THE 2014 JOREINA YEAR

         I guess it's not yet too late to greet you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR. We're on its second week now and I've been saying how this year had been so "so far, so good."

        Just last week, I got to bond with my cousins from Manila who just went home after 8 years, I guess. Funny though, because all I thought before meeting them after loooong years, we'll snob each other and neither of us will talk. But no, that wasn't the case when I went to our family house just to see them. It feels so good that we got to talk about our personal lives together. It fascinates me how much they've grown. To think, my 11-year-old cousin, Matthew, is taller than me. Life's unfair, ugh.

       Here's a picture of us.

(L-R) Steven Cruz. Miguel San Juan. Joreina Blanco. Majo Blanco. Gabriel Gapuzan. Iking Corden. Raffy Gapuzan. Miguel Gapuzan. Jenny San Juan. (boy at the back) Matthew San Juan

THERE YOU GO. MY AWESOME SECOND COUSINS! <3

    Just before we welcomed 2014, I had myself thinking how I could make this year awesome. I mean, real awesome. 2013 had been a lucky year for me. Not only that I was blessed with a lot of blessings which I didn't expect to receive, but I also had a few rough patches yet I learned how to be thankful for them. Those tough times called for a stronger faith and trust in God. I was on the verge of giving up but then everything has its own silverlining. We always see dark clouds when we think of them. If we look above, you'll see hope; you'll see a silverlining.

    So, I came up with a list on how I could rock this 2014:

     1. NEVER EVER PROCRASTINATE WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLWORK.

         I always have this bad habit of leaving things for awhile and get them finished a day before the deadline. In short, I leave all things to rush. Sometimes I find myself scratching my head and thinking very deeply on how I could finish two requirements that are due on the same day at midnight. Too bad that I only have remaining 6 hours (or even 5!) for sleep. The next day, I feel groggy and even too lethargic to function. THAT SHOULD NEVER EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

    2. ALWAYS HAVE ATLEAST 7 HOURS FOR SLEEP.

       It's been my night routine to finish atleast 2 chapters of the book that I'm reading before hitting the lights off. Though I achieved it alot, I sometimes keep on reading until I got to finish almost 5 chapters and when I glance at the time on my phone, it's already past 12 midnight. Resolution on this: stop whatever I'm doing on my laptop, get to bed by 10:30 and read a few chapters of the book until 11. So then, I could say my night prayers, keep the room dark and put on my eye mask earlier than usual.

    3. DO AN ADVANCE READING.

       Whether flipping through the pages of my Econ1 handout or finding time to touch my book in Political Science, advance readings do no harm. I mean, it pays to have a knowledge on the topics that your teacher would be discussing on your next meeting. It'll also be the chance to share your ideas during class discussions, right?

    4. BE ON TIME.

        Be on time on getting up right after you stopped your over-panicking alarm clock. Be on time on arriving at school. Be on time on submitting projects. Be on time on friends-hangout. In a simpler speaking, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PRECIOUS TIME.

    5. LET GO OF INSECURITIES.

       Who cares if I have a forehead that looks like an airplane is about to land off? If I have a nose that seems like a train just flattened it all down? I've already trimmed down all of these insecurities and started embracing the parts God has bestowed me. I FEEL BEAUTIFUL.

     6. SPEND WISELY.

       Mostly all of you do not know that I'm such an impulsive buyer. I could buy anything that I want when I'm carrying a huge amount of money in my wallet. But this time, I have to cut off  that habit. I should buy a dress when an occasion calls for it. And buy snacks when I'm really really really hungry. Not when I'm too bored. And ...

     7. BUY MORE BOOKS.

       Not buy and pile it on my cabinet which houses all of the books I haven't read and opened. It means, buy a "real" book (I'm starting to hate e-book these days) then read. 

    8. AVOID SAYING BAD WORDS.

       Saying bad words doesn't really make you a cool person. I get to say a foul word occasionally. And that's "Damn it" or "Damn you". Every night, I get to ponder on how many people I have hurt for saying those things even though I always say it in a joke manner. But seriously, I have to tone everything down. I must replace those words with "bad" when something terrible happens.

     9. STOP BEING SHY.

       Remember how your parents would often tell you, "your shyness will bring you nothing"? That explains.

     10. LISTEN.

       I'm not really much of an effective listener. I talk a lot but I listen less. I should have an exercise on becoming more of a listener than a spontaneous talker.

      11. TRUST MORE IN GOD.

         Trust Him when He says I could do all of these things as long as I keep my faith in Him.

      I might've listed down a plenty but surely, I could hit all of these in my own way. God's strength is in me and I have the courage and determination to achieve all of these.

      Here's to us on making 2014 an AWESOME and BETTER YEAR for us! Cheers, guys! I love you <3

Have all the best of love. Break free.- Joreina