It took me a while to realize that November has gone by and I wasn’t able to post anything that month. Darn it. I was hoping to at least blog once a month this year, when I realized that I won’t be able to post as much as I used to. Not just because of life, which always gets in the way, but also because I feel like there isn’t much to write about. Here, anyway. I write a lot of emails and stuff for work, and I still struggle with my fiction writing, but writing here has been a bit slow compared to the previous years. In a way, it’s good because that means a lot of my angst (aka #hugot) has passed, but I also really miss writing and ruminating about life, here.
But look, it’s December. I was a little bit in denial about it last week when it finally rolled around, but I couldn’t deny that the lights were brighter and the air is cooler (my poor lungs) and my weekends are slowly being filled with parties from different groups of people. Whoa, Christmas, you’re almost here. And whoa, 2016, you’re also almost here.
Last Friday, I was at the last CFC gathering for the year and Kuya Bubi showed a video about slowing down for Christmas. How Christmas is always a stressful time for everyone because of the holiday rush, but really, Christmas – or Advent, rather – is a time when we should slow down. Slow down so we’d have a chance to observe and participate in life. Slow down to have time with the people we love. Slow down, because Advent isn’t about rushing, and Christmas isn’t about making sure everyone has presents. Slow down.
My Advent last year was crazy because of work, but I remember excitedly going home so I could spend some time with my nephew, who was just two months back then. I remember finally letting my thoughts stop when I get home, as I go to their room and sit by this little boy, and listen as my breath slows down as I watch him sleep. Slow down, because grace isn’t a burden, and God comes as a baby because grace is weightless.
I like that thought: grace is weightless. :)
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Right Here, Right Now.
Reading
Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon by Edgar Calabia Samar. Friends have been raving about this, and I finally got copies at the last book fair because the books were on sale and the author was having a signing. The first time I tried reading this, I had a hard time with the Filipino, but now it’s not so hard. (Kind of funny how it’s a bit hard to read in my native language, huh.) I am enjoying this so far, and there was this one part that kind of creeped me out last night that I was almost hesitant to venture out of the bedroom to get something from the other room. Heh.
Writing
This blog post. Other than this, I have two short stories in progress and that novel. I write when I can, which isn’t much yet because I want to get all the work stuff out of the way until my vacation. 11 calendar days left!
Listening
I have a Christmas playlist up on Spotify, and that’s been on repeat since December rolled around. Today, I discovered the Pentatonix’s version of Mary, Did You Know? and I got the chills. So good.
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Thinking
That it’s not so easy to do portion control over food again after months of…well, of not doing it. I signed up for Pickle Food Co this week, and it’s just the first day of the meal plan and part of me is already trying to distract myself from hunger. Haha! And there was this little birthday celebration at work today so I kind of cheated already. Oops. But to be fair, the food they provide is pretty filling — the containers are heavy and full of food. I’m planning to do this for 2 weeks for now because Christmas to try it out, then go back to it again by January. :)
Smelling
This essential oil of sorts that I bought from Rockwell last weekend. I forgot the name of the store, but it’s near Fully Booked. :D It’s called Breathe, which is supposed to be good for respiratory problems, like asthma. It smells very clean, and it has this little menthol kick. I think it’s helping, and I really hope it’s working because I don’t want to take too much Salbutamol for this slight wheezing I had early today.
Wishing
That vacation would come soon? Haha. To finish all the work stuff that I need to finish before vacation rolls around, really. And that my lungs would behave for the rest of the holiday season.
Wearing
And old YFC shirt and jammies, because this lola is so ready to go to bed.
Loving
That I have time again, especially after the whirlwind that is October and November! I’ll probably just write about these things in my year-end recap, but October and November were mostly for school, and Filipino ReaderCon. Now I have time again, and there are still so many exciting things that are yet to happen, like this:
We have some theater actors read excerpts from our books! Coming soon at romancepodcast.com! Subscribe, please? :) Fall Like Rain is the pilot episode. :)
Wanting
For my internet to stop acting up. It’s been weird the past weeks, and it’s starting to get annoying.
Needing
A decent author profile photo. The profile photos I use were from years ago, and this is the second time that I have to provide a high-resolution photo and I have nothing. Need to take this branding thing seriously now.
Feeling
Calm, which is saying a lot after all the stress of the past months. There’s still stuff I have to do and people to talk to and meet-ups I have to schedule. Perhaps making the decision to slow down is already the first step to, well, slow down?
