Late Post: Top 10 New Year's Resolutions

Here's a late post. I wrote this article for the January issue of our office newsletter. I would like to share this to you as I really find the ideas I've researched interesting and inspiring. Besides, it's almost the end of February and the start of March is almost at hand, and it's still the 1st quarter. Not too late yet to get those resolutions going. :)

As the fireworks and merry-making brought about by the New Year settled down, most of us find ourselves listing down things we wish to achieve in the coming year. Indeed, the New Year ushers in a clean slate to start fresh. Below is a list of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions:

1.    Let’s Get Physical
Whether it be losing or gaining pounds, hitting the gym to lift weights, or deciding between a Yoga or Zumba class, one of the most common New Year’s resolution has to do with getting in shape and sticking to a fitness plan. A great new year’s resolution as it does not only enhance our physical looks, but also improve our health and can possibly prolong life.

2.    Break a Bad Habit
It can be as mundane as getting off the habit of nail biting or procrastinating. And it can be more serious like quit smoking and alcoholism. Going cold turkey on a bad habit may not be easy and may only result in a relapse. Instead of doing an abrupt stop, try doing small steps that slowly but surely leads to breaking the habit.

3.    Financial Wellness
Money does not grow on trees and only a lucky few win the lotto grand prize. As such, having a resolve to wisely manage one’s hard-earned moolah is good, not only during New Year. Financial wellness can involve increasing one’s savings, being debt-free, starting one’s business for extra income, and cutting down on unnecessary expenses.

4.    Sack Stress and Enjoy Life
Stress is something inevitable. But there are sure ways to lessen it. Different people have different ways to cope with stress. Activities like seeing a movie and pampering oneself in a spa are simple activities, but it allows the mind and body to relax and have some time away from the qualms of everyday living. It is important to find one’s haven to get away from stress, even temporarily.

5.    Spend quality time with Family
They have been with us in our brightest and darkest moments, have seen us in our best and worst fits, and have loved and accepted us for who we are, and yet they are the ones who we often put aside due to our busy schedules. Finding and spending quality time for our families is a very good resolution. Money comes and goes. But lost time and missed memories cannot be bought back even with gazillion amounts of money.

6.    Pay It Forward
No man is an island. At one point in our lives, we may have needed help and it was freely given to us. Helping other people is a good way of repaying that kindness that we received before. Paying it forward does not require huge acts of charity. It can be as simple as helping a senior citizen cross the street or assisting your nursery nephew/niece with his ABC’s. 

7.    Cross something off the bucket list
    Whether it is learning a new skill like swimming or cooking, or the more emotional ones like falling in love again, or even the more extreme and daring ones like getting inked, bungee jumping, and skydiving – Go. The world is your oyster. Of course, having a sense of responsibility should always go hand-in-hand with whatever we desire and decide to do. 

8.    Disconnect from the Internet and Connect More with Friends
There is nothing wrong with being tech-savvy. But there is surely something odd with a group of friends supposedly having dinner with all of them glued to the screens of their smartphones. This New Year it is nice to get in touch again – to physically talk to, laugh with, cry with, and share stories - with friends. The fancy emoticons are no match to your best friend’s sincere smile and tight hug.

9.    Give in to Wanderlust
The desire to travel has its perks. For some it serves as a respite from the daily grind of life. To others it serves as way to broaden one’s understanding of the world. Travelling does necessarily require one to board a plane and visit another country. It can be a simple trip to a nearby rural town or province where one can enjoy the scenery and learn and appreciate the local culture as well.

10.    De-Clutter and Get Organized
As the year progresses, the clutter increases. The New Year is a good time to de-clutter, sort things, and throw away those which are already outdated and no longer needed. Just like an empty glass ready to be filled, a de-cluttered space allows one to acquire stuff that are more valuable and useful that those that were already disposed.

In the end, it does not matter whether you’ve come up with a thousand resolutions or just one. What matters is how well you stick to those resolutions. Strive to make these resolutions come to life. Have a good year everyone!

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Sources:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/01/01/14/10-new-years-resolutions-and-how-make-them-work
http://www.philippinetop10.com/2014/01/pinoy-new-years-resolution.html
http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-resolutions/
http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/10-New-Year-s-Resolutions/story-20332055-detail/story.html
http://elitedaily.com/life/25-new-years-resolutions-every-person-should-actually-make-for-2014/

Thoughts from A Single Parent - Part II

Today I got angry at Zion for being such a devilish little monster. He was throwing tantrums, screaming at the top of his voice, hurling his slippers and toys the way a ninja throws his shuriken (i.e. a ninja's deadly star-shaped weapon) during a fight. The reason for his going berserk? He just wants to watch Spongebob Squarepants… the whole day. Today I realized something. It is difficult to combine a mother’s compassionate nature, with the natural disciplinarian role of a father.

In our culture, it is expected for the mother to be the “soft” one – the family’s source of compassion, gentleness, and the calming breeze that soothes and relaxes the home. On the other hand, our culture dictates that the father should be the firmer one – the family’s source of strength, discipline, and the force that keeps the family going. This is how the traditional Filipino family is structured. This is the traditional family setup which dictates that the yin and yang roles of the father and the mother should be endowed on two separate individuals which are joined together in marriage. This is one dilemma a single parent like me faces. It is heart-breaking for any mother to spank and reprimand one’s child, no matter how impish the kid is. Blood has always been thicker than water. However, it would also be heart-breaking for any mother to see one’s child grow up as an irresponsible adult despised by society, because the child was not brought up properly. As a single parent, it is painful for me every time I have to spank Zion’s tiny hands even if he hurled his toys at me. As a mother, it hurts to verbally reprimand a 3-year old boy even if that 3-year old boy screams his lungs out because he’s not allowed to watch Spongebob 24 hours a day. Somehow, despite their kids’ obnoxious behavior and tantrums, a mother always has a heart for her little ones. But as a single parent, I know that I would rather spank my son’s hands now (and instill in him discipline) than to see those hands in handcuffs in the future. I would rather verbally reprimand my son now (and tell him he’s wrong) than to hear other people throw negative criticisms about him when he grows up. I would rather see him crying now because we are trying to straighten his ways, than to see him grieving in jail in the future because of the lack of discipline when he was young.

Indeed, it is difficult to be a mother and father rolled into one. Not only on the financial aspect. But even on discipline matters. But at the end of every “bout” Zion and I have, I always try to explain myself to my son, "Love does not mean I will always allow you to have what you want. It doesn’t mean that I won’t enforce discipline whenever it is needed. Love means that I will try to raise you the best way I could, to make you a better individual, a God-fearing person, and a productive citizen of this nation."...

Ako Mismo - Prayers and Wishes for Cory

I signed up in the Ako Mismo movement about a month or two ago. I have posted about 2 or 3 pledges there as my personal conviction as a Filipino.

When President Aquino passed away this weekend, the Ako Mismo movement opened a new wall wherein members can post wishes and prayers for the late President. As a Filipino who grew up during her regime, I was able to see what she has done to restore freedom and democracy in the land. She may not be the perfect President, but her integrity, commitment, and dedicated has helped the country find its way to real democracy.

Below are my post on the Ako Mismo wall dedicated to Cory Aquino.

Farewell and Thank You Tita Cory

I know there will be a lot blog posts on the Internet that will talk about you, will thank you, will praise you, and will give their final tribute for you. I know I am just a nobody, an ordinary Juana dela Cruz, but nonetheless, as a citizen of this country, I would just like to pay my final respect to you, President Corazon Aquino.

First of all, I would like to thank you for being a principled Filipino. Thank you for restoring democracy in the country. As a young Filipino during the 1986 EDSA revolution, I don't have the slightest idea of what was going on during that time. I don't know why you, my parents, and millions of other adult Filipinos risked their lives and limbs by going out in EDSA during that tumultuous time. But 23 years after that peaceful People Power revolution, my son and I are savoring the benefits of this freedom and democracy which you have fought for and restored. Second, thank you, President Aquino, for bringing pride to the Filipina. You are the first Filipina to be the President of the Philippines, and the first woman leader in Asia. You have shown the male-dominated Philippine society and government, as well as the world, that Filipino women are more than just housewives and second-class citizens; that we Pinays, can be at par with our male counterparts in manning and managing a complicated institution such as the Philippine government. You have proven your worth as President by withstanding all the coup d' etats, and by showing your detractors that despite your being a woman, you have the will and determination of a true leader, defending your people against those who wish to sow fear and terror. Lastly, thank you, President Aquino for showing us the importance of having faith in God and faith in your people. Thank you for showing us that prayers and a strong faith in God can truly bring miracles in our lives. Thank you for having the same conviction as your husband Ninoy, and believing that we, the ordinary Pinoys, are worth your time, your effort, and your sacrifices.

President Aquino, I know you are in a better place now. Wherever you are, please know that you will always be loved, appreciated, and remembered by every Filipino, whose life you have touched. I hope that God will bless the Philippines with more leaders whose integrity, commitment, and dedication will be like yours. Farewell and thank you President Aquino. God bless you.

*** Note: I have also posted this thank-you message on my personal site on Multiply. :-) ***