MOVING ON

I would have seen this film on the big screen but something abrupt happened with the relationship I had with a previous regular date who I taught would be one of my enduring partners here in New York City for some time. But we parted ways, which led to my decision to watch this on its DVD format during 2 weekends when I was doing my part-time job taking care of a retired elderly man. I heard about this film from other unusual sources, being someone who loves unusual movies from other countries. And so I sought out ways to finally watch it as soon as I managed to get over the grief over the loss of the presence of someone I had always wanted to be with me.  My efforts were soon rewarded; I wasn't expecting an ending for a film as soporific as this one. Be aware that this is not an easy film to watch because of its many long moments when no dialogues nor monologues could be heard. You'd wonder what's happening and you'll get to think about other things that are more im

There is one way to know that you are doing exactly what God wants you to do: you will be at peace. Not every day, not all the time, but even in the midst of hard times and confusion you will feel good about what you are doing. Even when it seems like you are getting nowhere, you will know there is absolutely nothing else on earth you can do other than what you are doing. ( Iyanla Vanzant ) I was meaning to write this last night but a long phone talk with a good business partner got in the midst while I was about to share here the details, even briefly. I was being bothered by the thought that I couldn't do as much as I could after hearing someone whom I don't know personally is expected to die so soon from the ravages of cancer. She is a mom, the sister-in-law of a friend from high school years. My friend's flying today with his daughter to be with his wife who has been away for at least a month in Los Angeles to attend to the woman who's dying. I wanted to shar

I've been having brief discussions with some people I've met who behave toward me as if I'm a leper or that I'm just taking them for a ride. This situation is particularly true especially when they realize I'm working hard and focused in building my business (so my goals would be accomplished now or sooner), and that I'd like them to consider exploring this opportunity, specifically with Market America ( www.shop.com/jeromebaladad ) to become entrepreneurs themselves (or share the idea to their followers). Most of these people are religious or those who belong to some types of  organizations that they think and feel are much bigger than themselves. Along the way, they express, although not necessarily in the most verbal way, how much they despise everything about being in business, as if  it's the business person's fault that supply and demand of materials we love and look for these days behave most strangely (hello? such situations have been around

The New York Times article is found here . I find it fascinating that certain athletes show surprising behaviors that normally won't be observed generally from most of them. I mean, why would an athlete give up a well-paying sports gig for something that (s)he really wants to do in the first place? That got me into thinking on what drives these athletes (and other professionals) to work and be engaged primarily just for pay reasons. 

Watch the video first, and I hope you'd get surprised, somewhat by what you'd see. What I thought was most disturbing about this video is that portion when the protagonist had to resort to self-destructing activities after having been discriminated against with, directly and indirectly, for sustained periods of time by people who are supposed to be natural members of his support group, loved ones, and family. It's that disconnect, that sense that you're not being accepted and loved for who you are, and you start believing what they think or tell you about yourself. And of course, we can't help but believe such lies for so long. In the process of believing, we know deep in hearts who we really are as individuals who are deserving to receive love, understanding, care from those who matter to us.  It's in the process of realization, in the process of clarifying life's many complicated situations when we see that such values can't be given us and, consequ

Well, I used to be actively engaged in doing Human Resources work in a previous phase of my life. I realized that among so many things, that my own personal unhappiness with the kind of life that I was leading before has provided me the pathway to move on from leading a corporate lifestyle that paid me well. This has led me to a life direction that most people around me have thought to be fancy or probably temporary. The position opened up so many opportunities to me, most of which I remember have seized to my advantage. But I would gradually realize the seeming absence of a strong sense of inspiration from all these endeavors I had been doing in my previous life back in my mother country, the Philippines. Now, I understand, or have slowly understood why I was always feeling and thinking I was always unhappy, and given the fact that I've grown to discover over the years that I'm not exactly an extrovert (I'm really more of an ambivert socially and emotionally, which defin

Post by Amazing Things in the World . The video above would hopefully give a wider perspective to someone's life that was cut short so quickly. Or was it really like that? And it seems that as I acquire more years in my life, I'll be continuing to deal with hearing the news of the deaths of people who are known to me. Some of them have been my loved ones, relatives, friends, former co-workers, classmates, and acquaintances (including those I've kept friendships with mainly thru online means). I could count a big number now in my Facebook friends' list, of those who have passed on, and the number seems to be increasing each year. Before Halloween this year (or days before the traditional feasts of All Saints' and All Souls Days), some other friends have informed me and I have learned about the deaths of people I've known from online means. Paeng, (Rafael Manikan Solidum, M.D.), a friend from college years, was among those who have moved on from t

In my neighborhood in Stapleton, Staten Island can be found a number of old buildings, including churches that have been around many, many decades before I came here. I took the chance to take their pictures and share them here, which opportunity came when I took a hike one (apparently) cold autumn day from St. George to my house on Beach Street. I took the St. Paul's Avenue path, which opened views to these churches along the route, the sites of which normally I would just see while I'm in the car or on the bus to & fro my daily destinations.  I know at least 2 more churches, one of which is just a block away from where I live. I'll take the chance again to shoot their pictures in another time. It was chilly the time I took these shots and I realized I was wearing thin clothes, and I was soon feeling sick when I got home. Remember to visit and check out these places when you get the chance to come here in Stapleton, Staten Island, be

The admonition above showed up in today's happy hint from The Reach Approach, of which I've subscribed. I actually use one of the videos on 'Asking for Nothing and Receiving Everything' for my usual daily yoga practice, where I've gained so much clarity of mind and opportunities to exercise myself , and I've made some insights into my own existence here (i.e., why things happen this way and not that way, why am I alive now, etc etc etc). And in the process of continuing to do my yoga practice, I've shared into the whole universe my questions, my frustrations, my appreciation, my dreams, my longings and I've seen how and when the universe responded accordingly to my actions. Actually, I'm guessing that among the blessings I've received included this particular admonition. Before I read it, I was toiling on cleaning the mess that my weekend caregiving client did in the bathroom before I showed up early in the morning. It was a disgusting, terribl

Why do I like to get myself involved in continuing the present dialogues people out there have about this topic? It's mainly because I'm involve in it, on a parttime basis, whenever I do a weekend job as a homehealth aide to a retired lawyer, currently. I'm involved in the healthcare of a single person together with other individuals so that someone would continue to live a quality life. I gather important lessons in the process. And I do hope each one of us who have been left here by those of our beloveds who have passed on, will have and lead quality lives even when we grow older, less healthier than we are as compared when we were younger and more healthier. These are the points that are being missed out and not highlighted in the discussions on healthcare practices, I gather. (Bear with me as I continue with my grumbles on this turning-out-to-be disgusting topic on hand....) And I happened to have many business partners ( in my Market America / Shop.com online dist

Recently, I was reminded again of the need to keep arms length distance from friends and other relatives who behave, whenever you interact with them, like they're mocking my life right in my face in mostly silent manner, and who are unappreciative of what I'm doing with my life. Of course, it's never easy doing these steps because I'm always reminded of the fun times I've spent with these individuals. Most of these people are actually good people, too, i.e. they didn't kill someone. But they're basically sick people who enjoy being in their miserable lives, seek and highlight the negative in life, more than anything else. And I'm realizing I'll be getting more sick if I will have to spend more time with them. I'm not supposed to be their therapist, nor someone with whom they can dump on with their difficulties in life, even if we keep these friendships. Admittedly, I lead a difficult life myself, and can't imagine getting much help from the

Some postings I read become a source of inspiration in my efforts to move on on a daily basis. A former teacher of mine, with whom I'm connected and in touch with on Facebook, shared her thoughts on 'Motherhood', to which I responded and shared my thoughts. The ensuing exchange has shown me how my teachers have had really known me better than I thought them to be when I was way younger. Read the exchange between her and myself below, and feel free to share here your thoughts. SomeWhen you are a mother, the life of your children is the clock on which your life spins. Motherhood is a 24/7 job no one can shirk from UNLESS SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ABSOLUTELY UNMANAGEABLE. No one in her right mind would pride herself living a single life away from them, enjoying single-life liberties while her children live elsewhere mothered by a kin. You cannot just leave your children w ith a next of kin and live elsewhere, if you can most certainly let them live with you, citing the a

I also have a similar posting in one of my other blogs. I was ready to get really angry over this recent discovery I made when I chanced the pages of Scribd.com via a link I saw on my Facebook.com page. Surprise! Surprise! I've seen my book being listed on eBay.com in Australia and I knew I've not been earning money from it at all. It's really becoming so amusing and frustrating at the same time. I figured I can get even one way or another.  I'll keep writing and moving on from this experience. It is becoming a silly career to become a book author these days----all the others who can't write books but know enough technology would skim your work for their own profits, and without even saying a word or two of thanking authors themselves, even indirectly. Really, it's becoming too bad. But I'll keep writing. I'll write more about the most outrageous topics that others won't even dare write about. I prefer to write about the more personal, anyway. It w

I first read this from a Facebook posting and recalled it today while figuring out tactics to use in doing results producing activities. Most probably, the original posting came from here ( Be Selfish, Seek Pleasure, Avoid Pain ). I've enthusiastically shared this admonishment to some close friends during a usual gathering for a hearty meal and an inspiring conversation among friends. They laughed aloud at the idea, which I made sure I shared with them as I wanted them to be always happy. Actually, in my mind, they're the perfect examples of how this admonition is best put into action. I see how they're leading their lives, generally, in this manner. Of course, they deny it, which is normal. Who likes to be told "you're selfish." Or that you only seek pleasure in life, more than anything else. Or you're being considered cowardly because you always avoid pain, even the mere mention of it. We were told to think of others as well as we were growing up, and t

By taking time to read the many books of the Bible, you actually don't automatically gather tips that will help you in your endeavors to move on in the many phases happening in your life now. It actually takes time to be silent and be away from the humdrum of everyday life, and then to start reading pages of the Bible. I've been doing that for many years now, whereby I read at least a chapter or so each night before I go to bed. And I remain dumbfounded during many moments and ask myself the meaning and purpose of so many of those passages I have read.  Actually, some passages are very easy to read and understand, if you've been a book reader for some time before you started reading the Bible earnestly on your own. The Bible, admittedly, is not an easy read (mainly because it uses a classic style of writing that's not so familiar to most who would rather be doing something else rather than read the Bible, and you get a sense right away that its books were written by s

Beyond the Finish Line - NYTimes.com : Some questions here that I have before you go about thinking if this posting will be worth your time and get distracted again from whatever it is you're doing before this.  How would you like to feel really good now?  How do you want to deal with life changes?  Do you want to have more ideas about moving on that you can use in designing steps in handling some concerns you have in specific areas of your life?  How would you like to be able to take charge of your life now?  Do you want to be infected with courage from someone who has actually shown the value in most respects of his life?  Or do you just want to know more about pursuing a meaningful, purposeful life amidst all the challenges and difficulties you're facing now?  This is, as what can be expected, very long but worth spending your precious time on it. Even bit by bit each day, go and read this article from the New York Times. 'via Blog this'

Why was I enthralled by this film by Noah Baumbach? I think it's probably due to very close similarities to some good people I know whose characters (or characterizations based on real life characters) have been presented in this movie. The principal character's named 'Frances Ha' and she's an artist (doing dance, which is probably the most challenging field of the arts that an artist may want to pursue) who continues to develop and share her art and craft to those willing to watch her perform, allow her to perform, and grant her their time to grow and develop as an artist. But a lot of practical realities in life get in the way of her life such that she seemed unable to bring her art to the fore. People around her mistake her for somebody else, other than being a dance artist. Most probably, these people have their own share of troubles themselves with what they want to do with their respective lives. And we the viewers get enthralled (or annoyed) with what they d

Of course, I'm perfectly happy that same-sex marriages are now officially recognized by the US Federal government after the Supreme Court of the USA has come up with its decision that came days before the annual Gay Pride Parade. I recall now the conversations that my late good friend John Kreckler made  had with me about the idea of being in a same-sex marriage. You may have to come to think of it, as he and I would have been married if he's still alive today. He's basically monogamous, and viewed marriage as a sanctifying union between two persons. We had gotten to know each other really well such that we were sharing many moments of being together, sad or otherwise. We had so many concerns in our friendship and we couldn't proceed because something was holding us. I have told him about my long term partnership with someone who is still based in the Philippines. And he knew so many other facts about me, which I knew he acknowledged and accepted to be not getting in th

Banned TED Talk: Nick Hanauer "Rich people don't create jobs" - YouTube : Gratefully, I am inspired by what I heard from this guy. Yes, what he's been expounding on is truthful and factual. However, those statements are very political as well, and so I can understand why this talk has been banned (if it's true that it was indeed banned). But no matter what your political leanings are and your attitude toward his ideas, they are not really relevant here. Just consider more seriously that he's actually talking from experience. As an entrepreneur myself (I have online businesses--- my online bookstore , my eBay.com store , my writings works , my shop.com business with Market America , among other online storefronts that I grow and maintain), I can only rightfully claim that I'm mostly a capitalist myself, i.e. I make use of the small amounts of money I make from my part-time jobs to finance and grow my businesses. To-date, I've not gone out of my way t

For some reason, I've always have called this song "I lift to you", instead of its correct title (I Look To You). It's a poignant reminder of that most powerful entity who reigns supreme amidst all these most bothersome concerns we have in our hearts and minds. Some of us are very familiar about the narrative shared in the song. After all the challenges we've faced, the failures we've earned despite our best efforts, and the difficulties that continue hounding us as we continue being alive, we can only choose to turn to the real source of power, truth, beauty, justice, healing, love, forgiveness, energy, order, learning and awesomeness. Whatever you call this entity (known here as God), you can be assured that you can always turn to this most dependable and trustworthy source. And from personal experience, I've always been shown the right path to this source, every time I get the chance to listen to this song.