I saw this on twitter the other day and I was in tears after watchingit.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhl9MLno424?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]

…people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck,something that maybe will descend upon you like fine weather if you’refortunate enough. But that’s not how happiness works. Happiness is theconsequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insistupon it, and sometimes even travel the world looking for it. You haveto participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your ownblessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you mustnever become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort tokeep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on topof it. If you don’t, you will leak away your innate contentment. It’seasy enough to pray when you’re in distress but continuing to pray evenwhen your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping yoursoul hold tight to its good attainments.

…people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that maybe will descend upon you like fine weather if you’re fortunate enough. But that’s not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don’t, you will leak away your innate contentment. It’s easy enough to pray when you’re in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments.
Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray and Love (via quote-book)

If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d build self-esteem first,and the house later. I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.I would do less correcting and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off mywatch, and watch with my eyes. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through morefields and gaze at more stars. I’d do more hugging and less tugging.

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
~Diane Loomans, from “If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again”

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decideforever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
 ~Elizabeth Stone

My First Mom's Day

Kahapon, I was greeted by family and friends a “Happy Mother’s Day”. It felt surreal nung una, until it got into me, “Wow, kasali na nga pala ako sa Mother’s Day!” Haha. I looked at Nathan and Bob, who were sleeping soundly beside me and said to myself, “Ano pa bang mahihiling ko?”

We originally planned to go out and eat somewhere, kahit sa malapit na Shakey’s nga lang. Kaso super lakas ng ulan so malabong makaalis. Bob woke up really late na, around 2pm kaya tampo pa ko kunwari. Then he went out to get the funds sent by Camacho for our Mother’s Day celebration, tapos we asked him na rin to take home a KFC bucket kasi di pa kami naglulunch. I know, bad. Late na kasi kami nagbreakfast.

Then when he got home, surprised naman ako na ang dala niya ay take-home food from Max’s. As in all of my favorite orders from that resto, yun yung binili niya. Di siya nagkulang dahil pati caramel bar, naisip niya. Haha! Nakakatuwa lang kasi it was raining hard yesterday and KFC was just beside MLhuiller, kung san siya kukuha ng pera, but still he made an effort to travel all the way to Max’s restaurant which was out of his way na. :)

Tapos I was asking him asan yung cake ko? Sabi niya, nakalimutan daw niya bilhin. Which is, yun pala tinago niya lang sa sala. Haha! May ganung effect pa talaga eh noh.

So that’s how we celebrated my first mother’s day. Although I kept thinking, the occasion isn’t really about eating out or having gifts, it’s something to celebrate the wonders of being a woman — being a mom. I don’t know what God’s thinking nung binigay niya si Nathan and placed him under my care. He must’ve seen something na I’m not able to see right now, but whatever it is, I still thank Him. Nathan is the best gift anyone could ever receive.

Andyan parin yung mga oras na nagdodoubt ako sa sarili ko, sa kakayanan kong maging Ina, but I know in my heart we can get through everything. I have all the love in the world for Nathan and Bob, and that’s enough for me to try and be the best that I could be in this field.

Motherhood is a never-ending learning process, sabi nga nila. Every day, there’s something new to learn, something new to experience. So, we’ll take it step by step. :)