What level are you in Restaurant Story?

Brian: tita Chik? What level are you in Restaurant story?
Me: which restaurant? I think 33 and 36…
Brian: how did you Level up so fast?
Me: Just cook and cook..hey, when is the Olympics? Do you know that there’s an amputee who’s going to compete?
Brian: what’s an amputee?
Me: *showing him a picture and a TED talk of Aimee Mullins*
Brian: wow, she can run with that? Maybe she was bad that’s why God made her that.
Me: I’d like to think that God made her that way to inspire people and give people hope…
Brian: what’s inspire?
Me: (uh-oh) think of something that you want to do but you think you can’t do it…and imagine that she’s doing just that…all the more you’ll be motivated to try harder because in order for her to do something she has to overcome more circumstance than you do…right? That could be her purpose…
Brian: *nods*
*a few questions more…*

Brian: tita Chik, I’m running this September and I don’t know if I’ll win because I’m competing against P2 and I’m only P1..
Me: it doesn’t mean that if they’re older, they’re more skilled…theres this young girl in the Philippines, around 10 years old, I think and she surfs really well..so you see, you don’t have to be older…you just have to be passionate about it like kuya in basketball and taekwondo…
Brian: tita Chik, how do you make waves?
Me: Brian, nose bleed! )
Brian: huh?
Brian’s mom: it means you’re stressing tita Chik already!
Brian: tita Chik, who’s your best friend? Apart from me?

I didn’t even know that we were best friends…haha but i guess when you’re a kid, everyone is your best friend…I rarely see them on weekdays…when I get home, they’re already asleep…that’s why I cherish coming home early…I get to talk to them…my nose gets to bleed, I get to relax…

So what’s with the title? Every time Brian sees me, that’s almost always his first question…and I guess, it means more than just knowing what level I am in restaurant story… It’s wanting to know how I am …how’s my day…it’s his way of saying, i havent seen you, let’s talk…

Simple as they are, they warm my heart in ways that make me feel utterly grateful. Every day, I re-realise that my greatest blessing is people…wherever I go, I always find people who spoils me…pampers me…everywhere..I consider myself independent and capable of taking care of myself and yet, God continues to send people to take care of me..I’ve cherished and embrace a few…some I’ve pushed away…some I’ve hurt…but amidst that, the outpouring continues…I’ve learned a lot…but still there’s still a lot more to learn and be less obstinate about..but definitely, I am well-reminded of the value of people who ask me questions like, “what level are you in restaurant story”? …The value of knowing basketball and not just feigning interest…of playing restaurantStory and mine craft and yes dance central even if it’s the least of my interest…
I shower before sleeping because I want to smell good in dreamland…aside from the fact that I honestly think that the MRT is dirty…i no longer want to sweat afterwards…but it amazes me how these kids can make me play and enjoy catch the monkey and not be bothered even if I sweat profusely..I don’t know if I just like kids or they simply matter — they occupy space in my heart and has mass (value)….who knows? so! How about you, what level are you in restaurant story???

Whoever #003 – Reason to Run

Dear you,

It’s my first time to run today…my mind is superkaduper active; I thought of jotting down a thought or two…

Last Tuesday, just as I was about to sleep, I had this spontaneous, unexpected and crazy thought..i smiled as I thought of it..it was more like a wishful thinking…that you’ll print more stuffs at the printer by my side the following day so I can see you more often. Silly, I know…but it’s the truth ;p

But instead of that, I had the chance to talk to you and got to know you a bit better…anglakas ko talaga Kay God . I am utterly amazed that I have a humorous Father.

I still smile at the thought that you were planning to get me coffee…I’m glad I teased you that day (feeling close?), I got to know that ;p. I wonder how big my smile is going to be the moment you hand me that coffee…hmmm…

So there…two things that you don’t know…(thank God we’re not FB friends)

1. When i see you,I can’t resist the urge to smile…thank you for that..but for a month it really made me wonder, why that effect ?!?

2. Ive been planning to run but for some reason, haven’t been able to…but tonight, after I learned that you love to run, I found the reason to run…haha

I look forward to running with you, silly head…someday…one day…

XO,
Me

Whoever #002 – spoiled

Dear you,

My pastor often tells us that the god we serve is a god who hugs His children and He hugs His children through His people – us.

But He doesn’t only hug us….He also helps us carry our load…our burden when we are feeling tad worn out. When we feel we need someone to SHARE the burden with, He sends someone who will carry the ENTIRE load for you.

So today, when I saw you in the MRT station and you offered to carry my stuffs which were heavy by the way…I felt the heart of a FATHER who was spoiling me…

Thank you for being God’s vehicle of love for me today.

Xo,
Me

Whoever #001 – Not about you…

Dear you,

I don’t have the slightest intention to go jolling (SA slang) with you in your pity-party sessions..AGAIN, it has nothing to do with you…if you don’t believe it, it’s up to you!

If I am silent, why can’t you just let me be silent? Don’t you get it? If I want to share it with you, I would have shared it with you! Can I not just deal with it on my own? Come on!

I am not fond of being with people with whom I have to constantly explain myself… I’m just not wired that way…what you see is what you get…if you don’t like what you see..if you don’t have the heart to let me be who I am…nor don’t have the patience to see me be who you hope i’ll be…DEAL WITH IT! …Life is short and I wont certainly even try to spend it trying to please you…

Xo,
Me

What makes a gift, A GIFT?

What makes a gift, a gift?

If you ask me that ten years ago, I would have simply answered, the GIVER and the NOTE that goes with it. And yes, I would appreciate it even more if it comes with a note…

But things change…You can only appreciate the things people you like do to and for you to certain extents… When things start to be haphazardly done or chosen…somehow, things begin to mean less and feel perfunctory.

When I’m asked what I want as gifts, I normally am uncomfortable demanding things from people. I usually tell them to not feel pressured to get me anything. Instead, get me something only when they see something that reminds them of me. I choose gifts that way…I honestly think it’s the best way to choose gifts. I’d rather not give anything than spend to make someone feel unimportant.

I don’t like generic gifts. Most of the time people think that every woman in this world adore flowers. I seriously cannot appreciate one. I can recognise a good arrangement but beyond that you cannot expect anything more. I prefer a bundle of dark snickers or chocolate coated macadamias or shelled walnuts. To me that feels like someone has already filled a room with American roses or tulips at far cheaper cost.

So what makes a gift, a gift?

Hmmm…I don’t know…but maybe they’re merely simple things which make a complicated heart smile…sometimes, you need not over-think…BE YOU! Listen some more…notice some more…

you would not be who you are…

Sonja: This is my fault, if i had not gone out…
Lucian: Then you would not be who you are…

at the later part of the movie….

Lucian: If i have not left, none of these would have happened…
Sonja: And you would not be who you are…

I love the movie underworld…BUT I especially love the Rise of the Lycans merely because of the scenes depicted in the script above.

WHY? I’ve been loved and hated because of my convictions…people have found offence that I don’t easily take their opinions/ideas…or I don’t take their ideas period.

People most of the time perceived it as a lack of value for their opinions – advises, ideas, suggestions. BUT only a few of them realise the fact that it really has NOTHING to do with them.

feeling and BEING…

This 5-part interview is one of my favourite interviews.  For some reason, this had been lulling me to sleep for the past days – can’t seem to sleep without a dose of this.  I don’t even know what prompted me to dig this interview from my cobwebbed memory in the first place. hehe  But I love this.  Largely because of its honesty…spontaneity…of feeling and BEING…of BOLDness!  …This reminds me of hope…transformation and possibilities…of living life with PURPOSE!  …And maybe, just maybe…these are a few of what I hope for for 2012…