The recent documentary Magtanim ay ‘di biro by Kara David was about the sad reality for our farmers.
Farmers who stay under the sun for hours and doing physical work to give food to our country.
It was hard and painful to watch that to those who went through that struggle and still in that struggle and to me who tries to show how wonderful it is to become a farmer or at least get involved in agriculture. It makes you feel hopeless for the farming sector of our country or even the country as a whole.
In every part of the world, we have agriculture to sustain the quantity and quality of food the people need. Farmers in different places have their own struggles in growing crops alone and in the Philippines, the bad road and supply chain adds up to what they already had to deal with during the growing season.
Imagine a farmer without crop insurance and uncertain market for their produce will risk a whopping P40000 ($900) to earn at the end of the season of P6000 ($120) or worst nothing! In any business, it will drag you to bankruptcy and debt. The young generation will not want to become a farmer to experience what their farmer parents did.
A heartbreaking reality that we can all help in our own little ways by trying to find them a direct market to eliminate the cost for middlemen or if you are close to that farm, find another way to sell them like using our social media platforms.
I guess we cannot solely rely to our leaders anymore in helping our farmers. If you know an avenue to empower our farmers, let us do it!
When I first found this concept I didn’t believe it. I was like: NO! I’m not that weak shit! I have all the motivation and need to change for the better. I will do all the habits that I’ve always imagined and I will be consistent for a month and magically have the best routine!
Voila! It did not happen! I was not able incorporate the 10 things I listed to be part of my daily routine especially the two sessions of 4-hour deep focus for work. However, I wanted to give credits to myself for several habits I consistently have done until up to this point although I missed a day or two, I tried my best to go back again to those habits not more than 3 days.
Here are some of the easy habits I successfully incorporated in my list that my brain becomes bothered when I don’t do it. They are simple but with good intentions.
I wanted to learn a new language: 10-15 minutes of Duolingo which I am on my 250 day streak and 30 days straight of not missing a day to learn.
I wanted to regularly have 7-8 hrs of sleep and correct my sleeping pattern: getting up at 6:30am and sleeping at 11pm.
I wanted to have a hydrated body especially in the morning: I take a glass of warm water every morning.
And, the other 7? I failed and realized the importance of habit stacking. One good habit at a time until you master the 10 in your list.
I do not consider myself as an expert in life but more of a work in progress. The most fun part is the learning part. You do not stop learning and relearning things you thought absolute.
Here are some of what I learned from life so far.
1. You are limitless.
2. It is ok to ask for help.
3. Growth and development is part of life so stop escaping.
4. Not knowing everything is fine.
5. Life is forever changing and evolving.
6. You do not wake up in the morning to impress people.
7. Engaging people will always be part of our lives.
8. Do not multitask.
9. Commit with clear intentions
10. Consistency is the key to success in everything you do.
11. Discipline is the long lost child of consistency.
12. A routine will save you on days that you do not feel motivated.
13. Motivation is not available 24/7 365 days in a year.
14. Start with an end in mind if you can’t at least start the work.
15. Have plan A, B, C, to Z because life does not always go as we plan.
16. Rainbows are not always there after the rain, sometimes more rain and flood.
17. Enjoy the sun, moon and stars.
18. People come and go so allow them to enter and exit your life.
Do you always find yourself breaking a habit after 4 days of consistently doing it because you tell yourself that you can do it tomorrow because you did a great job for being consistent for 4days?
Rewarding yourself is not bad but think about it again. Are you rewarding yourself or you are making an excuse to avoid the task?
Our brain has the tendency to avoid things that are not comfortable and that is when we create excuses to justify the escape.
Escaping the hard task looks fun for the brain and going back to your comfort zone is tempting for your soul that does not want discomfort. However, these are both enemy of growth.
Nope. You do not need to go to a difficult situation. You do not need to immerse yourself in a new culture. You need to face what is in front of you that will help you to become the person you wanted to be.
Look at the plants around you. They do not move but they keep growing. It is not easy but that’s how they survive. Try to find a newly planted seeds in the ground and observe them for a couple of days. They push themselves to go up and see the light. After seeing the light, they do not stop there. They try to adjust their resources, shifting hormones or proteins to adjust to the situation. They work a lot but we only see their growth and development for the benefit of other organisms. And it is so beautiful.
Imagine being a plant today. They do not make excuses. They try their best to keep growing and developing for what they are made for. And may you be strong enough to fight your strongest excuses for your own growth and development.
I decided (as paladesisyon) that I will give my thoughts and quotes I like about the book I aim to finish each month. For January, I read The Secret History by Donna Tart. Below are my thoughts, expressions and quotable quotes.
I was like where was Vermont?
This can’t happen in real life.
Oh, wait! What?
Did they kill him?
No way!
OMG! He’s alive!
Or not?
I had a nightmare the night I was reading the part that they were trying to find him.
This coming February 14 what are you planning to do alone or with someone? If you haven’t found out, here are some ideas you can start with or include in your plan.
1. Watch a movie in the cinema
Classic date night in the cinema for me never gets old. You spend time focusing on the same thing is intimate and builds connection. Make sure that whoever you are with agrees with the movie you will watch.
2. Dine in a restaurant
Another classic one. Try out a tasting menu. Or a fancy steak house. But again checkout your companion cos you don’t wanna bring your vegan or vegetarian data in an all-you-can-eat Samgyupsal restaurant.
3. Attend a concert
Do you have a band or orchestra you enjoy listening to? Then you might find where they are performing in two weeks and reserve your tickets. Be together until midnight with the type of music you both enjoy.
4. Walk around the park
A date does not necessarily about spending too much. Knowing the person you wanna take on this kind of activity is vital. You can spend your time roaming around checking out stuff in the park making sure you do not complain having painful legs at the end of the day.
5. Street food crawling
I love street food and if you take me to one I will consider that a sweet gesture on a date. It is cheap but I love these food. However, if your date is not a fan of this kind of food then consider other activities on this list.
6. Shopping
Nothing is wrong in retail therapy as long as it is still within your ‘wants’ budget. Window shopping may be therapeutic to others and may also be the root cause of your stress so communicate your intention when doing this kind of activity alone or with someone.
7. Play arcade games
Video games, basketball, or car racing. Name it and most big arcades have it. An hour won’t be enough and therefore you have more time to spend with that person enjoying different games and getting a price if you are lucky enough to hit a jackpot to get that big teddy!
8. See a theater play
It may be boring or worth each other’s time. The key is to ask your date to honestly tell you if he/she want to see a play cos you will need time before that play to book your tickets and you don’t wanna bore your date after that day of the play.
9. Cook food and do a picnic
Cooking our meals is cheap but can give someone the impression of you making an effort to cook especially if you cooked that person’s favorite food because you gave attention to what they say or do. Checkout the picnic area and bring food that is appropriate in the place.
10. Trekking
This one is kinda intense if you consider like trekking the highest mountains! LOL. But why not if both of you agreed go for it and then you can spend the night camping there if the place allows. Plan to bring the needed stuff before doing this one.
11. Do bar hopping
But, do not get too drunk especially if it is your first date. It may be a turn off to your date. Bar hopping gives the both of you varieties of bar ambiance. Sometimes some bars may have fun games or a live band and lucky you if you get to those bars!
12. Camping
Whether at the foot of the mountain, by the beach or lake, camping is something that will allow you to know your person better. This is spending the night with the resources available and enjoying the company you have while dealing on whatever challenge that may arise in the camp.
13. Try out all the rides in an amusement park
Age is just a number. Unleash your inner child by spending the day in an amusement park and trying out all the available rides. Your date may be scared of the rollercoaster but may want to try it with you and that gives you an idea of the trust that person has in you.
14. Spend the day in a museum
I like going to historical museum but my friend easily gets bored in there so talk to your date if they want to go there if they said yes you may need to reserve your tickets. This can create conversations that may arise while looking around the things that interest you both.
The key in all the above-mentioned activities would be to communicate the plans you have. Surprises are fun if you know very well who you gonna surprise. But, knowing that both of you enjoy the activities you are planning will result to a more successful Valentine’s date!
larswrites 