Saturday, June 16, 2012

Lessons from Santiago

Since I am still living the life of a bum, my objective everyday is to look for things that will keep me occupied. Haha! Yeah. Most people would probably envy my lifestyle but it's not easy, I'm telling you! LOL

Anyway, a few days ago, I was able to finally get back into reading. I've been reading (or should I say 'just browsing') David Archuleta's autobiography (Chords Of Strength) for like years already since I bought it in 2008 (I think) and still fail at finishing the book because I was so busy working back then. I saw this employment break as the chance to finish it. Voila! Downed it in a day. I just felt that it was an obligation, as a fan, to read it. :)  

The following day, which was yesterday, I started reading Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. A college friend lent me this book during one of those gimmicks we've had when I was still in Manila. I think she saw the need for me to read Coelho's words and lessons as I was so unsteady that time with life in general. When she gave me that book, I managed to flip through the first few pages and eventually got bored. Haha! I dunno. It's just that back when I still have work, all I wanted to do was work and play. So fast forward, I finished the book today.  

Took me two days but with breaks, of course, since I also have gym and other activities. So why am I sharing this? Haha! Well, I'm not here to review the book because I don't think I have the capacity to do it. And besides, I think most people have already read this. I just want to share the impact that the book had on me.

Timely reading. That's how I put it. The book was here in my drawer for so long and it was only now that I came to discover this treasure. As what the book would always say, Maktub! (It's all written!) I was meant to have read this NOW. I think this is God's way of telling me "Everything will be alright. You'll see." 

I love how Coelho captured the emotions and worries I have right now and replaced them with optimism. I love how he presented life's lessons in a simple story that almost everyone could understand. Somehow, the book managed to straighten the path I'm taking right now and made it clearer. It's still blurry, though, but I see life now in a different light -- that all the things happening to us right now are just parts of the bigger picture; of our own "Personal Legends." God is just showing us the beauty of life through experiences but eventually, He'll lead us to our  respective treasures.

After reading the book, I immediately sent my friend (the one who lent me this) a message via Facebook, thanking her and apologizing for not returning the book yet. Haha! She was so happy that I finally got to finish it. But more to that, she was happy that I was able to decipher the lessons it has. She even gave me the book already so I can repeat it whenever I want to. LOL

I also think I've gone a bit crazy after reading it since I would share life lessons to my cousins out of nowhere. Haha! And even though they won't take me seriously, I know in my heart that I have been touched by this book.

So who's willing to lend me more Coelho novels? Haha! Guess I'll have to invest. 

By the way, Santiago is the name of the lead character in the book. :p

Saturday, June 2, 2012

I (insert heart icon) SG

I AM SO BACK!  Yup. After three months of vacation slash career hunting slash soul searching, I have finally decided to give up (for the meantime) the SG life with siblings. Of course given the opportunity, I would have wanted to stay there.  Singapore is such a nice place.  

Anyway, I'm back to square one.  

Thoughts kept running as I stepped on the plane going back. It felt like I have nowhere to go. I have so many plans in mind. Plans that weren't there before when I was working.  It was just stupid of me not to think about these things when I still have the resources to make them happen. Life is just...abstruse! Lol  

Next step? MOVE ON FORWARD!  Yep! That's how life is.  You fall down, you get back up. You lose this time, you win the next round.  I still believe that life is fair.  How you face life makes the difference.     

While I am already enjoying my comeback, I still miss Singapore sometimes and wish I'm still there. Aside from my siblings and my sisters-in-law, what I miss the most are the places there that I have already considered my sanctuaries.  

Henderson Waves

Famous for its unique design, the Henderson Waves is definitely one of my favorite jogging places when I was in SG.  

I usually spend at least three hours here just running and listening to my music.  I would stop at the middle of the bridge and would look at the view, trying to clear my mind as the day ends.  At the end of the bridge, a drink vending machine awaits me. I always make it a point to bring at least a dollar and 20 cents in my pocket for energy drink.


Labrador Park


My favorite park among all the rest we've been to. Nothing special about it actually but the view is just spectacular specially the sunset.  If you will go there in the afternoon, you would see a lot of amateur photographers trying to capture a good shot of it.  As for me, I only had my phone when I took this. I usually go to the place just to run.  Not that bad, right? :)

While I was in SG, I have also developed that love for beaches. I dunno, it just feels so serene when you're looking at the sea and hearing the waves reach the shore.  

Keppel Bay
Another jogging area that is close to the sea, the Keppel Bay is where all the rich's boats are located. LOL  

This is also where the infamous Reflections at Keppel Bay, an expensive residential establishment, is located.  And just a small trivia, my brother was part of the team behind that structure. 

There's this wooden path going to Labrador Park in this area where I regularly take. I don't know how exactly far it is from here to Labrador but it usually take me an hour to get there. I would stop for a while to take photos and to stretch my feet then run my way back home.

I guess the best outcome of that 3-month journey was my physique.  LOL  Obviously (as in really obvious!), I lost so much weight and got slimmer. I honestly didn't notice it until my mom prompted me. Yeah, before, I was running to be fit but later on, I was just running because I love to.   

(Sigh) Hopefully I could still come back in SG soon. I hope when my mom goes back this November, I'd be able to join her.  Oh well, that'll have to wait. This time, I should focus on what career to pursue. Hopefully better than the previous one so I can start with all my life plans already. And I am so excited about it. Weee! :)