witsandnuts

(Originally uploaded here)

Thanks to everyone who expressed their greetings through SMS, call, snailmails, social networks, and other means. I now officially belong to the 30 and fab club! Haha. I had a wonderful celebration. I’m feeling lucky because my birthday coincided with UAE’s declaration of the three-day weekend , which is once in a blue moon. July 19 is an Islamic holiday because it is Prophet Mohammed’s ascension to heaven.

Thanks, too, to those who participated in my birthday/ blogoversary giveaway. I read your entries a number of times and these made me smile, teary eyed, cry, laugh, reminiscent (not necessarily in that order, what does that make me? heehee).

How to make someone happy(ier) or feel better? Let us count the ways:

(1) Several weeks ago, Ang Lakwatsera and her friends took part in painting the interior walls of a room that is designated to be a Gawad Kalinga village’s clinic, in line with its Lusog Busog program. Also, since she now has over a hundred fiction and non-fiction books in her shelves, excluding the textbooks and other reference materials, she thought of sharing these to her friends. She prepared an Excel file listing the books she currently has and sent it to her friends at the office and people from other department who also love to read. A friendly library! I hope I’m there, I’d be a frequent borrower.

(2) One of the 16 entries was sent through email. This dear friend who we will call F blogs almost in full anonymity. Hence, I’m not providing a link to her blog. We are only at least 10 people who are privileged to read her thoughts. Instead of laying off a worker in their coffeeshop, she and her business partners decided to let her stay and work shorter hours, getting the same benefits. It struck me when she said, “If you sincerely mean well, you will find a way where there seems to be no option at all.” She added, “I declared to take care of the problematic espresso machine out of my life savings. Honestly, not the easiest. Definitely a risk, BUT absolutely worth it. Otherwise, where is my imagination, or faith, or hope? Or love?”

(3) Bluerose reminisced the kindness of the people who did not ask for anything in return. She reciprocates these with thoughtfulness during special occasions and even in ordinary days. She also showers her daughter neverending genuine care.

(4) Fortuitous Faery so oftenly is part of blood donation. She recently signed up for Blood Center of New Jersey. She is also a registered donor for the New York Blood Center’s NJ Division. Moreover, she reminds us that family comes first. She went with her father when he underwent a procedure recently.

(5) Jeanny shared with us her dream of becoming a superhero. (I remember I wanted to be Spiderman or Shaider. Heehee.) That we can be superheroes in our own ways, like putting in donations in those boxes located in some fastfood outlets and other establishments.

(6) KG recalled (and made us cry) the random acts of kindness she did. I got teary eyed as I imagined the gasoline guy’s reaction when she handed him food. Also, it may not happen everyday, but it feels great to source out something during emergency for someone you personally know or not, just like what she did for her daughter’s friend.

(7) Lito Antoque, who is new to my blog, inspired us with his being responsible to his family. After his father passed away eight years ago, he primarily took care of his mother and his seven siblings by working hard in his self-established beauty parlor. What I really liked is that aside from giving the financial support to his family, he helped them really grow and avoid unhealthy dependence. He helped his brother who is already married and does not have a stable job, not by providing regular allowance, but by enrolling him to a cellphone repair crash course. Now, Lito’s brother has his own cellphone repair shop.

(8) It has been a year since Little Miss Firefly started sending firefly express. Anyone may email her for a snailmail without the obligation of doing anything for her in return. She must have sent at least 30 snailmails already. Each letter was personally made, cut, glued, packed and mailed. What keeps her going on is the thought that she can inspire some people to write more to their loved ones, to let them see the beauty of old-fashioned mails, to let them feel the thrill of receiving a hefty stamped letter, and for them to see that a simple thought is enough to light up one’s day. Recently, she also helped her mother-in-law in retyping the lost file related to the 50 pages of the book she was editing.

(9) I was not able to control my tears when I read Oodles of Goodles’ entry. She recounted the time when she took a leave of absence from work to take care of her dying father. I saw myself with each scene as I also went through almost the same thing when my (late) grandmother was battling cancer. It was heartbreaking yet reassuring to remember those times of chemotherapy. On a lighter note, I wonder who is that virtual friend she’s about to make/made happy.

(10) In memory of Princess Dyanie’s cousin who died of leukemia, she joins the family in bringing food to the PGH Cancer Ward every Christmas. She also spoils her cute nephew. Aren’t we spoiled brats once in our lives? 🙂

(11) I’ve started reading Prinsesa Musang’s blog when she was reviewing for the nurses’ board exams. I’m particulary engrossed when she rants and raves about her work. These things give me flashbacks when I was much younger (although we’re in different fields). Now that she’s into teaching, she ensures that she makes the system better, that she relates to her students, that they see her as a teacher and not as a three-headed monster. That the learning experience is fruitful and fun, boosts their confidence, not only in doing things right but in being courageous enough to try. At the end of the day, Professor PM and her students are the happiest in that university.

(12) Rachel is blessed to have her nanny stayed with their family until today. She is like her second mother – so nurturing. She deserves Rachel’s hugs and whispers of “I Love You”. When was the last time you did something like that (to any person)? I’m sure not all of us are that showy. Do it when you still have the chance. She also gave sandwiches to the village’s maintenance personnel. Making someone happy starts with simple steps.

(13) Rico’s entry is a double take. He gifted his wife with very charming accessories from one of the shops in Etsy. At the end of the day, he made his wife happy and also the seller. But guess what? The same day that I checked the link to this awesome Etsy shop, as much as I kept myself, I ordered a number of items. They are all pretty. Did you know that Rico was also the one who introduced me to Threadless tees (an optional price to this giveaway)? Such a good influence eh? 😀

(14) Sheng narrated her story of sharing extra food to beggars. We all relate to this one. That feeling that while you were feasting, there’s someone outside the window wishing for your aftermath, or that as we ate, we think of other people we know and we don’t know who don’t have anything to munch on. Don’t be ashamed of doing take outs of extra food, it feels great to feed a hungry tummy and soul.

(15) Upto6only’s son is not allowed to eat chocolates because of asthma. But since it was his birthday, he was allowed to indulge on his chocolate cake that day. You can just imagine how this little boy’s eyes twinkled. He keeps on talking about this even when he’s in school. Remember the aetas in Boracay? She and her friend gifted them dinner when they visited months ago.

(16) Wifelysteps’ account of her sister’s reaction when the latter felt Timmy (still in her tummy) is too cute!

Sister: He’s like the Loch Ness monster
Wifelysteps: But it’s cute, isn’t it?

The sister, you guessed right, was happy with the encounter with the ‘alien’. 🙂

When I met up with her (for a few minutes) last year, Wifelysteps is indeed oozing with a happy face. So I can tell how happy she made the boy who was trying to gross her out in the window by making funny/weird faces. Have you ever played with a stranger by making a funny face? I also do that (to a child). The stranger kid either smiles or cries.

Making someone happy(ier) starts either in simple or big ways. There is actually no point in quantifying the means. Happiness is immeasurable. And just the thought of making someone happy makes us happier, isn’t it?

Again, thanks to all who participated in my birthday/blogoversary giveaway. It means a lot. I’m so thankful that I declared the rule of drawing the winner through random.org or else I had my hardest time this month that could have led me to announcing all as winners. In this regard, let us congratulate the winner:

Congratulations to Upto6only! I will send you a confirmation email within the day. Let me know of your preference: a free one year domain registration and webhosting or a US$ 25 Threadless gift certificate.

Have a great week, everyone!

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