Eleven Minutes, Paulo Coehlo

"...always making plans for the future and always being surprised by the present."

that's just how my life is the past several months. i planned until i couldn't sleep as tight, i worked as if nothing is impossible; but my path has been nothing but a series of delightful surprises, of unexpected events, and of situations unfolding one day at a time.

this book entitled "Eleven Minutes" written by one of my favorite authors, Paulo Coehlo has kept me company for the last two days. inspiring, mind-bugging and a representation of recent realities showing how life circumstances brought people to situations by either by chance or by choice. prostitution. do you think prostitutes are prostitutes for the same reason? to rise above poverty? or reach financial and social dreams? do you think prostitutes are victims of life difficulties or of their own decisions?

who am i to judge? in fact, i don't judge anyone for their life choices. be responsible. know your values. set your rules. love yourself. embrace life, including it's challenges. 

life is a roller-coaster. we hop with excitement, but shout compelling it to stop when the ups and downs of the ride disorganizes us. but with this book, i was comforted with the fact that the roller-coaster is a machine operated by the Supreme God who only wants nothing but joy and excitement during the ride; and that whether i like it or not, the roller-coaster will come to a complete stop --- all in due time.

thank you, Paulo Coehlo. 

Benefits of Drinking Water

Knowing the benefits of drinking plenty of water a day might just convince us, and myself included, in taking the habit religiously.  Our body is 2/3 water; our brain is 90% water, blood is 83%, muscle is 75%, and bone is 22%.  Water plays a vital role in transporting nutrients and oxygen into the cells, moisturizing the air in the lungs, helping with the metabolism, protecting the vital organs, and regulates the body temperature, among many other vital functions.

Here are some of the benefits listed in the website  www.magosteen-natural-remedies.com:

1. Aids in weight loss.  Water flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown, reduces hunger and more importantly has zero calories.
2. Natural remedy for headache.  One of the causes of headache and back pain is dehydration, and water is the perfect solution to relieve such condition.
3. Better Productivity at work. As the brain is 90% water, drinking lots of water helps us think better, be more alert and concentrated.
4. Better exercise. Water helps fuel the muscles, and regulate body temperature during exercise.
5. Helps in digestion and constipation. Drinking water aids in digestion, thus, raising metabolism.
6. Promotes good health. Water improves the body's immune system. It helps fight against flu, kidney stones and heart attack.
7. Relieves fatigue. Water helps flush out toxins and waste products in the body and aids the organs with their  functions. It helps the heart pump out oxygenated blood, and lack of water tires the heart and so does the other body organs.
8. Reduces risk of cancer.  Water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine, thus reducing the risk of bladder and colon cancer.

So friends, let's drink to that.

Take the healthier habit.

Live. Love. Matter.

PowerTalk - Be Consistently Aggressive

I wish to be wealthy.

I commit to be healthy.

Who can tell the difference?

This talk is about being aggressive -- about the goals and dreams in our hearts; not about the bold, fierce, aggressive personality.

There is no successful person who is not aggressive.

God's Words:

James 1:7-8

"If you are unable to make up your mind and are undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord."

John 14:12

"Most assuredly, I say to you, He who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

Proverbs 10:4

"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."

Proverbs 18:9

"One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys."

Filipinos are polite, courteous; but we are not aggressive. 

Five things that rob us of our aggressiveness:

1. Haciendero complex  -

-we depend on someone for our needs for our entire life

2. Bahala Na attitude

- fatalistic attitude - we think everything about our life is under God's control

- how to redeem this - by taking responsibility

3. Lotto mindset

- thinking only of getting rich by winning big time

4. Procrastination

- be a man of action. Do not delay.

5. Crab Mentality

- criticize others who has goals and dreams.

-learn to share and enjoy the success of others

7 Laws on Aggressiveness:

1. Law of Clarity

- be clear about your dreams. The more precise you are about your dreams, the quicker it is to become a reality. Write your dreams and read it everyday. Imagine it everyday.  Imagination is very powerful.  Know what you want and imagine it.

2. Law of Focus

- focus on one thing, on your core gift. Do only one thing.

3. Law of Intensity

- being passionate and intense about your goals and dreams

4. Law of Action

- take action. It is not enough to be decide, take action!!

5. Law of Hustle

- not giving up until you reach your goal. Looking for the open door. Ten doors are close, look for the 11th door that's open. Twenty doors are close, look for the 21st door that's open.

We are so dependent on some miracle, but God says, the miracle I require of you is perseverance and the building of your character.

6. Law of Gestation

- dreams have a gestation period. Success is 90% preparation and 10% action. Luck is the meeting with preparation and opportunity.

7. Law of Integrity - being aggressive because of a pure motive of love. The reason why you are aggressive is because you want to show more love.

walking

it's a given. to stay vibrant in life, we should release our physical bodies of the stress and toxins brought about by a hectic and fast-paced life.  to stay young and healthy, we need eat right, sleep tight and exercise. when i was still working and doing my masteral studies, i didn't get that much time to exercise. i was living an unhealthy lifestyle. i couldn't control my appetite, hardly get enough sleep, and never exercised. now that life has slowed me a bit, i decided to live healthier. i'm taking it slow. one step at a time. i'm in this!! and i'm committed to stay healthy.

this blog as a testament to my journey will be my lifestyle diary. and i hate to admit it, but as of this writing, i weigh about 66 kilos. but with exercise and healthy diet, i am committed to be fit and stay fit.

into my third week of walking along Kent Ridge Park here in Singapore, i noticed a real improvement. first and foremost, i am able to drink a lot of water. this is such a great thing for me because i hardly drink water, even with my very sweaty body. as of now, i average around 3.5 liters a day. good to know, compared to a glass or two a-day... :)

second, i noticed my sleep to be tighter. i've never really had sleeping problems before, but i noticed this time, it's got even better.

third, my body is lighter to move. i feel so much alive -- and kicking.

these are all my personal experiences. i will write about what experts have to say about walking next time.

let's walk!!

A woman's world

i am every woman, it's all in me.

let me give you a glimpse of a woman's world.
her simplicity and complexity...
her weakness and strength...
her need to loved and her ability to love deeper...
her laughter and tears...

her life above herself!

welcome to a woman's world.