Merry Christmas!

wishing everyone

a Merry Christmas!..

i will never ever
steal someone's chance,
opportunity to grow.
i will do what
i agreed to do
to the best of my
ability and capacity,

anyways,
they need to show
that they deserve it
and secondly
i am what i am with work -
diligent, hardworking and
goal oriented.

as i always say,
i do not compete with anyone.
i compete with myself.
i love breaking my own record. LOL!

...sir ...ma'am

i am calling you sir or ma'am

not only to respect you

but for you 

to respect me too.

If You Have a Tendency to Overgive

this is taken from the article written by Hillary Rettig 

(click name for the full article) 

There are plenty of selfish people in the world – no doubt. But many good people have the opposite problem: they’re overgivers, perennially sacrificing their needs and missions to others’. That’s a much nobler problem, but still a problem.

Here’s what happens when you overgive to your job; an activist campaign, community group, or business venture; or other people:

1) Of course, you don’t get to live out your own mission. This almost guarantees bitterness, regret and remorse.

2) You’re probably exhausted, and possibly broke. This means your lifestyle is not sustainable – which, in turn, means that all the projects and relationships you contribute importantly to are also not sustainable. (And if your contribution is not important, why are you giving at all?)

3) Dangerously, you attract the wrong people – those seeking to exploit you, evade responsibility or accountability, or both.

4) You compromise your effectiveness and growth. Good time managers devote as much time as possible to their high-value activities: those that, (a) fall within their mission; (b) leverage their strengths; and (c) create real-world impact or change. By focusing, they become ever more accomplished, skilful, powerful and effective – not to mention, happy, peaceful and calm. And by delegating the low-value activities to others for whom they are high-value, they help those others build their own effectiveness and happiness – and, as a bonus, build community.

When you overgive, you subvert that entire process, and lose all those wonderful outcomes.

5) In a worst-case scenario, you don’t give your best effort to anything or anyone, either because you can’t (because you’re depleted or frantically busy), or you won’t (because you feel angry and exploited), or both. In failing to commit to multiple individual tasks or engagements, you are actually failing to commit to entire projects or relationships.

Overgiving, in short, is a potent form of self-sabotage.

Here are some solutions to overgiving:

1) Self-analysis. You need to get very clear about what your mission and priorities are, and when and why you’re overgiving. Many overgivers are kind people, but many also have trouble saying no and standing up for their own needs – and many get gratification from being perceived by others as indispensable, a “problem solver,” a “go-to person” or even a “savior.” This is symptomatic of grandiosity, a key component of perfectionism. Grandiose people think they can break the rules: for instance, by not earning enough money to sustain themselves, or working 100 hours a week, or doing everything for everyone and still aceing their schoolwork or writing their novel. They also believe that things that are hard or even impossible for others should be quite easy for them.

Even though most perfectionists have a strong rationalization for their grandiosity – e.g., “I’m well organized.” – grandiosity is fundamentally delusional. Use journaling, and perhaps enlist a coach or therapist to overcome it.

2) Make conscious decisions, based on your mission and the relative importance of your priorities, on how you will invest your time. Do that by creating a weekly time budget (if you sleep 8 hours a night, you’ve got 112 hours a week to work with), while meanwhile working aggressively to jettison non-priorities and low-value activities from your schedule.

3) Practice saying no. If a recovering overgiver tells me that people are starting to complain that she’s not there for them anymore, or not as generous, or not as much fun, I congratulate her – that means she’s doing it right. If saying no is hard, practice on small stuff and work your way up.

4) Practice delegating. As many as possible of your non-high-value activities should be given to someone else to do. Contrary to what many overgivers believe, the list of people you can potentially delegate to is enormous, and includes family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, work associates, and basically anyone you come in contact with. Just take some time to organize and “frame” the request so that’s it as easy as possible to fulfill. And, of course, be sure to reciprocate when you are in a position to contribute some high-value support.

Some of these steps may take practice, but trust me – life gets so much easier and more fun when you stop overgiving. Stay with it!

My Request for Prayers and Support

I am asking everyone

to please take a moment

to say a prayer

for my country,

the Philippines.

my countrymen

especially those 

who were affected by the

strongest typhoon ever

experienced.

a prayer that they 

may continue to be strong

and keep the faith

that there will be 

life after this devastating calamity.

Our Father

who art in heaven

Holy be Your name

Your Kingdom come

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day

our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses,

as qe forgive those who trespass

against us.

and lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

for Thine is the kingdom

the power

and the glory

forever and ever.

Amen.

Ama Namin
(Our Father)

clouds across the moon

a cold night again
but it is not as cold as i am inside.

but just like the season,
this will pass.

* * * * *

listening to
Regine Velasquez
Clouds Across The Moon

The best way to understand and harmonize with the best person in your life is to be a little like him/her.

An Invitation

posting this for 

Rick Burnett Baker.

Efficient Agony 

(please click to redirected to his blog)

L U X U R Y

is buying something,

whatever it is,

that is beyond 

your means...

My First Car

so thrilled yesterday, i finally picked and bought my first car. so happy that JC is with me in this purchase. from checking online to visiting the car lots. patiently explaining to me the pros and cons of a used car. what i need to observe, listen to, when road testing each and every car we thought to be good as my first car. so yesterday, i just purchased my first car. a 2005 Toyota Echo

posted for Magpie Tales of Miss Tess Kincaid

bad thing!..

do we all know

that buying 

the wrong size

of clothes

especially shoes

has a great effect

on us mentally

and physically?

it is not 

healthy!..

frustration

little by little;

generation to generation;

i have observed

that people are

not capable to 

cope with frustration 

and loss.

why?

we are all 

guilty of the

tendency to just

give and give

and give.

children must learn 

that there are

things that they

cannot have. 

we will desire

for some things

that this lifetime

will not give us.

or we already

have it but

we will lose 

it again.

or we have

to give it

away for good.

F R I E N D S

this is a broken record:

"good friends" are everywhere.
they are most visible and oftentimes around
when they need you.
but when problems arise
or truth comes out,
they are gone.
this is when
"real friends" stay,
gives a sincere tight hug,
no words,
no judgement
but compassion.

you do not have the latter,
if at times of trouble or chaos,
you find yourself standing alone;
or cannot have the latter,
if one of  you is untruthful.

even in families,
you can see
bad or real friends.

just a thought...

if we will focus

on what we lost,

instead of what is left...

we will be disappointed

and may even give up.

why not pick up

the pieces of what is left,

the good ones;

and go from there.

life is beautiful.

it is only when you

focus on the bad ones,

the frustrations,

the lost

that makes it ugly.

focus on the bright ones.

learn the lesson and move on.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

i want to thank all those who have

taken time to greet me on my birthday!.

esp Mecoy, Suz, Sir Brian, Hank aka Kaykuala, Janie Junebug, JC

love you guys!.. God bless everyone!..

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

i just started a new job after 3 months

of searching. i will be back to regularly

write and visit blogs.

I Am 43!...

Yes! to day I am 43...

No complains!

There are still experiences of

being asked for Identification Card

when ordering alcohol in a bar... LOL

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

(photo from google)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It is lovely, when I forget all birthdays, 

including my own, 

to find that somebody remembers me.

Ellen Glasgow

(quote from brainy quotes)

knowledge

knowledge learned from the books
are just a view of what's ahead
taken from other people's experience
and experiment...

as we are unique
in personality,
family, upbringing,
community and etc etc;

true knowledge then is
what we picked up along the way
and may or may not be
applied in what we will do
and take in the future.

Young Woman Picking the Fruit of Knowledge
1892 by Mary Cassatt

posted for Magpie Tales
photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

laziness and selfishness

in my own observation and opinion;
these two are what's
making our world
difficult..

laziness..

on work or business:

everyone is looking for
"easy job big money!"

on health:

better grab the keys
and go to restaurants or drive thru.
do we know that it takes 30minutes to cook a decent meal?

others may even grab their car keys and drive to get a liter of milk or can of coffee
instead of walking a block or two to the convenient store.

we do not need to go to the gym
to be healthy,
your chores can make you physically fit.

garden with the whole family.
sun is up 'til about 8pm.
momma is cooking
while dad is doing the lawn
with the kids,
a portion of the lawn a day.

we do not need to buy & read health books and consult dietitian or health guru,
to tone down or loose or gain weight.
we know the right foods, don't we?
that is even taught at home and in school when we were young.

easy and convenience is the answer why.

selfishness...

how big a house,
how big bank account,
how expensive car, clothes, shoes,
how many weeks of holidays a year,
how many slaves,
and so on and so forth
can make the rich
or anyone of us happy?

we need to learn
the true sense of giving and sharing!..

maturity

"maturity does not
pertain to age."

Mag 166

we all dream...

we all struggle 

because of this dream...

illustration by Helen Ward

while struggling,

we will learn,

strength and weakness...

and by learning

our strength and weakness,

we can design our path...

and with designed path,

we can have a better way...

and with a better way,

dreams can be a reality...

posted for Magpie Tales

photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

camping

oh mother!
mother nature!
please oh please
i beg you
send us some sign
of spring...
of summer...

bags are packed
tent is ready
ready to go ontario north
for camping.

posted for Magpie Tales
photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

A Fun Break

M E M O

JJ happy Mood Company
Burlington, Ontario
Canada

To: Mother Nature

From: JJ Rodriguez

Date: 11 April 2013

Re: Season

I just want to remind you that Spring Time is suppose to be felt for 2 weeks now. But, still freezing rain and snow are visible in the area.

It is disappointing that for this simple reason, I have no other options but for you to be demoted from "mother" to "Sister Nature!"  

LOL

middle finger

i went for a walk

as i want to breath 

some fresh air.

i have been hurting inside

of things that i cannot just

simply tell someone

without being stopped

by all the negativity...

i was more devastated

when a white car 

with three or four passengers in it.

all are maybe late teens to early twenties

laughed at me and 

the guy on the front passengers side

gave me a middle finger.

i was so disappointed.

feeling upset at the moment

i continued to walk.

and when i am a little calm...

i thought to myself,

i hope those kids realize what they did.

and how they will have the chance to know

what kind of person i am.

and i continued to walk.

and maybe about five minutes later.

same kids riding a blue-greenish van

gave me again...

guess what?

the middle finger again.

this time, 

it is the one sitting on the driver's seat.

i just close my eyes

and feel it.

the pain,

the disappointment.

and told myself,

there will come a chance

that this kids will learn...

learn that what they did is not funny;

and it is not what they can be proud of

when they are already of same age with me.

(an incident happenned in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada)
(close to the intersection on Broadway going to Sobeys)

(april 7, 2013 / 3:30PM)

Nikki's Gwiyomi

to cheer me up

my niece, Nikki sent me this video.

not only cheer me up...

made us all in the family happy...

love you Ate Nikki!..

miss you so much!..

[fyi, Ate (ah-te) means older sister]

Reflection

after

days of hard work

months of honesty

years of giving out my best

you still look at me

as a worker

and not as a human

that you said i am...

so sad
but you know what
my next big chance

like the springtime
it is just around the corner.

posted for Magpie Tales

photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

it is so sad and devastating
that after all the work you have done,
doing not only 200%
but 300% of what you should be doing
you feel undervalued
and underappreciated...

yet, you are still holding on
waiting and wishing...
that there will be something good
to come.
'til sadness and frustration sinked in.
and with uncertain of what is out there...
i guess it is time to say goodbye...

if only kindness is enough
to pay the bills,
to satisfy my needs.
i am the luckiest employee in the world.

although winter is relatively new to me

i am dying to see and feel spring.

i need a new inspiration,
to brighten up my day...

i need a new energy
to keep me going...
and overcome the feeling
of uncertainty...

keeping the small details of your life to yourself from your family and friends especially from the public, is not dishonesty. it is called privacy.

it is like, you can allow the public to see your yard, your friends up to the living room, your family up to the guest room; but, save your bedroom to yourself.

opening everything to everyone is like inviting them to give you unsolicited advise that most often than not breaks you down!..

G A B R I E L

take 1:

i have been through 

the worst kind of weather.

i have been through

a lot of crossroads.

i am half across the earth 

where i am originally from.

i have survived

all the challenges of life.

and now that i am once again

in another crossroad.

but i know 

i will surpass this all again.

because i know

you are there

watching, guiding

and protecting me
in every step of the way.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Wind of History by Jacek Yerka

photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid
posted for Magpie Tales

take 2...

i will never ever be afraid
of taking the next step.
i will never ever be afraid
of crossing the desert
or the sea.
i will never ever
hesitate to go for my dreams.
just because
i know i have two personal
angels guiding me through.

(gabriel sr. and jr., my father who died aug 1980, age 44;

and my brother who died dec 2004 age 40) 

Joke Time

from the famous and very witty 

Philippine Senator,

Madamme Miriam Defensor Santiago

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2011/05/miriam-santiago-AFP-photo.jpg

Para sa mga walang date sa Valentine's Day,

ito ay single's awareness day!..

Para sa mga masaya na walang date,

ito ay single's independence day!..

para sa mga walang pakialam,

ito ay Thursday!... (ROFL!..)

translation:

For those who does not have a valentine's date,

this is "Single's Awareness Day!.."

For those who are happy yet no date,

this is "Single's Independence Day!.."

For those who does not care,

this is "Thursday!".. 

for more of her jokes, click this!..

Mag 155

Christmas is the time

where we go one more step

to be extra generous.

Valentines Day,

is the occasion

when we think so much

of love, 

affection,

care,

kindness

and being extra thoughtful.

Guess what the best thing is...

Make everyday

Christmas 

and 

Valentines 

Day!..

artwork by Joseph Lorusso

posted for Magpie Tales

Photo Courtesy of Tess Kincaid

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

(pic online link)

JC, thank you for making everyday 

a valentines day!.. JJ

Life is like a sentence.
We have options on how to end it.

A comma,
A colon,
A semi colon,
A question mark,
Exclamation point.
Etchetera, etchetera...

It is your choice.

Me?
With happy
and exciting moments,
I love to end it with
dot dot dot...
To keep it going and going and going!..

For the unhappy
and stressful ones,
one choice,
A PERIOD!

Be Not Afraid

Central Library, Manchester, U.K., by Robin Gosnall

Be not afraid
of not knowing
everything.

Be not afraid
of not having
the intelligence
to learn
and understand
everything.

Be afraid
of not knowing
your limitations...

posted for Magpie Tales
photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

funny but you know what?

not because i did not react,

i did not defend myself,

i did not express how i feel,

it is simple;

i just thought that it is just a waste of time.
you do not know what you are saying.
look at yourself first.

i know that no  matter how hard i try;

i will never ever please everyone.

i will let you guys think of me,

and to the worst,

laugh at my back.

unless a saint or an angel,

came and tell me i am a sinner...

or unless, a very successful person,

monetary wise tell me,

i am poor;

i do not care.

i am happy

with what i have

and what i am.

i always look back

and check where i am now

from where i am before

in reaching up my goal...

funny how people sometimes

look in the mirror

just to see if their eyebrows are ok,

if their lipstick is too red,

if their collars are good,

if they look awesome;

come on!

sometimes try to look in the mirror,

and see who and what you are.

deal with your own life.

and i will deal with mine.

no stepping on each other's toes though, ok?

as the saying goes,

to each his own?

(is that right? LOL!)

Look Back

posted for Magpie Tales
photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

Look back
check your status
from where you were before
to what you want to be.

Do not worry
It does not need to be a huge difference
as long as there is a forward movement.

Set your phase
according to what is possible
and attainable for you.
That way, if cannot be avoided,
stress can be lessened.

Charlotte Gainsbourg, AnOther

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Please support my nephew,

Patrick Rodriguez Carlos...

click his name above to see the the facebook page

then click like... 

thank you very  much!..

Lead

Hold my hand
and i will
take you there!..

I will show you
that there is a simple life
we can aim for
and work for
in the future!

May not be perfect
but again
simple, less stressful
attainable
and hopefully
"Paraiso"
for us to enjoy forever!..

JC, me & family - El Nido

photos by JJ Roa Rodriguez

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

January 4-6, 2013

JC at St. Paul Subterranean National Park

as part of the new seven wonders of nature. The St. Paul Subterranean National Park, commonly known for the locals as the Puerto Princesa Underground River is a major part of my coming home and itinerary for JC.

Even though I have been there several times, the natural beauty of the place still amazes me... a must see for everyone. My sister Vicky, husband Ben and nephew Vonvon and niece Monique joined us. just for info, make sure to contact the city information office at least a month before your visit to make sure you can avail of the permit you needed to get in to UR.