All These Things (10): Hello Again

Just last Friday, I thought about this blog again. It’s obvious that I haven’t been here but I’ve been around here and here. I haven’t exactly disappeared, just on a different persona online.

Which isn’t really a different persona, too because it’s still me.

But yeah, last Friday I thought about this blog, and I thought of how it’s been my “home” for those turbulent times in my life (I’m looking at you, 2013-2014). It goes to show that I blog and think about things when I going through something, so this means I’m not going through anything that warrants all the blog posts about things, in love and life and all that.

I kind of miss it, though. Not the turbulence, but that I had all these things to write here. To pause and gather my thoughts about life, the ones that don’t make it in my current work-in-progress, and write them down. It’s getting harder to do that lately – to sit and pause and be intentional about something, to reflect and look back and be thankful. I get too caught up with work, and the writing progress and the TV shows that the days just breeze by and before we know it, 2017 is ending.

So here, let’s try to slow down again, and let’s start easy.

Right Here, Right Now.

Reading

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James. I finished my first Julie James book last weekend, and why did it take me so long to read her? I don’t know. I’m reading her books partly for research because my next book is going to have enemies-to-lovers trope and I have no idea where to start with that. Hence the research!

Writing

My next book! I’ve actually started writing it sometime last year but I keep on stopping because my characters weren’t moving the way I want them to. I hit the same wall a few weeks ago, so I decided to stop writing for a while and just do some free-writing while I talk to them in my head.

I think it’s more challenging this time for me because unlike my first two books, this one doesn’t have a NaNoWriMo source. So in essence, the writing for this is really me starting from nothing. I’m still targeting a September release, so wish me luck?

Listening

Home by Reese Lansangan. Love love love this song.

Thinking

I want to write but I have work. (But look I’m blogging haha) I’m hungry and there’s chocolate here but I’m supposed to be cutting back on sugar. Do I need to prepare a presentation for tomorrow’s meeting?

Smelling

Coconut from this coconut-lychee flavored Timtams. It’s…strange but also okay?

Wishing

That the words will just flow when I start writing. And it will be the easiest thing I will be writing (haha right).

Wearing

This pretty blue and white dress that I always wear when executives visit our office, and black blazer I got yesterday. I should be in heels but I’m not. Maybe tomorrow.

Loving

That my parents are home. :)

Wanting

Mangoes. There are mangoes at home and I look forward to having that later after dinner.

Needing

To stop obsessing over the book planning and to start writing. You’ll figure it out, self, don’t worry too much!

Feeling

Happy that the work day is almost over. :)

I can’t promise that I’ll be posting as much as I used to, but I will try. Tell me what’s up with you right now? :)

All These Things (8): Space for what matters

Before anything else: help me out for one of my final projects for school? If you’re a romance reader anywhere in the world, may I borrow ten minutes of your time to answer this reader survey? This is to profile our target market so I can create a marketing plan for indie romance books by Filipino authors. Survey is open until Wednesday, so please answer and share! Thank you! ♥

I was planning my week last night before going to bed and while I was doing so, I started freaking out because why are there so many things to do? I feel like I’m running out of time, which, of course, is all in my head. But I can’t help it sometimes, especially when I realize that it’s almost past half October, and soon it’s November, and the last two months of the year is usually my busiest.

And the lola in me just wants to get enough sleep.

I’m not complaining, because there’s nothing to complain about. I do know that I may be too busy sometimes. My friends at work tell me this all the time, and lately, I agree. And lately, I’ve been thinking of the things and activities that I could maybe let go of, even temporarily, to make room for other things that I need to prioritize. Like writing, school, SFC, exercise, and sleep (most important!).

I guess I’m coming to a point where I realize that I don’t need to do everything. Years ago, I kept on saying “Yes” to so many things because they’re fun and I want to try new things…but maybe now, it’s time to start saying No. Because I only have so much time, and I need to make space for the things that matter.

Reading

The Mermaid From Siquijor by  Justine Tajonera, from the #StrangeLit Fateful Turns bundle. With all the things I need to do, I barely have the time to read, and when I do read, I want it to be as stress-free as possible. Meaning short stories, or stories that don’t make me think too much (but feels are okay!). I hang out with my Kindle and my Buqo app a lot, because paper reading makes me fall asleep too fast and I just feel guilty with the book.

That said, the #StrangeLit bundles are really fun, and I’m only about 1/5 through the stories (there are 41!). Reading these makes me wish I could write fantasy, but I think I’m really more of a reader of the genre. But who knows, maybe later.

Go get them if you haven’t – they’re Php 90 each on Buqo, with 10-11 stories in each bundle!

Writing

Sill that novel, and also some articles for work. :D I have to put that novel on hold for a bit because of school, but when I’m on break, I write some. It’s an uphill climb, but that’s good for the heart, right?

Listening

Jon McLaughlin’s new album, Like Us. Liking it so far. :)

Thinking

Of what to do after this. Do I design, or do I edit?

Smelling

Nothing as of the moment, but I bought a new air purifier scent from Mia Maison last week, called Rain. (I may have bought it because of the association with my book. :D) It smells so nice and clean. :)

Wishing

That I be satisfied with the productivity I have every day, when I know I have exerted effort. (Because there are times when I know I haven’t, and that just feels right to feel bad about that. But I mustn’t let that get to me.)

So now my wish is that I would focus, give my all, then let go at the end of the day.

Wearing

Purple and black dress, black cardigan. It’s Monday, and it’s always dressier during Mondays.

Loving

Studying! It’s not easy to juggle schoolwork and work, and it’s totally not easy heading to Makati for the whole day on Saturdays, but I like being in class. Learning is fun, and meeting new people is also very fun. We had our last class for Digital Marketing Analytics 102, and we still have a long way to go with our marketing plans. But look at us, so happy in our last class picture!

We have a final defense on October 24 to get us our Specialist titles, so wish us luck. :)

Wanting

A pair of hands to help me out at work would be nice. What did the Gospel last week say? Ask and you shall receive? There. Lord, please give me someone to help out with all of this soon.

Also wanting to iron out the schedule this week – including the non-work event tomorrow at Makati, and the dentist appointment on Friday. Not looking forward to the dentist thing on Friday, but alas, it is needed.

Needing

A good workout. And not to be lazy so I can get that workout.

Also to pass the defense on the 24th.

And yes, sleep. But that’s a given.

Feeling

Slightly bit hassled because of the adulting things I need to do. Haha, but well, we cannot avoid being adults, and stuff. Remind me to call my dentist later.

I also feel like I need to hustle now. So, hustling. Don’t let the Monday blues beat you, folks!

Image credit: Time’s Up by Ana Fuentes