PETER Pan -- he's the boy who can fly, the boy who refuses to grow up, the boy who chooses to stay in Neverland and fight pirates, hang out with mermaids and fairies. He's a symbol of mischief, but just as well a model for maintaining that childlike wonder and eagerness to embrace every adventure that comes your way.
There is at least one Peter Pan in our life. He may be your little brother who constantly jumps from behind a closet to surprise you. She may be your perky friend who seems to walk on sunshine. They are people who keep that flame of being childlike alive inside them. Sometimes it gets irritating, especially when it seems like they're not taking life as seriously as you are. But the truth is, without them, your own sense of optimistic balance gets thrown off.
There are several Peter Pans in my life -- my husband, my Dad and my 14-year-old cousin. My husband complements my quiet, reserved personality with his outspoken, playful one. When I'm getting too uptight, he always reminds me to take it easy, to chill out, to just enjoy things as they are. His consistent embracing of his childlike wonder keeps my own in check. My Dad is another Peter Pan. He's just so funny. He is business-like most of the time and quite reserved (I got that from him), but when he cracks a joke and acts "makulit" (silly) with the family, I know he's very much young at heart. And because of that, he keeps us young at heart too. Finally, my kid cousin is also my Peter Pan. Perhaps it is because of her age -- her interests are fascinating, her childlikeness truly genuine, and she's great to hang out with.
These three are the Peter Pans in my life. They keep me young and happy. They encourage me to embrace different adventures that get thrown my way with great optimism. By their example, I am reminded not to lose my sense of childlike wonder.
Who's your Peter Pan?
July 2009 Archives
PETER Pan -- he's the boy who can fly, the boy who refuses to grow up, the boy who chooses to stay in Neverland and fight pirates, hang out with mermaids and fairies. He's a symbol of mischief, but just as well a model for maintaining that childlike wonder and eagerness to embrace every adventure that comes your way.
There is at least one Peter Pan in our life. He may be your little brother who constantly jumps from behind a closet to surprise you. She may be your perky friend who seems to walk on sunshine. They are people who keep that flame of being childlike alive inside them. Sometimes it gets irritating, especially when it seems like they're not taking life as seriously as you are. But the truth is, without them, your own sense of optimistic balance gets thrown off.
There are several Peter Pans in my life -- my husband, my Dad and my 14-year-old cousin. My husband complements my quiet, reserved personality with his outspoken, playful one. When I'm getting too uptight, he always reminds me to take it easy, to chill out, to just enjoy things as they are. His consistent embracing of his childlike wonder keeps my own in check. My Dad is another Peter Pan. He's just so funny. He is business-like most of the time and quite reserved (I got that from him), but when he cracks a joke and acts "makulit" (silly) with the family, I know he's very much young at heart. And because of that, he keeps us young at heart too. Finally, my kid cousin is also my Peter Pan. Perhaps it is because of her age -- her interests are fascinating, her childlikeness truly genuine, and she's great to hang out with.
These three are the Peter Pans in my life. They keep me young and happy. They encourage me to embrace different adventures that get thrown my way with great optimism. By their example, I am reminded not to lose my sense of childlike wonder.
Who's your Peter Pan?
IT'S raining again. The raindrops are tapping on my window pane, urging me to get up and enjoy the cold. But I AM enjoying the cold under the sheets. The chill takes no for an answer, and before I know it, I'm at the breakfast table, eating hot champorado with tuyo flakes stirred in. And I'm happy. The grey sky outside no longer looks dreary, as my hot chocolate rice porridge warms my belly and my spirit. Happy food.
It's hot on a Sunday afternoon. Way too hot. The sun seems to penetrate every nook and cranny of our home. A refresher is in order. The freezer is opened, and out comes tubes of ice candy. I had frozen them the night before, in case of heated emergencies like this. Avocado was mashed, milk and sugar mixed in, then funneled into ice bags, their tops twisted in tight knots. Frozen overnight, a delight the next day. We feast on the avocado ice candy. The chill comforts us, and the sun is forgotten. Happy food.
It's getting too complicated at work. The paperwork has piled up and the meetings are overlapping. The need to simplify is getting intense, and home is the best place to get it. I take out a bag of pan de sal and a can of condensed milk. Each bread is torn open, then drizzled with the sweet, sweet milk. I bite into one condensed milk sandwich and sigh. I am a kid again. Life is simple. Life is sweet. It's not as complicated as we think it is. The soft and crusty texture of the pan de sal complemented by the gooeyness of the milk assures me all will be good. Happy food.
There are certain foods that we associate with comfort and happiness. These three are mine. What's your happy food?
START the day with a smile, you've heard that before. It sets the mood for your day. How about going to bed with a smile? It's comforting to drift off to sleep in calm, happy mood. It'd make getting up with a smile easier too.
How does one go to bed smiling? That will depend on what activities happen right before your bedtime. It'll differ from person to person, but here's what I've learned so far:
Don't watch the news before bedtime. Keeping updated on current events is good, but I've found that all the bad news I watch keep me up late at night. I end up talking about what I watch, share my worries and think about the awful realities lurking in the city. Not all news are bad, but when the bedroom light is turned off, my imagination works overtime. And so I avoid watching the news and...
Avoid watching movies or reading books that are too heavy or too scary. The degree of a movie's heaviness or scariness varies from person to person. The thing is they can keep the wheels in your head turning and turning... again, your imagination works overtime. That's what happens to me anyway. Or maybe I'm just a scaredy cat.
Resolve fights. Don't go to bed angry with anyone, even yourself. Perhaps you can make up before the day ends. If it seems impossible, park your emotions for tomorrow and recharge for the night. Who knows, the night may cool your heads and tomorrow will be a better time to patch things up. Go to bed knowing everything will work out tomorrow.
Say a prayer of thanksgiving. Make a mental list of the good things that happened to you today. Say "thank you" for each one of them. Remembering the day's happy times will definitely put you in a happier, calmer mood.
Do some light exercise. Do some light stretches and lunges before going to bed. Rotate those shoulders, move your head from side to side, take deep breaths. Release your body of the day's tensions, and you'll feel much lighter and happier as you climb into bed.
When you go to bed with a smile, the day seems so much better than it is too. You'd realize the day wasn't so bad at all. Be thankful for that. Then look forward to the morning, when you'd wake up with a good sleep and a good smile. :)
