grabbed from Writing About Writing Facebook page.

And that, my friends, is my main motivation for today's post. :)

I wish I could have the enthusiasm to write every single day. Unfortunately, there are some days my mood affects my drive to write. And when that happens, I really struggle to go back to writing as I feel that I do not have any interesting subject/topic to write about.

Thankfully, I stumbled upon this FB page: Writing About Writing and saw the picture above. It was hilarious at the same time reminded me of how long my blog has been idled. The owner of the FB page would also posts things about not giving up when it comes to writing though a lot of times it takes a great effort to put into words what is exactly going on in your mind. So, thank you for this FB page! I figured out I am not alone in the struggle :)

The truth is, I have so many things in my mind that I want to write about. Unfortunately, when I am about to start writing, something would always come up, like I need to attend the my kid, or a household chore needs to be finished, etc. And then the motivation to write suddenly goes down when things like these cut you off just when you are in the momentum to type in every single thought that wants to burst out of your brain. Can you imagine how frustrating is that???

Although I don't consider myself a "professional" writer or blogger, I do write because I love to and not just because I have nothing to do (obviously, I barely have time for myself being a mother). I feel like I'm unloading a pile of thoughts out of head everytime I write and publish a post. Its my euphoria.

And so from now on, I've decided that this is going to be my mantra every day until I convince myself apply this in my life:

grabbed from FB page of Writing About Writing

I really, really wish to become a better blogger. But I do know for a fact that the only way I can be better in this field is by writing even more. So goodluck to me on to becoming a professional writer and blogger. I am starting to believe that this is the profession I am gonna be someday which I will never want to retire.

Dear Universe, please let me be a professional blogger! Thank you in advanced!

Again, I am so busy at work I have no time to blog. I really miss posting on my site and seeing lot of traffic on my webpage. So I thought I need something worth reading to post and something that would really entice my readers' minds. :)

Last week, I have just done one life-changing decision. I have just passed my resignation letter. Though it is truly a heartbreak to leave the company I have worked for 8years in my life, I know that God is up to something good that's why He gave me a new opportunity to be accepted in another company.

When we decide to leave the company we are working for, it must be because we have found a better workplace. Be it a better pay, better working environment, better work schedules, etc. But can these "better" things compete with the world's best countries to work for? Surprisingly, America is not on the list. Aaaww, does that mean no more "American Dream" for us Filipinos? I have nothing against USA but the facts says it all, USA may not be the only country that can be branded "the land of milk and honey" nowadays. Read on and see for yourself what we are actually missing. :) (the blue lines are my comments)


The 10 Best Countries to Work In

Source: Yahoo! She


2. BULGARIA: Bulgarians are given up to 410 days of paid maternity leave at 90 percent of the mother's salary, 45 days of which must be taken prior to the birth of the child. Parents are also eligible for a second year of paid parental leave at a minimum salary. Even better, both the father and the grandparents can take the second year of maternity leave in place of the mother, if necessary.


3. BRAZIL: Brazil is most notable for offering workers the most paid vacation days per year in the world. Full-time workers can earn a whopping 41 paid days off - 30 of those days are mandated for leisure time at the worker's convenience, and the other 11 are considered paid federal holidays.



4. FRANCE: According to the OECD, French people work nearly 200 hours less each year than other countries in the organization. France is also a world leader when it comes to the number of paid vacation days: 40 in total, 30 of which are mandated and 10 of which are public holiday.



5. FINLAND: Like Brazil and France, Finland is one of the world leaders in offering paid vacation days - up to 40 days a year, including 30 of which are mandated, and 10 more as public holiday. Additionally, only .04 percent of Finnish workers work more than 50 hours a week on average, an important indicator for a healthy work/life balance.



6. NETHERLANDS: Workers clock only 1,378 hours per year, or 27.6 hours per week. Like Germany, however, the Netherlands maintains a healthy GDP and high standard of living in spite of fewer hours on the job. On top of that, they are given 28 paid vacation days per year, and 16 weeks of paid maternity leave at 100 percent of their salaries. As if that weren't enough, Dutch workers are also offered tax breaks on an additional 26 weeks of unpaid maternity leave if required.



7. NORWAY: A parent is given as much as 47 weeks at 100 percent salary, or 57 weeks at 80 percent salary. Nine weeks are reserved for the mother, 12 weeks (the "daddy's quota") are reserved for the father, and the parents can share the rest. Norwegian workers are also given a healthy 35 days of paid vacation per year.



8. DENMARK: Denmark was ranked No. 1 in the world for providing the best work/life balance by the OECD. It has a number of factors working for it: a full 52 weeks of paid maternity leave, 34 total days of paid vacation, and only .04 percent of workers are on the job more than 50 hours per week. Additionally, the OECD calculated that as many as 16.31 hours per day are dedicated to personal care among Danish workers.
 

9. LITHUANIA: It is the only nation tied with Brazil in offering the most total paid vacation days in the world at 41 ("only" 28 are mandated, but 13 are public holiday). Lithuania also offers a generous maternity leave: one year of leave at 100 percent salary, or if parents opt to take two years off, the first year is set at 70 percent salary and at 40 percent in the second year.



10. SWEDEN:  As many as 480 days, or 16 months, of paid parental leave is offered to workers, 60 days of which are reserved for the father. Furthermore, those 480 days can be spent however the parents see fit over the first eight years of their child's life. Sweden also offers a generous 36 days of paid vacation every year, and ranks firmly in the top 10 countries in the OECD with the best work/life balance.

For the record, Sweden is my best bet to work in. :) How I wish I could have that 16month paid parental leave :(



WOW. Working in these countries may just be the work-life balance everybody's dreaming of. Apparently, 9 of these countries are situated in Europe. Oh yes, not in America. Reading this article actually got me into thinking, would it be best to migrate in these places? Who knows, one day I might just give in. But for now, I am such a patriotic as everybody knows. For me, still, "Its more fun in the Philippines!" I love you, motherland!

Yesterday was the 6th month birthday of my baby, Nealon. How time flies. Just months ago, I remember the time when I first held my baby. He was the most precious I've ever laid eyes upon and ever touched with my hands. I could not ask for more back then. Now, six months after, I don't think I can say the same thing.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I am not contented just for having Nealon by my side. What I meant is that, I want him to live the life of comfort and satisfaction that he can do anything he wants (not the bad ones of course), anything he takes passion for, without having to choose weather the act would be benefiting or would gain something in return. I believe that my parents did all their best and have provided us more than what they're supposed to be giving us, but really, money does not come that easy. I understand that in full honesty and I've always been grateful for what my parents have given us but for my own son, I just want to give him more. Maybe when you get to be a parent yourself, you would realize just how much you can give to your child and for them to have it all is the prime goal of your life. All else becomes second ones.

I believe that all parents want nothing than to be able to give the very best of everything for their child. For me, what I want for my baby is for him to find his passion and be able focus himself on it and excel on it. I want my son to do what he enjoys doing without having to think if doing so would earn money or material wealth. Back in my college days, just before graduation, my perspective of the life ahead is all about getting a job that gives above average pay for a neophyte like me to be able to easily get rich and buy all the things I've always wanted. And where did I end up? In a call center. My first job was in a call center. Did I enjoy my work as an agent? No. Its not because I hate the job, but the truth is, it was never my passion. It wasn't enjoyable for me because being an agent and working night shifts is not something that interests me. I know a lot of people enjoy their work in the call center industry and was able to climb the top of the ladder in their industry, and for me, they were able to reach that because that is their passion. Maybe they do better during night shifts or maybe speaking with clients over the phone is something that they enjoy doing and for that, they were able to efficiently do their work. It doesn't matter what kind of job you do have. I've realized that the more passionate you are in what you are doing, the more you will excel.

Whether Nealon wants to be a pilot, a musician, an artist, a businessman, an IT engineer (just like me and daddy!), a writer, a showbiz actor, a public servant, a priest, an engineer, a photographer etc. I will let him be. My main goal in life right now is to provide him the support he needs to get him there. To enrich him with the wisdom he needs for him to grab his dreams. I want him to really chase his dreams and not easily give up. I don't want him to end up being a mediocre of some sort. After all, I think I have just found the most passionate thing I could ever do in this lifetime, and that is to rear my child into being a well brought-up and first class individual.

Happy 6th month, dear son. Thank you for letting me find one of my passions. I love you in my every heartbeat.

Yesterday, my 2 year old nephew Miguel visited us at home together with his mother and brother. While at home, Mig and his mother kept on showcasing to me his new learning. One of the questions Mig was supposed to answer correctly was: "Miguel, what do you want to be when you grow up?" To which the kiddo answered, "Pilot". Which led me to thinking the topic for today's post. How many of us were rally able to achieve our dream job when we were still a child? When we were asked during childhood days, "What do you want to be when you grow up?," what was then your answer? Do you still have the same dream as of today?

As for me, I had so many dream careers when I was a child. But none of them was ever materialized! Haha! But no bitterness, I believe that God has His own purpose for not giving us everything we want. After all, I don't think I would be living the life I'm loving right now if I had taken a different path.

I remember when I was in kindergarten, I had always wanted to be a nun.



A nun! Maybe God was saying then, "For God's sake! Please leave the convention alone!" HAHAHA! I studied in a Catholic school then and I really admired the nuns. I think that they are all beautiful and kind and neat and is very much close to the Lord. And I wanna be just like that. Unfortunately, my growing up years made me realized I may not be a good candidate to enter the abbey. I might just end up like "Maria" in the "Sound of Music" movie wherein she was every nun's despair.


Then, my elementary years were spent dreaming about becoming a flight stewardess.


I think I'm qualified with the smile. :D
So I started passing my resume to some airline companies, both local and abroad when I was 24 years of age. I was hoping maybe I can fulfill this dream.








Only then I realized that they had some physical requirement. Firstly, you've got to have long legs because they have a height requirement (at least 5'3"). Secondly, you've got to be an anorexic of some sort because there's also a weight requirement. Thirdly, thin legs and small waistline for that perfect proportional body. Whoaa! now that just pissed me off. Seriously. Because I've got big legs (not long) and I eat 6 times a day but I believe I still always fall on the normal weight category. I think I can still pull off that uniform. Why the discrimination with girls with big legs? Duh.

Highschool came and I just had another dream career. I want to be a travel show host or a journalist of some kind.

You know that travel show hosted by Angel Aquino and other fab girls? That's what you call "Dream Job". I get to travel for free, see myself on tv, showcase the beauty of each places I get to, try out new foods, discover new hobby, try out that new spa, dress the way I like etc. Angel, why can't I have your job? We do have the same color right? Again, maybe this job isn't for me just because I always get a migraine after long hours of travel. Aaawww!

So, here I am. I ended up battling my way to the top in the IT industry. Do I love this job? Somehow. I still love the fact that I'm working in an Anti-Virus company with all the nerds (joke!) challenging me. But definitely not all the time. And you know what I just figured out all these years? Now I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to own a cafe. I just love coffee and I think I could have Starbucks cafe as my home. Its the perfect home aroma for me. I also want to be a make up artist! Then own a store full of cosmetics. I want to beautify everyone!

This is where the challenge begins. Whichever comes first, a make up artist or a cafe owner, what matters is that I was able to achieve it. What I need now is the motivation and the action. So help me Lord, and you guys reading this too, please help me get motivated. If this is what my heart wants, then surely God will guide me. Again stay positive and I know next few years, I'm gonna have that cafe and cosmetics store. Just like these pictures below. These will be my inspirations.;)

My Future Coffee Shop

My Own Sephora

How in the world would I own these? I'm still clueless but I know God will help me to achieve the desires of my heart.

"Believe you can, and you're halfway there."

Yesterday, my 2 year old nephew Miguel visited us at home together with his mother and brother. While at home, Mig and his mother kept on showcasing to me his new learning. One of the questions Mig was supposed to answer correctly was: "Miguel, what do you want to be when you grow up?" To which the kiddo answered, "Pilot". Which led me to thinking the topic for today's post. How many of us were rally able to achieve our dream job when we were still a child? When we were asked during childhood days, "What do you want to be when you grow up?," what was then your answer? Do you still have the same dream as of today?

As for me, I had so many dream careers when I was a child. But none of them was ever materialized! Haha! But no bitterness, I believe that God has His own purpose for not giving us everything we want. After all, I don't think I would be living the life I'm loving right now if I had taken a different path.

I remember when I was in kindergarten, I had always wanted to be a nun.



A nun! Maybe God was saying then, "For God's sake! Please leave the convention alone!" HAHAHA! I studied in a Catholic school then and I really admired the nuns. I think that they are all beautiful and kind and neat and is very much close to the Lord. And I wanna be just like that. Unfortunately, my growing up years made me realized I may not be a good candidate to enter the abbey. I might just end up like "Maria" in the "Sound of Music" movie wherein she was every nun's despair.


Then, my elementary years were spent dreaming about becoming a flight stewardess.


I think I'm qualified with the smile. :D
So I started passing my resume to some airline companies, both local and abroad when I was 24 years of age. I was hoping maybe I can fulfill this dream.








Only then I realized that they had some physical requirement. Firstly, you've got to have long legs because they have a height requirement (at least 5'3"). Secondly, you've got to be an anorexic of some sort because there's also a weight requirement. Thirdly, thin legs and small waistline for that perfect proportional body. Whoaa! now that just pissed me off. Seriously. Because I've got big legs (not long) and I eat 6 times a day but I believe I still always fall on the normal weight category. I think I can still pull off that uniform. Why the discrimination with girls with big legs? Duh.

Highschool came and I just had another dream career. I want to be a travel show host or a journalist of some kind.

You know that travel show hosted by Angel Aquino and other fab girls? That's what you call "Dream Job". I get to travel for free, see myself on tv, showcase the beauty of each places I get to, try out new foods, discover new hobby, try out that new spa, dress the way I like etc. Angel, why can't I have your job? We do have the same color right? Again, maybe this job isn't for me just because I always get a migraine after long hours of travel. Aaawww!

So, here I am. I ended up battling my way to the top in the IT industry. Do I love this job? Somehow. I still love the fact that I'm working in an Anti-Virus company with all the nerds (joke!) challenging me. But definitely not all the time. And you know what I just figured out all these years? Now I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to own a cafe. I just love coffee and I think I could have Starbucks cafe as my home. Its the perfect home aroma for me. I also want to be a make up artist! Then own a store full of cosmetics. I want to beautify everyone!

This is where the challenge begins. Whichever comes first, a make up artist or a cafe owner, what matters is that I was able to achieve it. What I need now is the motivation and the action. So help me Lord, and you guys reading this too, please help me get motivated. If this is what my heart wants, then surely God will guide me. Again stay positive and I know next few years, I'm gonna have that cafe and cosmetics store. Just like these pictures below. These will be my inspirations.;)

My Future Coffee Shop

My Own Sephora

How in the world would I own these? I'm still clueless but I know God will help me to achieve the desires of my heart.

"Believe you can, and you're halfway there."