I stumbled on this video while scrolling in LinkedIn. The power of human connection, that song or even a single word becomes a lifeline for someone else. This is worth sharing. Hugs!
-madt-
(You can follow him on Tiktok @fultonlee.music if you want to listen more to his wonderful music)
(This is me getting interviewed rather than interviewing.)
“What do you think is the reason why people, when in a relationship, suddenly disconnects to their friends? Or become less available to their friends?”
A question raised by my teenage daughter when we were cooking food for dinner today. At first, I was astounded. My mind was like, does she have a boyfriend? Did her friends disappear on her? So, I asked her back if this was what she was feeling. She said no, but she knows a lot of people going through it.
I am also not sure how to answer this nor an expert on this matter, but the question deserves an answer. My thoughts, and what I told her, “I am really not sure because I’ve never done that, but maybe, some people thought that their friends will understand if they spend more on the partner than their friends. Being in a relationship, especially if it still new, that person might be wanting to focus and invest on it to make it work. Personally, being your mom, I don’t advise this. I prefer you have a balance of both, not losing yourself in the process. It should be yourself and your friends and your partner.”
Please share your thoughts on this.
-madt-
What motivates you?
Filipinos are known for being happy and resilient. We have been colonized for years and every year, we suffer from natural disaster. Despite these difficulties, we find joy in simple things and exhibit remarkable strength in overcoming challenges. Dreams, family, love or even a simple glimmer of hope is what it takes to keep as moving forward.
The question reminded me off the Nescafe Commercial titled “Para kanino ka bumabangon?” It featured different people in different walks of lives and what motivates them to wake up every morning. Below is one of my personal choices. It featured Mr Erwin Macua, who from being a security guard persevered to become a teacher. He did it not only for his dreams but for his family.
So, what motivates me? Just as the commercial “Para Kanino ka Bumabangon?, I find my inspiration from my love ones. I remember how I was struggling personally in 2013. I felt the world crumbling upon me, dreams being shattered. Juggling my career and raising up my daughter was hard. But, giving up was not in my vocabulary. Every morning, I wake up determined to provide for my daughter and show her that life is beautiful.
July 21, 2023 5:00 pm
Part of my daughter’s birthday wish was to attend the Van Gogh x Japan exhibit. As a very supportive mom and for the love of Art and Japan, I surprised her a ticket to the show.
Van Gogh was fascinated with Japan’s Ukiyo-e. “Ukiyo-e” means picture of the floating world. The vibrant colors and intricate details in Japanese woodblock prints captured the fleeting moments of life. It depicts the life of beautiful courtesans, landscapes, and mythical tales. Van Gogh even coined the word “Japonaiserie,” which reflects his admiration for Japanese culture and his attempt to infuse its aesthetics into his work.
The digital show was for an hour and there was an added exhibit featuring other Japanese artists beside it.
Experiencing the Ikebana and Haiku could have made this experience better if it was free. As a caution, the show is not for people with vertigo, nor for those who are sensitive with flashing lights and fast-moving pictures. It was still a fun and educational show that made us love to experience Japan even more.
“Ma’am, sorry to ask you this but do you know your purpose in life? Do you think we are here just for the endless cycle of responsibilities and routines until the day it ends?”
Monday morning, July 17, 2023
A seemingly simple question from a cab driver left me dumbfounded. I felt overwhelmed about the complexity of the question.
We wake up, prepare our meals, go to school or work, take care of our kids or love ones, sleep and repeat the same cycle again. It’s true but it never occurred to me to ask myself until the cab driver pose the question. Is life really an endless cycle of routines?
I have pondered about this for the entire week. I felt so down that I was not able to give an answer or convince myself that I have an answer to this question. Then, I realized that the pitfall of believing that our life is just a routine can prevent us from recognizing and experiencing the deeper meaning of life.
The question asked by the cab driver turned into an invitation to start my own journey of self-discovery. Rediscovering my love for writing is a start.
Life itself is fascinating and full of challenges. The pursuit of life’s purpose will also be challenging, and throughout the ages, life’s purpose remains elusive. The definition of the purpose of life is unique for each of us, very personal, and may evolve over time. For some, purpose can be achieving personal goals, building a family or making a positive impact on the world. For some, it can be political or spiritual.
The journey to discovering the purpose of life entails a deeper connection to ourselves. It may unlock our deepest fears, it may fuel our doubts, it may require us to reflect on our past, it may open a painful memory or it may uncover new passions, talents or dreams. The journey is not meant to be easy but a continuous journey of self-reflection and discovery.
We won’t know what to expect as we start the journey but we have to embrace the change and open ourselves to the possibilities we will encounter to be able to understand our purpose in life.
How about you? Do you know your purpose in life?
(Please share your journey to self-discovery. I would love to get some tips.)
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