My Happiness Project: Marriage (February)

“A good marriage is one of the factors strongly associated with happiness. Happy people find it easier to get and stay married than unhappy people do, because happy people make better dates and easier spouses. But marriage itself bring happiness, because it provides the support and companionship that everyone needs.”

~ Gretchen Rubin

A happy and healthy marriage is a big indicator of personal happiness. The choice of spouse, the values you believe, and the tackling of everyday issues all factor in to a successful and happy marriage.

Quit Nagging

Nagging has always been my waterloo. As someone who always wants certain things done a certain way, I was keen on establishing ground rules for both my spouse and daughter. I am always irked when I have to constantly remind and repeat myself. I understand now that these things are not taken seriously because they do not believe in them and that they do it only to appease my anger. I have to make “nagging” more effective for us to lessen our unhappiness, by making conscious choices of what to remind and what to let go, and to be conscious about the choice of words and the number of words I use when I nag, err, remind my spouse.

Don’t Expect Praise or Appreciation

My love language is Words of Appreciation, which is why words of praise and appreciation are important to me. My spouse is different as his is Physical Touch, so he in not too keen in doling out praises of support or acknowledgment or thanks. This often racks up more points in my annoyance meter. I have to realize now that doing things my way may not necessarily be liked and appreciated, so I have to reel in my expectations for praise down a notch. I have to learn: to do things because I like to do things, not because I want to be praised.

Fight Right

During our VDay Weekend, we were late for our spa and was advised therefore that treatment will be shortened. I know that I wanted to manage and ensure our happiness that day so I opted to find another spa venue, even if I planned and paid for these weeks in advance. Choosing to let go of unimportant concerns and not let the little things mar our day helps to create happy memories for our marriage.

Fighting about mundane, small things may also not be productive, so we have to be conscious about looking for solutions as next steps, not in washing off accountabilities and victim blaming.

No Dumping

My day is always stressful and busy. And sometimes I need drinks and a sounding board to unwind. Sometimes I am not in the mood to detail everything as I just want to relax and forget. More often than not, I have to learn how to strike a balance between sharing my life and not complaining about my work woes. The work dump has to be strengthen our bond and not be a source of annoyance. Still a work in progress.

Give Proofs of Love

I have always liked planning for our outings. I enjoy planning our next out of town trip or what we will eat in the mall or which new place we can go to. More than for the family, I have to plan more dates for the two of us rather than just family trips. This will strengthen our marriage as we create more memories for us as spouses, rather than just parents.

New Concepts Learned:

“Unconcsious Overclaiming” – phenomenon in which we unconsciously overestimate our contributions or skills relative to other people

“Fighting Style” – how a couple fights matters more than how much they fight

“It takes at least five positive marital actions to offset one critical or destructive action”

“What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while”

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My marriage definitely needed (and still needs) a lot of work, and towards the end of the month I found myself gravitating to my old habits. These added more to the guilt building up on how I perceived marriage as a source of happiness, or unhappiness in my case. It would take a lot of effort on my part to be more proactive than reactive, and to be conscious of the way I fight and use my words, most especially when high in emotion.

Happiness and unhappiness does not solely rely on your spouse giving it to me; the unhappiness stems from unmet expectations. But I cannot expect my spouse to change, because I married him just as he is. I cannot expect him to change, nor to make me happy; I am the only one who can make myself happy. The sooner I can accept this, the sooner my resentments can go away.

I’m a fan of that sage saying: I choose to marry and love you everyday. Being happily married is a state that is easily said than done. It’s always a choice to love your spouse despite and because of, everyday.

My Happiness Project: Energy (January)

“Being happy energizes you, and having more energy makes it easier for you to engage in activities that boost happiness.”

~ Gretchen Rubin

Lifting off from Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project book, I decided to try her methods for myself. Following her tenets, I started off January with her list of happiness-boosting energy tips:

Go to Sleep Earlier

After our US trip, it was a long struggle to overcome jet lag. It took about two to three weeks for our sleeping time to be back to normal: my new bed time is at 10:30 pm. I try to limit my coffee intake at one cup in the morning so I can regularize my sleep. I think this helps to put in my energies early in the morning so I can tackle personal stuff before back to back meetings, and end my night early so I can get a good night’s sleep. My mood is better, and I feel less sluggish in the mornings.

Exercise better

My lifestyle is mostly sedentary: meetings, long hours of sitting down, and lying down to rest after a long day. After our New York trip, I rediscovered walking again. I used to join fun runs about a decade ago, and I’m happily going back to walking farther distances again. I encouraged family to join in Saturday morning walks around UP, so I hope this would be another bonding experience for us.

I also re enrolled in Marie France, to tackle those stubborn problematic areas: belly, thighs and arms. My FMS and PDT are twice a week, so I hope to see some results from this health investment.

Toss, Restore, Organize

We have a lot of things in our small condo. The things are slowly taking over each minute space, and is adding more stress everyday. There is something about clutter that becomes an unwilling irritant. I knew what I wanted to do: take out items that can be donated, move things around, and empty our travel luggages so all these things can be stored in our warehouse. One thing is connected to the other, and I needed time and energy to finish everything, and not just one parcel.

Because we have a spiritual event coming up, I needed to do the spring cleaning ASAP so that our home will look welcoming for our guests. One weekend, I finally found block time without any schedule/ birthday celebration / school activity that I can focus on the clean up project. I mustered all my energy to finally tackle this task, and by the end of the evening, I was able to clear out three luggages, my bag closet, our gifts for “recycling”, and even clothes from our drawers and other closets. These resulted in five new storage boxes filled, to be kept in our storage warehouse for future donations, and new, organized closets that boast of refreshed space.

Though tiring mentally and physically, being able to organize space at home brings a refreshing perspective. There is a certain lightness in cleaning up, knowing that things are more organized and junk is expelled out. Hoping to tackle on my daughter’s room next time.

Tackle a Nagging Task

I have always wanted to fix my personal effects in my new car. It’s always been on my mind, but like our room, I needed to find the energy to start and see it through. As always, circumstances forced me to finally transfer my things when my laptop bag became missing from the old car. I knew then that I had to act urgently. I fixed my glove compartment, replenished my makeup bag and perfumes. I fixed too my shoe box and got rid of too many bags from my old trunk.

My new car was now functional and personalized. I felt a huge weight off my chest. Next on my list: apply for RFID for both the north and south expressways.

Act more Energetic

Tackling both the physical and mental aspects of energy results in a mindset: to sustain momentum we must believe in the impact of these changes and act the way we want to feel. Keeping the positivity and the energy brought about by healthier habits and cleaner spaces starts from having an energetic and optimistic mindset. To have more energy, I start the day with morning affirmations and happy drive music. This helps me keep an Aja! spirit to keep my resolutions on track.

New Concepts I Learned:

“One Minute Rule” – If it only takes a minute to do, do it immediately.

“Evening tidy-up” – Clean up at least 10 minutes at night, before calling it a day

“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”

“An empty shelf meant possibilities: space to expand; a luxurious waste of something useful for the sheer elegance of it.”

“The Secret of Adulthood: if you cannot find something, clean up.”

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There is wisdom in tackling energies at the start of the year. Energy impacts our ability to be effective in our daily grind and to be fully present to our relationships and to the challenges at hand. I think that creating space for positive energy to flow, and supporting our body’s capability to use high levels of energy are good start to January, as we tackle more happiness projects for the rest of the year.

Word of the Year: HAPPINESS

“Happiness depends on ourselves.”

~ Aristotle

Hello 2024! Time to choose another word, another mantra to define this new year.

When I look back on the year that was, it was such a milestone year. I celebrated my 40th year of birth, and thereby set forth a lot of firsts: birthday celebrations in The Farm in San Benito, Champagne Room, my promotions to director, post-graduate in AIM, and capped the year with a family trip to New York. While some of these were pursued actively, others were opportunities and surprises. One common theme centered around a particular value: happiness.

It was the pursuit of happiness that made me go for fulfillment of bucket lists, and to share the same with family. And it is this same pursuit that I want to level up for 2024.

An excerpt from Grit (The book) and the concept of Adversity Quotient tackles personal reasons why people stay in a certain organization. These may be called by the more familiar term “non-negotiables”, but ultimately asks the question: “What makes you stay?” For me, what made me stay in this company longer than the rest speaks about how I value happiness the most: If I am not happy anymore, then I will start exploring greener pastures elsewhere. Happiness is what drives me; and this conscious effort to find what makes me happy will be my lighthouse moving forward for the year.

Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project discusses this in full detail. In essence, we define things that make us happy: stronger relationships with family and friends, a more positive outlook on self, tackling otherwise procrastinated tasks. It may be high time for me to return to this book as my guidepost as well. However, I am still opening up the opportunity for happy surprises along the way.

Cheers to Happiness, the Pursuit of It, and the Project of It! Cheers to 2024!

New and Old Christmas

“The smells of Christmas are the smells of Childhood”

~ Richard Paul Evans

It’s always been both sentimental and stressful, this Yuletide Season. More so this year when we decided to travel to New York to fulfill a lifelong dream of spending the holidays in the city that never sleeps. So the rush ensued preparing not just for the trip, but in keeping most (if not all) holiday traditions for our family before and after New York. We were able to tick most in our list:

• Starbucks planner which we finished quickly in November
• Lights and Sounds show at Ayala Triangle
• Christmas Tree photos at Powerplant and Shang
• Netflix binge: The Crown (last season!) and Family Switch
• Grocery shopping at SnR
• Christmas Basket c/o Pasig (was not able to arrange for my Unilab basket sadly)
• Christmas Carols with Sofia (All I Want for Christmas Is You)
• Christmas Posts and Greetings in FB, Twitter, IG, Viber and Messenger
• Christmas Reunions with Tentatues, Haberdei, Westmont, Sissies and Pops (missed Kuai Luh and LRTH because we were out of the country)
• Simbang Gabi (on my arrival day, thank goodness for jet lag!)
• Bibingka and Puto Bumbong. Castanas c/o office, thank you Mam Joy!
• Family lunch on the eves (Edsa Shang Heat and Novotel Food Exchange)
• Noche Buena c/o Mom & Tina’s and Media Noche c/o Conti’s
• Liwanag Park Nativity and Lights
• MMFF (Till I Met You in Tokyo)
• Gift shopping at Bath and Body Works for office
• Clean up of our Condo (I can see the dining table again!)
• Spouse Date – Bioessence massage and TokyoTokyo bento
• Still to do: Celine shopping with Mama and Payless shopping with hubby

New traditions we were able to do in New York, that I hope to continue next year: is a photo shoot (like what we did for Central Park), mass service or community service (we were able to offer in Gaudate Sunday), and a family trip. We may travel just locally or perhaps abroad again. But family trips expand our understanding of others, strengthen our personal fortitude and gratitude, and create lifetime memories, which is what December is all about.

My heart is happy and fulfilled. It seems like a lot of activities, but it is in keeping the traditions alive that we strengthen connections with family and loved ones. It is in remembrance of the real reason, the birth of Jesus, that should bring us more joy to celebrate traditions also with family. Till the next year’s Season!

I Heart New York

“Concrete Jungle where Dreams are made of. There’s nothing you can’t do”

~ Alicia Keys

There are dreams, childhood dreams, lifelong dreams. And then there is New York.

For as long as I can remember, New York has been on my bucket list. Marrying my husband–it was on his dream destinations too. And so when the opportunity presented itself to go to New York for my cousins wedding, we found a reason to finally make our dream a reality.

It took a lot of arrangements to make this trip. From permissions and leaves both in school and office, to buying our winter gear, to planning our itinerary, everything took months to iron the details. We had two weeks to plan a dream itinerary, and we pulled out all the stops. I’m grateful to have Nikki, Bryan, Steve and Leigh on as their tips helped us make the most out of the vacation:

• Shake Shack. The first ever shake shack in the world was in New York. It was in the middle of Madison Park where we took a bite of our favorite burgers and Sofie’s newest discovery, her new favorite milkshakes.
• Friends Experience. As fans of this beloved sitcom, it was necessary for us to go and do the experience. Surreal to experience the show through the made up sets, made even more poignant with the recent passing of Matthew Perry. Good to have had a copy of his book also in a Hudson stand.
• Hudson Yards and the Vessel. Another must-see, but another last minute addition to our itinerary. Lovely to see the lighted hot air balloons up close.
• Legoland. We had hesitations to book as the park seemed to cater to younger children. But Sofia and ourselves still had fun on the rides and building our own legos.
• Lotte Tree. Gossip Girl site in Serena’s old hotel, and the Christmas Tree in its yard is a must-see. So glad to have visited early in the morning before mass where the crowds were not yet awake.
• St Patrick’s Cathedral. The massive church was a sight to behold. It was a solemn mass to celebrate advent, and to get commemorative coins and rosaries from the church.
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Oh this one was a nice surprise! After waiting for a month to get reservations, the waitlist staff came through when a cancellation opened up for us. Am I willing to take it? Oh yes! Dream come true to have tea at Tiffany’s amidst its famous blue boxes. Got myself a souvenir mug too for the experience.
• Saks Fifth Avenue Lights. It was raining that day, which dispersed the crowds a bit. So we were able to get some space to enjoy the lights show and the equally mesmerizing window displays along Saks Fifth Avenue.
• Macy’s Santaland. This was one spontaneous booking, as an afternoon slot opened up for us. We took it gratefully and lined up for ninety minutes to see Santa. Good thing the displays around gave us good opportunities to amuse ourselves and take nice family photos as well.
• Wicked. Broadway show is a must for this musical family, and we chose Wicked (who fortuitously celebrated our magical number 20th anniversary this year!) to enrich Sofie’s treasure trove of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz saga. The actors, set and production seemed to be more festive from its Manila run, and we were glad to experience this at an orchestra level, one of the first tickets I booked early for our trip.
• Times Square. No trip in New York is complete without setting foot in this ever-busy square, where tourists abound and lights (and Alicia Keys!) are on 24/7. Concrete Jungle’s best definition is in Times Square.
• Papillon. One of the five Christmas bars in New York, I was lucky enough to secure a table two months ahead with the only opening they had for December, and it was for lunch too. The place was full of christmas decor and even more christmas cheer.
• Grand Central Station. I was in awe of the main concourse, as this was the setting for most movies that I’ve watched in my lifetime. Just taking in the hustle and bustle of this place was enough to transport us magically into those movies.
• New York Public Library. Oh the nerd in me must see the Rose reading room (which we had to go back for during the public viewing hours). But we did enjoy seeing the exhibits of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol, the inspirations from Winnie the Pooh, and even the first written Bible.
• Hudson Yards. So thankful to have booked the igloo for ninety minutes; the heater did wonders for our freezing limbs. I took a power nap cocooned inside our little nest, after savoring the hot chocolate and the truffliest philly cheesesteak that hubby got from the Christmas market.
• Statue of Liberty. At the last minute, we decided to take a 1920s inspired boat instead of the free Staten Island ferry to experience Lady Liberty more up close. We had most of the boat to ourselves, and the staff even helped us take great photos of Liberty and the skyline.
• Wall Street. The Bull and The Fearless girl were tourist spots and shots, and we took time to walk around the financial district.
• World Trade Center Memorial. This was a somber moment, as we paid respects to the heroes of 9-11. Very humbling to stand at the feet of where these twin towers stood, and to pray for the countless lives taken during this defining moment in NY’s history.
• The Plaza. To live like Eloise and Kevin McAllister is the dream; to spend the day enjoying afternoon tea with cousins is sublime. Santa doling out sleigh bells and yuletide wishes was a definite plus as well.
• Build-a-Bear. This was where Melody and Miss Liberty were born. Sofia had a blast stuffing and dressing up her new babies. Even got certificates too. Very legit.
• Top of the Rock. One of two observatories that we went to. We booked for a sunset view, and what a view it was. The silhouette and the colors reflecting on the city’s skyscrapers was so beautiful! One of our best family photos yet.
• Radio City Rockettes. What better way to ring in the Christmas spirit than to watch the ever famous Rockettes ladies can-can through Christmas carols. Took photos of the giant ornaments too outside.
• Woodburry. Ahhh the outlets. Finally time to swipe and do some serious retail therapy. Bought an extra luggage for all other extra bags that I bought as gifts and pasalubongs to family. Dad bought as some jewelry charms also.
• Museum of Ice Cream. We could not push through with weekend sleepover due to some sudden illness from our cousins, so we opted to do museum of ice cream instead. This was such a pink blast! Daughter had so much fun with the unlimited ice cream, the slides and ball pits. Will definitely recommend for those with kids and kids-at-heart.
• St Paul Church. Our family passed by this church on the way home, and decided to attend Gaudate Sunday. We were blessed to be chosen to offer the gifts. Very humbling experience.
• Paw Patrol. Sofie learned how to bike her way out of the activity zone, and got a medal for finishing with a zipline. We ended a day painting a porcelain Ariel, a much needed down time from our busy iti these past few days.
• Museum of Natural History. We followed the path of Night at the Museum, where we got to see Dum-dum (and the Philippines artifacts), Capuchin Monkey, The T-Rex, and Teddy Roosevelt.
• One Summit Vanderbilt. The Summit was an amazing experience, and I’m glad we got to see the New York skyline at night. As a city girl, the view is spectacular and one of the best I’ve seen in my lifetime. Daughter loved the floating balls so much.
• Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo. Oh it was freezing! But we soldiered on and caught the first rays of the sun at the bridge and at Dumbo. Worth the Sacrifice.
• NBA at Barclays. My first time to watch the NBA live, and glad we caught a game between the Knicks and the Nets. It was a teaching moment for our daughter to learn about basketball, and it was a dream for hubby to watch this live.
• Central Park. Our trip’s highlight, and one of our favorite days. We spent two days in the park, ate at Tavern (delicious Christmas meal!), tried the Eggnog and Cider, rode one of the oldest carousels in the city, did both the pedicab tours and the carriage ride, and got our family photos taken over the Gapstow bridge, The Mall and the Fountain. Best way to end our trip!

Travelling with a family is different than travelling for business. It was my first time to be out of the country for two weeks, which meant more planning, more clothes to pack, and more time to ensure that all of our wish lists were fulfilled. But being with family on a trip also meant more considerations for morning rituals, mood swings, and our own budget to be spent. A lot of these discussions we had prior and during the trip itself, but we wanted to make sure that we carried on a positive, patient and more forgiving disposition with each other. It was nice to have someone carry my luggages (and shopping bags too!), and to take photos the way we wanted to.

It really pays to book in advance, as we got good seats for our shows including Broadway’s Wicked and Rockettes, and restaurant seating at those hard to book venues like Tea at the Plaza, Papillon and Tavern on the Green. Some of our trip items were also delightful surprises, and those that we booked on a whim or opened up at the last minute during the trip: Macy’s Santaland, The Blue Box, Santa at the Plaza, Museum of Ice Cream, the pedicab for Central Park.

Safety too was always a priority, which was why we opted out of experiencing the subway and took Lyfts everywhere instead. We warned our daughter not to talk to strangers and to strange mascots or monks, and we stayed away from irate locals who had more colorful language than most. There were some protesters over the Israel-Palestinian war, because of the Jews in New York, so we tried to be more conscious and reroute our itinerary if they came across these activities.

Oh the weather outside was frightful! Temperature dropped to 0 degrees, which felt like even less, so layers of thermals, sweaters, winter coats and waterproof boots were our saviors. I was freezing and chilling one day after Brooklyn Bridge, but glad I was able to warm up enough to continue our trip.

We knew that it was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation in New York, and we don’t know exactly when we will be back. This is why we pulled out all the stops and committed all these tourist spots to memory. For sure, we created a lifetime of memories for this trip.

I will always Heart New York!

Back to School!

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

~ Anthony J. D’Angelo

Finally fulfilled a dream to do post-graduate studies, as company offered a short course on Management at one of the most prestigious schools in the Asian Region: the Asian Institute of Management. It was never in my plan to pursue an MBA in this school as the fees are in expat levels (read dollars!), but the opportunity to learn from experts and be part of the alumni is really humbling and overwhelming at the same time.

The upcoming classes meant that I was a stay-in student, thereby needing to arrange for the villages both at home and in the office to take over tasks in my absence. There were a lot of endorsements, and people to reassure of my return. Nonetheless, I am eternally thankful for the support of colleagues and family who took over the helm so I can concentrate on my schooling.

First day high, when I walked with colleagues from Unilab from our hotel to find our first (of many) case rooms. The joy of writing notes again, of participating in discussions and of pure learning is incomparable. My favorite classes were on coaching, systems thinking, innovations, excellence in execution and leadership. Sadly, marketing classes were underwhelming. But it was not a walk in the park. The hours spent on reading cases, the pressure to pass the exams, and to win in its simulation games all took a toll on us. I took a day or two to recuperate, but attended sessions online to still be on track.

Being in a hotel had its perks too, as I experienced living in a dorm that I did not get to do while I was in university. I would check in the hotel on weekends, and see my family only on Saturdays, then go back again. It gave me some alone time also to focus on school and have some ME time, outside of my usual hats as a mom-wife and as a director. No one else relied on me for a month, and I was free to “find myself” again. I even took myself out on a date, on high-end restaurants to get my fix: trying out Greenbelt’s cuisines on Mexican (for my tacos and margaritas) and Italian (for my pasta and spritz). That was a liberating experience.

We did not win the games, but I won many friends. The class of about 20 was just the right size for rich discussions and meaningful connections, even after graduation. The different industries ensured that we had perspectives from different fields, which enhanced our learning even more. As the school envisions of its graduates, I will leave these hallowed halls infinitely inspired to actively listen, transform processes, and lead my team to create valuable impact to our divisions and communities.

Thank you Batch 113! Thank you AIM and Unilab! Thank you Lord!

Working Moms and the Workplace

“Companies should be doing more to help mothers stay in the workforce.”

Most conversations with my colleagues who are also working mothers center around “early retirement”: the willingness to give up potential of an upward promotion, to instead fulfill and follow what the heart desires. And what the working mom’s heart wants is simple: more time for family and child-rearing, more time to travel, more time for mental and physical health. These realizations has become more apparent during the pandemic years, when the working mom has mastered juggling all responsibilities, especially when the lines between tasks have blurred and the demands for her to attend to these tasks have even doubled.

Yet, these talks just remain pantry fodder, because the economic benefits of a steady salary still weighs heavily on our everyday survival. With a sigh and a half-hearted laugh, we all end these talks as recognition for what they are–wishful thinking–before going back to our desks and back to the daily grind.

Many times, I do wish that human resources would take note of these conversations and make more proactive solutions in the workplace. While working moms do make valuable contributions to the organizations, their effectivity and eventually their outputs are significantly impacted by happiness to fulfill their roles and their many hats. Access to mental health therapists is a step towards recognizing this need, but the gap still exists as this solution remains passive: the employees must make the first move to improve their mental health. If legitimate conversations are held more frequently to listen to their concerns, if policies such as flexible times to pick up children from daycare or work from home options are enabled, if safe spaces are created for working moms to fulfill their roles, then probably, there will be an improvement in tenures and essentially productivity not just for working moms but the entire workforce as well.

Sharing a resonant concept that I read in this article, “Working Moms and the Double Shift”

Companies that take action to help working mothers—including tailoring policies and programs and normalizing flexibility and leave for all employees—will create a better environment for mothers to stay in the workplace and thrive. For those women who must leave, policies that help them return when they are ready not only help women’s careers but also ensure that companies don’t lose all that talent and experience. The choices that companies make today will have consequences far beyond this difficult pandemic era, influencing gender equality in the workplace for decades to come.

Full article here.

Review: Workparent by Daisy Dowling

“And this, as strange and nonintuitive as it is, is working parent balance: not some state of perfect, graceful equilibrium; not some elegantly described concept in a corporate work/life brochure; not some blissful sounding but unachievable schedule that lets you do precisely the same thing, at the same time, each day; but the ability to go deep on what’s important, where you need to, and when you need to, and then deliberately correct in the other direction.”

~ Daisy Dowling

Came across this book while looking for Work Parent self-help, as I wanted to improve my journey into work-parenthood and learn from other working parents on a similar journey.

The book is a tribute to honor working parents who have had successful strategies navigating a world between career, family care and self care. Each chapter is dedicated to addressing a particular concerns in a specific stage of the parenting and career journey. It switches from tips, to worksheets, to success stories, with the reader able to jump into each chapter that resonates to them the most.

Personally, I dived immediately into the Time chapter, as this is the part where I struggle the most–finding quality time to spend with each aspect of my life, all with their own pressing concerns. While Money and Village are also important factors, I find that these are items I have well prepared for, but reading through other budgeting tips and childcare options made me realize also how I can prepare and plan better for things that may happen in the long term.

Self-care must also be prioritized, because we have to consciously carve and allow wellness time in our busy schedules so we can present our best selves to our work and to our families. Taking a step back to really think about what recharges and energizes us, and planning ahead so that tasks to-do’s are all delegated during this time, are keys to finding success in self-care.

Hope this book also serves as an effective manual for other working parents to find that elusive balance and a well-rounded life that we are all striving for.

Word of the Year: FAITH

I have always feared change and how I can adapt to it. There’s a certain sense of calmness and comfortability in working with things that you already know, and harnessing your strengths in things that are constant.

But as more and more changes happen around me, I realize the importance of having an anchor to hold me through all of the movements. From a new division, to changes in the family dynamics with my husband moving abroad, all of these have taken a toll on my physical well-being, emotional state and mental health.

For this year, I have chosen to be guided by this word, to help me navigate a world of changes:

In a world full of uncertainties, it is only with steadfast Faith that I can conquer my fear and rise above the challenges of the unknown. In keeping the Faith, I know that there is a greater plan for us. I will trust and have Faith that we are where we are now in our life’s journey, because there is growth and learning, and missions to be completed. We are where we are supposed to be.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Christmas in the Now Normal

“Christmas now surrounds us; Happiness is in the air. Our hands are busy with every task; as carols fill in the air.”

~ Shirley Sallay

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year, but things are now going back to normal (with a few exceptions). December still is a hustle and bustle month, especially with my transition at work. But it is a welcome change compared with the pandemic years.

The month has seen us following old Christmas traditions, most of which we were only glad to follow:

• Starbucks Coffee Collection (got our His and Hers planners!) I missed their toffee nut lattes!
• Grocery Shopping at S&R and Robinsons
• Christmas Shopping for Gifts (now with Teachers, Classmates and more officemates, since I’m giving for 2 divisions)
• Christmas Tree Photos at PowerPlant Mall and ShangriLa
• Christmas Parties in the Office
• Christmas Reunions with Family and Friends
• Games during Noche Buena and Media Noche
• Mom and Tina’s Beef Stew for Noche Buena and Conti’s Baked Salmon for Media Noche
• Simbang Gabi on Sunday dawn
• Christmas Carols with Sofie (Christmas in our Hearts with Pentatonix and Lea Salonga
• Christmas Greetings in social media, viber and messenger groups
• Bibingka, Puto Bumbong, Castanas and Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate
• Bioessence Massage, Tokyo Tokyo Dinner and Payless Shoes Shopping
• Bank runs for denomination change and updating of accounts
• Christmas Tune-up
• MMFF (Labyu with an Accent)
• Netflix Series (The Crown Season 5, Emily in Paris Season 3, and new series Wednesday)

Some new traditions for this year include:

• Super American Circus (in lieu of Disney on Ice)
• Day trip to Tanay
• Christmas cards from Sofia
• Ayala Triangle Lights
• Early photo op for Family with DenMen

This year may be busy, but I wouldn’t trade the normalcy of December months for what we experienced the previous years. There’s warmth in seeing everyone’s faces again, and in really celebrating the Yuletide season with loved ones. The Mass is more heartfelt when celebrated in the Church instead of online.

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and peaceful holiday season with your loved ones!