One positive thought at a time. Go me!

Rules against stress

My rules of thumb as preventive measures of stress: 

• Be kind to everyone, without exemption. Listen genuinely.
• Suspend judgment.
• Set reasonable deadlines and work within that framework. Work passionately.
• Reward myself whenever I do a ‘good job’.
• Set limits. Say ‘Yes!’ to principle-centered important matters and ‘No’ to time-wasters. Prioritize.
• Be healthy. Eat, sleep, and exercise.
• Pray intentionally.
• Delay gratification, then play.
• Learn responsibly.
• Love unconditionally
• Express gratitude.
• When situations seem out of control, reframe. When we can’t change it, accept it.

We cannot change our whole personality but we can modify our attitudes and behaviors. It is always a matter of choice with the right amount of motivation. 

2nd half of April start of a new habit

I have a new GOAL!

Inspired by the summer class about well-being and stress management, I decided to start a new habit today. I call it my morning ritual. I woke-up early, fixed my things, ate my breakfast, and prepared to go out. Wearing my sneakers, tight black leggings and my purple Bohol shirt, I went to jog/walk along the E. Abada St., to the sidewalks of Ateneo. It was around 6:15AM. Most of the people who jogged were  older people, all jogging in solitude, too. I saw one old lady walking her dog inside the campus. Although, there were also young adults, both men and women early joggers at that time. At around 7:30, joggers came into pairs and triads--all of those I saw were young adults to middle-aged men.

After burning some fats, I went to Gesu. I was the only person there, except for the two Sakristans working at the back of the altar. I was in solitude and I felt at peace. The sound of the birds, machine used for the grass and some vehicles, as well as the sound of the wind as it touches the trees and other plants all seem to be in harmony. It was like music inviting me to be in trance. I reflected, and prayed to God. I realized how blessed I am despite the challenges. I prayed that He continuously bless me and my family and give us the strength to overcome the challenges. I prayed that the people like my previous employer find peace and light. God is there listening… and I tried to listen, too. I observed the environment. From myself, as I noticed the sweat drifting into my face, to the natural light of the sun reflected on Jesus' image to the trees and plants surrounding the Gesu, I felt Him. I felt that as always, God is there to guide us.. When I went out, I saw two man in blue uniform with flowers. I think, they are about to prepare the church for a Sunday Mass. I sat on the stairs of the Gesu… and there I continued admiring the beauty of the nature or the school per se… the trees, the green field and the people walking, jogging or just passing by.

Life is full of good and greater things!:)

The moon

 

I am a moon lover.

I was crossing the blue bridge to Gate 3 of Ateneo when I noticed the magnetizing effect of the moon on me. (too bad, i had no camera with me at that time). Its luminosity above the bluish dark sky had a harmonious effect along the lamppost of the bridge. The magic that it bring as i gaze on it under the trees in one of the paths in our school seems enormous that i just wanted to stop walking and just stare above...

The moon reminds us, that in the midst of darkness, there is light. Sometimes, when we lost our path, the light from the moon, although seems to be borrowed from another element, keeps us sane from the insanities.

I'm 22! (The Late Birthday Post)

Dear God,

Thank you, thank you for You have always guided and blessed me with so much love, care and happiness. To be honest, I kinda felt blue at the beginning of the day, despite telling myself or rather conditioning myself that I "should" feel happy, happy, because it is my birthday. But, going to work, I felt that it would just be another day…nothing that special. I am sorry God for feeling this way.

Looking at Your great creation via sunlight reflecting on the trees in Ateneo (while waiting for my Fetucine ala King order from pizza hut), I realized that today is especial, for today is the day when You gave me LIFE. Today, above all the day, is to celebrate life…I am sorry, for I was expecting some different way to 'celebrate' the day. But, You have an amazing incredible way of showing me how blessed I am, and that real happiness and gifts of life lie on the very simple things in life.

Thank you God, for once again, You've shown me the light to my real passion;

Thank you for creating synergy among people and world in helping me take this path to my passion;

Thank you God, for giving light to my family, despite all the odds;

Thank you for giving the open heart and mind to experience life;

Thank you God, for giving  real lasting treasures of friendships;

Thank you God, for surrounding me with positive people;

Thank you God, for always working in mysterious but really amazing waay!

Thank you, thank you God for another year!

Today, I receive one of the best birthday gifts ever: compassion.

I love you.

Your child,

Aylin Bello

O2-25-12

2:02 AM

Letters to Juliet

2012 AGENDA

New Year's Resolution? Not my language anymore! For the past years that I've been creating a list of New Year's Resolution, most of it never happened, if not, nothing ever materialized. Why? Simple answer: we cannot change overnight. Change is a long process, and spiral, so you can just imagine how difficult it is. If you want to change, first accept that life is difficult. :D We can't just make magic wishing to change our attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, perspectives, just because it cross our minds. Change is commitment and it's a work in progress. So, for 2012, I don't have a new year's resolution. I am happy with my life so I don't want to promise changing anything, especially with regards to my behaviors. I'll just live life and add MORE COLORS on it! With that, here are my AGENDAs for 2012
QUARTERLY
Learn something totally new, quarterly. It's totally new so decide on what to learn when the opportunity strikes. It can be learning to bake, cook, sing, play musical instrument, driving(?), sports…anything. Just learn a totally new skill. YES. QUARTERLY LEARNING is about skill (other types of learning can come into the other agendas set). So hopefully, at the end of this year, there would be at least 4 new skills learned, or at the very least, tried. :)
MONTHLY: Arranged in the order of importance
1. Attend to the group gatherings in each role in life. I have these roles in life: (1) 'sharpening the saw' (personal: physical, mental, social, spiritual); (2) Family member; (3) Student; (4) Volunteer; (5) Researcher; (6) Employee. Every week, I have designated number of hours for each role, which I hope to strictly follow. So, it is part of my weekly agenda to "meet" the people, or do something that each role requires. One way or another, there would be a day in a month in which I can meet the people behind these roles… and when the opportunity strikes, bring out the camera and capture the moment! GOAL: MAKE SURE TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH THESE PEOPLE WHOM LIFE IS BEING SPENT.
2. Write and be an author. Take note, be an author. It doesn't mean making publications every month. It doesn't also mean, writing for pleasures only (this writing for pleasure, e.g., writing blog entries could be done on a weekly basis). It means writing something that is for publication. Every month, there should be a chapter or so accomplished for a project aimed for publication. This could be for an academic paper like researches or a book! :) IMPORTANT: DOCUMENT those times when you are actually accomplishing this agenda.
3. Visit and explore an entirely new place. Whether on solitude, with the family or with friends, find time every month to have a new adventure in a "foreign" place. It can be planned  ahead of time or just be spontaneous and just do it! Meaning, just bring the "essentials", pack light and be the DORA THE EXPLORER GIRL :) Doesn't need to be expensive. It can be an out-of-town, out-of-the country, or an exploration of a new room in the house, workplace, school, or a new building in the community… or it could be a new spot close to nature in our surrounding! :D Important: DOCUMENT IT! :)
WEEKLY:
1. Spend quality time with the family. Given the reality that we can only spend limited time with the family because of the work demands, studies, personal time, etc., it is important to make the most out of it. Play games with siblings, listen and engage self in a heart-to-heart or light-fun conversation with parents and siblings, eat, watch and do extraordinary things with them.
2. Attend academic classes and be a proactive student. Don't waste three hours of the class day just sitting and listening passively to class. Be proactive. Participate, ask questions, share… maximize learning (and the tuition fee!).
3. Exercise. Doesn't have to be a hard-core exercise. Just find time to walk or jog. Use the time as a bonding time with family or friends or just a time to be in solitude. Listen to music while doing that. Laugh out loud when with family and friends, as it happens. Suggested time: early morning or at night after work and class.
4. Work with passion. A teacher touches lives so make sure to prepare. Since work is the next large part of our life that eats our time, make the most out of it. Work in line with the life mission and with integrity. Well, that's abstract. Making it concrete, come to work with this mindset: Every working day is an exciting day. (This is hard, but take the challenge and bloom.) Come and leave on time. Listen to students, co-teachers, parents, staffs with on open heart and mind. Happy teaching!
5. Read. Just read, read, and read. It may be a part of a book (academic, fiction, inspirational, ect.), newspaper, blog entry, web page, or a message or letter. Make the words add spices on each week! :) To make this agenda more fun: make sure to read a different genre in a different place every week! How would that be possible? Use creativity and spontaneity. 
6. Be productive. Volunteer and Research. The difference between volunteer work and research work with that of the work as an employee, is not just that it is not being compensated with money, but that these two are more internally motivated than the work as an employee. In a week, prioritize between the two. Which is more important to be accomplished in a particular week? Is it possible to divide the allotted time in a 50-50 basis? If not, which agenda will get the more weight? Discern. The beauty of a research and volunteer work is that these two agendas are direct-long-term ways of leaving actual legacies in this life…plus it is a sure ball avenue of meeting new friends and discovering new things.
DAILY - 10 in a day:
1. Eat - Make sure to have 3 meals per day. Eating time can be maximized by making it a bonding time with the family, peers, and friends.
2. Sleep - According to the weekly time-allotment, a week has 56 hrs allotted time for sleep. Maximize it and let's see the difference :) If you want to know the incredible magical importance and magical effect of sleep, google it.
3. Work - Of course, on a typical day… go to work and work with the heart.
4. Play - Have time to play. Use the creative juices.
5. Pray - I didn’t allot a weekly agenda to go to church. I can't promise that. But I can pray every single day. Prayer is a powerful thing. God is always there to guide us.
6. Smile - smile often, be happy.
7. Delay gratification - remember the marshmallow experiment, or the 'gulp the frog first thing in the morning' thing, or the jar-stone-gravel-pebbles-sand story. In other words, it always pays of to delay gratification.
8. LOVE - self-explanatory. A dosage of love everyday makes the world a round rainbow a day, if you know what I mean.
9. Learn - think and reflect. It always pays of to do that, too.
10. Express gratitude - other than "please", the other most important word is "thanks".
Making all these agendas materialized wouldn't be that easy. But always remember: life is difficult. And this is LIFE, Aylin. :) Surely, this 2012 will be full of colors!
P.S. Make sure to take a physical and medical check-up twice a year, or at least once a year :P