Letting Go of the Past and Learning Forgiveness.

It is certainly true that the past dictates how one behaves presently. Unfortunately, past traumas or circumstances which impacted us have shaped how we perceive and relate in the present. If this is true, then the opposite can also be true, too.

Letting go of the past can shape the future and improve your present state of mind and being. We don’t have to remain hostages of our past. There is a certain freedom and release that happens when you are able to forgive and move on. This is easier said than done, especially if traumatic events have played a part in the wrongdoings of others. Fortunately, there are ways to address forgiveness in constructive and healthy ways, but first, let us examine the health toll it takes on our bodies.

Song Seung Heon in Black (2017).

The Toll On Your Body
Many people don’t know that holding onto a grudge or anger is detrimental to their health. Feelings of negativity, resentment, and unforgiveness affect the physical, mental, and emotional health of a person. Often, the negative effects of grudges manifest in physical ailments or diseases, which further affect the negative cycle of distress. Prolonged or chronic anger can affect your body in the following ways:

• Increase your blood pressure, which leads to an increase in heart disease 
• Affect your quality of sleep, which affects cognitive functioning and recovery
• Lead to overeating or malnutrition
• Increase levels of anxiety
• Contribute to depression
• Keep your body in a state of fight or flight mode
• Affect your immunity Increase the risk of diabetes
• Increase cholesterol Increase in the stress hormone cortisol
• Incidence of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Therefore, the act of forgiveness and the release of that burden will affect your health in positive ways and reduce the toll it takes on your body. Forgiveness is literally good for your health.

Lee Dong Wook in Goblin (2016).

The Freedom Of Forgiveness
Understanding the connection between past experiences and the way it affects your current state of being is paramount to letting go and moving on with your life. Past experiences have shaped your behavior and feelings and altered how you cope with certain circumstances. Understanding and deconstructing the process of how your past is affecting you is a step in the right direction when trying to move on with your life through forgiveness and acceptance.

The psychological aspects of healing are best dealt with in a holistic manner. Counseling sessions, healing sessions, and the support of loved ones are the strongest tri-factor in overcoming grudges. Psychological counseling sessions can address the root of anger and resentment whilst providing coping skills and psychotherapy. Spiritual healing sessions can provide the inner peace and energy realignment needed to fully let go. The support and understanding of loved ones improve the mental space of the person who is suffering while working through their emotions.

Cantabile Tomorrow (2014).

The Alternative Option For Healing
In addition to counseling or psychotherapy, energy medicine is an option that can aid you in letting go of the past completely and restoring the balance within yourself. The process of forgiveness is a tough and laborious one as it involves the active and conscious decision of letting go. Letting go of hurt, anger, disappointment, resentment, and hate. These negative feelings, especially if harbored over a long period, have a certain resilience and tend to linger when one has decided to finally forgive and move on.

Forgiveness does not happen in a one-off session; it is a gradual process of healing. Once you have identified the need for forgiveness, healing becomes a mindful process of working through the feelings and thoughts and then releasing them. The releasing part is notoriously difficult, which is why energy healing can have a significant impact on the process.

Energy healing can be used to ease or release the suffering and torment associated with resentment. The blockages of energy are caused by mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering, which can be addressed by energy healing. Addressing spiritual hurt is part of the healing process and can provide peace after a long period of suffering and pain.

The objective of energy healing is to address the energy blockages, work on removing them and provide relief. Spiritual healing aligns the inner being and facilitates the healing from within – a sense of true inner peace. It is important to remember at this point in time that you will need to be patient with the healing aspect. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that forgiveness is a process and not just an act of compassion.

IU in Hotel del Luna (2019).

Learning Forgiveness
Forgiveness does not excuse the offender’s actions or validate their behavior. Forgiveness is accepting the deed happened and moving past it. Forgiveness is a self-care act, something that you do for your benefit and healing. Forgiveness is the act of acceptance, compassion towards yourself and finally letting go of the negative aspects of the deed. Forgiveness is not surrendering to the emotional enslavement of trauma, but rather the decision to release anger, resentment, bitterness, and malice. This ensures your life is your own and is not governed by the trauma. Your past does not have to define you.

Interrupting the cycle of resentment and anger, actively working on emotions, and striving for equilibrium within one’s self is the best way to let go and move on. The act of forgiveness is an act of healing. Be kind, be patient, and be present when letting go of the past and learning the gift of forgiveness.

How to Make Friends When You’re Traveling.

Today’s employee has freedom. Millions of people work from home. Countless others are enmeshed in the gig economy, picking up work where they can. For these workers, going to the “office” is a rare or impossible event.

If you’re in this position, it means you’re free to travel. In fact, the modern workplace is so flexible that you may have this option even if you’re not a remote worker. Unlimited paid time off is becoming more and more common.

Traveling solo can be a ton of fun if you plan correctly. One of the biggest challenges, however, is making friends. When you’re an adult, your social life is most likely formed around your job. If grabbing drinks with your coworkers isn’t an option because you’re not going into the office, you have to ger creative. The fact that you’re traveling adds an extra layer of difficulty.

On board Air Asia for another round of Seoul Searching! :)

Take a Class
In most major cities, you can find a class that meets regularly. It could be a workout group, a cooking class, a bible study. The options are endless. What matters is that you get out of the house (or hotel room) and do something that interests you. Making friends will come naturally. You’ll be engaging in an activity with like-minded people.

Let’s say you’re traveling in Texas and you interested in kickboxing in Kingwood TX. At Elite MMA, their classes “combine techniques from Thai kickboxing and western-style in order to provide a program that will teach you how to defend yourself and will give you a great workout while you are learning. You will learn with your colleagues by sparring at different levels.

Kimchi and bibimbap cooking class in Seoul.

Go Online
You can use the internet to enhance your social life. To start, you can find new friends online. By joining chat groups, commenting on social boards, etc. You can even go online to create a real-life connection. If you know that you’re going to be traveling in a certain soon, you can scout events to go to in advance. You can try to forge a connection with one of the attendees.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find a group of friends and acquaintances across all of the cities where you travel.

Stay in Hostels
One of the easiest ways to meet people when you’re traveling is to stay in a hostel. They're designed to appeal travelers. A lot of hostels cater to a younger clientele, but there are plenty that accept guests of all ages. You will encounter a range of different accommodation options. The bunk bed, dorm-style option is the cheapest option. It’s also an automatic way to meet people. If that doesn’t suit your needs, you might be able to find a private room.

With Kim Jin Ah of Teseum in Seoul.

Go to Bars
Going to a bar is a classic social event for a reason. People go for the atmosphere. If someone simply wants to get drunk, the can do it at home for a fraction of the price. No matter what city you’re in, you can probably find a friend if you head to the bar. Now, these may not be lasting friendships. But who cares? You’re trying to expand your social circle. Having a casual acquaintance can be a blast.

Bar Da in Seoul.

Use Dating Sites
Dating sites and apps are a useful tool to meet people if you’re willing to put yourself out there. You’ll meet a lot of duds. But you may meet some fun people as well. If you’re completely against the idea of dating someone, there are apps geared toward friendships. However, it can take a while to find someone who you actually click with. Expect people to be very flakey.

Go Outside 
This is a simple one. Just go outside. Play Pokemon Go, walk around the park, hang out at the local pool. If you’re cooped up indoors all of the time you’ll never meet anyone new. Another benefit of going outside is that you’ll become more familiar with the area. It may feel strange at first if you’re walking around aimlessly, but it’s actually a good way to meet people in the neighborhood.

Yue playing Pokemon Go. :)

Ask Friends
If you have any friends in the city you’re traveling to, see if they can introduce you to anyone new. It’ll be easier to get invited to events if your friend can vouch for you. Other people will know that at least one person thinks you’re socially acceptable and fun to hang out with. Making friends doesn’t get any easier as you get older.

Spotlight | Vice Cosmetics Gandoll Brow Kit.

After weeks of waiting, I finally got my hands on the Gandoll Brow Kit by Vice Cosmetics. Hooray!

The complete collection was launched (supposed-to-be) nationwide way back in July, but for some unknown reason, the Vice Cosmetics stall inside the department store here at SM San Pablo didn't have them in stock. My friends and I would drop by the stall every so often with hopes of finally seeing the Gandoll Brow Collection on display, but alas, it was a disappointment every time. It wasn't until early September when the brow products finally saw the light of day, and our anticipation eventually came to an end.

Vice Cosmetics Gandoll Brow Kit.

The Vice Cosmetics Gandoll Brow Collection includes two different products with four color choices for each. The shades are Light Brown, Ash Brown, Soft Brown, and Natural Brown. I chose Soft Brown because it's the shade that matches my current hair color and it closely resembles the shade of my perennial favorite brow pencil.

Soft Brown.

The Micro Brow Pencil is a retractable, ultra-slim brow pencil that shapes and defines the brows with ease and precision. This brow pencil has got to be the slimmest brow pencil that I've seen - and tried - so far.

Vice Cosmetics Micro Brow Pencil in Soft Brown, Php 195

Surprisingly, this pencil a tough cookie. It doesn't break easily, and it's quite easy to work with. It has great staying power (lasted for the entire day without touch-ups) and is nicely pigmented, however you won't be able to fully appreciate the color unless you use it on your brows. (Tip: Try the product on your brows if you're purchasing from Vice Cosmetics kiosks/stores.) 

Another impressive feature of this product is its ingredients. The Micro Brow Pencil contains castor oil which promotes hair growth, and vitamin E which nourishes each strand of (brow) hair. Here's hoping that my brows will grow thicker with the help of this product, haha fingers crossed. :)

Vice Cosmetics Volumizing Brow Gel in Soft Brown, Php 195.

The Volumizing Brow Gel, on the other hand, is a tinted brow gel which contains fibers that give volume and shape to your brows. I usually stay away from brow gels because I really have sparse, almost non-existent eyebrows, but I purchased this anyway just to give it try. 

Swatches: Micro Brow Pencil in Soft Brown on the left,
Volumizing Brow Gel in Soft Brown on the right.

This brow gel is nicely pigmented and has a soft, flexible hold on the very few tuffed/stubble hairs that I have on my brows. The gel doesn't feel clumpy when applied, but I wish the spoolie that came with it was thinner for a more precise application. Not everyone is blessed with naturally bushy brows, but those who are could work with just the Volumizing Brow Gel and get great results. Oh, the envy! :)

Drawing lines with the Micro Brow Pencil in Soft Brown.

Adding a bit of the Volumizing Brow Gel + filling in the brows.

Tadaa! Now I have eyebrows! :)

Overall, the Vice Cosmetics Gandoll Brow Collection is quite impressive, considering the quality, price (Php 195 each), and shade selection. Best of all, they're locally and widely available. Now I don't have to ask for friends in Japan or wait for the next Korea trip to buy brow products that work for me. :)

You can purchase the Vice Cosmetics Gandoll Brow Collection at Vice Cosmetics stores and kiosks nationwide, at the Vice Cosmetics official website, or at the Vice Cosmetics flagship stores in Lazada, Shopee, and BeautyMNL.

5 Tips for Planning a Home Remodel.

A home remodel can lead to an amazing and fresh new look for your home, and there are any number of ideas for projects to tackle. At the same time, a home remodel can be a bit intimidating if you don’t quite know where to start. A home remodeling and renovation guide always comes in handy, so here are 5 tips for planning a project and seeing it all the way through.

 

It's Okay, That's Love (2014).

1). Decide What You Want to Remodel & Why
If your home is like most homes, you probably have any number of things you could tackle. The first step will be to decide what you want to remodel—your whole house or only a particular project—and whether or not to hire a professional.

As Hestia Home Services, a home remodeling Houston firm, explains, a professional remodeling service has a vested interest in helping you achieve your dream project, whether it’s a small bathroom or a whole house.

What you want to remodel is important, but why you want to remodel it is equally important. Are you tired of the way your bathroom looks? Do you feel your living room no longer reflects your lifestyle and tastes? Once you have a clear handle on the what and the why, you’re ready for the next step.

 

Ji Chang Wook in Whirlwind Girl 2 (2015).

2). Create a Project Plan
Now that you’ve decided what you’re going to do, it’s time to come up with a project plan. In essence, this is your blueprint, your roadmap for success: it establishes what you’ll need to do to accomplish your project.

A good place to start is by creating an actual blueprint or sketch of what your project is supposed to look like when it is finished. Maybe you have one from the internet. Make use of custom furniture from places like Lovech to maximize your space. Whatever the case, make sure you have a clear idea of where you’re heading and what it’s supposed to look like when you get there. Once you have that, you can figure out what you need and want for your project, and finally you can divide it into distinct steps.

Photo credit: Antoni Shkraba on Pexels.

3). Determine Your Budget
Your budget for your home renovation project will be important for determining what you can and cannot reasonably expect to do. Here you’ll need to think about materials, labor costs (if applicable), and permits (if applicable).

Fortunately, this step doesn’t have to be too hard. Once you know how much you’re willing to spend, you can budget accordingly. If you find yourself in a bit of a jam, think about lower-cost alternatives: for example, using those expensive tiles as borders for your bathroom remodel rather than covering all the walls with them.

We’ve talked before about budget-friendly home improvement ideas, and there are any number of things you could do that won’t require you to spend a fortune: painting, kitchen upgrades, adding a picture window, leveling up your bathroom, and so on.

Photo credit: Mikael Blomkvist on Pexels.

 
4). Hire Your Team
You may be doing your project alone, in which case this step won’t apply, but a great many home renovation projects are at least two-person jobs. It’s also very common—and really, quite wise—to hire a contractor, a professional home remodeler, to help you handle things. Not only will they have the expertise to complete the job for you, but they'll also know how to contact and find a dumpster rental throughout the USA among other things, and this can also help to take away much of the stress of the job.

When you are considering which contractors to hire, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, think about years of experience.

In general, a contractor with more years of experience will be more desirable, as they’ll know their stuff better than someone who is starting out. Of course, all that experience may well come at a price, so you will need to figure out what tradeoff between quality of experience and cost you want to make. It’s probably a given, but ask to see samples of their work—file this one under “proof of experience”.

Second, make sure your contractor actually has the correct certifications for their particular line of work.

Third, make sure they have workers’ compensation and liability insurance for the work that they perform.

Fourth, ask for a few references, and then actually call them and make sure the contractor is a good bet.

Finally, work out payment arrangements and schedule.

My Absolute Boyfriend (2019).

5). Determine Your Timeline
Now it’s time to determine your timeline. This is going to be your schedule, your calendar of when you want to have everything accomplished by. You’ll want to make sure you leave time for cleaning the area out, shipping and delivering materials, and accounting for any holidays or time off. Once you’ve completed this step, you’ll be ready to actually buy the supplies and get going!

Conclusion
A home renovation can be the ticket to the home of your dreams, or at least a home that better reflects your interests, desires, and tastes. The five tips we’ve discussed here should help you along the way. Good luck!

Lamudi’s Cebu Housing Fair 2019 Is a Resounding Success.

Lamudi has just concluded another successful Housing Fair, this time held at SM Cebu Trade Hall, on September 21-22, 2019. The event gathered property seekers, exhibitors, real estate agents and brokers, and property developers in a setup filled with booths, activities, and free-flowing information for everyone.

The two-day event welcomed buyers, property investors, and real estate professionals to take part in homebuying seminars and real estate online marketing training. Everyone in attendance also visited booths from exhibitors for a chance to get special offers. Lamudi’s exhibitors included Be Residences, Cebu Landmasters, Damosa Land, Inc., Food Panda, Paramount Property Ventures, Inc., Philippine Estates Corporation, RDAK Land, RE/MAX, RFK Holdings, Inc., and Saekyung Realty.

 

Cebu property seekers registering to enter the Lamudi Cebu Housing Fair 2019.

Property buyers on the hunt for their dream property visited Lamudi’s “Build Your Dream Home” booth, where they were welcomed with games to discover the home of their dreams. Those who wanted to sign up for an account, find career opportunities, and be updated on the latest trends in Philippine real estate also visited the Lamudi booths.

Lamudi partnered with the Subdivision & Housing Developers Association, Inc. (SHDA), major sponsor Federal Land, and minor sponsors King Properties, Aboitiz Land, BPI Family Housing Loan, and DMCI Homes to make the event possible. The Cebu Housing Fair’s media partners for the event are Business Mirror, Business World, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Standard, Philippine Star, and Philippine Daily Inquirer Property.

A family looking through the Lamudi Housing Fair in Cebu, in search of their dream home.

Another successful feat

The Cebu Housing Fair is the third leg for Lamudi’s series of housing fairs in 2019, following successful events held in TriNoma and Glorietta. Last September 21 and 22, Cebu Trade Hall became a venue for real estate brokers and agents to learn about the pros and cons of each lead generation channel and how to utilize them to the broker’s advantage through the Lamudi Academy.

The housing fair conducted online real estate training for the topics “Top Online Generation Channels” (11AM-12NN) and “Conversion of Online Leads Into Sales” (4PM-5PM) on both days, facilitated by Nadine Pacis, Training and Development Coach of the Lamudi Academy.

Cebu property seekers inquiring at one of the booths at the Lamudi Cebu Housing Fair. 

The first day of the housing fair featured a talk from Federal Land’s Rico Cruz about Marco Polo Residences, a short video presentation from DMCI Homes, a discussion about the Acquired Asset Disposal program with Mr. Angelo Hermosisima of Pag-IBIG Fund, and a segment from RE/MAX’s Von Jeric Tima-an. Nino Ray D. Muga and Stephen N. Maglasang from BPI Family Housing Loan shared about real and other properties acquired (ROPA) and BPI Family Savings Bank Housing Loans promos.

Property seekers explored the booths to know more about properties, housing loans, and other homebuying-related queries. This is the second year that Lamudi brought its housing fair to Cebu to answer the growing demand for real estate all over the Philippines particularly in Visayas.

A Cebuano property seeker in search of the perfect home.

Next up: Mall of Asia
Property seekers, real estate agents and brokers, and other interested parties still have a chance to take part in Lamudi’s series of housing fairs. The next installment returns to Metro Manila this December 14 at the SM Mall of Asia.

Follow the official event hashtag #LamudiHousingFair and check Lamudi’s Facebook page (@LamudiPhilippines) and Instagram account (@lamudi_ph) to stay updated when more news about the next leg of the Lamudi Housing Fair is revealed.