In 2019, this all happened: Quit job. New job. Survived Aneurysm. Prescribed to get rested for six months (to one year) for full recovery. Grateful for my second life.

In the span of my healing period: Got my first tattoo. Barista Training. Home brewing class. Gradually getting back to yoga and running. Took swimming class (can now swim!). Took Baking Class. Fell in love with Yin Yoga. Travel to my favorite cities again – Osaka and NY.
Got clearance to be back to work and discovered Texas (Dallas, San Antonio, Waco and Austin). Reconnected with family members and friends.

Been a very eventful 2019.

It is a year full of endings and beginnings. It is a year of goodbyes to those just passing by and a story of reignition of those choosing to stay. It is a year of struggles and triumphs. It is a year we witness how God can transform adversity to blessings.

It is a year of revelations of what is true and not. It is a year of filling the gaps with what matters – family, and friends who we think of as family. It is a year about rediscovery of what we love and value and about discovery of else we were scared of before but winning over fear. It is a year of skills unlocking and of finding time to rebuild ties and bonds. It is a year of spending time and energy on those that matter. It is a story about time and that is not given to be wasted but to enjoy to get us better, healthier, stronger and wiser.

It is a year of openness and guarding of the heart while learning to be strong and soft at the same time. It is a year of getting marked for all the life lessons learned leading to gratitude. It a year of stories of survival and forgiveness. It is a year of being proud of our battle scars that becomes a symbol of us standing tall and a symbol of bravery unlocking the warrior in us. It is a year of finding our way back home.

Let’s bring the lessons we learned this year. Forgive ourselves for our misgivings and overdoings. Be kind to ourselves and keep an open and strong heart. Treat everyday as if it is the last. The right time is NOW. Laugh loudly both at our mistakes and our follies. Love like how you want to be loved. And witness how gratitude changes us and how that changes the world.

Cheers to the new decade that awaits!

#TheGratefulCompilation #AneurysmSurvivor #SecondLife

FIRST month “out in the open” with my story. First 30 days of getting back to my version of meaningful work. And almost SEVEN months after being discharged from the hospital after aneurysm.

Some resonating thoughts:

Every moment. EVERY person. Is another OPPORTUNITY to learn. Be good. Be bad. Is all meant to ENRICH us. Teach us to dive into our greatest FEARS and chase those which give us JOY. Some people will leave. Some will stay in our lives. Some will mean well. SOME will care less. And in many instances if not all, we will choose to remain open and accept all that life GIVES. Some we will accept with FULLNESS. Some we will reject sometimes leaving that bad taste BEHIND.

Many things this year has taught me. One thing very clear is it is about letting LIFE happen as it should. With courage for second chances and being comfortable in new beginnings; wisdom to know the difference between those who INTEND to ravage us and those who intend to fill our hearts. Be filled with grace or angst. Or just be.

Most especially, this year is about being thankful for the blessings of everyday – another CHANCE to reawaken what was lost, to reignite our ‘lost’ passions, and by reconnecting to lost ties, AND letting go when we should and must. In many ways, by helping ourselves, we help the world. In the same way, as we give to the world, we receive for ourselves.

One friend told me, “Really be you as you are. Because it will INSPIRE the world.” Let’s all inspire life to be better and see what magic it brings. Everyday is about making that difference matter because life is very short.

#TheGratefulCompilation #AneurysmSurvivor #SecondLife

It was a tiring trip. Took a straight flight from Manila to LA, then LA to Dallas. First time to take this route and got myself safely “home” to the hotel.
I was wondering all throughout the trip how “support” will pick me up. There was no specifics just that it will be waiting by the baggage claim area. I got there waiting to claim my luggages then the phone call. Wearing a suit with a gold tie, he called while waving at me saying he will just be there and will wait for me. Told him I might take a few minutes because I was waiting for my bags. It was Sami. He was the driver assigned for me.

Then we started our trip from the airport to the hotel.
SAMI. He was warm and personable and ‘had stories’ to tell. He told me he is Jordanian and has good Filipino friends. He wants to visit the Philippines. He is not scared of asking question and you could tell, he is well updated with growth in the area and world happenings.

Then all I knew we were just chatting – about population, how one place is growing and how one place is getting smaller, to impacts of war and the quest for peace: we talked about discipline how it is critical for success, how balance is important to ensuring we have “lived” our lives; we talked about how our parents played a big role in setting us up for success (I was telling him of anecdotes from childhood about my mom and dad) and he told me stories of his dad; we talked about chakras and why it is important to pay attention to what messages we are receiving from the Universe (he knows this, too! Can you imagine my excitement on this conversation?);

He is also a believer that nothing happens as a coincidence, that there is a GRAND PLAN – Everything meant to happen will happen. It was an enjoyable 40min ride from the airport!

Angels are around us in forms of family, people around us, and even strangers! Last month, I met Nicole from NY, and now on my first day, I have met Sami. I maybe feeling physically tired, but my heart is grateful appreciating the little conversations and being listened to. What a warm welcome in the midst of 9°C weather!

#TheGratefulCompilation #SecondLife #AneurysmSurvivor

PS. Photo was a ‘stolen’ shot.😛😛