Lessons I Learned from Watching Barbie Movies

I thought about this topic 4 months ago (draft saved 05/18/2011 to be exact). Now that I have some free time on my hands, I'm in the mood to finish this post. After reading my previous entry which is so depressing, I just thought this one should tip off the balance a bit.

Since my daughter turned 3 (she's turning 6 this month), I always enjoyed watching Barbie movies with her (here's Wiki's complete listing of Barbie movies) . From The Nutcracker to the most recent one we watched, Barbie: A Fairy Secret, I always enjoyed how Barbie transforms into a brave and intelligent girl that we all would like to be. I was even able to apply some of the lessons I learned from these movies in real life, especially when I had to face tough situations.

Here are some of my favorite Barbie movies:

Barbie and The Diamond Castle: Up to now I still catch my self humming or singing the songs in this movie - Two Voices One Song, Connected, We're Gonna Find It, and Believe. All of those songs have inspired me and somehow helped me have a more positive outlook in life.

Barbie and The Three Musketeers: I love this movie because of the stylish fight scenes, especially the part when they sneaked into the castle on order to protect the prince when all the male musketeers are either unconscious or tied up. I also loved one of Barbie's lines in the movie: True courage is pursuing your dream, even when everyone else says it's impossible."

Every time my daughter and I watch Barbie movies, I always hope that these movies would influence my daughter the way they influenced me. I hope that it her early years, she will be able to learn valuable lessons about hope, courage, honesty, kindness and love and that she will be able to use these lessons as she faces tougher things in life.

Lost Sheep

One of the Facebook Apps I really like is one that allows me to supposedly get a message from God on a daily basis. The message I got today was this: 


"On this day, God wants you to know that it's never too late to get back on track. Never has anyone gone so far on the wrong path that they cannot return to the right one. Never has anyone become so wayward that they cannot benefit from the true light."


While the said app is definitely man-made and made up of probably thousands of inspirational messages meant to motivate people and I know that there is no divine intervention in the said app, thus it can never really be a message coming from God especially for me. I do notice though that more often than not, the messages I get are reflective of what I'm going through for that specific day....


And now, a few more days before I become an employee again, I'm totally lost as to what the message meant. For almost a year, I have continuously convinced myself that I am not supposed to imprison myself on the four corners of my workstation and to commit myself on a 9-hour shift 5 days (or nights) a week. Yet, I now unwillingly find myself a little excited (and nervous) that I will be working again. Why? Because this is the only way I know where I can get a fixed pay just by coming in for work on the scheduled dates and times. Because at this point, this is the only way out for me in order to pay off my loans and to have a decent life where I wouldn't have to rely on the mercy of others in order to live a decent life. Because this is what I have been doing to survive for the past 7 years.


I know that this is really not part of my plans, and I am thankful that I am just giving myself 6 to 9 months to go through something I don't want to do... And when I got "God's message" so to speak, I am quite confused if this refers to my going back to work or if it's referring to another thing.


At this point, I really don't know what to think. I'm just living my life one day at a time. And although I still have no clue as to what God really has in store for me, I'm hoping that I'll soon find out. Probably what the message really meant about going back on track is being able to take control of my life, of my finances, of my obligations, and of everything else. On the other hand, it might mean that I should really get serious in getting back on the road towards God. 


Recently, I've had a few experiences that I cannot explain, but I am still a big work in progress. It's been a while since I've really felt I have a close connection with God. And every time I try to reconnect, I am not able to sustain the connection. 


Right now, I have a few coins in my pocket. I have nothing in my bank account, and I am thankful I have my mom to support me and my family until we get our normal life back. I am still not sure if the decisions I am making are the right ones, but I am just blurting out what's on my mind in the hope that this will help me have a clearer grasp on things and a better understanding of what God really wants to tell me and my husband.


What I have realized at this point is that maybe, God is telling me that I still haven't surrendered everything to Him. I want to, but I still don't trust Him enough to believe that He can give me anything if He wants to and that He has a great plan in store for me and my family if only I let Him manage my life for me.


The next time I speak my mind, I am hoping I would have a better understanding of what I need to do with my life. For now, the best thing I can probably do is to learn how to let go of all my worries and just have complete faith that God has a bigger plan, and that I am one of the major players in His plan.


:)

Bawal Magkasakit!

9 days and still counting... I am still sick and I can't take it. Good thing I do not have to go on  9-6 job and I get to stay at home. I have nothing else to blame but the fumes from the fireworks on New Year's Eve. I should have just followed my instincts and stayed inside the house rather than feast on the colorful lights and the deafening sounds that we are so accustomed to have to welcome the new year.

Where did this tradition come from anyway? Probably I'm going to Google the answer later on, but for now I'm wishing that in the future, we can think of alternative ways to spend the new year without fearing the consequences of such seemingly harmless instruments.

For now, probably for the next few years, I will stick with what I am used to... I am never going out of the house on New Year's eve ever again unless Manila is declared a fireworks-free city. I will just be contented to bang a spoon or a fork on a metal pot cover to make some noise around the house, and I am just going to east my eyes on the fireworks display that will be shown on the television.

I will feel better in a few days, but I will never forget the lesson I've learned the hard way during the onset of 2011. I don't want to be sick again on the first few days of a new year.

Our Time To Shine

I just got home from the 9th anniversary of First Vita Plus. No pictures since we stayed in the upper box level so taking pictures with a low-tech camera would just be a waste of time. Lots of things were going on around me as we were waiting for the announcement of the grand prize winner which is just one cent short of a million - people cuddling up because of the freezing temperature in our area, my seat mate (you know who you are, wink! wink!) starting to get worried because he thinks his wife is thinking he is somewhere else, and people cheering as Lani Misalucha started showing her singing prowess (thanks to Ms. Doyee and Sir Soc for such a wonderful treat).

As all of this are happening, I was sitting quietly, pondering what I am doing there. I cannot honestly hope that I will be the lucky winner of the grand prize. Aside from a PSP and a Timex watch that I won a few years back during a company raffle, I haven't had much luck with this stuff. So, why did I choose to stay and attend such a gathering.

While most people were there to celebrate the fruits of their labor for the past year, I was thinking differently. I had to stay and finish the celebration up to the last second because I would need all the inspiration I can get in order to reach my goals and my dreams once and for all.

True enough, I did not go home with the P999,999.99 grand prize, but I left the celebration with much more than that. I left with lots of hope, faith, and inspiration that I have really made the right decision. I am with the right people, the right product, and the right path in order to fulfill my dream to be able to gain financial and time freedom a few months or a few years from now. I know that if I just keep on believing, if I stay focused, and if I put my all in this endeavor, soon I will be able to spend time with my husband and daughter without worrying about loans, bills, and other expenses. Soon, I will be able to share the same experience with the friends I have encouraged to join me in this path (and those that I have yet to convince).

With patience, faith, perseverance, determination and the most sincere intention to help other people, I know that it is indeed my time -- our time to shine.

My Purple Haven

I have been learning the ropes of blogging since 2008 However, I have to admit that I did it for the wrong reasons. I let the side of me that's craving for material satisfaction win. So, almost three years after I ventured into this world, I have parts and parcels of me scattered all over the place.


I started a blog featuring my favorite songs. I have a blog about my favorite author. I have a blog about my online money-making ventures, and so on and so forth. But I don't update them anymore. Not because I don't have anything to write about, but because I simply don't know where to start.


It took me a couple of months of pondering to finally realize why I suddenly lack the motivation to write. It's not because I lost my writing skills; it's not because I don't have anything to write about. It's because for the longest time I have been writing for the wrong reasons, and in a way I lost myself in the process.


A few years back, I can look any person in the eye and tell him or her what I really want in life. But now, I can't even face myself in the mirror and know what I really want to achieve in my life. I still don't know what's in store for me I am not sure if the new year spells a new beginning for me, but I sure hope that before the year ends, I will be able to go back to my roots, appreciate the blessings I currently have, and know what lies ahead. And I hope I can have things figured out soon.


So, as a start, I am going to make things right once and for all, and keep a little virtual space to myself which I can also share with the people who are significant in my life, hoping that in the process I will be able to  know what I really want and what I am really meant to do in this world.


Purple has been my favorite color since I was a teenager. It has been a source of inspiration for me during my moments of confusion and despair, and I hope setting up my own purple haven will allow me to find the right path soon...