Old & New

Old & New by asmaslog · 365 Project

Adding and Deleting

I'm nearing a major milestone in my humanoid life. After being on this earth for as long as I have, you already are a bit weary. In my case I am talking about weary from what you are used to, weary from from what you can't get used to.

This must have been going on in my subconscious psyche as even before I sat down to write this, I've realized I have been making efforts to act on it. already. Oh, it is not just me of course, God has been throwing stones at my window too. So what the am I friggin' talking about?

Number one on my list is people. I happen to go around very 'competitive' circles. I hate competition no matter how healthy people say they are. I believe more in striving to be better everyday for your own sake, growth and sanity. But I cannot avoid those people who as if in a car race would just nod their heads to you and you know the race is on. I'm sitting there and saying, "What?". I always just let them zoom away and knock themselves out with the victory. But this victory seems to never be enough and they will always be back on the starting line the next day, ready for another race. They get irritated when you don't want to race and get themselves even angrier at you. Can't you race with someone else? Someone who wants to race with you? OH, but no they just have to race with me. So I went beyond saying no. This year I have also pulled myself away from their racing arena. It is pretty drastic considering that some arenas are quite close to home. But I want my peace so I pressed the delete button.

When I slowly detached myself, a whole world has opened for me. The time I spent being battered and bruised by my 'non-competitors', I now spend with more worthwhile things. I spend more time with my family, invest more in good, old and true friendships and welcome new ones. Facebook is a good thing. You get to say and do things for people that otherwise you'd be shy or inhibited to do. You find out hey, she's pretty cool or he really cares. You also get to edit with whom you want to open yourself to. Once I made a terrible accident of deleting some people from my list of friends. I was entertained by the different reactions, Some just sent a message that said, 'Hey, why did you delete me. Add me again!" or some just sent another friend request. But I did get one 'violent' reaction and he went to the point of blocking me right away and even my husband. Poor thing! He did not even know what hit him and what hit him was a mere mistake by my low-tech fingers. But I am grateful to have gotten to know him more. So - delete it is!

Adding, on the other hand is truly a glorious thing and am forever thankful for each new addition. It can be a new friend, a new job, a writing assignment, learning a new skill, an afternoon of new wonderful memories with friends. I welcome it all! Another good thing about it is, it's boundless. Everyday is a wealth of additions, of blessings. This year has been a gift and wrapped in pretty paper I found new friends; Cinty, Becky, Peach, May, Chat, Irene and Step. I discovered new and yummy places to eat. My new favorite foods are yakult green tea, frozen yogurt with granola, blueberries and graham crackers. I'm learning I really love taking pictures but don't have the patience to be too technical about it. I enjoyed traveling with my friends so much this year (I went to Shanghai with high school buddies.) I've decided to do it every year. Add! Add! Add!

So you see, pressing the delete button is actually followed by many add prompts. It's cleansing , even a purging if you want to say that but it won't leave you empty for long.

Starting the Year with Change

I am one person who is greatly influenced and affected by my surroundings. 2008 to me and my family had been a year of challenges, heartaches as well as loads of happy, new memories, fab new friends and an endless list of new discoveries about places, cultures, music and even food. It was relatively a good year. But then again it's over so the new must be welcomed and ushered into our lives and psyche. How do we do it? I say I'll do it with change. I recently ran into a blog about rolling your sleeves up and editing your surroundings; your home or even work area and adding or removing items that are no longer about you. It could be an old framed photo of a dinner with an ex-friend, an outdated votive candle, a fabric from the mad shantung 90's or a CD of an artist you no longer like. Perhaps it is time to update some of your decors or highlight old pieces that you still absolutely adore. You may be compelled to change the colors in your home, going for warmer tones or changing the framed art piece on your wall. Tasks may be big or small. Doing this is actually an act of touching base with ourselves, right? Where we are at this point in our lives? What are we about now? What are our dreams? And what do we do with the items we no longer want? You could discard them altogether too though. What else can we do with the stuff that are no longer about yourselves? The blogger made pretty artsy stuff with some of her stuff. How about a box, a time capsule of the past year or years if letting go is not easy?
What if we want to throw in something new? Something that represents a new found hobby or interest? A photo of a pet? Changing your everyday plates? Place mats?
Everyone is looking forward to change this year and always it is hoping for better things at different levels. I will start by a home editing. No, I am not talking about a major re-organizing, spring cleaning endeavor. I am planning an introspect. I am planning to come to know myself now and welcome that and all the changes that has grown from that. I am seeking my own little dreams and hopes at present and build an optimism and tenacity for it all.
So keeping up with change is when change becomes good.
Okay, ugh I just remembered I have a feisty panel of associate editors to deal with - the kids. Good luck, mama! =0)
And good luck to us all this year and God Bless, everyone!

Oh, Our Christmas Tree '08

Finally got the tree up!
Many thanks to my son, Blue who is my assistant decorator at home. He is the one who tells the helps when to bring out the Halloween, Christmas and Easter decorations. He is also the one who demands that I re-arrange the furniture since it has been a certain way for a long time.
This year, we went for aqua and green for our Christmas decors. It is our first time to move away from red and green. Our tree is seven years old and about to take a bow so are some of the decors. So Christmas decorating is somethings old, somethings new, somethings green and somethings blue, aqua...I so am loving these retro teddy bears which I bought for a song, no a stanza in Divisoria. Do you remember these teddy bears? I believe during my childhood they came in red, electric blue, yellow... This is adorably kelly green!

My family and I are still getting used to our new Christmas colors but we are definitely liking it. Forty days to go! I joyfully wait.....

Silent Night, Holy Night

My kids have been working on the piece, "Silent Night' on the piano and violin since October and I have been feeling a lot like Christmas ever since. Christmas is my favorite time of the year next to hold your breath, Valentine's Day. No, not the cheesy kind of Valentine. My idea of a Valentine will always be that of my Mom. For many years of my young life, she was and still is my Valentine..... But, wait I was writing about Christmas..... So little by little i a getting the house ready for it. To be honest this year has taken my family on a roller coaster ride and I am dying to celebrate Christmas because I want to give thanks for all the love and guidance I received from Heaven......

So I begin with color, it's spring bud and teal---in other words yellow green and aqua as inspired by Amy Butler's latest fabric collection and her house too which I soooo loooove. Thus, decorating for Christmas 2008 begins with color and I'm loving it already......