Words…..just a bunch of letters?

          I truly admire writers, especially good ones. Be it novel writers, writers for magazines, shows or whatever. I am currently reading mitch albom's latest, "For one more day", and I am amazed at how he is able to capture the emotions, the thoughts in his words, in the story. Depending on what it is you are going through and what you have experienced in life, you may or may not relate to what the author says. But I got hit hard in the phrases I came across in the book. He mentions in a page - going back to something is harder than you think. So true! I can so relate it sucks!Going back to school is probably where it hits me hardest. The lesson there, don't stop until you finish what you have already started.Do not give up! Yes! it gets hard and difficult sometimes but after that, imagine the exhiliration that you are done with it! It's along the lines of my motto, or at least one of many, that life is not a dress rehearsal, so do it right the first time! Even relationships. Don't think that you can mess up and then just make up for it when you do decide to go back. That is just not the way it works.And I am not even talking about relationships with a significant other. Relationships with your siblings, parents, cousins, friends and work mates. Damn! Just typing that is making me realize I need to make it up to some people. Have to make more time for family and not just work all the time. 

         "The Backside of a mountain is a fight against human nature. You have to care as much about yourself on the way down as you did on the way up!" 

              The author was actually citing the story of a mountain climber who said that it is different on the way up compared to what it is like on the way down. On your ascent, you've got a goal in mind,a motivation.You keep your eyes focused on your aim. On your way down…what now? 

              Sometimes you just have conversations with people and they end up saying things that stick in your mind forever. During my "tapping the creative universe" workshop with Jim paredes sometime back in June, he ended up saying things that helped me out big time more in life, than just in my quest to be a lot more creative. First one. such a simple phrase and one that I have heard too many times. "LIVE IN THE NOW!" If you worry and live in the past, you end up living those past experiences twice! instead of just experiencing the pain and the hurt once in your life. It prevents you from living life to the fullest in the now! if you are the kind, like myself sometimes,a nasty habit I am trying to nip in the bud, who keeps worrying about what might happen in the future, then you are living a life that might not even happen. If your worries do come to life, then once again, you ended up living it twice. Once in the present worrying about it, and in the future because it did happen. So what if it never happens? You were in distress for nothing. Living life cautiously. Treading on thin ice. What an existence! And keep in mind, what you think of the most is exactly what you will get! That is what you attract, remember! So instead of thinking about what you do not want, think instead of what it is you DO WANT! What do YOU want to attract? Life is great right now. It has been the last 29 years. I am living the best days of my life. I guess because my thinking has changed and I am CHOOSING to attract just that! The best days of my life! And it gets better every single day. 

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For Jim Paredes' workshop which is more than worth every penny, and whose teachings will help you in everything in life, please read this! Seriously, I was a student of the last one and it helped me in a lot of things. Am I more creative? Probably! But am I a better person, better equipped to handle what life throws my way? Absolutely! It is so worth it. No need to think about it. As the first rule in the workshop goes, Just show up! More on the things I learnt in this workshop later on. 

WHEN: August 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13
WHAT TIME: 7 to 9 PM
WHERE: 31 M. Jocson St. Loyola Heights, QC
HOW MUCH: 5,000 PESOS

To reserve a slot in this life-altering workshop, or ask for a syllabus, call 0916=8554303 and ask for Ollie, or call 426-5375 or write me at emailjimp@gmail.com.

I am actually planning to join it again just to grasp more of the teachings I may have missed the first time! One of the my best expenses ever!  

Fight child Hunger!

          One of the happiest days of my life was hosting the Walk-the-world concert at the SM Mall of Asia last sunday, July 29. It is an event set up by TNT, the delivery service in cooperation with the United Nations world food programme to help fight child hunger. The concert was just a small way of thanking people who walked the world and also to raise awareness that such a problem does exist not only in places like Africa but even in our very own Philippines.We told people, bystanders and concert goers, how they can personally help out. I don't know who gets to read this blog but I am hoping that if you are reading this right now, you can help out in your own little way as well. How you may ask? 

1. Log on to www.fighthunger.org and click on the link that states "feed a child". Just by clicking on it, you already get the sponsors to donate 19c to feed a hungry child. That is all you did! Clicked on the link! Just direct your mouse and click and one child is fed. No money out on your part.

2. Help sponsor through donations. One way is to get a shirt of walk-the-world. Just 200 pesos. text 0918-9000-852 and send in your full name and landline number. They will call you up, ask your shirt size and deliver the shirt straight into your doorsteps. They are after all a delivery service (TNT)! You can get an oversized shirt to sleep with or get your size and use it on a daily basis. You are also helping out just by wearing it and becoming a walking billboard. Help out as much as you can. If it isn't you, maybe you can tell someone about it!  

          What saddens me about the whole thing though is that there were artists who participated in the event and still insisted on getting paid for it. I am sure they have their reason for it, and its probably a good one but it was sad hearing from the organizers that they could not get many because they insisted on a high budget! For a charity event?!! What is up with that? There was even one local "rock" band that encountered technical difficulties and ended up storming out after their 2nd song! Not a "hi" or a 'thank you" or "help their cause and fight child hunger". Nothing like that, and to think they were getting paid anyways. When I summoned them up on stage, thinking that they were ready, like the director motioned to me, it took them another 5 minutes or so to do a sound check and the vocalist, a little bit more before coming up. Do I hear, DIVA!!!! The thing that really ticks me off is that it was not like their music was ruined by the sound system. Their music is not even that great for goodness' sake! Oh well….times like that, dapat, "steddy" lang sila! Maybe they were just having a really bad day.