http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:15:34 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en WRITING has always been a cathartic experience for me. It started when I was about seven. I was extremely shy and did not take to making new friends easily. Alone time was wonderful to me -- I could draw in my little corner without interruption, daydream about being a doctor ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/07/02/my-ode-to-writing/ This post may contain spoilers. ;) FIND what motivates you and use it to your advantage! We are motivated by different things. To get fit, one could be motivated by the love for exercise, another by the desire to fit into those 24-inch jeans again. To get our own home, one ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/06/17/what-i-learned-from-kung-fu-panda/ THERE are a lot of quotes that can help push us to do better. Perhaps there are a million quotes that talk about going beyond your comfort zone, reaching for the stars, doing your best. Of those many quotes, a few will connect with you deeply. And those few that ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/05/30/become-extraordinar/ BEFORE you throw out old magazines, grab a pair of scissors and go through the pages again. When you spot an image or article that interests you, cut it out. Is that print ad on a Mediterranean cruise appealing to you? Do those arms of Jessica Alba's make you wish ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/05/23/cut-it-dream-it-claim-it/ "PLEASE get ready for the morning exercise," the student's sleepy voice would say through the gymnasium's speakers. My schoolmates and I would assemble at the gym every morning at 7.30 to sing the national anthem and morning prayers, and do the morning exercise. Why, we would silently wail, why do we ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/05/12/move-to-be-happy/ WHEN was the last time you opted for a conversation face-to-face over a phone call or an e-mail? Admittedly, keeping in touch with friends through text messaging and e-mail is more convenient. You don't need to set a date to converse. In between meetings, in between chores, you and a ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/04/24/make-time-for-face-to-face-conversations/ POSITIVITY is a frame of mind. There are people who are cheery and optimistic by nature, while there are those who immediately resort to cynicism in a situation. I've always believed that happiness is a choice, so optimism is a choice as well. How does one see the glass half-full? Some ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/04/17/pay-it-forward-positivity/ ONE mark of a good friendship is reliability -- knowing you can depend on each other no matter what. There are friends we hardly see because of distance or conflicting schedules. But when we do make the time to sit down with them, it feels like we just saw them ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/04/10/staying-in-touch-nurturing-friendship/ ESCAPING to the movies is one way I cope with a hectic day. Whether it's getting settled in the theater seat with a bucket of popcorn on my lap or eating ice cream out of the container while I press "PLAY" on my DVD, watching a movie always puts me ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/03/17/movies-for-your-happy-zone/ DESSERT is happy food, but it often is the most banned part of the meal. Isn't desserts spelled "stressed" backwards after all? Truth is you can have dessert. Why fight a happy (if not THE happiest) part of your meal? Here are ten reasons why you should get dessert: 1. The ... http://blogs.inquirer.net/happynest/2008/02/29/10-reasons-why-you-should-get-dessert/