Someday I want to meet Ketut Liyer

Someday, I want to meet Ketut Liyer. I want my own magic drawing from him like what he gave Liz Gilbert as mentioned in the book "Eat Pray Love".

As explained in the movie and book, eyes were made to be at the location where the heart is so Liz can see through her heart; and the figure had four legs instead of two to keep her grounded.

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Adventure Kamp (Grand Villa Resort and Butterfly Centre)

And just when I thought I have seen enough of Grand Villa...

It turned out that we have not been to the real site of  Grand Villa's Adventure Kamp! In addition to the stuff that I've shown you in my last Grand Villa post, there's more! This is good news because as a wedding/events coordinator, I may recommend this to future clients looking for more than just resort accommodation.

We were not able to see the entire thing, due to the rain plus the fact that we wanted to swim after our self-tour, we didn't get to see that:

A) There are four tree houses in Grand Villa.

Quarter Life Crisis

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I wish there was someone who guided me on this one. I did not know what the hell quarter life crisis was until I woke up one day swimming in one.

A friend sent me this text message last March 2010.

Quarter Life Crisis is a medical term for the phase after adolescence, usually for ages 21-30. 

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Some symptoms:

1. Feeling not good about your job. - check!

2. Frustration with relationships. - check!

3. Insecurity about life goals. - check!

4. Nostalgia for school. - check!

5. A sense that everyone is better than you. - check!

Furthermore, this is stage occurs shortly after young educated professionals enter the "real world", and then they realize that it is tougher, meaner and very much unforgiving...

Picking up from People

I know I've been complaining to my mom and sis about not having some alone time for the past few weeks... or maybe for the past couple of months.I've been itching to have some ME time for quite sometime now but it appears that it's no longer possible anytime soon, now I can feel that my readings from gradschool are just quickly piling up.

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But the real thing is, I really am grateful. Grateful that I have friends who somehow "kidnap" me from a certain situation, who drops by for a cup of coffee to catch up, friends to have dinner and drinks with, in the midst of my surrender and attempt to be an adult and face all these responsibilities. I'm still not doing a very good job because I still keep on getting caught up in between of wanting to stay and flee, and I am concerned that my grace period will be over. But hey, I am trying.

I am grateful that despite of this so called"busy-ness" I get to do things that I love and have been meaning to do for quite sometime now, and I get to have more pleasant face-to-face catch up and quality time with people in the suburban afternoons.

I've given up of constantly boggling my mind of the things that I don't have and don't do and wanting to do this certain something but I can't. For the past several months, I have concentrated on things that I am thankful of, even as simple as lying in a very comfortable bed and having my ME time only at night in the privacy of my childhood bedroom.

It's the little things that I thank God each night that makes me appreciate life even more... I have sort of weeded out negative influences that from time to time catches up on me, and as my good ol' pal, Paolo, would often say:

"Do not ask a beggar how to get rich because they will only tell you to put a bet in the lottery."

I still remember him helping me figure out by pointing examples of beggars, or "negative force" ( Oh how Tito Boy, my former co-supervisor, loves hearing the ol' bitchy me say that ) to avoid. Hey, Paolo, I think I'm doing a pretty good job taking your advice.

And also, on certain difficult and inevitable situations (that believe me, I did not ask for but somehow manges to land on my hands) I have started constantly reminding myself of a tweet from Victoria Beckham:

"Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down and beat you with experience."

And very recently I have acquired a "hand-me-down" advice from a friend:

"Your problem are the things that you can control, If it's something that you cannot control, then it is not your problem."

I like picking up pieces of advice from people, people that I respect and look up to, especially when the going gets tough but I learned to filter things  about what and what not to take. Because when you come to think of it, there are so many people who offer unsolicited advice and if you don't trust your good judgment and just follow what everyone says (as a people pleaser) you just end up regretting and beating yourself up for it.

Because at the end of the day, it's your own battle and not theirs. They can only do so much.

Rainspiration

My art skills are a little rusty, because I've spent too much time writing/blogging than actually drawing and painting. I used to go to an Art School when I was younger and the best output that I've put out so far was an exhibit as part of my Art School Graduation. Still I'd like to doodle from time to time. 

Being an Artist runs in the family because my dad is a photographer and my sister is a licensed freelance interior designer/ full-time Industrial Designer/ part-time wedding and events florist. She gets to do most drawings majority of her time (mostly on Autocad though) while, I on the other hand... where here goes my fingers... typing on my laptop and as if it isn't obvious yet, blogging.

But if only I am in the mood to doodle and sketch... my drawings (I used to be really fascinated with islands) would be something in line with the influence of rain... and underneath an umbrella...a kiss.

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Tags and Labels

I was not expecting that one of the first day requirement (besides the usual self-introduction) is: Labeling.

I thought last year, it was just our batch, because we're all fun and crazy during the first day. There's something really nice and warm about belonging to a certain batch and knowing that you're all newbies.

But this time, I got really surprised why in grad school, almost all (if not everyone) is very much concerned about your label a.k.a. your relationship status:

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Last year, a classmate of ours dropped the subject. I remember on his first day upon introduction, somebody from the audience/class blurted out: Are you single or married?

He was obviously irritated and if I remember it correctly, he asked why it was even relevant. He didn't show up the next meeting... and the following meetings until one day we just found out that he already dropped the subject.

Anyway, why is everyone asking about someone else's relationship status nowadays?And why do (some) people allow themselves to be defined by mere tags and labels?

Sssshhh....

Last year, some friends and I talked about how some (if not majority of people) are afraid of silence. I may not look like it, in person, but I kind of enjoy peace and silence. I developed a joy for listening though I tend to be really a talker most of the time.

I read once from a book ( I think it's Eat, Pray, Love) that Praying is the art of saying, telling things to God, while Meditation is the art of listening to God and what he has to say.

You sit there in silence and meditate... I miss meditation. I used to do yoga back in the city and I can't seem to find a proper shala (and improvise one) where I can meditate.

Lately, I've been craving for my inner silence and peace ( because yes, I get so badly interrupted every time I plan it!) 

And this whole lifestyle change thing for me has been a liberating experience, because it really did teach me to be patient, to wait and surrender and accept the fact the there are things in life that I just cannot control.

I imagine how hard it must be for someone who's organized-freak and schedule obsessed like me.

I believe God sends people and events to smack us up and hit us hard, for we will never learn if it was done gently. And silence is a good thing, because if used properly... you can and you get to transport yourself to someplace else and do all the proper thinking to make wise decisions, not brought by impulse or spur of whatever moment.

However, swimming in melodrama is optional. And that's a different story saved for next time.

Looking back at a non-date

I think I was 18 or 19 when my college girl friends and I were having dinner at some grill in Malate when this group of guys seated at the other table came over and joined us.

Like the usual, there was the getting to know you starters like where you're from, what do you do and I don't know how we ended up being spontaneous and went to then baywalk. I remember our group splitting up and paired with these guys and there's this one guy who happened to be my companion for that night while strolling along Manila Bay.

As expected, when we got home we girls were sort of reporting about the things that we talked about with our respective "individual instant dates". Of course the most obvious topic ( or should I say the almost unanimous answer) was about Love life.

But not my "date".

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We talked about everything...everything except love life. We were talking about what we both want to do, ideas, travel, food, experiences, the city and I could go on. 

Funny thing is, I did get his name (which I forgot by the time I got home) and we both did not attempt to get each others' numbers. Friendster ( A Social Networking Site that the Philippines first got hooked on)  was totally non-existent during that time so is Google, so the chances of looking for him to catch up would be totally up to fate.

He left me with one thing though, before we said our goodbyes:

You cannot afford to choose a guy who is not at par with you as a conversationalist, or else you're just going to swallow him alive.

Up until today, I can still remember those words whenever the topic of "Meeting of the Minds" comes up. I was told before to marry someone that I love to talk to because as we grow older, the conversation gets better and better.

I really wish to find someone that I will and can stay up until wee hours in the morning talking just about anything and being no one but ourselves. He doesn't necessarily have to agree with everything that I say, but I really wish he is intellectually stimulating and I could learn a thing or two from him, because if not, I'd really die of boredom.

So Universe, I lift up to you my first petition... the rest I'll just whisper to you in private. haha :)