i am woman, hear me rawr!

This morning I posted a message on  Plurk that read  “Good Morning!”

A dear friend of mine commented, “morning! may good!”. I paused for a minute and tried to figure out what she meant by it, then I realized that I often just Plurk “morning”, especially when I cannot find the good in the morning. In fact, once I even went as far as posting “morning. morning lang, wala pa siyang good  (morning. just morning because there’s no good in it)”.

For today, I did not really think about what I posted, I just went with what felt right and it wasn’t till it was pointed out that perhaps, even unconsciously, I am really making strides in reframing the way I think about things around me. After some mulling it over, I replied to her and said, yes, there is good. I am making it a point to find the good in every morning no matter what.

Where is this all coming from? No, don’t worry, dear readers, this is not another Eat Pray Love review or reaction.

Life As We Know It starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel opens in local cinemas on October 20, 2010. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

I came to the conclusion that we really need to look at the world with all new lenses from the upcoming romantic comedy, “Life As We Know It” which stars Katherin Heigl and Josh Duhamel. The story begins with a blind date from hell between  Holly (Heigl) and Messer (Duhamel) after their best friends set them up. From then on, the two were always at odds and since they loved their best friends to bits, they had no choice but to be in the same places and events a lot of the time. Until one day they received the devastating news that their friends had died and that they were named the guardians of their orphaned daughter Sophie. From then on, life as they knew it flew out the window.

Life As We Know It is a wonderfully funny, human look (yes, for a comedy, I have to say it is very real!) at how life sometimes throws you curve balls and all you can do is really just laugh and breathe through it, then reframe the way of thinking about it because holding on to the way things were in the past really won’t work anymore. Unlike a typical chick flick or mindless romantic comedy, this one was full of real emotions and lessons that really reminded me of what is important which is why I loved it so much. It wasn’t all cheesy, it wasn’t all funny, but it was just so real (gah…I think I used real to many times in describing this film, ya think???) Read the rest of this entry »

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"Life As We Know It" starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, opens on October 20, 2010

Don’t you hate it how sometimes when you think you have figured things out, life just throws you a curve ball and before you know it you’re slipping down some slippery slope? Then before you know it you’re caught up in a whirlwind of emotions that send you on all sorts of impulsive actions….like stuffing yourself or rushing out to the mall with an explicable need to buy something you don’t really need, such as gadgets you don’t really need like an iphone despite the fact that your present cellphone is perfectly functional (not that an iPhone wouldn’t be a fabulous new toy!!!), or perhaps yet another pair of stilettos or a dress that you have nowhere to wear to anyway???

No, this isn’t me having another one of those existentialist crises nor is this another inspirational, self-actualizing post about what happiness is and the purpose of life…..this is me looking forward to the Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel’s upcoming movie, “Life As We Know It”.

The movie begins with a first date gone wrong and despite the evident dislike of both characters for each other, they suddenly find that life throws them a big giant curve ball with one simple phone call. Before they know it they are thrust into a new life very different from their present lives.

After the series of melodramatic posts in this blog and self-discoveries I’ve been doing (yes, inspired greatly by the recent Eat Pray Love movie!!!), I am really looking forward to this movie!

The romantic comedy directed by Greg Berlanti opens on October 20, 2010 in Philippine theaters and is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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broken bits and pieces, useless it seems, but when put together, make a beautiful whole

This morning a friend of mine posed the question that Liz Gilbert was asked in part of her story, Eat Pray Love. What is your word? If you asked me this months ago, I probably would have taken a long time to answer. However, today, the answer came so spontaneously that it surprised even me. Well, I have to admit that I did write something in my own Eat Pray Love movie review before the question was asked, which actually made me reflect on my own healing journey a couple of years back.

So today when she asked that, I immediately said my word is “mosaic”. Why? Well, this is how i see my word: I am a mix of broken and imperfect pieces that makes a perfectly beautiful whole.

As I shared in my last post, I discovered mosaics during a difficult period in my life and the inspiration for that actually came from one of those contemporary coffee tables that Rachael Ray always talks about or features in her show. I was also in a beach once where there were mosaic tiles around the coffee tables which inspired me to explore making mosaics.

So from there, I found my word. And for me, I think it is perfect.

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Eat Pray Love. Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

In a recent post, I wrote about how Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert has been one of the most pivotal and life changing stories I had read in the last few years. While some may say the story is a little self-indulgent, I feel that the story speaks volumes to me, in many different levels and ways. When I read (or should I say re-read) it when I am on a low point, it picks me up. On better days, it makes me reflect on what I have, and on really good days, it allows me to appreciate myself and the world around me. Whatever the message is, however, it always, always seems to come at the perfect time.

And as always, last night was no exception. I was finally able to catch the film adaptation of the story, which starred Julia Roberts and I walked away from the theater sighing a happy sigh.

I truly enjoyed the film, although admittedly, like most book-to-movie films, there were bits and pieces in the book that I would have wished to see but didn’t. In the same way, there were elements that were portrayed differently from the way I imagined it when reading. Nonetheless, I loved it. Not only do I love the story to begin with, I also love any film Julia Roberts, so that was surely an added bonus. I loved how real her performance was, and how I could really feel and become engaged with the character. It’s funny, though…while watching it I would catch myself seeing myself in many, many situations and discussions she was having with herself and others. There were scenes too that were too “real”  to me…real because it reminded me very much of conversations over margaritas and little synchronous moments I personally have been experiencing in the last few months with very special people around me. Like I said, Eat Pray Love always seems to give me messages at just the right time

One of my favorite lines in the movie (okay, for my dear readers who complain about spoilers, I apologize if you consider this as one, but I don’t think it is ) goes: ” Ruin is a gift; ruin is the road to transformation”.  That struck a chord deep in me because just recently, I found myself looking back at a difficult time in my life. A period in which I allowed myself to explore the artist in me, and during that time I found comfort and solace in working on that art. One of the most cathartic and meaningful things I did then was to take some chipped and imperfect vases and dishes that, because of their flaws, were no longer functional, but for some reason, I couldn’t throw away. So one day, I took them and smashed them to tiny pieces. From there, I picked up the bits and pieces that I liked and put them together in a mosaic to make new and more beautiful things that worked for me and by embracing that brokenness, I was able to make a better whole. Yes, by welcoming the ruins, I paved the way for transformation.

Today I embrace all that is broken and damaged and imperfect in me and sigh in contentment knowing that these are what make me better, for me and all those who are around me.

*happy happy sigh of contentment*

Eat Pray Love opens in Philippine cinemas on October 6, 2010 and is released by Columbia Pictures. This is surely one of those movies I wouldn’t mind watching over and over. Much as the book has found a way into my heart, so has this movie

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Every once in a while,  a great book comes to speak to me in ways I cannot explain. In the last three years, I have been blessed with two life changing tales: Dark Night of the Soul by Thomas Moore and Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. This is a very rare gift for me, I must say, because even though I am a teacher (thus one would assume I’m a big reader), I have trouble reading, so many times, no matter how good a book is, I miss the messages it is sending me. However, the two books I mentioned have found its way beyond my dyslexic brain and burrowed deeply not just in my heart but they have planted the seed of hope and growth in my soul.

I don’t know if I can call it coincidence (or should I say it is because of synchronicity that they came to me at the same time?) but those books came to me at the most difficult period of my life. The first during my darkest days and the second, as I made my way out of that deep pit. During those days I found myself alternating from curling into a ball in my bed and physically abusing my office furniture as I tried to contain tantrums of discontent that were brewing inside of me. In many ways, the wisdom those books gave me helped me make it through that period.

Today, I still find comfort in leafing through them every once in a while and going through passages that I had earmarked or highlighted over time. One quote that speaks loudly to me today, and I share with you here now is:

“Life, if you keep chasing it so hard, will drive you to death. Time – when pursued like a bandit – will behave like one; always remaining one county or one room ahead of you,…At some point you have to stop because it won’t. You have to admit that you can’t catch it. That you are not supposed to. At some point… you… gotta let go and sit still and allow contentment to come to you.”

And believe it or not, the powers of synchronicity and how wonderfully put together the Universe reminded me once more that despite the seeming uncertainty of everything, everything is in its place. About an hour before the quote spoke to me, I had sent my Kindred Spirit a message that read:

my heart is too full of joy and is oveflowing with blessings for words to express. i am so content and happy with my life and how wonderful it has become since our souls connected despite of everything that happens.

and for once, there is nothing left to say but i wuv you.

My heart and soul are content. Today Eat Pray Love reminded me of the most important message of all: to live.

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Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I would like to automatically answer ‘yes!’ However, can love indeed survive the distance? In the romantic comedy Going The Distance, Erin (Drew Barrymore) and Emmett (Justin Long) try to show that it can, indeed be done after they are swept up in a whirlwind romance they knew could not last, given that they lived in opposite ends of the country. Despite their decision to “keep it light and disease free”, they find themselves face to face with the fact that it was more than just a summer romance.

The film is a funny, yet realistic, take on the whole construct of long distance relationships, and relationships in general. While it plays up on the humor of the situation, the quintessential question of any love relationship rears its head in the film: how much do you give up of yourself to be with the one with you love?

I loved how the characters were so real and personable, which made the film even more endearing to me. However, it gave me sort of a grown-up American Pie feel to it. Not that that’s not a good thing If you’re looking to have a good laugh and to just  chill after a long week, then this is definitely one that you should catch.

Being a big Drew Barrymore fan, I had my heart set on catching the movie and I’m glad I did

The movie also stars Christina Applegate, Charlie Day, and  Jason Sudeikis.

A New Line Cinema production, Going the Distance opens September 3, 2010 and is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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Yup, here’s another update on the movie that I’ve been waiting for for sooooo long, Eat Pray Love!!!

For those who are unfamiliar with the story, it is the real life account of Liz Gilbert (played by Julia Roberts) and her quest to find herself and happiness after a bitter divorce and at the face of a dark night of the soul. I loved how she says: “I want to marvel at something”. And marvel she did…in her year of “I”,  she experiences the simple pleasure of eating in Italy, the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of love in Bali.

Eat Pray Love is produced by Brad Pitt, directed by Glee’s Ryan Murphy and stars Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup, and Javier Bardem. Eat Pray Love is set to open soon (October 6 according to the Facebook page! Weee!) across the Philippines and is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to get the latest movie news, video clips, games and free downloads. Check out Columbia Pictures on Facebook and join their fan contests. I wish they have EPL contests soon…and more so…I hope I win!!!!

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I guess for those who know me, it is no secret about how much of a Grey’s Anatomy fan I am. Although I got discovered it late (yes, may season 1 dibidi na nung na-discover ko ang Grey’s ), I quickly got hooked on it like crazy. So much so that even though I had a sucky internet connection then, I still made every effort to catch episodes on You Tube when they were uploaded and before it was taken down for copyright infringement. I swear those were the days!!!

In many ways, the six seasons of Grey’s Anatomy have evolved in synchronicity with my own evolution and growth. What I mean here is that I resonated with many of the issues, needs and concerns that were raised in various ways in the show, be it by the lead characters or by the storyline itself. I saw myself in many of those places: dealing with Alzheimers, picking up the pieces of a broken heart and feeling like the “dirty ex-mistress”, being stuck at an impasse,  feeling invisible…As a whole, the little narratives Meredith would give at the start and the end of the show often drove home bits and pieces of wisdom that I really needed at that time.

At one point, I even blogged about how Seattle Grace hospital became an apt metaphor for what I was going through at that point in my life. In many ways, it was what kept me sane and grounded at a time when I was not able to make sense of what has going on around my life.

In the last season, I was able to see how far the characters have grown and when I stop to think about it, it is also very much like my personal growth (yes I am making it about me again hehe!) . In as much as Meredith struggled to know who she was and embrace her identity, that’s what I am doing too.

What I appreciated most was how Meredith was able to reconcile her identity as a surgeon and as a wife. It reminded me that being in a relationship does not need to mean losing who you are to begin with, but to adapt and evolve to become a better you. This was built upon later on as Meredith explained to Cristina that “it used to be me and you only but now its me and Derek and me and you” and that these two sides of her have to exist together. That made me recognize the value of really honoring all the different facets of your life, and that these different sides of you co-exist with each other, without one being of more value than the other.

While the show put things in context of relationships, I guess the same is true about one’s self, especially since we take on many different roles: friend, daughter, sister, colleague, teacher, mentor, etc. etc. I see how at times these roles override each other, which should not be the case. This is so true for me today especially since I’ve been trying to find a good balance between my different sides.

I hope the upcoming season (which starts mid-September) will continue to give me the bits and pieces of wisdom I so enjoyed in the past

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