SHIKIMIKIE

Hi! I have been to a 3 days retreat in Caleruega, Batangas. Just a little something something. There are only two Caleruegas in the world. One here in the Philippines and the other one in Spain. The view is just fantastic. Like, so much fresh air going on. No phone signal though. Poor reception on most spots. I kind of felt bad for my mom because I wasn't able to reply to her messages on time and that I wasn't able to answer her call at some point.

We actually had three speakers I believe but I'd be refering them three as "him" or "speaker" or whatever so don't be confused.

There are quite a lot of things that I've learned from this retreat. I think I've said this before but like, to tell you the truth, I'm not really a religious-religious person. I don't think it's a good thing. I don't think it's bad. I don't think it's anything. It's just as simple as that. I don't know.

I  just want to list some of the things I've learned (believe) so to make things easier.

1. We should acquire the traits that we want to have in the future while we still can.

- The speaker actually described our lives into a GELATIN. Liquid, gelatin, and frozen. While we were young, we are actually the liquid. We take the form of any containers. When the liquid stage is done, we now become the gelatin. The gelatin, though already formed, there's still something you can do to somehow change it. The frozen stage is actually ourselves during like, the late stage of our lives. And the frozen stage is irreversible. So the point is! While we are in the liquid or gelatin form, we should invest on the traits that we want to have in the frozen stage.

2. Life does not come with a pause button. It goes on.

- The speaker actually showed quite a lot of evolutionary pictures. Like, people growing up, becoming older and stuff. How their faces changed and all that. He said that even though we want to take back yesterday or slow down our aging process, it just won't happen as we wish.

3. Our failure does not define who we are.

- That's right! We should learn from it and do better next time.

4. We are a product of our choices.

- Just like what one of our speakers said, our life is like a buffet. In a buffet, right? People would choose what they want to eat and stuff so yeah. I kind of agree. Like, I don't believe that someone's born to be exactly what they are now. Life is always about choices. So choose wisely.

5. Our moms will stay with us no matter what.

- I love my mom. I just love her in general! <3

6. Growing old is different as growing up.

7. Jesus is not like an ATM machine.

- I don't know if I already told you this but I really don't like people who go to the Church without knowing why they're there. Some people in the Church don't actually listen to the gospels and all that. What they do there is text, talk to whoever they're with, complain about the heat, see their friends without actually intending to pray and all that. For someone who don't go to the Church that often, I'm a little bit offended by these people. Because when I pray, I pray.

8. We should practice seeing the good things in people.

9. We should know when to listen and when to talk.

10. There are some things that we can only learn by experience.

So yeah. These are just some of the things I've learned. It was quite an experience. Maybe not as enjoyable than my high school recollection though. Maybe because that time, we were with people we know. This was kind of different because we have to choose from the limited slots available from each batch and stuff. But thinking about it, we needed the break given to us. We have to make up for it of course. But I don't mind.

I always say this on times when stuff aren't so good and when things are kind of difficult for me to handle. I say it when I need that extra confidence.  Situations like introducing myself in front of many people, reporting a topic, reciting in front of the class, and any other school related scenarios that involves standing in front of the class are just some scenarios when I kind of tremble a little bit. But of course, there's really nothing to worry about stuff like that. Almost everyone go through that process.

I seriously don't know if it's a good thing but I also say it when people around me are kind of hesitant to do things that I know they can and stuff like that. Like, it's definitely not my business if someone's afraid to do something or whatever but yeah. I don't know but sometimes I feel like they feel more pressured.

One example was when my cousin, friend, and I were on a job fair and then my cousin was really really really really hesitant to queue for an interview on that company that my friend and I already got accepted to. The thing is she kept insisting that she wouldn't pass the initial screening and that only our friend and I would go to work and stuff like that. I actually wouldn't push her if she's really incapable but knowing my cousin, she actually can do that kind of stuff. She was just shy and maybe lacked confidence that time. But see! If I didn't push her that time, then she wouldn't be with us working on that call center before. I love my cousin so I want her to know that she's more than what she think she is. And that she can do more things than she think she can. And I'm saying it to you too. Yes, you!

If you don't believe me, then that's fine. But then again, whatever. Your loss, not mine.

I don't know. I just think that human beings, in general, are more capable than they think they are. Sometimes I think that there are just so many factors that hinder human beings to reach their full potential. I don't why, but for some reason, I think people are always kind of like that. They kind of think inferior of themselves which I truly believe they're not.

I'm no exception though. Yeah, you already know. LOL. I usually remind myself that I should be more than what I think I am. I usually chant "GRACE UNDER PRESSURE. MIND OVER MATTER." countless of times when I have to condition myself and stuff. I don't know. It just works. It's all in the mind, yeah. All the fears and stuff. They're just all in the mind. If they can, why can't I? I mean, if another human being can do it, It's just logical to think that since I'm a human being, I too can do it. Something like that.

If you think you can't, just always think that you can. Always think positive! If you're gonna think that you can instead of can't then for me, there's a higher chance that you'll actually be able to do it.

I guess my point here is that we should be in full control of what we want in life. Let's just not think of things that we know will just make us weaker and less of a person. Less of ourselves. If we want something, we should work for it. What's stopping us? If we don't want to do something, make sure we really don't want that. Not because we're afraid, we're influenced not to do so, and stuff like that. If it's for the better, then why are we afraid to do it? If it's gonna make us happier, then why not do it? If it's for the common good, then go. But after thinking about it so many times and we still don't want to do it, then don't. I am not convincing everyone to actually follow my principles in life but that's just how I view things. Have a nice day! :)

Just some shots from the past. Just when I thought I don't have a picture in front of the Disney Castle, oh wells.

I don't remember much from this trip so let this post be a photo blog.

I really like the flowers in Japan. They're just so cute.

Yup! Holding hands at its best. Haha