Ibyang
Ibyang

Deep Thoughts

Follow Your Bliss

Follow your bliss. Only a three-word phrase but a powerful reminder that encourages us to follow the calling of our heart and soul.

IMG_2987Personal Reflection:

Being consistent is key. If we pursue our passion, we must also encourage other people to do the same. Share the positive energy instead of bringing other people down.

Celebrate other people’s milestones. I feel blessed whenever I learn that a loved one has achieved his/her goal. Happiness is contagious and knowing that they’re happy makes me believe in the good that the Universe brings.

Isolation  is not a bad thing if balanced with communing with others. We all have our own creative pursuits and sometimes, it takes solitude in finding one’s inspiration. I have a group of people that I sometimes meet up and talk about my interests but I value the time when I isolate myself from all the influences of things and people around me in order for my creativity to flow.

If you love what you do, you wouldn’t mind having bad days. No pursuit is ever perfect. No great love is ever without challenges. The bumps on the road teaches us a thing or two. If you love what you do, you know that it’s all worth it.

Practice and persevere. If you want to be good at what you love doing, practice makes it (almost) perfect.

Love and commitment are two of your best values, the fuel to chasing your dreams.

Have faith. Lots of it. Pray that you’d be guided on the path you have chosen.

Follow your bliss, especially if it brings out the best in you.

-o0o0o-

Note:

Every morning, I allot at least 10 minutes for reflection. Sometimes I’d just sit and be grateful for the quiet. Other times, I’d have a phrase or word I’d reflect on and jot down my thoughts and feelings. Hence, this is where I mostly get my personal reflection which I share on the blog.

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Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn!

The Universe gave us a beautiful Sunset on the last day of Summer.

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And just like that, we are now transitioning to Autumn. *sigh*

What is really that quick? Temperature wise, we will still have warm days until end of March. But mornings and evenings have been cool-ish since last week. The days are getting shorter. We wake up at 6am and it’s still dark. There is a need to bring a cardigan or a light jacket now because we might need it for when there’s a change in weather. This morning, I woke up and it was dark and cool (at 15C degrees) and I thought, “We’re doing this again???”. “This” pertaining to getting ready for work when instead I would like to stay under a warm blanket and sleep some more. Not complaining. Just thinking that it’s all too soon.

On the other hand, I felt an excitement for the cold to come. It was in the past Summer when I realised that it is not my favourite season anymore and there were days when I felt that the heat was too tiring as it drains one’s energy. Funny thing was, we actually had a pretty good Summer. We didn’t have days of endless heatwaves, instead just a day of very hot weather here and there. We even had rain on some days. So I think the Universe was very considerate of us this time. I do hope that the next Summer will be as good.

Moving on, I see a very heartwarming Autumn as it will be filled with a lot time spending with family and friends. The Hubby and I are looking forward to an exciting and fun-filled season.

Have a lovely Autumn! Let’s all stay healthy as we transition to cold weather.

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Filled With Love, Gratitude & Strength

I just had an amazing long weekend with three of my closest friends at a healthy resort up north. This getaway took awhile to happen. For years, we’ve always dreamed of having some time off together, just us girls. 

When we finally decided to do it, the planning was easy, flights and accommodation were booked in just two days and we were all set. 

For three days, we found refuge in a healthy spa in Byron Bay where we ate healthy food and enjoyed activities that stretched our muscles and soothe our bodies. The big bonus was being with friends whom I never tire of talking and listening to; women who inspire me with their wit and warmth.

A special thank you goes out to our families for letting us do this. For taking care of the home while we are away. It’s never easy going away especially on weekends but our family supported us. 


I’m filled with so much love, gratitude and strength from the healthy journey I had with dear friends. The weekend reminded me to take care of myself more and to always surround myself with positivity. It was an experience of finding my core once again. I’m very grateful. 

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Jack, Patch Adams & Chris Nielsen (Thank you, Robin Williams)

I grew up watching his films. He’s known for being a brilliant comedian but in all of his films, my favourites were about celebrating life and death: Jack, Patch Adams and What Dreams May Come. 

Robin Williams 
1951-2014

I don’t have very much time these days so I’ll make it quick. Like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our life, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry , thinking, “What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna be in ten years?” But I say to you, “Hey, look at me!” Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day… make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did.  – Jack 

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly without complexities or pride. I love you because I know no other way then this. So close that your hand, on my chest, is my hand. So close, that when you close your eyes, I fall asleep. – Chris Nielsen (What Dreams May Come)

What’s true in our minds is true, whether some people know it or not. – Patch Adams 

Death. To die. To expire. To pass on. To perish. To peg out. To push up daisies. To push up posies. To become extinct. Curtains, deceased, Demised, departed And defunct. Dead as a doornail. Dead as a herring. Dead as a mutton. Dead as nits. The last breath. Paying a debt to nature. The big sleep. God’s way of saying, “Slow down.” – Patch Adams


Thank you, Robin Williams, for the gift of laughter and inspiration.

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June on Ibyangram

Ibyang + Instagram = Ibyangram

While my instagram photos are shared on my twitter page and sometimes on my tumblr and fb page, I would like to have a monthly dump of ibyangrams on AWCL too. It is thru instagram that I share everyday moments and random finds. I use instagram as my real time mini-blog. Every end of the month, I’ll be choosing a couple of photos from my instagram and share it here because I have something more to say about a certain ibyangram.

While my instagram photos are shared on my twitter page and sometimes on my tumblr and fb page, I would like to have a monthly dump of ibyangrams on AWCL too. It is thru instagram that I share everyday moments and random finds. I use instagram as my real time mini-blog. Every end of the month, I’ll be choosing a couple of photos from my instagram and share it here because I have something more to say about a certain ibyangram.

Winter officially started in June. The weather has become colder by the day. Although we have a lot of “sunshin-y” days, it can never be too warm as the sun has moved away from this part of the continent. The days are shorter, the nights longer and darker. This season calls us to hibernate, slow down, hug our loved ones closer and find comfort in the things that make us happy. 

While I would love to just sleep Winter away, life has never been busier. My June has been a mixture of staying at home, doing some photography, helping the Husband with his projects and spending time with loved ones. I miss blogging…writing and doing photography for the blog. I wish I could easily find time to sit down and blog as regularly as before but it’s just not possible at the moment. The Husband and I are working on a new site we bought (ibyang.com) which will hopefully be up and running soon. I’ll keep you posted! In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my compilation of June’s Ibyangram.

The first day of Winter was cold and gray. Perfect for having a cup of tea.

Amused at the huge-ness of this Upo (long melon/bottle gourd). Oh the possibility of so many dishes I can make from this! Grateful to my friend, Rache, for sharing the harvests from your neighbor’s garden.

The first Monday of June was a public holiday so we had lunch at home. Baked meatballs, stir-fried Long Melon some Banchan dishes: cabbage and radish kimchi.

I’m so cold that I just had to wear my ski socks on a Saturday morning.

I bribed the Husband with sweet watermelon & tea so he can watch The Legal Wife’s finale with me haha. The Legal Wife is a Filipino tv series which I watched for a few weeks. 

My photograph entitled “Walking Under A Thousand Torii Gates” is now housed in a 42cm x 52cm frame. This photo was captured while the Husband was walking under the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan. 

I seem to eat more ice cream in Winter. For tonight, Salted Caramel ice cream with wafer biscuits that tastes like Otap

A simple pleasure from America. My first Kate Spade bag.

The green stuff I bought all for $5.25! Some afternoons, I dropped by the Asian supermarket and find veggies which are on sale.

Winter Solstice. Shortest day of the year in Australia. It was a beautiful day so I hung outside our balcony and sunbathe for the a few minutes.

Sunrise hues of pink, orange and blue. The view from a moving train. 

My morning fuel. Whole grain flakes and various seeds & nuts topped with Avocado.

Pandesal, Ensaymada & Spanish Bread. Filipino breads for brekkie.

A pair of Winter slippers for a Socceroos fan. My twitter timeline were mostly about the World Cup especially in the morning. I’m not a soccer fan but I enjoyed reading news and hoorays of soccer fans around the world. 

From my parents with love. Finding comfort from chocolate-coated dried mangoes in this cold and windy day.

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