A Hundred And Two

A hundred and two entries including this one and a few more perhaps in December isn’t that bad at all in terms of my writing/journaling goal for 2017. Last year, I had a hundred and twenty-eight stories posted here and that proves that I cannot surpass the total number of what I have this time still–for sure it won’t happen. I will be on the go starting this week–like sooner–not taking a laptop with me, and so I can’t promise myself to keep that momentum. But I am certain that the heavenly grace follows me and will see what chance is there in stored. This is my last as well to take advantage of the computer I’ve been using for months now, and I should not miss this opportunity to write at least another entry for the month of November. Then let us see from here.

Looking back at the first three months of this year, I am surprised to know about such a good start–a total of thirty-two articles when I only desired for fifteen. And then I had on-and-off scenarios a few times, but I was able to complete in time the minimum amount of write-ups needed for my concept in particular–“Behind Every Journey”–which is this year’s. Thank God for the strength, wisdom, and grace. This is not my final words without a doubt because I still have a month to put the finishing touches on for this blog. I shall return but I don’t know exactly when in next month. I hope it will be full of happy things to tell. See you all later or sooner!   

 

Back To Afternoon Routine

I started gaining weight as I turned twenty-one. It was my dream as a skinny guy at first but it became a nightmare eventually. Aside from health wise, I can’t stand looking at myself in the mirror so fat. I’d look like a walking ball. Why not? I am one of the shortest people living on earth. Gaining too much weight isn’t just for me. Let science explain, but I dislike how I have slower metabolism than others. I understand why, and for this reason, I am trying my hardest to stay fit and thinner than I am normally although I love food so much. I do an hour exercise every afternoon aside from other rituals to mind. Wish I could devour everything knowing food is really my weakness. It is irresistible.   

When I visited my boss over the weekend (just two days ago), I already had a prediction of a feast. His wife is a very good cook aside from a kind host. It was a cheat-weekend too hard to resist. I failed to spend my limit. I couldn’t walk away with total self-control. In short, I declared no diet. And when I came home yesterday, it felt like I was the chubbiest man in the entire planet. So I rushed back to my afternoon routine in desperation to burn fat and calories I consumed in two days. Like I said, I gained weight that fast. From now on until I reach threescore and ten or over, this will be a routine I will not even take ten and take for granted. Back to afternoon routine, that’s when I am happy.

The Loneliest Blog

Soon–like in a month’s time, I will do myself proud (but not as proud as a peacock) for my determination blogging all these nine years long. When I started doing this, there was no expectation or whatsoever because I just wanted to try what it is really like. More than all this curiosity, now I know how it feels without a doubt. Accha! With this sad truth, I had to be in a constant reminder all the time not to fall for statistics or else I could have renounced this undertaking a long time ago. Any regrets? Not at all! This experience for years has taught me a lot of good things not only about writing. One perfect example was the innumerable grace of traveling. That’s when I learned to understand life deeper–both mine and of others. And from there a word and then a phrase and then a sentence and then a paragraph was conceived so I could narrate a journey–it didn’t matter whether or not it was a beautiful story.

Of course, it would be so hypocrite of me not to feel bad about my blog being so infamous. I will never ever deny this status. As a matter of fact (a fact of life perhaps) my blog is the loneliest one ever existing on the Net. See, here I am again in need to be harked back. But please don’t get me wrong, I am always grateful to every visitor who dropped by and who keeps coming back within this period of 3285 days. Thanks a million! My statistic below shows 35, 911 total pageviews and it doesn’t disturb me at all. I only wish for a few more views before this year ends–like 36,000 pageviews. I’d be so happy. I am not that hungry for numbers because I only wish to bless people with this gift of writing. Forget my whining and lamentations anyway–they are in vain. If you want a quiet planet to visit, consider my blog. Just kidding!  

  

Coup de Grace

For every project I did, I had to tap dance like mad, but not tonight–it ends here at this moment. So let me attach some amount of kudos to this achievement. Wish you could see that grinning bobcat in me while I was writing this entry. Five months back, I almost wriggled free from this task–seemed caught up in the middle of a-fight-to-the-finish situation. Now–like in numerous occurrences, I have proven myself wrong again–not really a quitter. My boss had just stamped the certificates with his seal the other day. Yesterday, the manager handed them in to me. The recommendation and referral letters will follow next week. These will be added to my portfolio.

Although this looks like a long break (a month off from this particular project), but I already have started writing a new business proposal for next year. I will have a final meeting with my boss on Friday next week. Then let the fun begin. My heart is leaping for joy for the success of some projects I had this year. And also I am so much thankful to God for blessing me a boss like no other. Really! Most importantly, I learned to play the game and finished them despite awful state of affairs. This is the coup de grace, I have upheld the truth and have proven the prejudiced and the blinkered wrong, I am triumphant. 

      

Eternal Erudition

The only key to unlocking a static life (if there’s kind of thing) is through a constant learning. It doesn’t have to be mandatory because even a self-imposed pursuit of knowledge does count. As a life-long learner, I keep educating myself in every possible way there is. Thanks to technology for it lessens the hassles of going away–like so much comfort. I don’t have to go to school and engaged in a classroom activities or do some research at the library or attend an obliged workshop at all times in order to learn unfamiliar things. Internet avails every information I needed–and sky is no longer the limit these days–such a good news. All I have to do is willingness to embark on a new thing whether it is about career or simply a voluntary desire of knowing something. But you have to love to read a lot first or else this is way too impossible to achieve.

Aside from that typical definition of what forever learning is, I’d like to add my own perspective about it. “That for most scenario, it also and always involves stepping out of the comfort zone.” My mind and heart are in harmony with my conviction. And as a person who is a solid fan of this advocacy, I must learn to let of go of things I value most: my pride, my ego, my laziness, my self-centeredness, my arrogance and more–these are my own comfort zone–and are obstacles in life-long learning. Just yesterday, I struggled to absorb the lesson I had to learn. I had to read something so I could come up with an excellent job I haven’t done before. And in the heat of my own battle, all these negativity were in protest. Well, it was worth letting go in the end. I won and gained new ideas. I think it is part of someone’s journey to eternal erudition.  

  

Expect the Worst

We (my boss and I) had this trip canceled for several times the past two months. Last Monday night was a different story–we finally made it after the busiest schedule to mind. The truth is that (perhaps I’ve already said this a few times), I always expect the worst whenever I go to some places whether in my own country or abroad. This kind of thing which is lowering my standard has been my slogan for more than a decade of traveling. For instance, it took us six hours instead of four to get to our destination, we had to wait for the last passenger like an hour and a half so we could leave, we had stomach upset from the iced-coffee we bought, I couldn’t sleep the whole night, I think I just stayed in the dirties place on earth, and a lot more. We were there for an important things to look at–not a holiday.

Happy to say, when you don’t anticipate for the best (except to bear the agony), you will always find yourself surprised–again, like this trip. This was not my first here in fact. I have been in this town (Kampong Cham) a lot of times before, but only in passive travels. This chance around I had more than enough to enjoy and see how beautiful this town is–superb–I’m loving it. I was actually very surprised big time. My boss brought me in this town for a future project–so soon. And I had the feeling that he is going to move me there next year. I don’t mind. I love the place. I know what to expect. A piece of unsolicited advice, just try not to expect for the best every time you travel to avoid frustration. Well, it depends on you or where you really from. I have learned my own way. All in all, it was an amazing time in the end.

Old Photos

Eleven days ago, I posted on my wall on Facebook a brief background along with my old photos about my educational journey as a kid. I wrote: “These are my favorite photos of all time. But there is more to each image than meets the eye–God’s abounding grace, second chances, and endurance despite odysseys. I struggled to finish elementary. As far as chasing dream is concerned, this stage was almost unbearable–my most difficult beginning. Look how skinny I was.”

Today, I want to say a little bit more, another paragraph to express what I didn’t write the last time. Here it is: “In this real world, it doesn’t take a genius to achieve every dream because diligence and perseverance take the most part. At least that’s how I understand it. A willing heart can possess these traits anytime of the day. In my case, kindness of some people around me what truly inspired my soul–I learned each gesture at the feet of generous ones. I owe them every dream that came to reality and for what I am now. Those individuals had taught me goodness and grace amidst difficult life. As an educator, I will keep teaching, encouraging, inspiring, and reaching out to display the wonderful grace and loving kindness of my Creator. Because I experienced it myself for countless times.”  

Silence Stings

There were times when we all needed a helping hand no matter how strong or fulfilled or abundant we thought we were. In short, as our instinct dictates, no man is really an island. And so we yielded to the reality–that undeniable reaction–a normal tendency to ask for help, but answers don’t always come easy in every circumstance. Even though we expected to get a yes or a no answer at least, but there would be times our prediction went wrong. That’s when silence stung our souls. That’s when I gave up to see a silver lining to happen if scenario like this arises. And it hurts sad to say.   

Although know from experience that it is so, so normal to feel bad when some people said NO to us or turned their backs from us, but a friend’s quietness stings the most because it means apathy. Because you’d never know what is there to expect–only pain from this noiseless rejection. I approached a few people to lend me a hand, but none of them said anything. They could have said no and I would understand. Minutes and then hours and then days had passed, but they didn’t get back to me. They haven’t yet until today. Well, I had my things sorted out. Needless to say, I learned to put my hope in God alone.