Tonight is my last night in Mindanao. The next time I come back here, it will hopefully be to move and work here already. I take this opportunity now to reflect on what I have learned in my almost two months here.
Firstly, this experience has been an affirmation of what I am capable of. I saw that I indeed can be on my own. I've been given an opportunity to exercise my resourcefulness, my self-suffiency, my patience, and my testicular fortitude. I've also seen that I can fight back and stand up for myself when I am being wronged. I can put up one hell of a fight if I need to. No longer will I allow others to hold me back and take advantage of me. I am strong.
Secondly, as I've been able to be on my own, I realize how great it feels to be independent. The experience of this freedom is outstanding. I've always had the option to be this free. I choose this freedom now.
Third, I've seen that being physically away from the sources of my baggages doesn't completely get rid of my issues. Anger, bitterness, resentment, and guilt that I hold inside follow me wherever I go. This is because the source of these is not really from the outside. The real source is me. I keep myself angry, resentlful, bitter, and guilty. Therefore, it's up to me to choose to let all these go.
Fourth, although staying away from the objects of my negativities doens't resolve my issues, distance does make confronting my inner demons so much easier. Tending to one's wounds is more pleasant when one is not incurring further injury. Thereby, distance does have a very good use.
Fifth, I realize that fulfillment, peace, joy, and everything else of their kind are not results of doing. Instead, these are all functions of being. What one does (may it be work, a hobby, etc.) doesn't matter. Fulfillment, peace, joy, etc. are states of mind (or better yet, states of spirit). It's my choice. I can be all these right now if I choose to, wherever I am and whatever I am doing. It's that simple. So I choose so.
Lastly --- Mindanao is such a beautiful place, especially Davao. It has all the amenities of Manila, minus the petty crimes, the pollution, the over-population, and the fast-paced life. It's also a short ride to the beach and to Mount Apo. I'd love to live and work here. I love Davao!
I had a great time here in Mindanao. I can't wait to come back already.
November 20, 2004
November 16, 2004
stop over
He travels here to there
Always moving
Change is embraced
Change is sought after
He lives and breathes where he goes to
He takes these places in
As they take him in
Yet he never feels settled
Something inside always draws him away
A lot he has found in his travels
But that which he seeks eludes him
He does not know what it looks like
Though he is sure when it is not there
He can smell it
And this trail he follows
The chase
The change
The journey
The wandering
This is his life
This is his choice
What he seeks and what he finds
Where the trail leads him to matters not
Always seeking and always finding
The lost boy pushes on
Always moving
Change is embraced
Change is sought after
He lives and breathes where he goes to
He takes these places in
As they take him in
Yet he never feels settled
Something inside always draws him away
A lot he has found in his travels
But that which he seeks eludes him
He does not know what it looks like
Though he is sure when it is not there
He can smell it
And this trail he follows
The chase
The change
The journey
The wandering
This is his life
This is his choice
What he seeks and what he finds
Where the trail leads him to matters not
Always seeking and always finding
The lost boy pushes on
November 09, 2004
Best ways to make work more fulfilling and fun
1. Take the good with the unpleasant. The "dark" in one's work doesn't get rid of
its "light".
2. Look
a. Look at the whole picture. Always see both positive and negative aspects of
one's work.
b. Look for ways and opportunities that can bring out your best. Look for
aspects in your work that can bring out your passion and zest.
c. Look for the "cute" characters that you meet during your work. There are a
lot of walking caricatures out there. Acknowledge their cuteness and enjoy
watching them.
3. Keep moving forward. Fly full speed ahead.
4. Don't be rigid. Always learn new ways to do things.
5. Be ready to fight and defend yourself while on your journey. Don't let others
hold you back. Fight when needed.
6. Look for people who are in the same field as you are and who are obviously
enjoying themselves with their work.
a. Follow their example. Ask their help and guidance.
b. Draw hope from them.
===========================================================
Thanks to Project Rennaissance for the creative problem solving techniques that helped me come up with this.
its "light".
2. Look
a. Look at the whole picture. Always see both positive and negative aspects of
one's work.
b. Look for ways and opportunities that can bring out your best. Look for
aspects in your work that can bring out your passion and zest.
c. Look for the "cute" characters that you meet during your work. There are a
lot of walking caricatures out there. Acknowledge their cuteness and enjoy
watching them.
3. Keep moving forward. Fly full speed ahead.
4. Don't be rigid. Always learn new ways to do things.
5. Be ready to fight and defend yourself while on your journey. Don't let others
hold you back. Fight when needed.
6. Look for people who are in the same field as you are and who are obviously
enjoying themselves with their work.
a. Follow their example. Ask their help and guidance.
b. Draw hope from them.
===========================================================
Thanks to Project Rennaissance for the creative problem solving techniques that helped me come up with this.