The Year that was 2019

Time flew really fast. Here I am writing again an official throwback on how my 2019 went by. This year was filled with so much blessings and realizations. I cannot thank the Lord enough for being with me throughout the ups and downs and allowing certain people to surround me and remind me that I am appreciated and loved.

Spiritual: Still read the gospel everyday for year 2019. This is to remind me of God's goodness and promise of salvation; and that I am not alone in this journey. I pray every night to ask the Lord for the wisdom and knowledge to survive each day. With the calamities that our province experienced - a series of earthquakes - we turn to God for protection and guidance. Maybe this is the Lord's way of reminding us that He is there, that He is watching, and that He is coming back for us.

Work life: Before the year ended, another blessing came. I qualified for reclassification, which meant an increase in basic salary. Gosh. This was totally unexpected. I didn't expect that I would be granted the reclass. Thank you Lord for another blessing!

Education: After five years, I finally graduated (master's). I know it took longer that expected but at least I did it. I am officially a graduate. Wooohooo!

Family: Never left my side. They were always there to support me. From kinder to masters, they were there. I couldn't have done it without them. I am forever grateful to the Lord for giving me loving and supportive parents.

Friends: My bunch that I would not trade for anything. I thank the Lord for allowing me to meet the friends that stayed with me all this time. I am looking forward to another year with my beshies.

Special Friend: Graduated masters together. hihihi.. Goals? Nah. Just plain coincidence. Celebrated our first year together. Still puts up with my weirdness :)

Travel: Got to travel with my family and friends this year. I am thankful to the Lord for all the opportunities to see and explore His creations.

2019 was pretty much a great year. Despite the difficulties and challenges that came this year, I still did a great job of surviving. hihihihihi Thank you 2019. I won't forget the memories you brought. Let's welcome another year with a grateful heart. 

     

Life Realizations as I turn a Quarter and One

As we live our lives here on Earth, we are faced with different circumstances, may it be good or bad. And as humans, we have to deal with these just so we could go on with our lives. These circumstances molded me to become the person I am today. As I turn a year older, a lot of realizations came to me. 

I am flawed.  I am not perfect. I just try to be someone that is appreciated, even if not by many but by the most important people in my life. I guess, it is a basic human need to be appreciated and I won't deny that I wanted that, too. 

I don't trust people easily like I used to. I guess this came with age and maturity. You learn that you don't need certain people in your life. You don't need the extra baggage that came with the passive relationships you encounter along the way. You don't trust and expect that person to stay. You just need those that you can trust completely and you can pour your heart out.    

I get tired in maintaining relationships. This one came with age and priorities. Sometimes, I feel tired with maintaining relationships. Why, you ask? Relationship is hard work. That I can tell you. It doesn't work if the the parties involve are not putting the extra effort to make the relationship work. Some, relationships, may it be work, friendship, family, can be tiresome. I needed to sort out the relationships that really matter to me and needs every bit of my attention.

I frequently need my alone time. I prefer to stay at home if I don't have anything to do. This gives me the time to get some thinking done. To process what happened that week, to calm myself, to just do nothing. I needed the time to recharge and keep my mind sane to face the days ahead.

(This is a late post. Just felt the need to post in now.) 

Taiwanese Movie Craze

This week was all about binge watching and I got hooked up with Taiwanese movies. I found them really cute and romantic. There's this unexplained joy in these cutesy, romantic movies. hihihihi. I searched for the most recommended movies beforehand and I was not disappointed. 

1. Fall in Love at First Kiss (2019)

This one's a remake but it is the best version yet, at least for me. I liked how the girl tried to moved on and did not beg the guy to really be with her. This is a cute movie. hihihi.

(4.5/5)

2. Our Times (2015)

This one's something else. I cried when I watched this movie. The were really cute together. I liked how I can feel the sincerity of the characters. 

(5/5)

3. You are the Apple of my Eye (2011)

You can really see dedication in this movie. How much a guy should earn a girl's precious "yes". It is really romantic, too. 

(4/5)

4. Hear Me (2009)

This one's really cute and romantic, as well. It will open your eyes to the differently abled people.

(4.5/5)

All in all, I really liked all of these movies. I totally recommend these if you want to feel "kilig". 

Hit and Run Squad (2019)

I admit, I'm hyped with anything Ryu Jun Yeol and this movie is not an exception. Whoa. Badass. All of the actors really did a great job but my eyes are only for Jun Yeol. hihihihi. The movie is kinda brutal and violent but let's just think that all of it is not true. His masculinity when he takes over the wheels. Wow, just wow. 

Intimate Strangers

People live three lives.

A public life,

a private life

and a secret life.

Ryu Jun Yeol

This is an appreciation post for Ryu Jun Yeol. Where to begin? I'm totally back to fangirling over him, now that he's doing Traveler with Lee Je Hoon. I really like him. His personality on top of it all. You can really rely on him (close ba kami?). hahaha. He's a guy to admire. He's a really good actor, too. I look forward to his movies and other projects this year. 

A passage from Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami

But the proposition that we can look into another person's heart with perfect clarity strikes me as a fool's game. I don't care how well we think we should understand them, or how much we love them. All it can do is cause us pain. Examining your own heart, however, is another matter. I think it's possible to see what's in there if you work hard enough at it. So in the end maybe that's the challenge: to look inside your own heart as perceptively and seriously as you can, and to make peace with what you find there. If we hope to truly see another person, we have to start looking within ourselves.

:)

First off, Happy New Year! This is a long over due post. I ought to post on the last day of 2018 but my laziness got the best of me, so yeah, 24 days later, I am writing this.

2018 was one of a kind. I bet every year is. hahahaha. But seriously though, 2018 was a roller coaster ride for me. I'm really glad I survived. So, let's start my official throwback on how my 2018 went. 

Work life: This one was pretty much the reason why I was really depressed and unhappy last 2018. Work really drained the life out of me. It made me think that I lost all hope to becoming really and sincerely happy with my life. I let my negativity towards it consumed me, to the point that I'm coming home from work crying my eyes out. I just couldn't explain the unhappiness I'm feeling. I was thinking to myself whether this was fate or this is something I could endure and get over with. It's not that the workload is unbearable, but the people I'm with is seriously devouring me alive. Like a beast eating its prey, that harsh. But of course, they wouldn't know that because I don't have any way of telling them due to my lack of courage to face the enemies. I know, this is exaggerating but this what I felt then. 

Spiritual: Only God can truly help me overcome the problems I'm facing and will be facing in the future. Being a weakling, I can only turn to God for help. My mind is full of negative thoughts and I need God to guide me. I should not let negativity overpower me. So, I prayed. I prayed for courage to face the world. This world may not be all smiles and laughter but it is a world full of life. A life you could live. And I thought, I needed strength to really get by and slowly become better. I need God to be with me every step of the way. In order to do so, I read the gospel every single day for 2018. It also had reflections you can relate to. It helped me be reminded that I am not fighting this battle alone. I am with a strong God. I also prayed the rosary. I felt really secured every time I pray.

Family: My foundation. My rock. My parents are awesome. They never failed to support me and guide and always be there for me. I couldn't ask for more. 

Friends: Crazy people who keep me sane. Despite all the problems and negativity, they were there to listen and keep me company whenever I feel like the world was on top of me. They put up with my misery. Also, gave me advice to really appreciate life despite the challenges that came with it. 

Special Friend: The person who could put up with my weirdness. <3 

Travel: I got to travel to different cities last year with people I love. 

Overall, 2018 was not all bad. It was a year full of realizations and lessons. It was a year that I get to experience life in whole new perspective. I am truly grateful for 2018.