Personal – Page 22

January 8, 2017January 8, 2017

Happy Birthday in Heaven

2 very important people in my life share the same birthday. When I realized that they have the same name day I realized they have a lot more in common than just the day they were born.

Ray Ray and my mom were both born on January 8th. They are both extremely loving, caring, and selfless people. They were both very outgoing and social, always the life of the party. They were both determined, hard working, and was everyone’s friend. They were both deeply loved by many, many people and that’s because they cared more about others than they did themselves. They would do anything for the ones they loved.

Mom doing what we do best in the Philippines – Eat!

Happy birthday, Mommy. It is your first birthday in Heaven and I’m sure you’re hosting a huge party! We here on Earth miss you so much. I thinking about you all the time, but especially lately. Things changed so fast last year I think it almost took me a year to even digest what happened and I replay the month of January over and over in my mind. From your birthday, to going to the hospital, to your very last day at home. It’s all a recent memory that I will never ever forget. Nor will I ever let go. I love you and miss you every day. I wish you were here with us in the Philippines. This was the trip that you wanted us to take. To be here together, as a family. Eating lots of food, seeing the sights, and experiencing new places. I’m sad that we never got to take this trip together. It was partially our fault, for continuing to put it off because we had “things to take care of.” But I know you are here with us, and you are happy we finally made it. Please continue to watch over me and guide me, Mom, love you.

Us at Ray Ray’s favorite place – Disneyland

Happy birthday Raymundo! I can’t believed you’ve celebrated 4 birthdays in Heaven. I miss you so much, especially when the holidays come around. When we all get together for Thanksgiving and Christmas it’s just not the same without you. But hey, you know that. 🙂 The party always starts when you walk in the door.
To my beautiful guardian angels watching over us from above, happy birthday. Even though you may not be here with us anymore, your spirit lives on through all the lives you touched and all the people you encountered.
Xoxo,

Please like & share:

January 5, 2017

2017 Word of the Year

Last year…ohhhh, last year. What do I have to say? Let’s reflect a little bit shall we?

The beginning of 2016 was a really tough one. But we knew that already right? My mom’s health worsened shortly after her birthday on the 8th and she went to heaven on January 29. Most of the month of January was being by her side. It was as if the world stopped turning for me and the only thing that I could do was just sit with her. I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t feel. I was just going through the motions.

Those feelings, truth be told, have lasted through the entire year of 2016. I tried to pretend to myself that I wasn’t sad, unmotivated, or lifeless. I felt like I blinked and 2016 was over. Nothing really happened. I didn’t really do anything. I didn’t really feel anything. I was just kind of numb.

A lot of great things happened last year too. All 3 of my businesses had growth last year, they grew enough to where I was able to hire Katie to help me with my day-to-day tasks, I am managing a growing team, I coached a few friends on starting their own small business, and Charlie and I became even closer than before.

But despite all those good things I was numb. I was grateful! But I was numb. I wasn’t present. I just did enough to get through life. I, in no way, was doing anything to improve or grow and that is very unlike me.

So now, let’s talk about the present. I’m done.

I’m done being numb.
I’m done thinking about the past in a way that only holds me back.
I’m done running in place.
I’m tired of feeling this way.
I’m done making excuses.
I’m done being unmotivated.

This year, we move forward.

I’m ready. I’m making myself ready. I’m going to create momentum by setting goals, dreaming the dreams, making it happen, feeling the feels, the whole 9 yards. At the end of 2016 I told myself that I was done with it all and I took steps to mentally prepare myself for the upcoming year. I’m going to choose things that make me happy, make choices that put me closer to a better me, work on loving the person I am at this very moment, and strive to make me a better version of myself every single day. I want to take a small step every day closer to being better.

Let’s stand tall together. Let’s do big things together. Let’s move forward together.

Xoxo,

Please like & share:

January 3, 2017February 4, 2017

Happy New Year!

Hello from the Philippines! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a happy new year. Charlie and I spent our New Year at the airport/in a plane and we kind of skipped New Year’s Day all together involuntarily because of the time change.
We rang in midnight at the airport and started boarding less than 30 minutes after midnight. I have to admit, this was probably the most lonely New Year’s Eve we’ve had. For the past 5 or so years we don’t even really do anything for New Year’s Eve except stay home and watch the countdown together or with a few friends. I guess with the hectic day we had getting ready for the trip and being at the airport it just didn’t feel like a holiday. It felt like any other day. When we arrived in the Philippines almost 18 hours later it was January 2nd.

2017 is an especially unique year for me in so many ways. It’s hard for me to explain without going too much into it. Maybe I’ll save that for another post, who knows. But let’s just say that I’m making a choice. I actually made the choice the week before Christmas because I was looking back at my year and just didn’t like what I saw. Don’t get me wrong, 2016 was filled with blessings too (continuing growth with Ninong’s and CO Creative Cartel, the official launch of my Real Estate business, hiring an awesome assistant, etc.) but I just felt a little lost and complacent. I made the choice that would end this year.

As you guys know, I have a word that sums up every year. I’ve been thinking about my word for 2017 for months now. I’ll be sharing it this week with a more in depth reflection but let’s just say it has to do with me choosing to move past 2016. The first steps to moving past 2016 is actually being here in the Philippines. But more on that in a couple days. 🙂

In the mean time, happy new year everyone! I’m a big advocate for self improvement, self reflection, and contentment. Whether or not you choose to do that in the new year, in the middle of the year, or at the end of the year doesn’t matter. What matters is that you strive to improve and be a better version of yourself. So cheers to 2017! Let’s strive to make this one better than the last!
Xoxo,

Please like & share: