New Year, New Me?

We are nearly two weeks into the new year, 2021. What a year 2020 has been! Even then we have experienced many changes already in the way we did things, due to the pandemic. So many things we took for granted before that we had to do and emphasize doing. Mundane things became our everyday focus. Anyway, so much for the reflections of the past. What about this new year? Is there more that need to be changed? For sure, we change, as seasons change.

So what’s to change for me this year? I want to share one of the new year sermons from church which I consider useful for me in the new year. Hope it will encourage you, too.

“A New Year and A New You” Notes from Bro Johnny Dammon’s Wednesday night bible study

5 things to achieve a new you this new year:

1. Forget your failures (sins, mistakes made, etc). Do not live a life imprisoned by your past. God has forgiven us, so move on. Philippians 3:13-142.

2. Give up your grudges, i.e. deep ongoing resentment against another that we cultivate in our hearts, unforgiving attitude. This is self-destructive and will make one bitter, twisted, and imprisoned by anger. Purposely decide to forgive the person who did wrong to you. Colossians 3:133.

3. Restore your relationships. God’s word offer a check on our relationships. Live in peace with everyone. Don’t let it be that we are the reason the relationship is broken. Ask for forgiveness or apologize. Make restitution i.e. making right the things done wrong. Romans 12:184.

4. Turn your back on temptation i.e. resist temptation. Fix our eyes on Jesus. Stop giving in to sin. Stop obeying the old master and start obeying the new (Jesus). Hebrews 12:1-2.

5. Get more plugged in to your community of faith and church family. Find a way to be connected/stay connected with God’s people, and be grounded in the Word of God. Be a helper and not a hindrance. We should do our part and participate, in planting, making disciples, and creating vibrant communities living for Christ. Matthew 16:18

We should serve with joy, faithfulness, patience and love.

Embracing Change

Change is inevitable so might as well embrace it. It has been said that much of the world has moved into the digital space. Even those who have never dreamed to be online are now even making their living from it. During the past few months of the pandemic, nearly everyone was online for all the activities that need to be done. Then there is digital business.

Let us share our story how and why we came to be involved into this digital business, despite being researchers, and specifically a university lecturer (my husband) and until recently, a development worker (yours truly). 

Last April, because of my forthcoming unemployment status, I was browsing through the internet when I came across a website with this question: Why work for others if you can be your own Boss? This made me think deeply. I have been working as an employee for many years, and my work life has been characterized by the cycle of applying for a job – working under contract – end of contract – then applying for another job again. However, family and social responsibilities and commitments are continuous and constant, whether we have jobs or not, right? How do we meet them after job contracts end? This cycle has gone on for many years and this time, it is time to break it, and make a change. So we responded to the invitation for a free webinar, and we started our own digital business. By following a proven and tested business strategy and system, we were able to set-up smoothly, despite not being IT experts. We have a mentor and a coach, and a community of 50K like-minded global business partners who provide support and encouragement.

We are inviting anyone who is interested in change, in a new way of doing things, and in making their dreams possible, to come and register for a FREE webinar, and join our amazing global community. We can take action and now we are digital business owners. Check out our website at jks-resources.com to register. See you there.  

You are invited to a FREE webinar!

When a change is needed

When I got the two weeks’ notice in early April that my services in the project I was involved in were no longer needed, I was left wondering what I should do next. With the pandemic going on, activities were (and still are) at a stand-still. My husband and I discussed our options and he was supportive to venture into what we have been doing everyday. Looking at the online world, not only as consumers but also being involved as entrepreneurs.

Grateful then to come across this digital business that allows us to work from the comforts of our home or while on the road. We own our time, and we can manage and balance our tasks, giving us more quality time with loved ones and friends, near and far.

We are motivated and have a positive mindset, to achieve our goals, to live our dreams, and prepare for our golden years. We are learning new skills and alternative ways of doing things. As a result, we have met new people along the way, and are now friends and business partners.

We can meet and talk, too. Have a nice day.

I can only look back

Working on projects covering countries in Asia and the Pacific, with project partners in Europe and North America, required a lot of travelling. I could only look back now at how hectic my schedule was since 2009. Travel was for both career and personal reasons. I got to meet family and friends in some of the countries I visited. I also visited interesting places whenever my schedule permitted. It was good to know more about those places and even to get updated with how family and friends have been doing since we last met. With some of them, I have not met maybe for 10 or so years.

During this COVID-19 emergency quarantine period in 2020, we had to cancel several trips which have been prepared months before. It is better to be safe than sorry. Despite the disappointments, I thank God for the understanding by everyone. Except that of course we miss everybody, esp. my Mom who was expecting to have us there at home during the Holy Week last April. I thank God for His encouragement day by day through His word, as He reminds us that even though there is trouble in this world, we are not defeated, and we can be strong and take courage because He has overcome the world. That gives me peace.

Below are a few photos from some of my travels last year.

Vientiane, Laos. March 2019.

Boracay Island, Philippines. May 2019.

Food shops along the river. Kampot, Cambodia. June 2019.

The wind was so strong thus the blurred photo of this giant crab.        Kep, Cambodia. June 2019.

 

Dili, Timor Leste. June 2019

Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. September 2019.

Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia. November 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Education

I have come across this information on Financial Education and I think it is very interesting. I wish they had this kind of thing when I was younger. I joined IMG to know more about savings and investment. If you are interested, you can also check the link as well.

During this COVID-19 lockdown or enhanced quarantine, staying at home gives us a lot of time to surf the net. For me, since I finished my contract last week of April, I have some time to read and learn new things, esp. on investing and how to be more financially stable. So I am glad I joined IMG as there lots of resources there. Join me in exploring and learning more, for a better future.

These are the ATMs here.

 

Never give up

Sleep tight!

Sharing this article on how to get a good night’s sleep. It is pretty important to sleep well so that in the morning we wake up refreshed and energized to do all the day’s activity and work. And be happy! So read on! 

5 Tips For a Good Night’s Sleep
(and Better Morning Wake-Up)

 By Mark Williams
Author of The 7 Day Mind Balancing Plan 

Most people in industrialized societies are working jobs with long hours and lead incredibly busy lives.

With so much to do, they often skip on the essentials of good health, such as not getting enough sleep.

Take Michael, for instance. He’s a 24-year old call center agent and a new father who regularly works the graveyard shift.

With the demands of parenthood and work bearing down on him, he treated sleep as a luxury he couldn’t afford.

But contrary to what most people think, sleep is FAR from a luxury.

If you deprive your body of this basic need, you’ll have to pay for it one way or another.

Michael learned this the hard way during one bleary-eyed morning. He had just gotten out of work and was driving home.

He was only 10 minutes away from his place when it happened.

Michael dozed off for all of two seconds, but that’s all it took for him to ram the taxi cab in front of him.

Luckily, he wasn’t going that fast when the cab hit the brakes at the intersection, so it was just a minor fender bender.

But it was a sobering moment for Michael nonetheless.

The memory of waking up to the sound of a loud, sickening thud followed by a metallic crunch would stay with him for a long time.

It pushed him to do something about his situation so he wouldn’t go through that experience again.

Michael saw a sleep specialist, worked out a sleep schedule with his wife, and asked his boss to move him to daytime hours.

Wake up and smell the health risks

Michael’s case is hardly rare, which makes it sad knowing that so many people are wasting their health over avoiding sleep.

The problem with skimping on shut-eye is that it creates long-term problems down the road – and you shouldn’t brush it off.

For one thing, you’ll increase your likelihood of heart disease by over 50%. Other problems include higher risk for diabetes, obesity, and a compromised immune system.

Worse, a sleep-deprived brain means your memory is shot and you can’t retain new information.

A fuzzy head means reduced focus and concentration, so say goodbye to being productive at work.

And like what with happened with Michael, having a few seconds of micro-sleep while driving on the road can have serious (and permanent consequences).

Here are some ways to get the most out of your sleeping hours:

#1: Routine is key Humans are wired to operate on a sleep schedule, something which has come under attack since the dawn of the modern age.

Mathew Walker, Ph.D., author of “Why We Sleep” says that the demands of modern living have taken its toll on our basic biological need to sleep.

He shared this insight in his book:

“…the decimation of sleep throughout industrialized nations is having a catastrophic impact on our health, our life expectancy, our safety, our productivity, and the education of our children.”

As such, the key to regularly getting a good amount of sleep is through a schedule. The human body thrives on routine, and you have to design your day to support this.

One quick way to do this is by deciding on a FIXED time to get up every day, then schedule your bedtime based on that.

Check out this weird but powerful technique you can use to sleep within minutes

If you want to sleep for at least hours and need to be up by 6 am, then you need to be in bed by 10 am. Stick to this routine throughout the week, and your body will gradually adjust.

As you get used to this schedule, you eventually won’t have to set an alarm. You know you’ve settled into your target sleep pattern when you get up at the same time every day.

#2: Turn off your smartphone at night

Nothing wrecks your sleep rhythm more than a bright screen in your face before going to bed.

You might think you’re relaxing while scrolling through your Facebook or Instagram feed, but it’s doing things to your body you’re not aware of.

You see, your natural sleep mechanism is designed to release a hormone called melatonin when you’re about to hit the sack.

So when you use a mobile device or your laptop, the bright light sends a signal to your brain to stop producing melatonin. Part of a good sleep schedule is learning when to stop using electronics as bedtime nears.

Give yourself at least a couple of hours to unplug from your electronics before going to bed. This allows your body to get “settled” in for the night ahead and go down like a sack of potatoes when you turn off the lights.

#3: Set the stage for good sleep

Your environment plays a HUGE factor in the quality of your sleep. So you need to make sure that the bedroom is a place that’s conducive for resting.

Aside from removing all electronics from your bed, here are other ways to ensure sleeping success:

– Remove all stressful associations from your sleeping environment. This means leaving your work OUT of the bedroom. Your mind should only think of sleep when you’re in bed.

– Don’t stay in bed if you can’t sleep. Do something else outside of the bedroom and come back when you’re done.

– Eliminate distractions and bright lights. Your body associates sleep time with darkness, so make sure you have good curtains and have eye shades handy if needed. Also, pinpoint any sources of noise, such as a television or your mobile device and deal with it accordingly. Switch it off or keep it out of the bedroom altogether.

– Invest in a good mattress and keep the temperature cool. The ideal range is about 60-70 degrees, which allows your body to naturally fall into a relaxed state. Proper lumbar support is a big thing too, so get a mattress that’s kind on your back.

How To Switch Off Your Brain Before You Sleep (Weird, but it works!) 

#4: Naps are ok, but do it right

Dr. Walker also says in “Why We Sleep” that by nature, people are meant to sleep in a biphasic pattern.

This basically consists of 7-8 hours of sleep, and one nap during the day for 30 minutes up to an hour. According to him, this works better than sleeping according to a monophasic pattern which is sleeping throughout the night with no naps.

So, he recommends that you take at least one nap to help you get through until the evening. However, you should do this before 3 pm to give yourself enough time to get tired at night and stick to your prescribed bedtime.

One benefit of napping is that it reduces the odds of a heart attack by more than half. Companies such as Google and Nike have facilities like nap pods to allow their employees to recharge as it helps with their productivity.

#5: Wind down with a book or music

A good way to further reinforce your bedtime routine is by introducing better habits that you can associate with your sleep patterns.

Reading before bed is a good ritual as it can help reduce your stress levels. The University of Sussex did a study 2009 to explore the effects of reading on sleep – they found it can cut down stress levels by up to 68%.

As you settle in with a book, it takes your mind off stressful thoughts which helps reduce your heart rate and production of cortisol (a stress hormone). So it helps to pick out a few good books you can get into over the next several weeks (or days, if you’re a voracious reader).

Another alternative is putting on some good tunes before you hit the hay. Like reading, it puts you in another state of consciousness – and this helps you disengage from your worries throughout the day.

Also, meditation has become more and more popular among a wide range of people, such as students, CEOs, parents and everyone else in between.

This habit in itself is effective in reducing anxiety and depression, so combining it with your bedtime routine makes it even more powerful.

Furthermore, meditation is a great tool for reprogramming your subconscious thoughts. People have used it change undesired behavior, like negative thinking or even smoking.

Not only that, you can also use meditation to optimize your mindset for being more successful in life and creating wealth.

If you want to improve your sleep habits while improving the other parts of your life in the process, you can check out my free guided meditation audio tracks.

They’re designed to help you meditate at night and prime your brain for success so you can get up in the morning refreshed and ready to take on the day:

Click Here To Learn The Secret Technique To Supercharge Your Sleep Now And Wake Up Feeling Amazing Every Day. 

somebody is dreaming, too!

Just now, an article posted in FB caught my attention. It was an article in a blog called idreamedofthis. The article is about the blog owner’s experiences while travelling in the Philippines. You can read the article, What I really think of the Philippines here.

I had to post it here in my soaring and dreaming blog for the obvious reason. As I titled this post, somebody is dreaming too! So let’s keep dreaming, and acting on them, as we are able!!!

Sunset at Taringting Beach, San Jose, Antique …

cold weather still

yes it is still cold here where i am…don’t know when it will end…have to wait for summer, when? in july – august hope the weather will be better. so in the meantime gotta wear thick clothes. one time i went to a shop. they were selling jumpers and the like. both acrylic and wool products. from the prices you can know which is a better choice. those with wool are much warmer but more expensive. so it really depends on your choice. i asked the seller and of course she recommended the pricier one but it is true of course. so to keep warm you have to invest in it a bit.

A pet?

I saw this in a farm house in Scotland, when I walked up the stairs. I really thought it was real. Then after a second glance I realised it was not. But it looked cute enough to cuddle. It was just a decoration but a nice one.