32×22: New Year’s Resolutions

Every year the list gets longer and gets harder to fill. Also, I’m running out of things to make a list of. But it’s an annual tradition and I’ll feel like I’ve failed myself if I don’t do it so here I go…

This year’s list is about my new resolutions and goals. Some are short-term (meaning I hope to accomplish in a year or three) and some are long-term (which I hope I get to accomplish before I die). I don’t know if I can cover the list but this definitely covers all aspects of my life. So without further ado, here is my 32×22 list:

Resolutions:

1. To sleep early. I’ve been adjusting my sleeping patterns for the last 5 years to earlier than it was. Hopefully this year I’ll manage to sleep at 10pm.

2. Exercise. I used to exercise regularly but for the past year, I’ve been lazy. And I really wanted to bring myself back in shape. I realized last LGUlympics how easily I got tired of a short run.

3. Eat healthily. I have a really bad diet. This is a big goal for me.

4. Limit coffee to once a day. It’ll be tough but I should be able to endure it.

5. Gain weight. I should ask Maymay Entrata how she managed her 10 kilos in a year. It sounded like a miracle. I know you’ll say I just need to eat plenty but believe me, gaining weight is not that easy.

6. Avoid retail therapy. Should I delete my online shopping apps? It’ll be hard but I’ll try to avoid them.

7. Extend my patience. I’m actually a very patient person even if a lot of people will not agree with it. I guess I have to work more on it.

8. Get back to reading. I’m so sad I haven’t hit my reading goals last year and probably this year. I’m just not in the mood to read a lot these days. 😭

9. Get back to blogging. I miss it. I’ll get around to doing it again one day.

10. Get back to writing. I feel like I’m not totally me anymore since I stopped doing this. But I made plans already and decided I’ll start with baby steps. I’ll be putting up my Wattpad soon. I decided to make some sort of an online diary where I tell about my days. I don’t care if nobody reads it as long as I write it.

11. Get back to drawing. I don’t even have the talent, I know but I love it and it helps me relax and destress. It eases my mind and maybe I’m so stressed because I don’t do it anymore.

12. Meet with friends. This may sound so simple but as I’m living so far away, this is really getting hard. I miss having friends.

Here are my short-term and long-term goals for my physical mental and spiritual well-being…

13. Travel to a place I’ve never been to before alone. Maybe in 2021 or 2022.

14. Have Lasik surgery before my 35th year ends.

15. Travel to Japan and/or Korea before 2025.

16. Celebrate my birthday by doing a charity event for kids. Feeding Children, Teaching out-of-school children, Technically I am hoping to spend it by making children happy and maybe make that an annual thing.

17. Be part of a cause. I mean officially be part of a cause. I don’t know which yet but probably something to do with children.

18. Encourage people at my church to have the same courage and confidence that I have in serving Him. Not because I’m good but because I am willing and I know that to Him that is all that matters.

19. To teach and inspire my young brethren not only to be good kids as they grow up but to be good leaders as well.

20. Buy/Build a house.

21. Learn to drive. I want to add, buy a car. But the truth is, I want to learn to drive but I don’t really want to drive. Just imagining being on the road makes me nervous. So…

22. Save a million pesos before I’m fifty.

23. Donate blood. I’m underweight so I can’t. I’d been dreaming of doing this since college but I simply can’t.

24. Have a tattoo. I think my religion is forbidding me to get one. But I really want to experience it. Will God punish me for wanting it? This one makes me feel like I’m such a rebel.

25. Meet my online friends. At least one of them if not all of them. There was a phase in my life when they’ve been a great help. I probably wouldn’t be this fine if I didn’t meet them. So I want to meet some of them in person.

26. Learn to bake. Or learn to cook a dish. Or something that is not my thing. I don’t know if I can but I should at least try.

27. Have a check-up. It sounds simple but this is something I should have done months ago but I keep putting it off. I hate going to the hospital. I may be old enough but I guess I’m not adult enough.

28. Buy an alarm clock. You probably wonder why. It’s because I said about a month ago that I should put my phone away before bed. But I cannot do it because it’s my alarm. Lame excuse right? And it’s also a lame part of the list because I’m running out of things to add to this.

29. ….

30. ….

31. ….

32. ….

I couldn’t think of anything more right now but I’m sure I’m forgetting something. So allow me to leave this space and get back to it one of these days.

For now… this is the end of this year’s annual tradition.

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2016: Reflections Vol 1: Two Years and a Thousand Likes

 

I can’t even believe it’s been two years already. The first year I became a blogger but likes kept dancing around 800 and I figured I won’t really get past that anymore. To reach 1000 during my 2-year bloggiversary celebration was like the icing to the cake. It’s little thing, but it made me so happy.

Before I became a book blogger, I only blog about my life and all the boring stuff that I did. I used to have a reflections corner that I do every week. So now I’m bringing my reflections corner to my book blogging life. It’s not much but here’s my first blog for the year and the random things I realized over the last few weeks:

1. EDITING is a tough subject to discuss in the indie community. I don’t really know why they’re having all the fuss. About whether self-editing is enough or not. Or that if hiring an editor is really necessary. I don’t even know why some authors think that editing is all about grammars and punctuations. But I don’t want to go on a debate on my first item (insert nervous laugh). Here’s a fact I know from a friend who’s working in  a publishing house: When a manuscript is submitted, it first go to an editor to read the story and check if it gets approve (for publishing), revise or rejected. If it’s for revision they will return it to you with the comments on why you need to revise it and it could take several revisions until the editor is satisfied then it’ll get approved. Once it gets approved, it goes to the proofreader to check for grammars, language, punctuations and all that technical stuff.  Then it’ll go to the copy-editor to give a run through if the proofreader did the job well. Then it’ll go back to the editor who approves it for final checking. If the editor is satisfied, it goes to the lay outing and then scheduled for printing. That’s in trade publishing.

I think indies have advantage over one aspect, you never have to feel what’s it’s like to get rejected by an editor. If you hire an editor it’s all about polishing your work and not about giving them the choice whether to publish it or not. I’m losing my point though, all I really want to say, is that you should never diminish the value of an editor’s job. Because some of the post and comments I’ve seen with regards to this topic makes want to cringe.

The truth is, I had one book published by a local publisher and I had 9 rejections before I got that one. I had to revise it 3 times before my editor was satisfied and to be honest, all the things I had on my rejections? I often see it in books that I’ve read and sometimes those editor comments are part of my guidelines in judging a book when I review them but more so when I beta read them.

2. Promoting. I did a spotlight feature this week on my blog and I still have a few authors lined up for this week. I realized over this week that it’s a lot easier for me to promote a book that have read than those that I haven’t. My opinion hardly matters but it’s still easy to say something good about the book regardless of whether I enjoyed it or not if I know how the story goes. I actually wanted to read at least one book of the authors I highlighted this week but my time is just not that many. But maybe next time I can do that.
3. Struggles. I know authors have struggles and we bloggers have too. This struggles almost made me want to close down this blog two times in the last two years. But I guess I won’t be having those thoughts any longer. Because now I have more blogger friends. I can just bitch to them how I feel and I know they’ll understand. And maybe they’ll bitch with me about it.
4. Helping authors. I hope that my blogging help authors. I’m not really sure I’m doing a good job at it. This week when I did a spotlight, I had two people pm-ed me and said that they are not really sure if they want to read this author’s book but with all that I’m saying in my spotlight they decided to finally buy the book. I’m not if they really bought the book. But I hope they did. Because that would feel like I finally did something right. Because honestly, I’m not sure I know what I’m doing half the time. I don’t know if other bloggers feel the same way. It’s been two years but I’m still making things up as I go and sometimes, I feel as lost as when I started this thing.
5. Reviews. I used to get books to reviews through a tour company. Now I only reviews request made to my blogsite. Sometimes, an author will message me and say, ‘I’ve been following your reviews on goodreads’ and I don’t know if I should be happy about it. I’m part happy but then I always have a feeling no one really read those reviews and they are only saying that to get me to agree to a review. Sorry I’m so jaded. But I’m easy, I always ended up saying yes. Saying no to an author is a real struggle for me. I could be all jaded about all these nice things they say on their emails but even if I don’t believe them (they could be sending the same email to a hundred other bloggers) I always find myself saying yes. Unless I’m too busy and see the email a month later. I would be then too shy to respond on it. If you don’t get a response from me, well, that’s why.

 

I’m running out of things to say. I made a mental note before I went to bed but I guess the dreams washed the list away. Hopefully, I can write another one of this. I really want to make this a thing on my blog. But right now, I have to keep my fingers cross about it. I hope I didn’t bore you with my rambling. If anybody is reading this at all, that is.

 

 

Reflections Vol. 4: 27 Things I Will (Should) Never Forget

For the past few years, writing something like this has been a ritual. Last year though I wasn’t able to so this year, I’m bringing it back. I keep putting off writing something for my blog’s Reflection Corner for a month now so decided to incorporate them, thus the title.

1. God created me (well, technically my parents did), and that’s a blessing.
2. Prayer and devotion is the most important meal of the day.
3. Mothers knows best, even if at times it doesn’t feel like it.
4. You are a human being, therefore be humane.
5. While there’s life, there’s hope. As long as you have hope, you have life.
6. It is not stupid to commit mistakes, but repeating them over and over is.
7. Before judging other people, try to walk first in their shoes.
8. Sharing is caring. But not everything is meant to be shared.
9. The words panaginip & pangarap means the same in English but not to me. (ctto: don’t remember who said it but it kinda stuck and I agree)
10. Money doesn’t equate happiness.
11. Problems should be faced and not be Facebooked.
12. It’s not about how you look, but how you see; Not about how your hear but how you listen.
13. Things go wrong so that you’ll be able to appreciate when they go right.
14. Writing is not easy. But it’s always the rock of comfort I’ll run to when all else fails.
15. You can never be truly alone if you can talk to yourself.
16. Every morning you wake up is a reason to be thankful.
17. Feeling is something you don’t play with.
18. Understanding and Agreeing are totally different thing.
19. Always say NEVER. Never lose hope. Never quit. Never lose faith. Never give up.
20. Positive thoughts can work magic. You only got to try. And trust.
21. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and life is a matter of perspective.
22. Confidence gives us courage. Courage gives us strength. You should never go out on a battle without it.
23. Fight for what you believe is right even if you have to fight alone.
24. If you want to change, do it for yourself and not for other people.
25. Being older doesn’t always mean being right. Sometimes, you have to see things in the eyes of a child to truly understand.
26. You’re voice online doesn’t have a tone. Never underestimate how even a simple BRB can be misunderstood.
27. Decisions should not be made when you’re angry.

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Jumbled Thoughts: Reflections of the Week Vol. 3

Lately, there’s about a couple of friends who asked why I don’t blog anymore and said that they are waiting for the next one. I didn’t know that there are people who actually read them and waste time on my shared thoughts. Hahaha! So now here I am. I don’t really know how to say it because lately my head is in a big mess of confused and jumbled thoughts. There are however a few things that can’t be left unsaid, so I’m bringing back my reflections corner. Here’s a few things I reflect upon when I looked back on the last few weeks…

1. Whatever was said and shared confidently in private should remain with confidence in private.
2.Problems shared are half solved. The another half have to be acted upon or ignore it until the problem die a natural death.
3. There’s a comfort in confiding to a stranger, that because they don’t know you there wouldn’t be judgement, but just an ear to listen.
4.But yeah, maybe not all strangers will do that, well at least they don’t really know you and you can just say you don’t care and brush it off as an experience.
5. It’s still best to trust your instinct when it comes to who to trust and who to … Hate? Nah, just people who not to get too comfortable with.
6. Again, I’ve proven that time is not the test of true friendship. Trials are.
7. Friends are essential part of your being. It’s easier to walk the extra mile knowing they are there, ready to help you up when you fall.
8. Loosen up. Once in a while it’s good to just let yourself go with the flow. A little fun and a little goofing around is good for you.
9. It’s nice to know that I can still shock people.
10. Paasa. I so hate that word. We have control over our lives. It’s not someone else’s fault if you cling with hope over something.
11. I like people who are passionate over their dreams, goals and ideals. Because I am.
12. Moving on might be a decision, but letting go is a process.
13. Leaving the past where it belong doesn’t mean never looking back. Opening your door to both the past and the future and seeing them without the pain, and sadness that was there once was actually a refreshing experience.
14. Maturity doesn’t come with age (but with experience). So is being ‘cool’.
15. Your words are like double edge word. Be careful of what your lips utter. Or in another case, what your hands will type in the keyboard.
16. Accepting your weakness is where you begin to find your strengths.
17. Never under estimate the effect of the Super Moon to your sanity.
18. There are things you can’t share without ending up liking each other and forming an inevitable bond of friendship.
19. Some things are not meant to be shared.

20. Technology is both a blessing and a curse.

21. The human brain and emotion is still the most fascinating subject to analyze and discuss. And politics would be next.
22. Yeah, not many people will agree with that last one and just regard me as boring.

Well, this is probably my longest self reflection thus far. You probably agree some, smile some, shook your head some… I just wish  you didn’t fell asleep. That’s all for now folks.

~valerie shyne~

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Reflections of the Week Vol. 2

Since I can’t blog much and I don’t know what to blog either, I’m here again for my week’s reflection which is suppose to be posted last week but I forgot. Lets see….

1. I just learned recently that there is such a thing as “amoy office” pala. When i came home the other week my cousin told me, “ate ang bango mo naman”. me: mabango? ano bang amoy ko? my cousin answered. “Amoy office.” don’t ask me though what kind of smell that is ‘coz i don’t know either.

2. Discipline is a habit. It just a matter of getting used to doing it and you’ll be able to even when no one tells you.

3.Gentlemen these days are endangered specie.

4.I discovered a new accent in the english language.. the Tagalog accent. and well, it sound a bit weird. And i guess, a month or two and I’ll be singing the same tune.

5. Your attitude and upbringing could help you do your job better. Like I for example doesn’t like waiting that much. Because of that I really try my best to not make those people who are in need of my service wait.

6.Disclaimer for the above: but no matter how hard you try the one above, there are still people who are very stubborn; people who at your bad mood could make you really feel annoyed.

7. Not all people have patience to teach. there are two people in our office that i find really commendable. when you ask about something you don’t know how to do, they patiently explain it. not just to plainly answer your question but to make everything about it clear enough.

8. when you’re all dizzy and sleepy, you could forgot that you are not allowed to speak tagalog and pay 3 pesos.

9.Will is the only thing you needed to be able to do want you wanted.

10. If your piss off at somebody, and you can’t hold your thoughts yet don’t wanna hurt anybody, you can just shut your mouth up, concentrate in whatever it is you’re doing, scream all the words you wanted to say in your mind as if she can hear you and soon.. you’ll find yourself calming down. believe me, it worked.

11. hmm. i forgot the next thing that i should be saying.. so i guess some other time…

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Reflections of the Week

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Reflections of the week

Sep 17, ’10 7:06 AM for shy’s contacts

I haven’t blog about anything at long for quite sometime now, so i decided to drop by before my account gets forgotten.. again.hmm…

1. Mahirap mag-work, pero masaya, something you can call as self-fulfillment.

2. Inspirations can be found everywhere. Kahit sa gitna nang nag-a-arguento at nag-aaway na mga tao.

3. Pwede mong takbuhin mula Ayala Realty (katabi nang POEA) hanggang Jolibee Plaza sa loob nang 10 minutes kung ayaw mong ma-late.. and yeah yan ay dahil nasiraan ang bus.

4. dapat pala paghandaan mo ang maaring pagkasira nang bus dahil maari itong mangyari araw-araw.

5. Kapag 9:00 ang start nang work mo, late ka na kapag 9:01 ka dumating pero hindi kung dadating ka nang 9:00 and 59 seconds

6.It’s a good feeling when people look beyond your physical appearance and believe your worth something beyond that.

7. You have to speak in english when the clock strikes 1 o ‘clockpm or else you would be paying five peso for every tagalog word spoken.

8. Being careful is important, especially when you’re preparing a cheque or else be ready for the 3rd world war with a client.

9. When someone is saying that you have to stop what you’re doing, you should listen even if you love doing that thing so much. it’s because that person might not be really putting you down nor discouraging you. they are merely helping you face the reality you didn’t want to accept.

10. I thought people who turn away with their dreams are losers, weak, I was wrong. because i’ve learned that it’s harder to turn your back on something you love. it will take you enormous effort to do so. sometimes it’s even easier to give it another try than to forget all about it but then you have to be strong and face the music. Life goes on and you must too.

11. Accepting a fact is hard specially when you have been in denial for quite sometime. But when you do, you will be able to take  even the bad outcomes lightly without feeling a hint of bitterness.

12. Letting go and Letting God is an important part of facing your struggles.

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