Purposeful Lunch

Yesterday, I ate lunch with my helper at a restaurant near home. We ordered simple brunch fare with cuppa for me and some bottomless iced tea for her. We enjoyed our meal as it was a change of scenery and I believe that the simplest moments are made memorable with delicious food. 

People ask me why I often go out with my helper. She’s part of the family and she gets to eat whatever we are blessed to enjoy. I am privileged to have extra time and resources to share with my helper. It also builds trust and keeps me updated with her life. 

Please treat your helpers like family. Spend time with them, and take them out for a meal or two. You will get loyalty and sincere concern in return.  

Passing It On

I received a thank you card from my World Vision sponsored child. J is now a teenager, and she’s an honor student. I am proud of my girl, and sponsoring her has given me a sense of purpose through the years. Even if jobhunting and freelance work has been challenging, I still feel determined because my advocacy for child sponsorship has given my earnings more significance. 

Twelve years of child sponsorship has given me an appreciation for my work, blessings, and voice. I am thankful to have made an impact in a child’s life. She inspires me to continue job hunting and writing stories. She may be thanking me for a gift that I sent to her last Christmas, but I’m really the grateful one. Because of her, I am motivated to create a better life for myself, so that I can continue sharing my blessings with her.  

I hope that you will also consider child sponsorship with World Vision today! 

Closet Cleanup

Yesterday, I cleaned my room and edited my closet. I ended up donating 8 bags of old clothes to H&M for recycling.  

I got 15% discount vouchers for regular items in exchange for my clothes (note: I also donated a similar amount of clothes to another charity). 

Cleaning out my closet has allowed me to focus on what I use on the regular. I also got to buy new pairs of jeans using the voucher and the gift certificate that I got for another store.  

May 2019 be a well-edited year that’s light on my being and good for my soul.  

Diane & Jude

Yesterday was Diane’s tenth death anniversary. I celebrated this milestone by visiting her vault.  

This time, I “brought” the whole gang with me by posing with our group photo.  

I knitted while I was there.  

And I crocheted too. 

Since it was a Thursday, I proceeded to St. Jude afterwards. 

I got to have my new St. Joseph pendant blessed.  

And I got to pray for my special intentions during the novena. 

Lastly, I got to chat a bit with Ate Nagie, the artisan behind my crocheted tumbler sling. If you also crochet, you know that this chunky nylon requires a 4mm or higher. She has been using a 2.5mm hook for years to make her slings. I let her try my 5.5mm and 4.0mm spare hooks. She liked the 4.0mm hook better and I let her have it so she can have a comfier time crafting. 

It doesn’t take much to share what we have. Whether it’s time for a late loved one, or sharing extra notions, there is always a way to make things better. 

Blood Donation # 4

Yesterday, I was in Ortigas for a meeting. It was fruitful, and I missed walking around my favorite business district. 

It was a lovely afternoon, so I proceeded to The Medical City to donate blood. Once again, please be reminded that you have to be cleared by your doctor first before donating blood. Please consult your health professional before doing so.  

It was quick and relatively painless. And I do this because I want to give back in my own little way. 

As always, I was given free merienda and was asked to rest for about thirty minutes before being cleared to leave.  

There will always be a chance for us to help out, even if it’s only a small gesture. At some point in our lives, we were the ones in need. Please consider donating blood. Information can be searched online, particularly in your nearby hospitals or Red Cross chapter. God bless you!

ADB Transport Forum Day 3

Yesterday, I attended the last day of the Transport Forum 2018 at the ADB. I learned that people should see transport as more than just a means to go from point A to point B- it is actually the way to ensure that we are all able to show up to improve our lives and achieve sustainable development in the region. So aside from enjoying the delectable food and crocheting during the panels, I did absorb all the points presented by the speakers from the different fields in the development sector. I was fortunate to have been part of this event along with my high school friend Luane from UP Diliman. I hope to join more similar events in the future, and that I could also contribute to furthering the cause of sustainability in my own small way.