Ang Islander Kong Tsinelas

A couple of weeks ago, pumasok ako sa isang coffee shop to pass the time (dahil i'm waiting na matapos ang pinapagawa kong corporate-give-aways). Nag-i-scan ako sa journal ko to get inspiration for blog to post.

I wear my usual thing. shirt, shorts and slippers. At dahil probinxa naman, hindi ko ine-expect na may mga customer na dala ang arrogance of most Big City Dwellers.

Pag pasok ko, tinignan ako ng dalawang badets (bading na teen-ager) mula ulo hanggang paa. and from my perepheral vision, nakita kong tumaas ang kilay nila, maybe wondering anong ginagawa ko sa loob ng coffee shop. Baka inisip nila na magso-solicit ako or something.

"kumusta naman ang Islander," i heard one of them said, sabay tawa ng dalawang baklita sa couch.

gusto ko rin sanang matawa non. hahaha. suot ko ang Islander kong tsinelas (my other pair of slippers are only used for swimming). at kung iku-kumpara nga ako sa dalawang badet na naka-havaianas, muka talaga akong gusgusin.

hindi ko alam kung magkano ang isang pares ng havaianas. i never bothered to ask. i know i can afford it. but why should i?

Keep one small independent corner of your mind
that calls nonsense by its right name,
that holds to the things you know to be true,
and that laughs at pretentiousness
even when it is exciting and fashionable with your contemporaries.
-------------John Gardner, Commence Address to Sidwell Friends School

sa konting barya na natitipid ko by choosing Islander over Havianas, or Carter Briefs over Bench. or kung ano-ano pang bagay for consumption, is the same money i spend for things that truly matters.

Maraming taong bumibili para sa gutom nilang Ego. Busog naman ang Ego ko (halata naman sa kayabangan ko, hahaha), kaya ibang bagay ang pinagkakagastusan ko.

Gumastos ako ng tuition para sa isang subject na hindi required pero gusto ko lang matutunan (siempre, continuous ang gastos dahil pumapasok ako). Gumastos ako para makapunta sa isang lugar na hindi ko pa napupuntahan (to add to my Tour Belt). Ngaun, may pinag-iipunan ako para i-donate sa CRIBs Foundation, isang bahay ampunan (kung sinong interested jan, kontakin ako, hehehe).

Again, hindi masama na magsuot ng havaianas, o magpagupit sa bench fixx instead sa f-salon. ang point ko lang, you have a deeper obligation to yourself to balance the material aspect with something more profound. and we all have at least a little social responsibility.

hala.

anu ba yan. kung ano-ano na ang na-ikwento ko dahil sa Islander kong tsinelas. Pero it really takes a lot of Kapal ng mukha at Tibay ng pagkatao to wear it in Starbucks (which i did last january 4, hahaha).

Kapal ng Orig. Tibay ng Orig. (uhm, makakakuha kaya ako ng endorsement revenue d2? hehehe).

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oi, seryoso ung alok ko sa Cribs Foundation ha. sinong gustong magparticipate, message me. n_n

The Right To Grow

Ito ang Unang Right, but it doesn't mean other (following) rights are inferior. Check this Preamble for intro, continue reading for explanation of this right.

Both partners must allow
Each other the freedom to grow
Even that freedom
Is a threat to the relationship

Pag pinipigilan ng isang partner na makamit ang fullest potential ng other party, pinapakawala nito ang pinaka “undermining force” sa isang relationship. Parang sinasabi nya: Dapat kang manatili kung sino mang gusto ko na maging ikaw. You must always stay the same. Ang purpose mo sa buhay ay kung ano man ang tingin ko dito. And your growth is a threat to me.

Ang paglalagay ng restrictions sa pagyabong ng kapareha mo ay isang malaking pagkakamali. Relationship should be a place where two people share the experience of helping each other become more than they were when their relationship started. Hindi ito kulungan. Hindi hostage ang partner, at hindi ransom ang Love na ginagamit na kondisyon as long as the other party stays the same.

And loving is not just permitting, tolerating, understanding and supporting. Sabi nga ni St. Exupery, “love is leading you gently back to yourself”. You should love NOT ONLY what the other is, but also what he can BECOME.

Pag naramdaman mo na may parte ka ng sarili mo na gustung-gusto mo pero napipilitan kang itago sa partner mo, then the relationship is in serious trouble. Hindi ba masakit, ang masabihan ka ng kapareha mo na “Pinigilan mo akong maging Ako.”

Threatening man sa simula, helping your partner grow and find himself always makes a relationship stronger. Ang partner ay magiging less dependent and less possessive. Mananatili sila sa relationship kasi gusto talaga nila na magsama. Kahit na malaya at may karapatan sila na magtagal o umalis, pinili nila na manatili and to grow old together.

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For R.M., hindi ako in-luv, hehehe, just sharing what i have that you want to learn. Photocredits to imShrimp from deviantart.

Tumble Turn

“You need to learn to exhale, through your nose, for 5 seconds.”
-------------Random Instructions I Got From Life

I’ve been swimming since I was kid. And sa school na pinasukan ko nung college, 2 semester ang required na swimming class (basic and advance). Pero last Saturday, around 4pm, dun ko lang nakita ng personal ang tumble-turn.

One of the trainees here in my workplace executed it gracefully. Siguro, it was one of Fate’s Grand Design for them to join me sa weekly swimming routine ko. And again, Life conspired for me to witness and learn.

I learned (and I’m getting better at this) to swallow my pride, and ask for instructions, kahit na mas mataas ang position (job) ko sa nagtuturo sa akin.

…that expelling carbon dioxide thru your nose prevents the water from going in, like removal of garbage from your life prevents other unwanted trash to come.

…to tighten up (bow your head, clip your knees near your chest), and brace yourself for the tumble and turn.

…that your hands should wave opposite of your turn, dahil balancing can make you stable, and prevents your head from hitting the wall.

…and that chlorine hurts your eyes, but still you need it open. And , next time, to buy yourself a goggle if you can.

…and that you can’t perfect it the first time, and that water will get into your mouth, into your nose, into your ears. But the more you do it, the lesser it (pain, suffering) happens.

…and after a LOT of hours, two red eyes, clogged ears and bloated tummy, you pull yourself out of the pool grinning…

You have that inner smile, not because there is a cutie in the pool, but because you learned… and that a hard-on didn’t count, coz what mattered is you’ve actually, genuinely grown.