Five years in a blink (and what an airport corner does to you)

I am here at the airport, waiting for a flight in an hour.
Came from a visa appointment where I got denied (though I am at peace about it), and now on a favorite coffee place in a corner of a slightly busy airplane terminal.

It's been a while, really a while, since I posted on this blog. Many a thing bloomed, some withered, others were cut off, but the bottomline is that there is growth. I have resigned from my first job after graduation and I am currently working as a freelance software developer. Even if I am not yet employed at this time, I am quite busy (and happy) with how things are going. I get to keep the part-time role as a life coach with a good addition of building communities around missions and technology.

If I were to ask myself about the current place I am in, I would say it's nothing short of amazing. Cliché you might say, but yeah, it might be, but I won't take it back. I guess there's this intersection of profession, passion, vocation and need. Some people call it ikigai but I think it's God's grace. For how long this will continue, I don't have an answer. But this movement and life of surprises is a good force to keep me hoping for the future and trust God with one day at a time.

Yes, I live with my family now, as I went back to my hometown. Our place is a good one hour and a half ride from the city. With it's share of green, leafy roadtrips, it's a bit colder there than the urban proper. I sometimes dread leaving my wee bit of comfortable working space to go meet people in the city, but I still do, because why not. More often, I get satisfied from the good conversations and realizations found from spending time with others on this season and batch of people. There are actually interesting ideas and topics that I get to immerse with at this point in time. But then before I get into the melancholy avenue, let me stop it.

I also realized that when I went back home, I first thought that it's me who will do all the adjustments. But lo and behold, people who are with me at home also did too! And while I say it was hard for me to get used to the vulnerable lifestyle after living with myself, alone, pretty, and funny, I think you realized those two adjectives aren't really part of the normal train of thought. So where was I... I think it was also hard for my immediate family members to adjust with me being there at each waking day of their lives right now. I often comfort myself into thinking they must also be thankful I am there again, but there also are times that I doubt such thought. Though it is really a good observation that they somewhat are comfortable with me being back at home.

It's funny though how I just got to start writing down these thoughts as my flight is getting close, and my bladder's acting full. I think it's a first for me to just candidly write down my thoughts and honestly, I got pretty surprised by how it turned out. I enjoyed it, too.

So before I go and leave this cozy corner of mine, let me know what you think at the comments below. I might just be at a good start of trying to dig up that voice. Alright, ja ne~

An Unposted Last Day

Today I opened my drafts. I looked at the unfinished piece that apparently went unfinished because I got distracted. I had a chuckle when I read it, so I decided to just put it out there.
I know I can't control you, but don't judge me. *nervous chuckle 

This year has been much of a roller coaster for me. I have had heartbreaks, I have had ecstatic heart flutters, and I have yet to embark on one of the most important journeys of my lifetime: passion and calling. I honestly have not been able to prepare for this post, but because I have prided myself to be able to post once a year, I should not let this LAST opportunity pass. It's December 31, and tomorrow's never gonna let me bring back this day. So while I am still fresh of the nostalgia this year brings, let me cite the lessons which God has opened and is still opening. There are alot! But this year, let's see the top five I remembered. First is vulnerability. Second is, hard work. Third,  urgency. Fourth,  stewardship, and last but definitely not the least: integrity.

I know right. Have a good day ahead!

Upward Falling

"I touch the sky, when my knees hit the ground.."

Touch the Sky by Hillsong

I suppose I could put a dramatic entry here about why my definition of regular blogging became yearly (quite amusing), and how I have arrived to a deep realization about things happening in my life lately, or even post pictures of how I have transformed throughout that span of time! Which actually I realized, I needed to put something new here, or at least an update about anything.

After two years of being in the real world, I could testify that it wasn't a joke leaving your home and live in apartments/boarding houses/condo units with other people. Plus the weight of responsibilities which meant doing laundry, cooking your meals, mamalengke, paying bills, creating a budget (and keeping it!), making sure hindi sobra ang OT and dealing with emotions (ok, that escalated a bit). Adulting is not a walk in the park! Well, it could be, but a park with dinosaurs and booby traps. But I swear, I learned a lot! Especially in how my relationship with the Lord has been tested and proven, but sometimes questioned and being answered as well. Confusions help lead to clarification, and when I usually ran away from them before, I learned to embrace them now.

There has been adventures and misadventures in my life for the past two years, and I am thinking about narrating some highlights here in my blog. It was fun revisiting them in my journal, which even refreshed my memory of the lessons which I think could benefit others when shared.

That's why starting this week, I will be posting a series of stories we could learn from, or even a picture or two. Until then!

of typographic art

As an art fanatic, I personally have been in touch with my "creationist" side. Typography has been one of my interests where I have been volunteering in as well. Just this morning while browsing some internet sites, I have been reminded that to be able to pursue typography in a higher level, learning about it and really knowing about the principles behind it comes a close second to simply doing it.

From the difference of straight and curly quotation marks to tips on what fonts to avoid, I was delighted with the fact that the author made sure that the site would own up to the topic it was about.

Creating this post was simply to share with you this site. Go, check it out:
http://practicaltypography.com/

slow and beautiful

I admit, I must be guilty for not being able to utilize this blog as much as possible. Another set of many months had to pass before I will write. Yet, the reason for my absence might just suffice.

It has been months since I left my hometown in pursuit of a job in a tech company here in Manila. Since then, I have seen myself learning and relearning lessons of life as I continue to meet new people, challenges and my self (yep).

One major thing I learned is that life isn't something I should rush. If I wanted to be pruned in character, I must be willing to get through the slow and painful method of getting hurt and learning from it. This generation has been blessed with so many gadgets and methodologies that make things happen in a snap that we forget how it feels to be stuck in slowness and the beauty of being immersed in it.

Silly how I have been such a pasaway of that lesson. Rushing studying and expecting to have excellent results always gets me frustrated. In this season of being a trainee, there's so much I have discovered in myself and in my attitude that would make me lose by default. Yet, I have learned that being able to take things slow is an attitude worth reveling in. Even caterpillars need enough time to change into a beautiful butterfly. I do believe that so do we.

By the way, as a part of taking things step by step, I have created a new blog entitled "Nihongo no nikki" which means, "Japanese Diary", as an effort to practice a new language I have been learning these days.
You might want to check it out sometime, though I can't promise a furnished grammar for that matter, though I desire to have. :)

Well then, don't hesitate to take things slow,you might get awed by the beauty that'd emerge. So as the bible says, "He has made everything right in its time". :)

Grace unresolved

I thought I died.

It has already been more than six months now since my last post, and my bittersweet desire of adding another continued to stick up the tip of my fingertips. Until now, when I realized that I couldn't run out of reasons to share what has been new in my life, that I need to translate it to words.

It all seemed just a blur for everything happened so fast, but clarity may just be seen in a single word: GRACE.

1. Our thesis was finished.
2. The Software Development project was declared "Closed"
3. I graduated from college
4. I have a job. :)

Looking back at how things unfolded, I could never understand how someone like me who can't even reach the highest of all expectations could end up blessed and privileged upon the end of my five-year journey in college. In retrospect, I could never comprehend how I had my life changed as I entered the gates of the university and now that I am leaving it towards a new horizon, I just can't get enough of the limitless possibilities of the real world. Though I believe that it's a "jungle" as they say, yet even their bloodiest stories of struggle couldn't dampen my outlook on the positive vibes the rich possibilities could bring.

Now that I am about to embark on this new book, I do have a lot of expectations. Though they might be broken or fulfilled, I just know one thing, it's still my purpose to know Him and to make Him known.

Come, the water is great for a swim. 

Let's dive towards the future, Batch 2014! :)

After eons of inactivity...

(c) Sheena Sy

As I go forth on this journey of thesis making, I usually am sidetracked by the many deceptions and distractions my mind often throws at me. Talking about a personal distraction! However, I am just reminded to always fix my eyes on the one who is constant, the One who only wants the best for me. May you be reminded of this beautiful truth as well! :)