My Blog

Journey to Life

Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life,
for without them, life is meaningless
Do not let your life slip through your fingers
By living in the past nor for the future.

By living your life one day at a time,
You live all the days of your life.
Do not give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread that binds is to each other.

Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Do not shut out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

In addition, the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope;
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you have been, but also where you are going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

My Work as a CNA

CNA stands for Certified Nursing Assistant...sounds very professional! wait til I tell you guys what I do!

This is not an easy job...been doing this for 8months now and I can still say that it is still sinking in my mind that I'm doing this kind of work.  They say living here in the US itself is not as easy as you would want it to be. 

My work is all about taking care of elderlies (ages 70 and up) in a long term health care facility.  Not just assisting but total care of the residents including feeding, bathing, assisting&puting them to/from wheelchair/bed and all the activities of daily living.

In my case, I am handling 11 residents during my shift which is 3pm to 11pm, 5 days/wk. 4 men and 7 women, 4 hoyer lifters (can only be transferred by machine), 5 requires physical lifting/transferring ( good thing I can do it by myself ) and only 2 can walk with assistance.

It is a physical job! At first, I wanna give up coz I cant stand the smell of their "wiwi" and "poops"...but as day / weeks go by...I'm beginning to get immune to the awful smell. 

One major thing that I learned doing this kind of work is that this is not the typical job that you just do it for the sake of finishing the task..it doesn't go that way!  You're handling lives here of old people..imagine them as your grandparents...you wouldn't want them to be feeling left out and uncomfortable for the remaining days of their lives here on earth...everything you do must have compassion and care!  They do get cranky most of the time but you have to find a way in order to make themselves at ease in your presence. 

I don't get too attached with my residents.  I talk to them like regular people but there should be a line on being personal and professional.   I just do what they require of me and what I think is the best for their welfare.  I am thankful if the resident or the family of the residents appreciate my service and dedication to work.

I just hope that I can hang on and stay focus on what I'm doing as of the moment. 

This is just a stepping stone...Good luck to me!

Weekend Blast!

One of my best weekends ever!  thanks to my best buds Kaloi and Matt...I stayed overnight at Matt's apartment @ upper east side NY!  cute place...love Sussie, Matt's dog!  Meet up Kaloi @ Chinatown for late lunch and we had dimsum buffet. Lunch at almost 2pm still the line was long...good thing we're only 3 so in less than 15mins we were given seats already...too bad we had to share it with 4 others coz that's how they do it in the resto unless you're a big group.  Anyway, we just picked all sorts of dimsum that were passing around.  We were eating like "pigs"! hehehe. no excuse...we're guys! and it's 2pm!

After the full meal...went to SoHo...the ultimate shopping destination in chinatown! all you ever wanted you can find here.  All brands...good finds...both cheap and expensive stuffs!

I bought this cute display thingy @ Muji...the concept is "New York in a Bag"...it's a miniature NYC made of handcrafted wood! nice table display and a gift too!  Went to Sephora and again bought something.  I really wanted to buy a new perfume but I want to do it with somebody else for second opinion.  Kaloi and I did this elimination process for the scents..tried bulgari aqua...burberry...lacoste essentials...salvatore ferragamo...paul smith...prada...but the fragrance by Diesel caught my nose buds! Fuel for Life!

Went to Ben Sherman (if you wanna try the preppy/rock European look), Uniqlo (modern japanese street style), Zara (ultimate dress to kill casual/formal) tried one of their casual coats...love it...fits perfectly with just shirt, jeans and sneakers...i look like a moviestar with it!  and then tried this aviator shades by Raban @ Bloomingdales to get this Armani look! naks!

My Journey to Life!

It's been a year now...couldn't imagine that i can do it! but i did survive a year! thanks to my family and friends who's been there to support and pray for me all the way.  love you all!  my first months was really tough...adjustments..lots of thinking and worries but that's part when you are all alone by yourself in a different environment esp. when you are still starting from scratch. whew! trust me it's hard but it's worth fighting for! 

from serving coffee and donuts to customers for about 3mos. to be a nursing aide up to now is not easy as you think!  in addition to working out my papers!  geezz.. worry..worry...worry! physically tiring and emotionally unstable.  but i did surpassed that period a couple of months ago! thank God!

i know my job right now is very fulfilling...since I'm taking care of the elderly people...i guess this is my way of helping people thru my line of work! c",)

being away from your family and close friends is not easy!  it takes a lot of courage!

now, i just have to be strong for myself!  i just stay focus and think positive at all times! which is the best way of handling things when you are alone.

experiencing life in my own country is way too different as I experience it now here in the US!  life is fast here...time really flies...but i dont push myself to the limit like others do. good thing i don't have obligations back! 

i still have time for myself..i can watch my favorite movies...satisfy my cravings for food...have my share of impulse buying/shopping...but still within the budget! i'm learning!

i did manage a comfortable living here for a year now! hope it continues...wish me guys good luck!

but...there's always a BUT...why?

am i still not contented with what I have right now?

i'm just human...everybody is like that! i guess...correct me if i'm wrong..

my life is still searching...

searching for what? that i still dont know  yet.

maybe love? spiritual rebirth? or searching the true ME?

oh well, I just have to experience Life as it goes by...my journey is still a long way to go! i hope the long wait is worth it!  c",)

21 Things To Remember

ONE. 

Give people more than they

expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational

skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. 

Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. 

When you say, "I love you," mean it. 

FIVE. 

When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. 

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN 

Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. 

Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have

much.

NINE.

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way

to live life completely.

TEN. 

In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling. 

ELEVEN. 

Don't judge people by their relatives. 

TWELVE. 

Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. 

When someone

asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why

do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN.

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk..

FIFTEEN.

Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson

SEVENTEEN.

Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility

for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. 

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 

NINETEEN. 

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct

it. 

TWENTY.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your

voice. 

TWENTY-ONE. 

Spend some time 

alone. 

Life

We should live our lives to the fullest! how? Always take into consideration all the things that came along the way.  Learn from every experience and challenges you went thru.  It is good to face each struggle with patience and surpass it with full determination. Don't worry too much coz worrying will not help you at all, instead ask for His guidance and He will definitely lead you to the right path.  Most of all, believe in yourself!  Nobody else will help you than yourself.  Stay focus and always have a positive attitude towards LIFE!

Looking Forward

Thank you 2006!  For the places I visited, the things I gave and received, the people I met and forgotten -- all of these will be part of the memories that I will cherish forever. 

I would say that 2006 was a turning point for me since I have to make big decisions concerning my future.  It wasn't easy but I'm greatful that the people close to me were there to support  all the way.  Thank you guys for being there.

As I welcome 2007 with so much enthusiasm as I face a new chapter of my life...I pray that things will turn out as what God's plans for me.  Goodluck to us! 

Something to Think About

Do you know that there are 2 days in our life that we can do nothing about?

One is "yesterday" coz it's gone, while the other is "tomorrow" which is uncertain and might not come at all.

We can only live in today:  today we can love..work..play and above all enjoy!

Getting Ready

Just finished my first session with a counselor.  It was a good relief and a fulfilling experience.  This will help me organize my thoughts and goals well.  Even if it's my first time to talk to a counselor, i felt at ease with her already.  Although I haven't reveal my deepest secret yet but i guess I wouldn't have a hard time telling her about it on our second session scheduled next friday.  Can't wait for next week. 

12 Days B4 Christmas!

Christmas is just around the corner... still no gifts for my friends and family.  I'm still deciding whether I'll buy them gifts this season or just greet them for a change. =) Besides, I don't have a budget now for gifts and even personal stuff.  I hope they will understand.

It's not just the gifts that matter this season --- As long as I'm gonna spend the holidays with them, Christmas will still be special and memorable.

To all my friends who are on a tight budget this season like me... don't feel sad! cheer up!  there will always be next year. =) enjoy the holidays!