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.

A lot of ideas has been said about happiness. But I think the truest of them all is that "Happiness is a Choice." Do you agree? For me, its a solid YES. While it is a fact of life that bad things can  and do happen even to good people, most of the time due to misfortunes they have no control of,  we must always remember that there's always someone who would want to be where we are right now. Think of the people who have heavier burdens than you do. And then be thankful you are not on their shoes. Do you feel a little lighter? A little happier now?

For a happier mindset, I have some tips to share. When you are feeling blue, I hope these things would somehow give a you a boost of some bliss:

1. Discipline your thoughts. Always think positively. Pass on positive energy. When you feel down, think happy thoughts instead of focusing on the annoying circumstance you are into. After all, it will not stay that way forever. So focus on the things that would make you feel bright and light and soon enough you'll have a solution to the problem you are facing without even you knowing it.

2. Do good, feel good. When was the last time you actually helped out others? Doing good not only makes you feel good about yourself but also makes other people think good about you. Nothing is more joyous than being able to help people in need.

3. Release that energy. Do some physical activities that would require you to sweat. Do you know that exercise lets our body produce endorphins? Endorphins also called "happy cells",  has been explained by wikipedia as cells "produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm, and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being." So go ahead and move that body!

4. Get out of that comfort zone. Do something that you've always wanted to do but had always been delaying to do because of too much excuses you've been reasoning out but the truth is you're just too lazy to make it happen. Why? Because you don't want to get out of your comfort zone and face that challenge. Why not start by devoting a day or two in a month to do something you've never done before. You will be amazed at what you can discover about yourself.

5. If you can't adjust the wind, adjust your sails. As I have said, not all the time you can get your luck. Unfortunate things may happen but there will always be ways to change how things can go around you. The external factors that affects our life are just little compared to what we can actually do to get out of that detour. You completely have the power to make changes in your life and make things really happen.

6. Be thankful. Count your blessings and thank the Lord for it everyday. Enough said.

I can enumerate hundreds of ways to improve our perspective about happiness but at the end of the day, the only way to make one happy depends on ourselves. How we think, how we act, how we feel is our free choice. So if you want to be happy , think, act, and feel happy. Aren't you glad you have that choice?

A lot of ideas has been said about happiness. But I think the truest of them all is that "Happiness is a Choice." Do you agree? For me, its a solid YES. While it is a fact of life that bad things can  and do happen even to good people, most of the time due to misfortunes they have no control of,  we must always remember that there's always someone who would want to be where we are right now. Think of the people who have heavier burdens than you do. And then be thankful you are not on their shoes. Do you feel a little lighter? A little happier now?

For a happier mindset, I have some tips to share. When you are feeling blue, I hope these things would somehow give a you a boost of some bliss:

1. Discipline your thoughts. Always think positively. Pass on positive energy. When you feel down, think happy thoughts instead of focusing on the annoying circumstance you are into. After all, it will not stay that way forever. So focus on the things that would make you feel bright and light and soon enough you'll have a solution to the problem you are facing without even you knowing it.

2. Do good, feel good. When was the last time you actually helped out others? Doing good not only makes you feel good about yourself but also makes other people think good about you. Nothing is more joyous than being able to help people in need.

3. Release that energy. Do some physical activities that would require you to sweat. Do you know that exercise lets our body produce endorphins? Endorphins also called "happy cells",  has been explained by wikipedia as cells "produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm, and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being." So go ahead and move that body!

4. Get out of that comfort zone. Do something that you've always wanted to do but had always been delaying to do because of too much excuses you've been reasoning out but the truth is you're just too lazy to make it happen. Why? Because you don't want to get out of your comfort zone and face that challenge. Why not start by devoting a day or two in a month to do something you've never done before. You will be amazed at what you can discover about yourself.

5. If you can't adjust the wind, adjust your sails. As I have said, not all the time you can get your luck. Unfortunate things may happen but there will always be ways to change how things can go around you. The external factors that affects our life are just little compared to what we can actually do to get out of that detour. You completely have the power to make changes in your life and make things really happen.

6. Be thankful. Count your blessings and thank the Lord for it everyday. Enough said.

I can enumerate hundreds of ways to improve our perspective about happiness but at the end of the day, the only way to make one happy depends on ourselves. How we think, how we act, how we feel is our free choice. So if you want to be happy , think, act, and feel happy. Aren't you glad you have that choice?