Moments of Silence and Simple Escape.=)

After my busy 2012, my 2013 started with a weird schedule. So, before I get carried away with all the time demands I want to make sure I start my year with a clear head and a peaceful heart; and be able to maintain the balance which I started to regain last year.

For quite some time I’ve been hanging by whatever thought there is in my head and really didn’t have the time to analyze what it says. But today, I finally found the time to evaluate my goals and write them in my journal, yes, for someone who’s so much into digital writing I still write with a journal and a pen, and I still buy an actual book. It’s still different when you get to flip through the pages of a book and swipe your fingers across your journal and remember how much time and emotion you poured over the pages.

So, I finally have the weekend to myself! Yes! This is a rare occasion for me these days; so, I made sure to have my moment of silence, enjoying my own little space away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

I always wear a happy heart (with the exception of my crazy days) and most people think it comes naturally, that there’s no effort to it. But I'll let you in to a secret; I’m just as normal, OHHhh, hold it right there! I honestly hesitated calling myself normal as I don't think I qualify for the description, most times I really stay on the crazy side and that’s when I’m most normal. Hahaha. But for the purpose of getting my point through I’d say again, “I’m just as normal” as everyone else, I have my share of crazy days, down days, off-days, angry days, impatient days, and the list goes on for all the negative days. And there are days when you’d just snap specially when you’ve really tried being patient for a long time and all of a sudden you realize you’re just tired bottling it all up and you tell yourself “enough being patient!” then you let go and you release yourself of all the things you’re holding inside. Yah, I have those days, had those days. And those were not exactly good feelings. And after freeing yourself from something you used to feel so strongly about; still you realize you’re still not exactly ok. I’ve been there and for a while I had the feeling memorized. But how do I go back from feeling like a rot to being ok? Simple, I spend time with myself!=)

My Daily Essentials:(No, wine not included, I just included it in the photo for the classy look.hahhaa.)

Yabang Pinoy Journal (my most favourite item from the Yabang Pinoy Media Night goody bag) that's where my life goes.

Belle de Jour planner is a birthday gift from a very thoughtful officemate. Ohh, I so love the planner! It's very girly though, but it allows me to let my hair down and let the planner remind me to pamper myself, it's like having your personal assistant anytime, all the time!=)

My, daily Devotional by Bill Hybels, it's my everyday guide to living right, fair and just; with myself and with others.

Catholic Bible; I finally learned to read the Bible last year (no, it’s not that I don’t really know how or I don’t really READ the Bible, but have you heard about the thing that people say about Catholics? That Catholics don’t read the Bible? It was once true to me. But God sent me a friend who inspired me to read the Bible and to get to know My God personally.This is I think among my greatest achievements last year.=)

You’d be surprised to know how much time and space I require for myself. I live alone, yet “alone time” is still different, it's essential to my wellbeing ; it gives me time to think, listen to my thoughts, encourage my heart, talk to God and send my silly, funny, weird and nonsensical dreams to the universe with a hope in my heart that no matter how silly, funny, weird and nonsensical those dreams are; the universe, after laughing at me will still hear my heart and surprise me by granting my desires. And today, I finally had that day; a day to behold... And I finally have the time for writing again for this blog; and hopefully I’d be able to write with more sense soon.

Great things are free and alone times are truly a bliss for me. And I’m glad to have spent a quiet escape today. Try it sometime! It will truly revitalize your spirit. That’s all for today, I’m just glad to be able to share some positivity from my sanctuary.=)

Happy Sunday!

Live Life!

Mai

A Blissful Treat For A Working Girl (by: Body Bliss)

The last quarter of 2012 was amongst my busiest if not the busiest in my entire work life. You may think I’m exaggerating; I want to think I’m just exaggerating too, but I’m not. My personal and work lives were equally running at the same speed in the fast lane. Several times I had to step on the brake pedal to recover control but that’s all I can allow myself to do, allow myself to regain control so I can deal with my self-imposed deadlines. Gaining control did not mean a time to rest, but was a temporary halt to breathe so I can run again. Wheewww!!!

I’m not complaining though. I enjoy what I do, so much so that I allowed myself to throw away all the hard work I did for almost a year to achieve the kind of shape I wanted to see when I look at myself in the mirror— read: no workout, not eating healthy, not enough sleep, and to top it all I developed a deep emotional bond with my fridge. Very often I found myself binging on chocolates (hmmm..., as often as almost every night) to compensate not getting the right amount of sleep.

Fast forward to the day after Christmas, I received a text message from one of my best girls, asking if I’m back home, home meaning back in Davao. In my head, I know that text was all I needed to jumpstart getting back to my senses; mute the calls of the fridge, break my love affair with chocolate and start to move my butt and pamper myself again.

My friend Ciara owns one of Body Bliss franchises in Davao. Body Bliss is one of the most successful home-grown SPA outfits in Davao. Though the brand had been around for some time (its first branch opened in 2007), I never really had the chance to experience their service until Ciara’s reply to my request for a free whole body massage. Ohh, I so love my life!=)

So, we scheduled a massage and dinner date so we can catch up. On the appointed date Ciara arranged a schedule for me under the service of her best masseuse, no less. I was given a blissful 60 minute head-to-toe aromatherapy massage using 3 combined techniques – Thai, Swedish and Shiatsu. Kathy, my masseuse is indeed the best! She knows exactly what to do, the pressure she puts to her massages were just perfect, consistent and ahhh... what’s the word? Yes, rejuvenating. I almost wanted to just stay there forever, if not for my hungry stomach. Ahahaha

 Photo Credit: Groupon, Inc.

Ciara is hands-on in her business, insuring her team only offers the best service. Body bliss is a cross-cut between the upscale and fast casual-spa; but the way they deliver their services is at par with that of the upscale spa clinics; one you should never under estimate. The experience was divine and I can’t wait for my next visit! It might take a while though, but I will surely come back to Body Bliss.=)

Body bliss, as the name suggests aims to provide blissful treatments for stressed out bodies. Check out their offerings!

For Home Service and Reservation:

Body Bliss Obrero: +632.82.226.3114

Location: Corner Cervantes, Lacson Street, Bo. Obrero, Davao City

Let’s start the year right! Let’s live a healthy life!=)

Live Life!

Mai=)