Moving to Wordpress

Please be updated that I have a new blog site in wordpress. Visit www.happinas.wordpress.com !

Miss SCUBA Philippines 2013

Last November, I competed for Miss SCUBA Philippines 2012 and I won Ms. SCUBA Philippines Marine Tourism 2012. I was a bit sad because I wanted to win the right to represent our country. I have always been passionate about marine conservation and tourism. When I graduated highschool, I wanted to be a Marine Biologist but because it was an expensive course, my mother suggested that I take up Nursing and though I never became a marine biologist, my passion was never gone. I joined clean-ups and tried to pick-up trash when ever I see them at sea.

Earlier this year, before the Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night, I was offered the chance to represent the Philippines and be Ms. SCUBA Philippines 2013. My heart skipped when I found out despite the lack of support, I decided to take the opportunity. This pageant is what I'm really passionate about. The sea has always brought me happiness. Come December, I will be able to represent Philippines and make the other counties see how beautifully diverse and rich the marine life of the Philippines is and how great the possibilities there are for our country.

First Video Blog!

Panacea

Replenishes and brings life

Selfish intake brings overdose

Faster  blood rushes through veins

Such a high it brings.
Sends me flying from within
One potent drug

Took a dose to find a cure,
A solution to pain and illness,

But adverse effects you have...

Gives me lows but with incomparable highs.

Something that weakens 
Yet strengthens my insides.

Effects overwhelming
Moment needed to take it all in.

 Never thought I'd ever find.

Breaks down internal defense 

Majority of who and what you are,

A perfect sync to my system.

The odds were in favor
Given from a Supreme power.

Cure me from the diseases 
Infections of the past.

A way to heal my heart.

Lose despair, apathy and distrust.

Best drug no doubt
 You, I have found.

My Declutter Project

Being part of Binibining Pilipinas 2013 was quite hectic and so I ended up with a bunch of clutter. I did not want to wait for New Year to start clearing things out so I decided to start my declutter project.

Why declutter?

I have always believed in the Japanese organization method of 5S that uses a list of five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke. The 5S phases are sorting, setting in order, systematic cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining.

When you have less stuff, things are a lot simpler. Imagine the time and energy you save trying to find things.

Getting Started

Starting a project is always difficult. You have to focus on one area at a time, you can't go on a de-cluttering rampage! I chose to start with beauty products since I use it daily and it's the easiest to declutter.

DAY I Vanity Shelf

As we grow up we end up using more products since our skin is more sensitive and we simply just become more. I never thought I would have this much because I basically did not care about how I look until after college. I was never fond of using make-up but then during the pageant we got a lot of free stuffs from Avon. I have never owned this much make-up in my entire life imagine getting 11 lippies in one day. Quite insane. Some of the products I got were already given to friends but I still have a number that I use. Along with that I also received a bunch of skincare and beauty products from my ever loving mama so I decided to start with organizing and checking everything.


1. Check all the products for expiry dates. Not all of us might be aware about the shelf life of our make-up so here is a simple guide.

Tip:  Write the date on the product when you open it so you’ll know when it’s time to throw it away.

You don't need a gazillion of make-up to make yourself beautiful, you just need the right ones.

2. Sort products accordingly. I segregated my products based on the area I use it for like face, lips, eyes, hair, nails and body.

Day I was not as difficult to do. Will update you on my day 2 which is one of the most dreaded thing any woman can face... Day 2 Wardrobe

Start you own project now!


If you want to run your own declutter project too, here are the top strategies according to GetOrganizedWizard:

Have a strong why
Have a simple how
Do it fast
Check off your successes as you go.

Love According to Bob

I saw this from Goodreads and I felt the need to share this to everyone. We all crave for love. Do read on and tell me what you think.

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. 

You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. 

You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. 

When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. 

They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. 

Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. 

There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. 

You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. 

The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. 

Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. 

Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. 

A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. 

In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. 

Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. 

You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. 

You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. 

You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. 

You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. 

Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”
― Bob Marley

Pusong Calle

If you like helping out like me, I'd say get your Pusong Calle shirts! The proceeds of the shirts will be used to fund current projects of the Couchsurfing Philippines Volunteers. You get a shirt while helping out, sounds great right?

If you are not a member of Couchsurfing Philippines then you are probably wondering about the Couchsurfing Philippines Volunteers. To give you a background, here's the description of the group ( taken from the official website ) and if you want to join us in our upcoming activities do let us know.

The CS Philippine Volunteers (group) is a collaborative group that aims to create awareness and social responsibility to all its members without concern for monetary profit, acting as one for the betterment of the community, region and country.

The group was created by enthusiasts who met through the CouchSurfing community to make the outreach programs sustainable rather than just on a one time event. Likewise, to continue providing awareness to fellow CouchSurfers , travelers and society as a whole embodying the spirit of trust, humanity and self-less service.

To keep updated with the events and programs, add the CSPV group:

• Email address
• Facebook Group
• Twitter

The pet project is the Outreach Feeding in Baseco Compound in Manila for children every other Saturday of the month. It started last May 2012 and continues to provide feeding session, health teaching for kids, art activities and story-telling activities. CouchSurfers from Manila and other countries have done their share and found a meaningful way of giving back to our less fortunate brethren.

You may join the subgroup of the BASECO Outreach Feeding Project with this link

Future programs will include donation drives, social awareness sessions, and small-scale social entrepreneurship training for the less fortunate members of the society.

The group aims to inspire and gather support from the beautiful hearts of the CouchSurfing community in the Philippines and around the world by sharing time,talent and expertise in the future endeavors.

At CSPV, volunteering could never be this fun!

The Shift from Wallflower to Social Butterfly

When I was younger I was so self -critical that I would barely talk to anyone and would always prefer to be a wallflower. Not to exist, was my life mission back then. I used to be taunted and oppressoa_edgy just because I was not tisay or rich. I had a dream that time, the child version of me was looking up at a beautiful lady. The moment I woke up I said to myself that one day, I will be like her. I want to be respected and beautiful.

All through highschool and college, I struggled with insecurities with my looks. Society, nowadays, are more critical with beauty. With science, you can perfect your nose even to your jawline. I have always believed in natural beauty, while some maybe in favor of enhancements, I see it as a way to fool oneself. It was never easy to be comfortable in our own skin.

Heartbreak made me change and start living differently. It was only after college that I got comfortable wearing shorts, mini skirts and sleeveless tops. My mama would always buy me sexy clothes since my puberty but I would just wear my baggy pants and a tank top with polo shirt over it. I was always known during college to have messy hair. I was one of the boys back then. I didn't like make -up and girly things but when I had my first break -up, I decided to take sweet revenge by looking better than I ever was. I started watching tutorials in youtube and wearing more girly clothes and right after taking my last lecture units for my masters degree, I decided to join a pageant. Something that no one expected me to do. After that things changed, I was exposed to modelling and became more comfortable with myself.

For years, I have tried my best to improve myself. Up until now, I am still faced with tests. I always push myself to the limit. I realized that no one was meant to be invisible. We were made to be luminous, to share light to others. With this, I have pushed myself to interact more with people and be more vulnerable. The day I decided to stay in Manila and take a nose dive was probably my greatest leap of faith. Moving to another city without knowing anyone was crazy and my mama hated it.

Starting from nothing, I met new faces. I got a job and eventually got used to living in Manila. At first I really didn't go out, hated the pollution and the traffic then I got bored with the uptight life. It was during a video shoot that I heard about couchsurfing.org and I decided to sign in.

Couchsurfing exposed me to different cultures from different countries. I eventually ended up joining a lot of events. I did outreach, outdoor and social events. It made me more sociable. Before I wouldn't talk to a stranger but now I am more friendly and learned more on how to interact with people. As we started hosting people at our house, I would spend time entertaining and talking about the beauty in Philippines. As time passed, I became confident hosting events then the opportunity to be part of Bb. Pilipinas 2013 came.

Now everytime, I look into the mirror I see the lady in my dream. From a girl who would barely talk to a waiter or go out, I have made a 180 degree shift. The perks of the wallflower are limited only to how much you open up, the social butterfly, however, not only get to fly but make wind as she takes flight. Leaving the shadows and obscurity brought me a lot of blessings, I am richer in a deeper sense. After a year of complete shift, I have earned priceless moments and hundreds of friends. There is nothing to fear in being more sociable but a lot to lose for trying to live alone in an island.

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Dealing with Negativity in Binibining Pilipinas

I know joining Bb. Pilipinas would mean allowing everyone to have a say on your beauty and I am not new to getting negative comments on how I look.

I found out at an early age how most of the Filipinos prefer ladies with fair skin and those who are half blood.

Here are just some of harsh words that some people told me.

1. You are ugly.
2. You don't have the face to make it to a pageant.
3. You look like our maid/katulong.
4. Your teeth is ugly.
5. You look like one of the girls who are out at night looking for foreigners.
6. You will never make it.
7. You are just intelligent, join a quiz bee not a pageant.
8. You are weak and useless.
9. No guy will ever love you.
10. Why did you make it to the final 50 candidates, there are prettier girls than you.

What do I say to them?

I say nothing. I am the type of girl who would never let other's judgment put me down. I have been dealing with negativity since I was young.  After being told I don't have the looks to make it to a pageant, I trained hard and won First Runner Up in Bb. Ormoc 2009. What I do is simple, I use those negativity to push me further up. It makes me work harder and I always see it as a challenge to prove them wrong. The only mistake one can make in this life is to allow people to get the best of you and ruin your life. Always think past the negativity, being positive with yourself and surrounding yourself with the supportive people are the only options to make the most out of life. Be happy, not everyone will like you but make sure to live a life that will make you into someone you yourself will love. Beauty will always be more than a physical attribute. People can judge you on how you look. Beauty from within will always be eternal and it's the kind of beauty that makes this world livable and beautiful. So don't fret and ditch the negativity.

The Magic of Belief

I was just one of those girls who grew up in the Philippines from a simple middle class family. Quite ambitious but lived awkwardly through my teens years. When I was in elementary, I remembered being bullied and laughed at because I went to a private school where almost all the other kids had more than what we had. My parents struggled to pay for our schooling. Day in and day out, I would just look at how the rich kids played with the latest barbie models or how they got new things for school. I would use to go to the lost and found area and scavenge for what was unclaimed. One time, a few kids made fun of me because I didn't know how to play badminton and so I cried and said to myself I will learn and I did. Despite seeing kids play with lavish toys, I found myself more amazed by a small pond where I would try to catch guppies. I was quite content with the things that I had but there was still envy. I wanted to be rich. I wanted to look like a million dollars. I wanted to be everything and more. I remember one dream where I looked into a mirror and I saw a beautiful lady.

When I reached highschool, I saw it as an opportunity to be open to more things close to reality and so I decided to go to a public national highschool. My fascination woth science and english helped a lot. I managed to qualify for special science class. As a teenager, I experienced a sudden change of physique. From the shortest in elementary, I found myself usually at the end of the line. I lived a carefree life and yet I still craved for success and compared myself to others. I knew I could be one of the top students and yet I really didn't care. It was only when our class advisor told me that I was top 5 among our section that I started to work harder and yet I failed to hold on to the belief and never really got any honors.

Time went by so fast that I didn't notice college was already knocking at my doorstep. I had too much fun during college that I never really planned. I ended up taking a nursing degree. Just like highschool I found myself struggling. I barely talked in class and I gave up an opportunity to join an extemporaneous speaking contest because I felt inferior to my classmates. Our university usually holds a pageant among the departments. I was surprised that my advisor said to my classmates that I deserved to represent our year level as Ms. Nursing and yet I didn't believe him. I went to the screening by force and just did my best to not exist and I was voted again during my senior year but the only difference was one of our college coordinator told me face to face how I didn't possess any beauty to win in any pageant. I just kept the hurt to myself.

My first heartbreak came a year graduating. I looked at myself in the mirror and said I will look better and make my ex regret dumping me. I decided to proceed and earn a masters degree. I was 22 and was finished with 30 units when I decided to take the plunge. After years of being told that I have similarities to Miriam Quiambao, I joined my first pageant in my hometown, Ormoc City. I worked hard, gave up rice and did trainings but come coronation night, I doubted myself and flaked out during the last question and answer. I placed first runner-up and I was quite surprised.

Pageants became one of my interests. I went on to joining several ones in hopes of winning titles which I did in some and proving myself that I had beauty. I was so lucky to have people who believed in me. Despite the victories, I felt there was something missing. I saw a Binibining Pilipinas and I remembered how I would watch it everytime it was on tv since I was young and I would dream of wearing a long gown and looking gorgeous on stage.

My 25th birthday came and I said to myself there was no more hope for being a part of Binibining Pilipinas. It was only until Tito Rodgil Flores sent me an sms and asked me if I wanted to train. It was such an honor to find out he believed I could win in Binibining Pilipinas 2013. All those years of doubting myself finally caved in. I realized how I was hungry for appreciation and how I was joining pageants to convince myself I was good enough. I realized I never believed in myself fully and I knew it was the missing ingredient. I never saw the things that the people who believed in me saw how I was extremely positive to others yet unforgiving to myself. I went through periods of quarterlife crisis and it was not yet easy. Training in Kagandahang Flores thought me how powerful the mind can be and how belief in oneself can move mountains. I can only do my best being an official candidate in Binibining Pilipinas 2013.

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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.

Singa is Not Poor

Free trip to Singapore! I was ecstatic and shocked to find out it was one of the perks for being a finalist for Miss Resorts World 2011. Though I travel a lot in cyberspace, I've never left the country! I know right? Such a loser....

It was about 9a.m when we arrived in Singapore, right then and there, I noticed the difference. Their budget terminal looked way organized than our domestic airport. As we rode the bus on our way to the Star Cruise ship, I saw lots of buildings being built. The roads were wide and clean. I felt like I was in a dream. How many of us Pinoys have dreamt of such ideal living conditions?

The Philippines and Singapore, both have been colonized and went through several financial crisis like the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Back then, our economy was doing better than Singapore but why have we fallen in to a bigger hole into the abyss of economic instability? We use our natural resources and we don't put weight on sustainability. Undeniably, the Philippines is probably one of the most lenient when it comes to law implementation unlike Singapore. We abuse the concept of freedom and democracy another reason why our country's situation have been deteriorating for the past decades..When it comes to finding solutions we are living through trial and error which will never help us alleviate present conditions.

What is missing in our country that is in Singapore? I would definitely say majority of the Filipinos lack discipline, foresight and an iron fist. Our stubbornness as a nation will be our downfall. Maybe we have gotten used to second rate or should I say third rate living conditions. I hope not. Vision is what our country needs.

Singa will never be poor because they are driven, disciplined and united. I wish I could say the same thing for our country. If only I can afford to buy every Filipino plane tickets so that they can see that we can actually get more and do more for our country.

We need to wake up and stop living away with our current situation. The Philippines has always been a rich country, if only all of us realize that. There are no poor countries, only poor minds.

The Art of Letting Go

Letting go, one of the most difficult things we all have to face at least once in our lifetime. For us girls, it's really devastating dilemma. We tend to be more emotional than men. The pain experienced by the man maybe magnified a couple of times for a woman.

How do you say goodbye to all the hopes you've put out for that dream? How do you start picking up the pieces? How can you manage to leave everything behind?

I had my share of mistakes and blunders and I can't really  tell if I will still make those in the future. There are lots of years ahead of me and in life nothing is for certain.

When we let go, we give up the possibility. We accept that somethings are never meant to be. No matter how much it hurts, we must swallow the pain that goes along with it. People who never learn to let go will never grow. It is comparable with that of a pupa. If it resists the process of metamorphosis. She will never become a butterfly. The same goes for life. Whether it is going through a family problem, losing a loved one or something important, or being betrayed by someone, we must let go in order for us to grow.

As for me, I'm letting go of my ideals. I'm freeing myself from the notions programmed into me when I was a kid. I'm leaving behind fairy tales. I'm cutting myself away from all the drama. I've done stupid almost unthinkable and even pitiful things in the past just to hang on. I didn't want to feel alone, unloved and useless . I did quite a number of things that a sane stable girl wouldn't do. I don't want to be caught in the cycle. I want to stop obsessing about the norms especially on me being a hopeless romantic. It never did me any good. It just resulted in me getting hurt and disappointed. I'm taking a stand and putting my heart in my sleeve with caution and a renewed faith. Living life the way we should live it by keeping everything real and untarnished by my own delusions and frustrations.

It is in moving on that you allow God to take control. When we let go, we realize our fallibility . It is a courageous act of accepting our destiny. Happiness starts when we let go. Everybody deserves to be happy. We all should learn to let go one way or the other. It's high time that you and I take that little leap of faith. For once, face the unknown and entrust ourselves to God. Letting go is never easy but life same goes for life. It will never be easy, for cowards and for those who continue to live under the sheath of falsity. Hiding under what we perceive as norms is not living life the way it is supposed to be.

We should stand up and walk out of our history.  Besides, letting go isn't the end of world but the beginning of a new life.

Frustration

Lots of questions that linger in my mind...

Lots of whys...

Although I know all the possible answers...

None of it satisfies my mind...

I hate this feeling...

People's fallibility is keeping me from sanity...

Being surrounded by people who say they care about you...

But none of them have a clue of how you're really feeling...

It's hard when friends fail you...

When the one who makes you happy, is also the one whose hurting you...

When you're trapped in a world you can't escape...

Lost in the loneliness this world makes...

Dreaming of something you can never have...

Wishing for an escape that you can't make...

Left in the abyss of supposed happiness that's all fake...

GO VEGETARIAN

Vegetarian Foods: Powerful for Health

World-renowned figures as diverse as philosophers Plato and Nietzsche, political leaders Benjamin Franklin and Gandhi, and pop icons Paul McCartney and Bob Marley have all advocated a vegetarian diet. Science is also on the side of vegetarianism. Multitudes of studies have demonstrated the remarkable health benefits of a vegetarian diet.

“Vegetarian” is defined as avoiding all animal flesh, including fish and poultry. Vegetarians who avoid flesh, but do eat animal products such as cheese, milk, and eggs, are ovo-lacto-vegetarians (ovo = egg; lacto = milk, cheese, etc.). The ranks of those who abstain from all animal products are rapidly growing; these people are referred to as pure vegetarians or vegans. Scientific research shows that health benefits increase as the amount of food from animal sources in the diet decreases, so vegan diets are the healthiest overall.

Preventing Cancer

Vegetarian diets—naturally low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and replete with cancer-protective phytochemicals—help to prevent cancer. Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters.^1-3 In the United States, studies of Seventh-Day Adventists have shown significant reductions in cancer risk among those who avoided meat.^4,5 Similarly, breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in nations, such as China, that follow plant-based diets.6 Interestingly, Japanese women who follow Western-style, meat-based diets are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who follow a more traditional plant-based diet.⁷ Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.

Harvard studies that included tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent.^8,9 High-fat diets also encourage the body’s production of estrogens, in particular, estradiol. Increased levels of this sex hormone have been linked to breast cancer. A recent report noted that the rate of breast cancer among premenopausal women who ate the most animal (but not vegetable) fat was one-third higher than that of women who ate the least animal fat.¹⁰ A separate study from Cambridge University also linked diets high in saturated fat to breast cancer.¹¹ One study linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The process of breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) into galactose evidently damages the ovaries.¹² Daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement. Regular milk consumption doubles the risk and failure to consume vegetables regularly nearly quadruples the risk.¹³

Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and get abundant fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. In addition, blood analysis of vegetarians reveals a higher level of “natural killer cells,” specialized white blood cells that attack cancer cells.¹⁴

Beating Heart Disease

Vegetarian diets also help prevent heart disease. Animal products are the main source of saturated fat and the only source of cholesterol in the diet. Vegetarians avoid these risky products. Additionally, fiber helps reduce cholesterol levels¹⁵ and animal products contain no fiber. When individuals switch to a high-fiber, low-fat diet their serum cholesterol levels often drop dramatically.^16,17 Studies have demonstrated that a low-fat, high-fiber, vegetarian or vegan diet combined with stress reduction techniques, smoking cessation, and exercise, or combined with prudent drug intervention, could actually reverse atherosclerosis—hardening of the arteries.18,19 Heart diets that include lean meat, dairy products, and chicken are much less effective, usually only slowing the process of atherosclerosis.

Lowering Blood Pressure

In the early 1900s, nutritionists noted that people who ate no meat had lower blood pressure.²⁰ They also discovered that vegetarian diets could, within two weeks, significantly reduce a person’s blood pressure.²¹ These results were evident regardless of the sodium levels in the vegetarian diets. People who follow vegetarian diets typically have lower blood pressure.^22-24 No one knows exactly why vegetarian diets work so well, but probably cutting out meat, dairy products, and added fats reduces the blood’s viscosity (or “thickness”) which, in turn, brings down blood pressure.²⁵ Plant products are generally lower in fat and sodium and have no cholesterol at all. Vegetables and fruits are also rich in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure.

Preventing and Reversing Diabetes

Non-insulin-dependent (adult-onset) diabetes can be better controlled and sometimes even eliminated through a low-fat, vegetarian diet along with regular exercise.²⁶ Such a diet, low in fat and high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, allows insulin to work more effectively. The diabetic person can more easily regulate glucose levels. While a vegetarian diet cannot eliminate the need for insulin in people with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, it can often reduce the amounts of insulin used. Some scientists believe that insulin-dependent diabetes may be caused by an auto-immune reaction to dairy proteins.^27,28

Gallstones, Kidney Stones, and Osteoporosis

Vegetarian diets have been shown to reduce one’s chances of forming kidney stones and gallstones. Diets that are high in protein, especially animal protein, tend to cause the body to excrete more calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. These three substances are the main components of urinary tract stones. British researchers have advised that persons with a tendency to form kidney stones should follow a vegetarian diet.²⁹ The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that high animal protein intake is largely responsible for the high prevalence of kidney stones in the United States and other developed countries and recommends protein restriction for the prevention of recurrent kidney stones.³⁰

³¹

For many of the same reasons, vegetarians are at a lower risk for osteoporosis. Since animal products force calcium out of the body, eating meat can promote bone loss. In nations with mainly vegetable diets (and without dairy product consumption), osteoporosis is less common than in the U.S.,even when calcium intake is also less than in the U.S.³² Calcium is important, but there is no need to get calcium from dairy products. For more information on protecting your bones, contact PCRM for additional reference materials or visit www.strongbones.org.

Asthma

A 1985 Swedish study demonstrated that individuals with asthma practicing a vegan diet for a full year have a marked decrease in the need for medications and in the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. Twenty-two of the 24 subjects reported improvement by the end of the year.³³

Common Concerns

Some people still worry about whether a vegetarian diet can provide all essential nutrients. However, it is very easy to have a well-balanced diet with vegetarian foods, since these foods provide plenty of protein. Careful combining of foods is not necessary. Any normal variety of plant foods provides more than enough protein for the body’s needs. Although there is somewhat less protein in a vegetarian diet than a meat-eater’s diet, this is actually an advantage. Excess protein has been linked to kidney stones, osteoporosis, and possibly heart disease and some cancers. A diet focused on beans, whole grains, and vegetables contains adequate amounts of protein without the “overdose” most meat-eaters get.

Calcium is easy to find in a vegetarian diet. Many dark green leafy vegetables and beans are loaded with calcium, and some orange juices, non-dairy “milks,” and cereals are calcium-fortified. Iron is plentiful in whole grains, beans, and fruits.

Vitamin B₁₂

Vitamin B₁₂ is a genuine issue for vegans, although very easy to deal with. Found mainly in animal products, small amounts may be found in plant products due to bacterial contamination.^34,35 However, these plant and fermented foods, such as spirulina, sea vegetables, tempeh, and miso, do not provide an active and reliable source,³⁶ so vitamin B₁₂ must be obtained elsewhere in the diet. Regular intake of vitamin B₁₂ is important to meet nutritional needs. Good sources include all common multiple vitamins (including vegetarian vitamins), fortified cereals, nutritional yeast, and fortified soymilk. It is especially important for pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, and children to get enough vitamin B₁₂.

Special Concerns: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

During pregnancy, nutritional needs increase. The American Dietetic Association has found vegan diets adequate for fulfilling nutritional needs during pregnancy, but pregnant women and nursing mothers should supplement their diets with vitamins B₁₂ and D.³⁶ Most doctors also recommend that pregnant women supplement their diet with iron and folic acid, although vegetarians normally consume more folic acid than meat-eaters.

Vegetarian women have a lower incidence of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy and significantly more pure breast milk. Analyses of vegetarians’ breast milk show that the levels of environmental contaminants in their milk are much lower than in non-vegetarians.³⁷ Studies have also shown that in families with a history of food allergies, when women abstain from allergenic foods, including milk, meat, and fish, during pregnancy, they are less likely to pass allergies onto the infant.³⁸ Mothers who drink milk pass cow antibodies along to their nursing infants through their breast milk. These antibodies can cause colic.

Vegetarian children also have high nutritional needs, but these are met within a vegetarian diet. A vegetarian menu is life extending. As young children, vegetarians may grow more gradually, reach puberty somewhat later, and live substantially longer than do meat-eaters. For more information on these topics, visit www.pcrm.org/health.

Further Reading

For more information on vegetarian diets, PCRM recommends:
• Breaking the Food Seduction, by Neal Barnard, M.D.
• Foods That Fight Pain, by Neal Barnard, M.D.
• Eat Right, Live Longer, by Neal Barnard, M.D.
• Food for Life, by Neal Barnard, M.D.
• The McDougall Plan, by John McDougall, M.D.
• Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, by Dean Ornish, M.D.

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