A Not So Healthy Week

I'm having a bad week, in terms of health, I have a stiff neck last week. Our company nurse gave me a medicine Alaxan but upon taking the meds after an hour, I realize my left eye is already beginning to turn red and is beginning swell, it turns out I had an allergic reaction to the medicine Alaxan. I was given a meds for the allergy, so my allergic reaction has stop,but my stiff neck still hurt a bit. I thought things will be alright, but to my surprise now I my sinusitis began to hit me. Man this week was really a down for me. I just hope thing would be better next week.

Using Guilt As A Tool To Manipulate

Using guilt as a tool to manipulate your partner or loved one may yield your desired results at the onset but it can be destructive to intimacy in the long run. When a person uses guilt, she is setting a condition before she gives her love to the other. When someone takes you on a guilt trip, try these strategies to get your relationship back on track.

1. Repeat to them what they just told you. "Are you saying that just because I don't take you out everyday means I don't love you anymore?" Or, "I have the feeling that you're mad because.....Am I right?

2. Set your boundaries. Ask them what they want and suggest options but let them know what you're not willing to do. Don't let them dictate their plans to you. Try to strike a balance between what they want and what you want.

3. It may hurt them but don't be afraid to say no. Give an explanation but if they persist, remain steadfast on your decision.

4. If you're in the wrong, acknowledge you fault and ask for forgiveness.

The process from guilt-laden relationship to one that's healthy may be a long process but It's well worth it.

Ways To Mend A Broken Friendship

Have you gotten in a fight with your best friend? and after the fight you realize, hey you miss your friend. then you think, maybe what you argue or fought about, wasn't worth throwing your friendship away. Either way, something went wrong and you want to fix it. Here are simple steps on how to mend a broken friendship.

1. Practice empathy. Broken friendship often occur because of misunderstandings. your friend's behavior was likely because of the problems in his/her life and not a wish to hurt or use you.

2. Write your friend a letter about what you're feeling. Let your anger go but explain to your friend why you feel wronged, Writing helps you get your thought in order.

3. Mark a date on your calendar. Choose the right time or occasion for approaching your friend. Don't do it when you know your friend is engrossed in an important activity, like when your friend is rushing a report for the office.

4. Stay calm no matter what happens. Remember that anger clouds your vision and inhibits communication. When patching up a broken friendship, staying calm and cool will allow both of you to see issues objectively.

5. Apologize. Forget your pride and reach out to your friend even if you've been wronged, Your friend may not even realize he/she treated you badly. Or even if your friend does, she/he may have been scarred to make the first move.

6. Relive good memories together. Nothing mends a broken friendship better than shared history and strong positive vibes. Remind each other why you've stayed friends for so long.

7. Accept change. Not every broken friendship can go back to the way it was. You've both grown during your time apart. But it's worth maintaining good friendship even if they're not as close as before.

Knowing The Personality of Your Love One

Understanding the personality of our loved ones can help us deal with them better. Knowing your loved one's dominant predisposition can help you relate and communicate with them more effectively. There are many different ways to determine an individual personality. Hippocrates identified 4 major personality types: Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic and Melancholy.

Cholerics are dynamic and active people who are born leaders. They have a compulsive need for change and feel they must correct wrongs. They are strong willed and decisive and are not easily discouraged. They are also independent and self sufficient.

Sanguine people are messy but energetic, optimistic and cheerful. They're enthusiastic when starting something but usually quit before they're done. They live in the present and have a good sense of humor.

Phlegmatic have low key personalities and are laid back. They are detailed oriented people who are calm, cool and collected. They can be precise to a fault(nit picky perfectionist) and somewhat boring.

Melancholy people are the genius prone. They are analytical, artistic or musical, philosophical and poetic. Because they live to the extreme, some would call them moody.

It'll take a little effort to see life from the standpoint of your loved one, but being able to relate better is worth it.

A Peaceful 74th Araw ng Dabaw is greeted with Cheers and Rains

It was a successful celebration for the 74th Araw ng Dabaw, I arrive in the downtown area at about 9am, the parade has already started. I have noticed right away that the clouds a little dark, and I'm sure, rain will come pouring down, and it did at about 10:30 I think.

I didn't enjoy this years Araw ng Dabaw maybe because of the rain, or maybe the Kadayawan Fesitaval is much more to my liking, but the important thing is that the Festival was peaceful. Some Kapuso star participated on the parade, I only recognized Dingdong Dantes, the beautiful girl next to him was not familiar to me, she does look like Iya Villania, but who cares, she's sexy and hot hahahaha. Here are some photos of the parade I could have gotten more if not for the rain.

Going to the Araw ng Dabaw Festivities

Im off to take some photos of the festival tomorrow I just hope the weather will be fine, and hope that there will be some cool participants this year.

Simple Tips in Dealing with Grief

Dealing and trying to cope up with grief is a difficult process. A death of a loved one, the loss of a job or income, or the end of a marriage or relationship, each of us has a personal way of coping with grief. Only you know what is best for your personality and lifestyle.

Here are some simple steps on the road to healing.

• Talk to family and friends.

• Read poetry or books.

• Exercise.

• Seek spiritual support.

• Join a support group or seek counseling.

• Engage in social activities.

• Eat good food.

• Take time to relax.

• Listen to music.

• Be patient with yourself.

• Let yourself feel the grief.
  

Simple Tips to Save More Money

• Check out what you earn by the hour. If you're a regular employee, just divide your monthly gross income to he number of work days per month. Then divide that by eight hours, the usual work day. That's how much you earn per hour. Keep that in mind next time you want to splurge.

• For those who have cars, check the cheapest gas prices in your area. Gas prices may vary that much by as much as 20 percent within a few blocks and can change frequently, so check them out.

• Buy groceries once a month or every payday instead of every week. Minimize your visit to the groceries so you don't get tempted to buy more items than you need. And make sure you have a grocery list while you're at it.

• Use the Internet for free text messages and calls. If you have Internet access, send text messages for free, even abroad, through chikka.com. If you have relatives abroad, use the many free messenger systems to chat or webcam such as Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, etc. Or use a budget card if you want to use a phone. That will save you half compared to regular landline rates.
  

Basic Insurance Tips

Some people when they hear the word insurance, would quickly think of "EXPENSES". But insurance helps safeguard you and your family's future. Here are some tips in pinking out the right insurance for you.

• Get a Health Insurance. Prudence dictates this if you don't want to worry in the event of health problems. You also avoid being a burden to your family.

• Get a Life Insurance. Have enough life insurance to replace at least five years of your salary, or 10 years if you have kids or significant debts.

• Just Have Enough. If you're single and have no dependents, you don't need life insurance, just health insurance.

• Think Insurance If You're Buying a Car. A more expensive car mean a high priced insurance. So before you buy that dream car, take this into account.

• Write a Will. Filipinos don't usually do this but this will protect your family and help minimize quarrels (and even litigation!) among remaining members of the family.
  

God and Marriage

God himself is the author of marriage. God, who created man out of love, also calls him to love. The Bible affirms that man and woman were created for one another - an unbreakable union signified through the words, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh." The mutual love of man and woman becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man.

God blesses the union of man and woman, which is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation. Because of the fall, their union has been threatened by discord, a spirit of domination, infidelity, jealousy and conflict. To heal the wounds of sin, man and woman need to help of the grace of God in his infinite mercy never refuses them.

Guidelines in Owning a House

Many of us look forward to owning our very own house and even consider them as an investment. Others, however, would say that a house is not much an investment as it is a liability, incurring for owners debts and expenses that can take decades to pay off. Below are some tips on buying or owning a house.

• don't spend more than 40% of your monthly income on the amortizations for your home. Don't reach out for the stars if it will kill you financially.

• Investigate different types of mortgages. There are many types of mortgage options. Check what's best before deciding.

• Buy a house that needs repairs. Buy it cheap and you can add value with the repairs. This will save you money.

• Deal directly with the seller. This will save you agent's fees. If you want to use an agent, make sure you're calling the shots and the agent is on the same page as you.

• Negotiate the selling price. Home prices are almost always negotiable. So haggle. Offer a price that's a few percentage below its asking price.

• Refinance your mortgage. If you can cut at least 1% on your mortgage, then refinance it.
  

Guidelines to a Successful Retreat

Its March already, come April most company will have their annual retreat. Although it should be a time between you and the Lord, you may also want some guidance to help you recollect like a spiritual director. Below are some suggestions for your retreat.

Bible Reading. The time to sit down and read slows us down and gives us perspective. The specific way of reading Scripture in a reflective way is called Lectio Divina and consists of four stages:

1. Reading - slowly and repeatedly
2. Meditating - digest the words that you have read
3. Praying - talk with the Lord about what the words mean in your life.
4. Contemplating - rest in the presence of God and in his Love.
   
   

Devotional Reading. A retreat is a great time to read the reflections of men and women who've run ahead of us in the journey of faith. There are all sorts of devotional readings that you can shoose from, depending on your preference and inclination.

Prayer. There is no right way to pray during a retreat. What's important is that your heart is right. You can pray the Psalms, the Rosary, use prayer books or go into silence. Choose whatever way helps you commune with the Lover of your Soul. You can even walk and pray at the same time.

Slow Down. Spiritual refreshing doesn't mean another to do list from A to Z. You can sleep, nap, stare at the clouds or listen to the birds. Waste your time with the Lord who gives all good gifts.

Journaling. Some people are fitted to this way of doing a retreat. Writing down your thoughts and prayers could clarify things for you and it's highly therapeutic too.