Hello new month! Hello August!

Life is a long roadtrip. Exploring to different  places and taking the risk made me realize the importance of having courage to move out of my comfort zone if needed.

I know my old self must be so proud of my present self. Here are my some musings in this long roadtrip called life:

1. My fear of driving

Lately, I’ve been celebrating my small wins in life like driving around in a new place that I’ve never been to. I am grateful I overcame my fear of driving in my early 20s. After some practice for the past few years, I am also more confident driving around Manila. I might be late bloomer in this field because some of my friends are already driving at a young age. I don’t usually say this but I really admire people who can drive. Even my little brother learned how to drive at a young age. He learned before he turned 18 and he can drive manual and automatic cars.  I have high respect to those people who could drive manual cars. “Paano natitimpla ng paa nila yun manual? Ang galing nila!” Me, I can only drive automatic car. I need my friends and other people’s guidance about cars because I really don’t know anything about them. I oftentimes say that I am a strong independent woman not until something happens to my car. 😅 There are so many things that I need to learn!

2. The Joy of Writing

Some of my patients and even my friends are telling me that maybe I should create a YouTube or a Facebook channel with my travel adventures. The answer is definitely NO. I feel that I am more of a writer. I am not doing this to earn money nor to be famous. I just want to express what I feel, share my experience and inspire other people. I am a dentist by profession and writer by heart.

There is so much love in my heart everytime I write something and this also serves as my stress reliever. So, I will continue doing what I love the most. Plus, I really miss writing in the newspaper.

3. Needs versus Wants

Choosing between buying a new phone or another travel adventure? I guess the answer is pretty clear.

I think we don’t need to buy new phone everytime there’s new gadget release even if we have money to buy for a new one. I believe I don’t need to replace it as long as the phone is working. Besides, as we mature and got older, we need to know the difference of needs and wants. We also have to prioritize and give emphasis in our bills and responsibilities. Just like food and water that are our basic needs and necessities, I believe that taking some rest is also a need. Taking vacation and booking trips are not wants. Our body needs to relax enable to perform our work well and do our tasks. I really prefer collecting and investing on memories. Traveling internationally or just traveling away from my hometown is actually empowering. 

In this part, I will be sharing some snapshots and videos as well from my quick trip to Antipolo! This includes Antipolo Cathedral, Cloud 9 and the Pinto Art Museum.

Antipolo Cathedral

The Memorare Prayer

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known 
that anyone who fled to thy protection, 
implored thy help, 
or sought thy intercession, 
was left unaided. 
Inspired by this confidence 
I fly unto thee, 
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. 
To thee do I come, 
before thee I stand, 
sinful and sorrowful. 
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, 
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. 
Amen.”

Cloud 9 Antipolo

The entrance fee here is 100 php. You can visit the museum there then go straight to the hanging bridge to see the 360 panoramic view of Antipolo city including Metro Manila.

Pinto Art Museum

Entrance fee for adults is 250 php. There’s discount for students like my brother, you will only pay 125 php. There’s also discount for senior citizen and PWD. You just have to show valid ID to avail the discount.

Upon entering, you can find an image of St. Francis of Assisi inside the Pinto Art Musuem.

For me, the song is a reminder that every woman is beautiful.  All ladies could be considered as masterpiece whether she’s single, married, widowed or separated. Her worth is not based on her status. Besides, a woman’s true beauty isn’t based in her height, age, complexion, the clothes she wears or in the number of likes she could get in the social media. These are all superficial. A lady’s true attractiveness has something to do in the way she speaks, care, treat other people, the way she handles and fought hard in every life battle and the lessons she learned during the process. The attractiveness that is not only based in the looks but also in someone’s values and character. 

As a woman, when we focus too much on being attractive or trying to impress and please other people, we often lose on what truly matters. We should focus on constantly renewing ourselves to become better person. We don’t need to compete or compare our life with anyone. Just focus on your own improvement and dreams.

Share what you have and don’t be afraid of what other people are thinking of you. By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others.

Thanks for reading! 😉 God bless you.

Until my next post…

Love lots, A 💕

“A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.“– Proverbs 31:10