How to Encourage the Young Ones to Dream

In his homily yesterday, Fr. Tito Caluag, asked, "How can you encourage the young to dream big?"

It reminded me of Jodie, one of my physiotherapists. It was a serendipitous meeting because she was a replacement.

I always ask my PTs how long they've spent at the hospital. Then I ask if they plan to go abroad. Most of them joined during the pandemic and all have plans to go abroad.

Jodie though told me she originally dreamt of joining Google. She said she watched the movie The Internship and since then really wanted to join Google. She was discouraged from taking an IT course and that's why she ended up in the medical field. 

She said she eventually shifted her dream to join NASA and just remembered it when she met me. I told her those companies accept applicants based on experience and knowledge. I shared with her that I'm not an IT graduate, but still got a job at Google. 

By the end of the session, Jodie looked really excited. I advised her to build her skills based on where she wants to be. She told me our meeting felt like we were meant to meet. She said she was re-energized to reach for her dream.

She's not scheduled to be my PT again. I found a Lego-like spaceship at the mall after our session. I bought it and wrapped it as a Christmas gift with a note to follow her dreams.

To answer Fr. Caluag's question, I guess that's how I can help the young ones reach for their dreams. 

Happy Monday everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Tiger

I had a strange dream last night. I had a pet tiger. Yes, a pet tiger. He was the sweetest pet and followed me around wherever I went. He would come with me when I would travel and would be ferocious at protecting me. 

When I woke up I checked what dreaming of a tiger meant. It means power and strength. Maybe I dreamt about the tiger because I was so inspired by Hidilyn Diaz yesterday. I don't really believe in dream stuff, but I was happy to read about what tigers in dreams mean. It makes me think that the fighter in me is back. Yay! 

Day 28 Gratitude Challenge, Something that brings hope. I've been writing about this the past few days -- Hidilyn Diaz! Did you see all the brand ads who greeted her? It's a great showcase of Filipino wit, go look for it on FB. 

CB///*Yr2/111 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/134 #NewG335 #Home93 #StayHome #BeKind 

My Dream Space

I was already in high school when I had my own room. Growing up I slept on the floor in my parents' room. We had available rooms in our home. I just never had the urge to move. My realm was my mattress and the space around it. My toys would lay beside the bed, eventually an Olympia typewritter, books and then I went through a period with my walkman. I soon moved to my Ate's room after. 

When my Mom taught me crafts she would put projects in a basket. This allowed us to move around the house. We'd usually start in the bedroom and by afternoon in her garden. This is how I learned to work anywhere. With little space though in our apartment here in SG, I commandeered the couch and sala table as my craft space. It's not a pretty sight. My materials are also lined up across the kitchen. 

I've always dreamt of having a proper space to do my crafts. Right now I use the dining table to measure and cut fabric. Fabric and scraps are scattered across the living room table. The couch holds my rulers, biscuit can of thread and sometimes the pincushion. I once had a walk-in closet which I turned into a craft room. The room housed all of my beads and I had a table I could work on. Too bad though I barely had time to craft then!

I've been looking at craft room vlogs and designs on Pinterest. Wow! It would be wonderful to have proper storage for my sewing materials. Then a center island where I can cut fabric (okay, Sweetie can also use it for his projects). I also want to have a sewing machine table I could push around where I want to work. I get so excited thinking about it haha. I've been trying to draw my ideal craft room, but my drawing skills does not exist. 

I can go on and on about the features I want for the tables, but I won't bore you with that. What about you? Would you want to have a special space for yourself? 

Day 4 Gratitude Challenge, An Accomplishment of Yours: surviving motherhood until this day! Whew! I was looking at licensed cartoon fabric early this week because I'm planning to make Miggy a quilt blanket. I realized though that he is already an adult! I ended up not getting any fabric because I realized I need to reframe my mind and accept that he's no longer a tiny 4-year old. I am grateful to everyone who has accompanied us in our journey. 

CB///*Yr2/90 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/117 #NewG356 #Home130 #StayHome #BeKind 

My Dream Life

Day 1 Gratefulness Challenge: One of my goals for this second half of the year is to be more grateful. I found a 30-day gratefulness challenge and will integrate it here in my blog. Day 1 challenge is to be grateful about your body. I am truly grateful that my body has been able to withstand so many issues. Even my doctors are amazed and they keep telling me I am blessed. Thank you Papa God <3

To be honest, I never dreamt of moving to another country. It was never in my plan. It happened at the insistence of my former managers. I was able to enjoy it only when my family moved to Singapore. My dream life is just to be with my family. Ideally I want everyone to be within physical reach. I say that because my family is scattered across the globe. 

I grew up with extended family living in our home. My Mama Lola and several Titas lived with us. There was a time my Tito and his family stayed with us when their house burned down. I was a happy child because I had additional mommies and daddies. Our Christmas reunions were always big and rowdy. I long for those days. 

So my dream life is to be back home, have a home with enough space to have get-togethers with family and friends, have time and energy to create more memories and be able to help where I can. My prayer every night is to be safe, secure, healthy and blessed. 

"It's never too late to focus on your dreams."

CB///*Yr2/84 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/111 #NewG362 #Home136 #StayHome #BeKind 

How My Future was Shaped at 17

When I was 17 I was working on my thesis for my political science degree. Together with my groupmates we did a study on the mobilizational capabilities of the sangguniang kabataan. The study allowed me to get to know my home city better. For many months we hopped from one barangay to another to interview SK officials. 

With my thesismates, Alan and Jingo.

With Jingo at our uni.

I was fascinated with how things worked. After interviewing many SK chairs and councilors I was inspired and wanted to contribute back to my community. I told myself I'd like to become mayor of my city by the age of 30. 

Elections were coming up at that time and I was invited to run for SK chair of our barangay. My Dad was excited and supportive, but my Mom said no. It was the same no she told my Dad when he was invited to run for congress. Mom didn't want us to get involved in politics for many reasons. 

Looking back it was a good decision to follow my Mom's wishes. I wouldn't have survived or as my Mom says I'd probably get killed sooner or later. We can contribute anyway through other means. For now I've revived our Paranaque Life blog to help our neighbors find information about living in our city. 

CB///Yr2/5  #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/32 #StayHome #BeKind  

Let's Dream Again

It's Monday again! Start of a new week! I know I sounded so morose the last few days. I told myself I will focus on looking into the future this week. I have to anchor myself on where I want to be. That should help with my recovery. 

Over a decade ago someone told me, "You're not a dreamer. Wala kang pangarap." I fell quiet after he said that. Of course I vehemently denied it and told him I wouldn't be where I am if I did not have a dream. Honestly, I'm a very practical person. I take things one day at a time. I also only take calculated risks. I've been like that since I had Miggy. 

I realized all of this when I took a break in late 2019. I took baby steps at looking at my future. My plans though were foiled because of the pandemic. So I made a new wishlist and did most of it. I'm now letting myself look where I want to be in the next year, five years and 10 years from now. I'm creating a dream list. 

On top of that list is a proper home where my family will be complete. We have a tiny home in Manila, but I want to have a home with enough space. And in that home I want to have a craft room! Sweetie will probably want a man-cave too. I also want to have space where I can plant food. I wish though we could still have our cleaner who comes in once a week haha. 

So that's where I am for now. I tend to work out the practicalities in my mind when I think of my dreams. I should probably sit down make a proper list without thinking of practical matters. 

What about you? What's your dream?

“I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Matthew 11:24).

CB///360  #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/23 #StayHome #BeKind    

My Dream Job When I was a Child

There's a meme going around asking people what you wanted to be when you were a child. This got me thinking and I was amazed at how my interests swung from one thing to another when I was growing up. 

I do remember when I was in elementary school I wanted to be an architect. I was four years old when I got my first Lego set. Back then Lego sets were just a collection of Lego pieces. They left it to your imagination to build things. I remember building different types of houses and I was always fascinated about home layouts. I guess that was why I wanted to become an architect. It didn't happen because I lacked the drawing skills (although my niece pointed out that it requires more technical drawing). I did live this dream a bit when I helped my Mom in her export business. 

Frowning even as a child, I was never into sports. 

Eventually my interest changed and I wanted to be an archeologist/anthropology. I got interested in it when we started learning about Asian civilizations in history class. I wanted to discover more about old civilizations, how they looked, how they lived, what their culture was about. It was a cross between archeology and anthropology. My parents though were quite concerned and had me talk to Tito Ed who explained to me more about the field. I got a lot of pressure not to pursue it. My passion for history remains at a personal level, my family and friends always go back to me when they need old photos and past information (lol). I also binge watch on shows related to this topic. 

My Dad was grooming me to become a lawyer and I ended up getting degrees in Political Science and Legal Management. Midway through my LM degree I realized that becoming a lawyer wasn't for me. Needless to say my professors were also disappointed I did not pursue it. It would have tied up nicely with my third dream job - to be the mayor of my city! I would have been on that path because I was being recruited to run for office when I was in university. Of course, Mom got in the way and that fizzled out. 

It's funny thought because all the things I wanted to do I'm in a way doing now at my current job. It's not what I envisioned I would be, but I think I'm where I should be right now. And that's what's important. Whatever degree or job you get, your childhood dream will always be there and it's up to you how you define your mission in life.

What about you? What was your childhood dream job?

CB//198 #StuckAtHomeDay/228 #WFH135 #StayHome #BeKind