5 things to do when you're stressed

Stress seems to be a part of everyone's lives now, I guess it's the culture and the kind of lives we live. If we're not careful, too much stress can cause problems, not just physically but mentally as well. Too much stress causes mental blocks and mental dysfunctions. It also disrupts your sleep and it causes agitation. Too much stress also takes its toll on your body; it makes you weak and it causes you to slow down.




I'd like to share simple ways which you could do to at least lessen your stress :) These are the things I personally fancy doing. I hope they would help you too

1. Do something you like doing

If you have a hobby, like photography or painting or dancing, set a side a time to do it. Your mind needs a creative outlet too, you should give into it.

2. Go to a spa/Get a massage

Usually, massages relaxes your tensed muscles and soothes your tired body. It's always nice to treat your body to something relaxing after a tough day or week.

3. Sleep

It's important to get enough sleep. It's your body's time to repair the overworked muscles and it also helps calm and relax your body. This also gives your brain a time to cool down.

4. Read a book

Leisure reading is also good for your brain. It's still stimulates brain activity but what you're reading isn't as heavy and serious.

5. Quiet Down

The hustle and bustle of the city is one of the things that contribute to stress. It's nice to be still and quiet down for a while. Play really really soft music to help set the mood and just sit or lie down and just do nothing.

Don't let the world cave in on you. :)

8 Things That Wouldn't Hurt

We're only young a few years and old for the rest of our lives, why not live wisely if not "like we're dying"?

1. It wouldn't hurt if you loosened up every once in a while.
Instead of going for a black blazer, why not use instead a pastel colored cardigan? Place your feet on the coffee table while you read your favorite book, coffee tables are low and small for a reason. Play old school hits like "Play that funky music" or "Ice Ice baby" or "Stay the light" and actually dance to them! Watch cartoons or the the food channel or whatever channel to your liking. Unless there's a raging storm or an incoming hurricane or a war, you don't have to watch the news 24/7. Your brain needs a break too!

2. It wouldn't hurt if you spend some of your money to pamper yourself. Take note: SOME.
Instead of the usual retail therapy, why not get a home service for a massage or a mani-pedi? Get a slice of your favorite cake. Skip that espresso or brewed coffee and go for that caramel macchiato. Go online and look up the recipe of your favorite dish. Actually go to the grocery store, get your ingredients and cook or prepare yourself a good and hearty meal. With a little extra cheese, or mushrooms, or that Caesar or Ranch dressing. After the long week, you deserve a treat.

3. It wouldn't hurt if you spent at least 30mins. of your day on exercise.
If you don't have time to go the gym, or if it's out of the budget, why not walk around your village for 30mins? Invest on 2-4lbs dumbbells. Download that Nike Training program on your iPod and do the workouts at least twice a week. Take the stairs to the 3rd floor. Skip the tricycle ride and walk to your house. Play out loud your greatest house mix playlist and dance to them. There are a lot of ways to use up those stored energy, we can always be creative and resourceful.

4. It wouldn't hurt if you helped other people.
Helping doesn't always have to involve money. Help can be in the form of time and effort. Help your little brother with his assignment. Help your mom with her garden, or with doing the groceries. Listen to your friend's recent existential dilemma. Volunteer for the relief operations, or to the tutorial of kids, or even in the cleaning and repairing of your church. Spend a day with an orphan and make her happy, that's help too! But if you can shell out finances, help send a kid to school or support missions or purchase milk and diapers for the orphanage. Conduct a feeding or bathing program. Share God's word! That's also a way to help others :)

5. It wouldn't hurt if you be nice to people. Even when you don't feel like it.
Say thank you to the officer who help you cross the street or the crew that help you carry your food tray. Thank your secretary for staying even if you're a ferocious monster half of the time. Smile at babies. Say please when you ask for a favor. Ask how the security guards' day were, before you exit your building. Tell your parents you love them for no reason at all. Buy Sampaguitas from street children. Remember to give food and not alms to the poor. We all deserve some degree kindness :)

6. It wouldn't hurt if you be still even for just a while.
Meditate. Switch off your electronic gadgets and just lie still on your bed. Think of everything and then nothing. Notice your breathing, look out the window, listen to the clock. Appreciate silence and the pleasure of doing nothing. Stop worrying, designate a time to worry. Drop work for 5 minutes, stretch out your arms and legs and just breathe. Close your eyes, rest them a while and then open them again. Just. Be. Still.

7. It wouldn't hurt if you be honest with how we feel.
If we're having a bad day, we can say so. If we enjoyed the meal we had, we can share it. If we're unhappy with an output given to us, we can give constructive feedback instead of redoing and editing it without his consent or knowledge. We can say we feel sick and take the afternoon off if we really can't function anymore. We can tell our partners what we want and what we don't need. Honesty liberates us in ways we only belittle. You'd be surprised as to how much relief honesty can and will bring.

8. It wouldn't hurt if you prayed. more.
It is only right that we give back to God. We can thank him for that birthday card that was thoughtfully sent by your friend or the approval from our boss that we worked hard for, or the time we spent with our family last weekend. We can pray for our heart's desires and our struggles and our pains. We can never make it on our own that's why it's always nice to know that there's a very busy father up there who still prioritized us enough to listen to our rants and whims, no matter how petty. :)

Hope in the Aftermath

"What we do does not define us. What define us is how well we rise after falling."

I love this quote from the movie Maid in Manhattan and I couldn't agree more to it. I don't think anyone should be defined by their past, or by their mistakes or by the decisions they make for that matter. I'd like to believe that these people do things because of something; a reason, a purpose, a desperate moment and the actions they make are what they hope are the best ones if not the right ones. And if they made the wrong choice, at least by then they would know what the right one is. With every challenge is a life lesson waiting to be learned. With every mistake is a right decision waiting to be made. And all of these, contribute to who one will become in the future; hopefully wiser, stronger and better people. 

No one should look down on anyone, especially not on themselves. Even the Lord knows we aren't perfect. Cut yourself some slack, life is hard and no one is given a manual to life and love. You're supposed to make mistakes because these mistakes would teach you, humble you and make you learn how to appreciate what you have and what you don't. Mistakes are acceptable, as long as you don't make the same mistakes twice. It is also important not to live in the past and not to linger in the pain these mistakes have caused you. You should be able to learn from these mistakes, pick yourself up and move on. There's a reason we all walk forward and not backwards. 

No one is too far gone, we can all leave the past behind, no matter how dirty or shameful it is. But leaving the past behind doesn't mean forgetting it, you should always remember how it was like and always keep in mind that it's not the life you should be living anymore. Never ever forget the reason why you already left it but do not relive it anymore. There is a difference.

Look back but don't walk back. Remember but don't forget to not regret. And remember, your past does not define who you are and who you can be. Your character is made up of every part of your life, you should be ashamed of nothing. 

There is always a second chance for those who want to be better. There is always a second chance for those who want to learn. But do not push it, even God's grace should not be taken advantage of. Even if we are expected to make mistakes, stupid mistakes are not excused. 

And at the end of this life, I hope that all of us did what we all wanted to do, took all the chances given to us, took risks at life and love, said all the things we wanted say, because at the end of the day I am more than sure that we would regret more the things we did not do than those we actually we did.

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Continue to inspire and be inspired. Look for love. Fall in love, not only with people, but places, nature, beauty, food, activities, moments and be happy. Be fulfilled. Be content.

Do not just be alive but live. Do not fear anything but fear itself. And do not let anything, not even yourself, keep you from reaching your dreams and becoming who you want to be for we one live once, we should at least make it meaningful.

Agape,

Ky

A Hotel H2o Experience

Hotel H2o is a one of the newest hotels along Roxas Boulevard and it is conveniently located beside the Manila Ocean Park. Transportation wise, it is not difficult to go around as there are public transportation available, mostly metered fx's and shuttles.

If you're looking for a high star accommodation which is worth your money, I would not recommend it. If you would check the hotel's official web page out, you would immediately be attracted to the rooms as they aren't like the usual ones you'd find in hotels like Shangrila and Manila Penn., but unfortunately, the rooms are not as nice as they project them to be.

Just recently, I and my friends stayed at the hotel. One of my friend's parents stayed at the Aqua room while we stayed at the Park View Room, specifically rooms 3110 and 3111. The Aqua room was small and stuffed; there was only enough space for the queen-sized bed, the cabinets and some space to walk around. The bathroom was nice though, it was actually more spacious than the room considering it's proportions and function. There was a huge aquarium by the wall which lights had to be shut by 9pm.

The Park View room, literally had a view of the Ocean Park. It was small but they managed to make everything fit in it. The toilet and bath were glass and they were barely frosted. If you were going to stay with siblings, it can get quite awkward peeing and pooping as your silhouette can easily be made out. The sink was located outside of the bathroom. It seemed like it was going for a double purpose, a sink and a dresser. The carpet, the curtains and the walls had so much circles, it sometimes made us feel nauseous. The interior was seriously bad.

If you like swimming in a private pool, you will certainly not get to avail of this amenity in Hotel H2o. The pool is located beside the pool where the seals swim and where the grand stand for the audience are found. So during certain times of the day, when shows are going on, you should expect a huge crowd watching either the seals and the trainers or you, the swimming guests.

They also have another pool, a smaller one, which is sort of a Jacuzzi. It is located by the Liquid Bar. It's elevated feature makes it seem like you're putting on a show for the ones in the bar as it seems like a stage.

I don't what is it with Hotel H2o and an audience while swimming. Seriously, if some people dig that, I don't think others do too.

When you go down from your room to eat, they have limited choices of restaurants while you have the park's guests to compete with. It gets a tad crowded too as a lot of people come and go during the day.

It also took quite some time till room service arrived when we called for them.

But if all you're after is a place to sleep and watch tv from a mounted flat screen tv on the wall, the rooms are good enough.

I'd still recommend the more popular hotels if you'd want 5 star accommodations that ARE your money's worth.

My Ultimate Prayer

Now that school is over, one of the many things that the youth are looking forward to is Youth Camp. By Youth Camp I mean a church organized camp that lasts from 3-5 days, usually held out of town. It's a ground for fellowship and creating bonds between the youth outside a structure.. exploring  and experiencing God in congregational worship, unconventional preaching and teaching, team-building activities and other whatnot's.. This is usually open to both believers and non-believers as it is also evangelical in nature..

Now that our own church's youth camp is fast approaching, many participants are putting up statuses of how excited they are for camp.. I know how it feels to be excited for camp.. I may not have gone to a lot, but the two that I've gone to were enough to make me stay.. Enough to make me long for more of that experience and encounter with God.. I really hope that they would also be excited for church or youth service at least.. Not only during summer but every week.. every month.. every year..  Church is as exciting as camp, in fact church is more real, more tangible.. I am not saying that the experiences one could get in camp is unreal, in fact camp experiences are really life changing.. they are beyond ordinary.. But what happens after camp? Does it really stop there?

The problem (for the lack of a better word) with camp is that it introduces this culture of "Hype". A camper usually experiences this hype, like a never ending rush of adrenaline, and this is what excites him/her through out the 3-5 days.. They sing, shout, jump, clap their hands, cry, kneel, raise their hands, *insert other possible verbs here*.. And these hypes up their experiences..

But how many are really consumed? How many really encounter God? How many really understand what's happening? How many really worship? How many really fall in surrender?

Camp is such a beautiful experience.. It really does bring people closer to God and indeed many lives are touched and changed..  But I really hope that these children would want more than what they just experience in camp..

My ultimate prayer is that these campers would have a real and genuine face to face encounter with God.. That it would be so real that they would be consumed and that they would really surrender their lives to His will, not only during camp but everyday.. I pray that they would have such a consuming experience that they would long to experience that everyday.. and that they would search for that experience everyday.. not only when they are dry and thirsty but when they are plump and quenched as well.. I pray that they would always long to experience God not only congregational but on a personal level as well.. I pray that they experience His love and His grace and that may they discover what it really means to be saved.. :)


I hope to see these campers grow in their spiritual lives after camp.. It may not be in our church but wherever they are.. I hope that they would be as excited for church as they are for camp.. I hope that they would always treasure the things they learn and that it would fuel them in their walk with God..

I just really pray against "Hype".

This is just me.. I hope I don't offend anyone with this post.. But if I do, please please let me know.. and which part/s.. and I will re evaluate the things I've said..

Agape,
Kyle

There are some things you cannot control

When I was younger, I wanted to be older.. Now that I'm a bit older, I'm kind of wishing that I didn't rush "growing up".. I kind of wish that I lived in every moment while I was at it.. But of course, beyond wishing, there is nothing left to do but that to accept that it has passed, that they already happened the way the did..

Not to sound "old" or "wise" or anything and not to state the obvious but I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to "Live in the moment" because you really do just live once.

I know what it's like to be in high school and want to be in college.. As much as college is "fun", high school is a very different experience.. High school is fun and "less" serious and your responsibilities are not as serious.. In high school, you can make mistakes and it wouldn't cause you so much.. You can make mistakes without looking so stupid cause your experimental stage is during those years.. But hey, I'm not saying that you use your youth as an excuse to do stupid things.. things that would cause you your life, especially.. What I'm saying is, while you can, enjoy your youth because responsibilities really do get more serious by the year.. Enjoy geometry and chemistry and algebra.. Go to school events and parties.. Go to prom and take loads of pictures of you and your friends.. Document every field trip.. Participate.. not out of obligation but out of curiosity, of a desire to learn, to experience, to be a part of something and to achieve something..

When in college, enjoy the life.. Enjoy the sleepless nights and all the days you can barely walk in school because of all the stress from school work.. Enjoy the college parties.. Participate in every USG activity possible.. Attend every class you can.. Learn as much and beyond what your teacher can offer to teach you.. Make as many friends as you can and keep in touch with them.. Be 17.. then 18.. then 19.. then 20.. (and so on, depending on your stay in college :p) Let each problem sink in.. and then be proud of yourself when you've overcome them.. Be successful! And don't forget the people that helped you in getting there.. Get high grades not for any one else but yourself.. but don't let your grades no matter how low or high they are define you and your capacity.. Set goals.. and make them happen.. Enjoy every moment of being a student because there is nothing like it..

The working world is very different, I hear.. It's "nothing like" we dream, hope and expect it to be.. It can be glamorous but it can be disappointing too.. It's not a walk in the park and finding a job is definitely no joke.. I've not much to say cause this field is not my expertise, but I hope you all get what I mean..

So there, I cannot reiterate it enough.. Live your life.. as fully as you can.. because life only happens once.. and whatever has passed cannot be brought back.. You may get another shot at it, but it won't be the same anymore.. Because every experience is unique and each one has a story and a lesson.. that can and just might shape you into becoming a better person.. One that you can be proud of..

Agape,
Ky

Some and Summer

I know we're all excited to have our fun under the sun this summer but as we know, the sun is not as friendly as we want it to be. I thought of creating a list of must-haves and must-dos to keep this much awaited season fun and healthy!

#1 SUNBLOCK
Even if you want to get a tan, it is important to wear sunblock to keep your skin from burning. There are a wide range of sunblock SPF (sun protection factor) levels you can choose from which starts with 15 and goes all the way up to 100. If you're going for a tan, good ol' SPF30 is good enough to keep your skin from burning yet low enough to get you that tan you want.

(note: the higher the spf, usually, the thicker the lotion, the warmer the feeling is.)

I recommend the Vaseline SPF 30, the Hawaiian Tropic SPF50 or the Banana Boat SPF70. :)

It is also important that you re-apply sunscreen, every (2)hours if possible, to keep the screen in effect.

#2 Hydrating lotions/mists
The heat dries up our skin and dried skin leads to cracking. It is important to hydrate your skin especially when exposed directly to the sun for a long period of time.

The salt water also causes dryness to our lips. Lip balms and hydrating lip creams would help avoid cracking of lips too!

Chapstick SPF15 is always a good summer buddy! :)

#3 After sun cooling gel
To relieve the burning sensation you get from too much sun and heat. :)

Bench has this and I think they sell it for P50.00. It actually has the cool relieving feeling of aloe vera.

#4 Hats, Caps and other head gear
We should keep our heads protected as well. Hats also protect our faces from direct exposure to sun light.

#5 Tumblers, bottles and what-nots
It is important that we keep a stock of water/gatoraide [etc.] to or ourselves this summer season to keep us from getting dehyradted.

#6 Extra extra clothes
Because we'd be extra sweaty and sticky, it would be good to always keep extra shirts to keep us from getting sick, usually colds and cough or worse.. pneumonia :(

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Don't forget to always, ALWAYS, hydrate. Drink loads of water and eat lots of fruits to keep you hydrated and stuffed with vitamins. The last thing you'd want to be during this sunny season is, sick! :)

Have a happy summer! :)