Fashion Makeover

I don't know what got into me but I immediately obliged when someone asked me if I'm willing to be one of the subjects for a magazine's fashion makeover. I almost chickened out to do such thing as I have always been a fashionista introvert. I asked for a sign that if my sister in law will accompany me to the shoot the moment I ask her to, then it was meant to be. 

Surprisingly, she said yes and so I tried to be an extrovert for a day and went to the studio for the makeover.

My wish list: to look more polished at work.

My dilemma: I tend to dress casually at the office previously but now with the bigger responsibilities that I handle, I feel I need to establish more credibility in terms of how I look relative to my function. 

The solution: office dresses that I absolutely loved! I am planning to buy exactly the same dress that I wore to my first fashion shoot. 

I was glad I took this challenge. I got a few clothing style solutions and tricks for my body type. Not only that, I recently discovered that I look better in a new hairdo: curls.

I'm still contemplating though if I would change my previously straightened hair to a more natural curly look. Maybe in the future, I will go out again of my comfort zone to have a hairstyle makeover. For the meantime, I still need to gather enough courage to do so.

Kaleidoscope World

One of the Philippine music icons died around lunch time today. As the entire country mourns over his death, one of my favorite songs written by him kept on playing on my mind. As a tribute to Master Rapper - Francis M.. 

Here are a few of my favorite lines from his composition - Kaleidoscope world:

every color every hue is represented by me and you

take a slide in the slope,  take a look in the kaleidoscope

spinnin round, make it twirl, in this kaleidoscope world

 

--different voices, different choices

--some are mad, while others laugh

--some live alone with no better half

--some stand out while others blend

--some are friends and some are foes

--some have some, while some have most..

--some are great and some are few

--some can swim while some will sink

--and some will find their minds and think

Thank you Francis for these great lines and for your wonderful music!

Work in Times of Crisis

At times, work brings you challenges.. to make you stronger and better as a professional and as a person. Despite the challenges, I've always been thankful that I have a good paying job in times of crisis where redundancy, lay-offs, closing down of firms are common situations. 

I hear common gripes from others on how they are currently "overworked but underpaid". If only they realize how lucky they are compared to others who are still struggling to find a decent job to feed their family. I've been almost tempted to tell those who complain on their current state and compensation to go ahead and feel free to seek work outside the company but resisted myself to do so as I know it will be difficult to find a better paying job these days. 

Hope everyone would see the other side and appreciate their current job at the same time work hard for them to reap the benefits sooner or later than expected. 

The Need to Choose Wellness

I was shocked to receive a note that one of my fellow retreat attendee died of a heart attack last night. He was survived by his wife and his kid. May eternal rest grant on his soul! I can't even remember his face since I attended the retreat four years ago and have not been active in the community since but the thought of having someone died of a heart attack almost near my age disturbed me.

Lots of people are dying young these days - due to cancer, heart attack, aneurysm mostly due perhaps to poor lifestyle quality. Although there are some physical conditions that may be attributed to genes, a lot are now due to improper lifestyle or eating habits, no exercise, stressful work conditions and polluted environment.

I would definitely not want to be one of them. My kids are still young and I feel I still have a lot to accomplish in life. The sudden news made me think for a while, re-assess my priorities and I've just decided to change a few of my bad lifestyle habits. One of them is working myself of too hard to the point of having no exercise at all.  Tomorrow, I will have to start on hitting the gym or at the very least run within the community. I will have to start on choosing wellness very soon- for myself, for my family and for my children's future.