I Stay

Oh how it's so true...

When you're young and way below the working age, you have alot of energy and time yet very little money.

As you have your career, you have more money and still the energy yet less time.

But as you age, you most likely have the money from your hard work, yet lack time and the energy.

I belong to that middle stage. I just realized that over a month has passed since my last post. Can't seem to do much during workdays. With much, I mean to write whenever there's a topic that I think of. But I so seldom get the chance. Weekends would be far too compressed with "watchables" and "readables" as well as personal and other activities or events with family, loved ones and friends. Anyway, the urge to write has always been there. And the important thing is to write when you're into it rather than blabber about less meaningful stuff as what I've read from a popular blogger's article.

What I am to write about is something that's been at the back of my mind for some time now. I'm not quite sure how to put it in such a way that I get a correct understanding yet the need surpasses that.

How different are people as things are here on earth? Have you ever wondered so?

Yet we are born different just so we learn to see and better appreciate plenty of similarities we have if we just let ourselves, instead of focusing on how we are different from each other.

Ever since I was a child, I haven't heard from someone in my religion so much compared from that of another. On the contrary, a priest once mentioned in his homily how if it will make a person have a closer relationship with God and a better person, then let him be. And that if two children from the opposite tribes for example want to be friends then let them have it their way. Never as opposing as the others are but with the hopes of uniting instead of dividing.

Now, I have the respect for other's beliefs. But please, rather than so obviously trying to sway someone in this already confused world, just be good in your own God-fearing way and noone's judging you for it. At least not from where I come from.

Let a man do something on his own accord and not with the influence of promising better things which only God Himself can truly give. United we stand, divided we fall. Have a blessed Sunday.

The Respectable Modern Filipina

Here in the Philippines, women are known to be conservative. Is it still true nowadays or no longer?

Most these present times think that being modern means becoming more liberated and influenced by the western culture which is a wrong notion. Embarking on fashion trends, is it not something you can call modernistic? But that doesn't mean that skimpier clothes are better or that girls are excused from no longer practicing delicadeza. And, more and more women becoming leaders is yet another modern change.
  
“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes"; They will say, "Women don't have what it takes".”

This Women's Month, every woman should be reminded of their role to remain proper not only for their family and loved ones but for themselves most especially. Empowerment will only follow after the respect that other people give if you are deserving of it. Knowing your limits and not thinking that doing something you are uncertain of is acceptable just because everyone seems to be doing it is the right mindset.

NAIA Terminal 3 to Smart Araneta Coliseum

Here's a quick guide on how to get to Smart Araneta Coliseum from NAIA Terminal 3:

1) Go outside the airport and head to Bay 8 (see number on airport posts). It is where shuttle buses arrive to pick up passengers heading to Taft Avenue Station and other nearby destinations.

2) Line up and wait for the next bus arriving every 15 minutes. Flat rate is P20.

(Another option is to take a metered taxi - you have to go up to the 2nd floor: area outside airline check-in counters or yellow taxi - located in the area just behind the one designated for the shuttle buses.)

3) When you see The Heritage Hotel and Copacabana, it means you are near the train station. Don't worry, it's the shuttle bus' drop-off point.

4) After disembarking, look for the stairs leading to the station. You'll see directions, keep going. Take the MRT. It will take you to Araneta-Cubao station. Fare is P14.

5) Including Taft Station, you'll pass by 9 stations* before you arrive at Cubao.

* Taft Avenue > Magallanes > Ayala > Buendia > Guadalupe > Boni > Shaw Boulevard > Ortigas > Santolan

Based on personal experience, it took 30 minutes to get to Araneta. Fast enough!

When you arrive, use the elevator to take you to the ground floor. "Welcome to Araneta Center" signage will greet you. You are then set to explore the place! The coliseum is just around the corner, you can't miss it. Enjoy watching concerts and other events at the big dome!

Make Me Forget

I'm supposed to be very excited by now. But no, it's not exactly the case. And I want so much to not have something dragging me down instead. But what can I do? I'm not a robot who can just go on not feeling anything at all. I wanted to immediately forget but I still see things around me that bring everything back to my tired, foggy brain and heavy heart squeezed tight. Can't come up with enough happy thoughts to outweigh it. Make me forget.

Useful Web Find: 7 Ways to Boost your Brain

Here's another interesting article I found on the web. You can read it fully here.

I only score three out of the seven ways I can boost my brain. Gotta start doing the other four (often).

Exercise reverses brain aging.

Aerobic exercise boosts not only speed and sharpness of thought but also the volume of brain tissue. As little as 50 minutes of brisk walking 3 times a week was found to have this brain-expanding effect.

Tip: For an added boost, walk in the park: volunteers whose course took them through a tree-filled setting performed 20% better on memory and attention tests than those who walked downtown.

Google Often

When you search the Internet, you engage key centers in your brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning.

And these few clicks may be more mentally stimulating than reading. Internet searching uses neural circuitry that's not activated during reading--but only in people with prior Internet experience. MRI results showed almost 3 times more brain activity in regular Internet searchers than in first-timers, suggesting that repeated Googling can be a great way to build cognitive strength over time.

Tip: Spend around 20 minutes a few days a week searching topics you've always wanted to learn more about—regardless of how seemingly frivolous: Whether you're researching a celebrity's latest pratfalls or musical harmony, the benefits to your brain are the same.

Brush and Floss

Oral health is linked to brain health.

Gingivitis and periodontal disease were associated with worse cognitive function throughout adult life—not just in later years.

Tip: Follow your dentist's advice—floss daily and brush your teeth for 2 minutes at least once a day. 

Drink Sparingly

Limiting cocktails is beneficial for cognitive function.

Keep your alcohol consumption within the safe and healthful limit: no more than one drink a day. The more alcohol a person drinks, the smaller his or her total brain volume becomes, according to a recent study. The link between drinking and reduced brain volume was stronger in women—probably because smaller people are more susceptible to alcohol's effects.

Tip: If you like a glass of white wine with dinner, make a spritzer by replacing some of the wine with sparkling water. You'll cut your intake even more.