Tame the Lions!

I knew going in that Singapore was no smooth trip.

But the past two weeks was really hard. Betrayal, low self-esteem, daunting tasks, you name it.

My ever wise Husby reminded me to have faith in myself. He said I should be just like the biblical character Daniel who tamed a den of lions.

Daniel was a man who came into Babylonian captivity from a life as a man of God in Israel. He later became elevated to a position of power in the Babylonian government and was the leading “president” over one-hundred and twenty princes. He was a Jew and not a Babylonian. He was promoted because the king saw his relationship with God and spiritual insight that was valuable to the king in his rule over the kingdom.

A number of the other princes and leaders became jealous of Daniel’s relationship with the king and plotted against him. The story goes that they deceived the king and had him sign a decree that for thirty days no one was to pray or petition any god or power except the king. They knew Daniel's character. He prayed three times a day without fail, and they knew he wouldn’t change his habits.

Just as they expected, Daniel prayed, and they played. They went to the king and ratted Daniel out. The Bible says the king was saddened when he realized he would have to enforce his decree. The penalty was the lion’s den.

The king told Daniel that he was convinced that Daniel’s God would somehow deliver him in the midst of the problem he faced. The king had more faith than all the other princes that Daniel thought were his friends.

The story goes that Daniel was dropped into the den of lions. Now these were not ordinary lions. They were breed for the purpose of punishment. They were kept hungry so that they would quickly pounce on anything that came into their den.

All night long, the king stayed awake. He couldn’t eat, he couldn’t sleep, he worried and fretted about his friend Daniel.

But all the time the king was tossing on his bed, Daniel was taming the lions.

I believe that Daniel stepped into that den convinced that one way or the other, God was going to deliver him. I don’t think for a minute that he crouched over in the corner, and said, “oh woe is me, here I was trying to do right and now God has given me over to the lions.” No, he walked right up to the lion and faced them head on.

Armed with this story in my heart, I too, will face and tame my lions.

I'm grateful this week for ...

past week in the office was hellish as we prepare for BP. patience was tested, blood pressure went up, eyebrows were raised to the roof and for several nights, sleep was sacrificed. emotion went way past rage with a backstabbing fat bitch.

still, there are things i'm grateful for. without these, i would have lost my mind.

this week, i'm thankful for ...

my eldest sister and her family for coming over to visit us. the pool in our condo which delighted kaikai so much. singapore zoo especially the baboons and the bird with the deadly toenail. hotdogs at underwater world. 4d magix. ikea value for money finds for my sis' new house. nydc mudpies. elmo dvd. connie talbot's angelic voice.vitamin c tablets. evan almighty. purefoods chunky corned beef from manila. zero traffic from airport to office. nice soft blanket. overseas call to check up on my Mom who caught the flu. my younger sister's new job. my dad enjoying his yoyo jelly candy. undy, jumpy and aike bubbles (my niece's stuff toy stash). glass of coke with ice. my trusty green ipod nano. bridge to terabithia dvd. hersheys with almond.

to top the list : my marvelous, perfect-for-me Husby who arranged a trip to HK this weekend so I can recharge in Disneyland.

Today, I'm grateful for ...

I have extended my bedtime ritual and tried to ask myself this morning when I woke up “what do I really really really want?”. It popped out from nowhere “ I want to work in Disney”. Maybe it’s because I feel I’m being forced to grow old in my new role in JJ and I’m losing my child like wonder.

Everyday, with a journal by my bedside, I will ask myself that question everytime soon as I wake up. I will answer it truthfully each day. Over time, I hope my honest answers will let it sort itself out.

Things I’m grateful for today :

1.) That I can work from home. Thanks to broadband and VPN token, I can check and respond to office emails. Thanks to my cozy house, I was able to work without distractions.

2.) Thanks for I-pod. I get to listen to all songs I like all day while working. I find it funny why some people categorize their playlists. For one, those songs were already pre-selected by me so there’s no chance it will play a song I don’t like. I put mine on Shuffle mode all the time. The randomness of the songs take me back either 10 years or just a year ago and with each song evoking a certain feeling and memory. Of the many songs I listened to today, Bamboo’s
Umagang Kay Ganda stood out the best for me. Love the arrangement, love the lyrics.

Halika na pumikit limutin ang problema
Hihintayin ang umaga
Magpahinga, panaginip ang ikaliligaya
Darating din ang umaga
Basta’t tayo’y magkasama
Laging mayroong umagang kay ganda
Pagsikat ng araw
May dalang liwanag
Sa ating pangarap, ooh
Haharapin natin

3.) Thanks to Husby’s books for it gives me a wider selection of stuff to read. You can tell from our bookshelf which are his and which are mine. Mine are largely contemporary, self-help (boohoo!), sappy drama/movie tie-ins, chick lit, some business and corporate books. His is a vast collection of books on horror, fantasy/medieval and classics. Last night, I picked up “Catcher In the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. Interesting read, very different from my feel-good books.

4.) Salted eggs and tomatoes. With leftover tapa. Hot white rice. Perfect lunch. Far cry from my usual cafeteria food.

5.) Walking hand in hand while walking with Husby in the park where we had dinner tonight.

Bedtime Ritual

The Daily Om today (www.dailyom.com) writes about the need for a bedtime ritual. It says nightime rituals hold for us a beautiful chance for self-appreciation and blessing. Before going to bed each night, one must send gratitude, compassion, and healing to the being one has been up to until that moment. This is one way to be consciously engaged in one's own evolution.

I think this can work for me. Husby usually works late and since I can't disturb him much from 10pm onwards, it's usually my "me-time" and I catch up on either my books, TV, DVDs ,work, facebook, blog. Perhaps I can squeeze daily, or should I say nightly, blog entries about things I'm grateful for. Lately, my memory's been quite poor so this should also be a good documentation of my life's blessings and delighters. I will try to skip writing about "usual things I'm forever grateful for" like God, family, friends, house, money, etc. Instead, will focus on something specific for the day. Here goes ...

Today, I'm grateful for :

1.) Friends and 30 Rock. Super funny shows which appeal to my kind of wit and humor. I can watch any episode over and over and never get tired of it - whether on DVD or Star World.

2.) Automated Expense Reports. Back in Manila, our secretary used to do all my expense reports but now that I'm here in SG, I'm on my own. And it's no longer done via Excel which I find too cumbersome. It was my first time to upload ERs in GXRS and quite relieved I won't have to do it again until next month as I've finished up declaring all my receipts for three months worth of business travel, including relocation expenses charged to the company. Organized, photocopied and sent out in sealed envelopes all original receipts! It's a bummer to do admin stuff but now that I finally rolled up my sleeve and did what used to be unthinkable for me is one heck of an achievement I'm proud of today.

3.) Husby's divine homemade tapa. With fried eggs on the side. Been burping since 8pm :)

4.) Project Murni presentation to APLT went by without a hitch. Glad to be part of something which is socially responsible and to be working with a team I genuinely like.

5.) My cabbie drivers today who were both so nice. I love it when a stranger bids you a warm goodbye.

Okay time now to sleep and rest. Tomorrow's another beautiful day.