the crazy air-conditioning at work has led me to be completely fascinated with sweaters, cardigans and all things preppy.
so i'm presenting the preppy edition of my beautiful things...
i do admire these guys for really pulling off that look. well, they're models anyway. they're paid to pull off any look, kahit garbage bag pa yan.
i've been away from home for the past weeks and i miss being there terribly. i miss my mom's cooking and my dad's random rants. i miss the eerie silence when i sleep at night. i miss my soft bed in my room. my bedroom probably misses being cleaned (haha!). i miss the feeling of being at home. nothing spectacular happens at home but that's my haven. knowing that i'm there, with my parents, the dogs and away from the busy city provides enough comfort like a warm blanket on a rainy day.
on this special day of love, i think it's timely to talk about the language of love. people who love each other go through a lot of misunderstandings because they speak different languages of love. love is a universal thing but manifests in different ways.
according to dr. gary chapman, there are actually five basic language of love - each varying in style but conveying the same feeling - love.
1. receiving gifts - if you are type of person who appreciates receiving gifts and consider it as a sign of affection, then this is your love language. if you are with someone who is having a hard time with his finances or someone who is stingy, you may get the feeling that you're not being loved.
2. spending quality time - this deals not only with proximity to your partner but about focusing your energy on your partner. you may be together in one room but you don't interact with each other... it's not exactly lovespeak. quality time involves sharing day to day experiences, listening and sharing. if you understand your partner's emotions, the more that your love will grow.
3. providing service - some tend to provide physical acts of service as a manifestation of love. washing the dishes, cleaning up your room, or even doing little favors show humility and loyalty because they do those things without a sense of obligation. people who love in this manner appreciate reciprocal acts to ensure a healthy relationship.
4. saying affirmation - there are those who are vocal with their emotions. there are people who would shower you with compliments, constantly provide you encouragement, give advice and obviously thsi is their love language. maintaining open communication with these type of love speakers would guarantee a stronger bond.
5. touching/feeling - many enjoy the company of their partners when they have physical contact with each other. holding hands, hugging and kissing are very concrete examples of this type of language. usually this language would occur during the "honeymoon phase" of any relationship, but gradually lessens through time. if your partner is very responsive to your touch, it may prove better than any gift or verbal affirmation that you give in one lifetime.
some people may have just one distinct language and some may have many. but what is essential is to know what your love language is in order to make your relationship last and to make loving...well, lovelier.
i got those lines from a recent training i attended. it sounded corny at first until it became a private joke among us trainees... then eventually a personal mantra. everytime i would say it in my mind it just infects me to become this very positive person. but i did not achieve this certain optimism by the mantra alone. looking back at the past weeks, i "retraced my steps" and found out what i have been doing to keep myself, alive, well and feel great.
- give thanks: when one is thankful for the smallest of things, he tends to appreciate more that life has to offer, even the not so good ones.
- carry a song in your heart: i believe that a good song can affect your mood. whistle a tune if you're feeling down, but please don't sing "All By Myself." and if you're in a better mood, reinforce that song by dancing! follow your personal rhythm and start feeling great.
- smile/laugh: it's the most inexpensive way to improve one's looks. and it's contagious!
- compliment: spread the love by making others feel good. compliment a colleague's new haircut or give a tap on the shoulder to your seatmate who offered help. there are so many good things in the world and all you need to do is acknowledge them.
- accept: accept everything you experience in life and treat them as blessings. when you accept your shortcomings, you tend to accept the fact that you as a person has limitations, and it unburdens you from the worries that bother you.
- circulate: take some time to go out with people. not only it broadens your social circle, it also improves your social skills (communication, empathy, negotiation).
- sleep: your body needs adequate rest to recharge. a well-rested body is a fully functional one.
- spend some ME time: enjoy life's indulgences. treat yourself whenever you feel you have accomplished something. spend some time alone to reflect on your life.
do good things and good things will come to you. what the mind can conceive, the body can achieve. don't worry, be happy. hakuna matata. the cliches are all around to reinforce us that the key to living a good life does not lie on having all the material things that you want. all you need is a positive attitude.
i've done checking my christmas list so i'm now preparing my NEW ME list for 2008.
in order to achieve the new me, i will strive hard to do the following:
- make more time for family: last year i got so focused on living independently and widening my social circle that it compromised my relationship with my family.
- live healthy: resist softdrinks and eat more fruits and vegetables and drink milk (even if i really don't like the taste). regularly work out and get enough sleep.
- learn, learn, learn: make each day an experience to gain knowledge and wisdom
- stay optimistic: not let the small stuff get me down, count my blessings and spread the positive aura all around
- allot some ME time: leave some moment for reflection and relaxation.
- save up: stay liquid and probably invest on something.
i hope i make good progress this year and be able to sustain it until i get fabulously old. :-p
