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The Sunday Currently, v6

Published by Justine

I am actually cheating because it’s hardly Sunday anymore.. but I made the big mistake of sleeping at 6pm as soon as I got home from a children’s party and woke up just a little bit before midnight. It would be an ideal scenario if I didn’t have work on a Monday morning but here I am, typing away. I’m gonna try a different approach to this entry and make it a bit more comprehensive than usual, and only answering the ones that make the most sense and are the most applicable given the current situation.

READING
Tasks on my project management tool and work emails to prepare for later. I never thought I’d become one of those people who would be so addicted to work but look at me. I guess it also helps that you actually like what you do, so you don’t really mind at the end of the day. Maybe I should remove my work email from my phone so I stop checking shit all the time. Seriously.

WRITING
To-dos and prioritizing which tasks to do for later. See how much of a boring person I’ve become once the clock strikes 12 on a work week?

LISTENING
It takes a whole lot of me to become a fan of cover artists. I know, this is coming from someone who makes cover mixtapes for fun but when it comes to YouTube artists, I am extremely picky and overly critical of cover artists. Thirdstory came up on my feeds a few weeks ago and it’s annoying how they only have 2 videos on their YouTube channel because they are so good. Raw, soulful, unique talent oozing out of each and every one of the three guys. This is the kind of cover artists I love to listen to.. the ones who can offer something new to the table and make a solo song sound good sung by more than a solo voice. I hope they go far and wide.

I have also been stalking their Instagram and they have a couple of snippets from their shows and rehearsals and OF COURSE they did Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide. I would love to see a full version of this.

THINKING
About how I’ll wake up later. It’s almost 3am and I am not close to sleepy yet. I have some tasks to do at 9am and a meeting at 10. I hope I don’t get screwed by my screwed up body clock. The weekend was great and this is how I have to pay for this. I’m trying hard not to think about many things outside of work because overthinking usually doesn’t end well with me.

WISHING / HOPING
For good health and my period to arrive. I am at my wits end with this PCOS shit. I’m meeting a new OBGYN this week and I hope everything goes well. I may even resort to taking pills now.. bring it on, medical therapy? Shit. I am not excited but if this is going to fix my junk of a reproductive system, then so be it.

Let’s Get It On, 2015

Published by Justine

It’s already the start of February and I have yet to lay out my goals for 2015. I was reading this tweet that said January lasted for a good 3 minutes and somehow I agree! There are days that seem so long but the next thing you know it’s the end of the month, or worse.. the end of the year.

41. What do you want the overarching theme for your 2015 to be?
Finance discipline. Money management. Money matters. Right now it’s not going as well as I hoped, but I guess I won’t beat myself too much over it because I did just sign up for two investment plans so it’s not entirely a failure on my part. Just can’t help those impulses, you know? Especially when you see pretty and shiny things even though they are a product of looking into a computer/tablet/phone for far too long. I am the ultimate consumer.

42. What do you want to see, discover, explore?
More of the Philippines. I know I said this last year, but I still have not gone beyond Visayas. I have a Camiguin trip this March and I hope that expands to more local trips. I want to go to Palawan, Siargao, and Surigao. Notice the trend? I love the beach.

43. Who do you want to spend more time with in 2015?
This is going to be a bit selfish of me, but I feel like I spend equal time with people who are worth my time. I like to think I have a good balance between spending time with friends, family and myself. Of course not counting geography into the picture. To get to the point, if ever someone decides to come along this year, let’s spend time, okay?

44. What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?
The answer to this burning question goes back to #41. Anything that has to do with being financially disciplined, count me in!

45. Which personal quality do you want to develop or strengthen?
I will go ahead and lay out all my cards here. I may be extremely #blessed with friends and family but I am not with relationships. I am that running cliche of a person who gives great relationship advice but can’t even maintain a single romantic relationship with eyes open. I have no romantic vein in me from the outside but I have all the love to give, really. It’s the case of the cynical romantic. What I’m saying is, I’d like to develop and strengthen that personal quality of being able to show how I really feel and not just be a ball of expectations. I don’t even want to elaborate further because this is so close to making me cringe already. Feelings? Psshhh.

46. What do you want your everyday life to be like?
I’ve just taken on a new job, so I’d like my sleep cycle to be more uniform. More yoga!

47. Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of?
Those who know me the most know I have some mental issues to work on. It’s still a slippery slope, but I have never lost hope even though recovery seems bleak at times. Thinking about changing it or getting rid of it is already giving me jitters because the fear has been such a huge part of my life that parting with it feels like it won’t ever be permanent and will just come back and cripple me again eventually. Sucks, but I recognize it.

48. What do you want to achieve career-wise?
Will work on learning how to leave my inhibitions and gradually, slowly, surely rise up from being a corporate bitch. As much as possible I’d like to start my own firm already, but it takes guts and glory and those two, I’m not quite there yet. Some people are born leaders and entrepreneurs, and then there’s me. I hope at least 2015 will be that stepping stone for me to start getting things done.

49. How do you want to remember the year 2015 when you look back on it 10/20/50 years from now?
I just want to look back and laugh off feeling extremely old turning 27. Yikes.

50. What is your number one goal for 2015?
Financial discipline. I will be consistent with this. Time to minimize the squandering.

The Sunday Currently, v5

Published by Justine

Can’t believe it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these things! A year, to be EXACT. What a coincidence.. and I didn’t even plan for it to be that way. I was just reading my previous one and I realized, wow a lot of things came true. How my friends visited me, how I changed my iPhone, watched That Awkward Moment shortly after that entry, had a good trip to Jakarta last December, actually working on my money matters and how some things never change because I STILL am wearing my old Victoria’s Secret tee and polka dot shorts which was THE EXACT same thing I was probably wearing last year. Entry in a bit! I’m on time too because it’s exactly an hour before Monday comes through.

Reading my previous Sunday Currently! You’ll see what I mean. I’m also reading This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz. It’s a fairly short book, but I’m taking a long time to wrap it up because I’ve been very busy the past week.

Writing this entry and rediscovering my old listography, and I feel like it’s so nice to have some stuff to look back to so I’ve decided to document some things this year and rediscovering old favorites.

Listening to Katy B’s A Broken Record. This song will always be one of my favorite songs of all time.

Thinking about a certain person or activity that is definitely not worth my time.

Wishing for this week to be a good one. I can feel it to be a very busy week, with all the work I have waiting for me.

Hoping for my packages to arrive already! I have a few of YS shoes, a couple of Colourpop Lippie Stix, a humidifier and 40 Days of Dating from The Book Depository coming up and I am very impatient and excited.

Wearing polka dot lady boxers and an old Victoria’s Secret tee.

Loving my chill Sunday at home. It’s been a pretty crazy past couple of weekends.

Wanting to get in touch with a certain person again. I need to stop taking things for granted sometimes.

Needing a nice warm hug. It’s a very breezy Sunday night.

Feeling bloated. I had Jafar’s for dinner. Missing it was an understatement because it was my 2014 happy food. It’s been a while!

The original Sunday Currently appeared here.

2014 Year In Review, Part II

Published by Justine

21. What was your most common mental state this year (e.g. excited, curious, stressed)?
Anxious but resilient.

22. Was there anything you did for the very first time in your life this year?
I didn’t go out of the country for a span of 12 months. I even thought 2014 would be the first year in about 20 something years that I wouldn’t get to travel. Somehow, I was fine with it.

23. What was your favourite moment spent with your friends?
MY BIRTHDAY WEEK! Beach, mountains, beach again, island hopping, my birthday dinner, parties. I was probably the most blessed in this category.

24. What major goal did you lay the foundations for?
Financial discipline. I’m past 25, I need to start taking my finances seriously.

25. Which worries turned out to be completely unnecessary?
Worries about how I will get through the day/week/month/year.

26. What experience would you love to do all over again?
MY BIRTHDAY WEEK WITH JAKARTA FRIENDS. Sand, sun, beach, fun, the water, food, friendship, love. And so much more.

27. What was the best gift you received?
My Jakarta friends all flying out to Cebu, my mom being cancer-free for the 6th year in a row, makeup and clothes and so many shoes. My weakness. My neon Roshes from my aunt.

28. How did your overall outlook on life evolve?
I don’t think it evolved drastically, but I learned just to appreciate what I have despite people telling me I could do better.

29. What was the biggest problem you solved?
I don’t think I solve a lot of “big problems”. This would have to relate to work or something of the sort. Otherwise, I was busy solving little problems in hopes of them not getting any bigger.

30. What was the funniest moment of your year, one that still makes it hard not to burst out laughing when you think about it?
Damn. This is hard. I laughed a lot this year.

31. What purchase turned out to be the best decision ever?
My iPhone 5s.

32. What one thing would you do differently and why?
I would have made the first move.

33. What do you deserve a pat on the back for?
For just getting through each day. I have a lot to be thankful for and there are days that is overlooked by my internal demons.

34. What activities made you lose track of time?
Partying! My Korean variety shows and reading.

35. What did you think about more than anything else?
“Will I ever find someone?” Not even gonna lie. “How am I gonna get home?” also tops this list.

36. What topics did you most enjoy learning about?
I enjoyed work a lot and how big companies work after being a part of one.

37. What new habits did you cultivate?
Nothing that particularly made a huge impact.

38. What advice would you give your early-2014 self if you could?
You should have laid out the cards even if it meant destroying you.

39. Did any parts of your self or your life do a complete 180 this year?
Fortunately and unfortunately, no. That was reserved for 2012 and 2013. 2014 was all about stability.

40. What or who had the biggest positive impact on your life this year?
My sister. Even though we have our differences.

2014 Year In Review, Part I

Published by Justine

I came across this blog entry a few weeks ago when I was looking for posts to write on introspect and retrospect about how my 2014 went. I feel like it went by too quick that I needed to write down things I felt, things I experienced and memories that came with it. Into-Mind is such a great blog as well, I’ve been following its points on minimalism and how to simplify life bit by bit and just being conscious with my approach.

I’m going to divide this series into 3 entries. This is Part I, then another set of 20 questions for Part II, and finally the last 10 questions that I will answer about how I want my 2015 to be. I’m looking forward to it.

1. What one event, big or small, are you going to tell your grandchildren about?
I’m going to tell my grandchildren that I grew up with the best possible group of friends and that it is possible to maintain great friendships for up to 20 years! Also, that I got to swim with whale sharks for the 3rd time in my life.

2. If you had to describe your 2014 in 3 words, what would they be?
Fast. Awesome. Memorable.

3. What new things did you discover about yourself?
I discovered that I was (still am) able to say no to things I didn’t want to do and that’s definitely okay.

4. What single achievement are you most proud of?
Knowing what I want (or what I don’t) and sticking to that decision.

5. What was the best news you received?
My Jakarta best friends visiting Cebu for my birthday weekend actually happening, and my mom being cancer free for another year (that’s the 6th year in a row now!).

6. What was your favourite place that you visited in 2014?
I was just glad to be in Cebu; with my family complete, my best friends, people who made my year. Jakarta also takes a spot and it was such a bittersweet visit with the whole time vs memories thing. I also visited quite a few beautiful places last year that involves a lot of Vitamin Sea.

7. Which of your personal qualities turned out to be the most helpful this year?
The positive front that I put out. I feel like it actually yields favorable results.

8. Who was your number one go-to person that you could always rely on?
My sister Jana. Despite our differences (and similarities), she is always there for me. ALWAYS.

9. Which new skills did you learn?
I learned the whole app submission thing! I learned the basics of app development for Android and iOS and learned how to submit an app to Play Store and iTunes Connect. It was actually a very fun and rewarding experience.

10. What, or who, are you most thankful for?
I am most thankful to my parents for always understanding and supporting me all throughout. Cliche, I know.. but it’s true.

11. If someone wrote a book about your life in 2014, what kind of genre would it be? A comedy, love story, drama, film noir or something else?
Funny, I’d like for it to be an autobiography or self-help; based on some “issues” I struggle with.

12. What was the most important lesson you learnt in 2014?
If people love you, they will pull through for you.

13. Which mental block(s) did you overcome?
I did a blog challenge last year, which re-kindled my love for writing and sort of “cured” my being at a loss for words most of the time when it came to blogging.

14. What 5 people did you most enjoy spending time with?
This is too difficult to narrow down so I’ll make it into a group.

Work – Mich, Miming 🙂
Chill/Party – Matt, Juna, #TeamYolo, #TeamSpntns
Shopping – Noemi, Jana
Vacation – FAMKADA, FAMBAM

That totals to about more than 20 people, if you think of it.

15. What was your biggest break-through moment career-wise?
I have yet to find out.

16. How did your relationship to your family evolve?
Better. It’s something I can never complain about because it’s so good. Although there has been underlying pressure from them to settle down that’s been coming up quite a few times recently.

17. What book or movie affected your life in a profound way?
I would say Haruki Murakami’s Tsukuru Tazaki. It was simply written with a beautiful story and a lot of symbolism.

18. What was your favourite compliment that you received this year?
Classy. I don’t really see myself as a classy person.

19. What little things did you most enjoy during your day-to-day life?
Catching up with my favorite Korean variety shows, because I feel like I never get the time to anymore!

20. What cool things did you create this year?
I created friendships with fun people who made my year colorful. This being my 3rd year in Cebu and starting from scratch on the social front, I was really grateful that 2014 was the year I forged friendships.