Monday, November 27, 2006

shameless plugging part 1

I’m currently reading The Little Book of Detox Tips but I haven’t really started on detoxifying myself as suggested by the author yet. I’m loving the exercise & stress-management reminders, though. & I could use a whole box of Twinings camomile tea.



Sometimes we take ourselves for granted, thinking we could do so much more for others if we keep on denying ourselves that much-needed rest, relaxation, & recreation. We forget the irony of how taking care of ourselves first & foremost (while serving others anyway) will enable us to become more pleasant & productive people along the way. The Tarot can remind us exactly just that, but I’ve learned the hard way that readers like me should practise what they preach, so to speak, so as to reassure & guide querents toward rejuvenation. This is an excellent read, especially if you’re looking for no-fuss recipes to (re)discover. I hope the author doesn’t mind me posting some of his tips here on how to relax, along with a few notes of my own (in italics), especially that I intend to give copies of the book to some lucky people for Christmas, hehe:


FOUR WAYS TO BEAT THE STRESS

1) Holidays

Taking a long holiday can create almost more stress than staying at work. It requires complex planning & then you may worry while you’re away about the work you left behind & the pile that will be waiting for you when you get back. If this happens, it’s often more beneficial to take 3- or 4-day breaks. But don’t take your mobile phone & laptop with you, or leave a dozen contact numbers with the people at the office.

Whatever you do, stay safe while you’re away, & please notify at least one key person where you’re going & when will you be possibly coming back. Then again, don’t worry too much. Make the most out of your well-deserved vacation leave! Sip a piña colada or some champagne or even just a cup of hot unsweetened tea for me!


2) Learn a new skill

Join workshops on just about anything that interests you (whether it be painting, acting, singing, dancing, pottery, photography, cooking, writing) or learn a foreign language. These are great ways of meeting non-work-related people & using a different set of skills.

Workshops cost a rather considerable amount of money nowadays, but if you look around, you might just find something that suits both your fancy & your budget. Or, why not DIY? Get books & DVDs about the subjects you’re interested in, which are always pretty good investments, trust me. Just don’t let your newfound interest & paraphernalia go to waste by not committing to it. Remember, you have to like something enough to really pursue it, just like what yours truly did with Tarot.


3) Involve the family

If you have a family then involve them in your leisure activities too. It doesn’t matter whether it’s following a football team, going camping, doing jigsaw puzzles or playing Scrabble together. Activities like these not only represent a huge investment in your physical health, but are an important prop for the emotional health & wellbeing of your family unit.

For those of you who have no family members close by for some reason, or whose family doesn’t share your interests, like in my case, well, find friends who can help you have fun. If you don’t have anyone talaga, well, let’s go back to step #2. What I did was I joined a health club. Even if my production assistant can’t be with me at all times & I still haven’t made new steady friends in the establishment ever since, I’m still trying to make full use of my membership solo flight. Why? Because yes, it costs much, & I think I’ve come a long way to not just drop out of the program.


4) Make sure you’re really having fun

Many people, even when they do make time in their busy schedules for leisure activities, are so afraid that they might be seen to be enjoying themselves that they spend their time doing punishing exercise regimes, obsessional competitive games, or ‘team-building’ activities. This is NOT leisure for pleasure & does nothing to improve your health. In fact,  the reverse is true.

Well, happiness can be relative. Sometimes what people think to be downtime is doing something invigorating, like partying late at night, boozing & smoking one’s life away. Then what can be considered "work" is going to church, praying & fasting for days. It’s your business, I really don’t care. My idea of fun nowadays can be stupid — going crazy at arcades, browsing bookstores & record bars, catching a movie at the theater, indulging in really fatty stuff, getting a massage, in a very random order. It’s tiring, costly, & toxic in a way — but I still do it all with much gusto. Talk about hedonism. Seriously, all I ask from the heavens for now is a good pair of in-line skates so I can go back to the runway in my childhood home & get lost in the empty golf course + firing range + breakwater watching the sunset, being at peace with myself & the world, while I can’t be with the one I love to share my ultimate Zen moment with yet.


Tune in for more excerpts & commentaries. Tell me what you think. For now, ENJOY. We’ve only got a few days left before Christmas & the New Year *groan* so let’s make the most of things before rushing for preparations. Happy heydays!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

chipper

I’m pleased to say that this site is now so easily viewable via GPRS & 3G (depending which connection is active) on your mobile phones. Just point your browsers to our URL, & you can easily scan for updates or leave quick comments whenever you feel like it. I haven’t tried posting via my phone yet, but maybe next week, after my appointments (finally). Every session feels like my first time, that I get anxious & inordinately self-conscious even around loyal patrons not included in my friends-&-family roster. If you’re interested, let me know. Post your comments here.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

backlog

So many things have happened to me (& I still keep putting off reading schedules like crazy) & I have it all to blame on this last Mercury retrograde (should be over by the 18th, but the aftermaths can be pretty loopy as much as the preludes). I’m PMSing badly (my period being delayed by 2 weeks & I keep eating too much chocolate), I lost a few small but crucial items (like a couple of discount cards slash IDs), my room needs major rearranging, & my phone needs a software reflashing + firmware upgrade, blah. I also haven’t been working out as much. But so far, I’m fine, & I’m ready to get back on track.

So what is a Mercury (or any other planetary) retrograde? Here’s what Astrology.com has to say about the subject:
** Astrolesson: Mercury Retrograde

Mercury — messenger of the gods, ruler of communication — turns retrograde October 28 and remains so through November 17. Appearing to be spinning backward through the heavens, Mercury’s unusual moves can wreak havoc on the seemingly normal things in our daily lives, so don’t be surprised by delayed plans, frozen computers and stalled cars. It’s not a great idea to start anything new until late November, so until then, just lie low, stay loose and ride the rhythm of the retrograde. Fight any potential Mercury-retrograde blues by learning all about Your Communication Sign. Calm, clarity and learning to chill are all powerful tools during this potentially confusing period.

In being aware of this occurrence in the heavens, you can actually use Mercury’s retrograde to your advantage. It’s a great time to reconnect with old friends and revisit days gone by. Also, be sure to spend some quality time with yourself — perhaps when your phone battery dies mid-conversation, or while you’re stuck in traffic on the way home — and refocus your energies toward replenishing yourself. That way, when chats go haywire and plans go awry, you’ll have a smile on your face in knowing that you won’t let the little stuff bring you down. This too shall pass!

To learn more about such retrogrades, go here. Mercury goes on retrograde thrice a year, & come to think of it, a whole lot of other stuff goes unmanageable during such a phase. If you find yourself fantastically broke & sick, or lacking energy & inspiration, or feeling predatory (like me! haha!) perhaps the heavens actually have something to do with it after all. So let’s remember to double-check our belongings, make backup plans & duplicates, keep ourselves healthy & well-rested, set aside shopping receipts (especially with the abundance of bargain sales during this period!), & think doubly hard about certain pressing decision(s). Funny how a friend of mine got married during this phase, but she’s been wanting to do so all along, so cheers to her!

Anyway, good luck to us all!