It’s 11:50PM on a Wednesday night, and I’ve just decided to start writing this blog post. It’s less a cry for help and more a demonstration of a concept –we make time for the things that matter, we decide the shape of our joy.
In this case: blogging and journalling in the middle of another duty at the Ambulatory Care Unit of the ER.
Happy birthday, Mama!
My mom is many things. A filial daughter, a generous mother, a hard and smart worker, and a woman of strength and character. This year, she also turned 50-something years old.
We had an extra filling lunch with food ordered from several different suppliers. Please excuse the paltry decorations (in my defense, I had to sit through a research exam that same morning). And yes, I am wearing a @chatmontyhc original.
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Time flies crazy fast. It passes by even faster when we don’t get to celebrate with vacations abroad or big parties. We like to joke within our family that the last three or so birthdays don’t count –pandemic aging is hereby invalidated and reversed.
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P. S. Extra thank you to my batchmates for the flexibility in rearranging our duties so I got to keep this weekend free.
Welcome to Lake Yambo in Laguna
Lake Yambo is one of the famous seven lakes of San Pablo, none of which I’ve visited before the other weekend. And even in this case, we visited it from the Nagcarlan side (where it rightfully belongs), since the lakeshore is apparently less than 15 minutes away from our house in town.
*The other six lakes are Sampaloc, Bunot, Calibato, Pandin, Palakpakin, and Mohicap.
My mom saw this place on her social media feed then almost immediately booked a nearby place for lunch. It was great. The food was so-so, but new experiences always bring me joy.
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You can check out their website here or their Facebook page here.
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I love the idea of meditating beside lakes and staying in lakeside houses. I think if the weather was a little kinder (ie less chance of fainting due to heat stroke at noon), I’d spend most of my summer days in a place like this.
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And this pretty top
Dedicating a section of this post to my mom’s pretty top (she made it herself!)
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Happiness is a feeling
Despite the look and vibe of this blog post, it wasn’t really all fun and games. This all happened considering that recent family crisis I vaguely wrote about. And I was struggling with some work-related things over that weekend. I felt frustrated because I had some deliverables that I wanted to get started on –important but not urgent, as the Eisenhower matrix would put it– but at the same time, I just wanted to enjoy the time with my mom and my family.
One counseling session with my batchmates and Dr. Dionisio later, and I’m feeling several degrees better. I forgive myself for my lapses. I consider my track record of progress as more valuable than my short-term missteps. Etc.
Also, again: we make our own happiness where we can. I choose to be happy.
Until next time! ❤️
P. P. S. By the time this scheduled post goes up, I’ll be back on another shift in the Ambu ER. Time is crazy. Life is short.
jari m 