Pay It Forward Challenge

It is always nice to be treated well by others but with the changing times people tend to be more selfish and forget to be kind. In light of this thought, I decided to make this as a challenge for 60 days.

1. Hold the door open for the person behind you.
2. Introduce yourself.  Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.
3. Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need.  Your old is someone else’s new.
4. Write a positive Yelp review about a local business you like.
5. Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.
6. Donate blood.  One pint of blood can save up to three lives.  Locate your nearest blood drive.
7. Volunteer at a hospital, homeless shelter, nursing home, etc.  Get outside of yourself and help others.  
8. Buy house warming gifts for new neighbors.
9. Inspire others online.
10. Share your umbrella with a stranger on a rainy day.
11. Check up on someone who looks lonely.
12. Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.
13. Spread good news.
14. Replace what you’ve used.  For example, fill up the copier or printer with paper after you’re done using it or start a fresh batch of coffee.
15. Give words of encouragement to someone about their dreams, no matter how big or small they are.
16. Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.
17. Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when you’re leaving.
18. Babysit for couples or single parents who don’t get out much so they can have some alone time.
19. Look for ways to save a few extra bucks a month and then donate it to a good cause or charity.
20. Shop at your local charity thrift store.  The money you spend there helps others.
21. Help someone get active.  There’s a coworker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand.  Offer to go walking or running together or join a gym together.  
22. Spend a few clicks of your time at Free Rice.
23. If someone you love really likes something (a meal, a favor, etc.) give it to them when they least expect it.
24. Make a difference in the life of a child. Give them your time and undivided attention. 
25. If you shop online, make your purchase through a store that supports a cause.
26. Pay for the person in line behind you.
27. Drop off your old eye glasses at your local LensCrafters as a donation to the OneSight program.
28. Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit.
29. Redirect gifts.  Instead of having people give you birthday and holiday gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a good cause.
30. The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tire, or in need of assistance, stop and ask how you can help.  
31. Become a mentor or tutor to someone in need.
32. Help the weary shopper in front of you who needs that extra two or three cents to avoid breaking a 20-dollar bill.
33. Come to the rescue.  If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, soup, etc.
34. Be a courteous driver.  Let people merge in front of you. ( I can't drive so I'll let people go ahead of me while in a queue)
35. Put some change in an expired parking meter (where it’s legal).
36. Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.
37. Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.
38. Hug a friend.  Let them know how important they are.
39. Think twice before you throw something away.  As Jack Johnson once said, “Reduce, reuse, and recycle.”
40. Help an entrepreneur with a Kiva donation.
41. Bake cookies or brownies and share with a neighbor or colleagues.
42. If you have a good book you’ve read that’s just sitting around on a book shelf, give it away to a friend.
43. Become a member of Freecycle, and participate.
44. Clean up litter in a park or open space nearby.
45. Look into co-housing.
46. Borrow and lend things in your neighborhood by using Share Some Sugar.
47. Send a nice email or handwritten card to someone you know, unexpectedly.
48. Leave encouraging post-it notes in library books and other random places.
49. If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them.
50. Setup a donation box at your school, work or place of worship and ask others to make canned/dried food contributions.  Then deliver the donations accordingly.
51. Join efforts to preserve and protect the environment.
52. Donate cat and dog food to an animal shelter.  Call and ask what is needed.
53. Compliment someone who deserves it.
54. If there’s been an accident or a potentially hazardous situation presents itself on the road, report it to the local authorities.  Your phone call could save a life.
55. Collect and donate prom dresses for underprivileged youth.  
56. When you’re getting fast food, buy an extra meal for a homeless person.
57. Stand up for someone.  Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them.
58. Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.
59. Teach others how to make a difference in this world by setting a good example every day.  
60. When someone wants to repay you for something, ask them to pay it forward.

New Twists

When september came,  I realised that it's been a year since I decided to take a chance in Manila. With no relatives to show me how life was,  I learned a lot being exposed to the good and the bad.

From having an one on one fight with a robber armed with a knife,  crazy couchsurfing activities to the end of a relationship,  this year has proven to be one of the hardest I've faced.

I always do think that everything happens for a reason. With less than two months to face,  it is safe to say that I had a good year.  I will walk away once again smiling.

I have lost and yet I found more. Metro Manila,  I 'm here to stay for another year and you can throw anything at me. I will take whatever comes my way and continue my chronicles afterall the ones who never say die get to live more. :)

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Urban Green

I have always had a thing for plants. Back when I was in my elementary years,  I started planting pechay or chinese cabbage. I saw the benefits of planting your own food. I would remember my uncle asking me if he could pick out some because he was making pochero or pork stew. At a young age I learned the importance of agriculture and the happiness you get out of it. It brings you closer to the environment as your hands touches soil. Fast forward to a decade and here I am trying again trying to go green. I saw a documentary before of how some people in Japan are growing their own foods in their balcony and rooftops. It dawned on me how simple the solution could be for the Philippines. We haven't gotten rid of hunger and yet most would resort to giving dole outs to kids and homeless people. As a believer of hardwork, I never agreed nor supported hose who would give money. If they are to be better individuals with better lives,  it is best to teach them skills but I cannot teach something that I do not preach. Last November,  I eventually started my little vertical urban garden. I started with lettuce and bought a basil seedling placed them in plastic softdrink bottles which people would normally throw away. Just today,  I planted upland kangkong,  sili labuyo and cherry tomato seeds. I will start documenting my progress for the vertical urban gardening since I'm blogging using kindle, I can not upload photos as of the moment. Join me in my new venture for greener environment and healthier food. Let's go green, the urban way.

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Fashion Tip #1 for the Frugalista

Got a skirt? Pull it up and wrap a belt around it.

Viola! New dressy tube top!

Changing Sails: 10 Things You Need To Think About When Making Decisions

Facing the horizon, where does one go? North, South, East or West? It normally comes to any person's life when they have to choose which direction to take. I was faced with the same ordeal. From choosing what course to take in college to every little decision I had to make in my life.

Here's are 10 things I learned along the way that can affect the direction of your sails while cruising across life:

1. You should always consider your passion. You can never be successful without it.
2. It's easier to find your way if you know where you want to end and who you want to become.
3. If it doesn't go with your values, don't do it. Don't let fame, money or other stuff that seems good ruin your principles. Stick to what you believe in, even if it means losing millions.
4.When in doubt, don't do. Rely on your instinct besides if it's really the right thing to do, you wouldn't doubt it in the first place.
5. Don't stress too much, God (or whatever higher being you believe in) will bring you to where you are supposed to be. For agnostic, you will never agree with this. :P
6. The right decision should make you awesome. Never choose to do the things that will bring someone down or make you feel bad.
7. Always weight in cause and effect. Don't let emotion make you do things without thinking the pro's and cons first.
8. Ask for opinions from parents, they know more about life than you think. I was against everything my parents told me but later in life, I realized ( as much as it hurt my ego) they were mostly right.
9. Learn from history and other people's experience through books. I read tons of books and it has helped me a lot.
10. Don't choose a direction just because of dogma or popularity. Most of us who go with the crowd also end up getting lost among them.

Throughout my life I've made several wrong decisions but I do not regret it, I learn from it.

Making decisions won't be as difficult if you know yourself well enough.

Distance and Love

Distance came and brought in the clouds, As the sand of time slowly falls, Inches of space grew to meters. As doubts and fear lingered, Love's flame slowly died.