the prompt here: **What's the Word? #PromptFactory** https://read.cash/@meitanteikudo/whats-the-word-promptfactory-8a28798f
Thanks for reading this far. Till next time! :)
Article No. 151 - October 19, 2021
It all started with a reply...
**Virtual friends.** I know all of us into this platform have their own virtual friends for it is so impossible to last here without making friends to different people all around the globe. I also have a fair share of good virtual friends that I found in here which I won’t be mentioning because I feel like they are endless.
Truly, being friends knows no boundaries. I mean, yes, literally, we are bounded by the screen of whatever gadget we use but I feel like it doesn’t really matter. Real friendship exists, may it be off screen or on screen.
Anyways, let me just share to you this funny friendship that I made virtually.
*It all started with a reply.*
Some time in **2017**, I read a story at **Wattpad** and it is entitled ***“Hell University”*** written by **KnightInBlack**. It was kind of famous back then, actually until now, I think. Going back, I really liked the story so when a song about it became trending, I immediately got hooked to it.
https://youtu.be/pFVzPVILeiM
The song was really nice and it really fits the story. I can’t help it but to add the one who wrote it on Facebook and when she accepted my friend request, I messaged her like a fan trying to make her idol notice her. LOL
I dig up to our conversation on messenger and my very first chat on her was on **July 15, 2017** saying:
She replied with *“thank you”*, I replied again and then that’s it. **The conversation instantly died.**
Some time in **2018,** I don’t know what’s with me back then but I kept on replying to some Facebook stories or *“my day”* if I find it interesting.
While seeing *my day* after *my day*, I stopped on this certain photo of a knee. It’s a knee with a huge bruise on it, an injury that someone got from playing volleyball. It’s her my day. We’re not close that time but I really don’t know where I got the courage to reply to it with some teasing like as if we are close friends.
Surprisingly, she replied on the next day. I replied again, she replied the next day and the conversation goes on and on. She says she likes my humor and that I am fun to talk to that’s why the conversation keeps going.
But us replying immediately rarely happens. I’ll reply at night and she’ll reply during the morning. She always replies late. LOL
At first, it was just a day delayed, then it became two days, three days, a week, two weeks, and even months. But everytime we’ll reply to other, we have like 10 topics to talk about. So when we reply, there are so many long messages for we are both talkative.
Chatting continuous until **2019** came. And then **2020**, and now that it’s already **2021**. We don’t talk that much from before but we still talk the same way. It will took us months to reply to each other but we have like more than 10 pending topics that we are talking about.
*I’ve come to know her and she get to know me.*
We became really close that I became her critique or her **"judger"** (her term) whenever she has a new composed song. I am always the one to hear it first before she uploads it on her YouTube channel. And I am just really so proud of what she have reached so far.
She is not that active on YouTube but her account is finally being monetized. If you are familiar with **gwyomi** or **4reuminct**'s **University Series**, she wrote a song about ***“Safe Skies, Archer”*** which gained more than a hundred thousand views and that’s when she was able to hit over a thousand subscribers to meet YouTube’s requirement for her account to be monetized.
https://youtu.be/yHgxh80xUwY
She have so many composed songs about stories that I like and it brings us even more closer.
Also, she writes stories at Wattpad too and back then, it’s just a few **thousand reads** until it reach a **hundred thousand**, and then a **million reads**! I feel so proud. LOL
And just recently, she told me that she is busy editing her manuscript because her book will soon to be published. I know it’s not my victory but I just feel so proud of her. Her bio says that *"my book will be published someday"* and now, it is becoming true!
**The Mafia Boss' Unwanted Wife** - **story link** https://www.wattpad.com/story/119986983?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=share_reading&wp_page=library&wp_uname=mysticarosa&wp_originator=mSLAIpbudY4MDheB0qV4XE0z9p7jatAB2l76n1CaoM4JmshWzIutWhTTGkhX3tMUbLe0WYYbWq%2BvDwA%2BZM%2BiffheFp5mOS9E045KyMzlXglccOXvyimQaFPfZx%2FdvZAf
It just so amazing how we were able to build this kind of friendship on screen, and it just started with my crazy reply on her Facebook story. Truly, on screen or off screen, creating friendship such as this isn’t impossible. Actually, most of the time, we tend to trust more those people that we haven’t met personally yet.
Anyways, it was so fun sharing this story. I kind of scroll through our conversation from the past years and I had a good laugh at our silliness. I could talk about this forever but I’m afraid I’ll bore you so this is it for now.
*How about you? Do you have a virtual friend that you know for years now? How did you know each other? How close are you with each other? Come on, share that story of friendship you have with each other. :)*
Article No. 150 - October 16, 2021
Mom and Pop Store Goes to Class
*In case you’re unfamiliar with the term “mom and pop”, it refers to a small, independent, or family-owned business.*
The other day, I accompanied my aunt to the supermarket and while waiting for our turn on the counter, it brings me back to an old memory back when I used to sell snacks like biscuits and chips at school.
Back story why I decided to sell.
When I was on grade 12, our classroom was located at the 4th floor of the building and that’s one of the reasons why we always decided to stay on classroom during breaktime instead of tiring ourselves climbing up and down the stairs.
I easily get hungry and I sometimes can’t force my friends to buy foods with me and I also can’t buy alone. I can’t go alone. LOL
From then on, since we are just near the supermarket, I decided to do groceries instead so that I can bring snacks whenever going to school. But this is what happens next.
We are seated at the 2nd row at the back. I am seated with my friends on the same row and I am also close with my classmates at our front and at our back that when break time came and every time I have to eat my snack, *“Mary, pahingi!”* (Mary, can I have some?) comes next.
I have so many classmates to feed that when I bring a biscuit, I can only have one bite from it. So I have to bring at least 3 biscuits and the 2 will be given away to them. It has always been the case so one time, while I was buying groceries, I decided to bring all the foods that was supposed to be for myself only and then I sold it to them.
Mom and pop store in a classroom.
*And the selling begins.*
My seatmates don’t have to eat my food anymore. And my other classmates are so happy about it because they don’t have to go down anymore. The first day I tried it, since it’s only a few snacks, everything got sold out.
So at that very same day, I go straight to the supermarket before going home to buy another set of groceries which I will be selling the next day. It’s a little bit more the second time because I used the profit I earned from the first time and I added it to my principal.
It was again sold out so I decided to keep on doing it daily. Everyday, after school, before I go to our store, I buy groceries at the supermarket first. And when we got home, I allot time at night to write the price of what I am going to sell so that when they see it, they won’t bother asking me anymore and they will just pay me with the exact amount or serve themselves for I let them buy and I just ask them to put the payment in the bag. It’s like some honesty store and I don’t even have to look after it.
A week passed and because of that, I was able to observe their buying patterns. They also have some requests for snacks that they want so I didn’t had a hard time choosing what to buy because I already know their preference.
From biscuits and chips, I was able to add selling some drinks, candies and chocolates. And from only selling to my classmates, other section from the same floor started buying from me too.
Everything happens so fast. One day, I was just the transferee who only know my classmates and then I suddenly became the student who brings a *sari sari* store at a classroom.
Looking back at the experience.
It was actually fun reminiscing about it. It lasted for a few weeks, or months, I guess until Christmas break happened. And when we came back to school after Christmas break, I can’t remember my reason but I already stopped selling that time.
I started with the intention to stop sharing my foods because my groceries easily ran out, and I end up enjoying what I do and what’s more enjoying about it is that I got to earn.
But of course, I also did work hard for it. I endured the long lines at the supermarket, I allot time every night just to put the prices and there are also times that I had to commute on my way to school.
When I was younger, my sisters are always suggesting to me that I should sell at school because they used to do that too when they are studying. But I was kind of a shy person so I never really imagined myself doing that.
All in all, it was really fun. It was indeed worth the effort and experience and I just love how I was able to earn some extra money that I was able to have savings for myself.
I also realized that there is nothing to be shy about and if there’s something that I should feel, it’s to feel proud about what I do for I was able to earn at my simple way, at such a young age.
There you have it folks. I just shared something personal again but it’s fun this time. I hope that you did enjoy reading the same way that I enjoyed writing it.
Thanks for reading this far. Till next time. :)
Article No. 149 - October 15, 2021
"new sponsor"
that notification always excites me. who doesn't get excited by that eh?
so yeah, got another sponsor. Thank you so much @Davinchysax for giving me a sponsorship! It's thrilling and I really appreciate it. :)
A Whirlwind Kind of Day
*63 year old male.*
*Has difficulty in breathing.*
*Doesn't believe to Covid19 and he thinks the vaccine has some kind of chip in it.*
It all started last week when he suddenly had a flu. At first, it is okay and we think it's normal but he started to feel more pain and he seems weaker the following days. He also lost his appetite so he's not eating that much. We keep on persuading him to get checked but he doesn't want too thinking that he'll be declared as a Covid19 positive once he set foot on a hospital.
Earlier, maybe the pain is not tolerable anymore that he finally agreed to have his checkup. There's a clinic just across our store and that's where we brought him. After undergoing all the needed laboratory testes, we found out that he's at risk at pneumonia and that's more likely to be Covid once he took an RT-PCR test or swab test. Also, another finding is that it can also be dengue since his platelet count is too low while his blood sugar is too high.
But he still have to do an RT-PCR test just to make sure because most of us in the family had a closed contact with him. So, the plan was to isolate him at home while waiting for the test result.
At around 4 pm earlier, I received a phone call from my brother-in-law and he told me to gather all the stuffs that I'll be needing on the following days because my room will become his isolation room since it's the only room downstairs. I moved so fast, get all my stuffs and prepared the room but the plan has changed.
While he was being checked up, his oxygen saturation becomes too low and he can't hardly breath. That's when the doctor says that it's an emergency case and he has to be admitted in a hospital.
It all happened so fast, everyone is fast to move, packing things, calling an ambulance to send him at the hospital. He's still weak and my sister has to come with him so that there is someone that will take care of him. Also, hospital policy is that when you enter, you can't go out anymore, otherwise, you need another antigen test before you can get in again once you go out so along with my sister is her husband's brother who will stand by outside the hospital to run errands for her like buying their foods and other needs.
Going back, our worry now is that he can't be Covid19 positive. We will be greatly affected it that happens. We will have to close the store and we can't afford to close it because we have due dates from all our partner companies. Also, that's where we get our daily needs. We will all stay on quarantine and after 5 days, we will take an antigen test.
We have kids at home and even though they weren't in contact with him, they had a close contact with the adults who had been in closed contacts with him. I am so guilty because I feel like we have been too careless on that part.
But that's just a possible thing to happen when he turns out to be positive. We're not losing hope that he'll turn out negative to Covid19 especially that none of us at home have symptoms. We are all healthy and doing well. As for now, we are just waiting for the swab result.
Even if he turns out negative, we still have to do some adjustments because as I've said, my sister is accompanying him so my nephew was left with me. That also means that I'll be teaching him on his modules for the mean time. Another thing is that I will have to go work at our store starting tomorrow since we are understaffed. In short, I'll be working while studying and teaching and taking care of my nephew. Good luck to me. LOL
But that's way better than closing the store and staying on quarantine.
**Anyways, we just received an update right now.**
He was already admitted at the hospital and is already tested but the result will be out 2-3 days from now. More waiting for us.
He had a pneumonia and because of that, he's a suspected case for Covid19 so even without the result, he will be staying at the Covid ward. The good thing is that his oxygen saturation is back at normal and he doesn't need oxygen anymore.
As of now, all that we can do is to continue to have faith, to hope and to pray that he'll have a fast recovery and that he'll be negative at Covid. Praise God for removing all our worries away. This is kind of terrifying but we know that God is with us, He listens on our prayers and we have strong faith that all will go in our way, we just have to think positive.
If only he had his checkup sooner it wouldn't progress to pneumonia, that's what the bottom of my mind thinks but now isn't the time to point fingers whose fault is it. Prayers is all that we need.
It all happened so fast, like a whirlwind. I know, this is too personal but I just really have to let this off my system. If you read this until the end, a prayer from you would help us greatly. Thank you very much.
Claiming that the result will came out negative. The only result will be negative. It's negative.
I re-read this first before publishing and I just noticed that I didn't mention who am I pertaining to. He's my brother-in-law's stepdad, by the way.
We have high hopes that it's not Covid because he just usually stay at home and doesn't meet a lot of people aside from us. But of course, this is not us closing our mind to possibilities, this is just us thinking positively despite our situation.
***Thank you for your prayers and thank you so much for reading this far.***
***Take care of your health!***
Article No. 148 - October 13, 2021
The Last Piece Syndrome
***Pizza! Yes, I am talking about pizza.***
There’s this one time when my niece requested for a pizza so when *Kuya* got home, he brought a pizza with him. All of us at home immediately dig in, choosing the biggest and the slice that have the most toppings. We ate and ate until there’s only one slice left and that’s where it all began.
The eagerness to eat the pizza suddenly died down. No one would dare to get the last piece without asking others if they want it too. No matter how our stomach is still crumbling and craving for the pizza, it’s either we are so thoughtful to think about others first or we are too afraid to be called greedy because no one will ask who ate the most number of pizza slice, only the one who ate the last piece will be remembered.
Going back, I honestly wanted to eat the last slice but I was thinking of my family. I was thinking about the kids, they might want it more than I do. To cut the story short, I resisted the urge to ate the last piece, sacrificing my own wants just for the sake of whoever wants it too.
With a heavy heart, I left the pizza with them at the kitchen and I stayed at my room for a while. Few hours later, I go out of my room and guess what I’ve found out.
Seems like they also thought of what I was thinking that they also didn’t eat the last piece. Yes, the last piece was still at the kitchen and the crust was already hard. What a waste.
That’s also the case when I was with friends or other people, when it’s already the past piece, everyone’s line will be:
*“uy kainin niyo na ‘to, nagtira pa kayo”* (hey, eat it already. don't left the last piece)
Even though at the bottom of our hearts, we wanted the last piece!
It is also applicable on other things, foods rather. There are many times when we are eating our meal, my nephew don't usually eat with us so what we do is to left food for him. There are times that we wanted the food more but we are thinking about my nephew so we top ourselves from eating it and when afternoon came, he didn't even eat the food. Again, what a waste.
And that made me come up into a realization that that last piece of pizza can be considered as an opportunity. An opportunity that we should grab, not meant to be wasted.
Let’s treat it as a reminder that when we are offered with an opportunity, let’s grab it. Especially if we really want it. Let’s not let that last piece of pizza go to waste.
It’s nice to be thoughtful, thinking about others first but that’s not always the case. We can’t keep doing that and just let every opportunity in front of us to go to waste or to passed by.
Let’s also stop fearing what others would think about us. They’ll think we are greedy, so what? It’s high time that we should go for what we want and think about ourselves for once. Instead of saying *“kainin niyo na ‘to”* (eat it already)*,* let’s say *“uy, akin na ‘to ha”* (hey, I want it, I'm gonna eat it)*.*
There are plenty of opportunities that will come but that doesn’t mean we should waste one. Also, there are also rare opportunities that will only come once in a lifetime. It’s no or never and we can’t afford to waste it.
And that’s what pizza has thought me.
Opportunities aren’t always there so if you want it, get it. If you want it, go for it. Never let it go to waste. It's already on the tip of our hands so grab it and don’t let go of it. Let's not let ourselves reach the point where we are gonna regret our decision.
Hi. Thank you so much for reading this far. I hope you also realized something about this pizza analogy. If you still have time, you might want to take a read on my recent works. **The links are as follows:**
**The Sufficiency of Hope** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/the-sufficiency-of-hope-6efed7be
**Desperation** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/desperation-2b308aa8
**Dear Moms: Parenting Tips from an Aunt's Perspective** https://read.cash/@immaryandmerry/dear-moms-parenting-tips-from-an-aunts-perspective-c2626bbf
Article No. 147 - October 12, 2021
I just noticed it now. and yay! just wanna say thanks to Ate @Jane for the sponsorship. Thank you, ate!
The Sufficiency of Hope
As they say, we can live 40 days without food, 4 days without water, 4 minutes without air, but we can only live for few seconds without hope. Hope is what keeps us going, hope is so essential because the moment we lose it, we already stop living.
For this blog, I just want to discuss the sufficiency of hope. On how it can keep us alive, on how it can make us to keep going.
Hope is a wonderful gift from God, sufficient for our needs!
When we face life's harshest trial, **hope is the source of strength and courage.**
There are or there will be times in our lives where we will face trials. It never ends. We will undergo into different trials and there will be trials that are hard, harsh, the hardest, the harshest.
We can lose strength and courage that we can do it. But the hope within us can give us the courage and encouragement in facing that life's hardest and harshest trial.
When we are trapped in a tunnel of misery, **hope points to the light at the end.**
There will be darkest moment in our lives. We will all have our darkest times because of different reasons. Our worlds can be so dark, we may feel that we are trapped in this tunnel of misery but hope has the power to lead us towards the light at the end of this tunnel.
Just like this moon in the photo, it may be dark but the moon symbolizes the hope in our dark world. That no matter how small that hope is, it can be a reason for us to push through and reach the end of this tunnel of misery.
When we are overworked and exhausted**, hope gives us fresh energy.**
Maybe there are some of you who really feels exhausted and overworked but the hope to help your family can truly push you to have more energy to keep going.
The hope for a brighter tomorrow if you work hard can definitely push us to keep going.
For students, we can be so tired of doing our requirements but when we remember our dreams, the reason why we are studying, the hope to achieve it can renew our energy to keep going.
When we are discouraged, **hope lifts our spirits.**
When we lose confidence on what we are about to do, hope can give us the encouragement that we can do it.
When we are tempted to quit**, hope keeps us going.**
Life is hard and there will be times that quitting seems to be the easier option. But the hope that we can do it, that we can still do more is what keeps us going. It's what keeps us fighting instead of quitting.
When we struggle with a crippling disease or a lingering illness**, hope helps us persevere beyond the pain.**
For people who have illness, life can be literally so painful. They might feel helpless. It can hurt so bad that others are wishing to just die instead of undergoing that kind of pain.
When I was a kid, I even thought that I was dying just because of a toothache. Yes, it's that painful. But with the hope that we will experience healing and that pain will be all gone after some time, we keep fighting, we persevere beyond pain.
When we fear the worst**, hope brings reminder that God is in control.**
What are your fears? Are you worrying about tomorrow? Are you anxious with a decision you made? Do you have a lot of problems that you don't want tomorrow to come?
Do you feel helpess? Do you feel that you have nothing to do? Have hope and remember that God is in control, He got you.
When we are struggling**, hope lifts our morale.**
Everyday I am struggling. Struggles with time management, responsibilities and so many things. But despite all that struggles, I can still do my task with enthusiasm. I still view life with a positive attitude and that's because I have hope, and that hope is the one lifting my morale.
When we endure the consequences of bad decisions**, hope fuels our recovey.**
Bad decisions. We can always go wrong with that. And it hurts, some people do not recover from that. But hope gives us the thought that we could do better next time. That we can be wiser and smarter next time. That our decision can be right the next time. Hope fuels our recovery so that we can move on from our bad decision and be ready for the next one.
When we are forced to sit back and wait, **hope gives us the patience to trust.**
Waiting for exam result? Waiting for the grades? Or just like in a movie scene that we have to wait for a loved one who is undergoing surgery on the operating room?
Those are the situations that we are forced to sit back and wait, situations that we have nothing to do but to wait. But the hope gives us the patience and to trust that we did well on our exam or that the doctor who is operating our loved one is a great surgeon.
When we feel rejected and abandoned, **hope reminds us that we are not alone... and we will make it.**
God has written so many promises in the bible that He will be with us wherever we go. We may feel rejected and abandoned, but let's hope in the word of God that He is indeed with us. And that we are never alone and with Him, with His help, we can make it.
When someone we love say the final farewell, **hope of eternal life gets us through our grief.**
It's hard to lose a loved one. It is painful, really painful. But the hope that we can still see them someday in heaven gets us through our grief. It saves us from the pain, it helps us to move on and to move forward.
When life hurts and dreams fade**, nothing helps like HOPE.**
Hope is truly essential. It helps us in all aspects in our lives. So let us continue to be hopeful and make sure to never lose hope.
Thank you so much for reading this far. Till next time. :)
Article No. 146, October 11, 2021
Desperation
It is the first Korean drama to top Netflix’s top 10 weekly and it also became the top 10 most-watched TV show globally. Yes, it is Squid Game that I am talking about. You may not watch it yet but I assume you already heard about it.
I have this one thing that is lingering on my mind upon watching the whole series and it is the word **desperation**. All of the players have one thing in common, all of them have huge debts and their desperation for money leads them to do things that are unimaginable.
Desperation leads them to take the risk.
As what the famous Filipino saying goes, ***“ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit”.*** *(A desperate man in need, clings to the knife.)* Despite knowing the risks of the game, the players still decided to go back to the competition because they are so desperate that they didn’t have a choice but to cling on the knife knowing that their life is at stake.
That’s how it works too in reality. There are so many people who are so desperate that they are choosing to take the risk. There are people who are in desperate need of money that they resort to loans, to loan sharks, even though they’ll know that they will end up having more debts because of the huge interest. There are also people who are willing to do illegal things because of desperation to provide for their family.
Desperation leads them to cheat.
On the episode 6, Gi-hun or player 456 faces a moral dilemma. They were paired into two and in order to win, they have to get all the marbles. Being desperate to win, to stay alive, and to survive, he was about to lose but decided to cheat when he sees an opportunity to do so.
*How about you? How about us?* Have you ever faced a moral dilemma wherein you chose to do the bad thing because of the desperation to save yourself?
Desperation leads them to betrayal.
Pertaining to the same episode, Sang-woo or player 218 betrayed Ali or player 199 to save himself. Like Gi-hun, he’s already on the verge of losing when he deceived Ali into making a way to save both of them. Ali trusted him yet he betrayed his trust and chooses self-preservation because of his desperation to stay alive.
Have you already faced a similar situation as Sang-woo? Was there ever a time wherein you get to choose between others and yourself? Was there ever a situation wherein you betrayed someone just to save yourself? Like simply putting the blame to others instead of owning your own mistake?
Desperation leads them to look for ways.
Still with the same episode, Jang Deok-su or player 101 is also on the verge of losing already, he only have 1 marble left but because of the desperation to win the game, he was able to look for a way on how to turn the situation.
He was able to think of an idea to change the game and start over again. And in the end, he was able to win the game and survive.
I’m not saying that what he does is right but this is the only positive thing that the desperation has made in the film. And that is to look for ways even though it might feel that we’re already on the dead end.
To sum it up, desperation can lead us to do so many things. Things that we don’t think that we can do but we still did. Desperation seems to be a bad thing in this film and yes, it is bad. It leads them to kill, to betrayal, to forget their moral values because of the desperation to survive.
But that also made me realize that desperation is a nice factor to push us to our limits and to unleash our potential. That made me realize that we can do so much than what we could ever imagine, we just need to have the right forces for us to actually do so.
So, instead of thinking about the desperation negatively, why not treat it as the force that we need for us to do things that are unimaginable too, but not in a bad way.
*What if we became so desperate to learn?*
*What if we became so desperate to help?*
*What if we became so desperate to pursue our dreams?*
*What if we became so desperate to explore new things?*
*What if we became so desperate to change?*
Wouldn’t it drive us to do everything in our power to do all the things that we want to do because of so much desperation in wanting it. What I’m saying is that let’s use this desperation as our motivation to do more than what we can do right now. Let’s turn that desperation into motivation and let’s use that motivation for us to become so eager on what we want to do or to achieve.
**Let’s be desperate!**
I know I have to be confident on what I have written but can you please tell me if I did make some sense in here? You can be brutally honest like how brutal Squid Game is. LOL
Anyways, I appreciate you reading this far. Thank you so much. Till next time! :)
Article No. 146 - October 9, 2021
Dear Moms: Parenting Tips from an Aunt's Perspective
Parents knows best. Mothers knows best. Truly, any parent would not want anything bad for their child but no matter how hard parents try to raise up their child in a right way, the fact that there is no perfect parenting remains.
May it be their first born, second, third, fourth, and so on. There is no perfect formula on being a perfect parent. It feels like trial and error that they have to do again and again.
Parents could not do all the parenting alone and that’s where Aunts will enter to the picture. I don’t know if it is also the practice to other country but here in the Philippines, we have this so-called ***“titang ina”*** or the aunts who helps their siblings on taking care of their niece or nephew.
Fortunately, a **certified tita** here! We have a huge family. I have 6 more siblings, all of them have already child/children of their own and I now have 13 nieces and nephews in total. 16 years old boy is the eldest and an 11 months old baby girl is the youngest.
I have taken care almost all of them and even though mother knows best, after all those years of taking care of the kids, I have learned a thing or two about parenting that I think moms should know. Also, other aunts should know this too because I know that we are capable of spoiling the kids too much.
The concept of losing.
Most of the kids these days wants to take the win and as parents or guardian, we have to make them understand that they can’t always win. One thing that I do to my nephew for him to understand this concept is by playing a game.
Sometimes, we’ll go racing. Sometimes I let him win, sometimes I let him lose. And when he loses, I always tell him that it’s okay. And It is just so amazing how kids are so smart these days that they can easily understand things if we will only explain it to them carefully.
And so, when we are having a race, he simply says *“I win”* if he wins and if he loses, he can easily say *“I lose”* or *“Tita, you win.”*
Maybe it doesn’t makes sense for him now, maybe he still doesn’t fully understand but what’s important is that on his simple mind, he already knows that he can either win or lose and whatever the result is, it’s okay.
No means no.
Kids are so stubborn these days. They always want to have what they want and, in this case, our role is make them understand that they can’t get everything that they want. This one is hard especially when they started crying and our hearts will instantly melt and that will make us give in to them.
But as parents or guardians, we have to be tough. A no is a no especially if what they are asking is not good for them. May it be another bar of chocolate or another hour using a gadget. If we keep spoiling them, the more that it’ll be harder for us to discipline them when they grow up.
Give them a room for mistake.
If adults can make mistakes, of course children do too. There are parents who are strict and as parents it is really needed but not too much because it can bring fear to the kid. Instead of developing respect, there’s a chance that they can develop fear especially if they will be facing a punishment on their every mistake.
They can make a mess, they can break things, they can be so careless but let’s not lash out on them. They are children, they are naturally noisy, hyper and all that. Just let them enjoy their childhood. Make them feel free. Let them make a mess, let them make mistake.
Discipline them.
No means no is a way of disciplining them. Another thing, although we are giving them room for mistakes, we also have to let them know that there is a limit to everything.
I honestly don’t know how we were able to do it but my 4-year-old nephew is already kind of disciplined for his age. He understands when we say no. He stops using gadget when he told him it’s enough. When he wants another chocolate but he already ate a lot, all we have to do is to tell him *“Tomorrow again”* and he will respond with a simple *“okay”***.**
He's not perfect of course, there are still times that we are having a hard time disciplining him but the most important thing here is to remember that they are children and we have to take it easy. We can give in to them sometimes but not all the time. That’s how we will draw the line.
Another part of discipling them is to teach them not to be picky with their foods. Kids doesn’t like veggies; I don’t like it either but they have to eat it. Also, using gadgets is very normal these days but make sure to limit their screen time.
Teach them good things and be their role model.
Children are so smart these days and what they can see, hear, and whatever we told them, they will remember. I know it’s fun when they follow what we told them like hitting their older sibling and the likes. It is funny and it is meant to be a joke but, in their mind, whatever we do is right. They will remember it and they will follow it.
So, it is important that we will only show them good things and let us stop those silly jokes that can really make them looks so adorable but definitely not good.
Let me cut these tips here for now. These are just few things I noticed that we should do in terms of raising up the kids.
**One last thing, teach them their mother tongue!** Kids who speaks English here seems to be so smart but we have our own language and dialect that they should learn too. *This is one mistake we made actually.* My nephew started schooling 2 weeks ago and we are now struggling on his mother tongue subject.
Our mother tongue is Tagalog, he can understand and speak Tagalog but he’s more used into speaking English so it is really a struggle for us right now. They were asked to pray in Tagalog and he’s having a hard time in speaking all the words. He sounded like a foreigner who’s learning how to speak Tagalog. LOL.
And this one is kind of funny. There’s a part on his module wherein there are images of animals and he have to identify what kind of animal it is and what kind of sound does that animal produce. It was supposed to be easy only that it is in Filipino.
There’s an image of a dog and he doesn’t know what’s the Tagalog of dog. We said it is *“aso”* and thankfully, he easily remembers that. And when we asked him what’s the sound of the *aso*, he said *“arf arf”* instead of *“aw aw”* which is the Tagalog version of it. LOL.
He's just so adorable but still, we have to acknowledge that we made a mistake on this one and that we have to teach him right from now on. On second thought, we really didn’t teach him English, he just learned that on YouTube. He also knows Tagalog, he’s just having a hard time pronouncing it.
This feels like out of context already but what can I do, I just adore my nephew so much. Anyways, I appreciate you reading this far. *To moms, dads, aunts and uncles out there*, may we be able to have enough wisdom and knowledge for us to raise up and teach the kids better.
Truly, there is no perfect formula in parenting but on everything that we do, on every trial and error that we make, we always learn something and we can always apply it the next time. And the fact that we are not perfect is also the reason why we are the best and the coolest parents, uncles or aunts that the kids could have.
Thank you so much for reading. Till next time! :)
Article No. 145 – October 8, 2021
Delving into the Depths of the Unknown
**05 October 2021**
For months now, I have been consistently setting goals and that feels like already a tradition in here. Setting goals is nice, it helps me improve and it makes it easier for me to monitor my progress. However, I have been thinking about this since the beginning of this month, I was contemplating whether to set new goals or not.
And I ended up into a decision to not make another one. I have a lot of realizations from the past month and I just feel like though I am growing, it has been a very slow growth. The feeling of achieving the target goal is also nice, very nice actually but I just feel like, it is already being routinary.
I also find it as the reason for my slow growth because it feels like I am just going in circles, I am trapped inside and the coverage of my movement was very limited. That is why instead of setting boundaries for myself through setting goals, I decided that this month will be a month of exploration for me.
A month of exploration.
I wanted to grow and I can only do that if I try and discover new things. I have been meaning to learn since then but I lack the will to actually do so. I am too lazy to actually make an effort to feed my curiosity.
On this month, I fill focus on where I am lacking and I will take my time studying the things that I want to know. I will surely take my time because as much as I want to grow, I am also fully aware that change or growth doesn't happen overnight. But honestly, I still don't know what I want to changeand what I want to learn, the only plan I have right now is to discover new things that is out of my comfort zone.
Also, I want to focus on my self development. I know I did grow and learn a lot from the past months but as I have said, the growth was slow. Growth is growth, no matter how slow it is, yes, I know that. But I also know that I can still push myself to do something about it so might as well do what I can do.
Need to improve.
Instead of setting another set of goals which I will set how many articles I plan to published this month, how many articles should I read in a day, I just really wanted to focus more on my content.
8 months have passed and I still feel lost sometimes. I know my niche but I am so guilty about publishing thoughtless contents for so many times. My readers doesn't deserve that.
**Well-written article**
I became used to writing and publishing my article immediately without even proofreading it and I'm aware that it often results to both typographical and grammatical errors.
**Lacks reading**
I used to love reading the works of others back then but now, as much as I want to blame it on my busy schedule, I know that a big reason why I don't read that much anymore is because I just don't feel like reading, I am too lazy to read. I really want to bring back my enthusiasm about reading the work of others like before.
**Stuck somewhere in the cryptoverse**
I have said for a hundred time that I wanted to learn yet I'm not doing an effort to actually learn. 8 months and still a noob. I want to explore, I want to learn, I want to relate. So maybe I'll finally dive in the cryptoverse.
This feels like a wide see that I am about to swim but let's see how far and how deep I can go with this plan of mine.
**Procrastination**
This is the part where I am acing and it's bad. This is the very reason why I feel so unproductive and this is also the reason why I am stuck because it keeps me from moving. I really need to discipline myself so that I can finally avoid this.
Discover new talents.
I have this strong urge in me that I want to try new things which I can't even name. I wanted to write different things from what I usually write. I wanted to try writing a story even though I am not good at it.
I love taking pictures so I really wanted to improve my photography skills. I will invest my time into this thing until I'm finally satisfied with what I can do.
I am also interested into computers these days. Anything under the information technology. It makes me want to know more about literally anything. This is just really frustrating, to have the urge to want to learn something but don't exactly know what is that something.
I also want to improve my editing skills. May it be publication materials, photos, invitations or even videos. I just thought I wanted to try and practice these editing stuffs.
Calligraphy also caught my attention. I've watched some tutorials but haven't actually tried it so maybe it's time for me to finally try it.
I also want to expand my vocabulary and to learn more about English which I really find fascinating. Surprisingly, I used to hate Science but it also caught my interest lately.
There are really a lot of things that I want to try so just like what I have said, I will not be bounded by goals this time. I don't even have a solid plan, what I know and what I want is to enter different doors that will lead me to discovery.
I feel like I'm in a crisis right now by not really knowing what I want so I'll just be here somewhere, wandering around, trying and trying until I can finally find what I really want.
I feel so lost but I know that I have to begin somewhere and this is that somewhere. I hope that somehow, I can put all these plans into action.
**This is odd.**
Hey there! Thank you so much for reading this far. Apologies for bringing you to my misery. I just really have this feeling which I can't name. I don't know what I want, or maybe there is too many things that I want that I feel so lost on where to start.
This is really odd. But now that it is slightly getting clearer, I can see so many things that I am lacking but this is not me putting myself down. This is me acknowledging areas where I need improvement. Those areas needs to be addressed and that's my only plan for now. No rules, no time limit. I will awaken all these potentials within me and I will delve into a world that is full of discovery.
Good luck to my new endeavor this time.
Cheers to another month! I hope that all may go well with you.
:)
`Article #144`
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