...food for the brain and soul

my sister, ate ging's favorite book is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.. I think i've ATTEMPTED to read this book at least 3 times.. try reading the first few chapters of the book and you'll understand.. (it's confusing) anyway, when i was assigned to ORTIGAS agency last friday, i brought a book with me since I would be staying (read: tambay) there for tech support and the 4 Agreements book was pretty small and was the only book that would fit my teeny bag.. I decided to skip the chapters that were slowing me down and went on to the The First Agreement chapter.. I'm not notorious in doing that, in fact, i always read every single word in every book (unlike my sister chary who skips the boring parts) but this time, i'm verrrry glad that i did skip it 'cause I would be missing A LOT now... I just would like to share what i've read..

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
1. BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

... this is probably the hardest agreement among the 4.. it's so fun to gossip and easy to be rude.. I keep forgetting about this one.. I'm still trying my very best though..

2. DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to to the opinions and and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

... i know i should know this, but just reading it and realizing it makes all the difference... even if someone said to me, "i hate you!".. it's not REALLY ME! it still has something to do with their own life, their own experiences, their own expectations that made the person say that.. so as cher says,...WHATEVER.

3. DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as you can do avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With this just one agreeement, you can completely transform your life.

... i did this just last week, when the company not be named called Raymond first.. I freaked out! I locked myself in the CR and I totally became melodramatic.. then when i went back to my desk, Raymond told me that the HR head called while i was out.. turns out I too was scheduled for an interview.. so there, lesson learned. no more drama for me... and It applies to ANY situation.. stop the drama until you really know the facts.

4. ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
Your best is going to change from moment to moment, it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

... i hope you guys find these 4 agreements as liberating as I do.. already, i'm feeling it.. feeling the effects, just by following just 1 agreement, it made me feel free and alive again.. sounds too good to be true, right? just try it.. you won't lose anything in trying..

good luck to us!!

ps.
just bought One Tree Hill's - OST.. i absolutely loooove Gavin Degraw... and Yey to Carrie!!! can't believe I like COUNTRY now.. who would've thought.. (i'm still buying Bo's CD, if ever...)

...nerve-wrecking week

1. LIPS (Life Insurance Planning System) training and development - this has been one of my LONGEST projects so far.. TG, it's almost over
2. Got a call from .. I'm still keeping it a secret, I don't want to jinx my application. I'm scheduled for interview this Friday, already took the exam, (TG I passed) so hopefully, this is it! BTW, it's not Accenture..
3. The other system, FIS (Field Information System) deadline is also at the end of the month.. one of my one-man team programs
4. It's AI finals week! Who would it be? Carrie or Bo? already heard their songs at rickey.org.. I'm not especially rooting for anyone in particular.. I happen to like both Carrie and Bo..

I'll post next time.. hopefully I'll be giving good news by then..

Bye! wish me luck!!

..yahoo!

carrie vs bo in the finals. yahoooeeyy!!!

p.s.
i get all my Idol mp3s at this site

...breaking news (at least for us)

My post last May 10, 2004:

I received a text message from my Dad.. it said:

Your search is over! 800k house and lot, ang ganda ng view. 200 sq.meters.

Obviously we're now looking for a place of our own.. It's so difficult to look for the perfect place.. everything's either super small or super expensive.. It's a BIG, BIG deal that Pangs agreed to live in Antipolo.. meh business plan na nga kami eh.. ang bibilin naming van eh yung pwede kaming magsakay ng mga 8 people from COGEO to Makati para pambawi sa parking and gas..hehe.. anyway, back to the place.. overlooking pa daw sabi ni Daddy.. tapos meh 2 fruit trees, mangga tsaka langka na ang daming bunga..there's a livable house (2 bedrooms and a big bathroom) and did i mention the cheap price of 800k for the 200 square meter house and lot? it's perfect for us, just the right size with the right price..it's so exciting, i can't hardly wait to see it this Sunday..

Pangs and I also went to Ayala Westgrove last, last week and it was simply beautiful there! Every house was unique and stylish and creatively designed that I couldn't really decide which one was my favorite..It's a good thing that Pangs and I went there.. It inspired us even more so that we would work harder so we could achieve all our dreams.. It all sounds terribly mushy but there's really no other way to say it.. We're making it our lifelong goal to build a vacation/retirement house there..sabi nga nila, hindi naman masamang mangarap.. kaya dream big!

i also bought my first household item.. 15 wooden hangers.. hahaha.. i'm taking Carson's advice (of Queer Eye)..goodbye to metal hangers! i bought them for only 88 bucks for 5 pieces 'cause it was on sale in DIY at Gateway..I'm freaking out 'cause I'm freaking out for a bunch of hangers... I guess this comes with age, hehe

Regarding our wedding preparations.. we're trying to find all sorts of ways to cut down the cost so we could still have some money left over.. (we now have 119,785.54k! yey!) I got rid of my disposable wedding cameras plan since we're already paying A HUGE amount for photos..my arch (huhuh, lol!)..and 10k off the budget for photo video.. we were able to talk to Jaime Elizaga (the photographer, the one with the 35k package..2 photographers and 1 videographer) and asked him if how much would the package cost if we were to do the layouting,the overrated digital storybook layout..and he said just 30k plus he'll throw in a mini-album! super saya! 5k din yun dibuh? we'll meet him this saturday to see the albums.. yehey!

it's a hectic month (more so than usual) 'cause the project we've been slaving for months is soon to be deployed and the end of the month.. plus our saturdays are all packed (meeting the caterer, photographer and the program deployment) so I'm I'm feeling a bit harassed..nothing unmanageable, but still, I feel like I'm always tired..

I'll write soon! bye all!


p.s.
Happy Birthday tomorrow Sis Joy! hope you enjoy your day!!

p.s.s.
thanks soooo much for leaving your comments. it always makes my day when any of my friends leave comments in my blogs..TY!! (hint,hint Ria)


p.s.s.s
Good luck Ruth sa rituals! Kayang-kaya mo yan! kung nakayanan mong mabugbog ni Sharon, mas kakayanin mo na yan! hehehe!