[1: 1,970 of 10,000] 10 Reasons Why I Love My New Dubai Apartment

It is really tiring moving from one apartment to another and this is my 5th apartment after living a decade in Dubai. I move almost every 2 years, it seems like a thing here, but this is the place that my sissy and I made it our own style. I love going home to it.

1. It’s brand new yet not very expensive. Who doesn’t love to be the first person to use the bathtub and toilet? I enjoy my relaxing lavander salt bathe.
2. I wake up and sleep with Burj Khalifa view.
3. It’s very close to Dubai Mall (my fave go-to because of the Emirates miles earned every time I shop) and City Walk neighborhood.
4. It’s a spacious one-bedroom apartment with its own laundry room and a balcony. It has its built-in closet too.
5. Our mirrors are all fixed on the wall.
6. Shelves were installed, yes, I’ve put holes in the walls, that I definitely need to ensure they are made up when it’s time to leave.
7. We can finally use our oven again because the unit is ready for the high voltage installation. We have roasted chicken that was well-brined too!
8. I felt so luxurious adding a half-glass cover at the bathroom instead of using a shower curtain.
9. Our indoor plants have grown from three to nine including a succulent that my sissy allowed me to buy finally, a tall Dracaena that draws the eyes up, and we got pretty cool pots from West Elms.
10.  I also like the dining table that we got from Ikea.

The apartment isn’t too perfect. It would have been better if the tiles’ colors and design in the bathroom sink is not black and yellow, or the installed bedroom airconditioning unit is a larger one, or that I have to sage the bedroom for three consecutive days to keep the lingering heavy energy out, or that some things they’ve overly done that feels like compensating to the things that were totally wrong… there’s that but the good far outweighs the bad so I am really happy with the new apartment. I felt so at home.

What’s your favorite home ever?

Photo by Yong Chuan on Unsplash

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[1: 1,900 of 10,000] Plans

My world right now is enjoying work, back with my exercise regimen of outdoor walking/jogging/running/working out everyday, and list of plans…

1. I am attending a 20th wedding anniversary party this month and I got to buy a perfect present for the couple. 20 years is a long time. The husband which in the beginning of meeting him kept hitting on me (really annoying) so he’s not really someone I adore but thankfully he stopped or else I would immediately say NO for this invite. Out of returning the niceness that he shared a good contact like my amazing current dentist, I will attend a one of. Am I too polite?
2. I have a ticket for a Trevor Noah live comedy show in December. I like his humor and he seems to be a very decent man that I am willing to support him.
3. I am looking forward to spend Christmas in Switzerland, I hope my sister and I could still catch charming Christmas markets and truly feel the spirit of the yuletide season.
4. I need to plan a bachelorette party for a good friend who’s tying the knot next year. I also need to plan my outfit for that whole Philippine trip. I have not seen my home country for 5 years but for honoring a promise that when she gets married I will definitely attend, then I am saying hello to Philippines again. I got to prepare my presents as well to family and friends, it will be like Christmas in the middle of the year. I am so looking forward to eat authentic Filipino foods too.
5. I must schedule to finish writing my second eBook to publish in Amazon until next year. I know I am juggling various book ideas but I got to pick one and commit to write every Friday. I need result!
6. So excited that sissy and I thought of the perfect project that we can already start that is an excellent prelude to our business enterprise.
7. Find a way to ask for a raise at work for more mojo to fund our future business empire. #BusinessOwner #GirlBoss #Chairman

I am very happy that life makes sense. It feels rewarding and fulfilling. I am grateful for experiencing peace.

Image Source: Res.Cloudinary.com

[1: 1,889 of 10,000] Have Fun!

Have fun whatever my age is.

Go do something new and laugh.

Make mistakes, learn, and laugh.

Whatever is making me nervous can be addressed.

Don’t jump to conclusion and create worries that are inexistent.

Do something, act, and I’ve beaten procrastination.

Don’t dream what could have been, do it.

Did the sun shine? Did I breathe? Did I open my eyes? Did my heart beat? Today?

I got all the chances to live and have fun!

[1: 1,888 of 10,000] What My 37 Year Old Self Is Still Learning

1. I do the work and the worry will dissipate.
2. Do not stop until I finish the task to avoid procrastination. To have the discipline to focus on one task at a time because although multi-tasking can be done, I couldn’t depend on it resulting to a quality work.
3. Mastery takes time; it takes repetition and doing it better than the last time, showing up, be creative to mix a new ingredient, and keep the burning passion alive.
4. Who are you trying to please? Work that God is cheering on me, the God who loves me unconditionally and directs me to my best with my willingness. Listen to constructive criticism and forgive the wrong critiques.
5. Make mistakes, laugh at them, be accountable, and learn not to repeat them. Don’t be too hard on myself because if tomorrow I wake up, it is for a reason.
6. It’s not because it has always been done means it’s the right way. Life continues to evolve to a new height. I don’t need to expect myself to be married and have kids now; but I do need to work on building a business empire with my sisters.
7. I know what makes me happy, gives me excitement, and joy. They are clues to MY path. I should do them more often even if it scares me, even if there’s a revolt going on inside of me, and make a mastery out of it. I must do this for me and the world will appreciate it that I did it with love.
8. What breaks my heart points me to what I want this world to heal from. Put seeds in those areas and let it grow.
9. Live a life with integrity. Honor my words and commitment. Show up to new things even if I am scared. Be the change I want to see. Leave this world better than I found it.
10. Meaningful relationship will enrich my life and I have to make an effort to build them.
11. Teach people how I want to be treated like setting the boundary and say yes if it’s a yes.
12. Don’t judge people in cluster, judge based on personal contact. Don’t put the label before I have given myself a chance to know the person.
13. I need to slow down, sleep well, eat right, exercise, and keep learning new things through books, podcast, videos, and going out there to live a life. I pray to talk to God to send my thoughts but it is through my quietness and meditation that He sends His.
14. Simplify and stop buying stuffs that either get thrown or not used. Learn to be a minimalist.
15. Of all my confusion and clutter, I withdraw them and surrender to the moment that I find peace and I am contented that I have one thing to be grateful for.

[1: 1,875 of 10,000] My 12 GYM Rules

1. I will never be ashamed to be flabby and sweaty. I am in the gym exactly to shed fats so being embarrassed that I don’t look good is out of the equation.
2. I listen to my personal trainer. I am a very conscientious person and a rule follower (as much as I can) and so I really take it to heart when he says, “Challenge yourself.” If the weight or intensity of the routine is too easy, I really admit it and request to make it more challenging.
3. I listen to my body too. I am not physically strong at all times and I couldn’t do all the routines; so if my body is tearing down, like having a mind of its own, like I once fell, then I stop and rest.
4. Bring a water bottle. I always need to drink between routines as it makes me breathe and relax.
5. Sleep properly. My body is well rested if I get 7 hours, so I do that.
6. I show up to my 3-times a week gym schedule on time unless there’s a work travel.
7. I eat healthier choices. I try to eat more frequently in proper proportion. I have not drink Diet Coke since I started going to gym; there are split moments that I wanted to indulge to drink a bit but stopped myself. Those extra weights make my push up harder!
8. I love my sore body parts a day after a gym workout knowing they’ve been shaken up.
9. Invest in proper gym clothes to be comfortable.
10. Never give up too easily and complete the routine as hard as it may be. Master my weak mind that wanted to give up. I hope one day, I can do the… “Start counting when I want to stop.”
11. Enjoy every moment and I was even enjoying it more whenever my body produced endorphins.
12. I do this as a part of my lifestyle now because I wanted to be healthy. Exercise gives me energy to do more productive things. Gretchen Rubin was right to include exercise to have the right kind of energy in her Happiness Project.

[1: 1,872 of 10,000] 10 Things About Passengers

Released in 2016 and expect spoiler in the below list!

1. The ship is very chic especially the Gold class cabin. I like the stairs. I love the swimming pool, it got a great outer space view. I like that you get to roam around the space conveniently.
2. What’s up with the class, creating a new world and still the hierarchy is there?
3. Aurora’s clothes are soft, looks expensive, and flatters her even more.
4. Great plot twists especially the Jim dilemma of waking Aurora. Amazing that the story was sustained by 4 characters and the ship. I also like the title, one word, and it encapsulated the whole story.
5. It was a delight seeing the beautiful Chris and Jennifer on screen.
6. Writer adores writing about a writer character. I wouldn’t wonder why.
7. I wonder if living for 90 years have made Jim and Aurora consumed good amount of food that would leave other passengers to lose ration?
8. The robot Arthur was loaded with great wisdom.
9. My favorite line is from Aurora, she said, “If you live an ordinary life all you will have is ordinary stories.” I also like Jim’s enthusiasm for creating a new world, saying, “I see 5,000 people changing their lives for 5,000 different reasons.”
10. It is a choice to kill oneself but it is not easy. It crossed my mind that I would like to end my life, I have no purpose or nothing to live for, but like Jim I will always hesitate. Is it because it is innate in human that it is natural to breathe until it is practically impossible. Are we all Jim who will take away a future of somebody or are we Jim who live the most out of life with the comfort of having a meaningful relationship with another human being?

[1: 1,857 of 10,000] I Killed My Boredom

There’s a fluke hanging around me this past few days, I do have lots of work at the office but I couldn’t find the energy, let me scrap that, I couldn’t find the enthusiasm not just with work but of life too. I don’t feel fulfilled, I find little joy, and I couldn’t see the future. I know the future is not important but it is practical to be ready for it.

My inner soul is screaming for a more challenge, a more meaningful endeavor to use my gifts, and I don’t know exactly how to proceed. To kill the boredom, I listed what skills would I be interested to learn, habit to establish, and what dreams to fulfill:

1. Keep reading books
2. Creative at graphic design
3. Bright at writing copy
4. Read, write, and speak Arabic
5. Speak Mandarin
6. Read and write Chinese
7. Interpret body language
8. Eloquent English speaker
9. Great English writer
10. Smart programming
11. Enjoy plant based food
12. Exercise daily by doing yoga
13. Memorable annual foreign vacation trip
14. Write best-selling books
15. Extremely wealthy to the point of able to help other than myself
16. Read palms

After writing all those down, my bored self suddenly shut up. My beautiful soul spoked with a bulb all bright and lit up, “So baby steps, get going, do all of them.” The thrill is how many will I cross out before I die and I don’t have room for not wanting to live.

[1: 1,837 of 10,000] Surprising Personal Observations In Australia

I was in Australia this September and October of 2016 to survey if the country is a place I would like to settle in while visiting family and friends too who were trying to persuade me to move.

1. People in Australia know how to chill. It is a country that is both progressive and relaxed. People really utilize the park for unwinding.
2. Progressive and yet homeless people are present that actually scared me a little, alarmed not to even interact with them. I don’t understand their ordeal and I am not ready to understand it.
3. Shops close early and that makes me sad.
4. It is populated by various Asians so Asian restaurants were quite rampant.
5. The airport field is refreshingly beautiful with the natural trees and green grasses.
6. I believe that the food and wine made in Australia are clean and well made.
7. There is not much in the news because there is not much crimes going on.
8. TV shows are filled with shopping episodes.
9. There are so many beautiful places to see, both current and historical.
10. It is a good country for a family because it takes care of its citizen.

I don’t party a lot but having said that I still prefer to live in a country with cities that lit up at night not necessarily that doesn’t sleep. Australia right now is too relaxed for my taste.

[1: 1,831 of 10,000] Success Ingredients

1. It doesn’t happen in an instant. I have to show up everyday and not everyday is a happy day.
2. Problems propel me to a new level if I stay and solve it.
3. Keep learning new skills and listen from experts but courageous enough if I have a different opinion from everybody else.
4. Serve to make life better.
5. Put love and care on the works and overcome the critics, deceit, and vulgarity surrounding me.
6. Always try to give quality and excellent work.

[1: 1,829 of 10,000] The Alphabet Of Life

Here are the first words that come into my mind about the beautiful and cherished life in alphabetical order.

A – Affection
B – Brave
C – Creativity
D – Diligence
E – Energy
F – Fun
G – Grateful
H – Hope
I – Inspiration
J – Just
K – Kindness
L – Love
M – Movement
N – Nest
O – Oxygen
P – Peace
Q – Quiet
R – Rise
S – Surrender
T – Trust
U – Unite
V – Vow
W – Will
X – Xyst
Y – Yes
Z – Zest

What’s yours?