When you were given more than what you've asked for!
I hope you are well mates!
I am very happy to tell you that I have earned more than $100 for this month. This is the second time, the first $100 happened more than a year ago. And I am not sure how much I have tipped but I finally experienced having that diamond beside my username lol. It is grey and I know it means something. Another achievement for me! (I did wish I will have that badge someday) Thank you read, I mean everyone. Including you, yes! You, who are reading this right now!
I already stated in my previous article that November has been kind, it is an understatement. It has been generous :) It opened up to the world of possibilities to me. I just hope that the tips I've given about freewriting will help you in creating content.
Anyways, I have achieved all my goals for this month and I still have extra left. I placed it in our wallets for our day-to-day expenses.
How do I feel when I am given more than what I have asked for? I feel blessed because the opportunity to earn and learn has been given to me despite being a full-time mom. I am humbled because of the support each and everyone has given me since the beginning. And I am happy because I get to meet more readers and authors here on read and I get to inspire people with my articles.
And whenever I doubt myself, I always say "Trust the Higher Power. Do your best and let go". And I never get disappointed.
I have faith in my journey here on read and I pass that faith unto you.
Here is just the recap of the BCH sent to my **coins.ph** account in pesos this November:
1st week: 967
2nd week: 1340
3rd week: 1538
4th week: 1230
Total: 5,075
Excluding tips. http://coins.ph/
Just a little segway. My eldest is having a sleepover in our room. Both of my kids were having a hard time adjusting to our sleeping setup. I could see Saoirse misses her sister so much that she slept beside her. The first time Bam had a sleep-over, Saoirse held her hand while they were both asleep. I couldn't contain the love I feel for them and I just wanna share it with you. I am sending love, please accept it!
So when you're given more than you've asked for, be joyful, thankful, and celebrate! And I wish you more BCH as well for December and the rest of the year.
TO MY SPONSORS, SUBSCRIBERS, UPVOTERS, AND COMMENTERS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Too-da-loo,
**Glessa**
The lead image was created via Canva.com and the rest of the content is mine
This is my entry for December 1, 2021.
How I manage my time being a full-time mom and a writer here on read.
The struggle is real, isn't it? Who here stays longer at night just to be online here on read and noise? Raise your hands. Those who are only free when the babies are asleep or with their daddies and nannies? Say, amen. Amen!
Since I became active here on read again, I've been through a lot of challenges. Sometimes I'd be annoyed when my kid cries upon finding out I am not beside her when she's teething, or she just feels like it. Power tripping, lol. And of course, the kids come first so I always seize the moment whenever I have the chance to engage in the community after I publish my article. I am not so good at time management but sir Ed's freewriting tips helped me a lot, thank you.
How did sir Ed's tips help me out with being a mom and a writer here on read?
I use my phone's memo app whenever something crosses my mind, whatever topic it is. Then when Saoirse's playing and I am done with noise, I try to write the title and begin the topic. I am not pressuring myself to finish it in one sitting. In fact, I have several titles on my memo, some were finished and I give it a "feel" whether or not Rusty and my audience will like it. If I like it, I send it to my email and put it on my drafts on read.
Then I go on with my chores as per normal. The "Eureka" moments were usually giving me great topics so I try to remember or write them right away. Just like this article that I am doing now. It just crossed my mind. If you're familiar with the topic, you're comfortable with what you're talking about, the words will just flow smoothly from your head. You don't have to try hard. Just relax.
And I'll tell you a secret. Say this on your mind, "I am receptive, I need an inspiration, a topic for my article on read. Thank you, thank you, thank you". You will be surprised that the Universe will give you what you're asking for after a few seconds, minutes, or within the day. Please write it or don't forget it. It will be given to others if you will not give importance to its grace.
My technique might not work for you, but it does for me. I save a lot of time and I am getting better at writing. Sometimes, I already have a topic for the next day and so forth. Who doesn't want that? When my babies are outside or when Saoirse is busy playing on the table, I stay here on read for a few minutes to upvote and comment. And I still have some spare time to enjoy the outdoors with my kids. I am happy that I am able to do what I love! Just like today, we went outside for a walk and I bought ice cream for my girls. And I am grateful that at the same time, my earnings here are increasing.
I think God has answered my prayers!
I hope I shared something relevant to you today, my friends. December is coming and I hope November has been good to you.
TO MY SPONSORS, SUBSCRIBERS, UPVOTERS, AND COMMENTERS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Too-da-loo,
**Glessa**
-The lead image and the rest of the content are mine unless stated otherwise.
November 30, 2021
My kids, my ultimate source of happiness!
"Mommy, why is the phone number like that? Is it supposed to be 87000?", Bam innocently asked.
"No it's Jollibee's phone number, different companies have different phone numbers, anak", I explained. Then I heard a loud sound...Beep beep beep totototototot!
And I suspiciously asked my daughter"Bam, what are you doing?", She answered, "I am trying to order a Blackforest cake!". She's been dying to taste it for days.
My goodness, I am glad there's no SIM on the phone, otherwise, I might be forced to pay for food I didn't order worst, I don't have money to pay. She doesn't know about cash on delivery in Shopee and Lazada yet so I am safe. For now.
Today, Sunday, we were invited by the 1st death anniversary of my inlaw's close friend so we went to our neighbor's house. The house was posh and it was Saoirse's first time to see a swimming pool. She was pointing at it for a few minutes until her dad removed her shoes and put her feet on the water.
I was surprised that she already know how to kick her feet and she really wanted to have a swim! Her mouth was widely opened with happiness. I laughed because of her gesture. And how I wished we could go to the beach soon so she and her elder sister could enjoy it. Or a staycation in SM Trees Residences will do so they could enjoy the swimming pool.
Saoirse, the cheeky baby already knows when to say "hello" whenever we sing "Five little monkeys"! She would also act as if she has a phone.
She also tries to oink when I say "Peppa Pig!". She is so cute, my heart wants to just butst with happiness and love.
Then she already knows how to say "No" with a shaking head and a pointing finger. She also head bangs when she likes music, waves her hands whenever she hears "Let it Go", and shakes her head when she pretends to cook and stir the food.
While I was writing this blog, she suddenly cried because she was bitten by an ant so we had to bathe her immediately. And I asked, "Where is the ant?", then she pointed at the play area. It's her milestone! And I am so happy being there at her many firsts unlike her ate.
I am in love with my kids especially my baby Saoirse and it gets intense day by day. I am thankful that we have a little baby, otherwise, being at home due to the pandemic will be very boring and lonesome. My eldest, Bam, is always with her phone so yeah we have fewer bonding moments. But still, my kids are my ultimate source of happiness!
What does your baby do my friends? Does she or he make silly gestures as well? Let's have a chat about the joys of parenthood!
TO MY SPONSORS, SUBSCRIBERS, COMMENTERS, AND UPVOTERS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Too-da-loo,
**Glessa**
The lead image and the rest of the content is mine unless stated otherwise.
November 29, 2021
I am out of control!
"Let go of my dede (breast )and just sleep", I commanded my infant while she's asleep sucking my left breast. 1... 2... 3... 4... 5...Ahhh freedom, she finally released it. I have been doing this mental telepathy thing since time immemorial.
Funny when I could feel people's emotions and access their minds at the same time. I am afraid, having these abilities could be dangerous. That's why I am trying not to meditate. Because the higher my frequency, the powerful I become.
Do you know how emotions appear to me? Like that radio frequency, up and down. I know it when someone's not sincere, lying, or jealous. The negative emotions oftentimes hit me like a gong or a softball.
I don't like what's happening in my life so it's time for a change. I started with Vince. His mind is kind of weird to explore so I am not gonna go deeper into his subconscious, it will only make me cry. I meditated for 30 mins just to do this and I could see my fingernails grew half an inch in within a day.
"Why don't you try look for a job?", I told him through my mind. After a few seconds, he sat on his desk and started opening the browser, searched for Jobstreet.com and checked on available jobs. I wanted to laugh, my mojo never fails me. He then said," You updated my resume right? I need it, I want to apply for this TL position". "Oh, it's in your personal folder just on your desktop", I replied.
And my lazy daughter, Elie, I instructed her to clean her room through my mind again and I was happy to see her doing what I wanted.
I started to use my ability to everyone in the house which I have never, ever, done before. I think I am playing fire, but I swear I won't let them do something harmful for my advantage. Jay-ar, who used to be messy in the CR nows clean it every day. Rena now makes sure she picks up their stuff after they use the play area. Everything is doing well inside the house and I am happy.
But for how long can I do this? Don't they have their own intellect to do their business without someone telling them to do so?
And I have gone beyond the border. I won't let them eat without me giving the go signal, the babies won't sleep until I say so, including my own. I have seen how tired my in-laws were because I let them sort their things and clean the house. I got addicted to what I can do. I am now power tripping and I am beginning to lose my empathy to which I am supposed to be good at. I am afraid I have started to absorb my partner's apathetic behavior and I am losing control!
I couldn't take things anymore so I started packing my bags and left a letter for my kids.
"Mommy loves you both very much but I got to figure something out first. I will be back before you know it. Please take care of your baby sister, Elie."
I left when everyone's asleep. I only brought the laptop and my backpack containing several clothes. I will still continue publishing here on read because this is my strongest support system for now. I want to write my new experiences, my new adventure, my new life so I could keep my sanity and clarity. Plus, I think Rusty will miss me.
I don't know where else to go but I just wanna run away to a place where no one recognizes me....
And I hope you like this fiction of mine. I thought I'd give you something new. Where do you think I should go? Am I welcome in your home?
To my sponsors, subscribers, commenters, and upvoters: THANK YOU, ALWAYS, VERY MUCH!
Too-da-loo,
**Glessa**
The lead image was from Unsplash.com and the rest of the content is mine
This is for November 28, 2021
Happy Thanksgiving Day to all our friends in the US of A! I miss having this day as my day off when I used to work lol. Now I have all the day off that I want.
May this day be a reminder for us to be thankful for what we have and at the same time, a push for us to aim for the dreams that we have in life. Cheers mates!
My mother's dream, my sacrifice.
I stared at myself, "You're a goddess Aurora! Now, why won't you do something about it?", I was talking to that pretty girl in front of the mirror. Oh, was it me? Yeah me. When suddenly, "I am tired of being poor!", my mother cried while she's looking at our ripe fruits which we either have to sell right away or give to our neighbor's pigs. I was inside our little storage room, preparing to go to school while listening to her complaint.
I know I need to help my mother, but it has to be after I graduated college. Can't she wait? I am only 19! I gaze at her- her wrinkled face, sad eyes, weary shoulders. And those lips, I wish I could give you a little happiness just to see them smile, Mama. She was beautiful but she seemed to be carrying the world every day.
My phone vibrated. "I have something for you Au, you don't have to sell a kidney to buy an iPhone!", Carol texted me. "We'll meet later at school for that very important "job or offer". I am curious as to what it was. I don't want some iPhone, geez. I just want to make my mother happy, even for a moment.
I took one last glance at myself before I bid goodbye to my mother.
"Why am I beautiful, but poor?" I sadly asked myself. My mother told me her parents were full-blooded French who immigrated here to the Philippines because of the tropical climate and the beaches. Unfortunately, they died while my mother was still a teenager leaving her in the care of her relatives who spent all their money. She met my Filipino father when she was 17 and got impregnated. She wasn't happy ever since, except when she had me.
I look like my grandma- I have golden brown, wavy hair, red, kissable lips, fair complexion, and a model-like height. My friends would either call me "beauty or giant"...I didn't know I am beautiful until my friends told me I was.
"We can sell our "eggs" for 200,000 pesos per successful procedure!", Carol can't stop talking about how much we can have and what we could do with our money.
"We only sell fruits and vegetables!", I exclaimed.
"Silly girl! I mean the eggs inside your body! ", while she was pointing at my tummy.
"What?", I am still clueless.
"We will go to a special clinic and say we are willing to sell our egg cells. Once they have the egg cells, they will give us money! Easy peasy. You will still have both kidneys and you can sell your egg cells again! Maybe we can become millionaires!", Carol continued.
But the clinic was interested in my egg cells only because of my genes. They rejected Carol's and offered her to be a surrogate instead, to her horror.
"Give me some tips ha!, I recommended this job to you! I will be your manager or PR or PA!", Carol demanded.
I couldn't believe it. I sold my future babies! Was there something left for me? Will I still become a mom someday? I know I will, I brushed my silly thoughts away.
The clinic deposited 400,000 to my bank account. I was healthy enough to undergo 2 procedures. My eggs, please don't fail me.
I couldn't contain my excitement. For the first time, I bought a decent smartphone and some new, trendy outfits. I now also have skincare items like lotions, facial cleansers, facial wash, etc. I got mama her new shoes and her favorite food, Pansit Palabok.
She was surprised by the shopping bags she saw when she got home.
"Don't open the store tomorrow, I'm gonna treat you for a staycation!", I excitedly told mama.
I saw a smile on her lips, she wanted to experience living comfortably even for a day and I'm gonna give it to her.
So we went to Tagaytay and checked in to Santorini Residences. We rested first, then ate at a first-class restaurant, and strolled around Tagaytay in a black Mercedes. We were a thousandaire for a few days. And I made the right decision by making my mother's dream a reality. A sacrifice that I am willing to pay.
And I hope you liked my short story, my friends. If you were Aurora, would you do the same for your mother? Let me know your thoughts!
Thank you very much,
Glessa
November 27, 2021
The lead image was from Unsplash.com and the rest of the content is mine.
What matters to you might be taken away in seconds...Beware!
November 26, 2021
I was trying to log in to my Morpher account last night to check my portfolio and I noticed how slow it was so I decided to clear my browsing history. I chose the 7 days period. I knew it would resolve the lag. I forgot that it will log me off on all the websites I always visit including read. And I noticed that I had to log in again and my seed phrase was deleted from the browser. I checked my email, it wasn't there! And I remember sending it to my partner so I woke him up at 12:00am just to get his laptop.
I was able to recover my read wallet, I couldn't forgive myself if I'll lose a little tip in there.
Funny how something or someone we value can be easily taken, erased, deleted, or burned on a whim. Especially if we work so hard on it or love that person very much. Could we bear the loss? Perhaps, for how long? And I realize that we've been given blessings for free from Heaven and we oftentimes neglect or take them for granted.
For instance:
**Good health**- they say it is wealth because it is really true. We can buy medicine, pay the hospital, etc. But if it's too late for those, all the money in the world isn't enough to get good health back.
**Life**- we only have one for this lifetime yet some people disregard how precious life is by abusing illegal substances, smoking too hard, working too much, not taking enough rest, etc. We aren't getting any younger day by day so we better be kind to ourselves.
**Time**- a valuable commodity that most of us waste by being unproductive. Let's aim to reach a simple goal every day: it can be spending more quality time with our kids, partners, yourself by doing what you love. Being idle is healthy but laziness is another issue.
**Motherhood**- this isn't given to all women, some are willing to pay a hefty amount for procedures just to experience motherhood so be proud and be thankful that you are a mom. It is difficult to raise a child, why not grow with them? They are wonderful teachers. They teach us to be happy in small things and they are very forgiving.
**Your job**- not all of us are blessed to still have jobs when the pandemic started. Be thankful for having one. Show to work on time and be kind to your boss and teammates. Your company might not be perfect but if you are treated well and justly compensated, then there's no reason to complain.
**Your read access or wallet details**- Except you wanted to make a new account and there's no money in your wallet but what if you have like $10 or more? Aren't you gonna feel bad about it? I do, I was panicking last night. I felt like I ran in a marathon after I had my wallet back.
My friends, let us save our seed phrases and the special link, what is it called? So we won't lose our BCH. It's easy to start again but at the back of your mind, you know you'd regret losing Rusty's rewards. And you'll need to impress him again lol. You're already good at it, I know, I am just trying to make this article longer.
**So please be reminded my dear friends to take care of yourself and those that matter to you.**
**To my sponsors, subscribers, commenters, and upvoters: DAGHAN KAAYONG SALAMAT**
Too-da-loo!
**Glessa**
The lead image was from Unsplash.com and the rest of the content is mine.
What my future house should have!
November 25, 2021
G'day, mate!
I was looking at our room, man, it badly needs some renovation. We tried to have the leaks repaired but it still does and I know something hasn't been right since it was built including the electrical wirings. It made me wish for better days where we can finally have the whole house repaired.
Are you familiar with the Kramer family? It is probably one of the best houses in the Philippines that I've ever seen because aside from its magnificent location and design, it's an eco-friendly house.
Know what? I dreamt of transforming the 100th Jollibee store in BGC as a house. You should visit it. The place is cozy and the location is perfect because it's near to the malls and the schools.
If I could build my own house, it should be an eco-house. I will definitely invest in the technology to make it and I don't want to pay a lot for the electricity and water for the rest of my life.
The first thing I wanna have is a rain saver**.** It rains almost the entire year, why not save and store? I would build underground water storage that could hold a lot of it with a high-tech filtering system to filter and remove harmful bacteria. The water will be used for the shower, comfort rooms, plants, and washing the car. The water for washing the dishes and clothes will be recycled too.
Second, I will have my solar panels to light the entire house up**.** It will also include all the power outlets and the electrical appliances. My air conditioning and heating system will be powered with the help of geothermal energy. I will have some standby generators in case of emergencies.
I will have my dirty kitchen so that I could use firewoods because they make the food more delicious and aromatic compared to gas stoves or heat conductors. And I will also have my very own brick oven just like Li Ziqi so I can make my own pizza and unleavened bread.
My house will also have its own state-of-the-art clinic in case someone gets badly hurt and help is either late or unavailable. All rooms have their dial-up and VOIP (Voice Over Internet) phone system so someone can call either the police, fire, or hospital during emergencies.
The entire lot has its own security - a facial and motion detection system in case of intruders and burglars. It will automatically lock the other parts of the house for safety and the intruders will be stuck where they are.
And all the rooms will also have their secret hideout and tunnel that connects to a safe house.
Aside from this technical stuff, the aesthetics would be a rose garden on the rooftop where we could hang out to watch the stars at night. There will be a large telescope so my kids could study or just plainly appreciate the constellations.
And my own room will have a one-way glass ceiling so I could look at the sky every night. Most of my bathroom will look like the beach so I could spend my time there just relaxing. And a part of my bathroom will have a tub surrounded by bamboos and exotic orchids.
We will have a backyard pool and a jacuzzi if someone gets lazy and just wanna sit down and read.
I guess I need to spend 100 million or more on my dream house. The prize I won from the lottery was 33 million. My friends, I am overdraft!
What is your dream house, my friend? Are you working on it?
TO MY SPONSORS, SUBSCRIBERS, COMMENTERS, AND UPVOTERS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Too-da-loo!
**Glessa**
The lead image was from Unsplash.com, the rest is mine unless stated otherwise.
Nothing serious for today, seriously!
November 24, 2021
G'day mate!
We are almost at the end of the month my friends and I believe November is being kind to me. I will tell you later.
I went out today for some errands. My eldest's modules were already available so I went to her school, for the first time in almost 2 years, and got her modules. Gosh, I almost lost myself finding the highway! I was so silly. My presence of mind saved me.
And I was waiting for the jeepney but got impatient. Someone was waiting like me, she looked so chill. My conscience told me, "Just relax and sit like that lady and the jeep will come". But I got impatient and started walking. I was already near the Rotonda or roundabout when the jeepney arrived. I felt embarrassed with myself. I didn't listen to my instinct. I got tired for silly reasons, again.
When I was on the jeepney, I was the only one wearing a face shield! I felt so out of place but I thought of my kids' safety and I felt a lot better.
The mall was packed with kids. I actually don't agree with allowing them to go inside the mall. We are putting them in danger. The vaccinated 12-17 years olds for me, can do so but not the unvaccinated ones. We all agreed in the house that the kids won't go out unless they have their jabs.
So what are my takeaways for today?
To not be afraid to try the unknown. It's overwhelming at first but we gotta use our heads. It's there for a reason. The presence of mind is crucial, it can save us from putting ourselves in an uncomfortable situation. And if we are, let us be calm, use our head, and we can definitely find our way out.
Sometimes we need to be patient and trust we are taken care of but we tend to be stubborn and do things our way. Like the jeepney, it was pretty obvious that it will be there to take me to my destination but I tried to walk. It still arrived in the end. I wasted my time and effort walking rather than sitting and saved my energy. Raise your hands if you've been like me.
There is nothing wrong with being different especially if you're doing the right thing (in general- not wearing a face shield is okay now). Be unique and be bold. Do not be ashamed of your originality. If you're out of place, perhaps that company is not for you. Be comfortable having yourself as your company. There is nothing sexier than someone who is confident and content with himself.
I talked about November as a kind month to me. Yeah, it is because I have exceeded my earnings in the previous months! Thank you so much read and also noise. Because of you I bought my Saoirse an Aveeno lotion for 437 pesos, used 500 when Bam got sick, sent 1320 for my parents' flowers and snacks for Mama's 40th day, and now, I just bought Saoirse's diaper and our toiletries.
I feel so blessed, so thank you to my ever-supportive platform and community!
So always be thankful, trust, and believe that you will be provided and it will happen. Do not despair and your grace will flow.
I went home exhausted and felt kind of getting sick so I rested and I am so much better now. How did your day go mate?
To my sponsors, subscribers, upvoters, and commenters: **THANK YOU VERY MUCH!**
Too-da-loo,
**Glessa**
The lead image was from Unsplash.com and the rest of the content is mine.
Me through the years!
November 23, 2021
I wanted to do the "How hard did life hit you challenge"- a trending challenge based on Facebook but I decided to use a different title.
Warning: There will be lots of selfies, my friends, so beware.
And each photo speaks a thousand words (I couldn't write a thousand though because it will take me a while) because I have gone through different phases of my life on each one. Some were sad, some were happy.
Let's start.
**The dreamer**
When I went to Manila after graduating, I was full of hopes and dreams- that I would be able to support my parents and pay them back. I wanted them to live a comfortable life and enjoy their remaining days. I dreamt of supporting my family the way my idol, Mommy Glo did so we could have better lives. I was a workaholic, rendering overtime despite my rest days. And I learned to value my health after being sick and broke buying the medicine. But I still pushed to dream for my family. Then I met a wonderful guy and had a good few months with him. It was a long, distant, relationship. He was about to propose before we broke up. Life can be surprising, true or true? And I learned that no matter how uncomfortable our situations are, it will always change for change is the only constant thing in life.
**The heartbroken**
Haha, sorry if I am so GGSS or Gandang Ganda Sa Sarili (Narcissistic). I took a selfie to validate that I think I look beautiful in my own way. And I respect that we agree to disagree my friends. I've gone through a lot in this picture. I just found out that my boyfriend was cheating on me, aside from the fact that he has 2 kids with someone else and they were living together. I was trying to pull myself up. I did, with the help of my close friends. I learned that having great friends is a blessing. They kept me sane amidst my crazy life.
**The friend**
Earl is my soul mate, I believe. We have the same sentiments and likes in life. But he liked men. He had a very sad love story so spare him of your judgment and I hope you aren't really judging him. I am a friend to this wonderful person. He kept me sane throughout my stay in Makati. He was always supportive of me. I considered him as one of my best friends. And I wish we could be friends forever. Because I wanna be there for him in every way. We are no longer talking right now and I hope he still thinks of me as a friend.
**The game-changer**
I was in the epitome of my youth, lol during this time. I was really having the time of my life! I loved my job, my friends, I was socializing, and I have been traveling locally. This picture was taken during a friend's wedding in Bataan. The best year for me was between 2011-2013, and this one's in 2013. After this, I went on a vacation with my grandmother in Bulacan. She came from California and we had a good time catching up. We went out for dinner and other stuff almost every day, I never thought that it's really tiring to be invited by different people lol. And I met rich people and I felt awkward. Then my grandma planned to petition me so I could go to the USA and help our family when I have a stable career. I never felt so excited and privileged in my life!
**The expectant**
But then, tada! I got pregnant! To be honest, I was advised to get rid of the baby because of the plans my relatives had for me but I decided to keep my baby and be a single mom. I didn't want to have a troubled life with my ex. And I am proud that I did my best in raising my child, it might not be the best on what others think but I know I did. I went through hell and back for my child. She's now 7 and she's so smart and wonderful. I've been through a lot in life, nothing I can handle especially when I become a mom.
**The believer**
When Bam was 5 months, I sent her to Mindanao to live with her cousins. So my mama and my nephews took care of her. It was so difficult at first, but I had to do it so we could survive. I stayed here in Manila and lived with my college friend. I started again and believed that I could do it. I was able to find a new, better-paying job and supported my child and my mama. It was not an easy phase but I trusted that God will be there for me every step of the way, He will give me strength, and the courage to go on. I had a misunderstanding with that friend I lived with and we ended the friendship. I realized that we have to let go of some people in our lives if the relationship is becoming too unhealthy and invasive of our personal space. I did ask for forgiveness a few years after that incident. It wasn't because I was at fault, because I wanted to make peace with my past.
**The optimist**
I mentioned an incident with an ex-friend. There was some trouble that fateful night and she wasn't there when I was harassed. I needed to get out before I get hurt and a taxi driver became my angel. He safely drove me to a friend's house who offered me to stay for free until I find my own room. And my old friends came to the rescue. I was able to transfer to my new boarding house in Makati near my first boarding house. I was happy because I got to see my old friends again. I realized that change can happen drastically, it might not be how we wanted it to be, but it can be a blessing in disguise. I was positive that the world has smiled on me again and my life has changed for the better!
**The risk-taker**
Heartbreak after heartbreak, pain after pain, I endured them all. Life can sometimes be tumultuous but we gotta ride on the waves of challenges and sail to the kind of life, the quality of life we want and that is a smooth-sailing life. We gotta take the risk, otherwise, we will have the if's and but's in our minds forever.
I took the risk, the chance of having this relationship I have right now. I know what I want and I know where I wanna go. I shall see if the co-captain has the same vision as well or else, the boat will sink. For now, I am thinking of grabbing my lifeboat but I am not at the point yet of shouting SOS lol. I shall do whatever I can in my power to steer this boat in the right direction.
Shall I post my latest pic? I decided not to so you won't be disappointed haha. I lost my self-confidence but I gained weight. I will leave it up to you how I look in your imagination.
So, my friends, that was me through the years.
To my sponsors, subscribers, commenters, upvoters: **THANK YOU VERY MUCH!**
Too-da-loo,
**Glessa**
All images are mine unless stated otherwise.
The deeper meaning of the rainbow and the pot of gold.
November 22, 2021
If you happen to remember the ark of Noah. When God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights, flooded the Earth, and killed all creations except for those who were inside the ark? God made a promise to not do it again. He told Noah to look at the sky and look at the rainbow to remind him of God's promise. And God kept it. Despite the massive floodings on the Earth, most of us are still alive.
My kid asked one time after seeing a rainbow, "Mom, is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?", and I said, "No"..She was sad knowing that it wasn't true.
But the rainbow has a deeper meaning and there is actually a pot of gold at the end of it. What does each color represent?
Red- means love, the most powerful emotion in the world. If not, the whole universe. It's the ultimate reason why Jesus died for humanity. It is the purpose of every human, to love and be loved. However, the color red is also associated with anger. Wonder why these two extreme opposites are of the same color? Because love makes us vulnerable. It makes us angry when someone we love is hurt, or in pain, because we might not have been there to guide and to protect him or her.
Orange- it represents fun. Life is boring without entertainment, without fun. Some people love to watch movies, dance, travel, drink, etc. to either celebrate or just treat themselves. However, orange also represents crassness. It means doing something stupid without considering others' feelings. Don't you notice sometimes in comedy bars when some comedians made fun of other people by telling bad jokes? Orange reminds us that we can have fun but we have to be considerate of other people.
Yellow-it is for happiness. We want to live a happy life but some people are struggling to achieve it. Why? Because they tend to look at the outside world instead of looking deeper into themselves. Happiness is what you make it, they say. So why not be silly, be crazy, be true, be real and be happy? Do not attach your emotions to the material things of this world, attach them to the good memories those things bring to you, to your wonderful experiences day by day, and you will be happy. Cowardice is the negative meaning of yellow. Why? Because some people are coward to chase happiness and tend to just let it pass or live in misery because they think they do not deserve to be happy. Everyone deserves to be happy. You deserve to be happy. Don't be a coward but be bold, be daring, be courageous!
Green-the color of wealth. Who doesn't want richness? Everyone does! It makes us powerful, invincible, indispensable. However, envy makes it difficult for somebody to be content with his richness so he wants more. And it won't matter if the means of getting his dreams or goals are no longer righteous in the eyes of God and men.
Blue- is the color of serenity. But how can we be peaceful and untroubled in this chaotic world? It begins within ourselves. Blue is a reminder that being gentle and kind to ourselves means we can also do the same to our neighbors. Otherwise, if we do the opposite where trouble follows us everywhere, it could lead to sadness. A troublesome life is a sad or lonely life.
Indigo- the color of high intuition: a deeper understanding of life, following the gut in making decisions, living consciously, being at the present moment, and connection to one's inner self. It means living with authenticity and integrity. Who wants to live in lies?
In contrast, it also means addiction or losing control of something such as bad vices or not being truthful at all times.
Violet- the color of royalty and wisdom. Believe it or not, God always shows us the ways of living righteously through His wisdom. And it is believed that you should follow or take the wisdom given to you otherwise it will be given to others. For example, you've thought of "Love is like a tree" as the title of your poem but you didn't write it and then you've read or seen that title somewhere else afterward? That's how the universe works. On the other hand, it represents death. The wisdom God gives us prepares us for the truth of life, the law of nature- what has been born, shall die. We go back to our Source. And those who understand it aren't afraid of death because they know another life will begin after death.
And the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? It is what comes after your deeper understanding of the colors of the rainbow- of your emotions, and your knowledge, and the wisdom of life itself, my friend. That reward is you at your truest form. You are the pot of gold.
God says, "Look at the rainbow, be reminded of my promise". Once we look at the rainbow, master ourselves, we then begin to live righteously. And if we do, why would God punish us?
Thank you for reading my article for today, my friend.
To my sponsors, subscribers, commenters, upvoters: **THANK YOU VERY MUCH!**
Too-da-loo,
Glessa
**The lead image was from Unsplash.com**
Whoa, are we still okay, my friends?
Just a short post.
I was trying to write an article to thank my 80 subscribers. Yes, 80 now! Because my following didn't grow that much previously unlike now and I noticed that we only have 3 communities that are still active?
Am I right? Or are the rest of the channels active but the moderators aren't? I just wanna know that we are not sinking. Captain, oh, my captain!
Despite my concern, I salute my fellow Filipinos for being active here on read and my PromptlyJonice community. I hope that more communities will be added here soon, just like before. Please do not leave, abandon, or forget read just because there are other communities out there that offer bigger incentives. Let us continue to thrive and flourish in this awesome community.
Get back, get back, wherever you are, my friends!
And I wish I could lend a hand to keep some of these communities going but my hands are bound with some responsibilities I could not take for granted for now.
My greatest nightmare is to one day, I try logging in just to receive a notification that it's no longer possible. Just like what happened to me at my previous job. It won't happen, will it?
Or am I just being silly because it is the weekend?
Sigh...
Anyways, to my 80, wonderful subscribers, thank you! I truly appreciate you following me and reading my write-ups. I promise to do my best to pay it forward.
Ciao!
**Glessa**
P.S The lead image was from Unsplash.com
I miss working!
November 21, 2021
G'day mate!
I was putting my baby back to sleep last night when I suddenly miss working. Yes, I miss going to the office! I resigned from Telus last January 2018, if I am not mistaken. So it has been almost 3 years that I am stuck at home. I worked as a VA for 8 months though but it was a working from home job. I want to work somewhere for a change.
I usually choose to work somewhere near where I live so if ever I'll be part of the workforce again, it'll be just a ride or 2 away. Maybe I can pursue my application with iQor where my transportation allowance is 6k and my fare is only 20 pesos if I ride jeepneys, 60 pesos, at the most, if I ride a tricycle.
Money motivates me. Providing to my family makes me feel worthy. I used to work when I was in college and I loved the feeling of controlling my own money. And when I had my first job, I started supporting my mother and sending gifts to my family. I miss grinding for them. If I work again, the primary beneficiaries will be my kids but I will still give to my family.
I am proud that I was able to support myself, buy the things I wished to have, and taste the food I crave through my own sweat and blood. The sweet fruits of my labor.
And I miss working! I miss experiencing the job interviews, the excitement of knowing whether I passed or not, and the happiness of getting a job. I miss the thrill.
I want to attend training and meet new people. I want to feel the anticipation of being a new team member. I missed logging in and out, going on a break, attending team meetings, going to a team-building, receiving an award, a bonus, or an incentive!
I miss updating my tax status and of course, receiving a salary. I long for food trips on payday and buy what my kids would love. I wanna go out with my kids, play in Kidzoona and treat them to Jollibee or McDo afterward.
I wanna work on a holiday and receive extra pay. I wanna work so I could fully pay my loans and I can start saving again. I miss working! And who knows this time I will be promoted to a leadership or a managerial position?
Just sharing this random pic when I was with Sutherland Global Services way back 2011. We had our theme night and we were pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean. It's the pirate me!
Have you been stuck at home like me? For how long now? Do you wanna go back to work?
To my sponsors, subscribers, upvoters, and commenters: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
And I hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Too-da-loo!
**Glessa**
The lead image was from Unsplash.com and the rest of the content is mine.
My funny experiences with Lazada and eBay!
November 20, 2021
G'day mate!
I was scrolling through my Fb account when my eye caught one of Lazada's items on sale. Would you believe that it was "**Tikbalang's**" hairs? A **tikbalang** is an elemental in Filipino superstitions, a half-horse half-human being. It is Werehorse in English.
As per Lazada, the **tikbalang's** hairs move and could grant wishes. It's only for Php 91 per bottle. How can it be that cheap when it can make a wish come true? Something isn't right. And the hairs move! The more it should be listed at a higher price. Some claim they have seen a tikbalang, I wish I did so I can say that the product is legit lol. I would definitely recommend it.
Perhaps the Tikbalangs are also affected by the pandemic hence they are now trying to make a livelihood. Here is the listing on Lazada, if you are curious.
But what if someone buys it? You know, we, Filipinos most of the time, want to see to believe to prove something's real or not.
Because of that tikbalang, I remembered my funny experiences on eBay where I used to work as a consultant on eBay Buyer and Seller Protection.
**Here are some of those scenarios:**
**1**. **The seller opened a case against a buyer who kept on winning the bidding of her aquarium. The seller didn't wanna sell the item to the buyer.** https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/buhok-ng-tikbalang-wishing-hair-gumagalaw-i2418980494-s11025470098.html?exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:12598959962!121452561322!!!pla-297612067635!c!297612067635!11025470098!443427876&gclid=CjwKCAiAs92MBhAXEiwAXTi25x5NSz6g8tzxAyxjirnOIrxkKV1OFNLFHXursFGdCaIQrlmqCR_QVhoCqx8QAvD_BwE
While I was investigating the case, I couldn't believe what I knew in their private communication:
Seller: Why do you keep on bidding, you dimwit!
Buyer: I don't want you to sell my fish and aquarium mom!
Haha, good thing the case was new, they had to resolve the matter between themselves first otherwise I'm doomed lol.
**2**. **The buyer filed a case against the seller and the reason was:**
**I bought a purple shrimp but I've received a green one! I want a refund.**
I checked the picture, the shrimp was greenish-purple.
I decided to refund the buyer and the seller kept his money as well. The color depends on a person's perception.
**3. The buyer opened a case against the seller for this reason:**
**I bought some seeds and planted them following the seller's instructions. I waited and waited but the seeds didn't grow. I want to get my money back.**
The buyer won but the seller wasn't at fault because the seeds' growth was beyond the seller's control.
**4. The buyer filed a case against a seller stating: I bought this vase because I thought it was a good deal, I received a poster instead! I don't want a poster, I want my vase!**
I checked the product and saw a statement on the bottom of the item that says "Photographic representation only, you won't get a real vase"...
The case was decided as buyer wins no seller fault but the seller was reported due to malicious listing where he will be reviewed for fraud.
Going back to the Tikbalang's hair. What if someone purchased it and saw that the hairs weren't really moving or he made a wish but it didn't come true? Whose fault it would be, the buyer or the seller? No one?
Let me know what you think and let's discuss.
To my sponsors, subscribers, upvoters, commenters: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Too-da-loo!
**Glessa**
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
Tikbalang image source link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikbalang
Powerful, positive affirmations that you can tell yourself everyday!
November 19, 2021
G'day mate!
Life is beautiful and full of surprises, yes or yes? But sometimes it's all not positive, true? It's natural to feel melancholy, sorrow, sadness, unhappiness, and all that but we got to pull ourselves up. Life is too precious to be wasted on wallowing in all these negative emotions. It may seem difficult to do so but it is not impossible to stand on our feet again. But how where do we start? It all starts in our minds. I saw a post on FB that said, "If we only know how powerful our mind is, we won't think of any negative thoughts"...We can train our mind to think positively so we can start feeling positive. It only takes 21 days to rewire our brains but the result of saying positive phrases or affirmations can be felt even after a few seconds or minutes. Isn't that exciting?
So what are these positive affirmations you can tell yourself every day?
**I am love and deeply loved**- God is love, therefore you are love. Say this a couple of times a day and you will feel a lot better. You will soon discover and appreciate the positive traits that you have and you will become kinder to yourself and to others.
**I can do this!**- You should always be your number one fan. Believe in yourself first before everyone does. You will be amazed by how much your performance at work or at school improves if you say this affirmation every day. Your aura will show your inner confidence and you will attract positive people in your life.
**The Universe/God has my back/Higher Self**- Trust that God or the Universe or your higher self supports you in every way and there are infinite or unlimited ways of getting what you want. Soon you will discover the power of getting your desire with less effort.
**I am abundant!**- Having faith that all your needs and wants are provided is a powerful affirmation. It opens the gateway to unlimited resources, you will feel lucky and blessed. And you won't only be abundant in financials but also the love and support of your family and friends.
**I am thankful**- Saying this positive affirmation will change your views in life. You will begin to see things positively-even the problems or hardships you will be facing. You will then be able to say "What do I get from this situation? What is the lesson?", rather than complaining and being pessimistic. Do this and begin to live a more abundant life. Being thankful makes you less judgemental of others, removing abundance blocks.
**I am a blessing to others!**- This affirmation will make you feel good about being of service to people. You will feel happier and satisfied rather than be doubtful if you're doing the right thing by lending a hand. Remember the saying, "The more you give, the more you receive". But don't help because of the reward, help because it's the right thing to do.
Trust me, my friends say these affirmations and the Universe will reveal itself to you. You will discover that magic is real and you will be happier that you followed my advice.
I appreciate your time to read my article for today. You are powerful more than you know!
Too-da-loo!
Glessa
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
Maraming salamat po for renewing your sponsorship sir Ed @TengoLoTodo..It made my day. Bless you and the rest of my sponsors!
My pregnancy-inspired homemade dip!
G'day mate!
Since we didn't have Internet for almost 24 hours, I decided to publish this bonus article. Consider this my bed revenge procrastination story lol.
When I was pregnant with Saoirse last 2019, I was craving for shawarma maybe because it has a variety of flavors. But I didn't have the money at that time to buy one so I was inspired to make my own. I really wanted to go Mediterranean most of my pregnancy period. Aside from shawarma, I also wanted to eat kebab, Biryani, the Biryani Tuna that I tasted in Ziguratt in Makati was so yummy that I still drool whenever I think about it.
I do think that some of you know how to make this kind of dip but this is my version. For the ingredients, you will need:
Plain Greek Yogurt
Plain Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise or Lady's Choice Sandwich Spread
Pepper
Salt
Garlic
For the Greek Yogurt, it depends if you want another flavor aside from the plain, same as the mayo. But I recommend that you try both the plain flavors first and then you can experiment after.
For the measurement, it will be 1 Yogurt to .5 Mayo because the mayo is so smooth and creamy. Well, if you want a creamy dip, why not? It actually depends on the consistency that you want and the food that you are preparing.
So just mix the 2 major ingredients and then slowly add some salt. The salt will change the texture of the dip. Make sure it's not too salty because you will lose interest in eating your food. I usually put 1 teaspoon of salt.
Once you get the right saltiness of the dip, add pepper. There's no measurement for this one. In Malaysian, it is called "Aga-aga", it's putting the ingredients, tasting it, and you'll know it when it's the right taste. It's simply just following your instinct and your palate.
You can then add your garlic. Put a lot if you want strong garlic in the dip, otherwise, just put enough. We actually used the Mc Cormick garlic. I used half of it in our dip. Just try it, don't be afraid. You definitely can make adjustments to the texture and flavor of the dip.
When you are satisfied, put it in the refrigerator. The coldness of the temperature settles and balances its flavor.
The dip is good for Chinese cabbage, fried meat like beef, pork, chicken, vegetable salad, Nacho chips, and cucumber. You can also add cheese and corn.
You can then say goodbye or hasta la vista to your boring dish with this dip!
Thanks for your time in reading this mate.
Too-da-loo!
**Glessa**
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
If I were a Miss Universe contestant!
November 17, 2021
My very first dream as a child was to become a beauty titlist. I am pretty sure I've watched a pageant that's why it was embedded in my innocent mind.
Growing up, I realized that I don't have the face and the body to become one. I don't have a Coca-cola body, maybe the liter version but not the regular Coca-cola bottle lol. Maybe that was the reason why I got obsessed with my pretty neighbors-because I was wishing I could be like them too. I even doubt my sexuality of that notion.
Anyways, if I'll become a Miss Universe contestant, I will still represent my country, the Philippines. I don't have a dream gown but I would want Michael Cinco to design it. And my talent would be ethnic dance.
The most exciting part is the Q&A or Question and Answer portion. Here are my answers to the questions if I am one of the final 3 of the Miss Universe beauty pageant.
(Please note that these 10 questions were the same questions asked by our Miss Universe Philippines contestants like Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Catriona Grey, etc.)
**Question:** "In the next day or so, a man will land on the moon. If a man from the moon landed in your hometown, what would you do to entertain him?”
Since we still have Covid, the first thing that I would do is have him inhale the steam of water and salt. I have strict protocols at home. We usually roast native chicken for our visitors, he will be entertained by chasing the chicken first before he butchers it so we can roast it for him. (No offense meant for the vegans and animal rights activists)
**Question:** "Let's make-believe that all of a sudden you had a million dollars. What's the first thing you would buy and why would you buy it?"
I will buy insuravest for my whole family especially my 2 kids. We are living in a very uncertain period and I want them to be secured if ever something happens to me or my partner.
**Question:** "If you become Miss Universe of 1975, what one individual other than your parents would have made the greatest contribution to your success and why?"
The greatest contribution to my success would be my friends because they are my support system. Whenever I am in hardship, they were always ready to lend a hand and believed that I will be able to bounce back from every challenge.
**Question:** "How many islands are in the Philippines?"
There are 7,641 islands as of 2021 but the country is divided into 3 major islands: The Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
**Question:** "One of your proudest achievements was standing up to one of your professors back in college. Now, what have you stood up for recently?"
I stood up for myself. I lived my life usually blindly following what others want me to do, I couldn't even say "no" most of the time but I discovered my self-worth. So I am now standing up for my dreams and what kind of life I want to live.
**Question:** "What is one big mistake that you made in your life and what did you do to make it right?"
The one big mistake that I did was getting back with an ex-boyfriend and getting pregnant. If I have reached my dreams first before having my first baby, I could have given her a more comfortable life. I did regret it but it doesn't mean I am not happy keeping my baby because she's wonderful.
**Question:** "As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English should be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe? Why or why not?"
I believe that actions speak louder than words, it's okay not to have English communication skills as a prerequisite to being Miss Universe. If I speak the language, yet I am a hypocrite, I am a liar, I do not act with love, with kindness, and compassion to others, then what's the use of being good at it?
**Question:** "What can be done about the lack of jobs for people starting their careers around the world?"
I believe that there is no lack of jobs, just misfits. In that case, we should get data on what the most in-demand jobs are, inform people about them and encourage them to upskill or change careers. We also should tell or inspire the HR industry to hire new graduates and train them properly if they couldn't find candidates with experience. The determination and willingness to learn, the fire, and the worth ethics, the fresh ideas of new graduates are things we should put into consideration.
**Question:** "Why should you be the next Miss Universe?"
I should be the next Miss Universe because I have the passion to be of service to others. I want to go around the world, be the voice of the women and the youth that we are an important part of the society and we have the strength to carry the burden the pandemic, the war, the climate change have given us. And because I am a great influence, I urge all the political leaders, especially women, to support the good cause of their nations so we could live a better world for our children.
**Question:** "If you were going to write a song about your experience here in Miss Universe, what would you call it?"
If I am to write a song about my experience here in Miss Universe, I would call it "Game Over" because I am here to represent my country and my people. I am the best choice and I am here to win.
I do hope that this can be my winning entry to the PromptlyJonica writing prompt **If I were**. If you would like to join, *****the rules***** are simple:
Write anything about **If I were**
Write **100% original** content
**Join and submit** your story to **PromptlyJonica** https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-20-food-46d50a1e#bad-link
**Tag**: **@JonicaBradley** https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley
**Have fun!**
Do you have a beauty pageant experience, my friend? How was it?
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much again!🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great week mate!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
Question source from Spot.ph https://www.spot.ph/entertainment/showbiz/86146/answers-miss-universe-philippines-a4362-20210516-lfrm
Respect to our hero volunteers!
November 16, 2021
I was in the Amparo Rotonda Covered Court yesterday morning for my second vaccine and I noticed several volunteers who are helping the health workers to make the vaccination faster and less hassle. And I couldn't help but admire them for their effort and dedication.
Here are the types of volunteers that we have in the country:
**Volunteer doctors and nurses**- Who knew we have an ailing health system until this pandemic happened? We had brain drain and it was a difficult challenge to keep afloat, we needed extra hands to help our infected patients. These doctors and nurses selflessly offered their services despite putting themselves at risk. Worst, some have lost their lives leaving their families behind. What service is higher than giving your own life for others? A selfless sacrifice that deserved nothing but the highest respect.
**Volunteer lab technicians**- Determining and confirming whether a person is infected or not is an not easy task. I remember those times when there was a mistake in the interpretation of the results. There's no one to blame, but good thing it was corrected. We don't have a lot of lab technicians in this country and those who presented themselves willingly were also heroes. They knew that they weren't safe but they offered to serve our countrymen to lighten the burden of those who are already carrying this heavy responsibility.
**Volunteer peacekeepers**- We had to undergo curfew so we can help stop the spread of the virus during nighttime because of clubbing, parties, etc. These individuals who helped to maintain the peace and order of our country are worthy of our praise and gratitude. And I've seen women and even dogs doing this heroic duty, it made me realize that they unwavering love for their countrymen. And we all have an important role in our society no matter how small it is. And if we do it together, we have a greater impact on the change we want to have. I am dumbfounded.
**Volunteer firefighters**- These amazing men and women who put their lives on the line to save lives and properties are role models and I wish there can be more of them in the future. They won't get anything from doing this duty, sometimes they get insults or blame for not putting up the fires losing some of the people's homes but they swallowed their pride for their love of duty. Hats off to you dear firefighters!
**Volunteer call center agents for hospitals**- This daunting duty has been so controversial at the time of the pandemic because people complaint of long wait times. Sorry, my friends, they could only handle so much. They are doing their best in finding you a hospital for you or your patient and they don't have all the resources in the world. These volunteers gave up their time for themselves and their loved ones and I believe they also deserve some kindness and respect.
**Volunteer relief good packers**- These people from different walks of life offered their service for free and expect nothing in return just to help our fellow countrymen during natural disasters and emergencies. I couldn't imagine how they still manage to go to work or go home and perform their duties to their families after such an exhausting task. My heart is full of pride and gratitude for these men and women.
**Volunteer data encoders for LGUs**- I just saw on our Filipinas Home-Based Moms page that LGUs or Local Government Units need volunteer data encoders for the vaccination details and a number of our members volunteered! The founder Ms. MK Bertulfo also offered free training and the experience can also be added to the resume. I couldn't be prouder of these moms, go mommas! The world is better with us in it! I really wanted to volunteer too but my hands are tied right now with my kids. But I do hope to do it in the future.
I could put more types of volunteers here my friends but I might take much of your time. So I thought I will only mention those who shun in the crisis because of this pandemic.
It made me proud to be a Filipino- Proof that our "bayanihan" spirit is still alive. And it made this pandemic so much easier or shall I say, manageable.
Thank you for your heroic act dear volunteers. I will tell this inspiring story to my kids and their children. May they look up to you and follow your compassion so they may grow up to be of service to others as well.
Given the chance, would you like to also volunteer? What kind of volunteer are you?
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much again, I owe you one 🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great week mate!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
**P.S. Belated Happy 2nd Anniversary dear Read.Cash. Thank you very much for coming into our lives!**
I would like to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to sis @charmingcherry08 for always upvoting my articles. I really appreciate it! May you be blessed!
Don't stop learning!
November 15, 2021
G'day mate!
It's Monday, the 15th, and I'm gonna have my second jab later today. I hope it's gonna be a good jab!
We had fun outside the house the other day. The 3 kids had their adventures again. Bam and Cassie were practicing their bikes and Saoirse was learning how to walk. It wasn't easy for these kids to learn their crafts but they weren't disheartened after all the exhaustions and frustrations-they kept on going, consistently. We should learn from these kids!
Personally, I believe that we have to learn something new every day. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it makes you healthy and it keeps your mind active. Learning shouldn't stop. I learn how to scoot when I was 35. Argghh don't ask how old I am now, because I still feel like I am 22.
Anyways, if you wanna learn how to cook, go for it! There are a lot of resources that you can find on the Internet. YouTube is one of them. And there are thousands of channels about cooking. You can subscribe and voila, you are the next Masterchef before you know it.
Do you want to upskill? There are a number of websites or channels online for free where you can study at your own pace. You just have to figure out what you want to learn first and search for it through Google or Yahoo, etc. I learned Google Analytics for free though I haven't finished it yet, I already have some certificates in each module I passed.
Do you want to study for free at People's University (Or I think you have to pay $20), Harvard, or Coursera? Why not? Be patient enough to understand and learn the subjects or courses and you will have your certificate. I used to study Marketing in Trailblaze but had to stop when I had the baby. Why don't you try Trailblaze? It's fun and easy to use. You will see tons of courses, don't be overwhelmed though.
Do you aspire to be a dancer or a painter? Who cares if you're 50 or 60? Unleash that inner talent and surprise everyone! I do plan to buy my own painting supplies, I don't have any experience with painting and I am excited about my first lesson. I honestly just wanna paint through my heart, not going technical on this one.
Wanna learn a new language? Try Duolingo and other language apps. You can search for other websites that offer foreign language lessons. Then you can watch movies that use that language so you can practice. And if you want to be serious with it and want to earn some, multilingual VAs earn more than bilingual ones. I know, de nada mi amigo.
How about trading? You don't have to look further, we have several friends here on read who could give you the basic, even the advanced training on how to do that thing. It might be difficult at the beginning, but if you really want to learn, nothing should hinder you from doing so. Or earn extra by joining airdrops. Let me know if you need a hand and I will introduce you to some of the supportive folks here.
My friends, it's not too late to learn a new skill or talent. You need dedication and determination to pursue it- never surrender! If you don't have much time, then do it even with the little spare time you got. It doesn't matter if you're slow, as long as you keep on learning. You don't have to finish right away, there's no competition.
I can't wait to know what you've recently learned or what you wanna learn. Leave your comment below and let's have a talk!
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much again, I owe you one 🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great week mate!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
Nakita ko sa notif ko sis MJ @bmjc98..Thank you dahil nasa list po pa rin ako. May you have more BCH to come and to the rest of my sponsors, maraming salamat din po!
Power to the single moms!
For November 14, 2021
Howdy mates?
Forgive the Marites in me.
On November 11, Ellen Adarna and Derek Ramsay got married. Derek used to be a certified playboy, and Ellen, a single mom with a 2-year-old son. They tied the knot a few months after their relationship. Who would have guessed their wedding happened that fast? Who would have known that the fabulous single mom caught that crazy playboy's heart?
I remember the times when moms were mocked because of their status. People would judge them as "makati"/flirt or "pakawala"/lewd without even knowing the story behind their situation. It was taboo having a child out of wedlock before, single moms would live a life of shame because of society.
I was a single mom, by tax status-still a single mom, and I know the feeling of being judged. I may have disappointed my family and friends at first but they saw how I carried my pregnancy and handled my financial situation. I am a proud single mom.
Why would you stay in an abusive and manipulative relationship? Because society says a child needs a family. What kind of family, a dysfunctional one? F*ck that. Sorry for my French. And I am glad that I decided not to live with the father of my first child. It was the greatest decision I have made in my life.
And I also have close friends in high school who have been single moms like me. We all worked to finish our studies, they didn't give up when their relationships failed. Instead, they used it as stepping stones in reaching their dreams. Now my friend Carl is happily married to the love of her life in Canada. Her new family loves her daughter so much. And the other friend, Weng, who has several businesses also found a good man who accepted and married her as well.
Who said that single moms are helpless? They, we, are actually the strongest that you'll ever see. We grind and work hard to provide for ourselves: from pregnancy until birth, until the child grows up.
Who said that single moms are hopeless? We are not! We can prove to the world that we can stand up after we fall. That we are still a positive part of the society. We train our kids to be stronger than us, wiser than us so they won't repeat the same mistakes. We have more hopes and dreams than those who didn't experience the hardships of single parenthood.
Who said that single moms do not deserve true love? Of course, they do! Wouldn't you like to love someone who has been through so much but survived and thrived? You are guaranteed to have a great partner for life. And don't you wanna take care of that lovely woman who is as strong as an Amazonian? Who will be there for you through thick and thin and love you for the rest of your life?
Single moms deserve the best in life-power to the single moms!
And just a little segway...Who says you need to be with someone for a longer period of time to know he or she is your one true love? You will know it if you've found the right one the minute you lay your eyes on him or her. It's not the years that count, it's the precious time together!
Just wanna say salute to us moms especially the single moms! And also, thanks to Rusty, my sponsors, and my upvoters. I was able to reach my goal for the first 2 weeks of November.
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much again, I owe you one! 🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great weekend mates!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com and the rest of the content is mine.
** I had to publish this in advance because I am just grabbing this chance to be here longer lol,
I am rich now but please don't tell my family!
November 13, 2021
And the last number is...21...I could hear the beating of my heart, it's so fast and deafening. I read the numbers, again and again, they were all correct. I wanna shout! But I can't, they will figure out why. I shall not create a scene, I got this... I am fainting, nooo! So I slowly breathe in and breathe out, trying to relax my mind and my body. Everyone's asleep. I gotta plan what to do for tomorrow.
I woke up early, I am still nervous about the incident last night. Shall I tell my partner? No? My elder sister? Definitely not...Okay...
"I am going out, please take care of the baby", I told my partner. "Where are you going?", he asked. "Just in Robinson's". I hurriedly left to avoid further interrogations.
I tried so hard to walk normally, my legs are shaking. When I arrived at the Lottery office, my heart wanted to come out from my chest! Arggh, I am too young to have a heart attack and I need to enjoy this...Sigh...
"Where are your ID's Ma'am?", asked the manager. I nervously gave him my 2 valid IDs and I was praying they would suffice. "Please come with me", she politely requested me to follow her to the vault. And then she opened that door full of money that I've never seen in my whole freaking life! "You won 35 Million minus the 2 Million taxes so that's 33 Million. Congratulations! Do you wanna count them again?", the manager added. "No", was my short response. "You will exit at the back door to avoid any attention", the manager's last instruction.
"Sh**", I cursed myself. How can I act normally? I don't want to attract people especially hold uppers or kidnappers. The biggest amount I had in my pocket was 32K, way back in 2010. And now, 33M? I tightly held my pink Jansport backpack. I tried to act calmly and went to SSS. I am now fully paid! Gosh, that loan was unpaid for almost 6 years same with my Pag-ibig. It took me a while to process the payments but I am happy that I have taken care of my loans. Next, I went to Cebuana and sent 5,000 each to my elder sisters. I told them that I received an "ayuda" or assistance from a close relative and wanted to share my blessings with them! "I am going home to Iligan you bi**es!", I exclaimed to myself...
Before I went home, I bought a black forest cake for Bam and a toy car for Shingan. Everyone in the house was curious why I could afford such stuff. I will never tell even a single soul that I won the lotto, I promised myself. Am I selfish? Yes, why? I already have plans on where to spend my money.
"Shall I stop writing on read?", I asked myself. No. I decided to do what I normally do. Nothing will change. But I am excited about my travel plans. Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, here we come! But in the meantime, let me put my money into my ba....."Whoaaa whoaaaa", the baby cried..."She could have let me finish sending my money into my bank accounts first!", I annoyingly talked to the air.
It was so real that I never wanted to wake up! I checked my backpack, there was no 33M. Where did it go? Maybe I need to sleep again for the continuation of my dreams. I shall go and sleep now, my friends!
Did you ever dream of something so real that you want to be asleep forever? I did but it wasn't this dream. I wanna know what your great dream was!
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much again, I owe you one! 🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great weekend mate!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
Thank you so much to my newest sponsor, my dear cousin @Lucifer01. May the Heavens grant your deepest and greatest desires!
Tuob- a traditional healing method that saved my daughter!
November 12, 2021
11.11 has passed, I wasn't "budolized" by either Shopee or Lazada because my kids already did. Hopefully, your budol went well, my lodi friends.
Last Monday, my family and I went out for a walk. I got a little bit of a headache and the weather was perfect so I thought it'd be a good time to take a break.
I bought some goodies for everyone, Bam said, "Mommy I'm hungry!". So I gave her ice cream, my gut told me to not do it but I eventually did. Bam experienced discomfort that night and she vomited the following morning. She was still able to eat during breakfast but suddenly her body started to reject the water and the food. We suspected that her eyes might be the problem due to prolonged gadget exposure. She got vomiting, headache, dizziness, and light sensitivity.
I chatted with my Optometrist Aunt and she said that it's astigmatism. Bam has to go to an optical clinic. But it might also be stomach flu because of the symptoms. I had experienced it multiple times already. My nurse friend thought it might be Covid or rabies because of photophobia/light sensitivity. Good thing Bam said that she wasn't bitten by our dogs. She only had a low degree fever for an hour and it went away. We couldn't tell which is which. And Jas and I thought she might be "naengkanto" or bewitched because she pointed at an abandoned house in a forest. I also thought my Mama is reminding me of her 40th day by giving Bam sickness...So much of a superstitious belief but we never know. And I was worried because she might be already dehydrated. I gave her first aid, warm water with sugar, and salt. Then we let her drink Pedialyte and Gatorade.
But my gut has been telling me to do what my mom used to do to me when I was a kid- the "toub" or whole body steam using the food that made me sick. In Bam's case, the rocky road ice cream. I did steam Bam twice already but it wasn't effective, perhaps I had to really add the rocky road.
You know my friends, I am the only one with an income for now aside from my sis-in-law so I didn't want to exhaust all our resources by withdrawing Bam's little savings. But Bam's health matters so I was thinking of consulting the pedia before the matter gets worst. I wanted to do the rocky road "tuob" though before the pedia intervenes.
So I prepared the steam that contains the rocky road ice cream with a little bit of a "bahaw" or leftover rice. I boiled the mixture and brought it to Bam's room. She went inside her "malong" or Maranao blanket with the cauldron of the boiled mixture. I took a small portion of it and let Bam eat it, she wanted to finish everything because it smelled and tasted delicious. She had sweat after the whole body steam.
The next morning (the 3rd day), she came down for breakfast and said that she feels a lot better. We let her eat bread first and miraculously her tummy wasn't aching anymore. She was also back to being talkative. And then she rode her bike given by our good neighbor, Tita Lot. She didn't have head and eye aches, nausea, and vomiting anymore. She practiced biking outside in the afternoon. I am so happy because we canceled our appointment with the pedia. And I've learned my lesson.
So parents whenever your child is hungry:
Never give her junk food or cold food and drinks. It will upset, stress, or traumatize the stomach.
In case of stomach discomfort/stress or "pasma", remember the food your child ate within the last 12 hours. It helps in determining the cause of sickness.
Have a presence of mind: apply first aid when needed.
Keep your child hydrated.
Bam actually asked why I steam her with the rocky road. And my elders weren't able to shed some light about it, but I've realized:
The stomach was traumatized with the food so it went into a flight or fight mode rejecting whatever intake it's given. It sees everything as a threat so the culprit (food that caused the stress) has to be reintroduced to the body. It was steamed and the sick person has to inhale it and a small portion should be eaten so the brain could give a signal to the tummy that it's alright to eat it. The stomach then settles.
Though this method worked for us, I couldn't guarantee it will work for everyone. I would suggest that you can try doing this as long as your child doesn't have a high fever, not vomiting, and having diarrhea at the same time because that's a completely different case. Remember as well that for stomach pain, the BRAT diet (Banana, rice, applesauce, toast) should be followed. Alternatives can be chicken broth or rice porridge.
Please consult a doctor immediately. I also didn't give any medicine to Bam except the Paracetamol for her headache, which is completely safe.
Do you my friend believe in traditional medicine or way of healing? Or have you experienced the steam or "tuob", what was your sickness? I'll be glad to read your comments!
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much again, I owe you one! 🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great weekend mate!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
Would you do the same? A true love's tale and test.
November 11, 2021
Drizzle used to be an assassin, the best in her group. One day, they were tasked to steal a monk's remains which are believed to be powerful enough to regenerate a part of a body. The prime minister had it so they stole the body and killed him. His son, Renfeng fought so hard to save his father but he was no match against her. She left him barely hanging for his life, went MIA along with half part of the dead monk's body.
Drizzle went to consult a monk, advised her that her sword skills were flawed. Her master did it so she cannot win against him. The monk taught her the last 4 correct steps killing the monk in the end.
That fight was a wake-up call for her. So she went to see the best surgeon in town and asked him to change her face so she could leave her group and start anew.
She didn't know that the general's son, Renfeng, did the same. He changed his face so he could find her and avenge his dad. So he went to the town where she lived as a businesswoman.
And he became a messenger. The landlady kept on organizing a date for Drizzle to no avail. Renfeng, now known as Ah-sheng showed interest and care for her. Until one day, the Drizzle proposed to marry the Ah-sheng. Little did she know that her husband was only pretending. While she is away, her husband silently kills corrupt people in the area. One day, they went to a bank and there was a robbery. The robbers wanted the other half of the dead monk's body. Drizzle had no choice but to protect the people around her especially her husband. She showed her martial art skills. Unfortunately, the leader of the gang figured out it was her. So they went to their house. A newbie in the group tried to seduce her husband but she failed, he even let her escape without any clothes on and put her to shame by calling their neighbors.
While the rest of the gang cornered Drizzle almost killing her but she was able to escape, go home and warn her husband. She told him where her treasures are so he could escape and passed out. And while she was unconscious, he saw his favorite spring roll she brought for him. Ah-sheng bravely fought against her enemies. They couldn't believe that he was the prime minister's son because of his face, but his swords proved it was him. Then Drizzle awakened and found out his husband is an enemy and he's going to fight against the leader of the assassins who now have both the body of the dead monk. It was such a sad revelation because he told her he never loved her. But she learned to love him so dearly. So she put the sword on his left chest and let him drink a potion so their enemy would think he is dead. She asked forgiveness from him for killing his father and swore to give him justice. It was a difficult fight, she lost a lot of blood but she was victorious. And then his husband woke up, saw his wife, and carried her home. She then said, "We can file a divorce", and he said to not worry about it.
(This story is about the movie "Reigns of Assassin", one of my favorite movies of all time and my narration might not be 100% accurate)
**If this has happened to you. Would you:**
1. Forgive the person who killed your loved one because of his or her duty
2. Change your face and your identity so you could live a new life and forget your past?
3. Do you think you deserve to start anew after your wrongdoings?
4. Would you avenge the gruesome death of your loved one?
5. Would you rather sacrifice your greatest skill or talent to live a peaceful life?
6. Could you lie to the one you love and tell him or her you no longer have feelings for him or her?
7. Would you remain loyal and faithful like Ah-sheng despite the fact that your wife is your enemy?
**This movie is one of my favorites because I like martial arts movies and love stories. What more could you ask for if you have both? Plus, I love the protagonist Michelle Yeoh. She's my favorite female celebrity. She used to love ballet but due to an accident, she could no longer do it. She then became a movie actress and did martial arts. It just proves that if we want more of life, there is always an opportunity to do something and when that happens, let's give our best shot.**
Let us get back to the movie and the questions above, what would you do? Share your thoughts and let's have a chat!
My friends, I wanna stay longer here and engage more with you but my eldest is having some health issues right now. I will catch up with you soon.
And I would like to say, DAGHANG SALAMAT to my sponsors who just renewed their contracts (char)...I am speechless!
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much again, I owe you one! 🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great week mate!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
I cannot contain my happiness, thank you sis @Bloghound!
I cannot contain my happiness, thank you sis @Bloghound!
I am slowly taking my voice back!
November 10, 2021
G'day mate!
The weather's gonna be cold in the next few days, Amihan is coming. And I do hope that the forecast was right because I will be sad if it's not. The weather doesn't have to do anything with my article, I am just bad at introductions, you know. It feels awkward, eekkkk..Forgive me, dearie. And I hope this one's gonna live an imprint on your soul if you've been in the same situation as mine.
It has been so long since I felt like a stranger to my own self. I was like a sailboat on the sea of change with no direction.
Living in a place where only you can protect yourself, like your opinion and judgment doesn't matter. Adopt and never complain. When you feel like someone's envious of what you may become and he's stopping you from getting what you want.
Things have changed because I've had enough! I finally have found the courage to strength to speak up and say how I feel. I now have the determination to live the life that I want and not what somebody wants. I am now strong enough to assert what I wanna do to reach my goals and my dreams. And I haven't forgotten my obligations as a mom. But being a mom doesn't mean I cannot fulfill my own dreams and shape my own future. I won't grow old having my kids as my retirement plan. They will have their own lives, and so am I. I am going to grow old debt-free and financially stable. I am going to grow old living the life that I want, not stuck in the house and just waiting for something to happen. I am gonna get that life that I deserve, that freedom that's meant for me.
That happiness of going to places and gaining experience. That chance to meet other people, know their stories, and share mine. That opportunity to become a part of something bigger than myself after I've successfully reared my children. I am slowly taking my voice back, my life back, one step at a time. One small win at a time. One little dream at a time. One positive change at a time. One feat at a time. And nothing's gonna change my mind. Because that is what I want.
And I will exert my best effort to live my life according to the calling of my soul. That I can have a margarita on the beach while I am watching the sunset. That I can dance to the beat of my heart in the silence of the night. That I can have and love a pet that I so desire. That I can have my own dream garden and a swing while I watch the shooting stars merry the sky away. And that one day, I will hold someone else's hand while lovingly gazing at Aurora borealis or australis and say, "This is life".
And I hope you are living the life you've dreamt of my friends. If not, are you nearly there? Do you still want to pursue your aspirations or are you already happy and satisfied with what you have and where you are?
And I just wanna say, "Thank you very much", to the awesome owners of read and noise, and to the rest of this wonderful community. You guys changed my life.
To my sponsors old and new: thank you very much, I owe you one! 🙏🙏
Please do visit my sponsors' profiles as well. You will definitely be inspired.
All your likes, subscriptions, and upvotes are greatly appreciated ❤️❤️❤️
**Cheers to a great week mate!**
©Ngotngot, the fyrfinex 🔥🐦
The lead image was from Unsplash.com
@jasglaybam
