my tea cups

Good morning. After having my breakfast of green tea and pandesal (with either cocojam or alaska condensed milk), I started puttering around the house, shuttling from the kitchen, to the living room, to the bedroom, picking up things that doesn't belong there, and moving it to where it should be. I'm always challenged to focus on just one thing at a time. Do women always multitask? If I look at myself, I always do. And having seen and said that, I vow to be intentional in doing things, focusing on one task at a time. If I get carried away again, I'll sweetly remind myself to go back and refocus. I just seem to be easily inspired by thoughts and things and when I think of it, I tend to seize the moment and just go for it. Sometimes it works wonders for me, sometimes it doesn't especially if it's outside of what I initially planned to do. The charm of spontainety and the challenge of being focused - I want both!

So as I was sweeping the floor, and looking at the things around me, I saw some of the things I've collected over the years. Some are souvenirs of places I've been to. I noticed I have several tea cups - japanese tea cups, chinese tea cups, malaysian tea cups. I remember my first time in Singapore, that was in 1998, I went shopping with Evelyn, my singaporean friend. We went to a toy store as I wanted to buy some gifts for my sons. What caught my attention right away were the small stalls selling those authentic and cute chinese tea cups. Evelyn was so amused to see me getting several. I went home with 5 sets. As for the toys, I bought just one toy each for my boys.

So now I'm looking at those tea cups. They remind of that trip. And they're collecting dust too. I think I will continue to collect - selectively - as I know I can't really take them with me when I "go". And yes I can pass it on to somebody and carry with it some history (I better start creating some great story for it ha ha!). But that's how far it goes. Nothing much except for the pleasure of indulging in a hobby. And so it got me thinking, for several days now, actually, aside from what can I get or buy or have, what can I leave behind? For me, for now, there are three main reasons (purpose) for my existence. One is to fullfill my obligations - as a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sibling, and a community member. Two is to pursue my interests, my hobbies, my passion. And third, to make a contribution, to leave something behind that impacts a lot of people. Maybe being a social entrepreneur. Or someone who builds public libraries. What else? I will keep my eyes open to possibilities as I travel to places and collect those tea cups. Blessings!

Smile: Inflight Magazine of Cebu Pacific Air » MEET THE HEROES

Illac Diaz: A one of a kind social entrepreneur.

I'm so amazed and inspired by what Illac has accomplished in a short span of time. He was my classmate in a class I attended sometime in June 2004.

Read on and be inspired as well.

Smile: Inflight Magazine of Cebu Pacific Air » MEET THE HEROES

i welcome myself back to this site! i almost forgot i have one. thanks to two bloggers, i got inspired again!

today was such a fine day. thank you! the early morning's highlight was Jojo Palma's training...very interesting. He continued to share what he knows during lunch at Malcolm's (sorry i forgot to take a picture of the restaurant). We threw questions faster than he can chew his food! We all finished our food ahead of Jojo, and he didn't mind at all. It was 2 hours of good food and great learning.

After the thank you's and goodbye's, I decided to check out the saturday market in salcedo park. I saw several stall owners still selling their stuff, but 95% of the stands were already closed so I decided to leave.

What was running in my head is I wanted to absorb what Jojo had just shared with us - the law of attraction and much, much more. I decided to walk and walk and allowed myself to trust my instinct to lead me where I can stop and scribble some notes. I saw Starbucks, went in, got out, after I decided it was noisy for what I was planning to do.

I noticed Apartment B1 in One Lafayette Square, but didnt bother to check it out for fear that I may be embarassed to leave if I feel i don't feel like having a cup of tea there. Next time, I told myself. I made a mental note to try it next time.

And so I walked again, this time along Valero St., and I remembered that there's Old Spaghetti House in Valero! Instant recall - their choco chip dessert! Yummy...but not this time. Not after having that creamy salmon pasta at Malcolm's Place.

So I turned back, and saw Figaro in 88 Corporate Bldg. I said to myself, looks like this is it! Green tea and pudding with vanilla sauce - perfect!

I ordered the combo, and while waiting for my order, I started taking pictures of what I have with me...my green pen which I got from my last convention in Salt Lake City. I like this pen because it's green and it glides!

Then I took a picture of my multi-colored cubed zirconia bracelet. I got this bracelet on my way to the same convention where I got my pen, wow! I remember when I saw it I said to myself these are my favorite colors! So I decided to buy it from my friend.

And then I took a picture of my new book, a gift from my friends Pia and Derrick Ambrosio. Faith Popcorn wrote it.

My order arrived. I smiled. My green tea was nicely wrapped in a green envelope, in a shade i like most. I got my cellphone and clicked away the "food styling" I made, my vanilla pudding, my green tea, and the nice silverware beside it. Inspired by food stylists. Aha!

I saw a copy of Moneysense in the magazine rack and read it in between sips and bites of my green tea and pudding - yummy!

Everytime I read something that inspires me or makes me reflect, I stop and write it on my notebook. Soon after, I finished my tea and pudding. I'm satisfied and ready to try what Jojo Palma shared with me.

I started writing down what I don't want in one page, and the things I want, in another page. I kept on writing and writing until i filled up 4 pages. It was a great exercise. I let out almost everything I didn't want in my life, and got clarity on what I really wanted. This is now my step 1 for my goals this year - 2008. This list, together with several mind maps I did in the last few days, will serve as my guide for this year.

Going back to the pictures I took, they will be part of my gratitude journal. I was reminded today by Jojo that blessings pour in if we start by being grateful for what we already have. So I said Im going to take inventory of what I have, be thankful for it, and that I will have fun while doing it!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not grateful for only the material things I have. I just started with what was with me, and already I was saying to myself, I am blessed I have so much! It was so energizing, made me feel so "full". Thank you! It was a great morning and afternoon indeed.