Formula for Happiness

You will never achieve what you are capable of

if you're too attached to things you're supposed to let go of.

~Marc and Angel Hack Life

I am a woman full of emotional attachment to almost anything that touches my life. But along the way I learned that "changes" are inevitable and at a point it time we have to let go (of anything, whether it be love, a thing or someone who had to pass by but would never be part of our life forever) and move on.

God is really gracious to remind me of the perks of moving on. Quotes and thoughts about moving on and letting go were pouring since yesterday. Just in time for the new year eh?

Stairways to Heaven

"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, 

but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it"

~Andy Rooney

Mountain Province

Euphoria, yes it was! The best trip of my life thus far.

The road to Sagada wasn't an easy one. You will go through curly,zigzag roads which seems endless and will make you feel like puking. But thinking about the destination and journey itself is exhilarating. 

Our life can be compared with this road, the ups and downs may seem endless but the lessons and experience are priceless. And in the end you'll realize that despite everything, life is worth a try!!!

Inspiration

"It is during our darkest moments

that we must focus to see the light"

~Aristotle Onassis

Here's a bit of inspiration for all the people out there who need to find the light to guide them. 

Hang on and let's celebrate life.

The way home

"Our way to practice is one step at a time,

one breath at a time"

~Shunryu Suzuki

Caleruega

In life, sometimes we have to take detours. But time will always come, when you'll feel that you had reached the end of the road and there's no other way than to turn around and go back where you truly belong.

Appreciation

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing:

It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well"

-Voltaire

Christmas is almost here. I am now on the highest peak of my happy mood hunting gifts for loved ones.

So busy  I may fail to get that one thing I desire the most to practice my new found desire to capture life. I sulked for like 7 hours. But it led me to the conclusion that nothing will happen even if I do that. So I braced myself and accepted the fact that it wasn't here yet cause it's not the time to be.

God has a plan. And for that I will wait for the right time.

Wear your emotion

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature wears the colors of the spirit.

When I was a teen, I was fascinated with pink. 

I stayed faithful to it until I fell in love with red. A color I despised before. 

But can you believe that now, I am in awe with yellow? A color which made me puke when I was young 

(no exaggeration).

Although this sudden changes in my favorites brought confusion in me, I at least came to the most acceptable reason I can think of. And that is, "we wear our emotions". And by that I mean my color depends on my mood (hope that makes sense)

Caleruega

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them
that your strength lies"
-Mother Teresa

Caleruega's Transfiguration Chapel, 

Caleruega made me gasp at first sight and the only word I managed to say was wow.  

It is indeed a perfect place to ponder and pray 

and to free your mind of heavy loads.

It's the Climb

"It is better to take many small steps in the right direction

than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward"

-Proverb

Caleruega, Nasugbu, Batangas

And that is a no sweat title, cause I imagined Miley Cyrus singing when I saw the stairs. What's with the step and direction? It's so redundant, so I'll leave it for you to figure out.

P.S. I finally created a Facebook Page for this blog. Only click like if you want. Gee, thanks

Lapse of Judgment

"Judgments prevent us from seeing the good

that lies beyond appearances"

-Wayne Dyer

 taken at Caleruega, Nasugbu Batangas.

I thought this picture would be an ugly duckling. But  I had a lapse of judgment,

cause it's one of my favorites (beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder).

Love and light

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that"

Matrin Luther King , Jr.

When you are in the midst of pain, it seems so hard to give out love and forgive.

Like life  itself is so hard to sustain. And yet when time had healed the wounds of yesterdays, 

you will be amazed with yourself on how easy it is to forgive.

Everything really just need to take time, so that the lesson from past mistakes

could be embodied and absorbed well, so not to be repeated again.

Gratitude

"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle,

or you can live as if everything is a miracle."

-Albert Einstein

Mary Immaculate Parish (Nature's Church) - Cafe

It's a long weekend (for us). There is nothing more serene than to rest on the comfort of our homes.  This picture reminds me of our old home after the volcanic eruption. A refuge my father built for us while our home was being built on a new and higher location.

Simple, good old days! Love them!!! I want them back, I miss them.
I give thanks for them.

Rainy Days

"Anyone who says  sunshine brings happiness

has never danced in the rain"

-unknown

At Fort Santiago during a friend's birthday celebration

It's ironic how I love rainy season but I'm a weakling at cold temperature. Anyways, I believe we're in the transition period and meaning to say rainy season is on it's way, hooray for the raindrops lover like me.  But the truth is, rainy days makes me nostalgic about my childhood. It reminds me of cancelled school days where I spent the time home sitting near the window writing, reading or sleeping. Well, need I say more?

Brand new day

"Whenever something negative happens to you,

there is a deep lesson concealed  within it"

-Eckhart Tolle

at dawn beside our office

No matter how bad the day is, always look on the brightest side of life. As Eckhart said, there's a deep lesson concealed within it.

May this day be a brand new day filled with love, bliss, and hope for everyone. The sun will shine for you today. *Hugs

Reminder

"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter.

If you don't mind, it doesn't matter"

-Jack Benny

Two granpas at Metropolitan Theater  (MET)

They remind me of/that:
1. Simple life
2. Finding happiness in ordinary things
3. Contentment
4. How blessed I am
5. Growing old is mandatory

How about you, what do they remind you of?

Start new

"Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new"
-Sammy Hagar

For the past two years, I was half upset during my birthday. I felt that celebrating was really different when you were a kid. I am feeling the same jitters again and as the day comes nearer the weariness multiplies. And to contrast the feeling, I pulled out an inspiring photo and decided that my official 2012 will start on Saturday.

Sail Away

"He that will not sail till all dangers are over must never put to sea"

--Dr. Thomas Fuller

A cargo ship for companion while on board the Golden Vulture.

Is that a big wave to where the vessel is heading? (knees trembling not then but right now, gee I didn't noticed that until today, on the picture)

I guessed that we're only 30 minutes away from Puerto Galera when we encountered this cargo vessel. At this juncture, I was on my right state of mind (sleepy though ) and well acquainted with the sea again. No more jitters uh? Yes, I'm kinda boastful like that to even stare at the tiny bits of water that were about to hail my face only the boat is covered and it's HUGE. Hahaha.

And no I'm NOT BUSY today....just LAZY

How to overcome trauma

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for"

-William Shedd

MSL's Golden Vulture picking passengers in Puerto Galera

This  huge boat which can board 150 passengers ditched my trauma of the sea and boat per se after that bumpy whirlwind ala roller coaster adventure in Quezon Province. Upon seeing it, man I had that boasting feeling of declaring war with the waves. Bring em' on and rock our boat. After almost an hour and a half ride in the wide sea under the hot sun, we set foot in  Puerto Galera. Then the fun begun.

Note: To overcome your fear or trauma from a previous sea adventure, make sure you go up aboard a big boat and station yourself near the life jackets, okay? 

Rushing

"There is more to life than increasing its speed"

-Gandhi

Tiangge (Bazaar) 

Tiangge are very in demand especially during Christmas holidays. If I forgot to pause for while, I maybe one of the busy people out there running endless errands to complete their Christmas list.

Enjoying the walk and the scene was the best thing I ever did that day. The scent of Christmas gives warmth to my soul.  If not for taking a pause, I might end up not appreciating the beauty of life.

For the Mother of Civilization

Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when prefect, 

is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future

-Albert Camus

The facade leading to Jose Rizal's exile room in Fort Santiago

One thing you should know about me; I'm a sucker for history and culture. I love reading contemporary stories that's why I  wish to travel far to the other side of the world, Europe in particular as well as the rest of Asia. People say only idiot loves history but to me, those idiots are rich in heart for they appreciate the mother of this modern civilization. 

Someday, I'll visit Zeus in his temple, walks in the Great Wall of China, breathe the air of London, feel the love inside Taj Mahal, and admire the heights of the Pyramids of Egypt. Someday we'll see.

Amid the Stillness

"I am glad that so much movement happens in this stillness."

-Richard Land

Before leaving Borawan Island

See that orange boat? Right!, that was the boat waiting for us to hop aboard because it's time to go home. Again, we had to face the sea with fortitude.

Gazing my sight on the waves brought stillness, because its sound was music to my ears. But who would know that amid that stillness in the ocean is a 5 feet deep water just after 3 to 4 steps away from the shore. Yes, when we get to Borawan Island, the boat crews had to dock the boat near the rocks for us to get down without soaking ourselves. 

Life is really full of surprises some we get to enjoy, some caught us in surprise.