My root problems are:

• Not enough Money
  
• Resistance to go outside my comfort zone
  
• Resistance to change

My solution is: Think Outside the Box.


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I am beyond tired. I thought that living in Manda would mean that I can sleep early, wake up later, get to work on time. But with the high parking rate I experienced last week (i.e. I paid more for my parking weekly rent, than for my own weekly rent!) I tend to come home later, leave earlier JUST so that I get charged lesser hours. That just means, I'm more tired. Not helping.

I tried leaving my car at work, since I have free parking, but then it becomes a hassle getting to work. Gosh, ang daming sakay, that sometimes I take the taxi anyway! Which is also is a hefty amount for a short distance.

So yesterday, I looked for solutions. And I found one. Not the best, but for now it will do. I get to try it out today. Here's what I plan.

After all the things I have to do for the day, I will leave my car in TPT. This is a building along Edsa and Boni Ave. From there, I can ride a jeep going to Libertad (mga 5 mins) and then a trike to Cali Garden (another 2 or 3 mins). On the way to work, I do the same route.

TPT is actually a client, and right now, I've made pretty good friends with the admin. After a lot of "bola" and begging, he's agreed to let me park there. That brings down my nightly parking budget to commute budget by 80%. Not bad, right?

Hopefully this method *works*.

If not, I need to look for new solutions...

As I said... Think out of the box...

Doesn't it look like I'm selling a car? Hahaha! Someone give me a link please to change my header pic! :)

I said the other day I was going to change my physical environment. Today is day 1. I've decided to rent the Calim's spare room in California Garden Square in Mandaluyong. Yesterday I moved in, and it was eventful, to say the least.

Here are some of the advantages of moving;

1. It is much, much nearer to work, as compared to Las Pinas;
   
2. I get to save on gas;
3. I get to live with friends;
4. When I want to, I can go swimming (CGS has a pool!)
5. I get to be more responsible (since kailangan makisama);
6. I can talk to somebody else;
7. My mobile landline now becomes more useful;
8. I'm closer to the gimmick area;
9. I'm very, very close to Aimee and Anne :) - practically 3 min. ride away;
   
10. I'm farther from LP distractions (i.e. boys);
    
11. The CGS environment already is a major plus (most of my needs are within the compound - laundromat, salon, ministop).

Of course, I'm also anticipating on:

1. The house is not mine - kailangan makisama;
2. Parking is expensive - P20 an HOUR - and it may not compensate for the gas savings;
3. I'd need to leave my car in LP or at the parking in the office, if ever;
4. I'd need to stay away from my LP house for longer periods of time;
5. I can't just leave my dirty clothes, or underwear lying around andI need to clean up after eating;
   
6. Kris will be leaving in a couple of weeks to go to US anyway so we won't be able to play;
7. Although I've complained about my slow, almost nil internet connection at home, the fact that I was able to download episodes lately, means I will miss my internet;
8. I would need to start looking for "kasabay" going to and fro Mandaluyong;
   
9. I will be tempted to stay longer sa office because mas malapit sa inuuwian.
   

Anyway, this is a one month trial period. Will see what happens after.

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So now I only have to work on changing my blog template. :D
Will do in the next few days.

Need to change my blog look (got feedback from Mom and Maeyo that they get headaches after reading my blog) hehe. So with the help of Ate Buntis, I'll be changing my overall template. (As much as I love the butterfly theme, it does get old). I've been seeing some features in Wordpress that I like, and I've been researching that I can copy it in blogger as well. But quite a hassle, complicated and a lot of work, frankly. Will see...

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Need for change in my physical environment temporarily. More on this within the next few days. Let's just say that I'm better off without distractions.

What is Draining You?
by Bo Sanchez

Get Rid Of It If You Can.

I don’t intend to write a complete list of how you need to care for yourself. (I’ll do that in another article.)

But here’s a question I want you to ask yourself: What is draining you?

What person, thing, activity, group, habit, situation, and places in your life drains your joy and life and energy and holiness? What sucks your happiness?

If you can get rid of that draining thing, do so!

By doing that, you’ll grow up and have more life and energy for the right things that God wants you to do.

In other words, I’m asking you to set your boundaries.

Let me list the probable “draining” things in your life…

1. Take care of your emotional health.

o I spend a lot of time with “emotional vampires”—people who are so dependent on me, or those who are exceedingly negative, or those who emotionally manipulate me…
o I still hang on to a dead-end romantic relationship
o I don’t have close friends
o I watch too much TV
o I don’t have time just to rest and reflect, to read and plan

2. Take care of your family life

o My relationship with my spouse / kids / family is shallow
o I have a long-standing conflict with a family member
o My home environment is chaotic
o I feel I’m not a great mother (father, son, daughter…)

3. Take care of your professional life

o I don’t enjoy my job
o I feel that I’m not fulfilling my mission in my job
o I feel that my core gifts can be used elsewhere
o I can no longer work with my co-workers
o I don’t see a future in my career

4. Take care of your physical health

o I don’t eat the right food
o I don’t sleep enough
o I don’t exercise enough
o I have a vice that’s robbing me of my health

5. Take care of your financial health

o I let “parasites” depend on me instead of letting them stand on their own
o I have huge debts
o I pay my bills late
o I don’t know where my money is going each month
o I don’t have savings and investment plan
o I know I won’t have enough for my retirement and old age

6. Take care of your spiritual health

o I’m in bondage to an addiction that’s draining me spiritually
o I focus on my sin, not on God’s love for me
o I don’t spend time with God
o I lack a faith community of friends to support me
o I feel I’m not following my own moral compass
o I feel I’m not serving God and others

If you checked any of the items above, do something about it! Ask for help.

But don’t get drained to the point that there’s nothing to give anymore.