Let’s say we forget every stress, in whatever form and shape that comes our way and indulge in SIMPLE PLEASURES that we can enjoy alone. This is much like what we want to do during that Extra Hour where we spend “me” time.

The Weekly Question #9:

What are the 5 simple pleasures that will give you, well, simple pleasures?

My answers:

Enjoy some candies all by myself (almost possible).

Have time enough to watch the sky change colors during sunset (possible).

Have time (and energy) for a leisurely morning walk. Once a week would do

Have time enough to finish a book without forgetting the plot or the page. (almost impossible)

Walking barefoot on the sand. This can evolve to a HHWW (with swaying arms) with hubby. Now this is probably a long shot but still, a simple pleasure.

Ahhh, I am thinking about these simple pleasures right now but these would have to wait for I have to indulge one simple pleasure I have forgotten to add, go to sleep.

Now, if only I can ask the hubby to tell the two younger kids watching a Formula One video with him to go sleep too, I would be happy indeed.

Post was written and time stamped for today, from July 19, 2008 10:37pm.

Napakagandang pagmasdan ang luntiang kapaligiran. Hindi masama ang pag-unlad kung ang kapaligiran ay hindi nakalimutang pagyamanin.

It is lovely to see a green environment. Progress is good but caring for the environment should NOT be forgotten.

Ngunit tila bagang madalas ang tao ay nakakalimot sa responsibilidad na nasa kanila, na nasa ating kamay ang pag-aalaga ng kalikasan.

But oftentimes, people forget that the responsibilities are theirs, ours, in taking care of the environment.

Kelan ba talaga tayo matututo? Magtatanda? Kapag may mga buhay nang nawala? Narito ang isang larawang mas malaki, medyo nakakasilaw lang sa liwanag, hehe.

When will we ever learn our lessons? When there are lives lost? Here is another photo, a bigger one of the same place but its a little bright.

We have just discussed about that EXTRA HOUR and most of the answers were to be spent this hour for themselves.

Now, since this is my birthday week, I would like to focus my question on thoughts related to birthday celebrations. So the Weekly Question for this week would be…

WEEKLY QUESTION # 8

How would you like to spend your special day, your birthday?

My answer:

This is the eve of my birthday. I am celebrating this special day with my only son Julian who was born seven years ago. Julian asked me the other day if I am going to work on our birthday. My answer was a resounding “YES”.

My reasons? I would not be doing anything at home so why bother being cooped up there, even if its my birthday. Hubby has work and doesn’t usually come home around 8pm. So yes, we will go to work.

By we I mean us since they go with me to my workplace.

We usually celebrate birthdays with mass offerings. We will still have a mass offered but we won’t be able to make on the specific day of my birthday.

Instead, we would celebrate our birthdays on the day after the said date where our schedules would allow us to go to mass and have dinner after that.

It is usually customary to have a big celebration on the 7th birthday but we decided to forego that since Julian doesn’t like to have a celebration. He will instead have a small celebration with the other children in his Work Behavior group on Wednesday in the center where I teach.

His choice. If it makes him happy, fine with me

What about you?

I have used this quote in a post I made with Photo Hunters Time theme in my special education blog. This gave me the inspiration to write the question for this week.

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“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.” -Rabindranath Tagore

In this busy world we live in, we do two or three things simultaneously. We cut back on our sleep. We clean the house while the food is simmering in the stove. We rush here and there. There never seem enough time to do all the things that have to be done. We never seem to have enough time.

Now I ask you this Weekly Question #7:

If we set aside an extra hour each day to do what we would rather do and not what we should be doing, what would you choose to do?

My answer:

If I have an extra hour each day, I would spend it with my husband and the children and for myself. My two younger children and I spend our days together because they home school but we spend this doing school work and learning.

With my husband, I will spend this time alone with him, just like when it was just the two of us. We spend time together daily, during breakfast or dinner and the whole three meals during weekends, watching a movie or TV series at home, working side by side, but most of the time, one or two kids are hovering around.

With my children, I would spend this time talking with them, exchanging jokes, listening to their thoughts and their dreams. We could probably spend this hour doing something creative, a project that we will enjoy doing.

With myself, I would spend this time, even just a few minutes, to reflect, to talk to God and to just “listen to my thoughts”.

Time is probably one of the greatest gifts we can ever give to anyone. How long does it take to express your love? To call your parents and asking how their day was? To send a text message to friends, greeting them?

Of course, the greatest gift we can ever give is love.

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing. - Brian Tracy

Ano nga ba ang Tatak Pinoy o Tatak Pilipino? Tila wala naman yata tayong sariling tatak o pagkaka-kilanlan bilang isang bansa dahil sa mga napakaraming impluwensiya natin.

What is the essence of a Filipino? It seems that we don’t have our own character as a people, as a distinct nation because we are the product of so many influences of different cultures and belief systems.

Pero sa kabila nito, dapat nating ipagmalaki ang ating mga naging ninuno, na sa kabila ng payak nilang pamumuhay, naging masigasig at malikhain sila.

Despite this, we should be proud of our Filipino ancestors, who despite their basic and simple way of living, they showed perseverance and creativity.

Ilang tatak Pinoy ang nakikita mo dito?

How many Filipino symbols can you find in this photo?

Kung minsan naiisip ko, parang gusto kong bumalik sa payak na pamumuhay tulad nito:

Sometimes I think about going back to the basics, like the one below:

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