#100dayswithneil

[joazlagundino]

Small Wins

[CTTO]

Dear Neil,

Sometimes we are caught in the middle of being discreet or flamboyant about our wins in life. Reasons? It could be that we are afraid to be judged as proud, boastful and the like. The thing is that whatever it is that keeps us happy and at the same time grounded, we shouldn't mind at all what other people think.

There's nothing more fulfilling than being able to pay off dues and payables. God knows how much blood, sweat, and tears were squeezed out for us to be able to get these payables over. But I couldn't be any happier, and of course prouder of how far we've been holding on to this adulting stage.

You know, it never pains to ask for help when there is a need of it. Being helpless is the worst feeling of all - more than break-up I guess? But nah, I am hoping that all of us will learn to dwell on celebrating small wins and taking one step at a time.

-xoxo

[joazlagundino]

The Will of the Wind

[Air Situation Display showing the weather engulfing more than 30 nautical miles of radius from the aerodrome (airport) reference point in the National Capital Region]

Dear Neil,

Today, we expected the landfall of Typhoon "Karding." I am currently on duty at the Control Tower. The winds were reaching a maximum gustiness of 30 knots and we were slowly feeling some movements at the cab. Then came a reflection, our lives cannot, and will not, always be a calm season.

In life, we experience sunny days. Sometimes we also experience rainy days. We tend to feel overwhelmed about problems that we forget to see the rainbow after the drizzles, or the pot of gold at its end. That's just how life works. In most cases, we have no complete control of how life will throw punches at us, or even cast stones. But one thing is for sure, we can always choose to see the goodness there is in every persecution or hardships.

Surely, this typhoon will leave a lot of debris, or a lot of damaged properties and livelihoods, and god-forbid casualties. But we must fret not because the resilience that has grown in our system over the years will leave us not without an option, rather be filled with hope for better days. Together, let's wait as the rainbow unfolds tomorrow, or in the next days to come!

-xoxo

[joazlagundino]

Blood and Water

Dear Neil,

There's this saying that "blood is thicker than water" which connotes the value of ties in between families and its members. Recently, I received one of the most horrific emails I have read in my email and I kind of expected it actually. Let me share you a story about how blood will always emerg in times of crisis, and that water is likewise as valuable.

Talking to my brother who works as a seafarer and sharing him about my financial fiascos was never a part of my vocabulary or routine. For a while, I have been living independently, paying off my dues and not relying on anyone. I wanted to keep it that way so I won't burden anyone with my own problems. Truth be told, living like this is my adulthood is way herder that I thought. I have a pretty nice salary for a middle class working i dividual, however, my remuneration goes to a lot of chunks - say my payables, support to family, dues, support again to other people and the like, and just recently I was so drained in my finances because of many reasons. One of the worse news broke in and I might not be able to be given any second chance of ownership of a thing if I left it unsolved. That's when my mom talked to me about sharing this news to my brother because basically, he has all the means to help me. At first I didn't want to because pride was clearly on top of my throat. Eventually, I caved in and without hessitation messaged my brother.

I know that some of us struggle to open up and share, or the most involve, someone in the midst of crisis. But I reflected and contemplated that at the end of the day, I will always fall back to my family whom I share blood with. With tears rolling down my cheeks I exclaimed, "Thank God for family!"

-xoxo

[joazlagundino]

100 Days with Neil

September 23, 2022

Dear Neil,

There's a hundred days left before 2022 will soon come to an end; a hundred days to think and reflect. In the next 100 days, am I going to be proud of myself? Or am I going to wallow in self-pity? I am the captain of my fate and the leader of my own life. So, where do I begin?

I have dreams and aspirations... a lot of them actually. Some of these dreams already forgotten, and some I believe still live deep within me. Today, I choose to live upon this, rather these dreams as I enjoy the present while cherishing the past. I am starting this journey of a hundred days with me; a project and a process of improving myself for the next 100 days.

I am very much excited and I can't wait to end this year with a better version of myself. See you, Neil, after 100 days!

-xoxo

"1 year from now, you would thank yourself for starting today..."