the one with the flowers and color accents

I went out last Saturday to Tagaytay with Trina and Dennis and it was fun.  I brought my point-and-shoot camera and played with it a little bit.  I’d just like to share some of the pictures here.  So this isn’t my typical post.  Hope you enjoy it!  I’ve just tried some color accents. 

 

 

 

 

the one with life or something like it

I love the movie “Life or Something Like it” not because I am an Angelina Jolie fan.  I loved it because of the lesson and message of the story. 

Anyway here’s my story, I have a different view about death per se. Dying for me is inevitable and since it is something we all end up with, I can say I am not afraid of it. That is setting aside the cause of death because it is entirely a different subject and another issue to discuss. What normal person would like to die in a tragic way like accidents or being murdered?

When I saw the movie this is what I’ve learned. Well, technically I didn’t learn it from the movie. It is just more of validating what I have always believed in.  Life for me is something that we should enjoy.  It’s not about careers, getting famous, or being rich.  It’s about living your life to the fullest.  Being happy and contented with what you have and make the most out of it.

Most of us, we tend to be dissatisfied with what we have.  We start to compare ourselves with others. We find happiness when we are ahead of someone else and consequently, we find miseries when we are behind someone.  There’s no satisfying our hunger for power, material wealth and fame neglecting more often than not the true essence of life.

I came from a middle class family and this is what I have learned from my family and parents.  It’s not the material wealth that can give us the happiness in the world.  It’s not becoming famous or overpowering a pile of men.  It is the love of our family.  It is where the true happiness and contentment comes from.

So you might be thinking why did I start with death and life?  Simply because when we are happy and when we are faced with the 5 stages of death (Denial, Anger, Fear, Depression and Acceptance) you’d passed by the 4 stages because it will be easier for you to accept everything.  If we just live our life while we are alive then we don’t need to pass through every stage of death, we’d directly go straight to the last stage with no regrets.

Most of the time, our outlook and beliefs have a great command of what kind of life we have. Life is what we make it.  We decide on what our lives will become.  Hope I have imparted the lesson of the movie as what the writers have intended it to be.

Here’s a YouTube link of the trailer of the movie.  Enjoy!

 

the one with the Finding Neverland

 

 

Just when I was about to write this post I’ve got distracted by a signal from my yahoo messenger.  Someone whom I wanted to talk or hear from is trying to call me thru the messenger.  Ironically, I’ve been whining (well I didn’t actually whine, I’ve just accepted the fact that he isn’t into me as simple as that).  The realization was clear even before but after I have been reminded of the book that I’ve once read “He’s just not that into you” and the movie of the same title, I’ve totally lost the very little hope that I have.

Well a little backgrounder on this, this person will be coming home for 5 days and he promised me that we’d meet for dinner of some sort when he arrives.  Then a week or two ago, I have heard from his friend that he’ll arrive on July 9^th and that got me thinking that how come he hasn’t been contacting me yet.

To cut the story short and based on the movie, if he really wants to call me regardless of how busy he is, he’d make time to contact me.  No matter how screwed up his schedule is he’ll try to find ways to reach me.  Everything seems logical and I don’t want to be too hopeful and end up so disappointed.  So, I stopped believing.  I let go.

 

Anyway, this week end I set aside my puzzle and decided to watch movies instead.  I’ve got a collection of movies that I haven’t even checked if they are in good condition.  After checking the condition, the next question is what movie to watch first.  Choice ranges from drama to love story to science fiction to adventure. 

Then my brother Jejo helped me picked a movie and we’ve decided to have a Kate Winslet Film Festival.  We’ve started with “The Reader” and our second movie was “Finding Neverland”.  Unfortunately, I missed the “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” to complete the film festival.

When watching movies, I’ve always try to put myself in the characters’ shoes.  I try to feel what they feel.  I try to imagine myself being in the same situation.  And that’s what Finding Neverland is.  Where will our imagination take us?  Books and movies, stories bring us to alternate futures, places that we may not even reach unimaginable things that are so true… infinite and limitless, and no boundaries.  But this may only be achieved if we believe.  The power to explore these things is in our minds, the power to make these things possible is in our hearts.

So got me wondering, does this only happens when we are in love?  Are these those things that we do when we are in love?  Are these only possible when we are in love?

But one thing I’m sure of that I’ve learned about this movie is the power to believe and how important believing is.  Regardless of what situation we are in, this shouldn’t stop us from believing.  If we just explore every possibility without thinking of any limitation and put our heart into it, nothing will stop it from happening.  Always remember:  Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution.

 

the one with the sunrise

Over a year ago when I’ve started blogging I planned to post pictures of sunrise to officially signify the start of my writing endeavor but I failed since I was having a hard time waking up in the morning.

Then lately I started to focus on jogging ang running since I really wanted to run a marathon and for me to do that being an obsessive compulsive person I tried doing my ‘on-my-own’ training program with the help of some internet research of course.

I took the opportunity that we live almost 200 meters away from the beach and seeing the beach will be a good motivation for me.  I am even considering doing a triathlon if my health permits me to do so later on.

This week end was my 4^th training week and I can’t believe that I have been doing this for a month.  Actually, I have noticed improvement in my jogging skills already.  Before I’d easily feel a little panting after 30 seconds of running today I can go for a 45 to 60 seconds without gasping for too much air.  Another achievement is I have also developed an appetite.  Jogging tires me a lot and sipping coffee and eating a heavy breakfast is such a consolation.  And I’m counting on more improvements in the coming days.  I’ll keep you posted on the developments, of course!

Then this Saturday, after I have added a new route last week, I have discovered the opportunity to take pictures of the sunrise.  And I have decided to capture it and of course, it’d be a silly concept if I wouldn’t share it with you.

So, here are some of the pictures that I’ve taken yesterday so you’d have an idea why I find jogging a very worthwhile activity and why I am so looking forward to it lately.  By the way, I’d like to thank the God of Sun for not letting it rain the whole week end morning!

 

 

 

 

 

the one with the proper exercise

 

I never really expected that running will be something that I’d truly enjoy! 

I am not a well disciplined person, too.  Well, I do get up early in the morning on week days because of work.  But the week ends is the only time I try to compensate the whole week’s stress. 

And lately, for the last three weeks I’ve found myself waking up at around 5 in the morning regardless of what time I’ve slept the night before.  Plus, I do actually look forward to week ends not only because of the rest but because it’s the time where I can jog with my parents.

So I got myself thinking last Sunday if the exercise before and after run that I am doing is the prescribed or proper way of doing it.  (FYI, I really find my jog a little awkward and silly.  If you are a FRIENDS fan imagine the episode where Phoebe and Rachel run together, I look like a little like Phoebe minus the hands.  Maybe, I’m just exaggerating or something but I really find myself silly.  But what the heck, that wouldn’t stop from running)

Anyway, I’d just like to share this post from the web where I got all the ideas on the proper way of warming up and cooling down.  Click here for the link.

By the way, tomorrow I’ll try to bring my camera when I jog so I can also share the beautiful sunrise in the morning in our local province of Cavite.  Happy reading!

 

All of your runs should start with a warm-up and end with a cool down. Why are they so important? A good warm-up dilates your blood vessels, ensuring that your muscles are well supplied with oxygen. It also raises your muscles’ temperature for optimal flexibility and efficiency. By slowly raising your heart rate, the warm-up also helps minimize stress on your heart when you start your run.

Just as critical, the cool down keeps the blood flowing throughout the body. Stopping suddenly can cause light-headedness because your heart rate and blood pressure drop rapidly. Winding down slowly allows them to fall gradually.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5-10 minutes for warm-up; 5-10 minutes for cool down

 

Here’s How:

It’s not a good idea to stretch cold muscles, so don’t start with stretching. Do about 5-10 minutes of light aerobic exercise to loosen up your muscles and warm you up for your run. Try walking briskly, jogging slowly, or cycling on a stationary bike. Make sure you don’t rush your warm-up.

Begin your run. Don’t start out racing, but instead jog slowly and gradually build up your speed.

After you finish your run, cool down by walking or slowly jogging for 5 to 10 minutes.

Stretch fully after your cool down. Your body should be warm and stretching should be easy.

Stretch your lower back, neck, calves, quadriceps, hamstrings and groin area. Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

Tips:

Never bounce while stretching. Hold still on each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

Perform each stretch one to three times.

A stretch should never feel like you’re hurting yourself. If it hurts, stop that stretch immediately.