Ibyang
Ibyang

Deep Thoughts

2011 in Review and My “Thank You’s”

3 January 2012 3 Comments Category: Deep Thoughts

Thanks to my Husband who found this heartwarming video online that I can’t help but share with you.  I meant to blog about this last week but I’ve been busy de-cluttering at home.  We’ve been on holiday the whole of last week and took the opportunity to get the home organized and sorted out stuff we don’t need.


Anyway, back to this video.  I really hope you find the time to view this.  2011 was a big year for the whole world.  A lot of stories of adversities, calamities and achievements.  Stories that broke our hearts but renewed our hopes.  A mix of the good and bad.  Most of the things I learned in 2011 came from what the universe is telling all of us.  In 2011, I opened myself to what the universe’ messages instead of just rely on what is happening immediately before me.  I was deeply affected by the calamities that happened in 2011, especially with what happened in Japan.  It broke my heart and became an eye opener.



Personally, 2011 had been a challenging year for me.  Some moments were difficult and I’m relieved to have surpassed this year’s most trying times.  But my greatest personal learning is to never give up.  Never give up what I’m dreaming for, my aspirations and my faith in God.  Never give up on the people I love and believe in.  


For 2011, I’m grateful for


…the everyday chance I’ve been given to do the things I’m passionate about: be a wife, have a career, write, take photographs, travel and explore.


….the chance to love and spend time with my loved ones.  


…the opportunity to meet old and new friends, kindred spirits and strangers that turn into angels in my life.


…the gift to go back home to my motherland, the Philippines.


…the joy of falling in love with a place and culture: Seoul, Korea.


…knowing who my true “Hanes” are; I have always known I’m loved by my friends, but last year, some circumstances in my life have evidently shown me the friends who genuinely cares for me.


…the insightful lessons I learned from my mistakes and the challenges that pushed me to be creative and resourceful.


…little and big things that put meaning into each day, may it be milestones or disappointments.


Thank you 2011!  You were a big adventure for me.  It was not the best year but it was meaningful and still beautiful.  As I face 2012, I shall bring forth your lessons on humility, simplicity and gratefulness.  

READ MORE

Sydney Welcomes 2012 : Time to Dream

The first 12 minutes of 2012, our eyes were glued to the tube to witness Sydney’s fireworks display worth six million dollars and 15 months of preparation to cater to 1.5 Million people on the harbour and millions of viewers around the world.  


This year’s show was spectacular more than ever.  It was the best I’ve ever seen that Sydney can come up with.  They have more colourful and creative fireworks this year.  They have also synchronised the fireworks in Darling Harbour.  From the organisation, safety of the crowd and the amazing show, nobody does it better than Sydney. If you are travelling to see the NY fireworks in Sydney, it is always worth it.


And this year’s fireworks theme is about dreaming and thinking of endless possibilities.

Discover the inspiration behind the theme for 2011 Sydney New Years Eve.

Dreams are interpretations, aspirations of our desires and hopes. Dreams have the fluidity, richness and depth that simple rational thinking doesn’t.
Australia was built upon dreams. From the dreamings of past millennia to the dreams of recent settlers. Whether day or night-time, dreams are our minds in free-flow, uninhibited and reflecting what we truly aspire to. From little babies to old people, we all dream. New Year’s Eve is when fantasy and aspirations flow. A vision for the coming year, with designs on a better life. The moonstruck and lovestruck may dream of fulfilment. The stargazers dream of the worlds beyond ours.

Australians dream every day, whether that’s by buying a lotto ticket, reading of the lives of celebrities, or planning a trip. Every NYE midnight is a blank canvas for us all. Like a white sheet of paper that stares back at a writer, artist or designer, the possibilities are infinite. And in the reverie that swirls around us as midnight approaches, it is a Time to DREAM.



(If you can’t view here, click this video source)







Happy New Year!  May we never cease to dream of endless possibilities.  May 2012 inspire us to make our dreams into realities.  Let’s us all shine with positivity today and always.


READ MORE

Affirmation: Surround Myself with Positivity

Affirmation:

I will surround myself with positive people, 
energy and images.

My Indoor Plant called PEACE LILY


Personal Reflection:
Being exposed to (too much) negativity is draining.  Negative energy can suck the life out of you and doesn’t help one bit if you are already feeling sad or depressed.  While I understand that each of us may need some down time or time to wallow because of what may be happening in our lives, it is important that we have a certain consciousness in keeping the blues at bay for the sake of our health and well-being.   

I’ve had my share of bad days once in a while but one of my biggest learnings in keeping myself together amidst having the blues is to surround myself with positive energy whether it be from the company of loved ones or doing something I love.

Here are some of the things I do in order to avoid negativity in my world:

I choose the company I keep.  Being with people who do nothing but complain and see negativity in everything is exhausting.  I know people who do these all day and I have nothing against them as that is there personality–they have every right to be what they are.  But I can only tolerate negativity up to a certain extent so I choose my friends wisely.  I love spending time with loved ones who exudes positivity as well.   

I have dates with my girlfriends.  I always tell my friends that they are the food to my soul.    Whether it is in person, by phone or virtual chats, I try to spend time with my girlfriends on a regular basis because their presence simply makes me happy and sane.

I filter out and I tune out.  With the accessibility of the online world, it is so easy for negative vibes to reach you.  Nowadays, I seldom check in at Facebook because I’ve read a lot of negative shoutouts on a daily basis there (I mentioned to a friend before, “Ginagawang bulletin board ang FB ng kung anu-anong issue na hindi naman na dapat isapubliko.”).  In twitter, I unfollow tweeters who makes bashing on people a habit.  At home, the Husband and I filter and regulate what we watch on TV.  When we have long days at work, we tune out completely–we don’t watch news on TV and don’t engage in social networking.  We didn’t set up this rule though.  It kind of just happened that we want to come home to a pleasant and cheerful home.

I surround myself with images that are life-affirming, optimistic or inspirational.  In general, I like seeing pretty things because it simply makes me happy.  At home, you can see photos of our travel on display to remind us of our happy adventures.  I have a Peace Lily plant at the office and recently I bought the same plant for our home (see photo above).  It has become one of my favourite plants because like it’s name, I feel that it brings peace and joy. 

I do the things I love.  When one is pre-occupied and productive, there is little time to invite bad energy.  I believe my good days has always outnumbered the bad days because I spend my time doing the things I love.  I have a job that I love and outside that, I write, I read books, I take photographs, I travel, I take long walks, I love spending time in the kitchen, I have dates with the Husband regularly and I pray.  These are moments that normally make up my day that gives me a sense of fulfilment. 


I de-clutter.  Clutter, litter and dirt are negative stimuli.  I’m not claiming that I’m the most organized person in the world, but I try to make my world as orderly as possible.  At work and at home, I try to practice getting rid of things I don’t need so as not to accumulate clutter.  

I have my regular “Me” times.  I don’t know how many times I’ve written about having “Me” times but here is this topic once again.  I can never stress how important “Me” times are for me and for the Husband. I’m grateful that I have a partner who is very generous in giving me the space I need whenever I need it.  

How do you surround yourself with positivity?


Enjoy the week ahead!


Follow ibyang on Twitter
READ MORE

Nine Years Ago

December will always be a special month.  The moment December starts, I fondly remember moments that make this month special to me and the Husband.


Yesterday, we celebrated our 9th year syota-nniversary (a term I coined which means “our boyfriend-girlfriend anniversary”) and we’re blessed to have spent a part of it at Kirra Beach.

My prayer yesterday was all about being grateful.  Grateful that we are still TWOgether.  Grateful that we are enjoying our blessed life TWOgether.  Grateful that we have weathered the bad times and cheered the good times TWOgether.

After nine years, I realized I will never get over how we became an “Us”.  It’s a story that I will never get tired of telling.  What started out as friendship turned out to be one of the best things that’s ever happened to our lives. 

Nine years ago, on the 14th of December, we realized we have something real.  LOVE.

“There are some people who meet that somebody that they can never stop loving, no matter how hard they try. I wouldn’t expect you to understand that, or even believe it, but trust me, there are some loves that don’t go away. And maybe that makes them crazy, but we should all be lucky enough to end up with somebody who has a little of that insanity. Someone who never lets go. Someone who cherishes you forever.”

 –Ally McBeal
READ MORE

Today’s Weather: Sunny Morning, Gloomy Afternoon

Can I just say I love my iPhone 4s?  Since I’ve had one, I’m not afraid to forget my camera these days because it just takes good photos.  Good enough to share in my blog.  I’m also finding it easier to blog right away because I just send my photos to my computer and upload it without resizing or editing.


Sydney’s weather is crazy these days.  The rain spells last for days and it’s cold again.  We officially started Summer on the 1st of December and so far, we’ve had more days of rain, gloom and cold.  We have brought our thick jackets, scarves and boots out and I’m wearing sweatshirts & pants and the Husband’s beannie to bed.  We’ve experienced cold Decembers before but I think this is the coldest December I’ve experienced.  


This morning, the sun was shining and the blue skies of Sydney (which I love so much) appeared.  I couldn’t resist taking a photo. I was at the front garden of my workplace and this building is actually not part of the compound.  With the gorgeous blue skies and great natural light, I realized this old building looked pretty especially with its detailed chimney.



I’m sure the whole of Sydney appreciated the great weather this morning especially when it became cloudy and gloomy towards the afternoon.  My blue skies were gone too soon!  One look out the window and Sydney is in a canvass of greyish white once more.


As I walked out the office, I looked at this building again and saw a different story to my photograph.  With no light and a backdrop of whiteness, the pretty building turned out dull and daggy.



From a very sunny morning to a rainy, gloomy afternoon.  Unbelievable weather.  Maybe Summer is a bit late.  Others say we will have this kind of weather for the whole duration of Summer (that’s sad).  But we’ll never know, right?  Whatever the weather may be, I just hope in the end we’d still have enough days of sunshine and blue skies before we meet Autumn once again.

Follow ibyang on Twitter
READ MORE