how interesting it is to play with fire! the dancing flames and warm heat simply amazes the one who sees. in a daze one cannot help but reach out and try to feel if one is invincible...only to get hurt and regret to having him fall for its mystery.

how dazzling it is to watch the flames! to see the image in someone else's eyes. to hold a hand while you are both in a daze. the fire blinding you from the rest of the world, from the path that the light should be leading you to.

how lovely it is to flirt with fire! to feel its warm intense heat on one's being. it could melt the coldest of heart and can break it as well into pieces. will you let yourself be caught in between its scorching flames? or will you just stand far away looking at it, observing?

for a change....i dare you to make the first step.

.....to FOLLOW THROUGH.

A. People who have been tagged must write their answers
on their blog and replace any question they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves. Tag eight people. Those who are tagged cannot refuse.
B. These eight people must state who they were tagged by. You cannot tag the person who tagged you. Continue this game by sending this to eight other people.

1. If your lover betrayed you, what will your reaction be?
> hurt of course. iyakin ako eh so i'm sure i'll cry. hehehe

2. What will you do if you do not share the same feelings as the person who likes you?
> magpapakatotoo ako.

3. Do you find yourself cheating on your loved one?
> ayos sa tanong!

4. Would you rather have your ex replace you with someone more beautiful than you or uglier than you?
> whatever will make him happy

5. What`s your ideal boyfriend like?
> sweet, witty and independent

6. What are the three things that you want most right now?
> 1) to be able to provide for good education for my kids 2) peace in the family 3) my hubby

7. Who would you want to be in a fistfight with?
> ngeks. i detest violence.

8. What/Who do you miss most right now?
> si Eng-eng

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently?
> zero sexlife ...hahahah

10. What do you want most in your life?
> peace of mind and spending the rest of my life with the person who loves me more than i love him.  

11. Is being tagged fun?
> oo naman. lalo na wala akong mapost. har har har

12. If you find out that your best friend is going out with your boyfriend or girlfriend, how would you react?
> i'd never speak to her again. but then again, first reaction lang yun. it actually happened to me, napatawad ko naman sya. although the relationship was never the same again.

13. Pick a person whose name starts with the letter A and say something to or about the person.
> aldrine - an ex-officemate that i have a huge crush on. hahahaha...

14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
> walang magawa. hahaha

15. What makes you happy right now?
> my kids. they are simply adorable.

16. If the person you secretly like cannot recognize you, what would you do or how would you react?
> magpaparamdam ako...parang multo....hahahah

17. What song do you frequently listen to? Give the lines that are most applicable to you.
> i'm with you by avril lavigne

Isn't anyone tryin to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Wont you take me by the hand
take me somewhere new
I dont know who you are
but I... I'm with you
I'm with you

18. If you fall in love with two persons simultaneously, who would you pick?
> the one i love

19. What type of friends do you like?
> jologs tulad ko. hehehe

20. If you played a prank on someone, and he or she fell for the trick, what would you do?
> explain to the max.

im tagging deelicious, literati, someyougiveaway, marshee.

I started the week with a virus. Rested for two days and had a check up with my endocrinologist last thursday. Left kidney is not in good condition. Apparently my stones joined forces and is now one big block inside. Plus my high sugar levels is starting to damage it. Therefore the increase in my insulin dosage and some additional meds. Sigh.

Friday - was treated out for lunch by a friend. Sarap ng may provident fund. Heheheh....I should start on mine too. Next time friendship my treat. Sarap talaga sa Teriyaki Boy.

Saturday - blood chem and ultrasound schedule at medical city.

Sunday - went out with Highschool friends, the Lilliputs. was picked up at 11:30 and went to this nice Italian restaurant in Calbayog St. called Galileo. Had red wine, cheese, cold meat and pasta. Nice place. Very cozy.  Afterwhich, went to Trinoma and joined in their shopping spree. Only difference was, I shopped for my kids' school bags. Hehehe Had dinner at Holy Cow (yummy steak) and dessert at Cyma. Had a fun girls day out. Will definitely do it again.

"Sow a thought, reap an action;
Sow an action, reap a habit;
Sow a habit, reap a character;
Sow a character, reap a destiny."

- Samuel Smiles

Attending a seminar at Ateneo Makati courtesy of my current employer. It will run for three days and started today. I was nominated by my boss to attend to such an insightful and very popular signature program.

"Your life is a result of your own decisions-not your conditions" - Stephen R. Covey

I remember trying to read the book way back but never got to read past the first chapter. I guess I am not that committed yet to what the principles this program has to offer.

Last week, I was thinking how I could fight the sleepy head that I am. I easily get bored during such seminars. But today I found myself listening intently to the facilitator. Aside from her being such a good and interesting speaker, the course is promising a bright future for anyone who commits to it.

"All significant breakthroughs and break-"withs" old ways of thinking." - Thomas Kuhn

Of course, success is never offered on a golden platter. One has to work on it consistently and I believe passionately as well. And I want to commit myself to being consistent in practicing these habits. Who knows how much it can improve my life and my character.

"People will pass away, but principles never will; they endure." - Abraham Lincoln

We were asked what would be the long time contribution I want to make in my life: my answer would be to have an impact on other people's lives by sharing my knowledge, experience and exemplifying positive attitude/ behavior to others. Such a tall order for me, but I believe its doable.

"If you want small changes, work on your behavior; if you want quantum-leap changes, work on your paradigms." - Stephen R. Covey

I'd go for the quantum-leap changes.

"Would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to go to" said the Cat.

"I don't much care where...." said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go." said the Cat.

- From Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Today we tackled Habits 2 & 3. Habit 2 is created with the concept that all things are created twice. Mental creation precedes physical creation. Beginning with the end in mind. Goal-setting, discovering and reflecting on things that matters most to you.

I have created a draft of my personal mission statement. I wanted it something I can easily remember and therefore easily commit myself to. I know that its going to change depending on some circumstances in my life. But right now I would like to simply put it as - I DO!

Inspire by exuding passion in living life and loving others
Driven by values and principles in accomplishing/ achieving my goals.
Own-up to all the choices I have made and will make and learn from the mistakes I have made along the way.

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least." - Johann Goethe

Important and Urgent things does not mean the same. I have attended a Time Management Seminar also one of the Covey programs 8 yrs ago. I was taught how to prioritize my time and schedule my activities. I really have a penchant for jotting down stuff that happens to me or even the most mundane things that struck me while I'm doing something...those "Aha" moments.

But I realized I was doing it all wrong. I didn't practice the systematic approach of doing things. I was more of doing fire-fighting than being prepared and ready for the important things. I used to plan my schedule on a daily basis. Just jotting down the things I should do or things I have accomplished for the day.

We were given the Covey planner which I have the smaller version way back. Weekly planning is essential to have a more effective and efficient life...whether personal or career-wise. Awareness of the roles that I have to practice and be conscious abt should be guiding me on the "big rocks" (priorities) that I should focus on.

Now there is more clarity on how I perceive my future at the moment. I am the painter, and I have done a canvass with multiple colors of an image that I have in my mind...a picture of the future. A picture of who I will become and who I am at that point in time.

Would you like to be a part of that painting? What color/image would you want me to represent you with and why?

I got caught up in the middle of things I left at work that I was not able to share the 3rd day learning of the 7 habits program. So here goes....

"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" - George Eliot

Habit 4 to 7 are done to achieve public victory. The term Emotional Bank Account is a metaphor for the amount of trust that exists in a relationship. These habits contribute to "deposits" that build and repair trust to others.

It's not like this is such a big scientific breakthrough. We are actually living and breathing all these habits day to day. Only, we are less conscious of our behavior. Therefore less effort to improve and be better individuals.

Think Win-win - Effective long term relationships require MUTUAL respect and MUTUAL benefit. At first I thought this is the same as COMPROMISE. Only to find out that COMPROMISE is the lesser form of "Win-Win" I guess it took me a while to see the whole picture of the program to be able to grasp the meaning of this.

"Listen, or your tongue will make you deaf." - Native American Proverb

Any successful relationship has this unavoidable key factor - Effective Communication. How can you be effective? When you seek first to understand than to be understood. The exercises we've done was quite difficult. Empathic listening could really take so much effort from a person who does not listen sincerely. Some are quick to judge others that they listen to reply and prescribe.

"Synergy Formula/ Third Alternative" 1 + 1 = 3

Together we can create a better way, a higher way. We must value and celebrate each other's differences. That way we will be able to work/ live harmoniously.

"A long, healthy, and happy life is the result of making contributions, of having meaning ful projects that are personally exciting and contribute to and bless the lives of others." - Hans Selye

Finally, the 7th habit - Sharpen the Saw or the Habit of Renewal. To maintain and increase effectiveness, we must renew ourselves in body, heart, mind and soul. It takes a deep personal commitment to live these habits and be conscious of how we can be better individuals. It does not mean a perfect life but it is how you will be remembered, what you have contributed to others that matters most.

"Be strong in hard moments."

(Excerpts from The 7Habits Signature Program Workbook)