Blog by Jedde

  27 August 2020, Thursday - I had a great time having a lovely conversation this afternoon with one of my colleagues from my Graduate studies in Applied Positive Psychology. Has, founder of Positive Focus Pte Ltd and a seasoned facilitator and trainer in Singapore shared about her life story and we enjoyed diving into deep conversation topics like resilience, grit, and passion. Surrounded by lush greenery and accompanied by a soothing hot cappuccino at Canopy Garden Dining, I was all ears into Has' story as she animatedly talked about her past experiences, how it shaped her, and what lessons it taught her. There was one topic however, that made my eyes sparkle with so much interest and resonance among all others - and it was about energy.  Many people love Has' energy. Wherever she goes, she brings with her a ray of sunshine that can make one's day brighter. Being around her hypes me up and inspires me to be my best too! And when she said that it takes a great deal of fact...

One does not need to travel far to feel at home. Sometimes, being surrounded with the right people in the right place can most certainly make one feel at home. We made plans for an intimate dinner with my Graduate Studies circle in this place called Al Borgo. I didn't know what to expect about the place except for the fact that they serve Italian food.  To my pleasant surprise, Al Borgo was more than just the typical Italian restaurants buzzing with people animatedly talking with one another, Italian music playing in the background, and the sound of plates clanking from the kitchen. That August evening, Al Borgo became a home of laughters, dreams, and life plans.  The first thing I noticed about the place was that it has a cozy, warm atmosphere that creates this intimate feeling of comfort. Adorned with various bottles of wines, Al Borgo made me want to stay there longer and chat with my friends about their most inspiring moments in life or when they were at their best. It has...

Yes. Even when it scares you. Even when you're uncertain. Take that first step even when you can't see the whole path yet. You've been through so much struggles in the past and you've made wonderful progress as a human being. You are courageous and brave so keep on going! Don't settle yet when you know deep down that the world is calling you out for a purpose. When you feel deep inside you a strong urge to change career path, to build your business, to express your feelings to someone, or even to say what's in your mind and in your heart.  Gather your courage, ignite that inner fire and unleash your flames to empower you as you take that first step. It will be scary, but it's definitely worth it. Take that first step no matter how scary it is because all the most beautiful journeys in our lives happened when we didn't have a whole masterplan. We just did what we could in that moment and it led us to twists and turns in our lives, and happened to be one o...

She giggled when she said, "Ang sobra magtuon, mabogo na hinuon." which loosely translates to: "If one studies too much, one might go stupid".  I rolled my eyes and whined. She could've said something else to motivate me.  It was the year 2013 and I was busy preparing for my midterm exam. I was vying for the Dean's list, so I had to work double the effort to ace my exams, especially MATH. We all know that when it's exams week, it's going to get crazy busy right? We often feel all sorts of emotions - sometimes motivation, sometimes disregard, sometimes laziness, and sometimes a mixture of everything. I tell you, exams week is madness. My books were all laid on the table, my notebooks were opened at a page where there were plenty of markings indicating that I must remember that lesson because it might come out on the test. I was feeling stressed out, frustrated at myself, and annoyed at what my grandmother has just told me. She should have known that e...

October 2013 Campaign Period - It was the night of the presentation. The most awaited time for everyone to hear the candidates speak and for the people to make their choices.  Most people do not know this, but I ran for public office before. I was 19 years old then, the youngest of the candidates. Petite, but confident, uncertain but headstrong.  I knew why I was there at that moment. I wanted to serve. So I ran for public office. One particular evening, I was about to deliver a speech addressed to the residents of the barangay. I prepared myself subconsciously, taking in deep inhales and steady exhales as I rehearsed the content in my mind. "I must not forget this line, I must remember to cite this law to make it more impactful, I can do this!!!" These words became my mantra.  As I was repeating it like a broken record in my head, my hands began producing sweat without my knowledge. My heart, too, started thumping loudly like a giant gong has been hit, making me feel nau...