My 2012 Success and Failure Story

The year 2012 had so many milestones; I'm surprised why I am not more grateful than I am. Yes, there were some ups and downs but I have been blessed with the best people who helped me enjoy the wonderful moments and get through the bad times.

Viaggio la Futura – my new travel blog – was born. Yes, I started to travel again in 2012. Nothing major really, just trips to the south of Cebu and road trips and food trips with family and friends. My first major trip since the epic vacation to Dumaguete in 2007 was a trip to Moalboal with my best friend and her close friends who are my friends now too – such a wonderful way to open the doors to more viaggio. We had so much fun laughing and running around, I think I may have lost 3kg during that trip. Kidding aside, it was one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever had. Not because the venue was fancy (it was beautiful and picturesque but did not cost a bundle) or because we had steak for dinner (which we didn’t… but the sinugbang pork belly was more delicious than any steak in the city). It was memorable because I was with people who were kind and gracious enough to welcome me into their circle. And it’s been an exciting roller coaster since then.

In June, I got the best birthday gifts ever – the first one was from my birth father, Papa PierFrancesco, the second one was from my client, who gave me a bonus because she was really happy with my work, and the third gift was from God (I’d like to think that it was because the experience taught me so many lessons. I was offered an opportunity to lead a team of SEO Content Writers in Cebu City. It was the most gruelling yet most rewarding management job that I ever had. Not only because the monthly take home pay was the highest one any single company had ever offered me, but also because I met and bonded with beautiful people who taught me lessons in patience, forgiveness, kindness (and yes, naughty stuff too, mostly silly jokes). It turned out to be one of the most challenging work I have ever had although it was short-lived. To this day, I miss my colleagues who became friends and I’m glad I took that leap. No regrets, it is now part of my “Oh Well”… lessons and all.

Oh, the gifts from my Papa and my generous client went to my funds for my new air conditioning unit. It was expensive and I had to work double time for the other half but it’s so worth it. I now understand that I need to invest in my home office because I might be here a while, God willing. I am saving up for renovations and vacations in the next few years. I am also grateful for rekindled friendships and an improvement in my family life.

The failures were nothing major really. Just some opportunities that passed me by because I did nothing about them; some relationships that were broken because of personal differences; and some people that I really miss simply because I was too cowardly to tell them how I felt. But if you ask me, I have so much more to be thankful for that I am eagerly awaiting the coming of 2013, just because…

So there you go, that’s my 2012 in a nutshell… What’s your story like? Please feel free to leave a comment. See you next year!

Thank You Lord Jesus, Mama Mary, and St. Joseph for blessing my family all year long.

A Girl on Re-mission

Have you ever had that feeling that something horrible was about to happen? That at any moment someone or something is gonna strike you and you won't be able to defend yourself? I've been living with that terrible feeling of foreboding for a few years now... and that feeling is the worst. They say that our fears are usually worse than that which we fear. Now I can honestly say that it's true.

I have been searching for my life's purpose since I was a teenager. I've been to places that scared the heck out of me and to this day, I am still unsure what my purpose really is. I've been praying for God to show me the way, reveal my mission, so that I can live out his plan for me. But until now, I still don't know what my mission is. At first, I thought I was supposed to spend my life in the countryside helping the underprivileged, the poor, and the oppressed. But now I realize that the ones I should be serving is right here in my own home -- my family -- especially my Grandma.

Do you know when I discovered this? It was during the past few years. While I was out there looking for my mission, I overlooked the very people who I should have been serving all along -- my family. My grandma (Lola) is turning 90 next month and I really want to give her a birthday party that she will remember. I was hoping to invite her living siblings, close relatives, and friends. Oh, I also want to buy her a cake with the numbers 90 firmly planted on top of it. In short, I just want her to be happy on her 90th birthday.

So from being a girl with a mission to becoming a woman without one, I now have a new mission -- I'd like to call this my re-mission. I know this will not be easy but I also feel deep in my heart that this is what I am meant to do. What will happen next year, I do not know. And that feeling of foreboding is still there. But I choose to be happy and I want my family to be happy too. And so I pray for peace, love, and joy in the next year for my family and friends.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Mama Mary, Queen of all saints, pray for us. Amen.

A (Grateful) Self-made Woman

Last night, while speaking with my Papa who lives all the way in Italy, he said something that made me very happy - he said that I was a self-made woman. I did not know exactly what it really meant at the time but I had the impression that he was proud of me and that made me so happy.

My Papa is proud of me. Praise God!

My Papa said that I was a self-made woman after learning that I wrote my way through college and made a career in writing afterwards. Now, not only do I find fulfillment in my work; but also receive my father's approval after all these years. People say we should not seek the approval of others. However, making my Papa proud is something that makes me very happy, especially since I barely get to see him anymore. We met once in 2002 and that was it! Just phone calls and letters from Rome after that.

Thank You Lord Jesus for bringing my Papa and me into each other's life. Living without Mama has not been that easy but knowing that I have a Papa who loves and cares for me makes the loneliness go away, even for a while. I miss Mama and I pray Lord Jesus that she is with You. Thank You God!

Mama Mary, queen of all saints, pray for us. Amen.

"Build Your Dream Team" - God

Dear Misty,

Don't try to succeed alone.  It will never work.

Cheering you on,
God

P.S. The climb to success can only be done by team effort, Misty.  Who is your dream team?  Start recruiting.  It's so much happier this way.

A Mother's Prayer - Thank You God

Happy birthday, Mama Macring! I hope you are happy in heaven now. Thank you for being the best mother in the world. I miss you so so so much! I feel your presence still... here in my heart where you will always have a very special place.

Mama Mary, I pray, in Jesus' name...

Please kiss my Mama Macring for me.
Please tell her I love her and I long to see her.
Please thank Jesus for giving me my Mama Macring.
Amen.

Lord Jesus, I pray...

Please kiss my Mama Macring for me.
Please tell her I love her and long to see her.
Thank You Lord Jesus for giving me my Mama Macring.
Amen.

I love you Mama! I miss you. I miss your laughter. I miss your voice. I miss your love.

Happy birthday, Mama Macring! Thank you! May God bless you and keep you near Him always.

Listen to the Expert

Dear Misty,

Never allow what others say about you to change your opinion of yourself.

I think you're great,
God

P.S. Misty, when it comes to YOU, I'm the expert.  I made you.  I bless you.  And I love you.  So when it comes to YOU, listen to the expert only.

I am Tickled Pink! Thank You Lord Jesus! :)

Dear Misty,

Don't hide.  Go to where the people are.  Build relationships.  Engage.  Serve.  Bless.  Care.  Love.

Be happy,
God

P.S. Misty, don't wait for people to go to you.  Walk across the room and give them my love.

I am God's Joy! :)

Dear Misty,

You are my joy.  You are my treasure.  You are my song.  I sing about you every morning.  I love you so much, your name is written on the palm of my hand.  Your face is etched in the flesh of my heart.

Love,
God

P.S. Does that make you smile, Misty?

Yes, Lord Jesus. Thank You. :)

What Comes Out Defiles...

GOSPEL

Human traditions derived from the Law are incapable of saving us. Only the power of God is sufficient to save. Tradition, as we have them in our faith, is a useful reminder of various aspects of our faith and may contain essential aspects of it. However, they are incapable of salvation. The Church has two sorts of traditions, one unchangeable and the other optional. It is the former we have to cling to as essential.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
1 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, 2 they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 3 For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. 5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 6 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ 8 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” 14 He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 15 Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” 21 From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. 23 All these evils come from within and they defile.”

Wow! The timing, I think is perfect, for this Gospel passage to appear in my inbox today.

I just received the Sacrament of Confession yesterday and yet I am already guilty of the last three verses. I find this alarming, knowing that being unclean really has a bad effect on me. I may not have murdered anyone but if my thoughts could kill, I would be in jail right now. Well, not just for today but for the past 5 years.

I have confessed these thoughts time and again yet they linger like an unwanted visitor that never goes away no matter how much you hint at them to leave.

Yes, this is my folly. And yet I remain hopeful somehow. I don't know but yesterday's confession gave me more than I expected or hoped for. A glimmer of hope that things will be alright. That even though some remnants of that old trauma and ill feelings still linger, my future is bright. And even though I am too hard on myself sometimes, I feel the stirrings of renewed self-love -- something that has been sorely missing from my life and my heart for so many years.

Lord Jesus, I praise You and thank You for giving me hope. Please help me so that this self-love will not turn into arrogance and instead flicker on and stay like a good friend and keep me inspired. Keep me grounded and show me the Way, Lord Jesus. Never ever leave my side as, with Your help and guidance, I try to figure out what our Father's will is for me. Yes, Lord Jesus, I understand now that this is going to be very difficult so teach me to trust in You more and be quick to seek Your help and less hasty to judge others and myself. Stay with me Lord Jesus and help me fulfill Your plan for my life. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Vengeance is Not Christian

GOSPEL

Vengeance is not Christian. Neither is it really Jewish. The interpreters of the law made it impossible for the state to sanction the killing of people for their crimes. The option of locking people up in order to protect society from criminal acts is the only moral road to take. If this is impossible to do, then perhaps there is room to consider capital punishment. Let us seek to avoid taking lives as we can never be sure that the guilty one is the one we are punishing.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.

Matthew 5:38-42
38 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. 40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. 41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

think: The more you have, the greater the responsibility to use it not for yourself, but for others.