New North

Watches and compasses. Two things that have fascinated me as a kid. It amazes me how something I can place in the palm of my hand can measure a concept as intangible and infinite as time and direction. I feel conflicting emotions in watching the arrow or the dial move. Like watching the seconds of my life pass me by. In slow motion.

I’ve always had this morbid view of life. I never thought I’d grow up to be in my late twenties. Let alone early thirties. So early on, I developed this habit of making the most out of everything. Taking each moment like it’s the last. But soon real life got in the way and I got overruled by deadlines and schedules. It became most of me.

Until I found a renewed drive.

Drive. Passion. Motivation. The things that keep you going despite the odds that are stacked against you. Those memories or small voices that push you to go the extra mile even if your physical self has abandoned you some miles back.

Some would call it good vibes or positive energy. Well, they all result to one thing: the achievement of set goals.

Yesterday I met someone who is at the prime of his life. Fame, fortune, to-die-for girlfriend…you name it, he has it. But the thing that made my jaw drop is how he was able to do all of it: a Mon-Sat day job and being able to pursue his passions (food blogging and triathlon, to name a few). Plus a social life that is the toast of tinsel town. Part of me is convinced he is a vampire and I even dared ask if he sleeps. He claims to be an OC in anything he does and just balances and find time to do everything. That simple? There must be an algorithm to that which is only apparent to the chosen few. And he is the leader of the pack. He should place multimasker in his multi-hypenate curriculum vitae.

If he can do it, maybe I can too. Let me rephrase that. If he can do it, so can I. How’s that for starters.

No more excuses. No more downtime mulling over what could have been and what’s not there. It’s time to make it happen. It’s never too late to abandon the sick cycle carousel and be somewhere off the beaten track. The path where dreams come true. It may be more difficult but if I’m passing by greener pastures, no doubt it will be worth it.

I have found my new North and I am re-aligning my compass.

100 Days Of Summer

Actually it’s only 90+ days but that is still way too long for me. There was a time when I loved summer. Back in HS, it meant days of not doing anything but summer reading and hanging out with friends. But come college, summer meant attending subjects you flunked or had to catch up on since you transferred courses (I had a taste of both). Some years back, summer meant a hot blabbermouth who’s being chased by a cool geek.

Now I hate it even more because of the heat! It just antagonizes my cold, cold heart (#emo).

At least there’s the Holy Week. Not that I’m deeply spiritual (far from it, actually). For me summer officially starts with this week when the entire country pauses and repents (why we are still Third World despite the abundance of resources). It’s the only season when you are allowed to not do anything (vs Christmas and the holi-daze it brings).

So today is Maundy Thursday (declared a holiday because of the confusion whether it’s Monday or a Thursday…so corny I know but I am a sucker for puns). I chose to be on house arrest/staycation and it has been quite satisfying and productive.

I’ve finished the Hunger Games book (tick one off the Summer Break checklist). It now holds the record for the book I finished fastest: only 2 weekends. It’s PBB meets Survivor so I devoured it like a famished tribute from District 12. Haha. I’ll admit I can relate to Peeta and though expected, it saddened me when Rue had to go.

Cleaned my room. Not yet the general cleaning that I want but it’s refreshing to see that I have a floor and no used mugs or clothes in sight. I believe that you don’t know what you got until... you clean your room.

Downloaded and read the latest issue of Esquire. Kudos to the local team for another great issue (Bianca is hot and that she is smart is like icing on a body part). I am getting a hang at reading e-mags. I can take it anywhere (long as I have Bokbok) and less clutter. I realized lately that I have tons of magazines that have taken over my room.

Slept. Though I woke up at an ungodly hour, the afternoon nap is a luxury in itself.

Did some work. I can never relax when a deadline or unanswered email is ticking somewhere.

Perhaps this is the only lazy day I can afford from this long vacation. I have lot of tasks at hand. My only consolation is that I can tackle them at my own sweet time.

Or can I?


*Originally posted at www.barnieboi.tumblr.com