mind mapping

i first heard about mind maps when i joined a creative writing class. got further involved in it when i entered the wonderful word of advertising. then somehow forgot (or should i say neglected) the whole process when i embarked on another adventure.

as fate must have had it though, i cannot and should not escape from the wonders of mind mapping. the whole process has come back to haunt me!! (again) - this time, in the form of a book. i haven't exactly read the whole thing yet when a bright idea hit. i can and should initiate a new way of reading:

read. reflect & share. write.

love & respect

there's this blog that i really like going to for the sole reason that the writer has such great insights. she writes from the heart and she endorses only those which she herself has tried or experienced.

as i was going through her page one day, i saw her list of must read books for 2009. they were so interesting that i looked back at her archives, opened her must read books for 2008 and started jotting down all those that i found inspiring as well. to date, i have purchased the followings books for myself:

.

the last of which, i have yet to finish BUT i must admit, has already helped me slowly build and improve myself as a person and as a part of other people's lives.

love and respect. simple words yet they mean so much - these words when perfected can lead to bliss, peace and the knowledge that no matter what happens, the commitment to be with another will prevail. of course, it's not a guarantee of serenity nor a sword cast in stone that everything will work out until the very end but it is an assurance to both / all parties involved that their relationship is not a fleeting thing. it's a friendship. it's a relationship that's valuable and worth fighting for.

breathing time

have you ever felt that the world's running too fast? that everyone's rushing to and fro with their levels of energy and mood swings swinging high, low, high, low, high, low, high, low - like a pendulum going out of control? i have and i've seen such circumstance take a toll on others and most especially, myself. the changes started little by little, then they grew... how i wish that i was and am always graceful in dealing and reacting to all that was and is being thrown at me. but lo and behold, being the human that i am, i had and have my own interpretation of how it is to be dr. jekyll and ms. hyde. scary times.

thankfully, the toxicity of every day has slowly lessened this week and i've been blessed with a bit of "down" time. most of my work have been cast in, so now it's all a matter of working a bit and then waiting for them to roll out and meet the deadlines set. so yes, there's a bit of time for me to stop and smell the roses. oh the beauty of it! just sitting down and working while being on a not harassed state!

lunch time's around the corner and i can't wait to eat in the manner i used to before - slowly... enjoying every morsel, every bite. hmmm... come to think of it, no wonder i was pretty thin back then! hehe ;)

bon appetit mes amis!

sinfully sweet

yesterday was y's birthday. t bought her a cake and gave us some... it was super duper good!! i loved how the icing was real fudgy and had loads of m&m's on it :) yummy!! now i wish that i had taken a photo before we devoured the thing! hehe!

fudge-y chocolate cake from Xocolat. sinfully sweet. like that thing called love (excuse the mushiness but it's valentine's month anyway so there). love love love love love. love is in the air! and it always makes me feel happy and giddy when i see acts of love.

the boys are all grown up now (talking like a mother eh?!) and it makes me happy and proud to see that they've grown into such fine gentlemen. they treat their ladies well and if i may say so, make them feel like real life princesses! who would have thought that these crazy boys of mine, whom i used to play "house" and barbie dolls (hush hush now! hehe!) with will someday morph into these romeos who woo their juliet's with flowers, chocolate delights and more importantly, respect, friendship and love.

oh such a wonderful wonderful wonderful feeling this is - knowing that my loved ones have learned how it is not just to be loved, but to love as well ;)

happy hearts month to all :)

it's that month of the year again where hearts abound and everyone's rushing off to anything and everything bright, shiny red and love depicting. fancy candlelight dinners, overflowing bouquets, boxes and boxes of exquisite chocolates! but are these really what love is all about? are these better testaments of love as compared to other things - spending time, giving a little hug, a little kiss, a warm embrace perhaps?

i used to be in awe of the grand gestures - tangent and very visible professions of love. but as i grew older (and hopefully wiser), i have come to realize that the truest and purest form of love can be seen in the little things. the giving of time - even just a minute or two everyday. surprise calls and emails that wish one well with hints of bountiful hugs and kisses. sudden embraces, snuggling and butterfly kisses on top of one's head while walking. little, simple yet totally surprising acts that makes one feel oh so special and oh so loved!

love love love love love. let's make the world go round and real worthwhile by showing just how great it is to experience how it is to love and be loved!