May 4, 2020

My 2020 So Far

Four days late, but I would like to write something to welcome this new month of May by looking back at the first parts of this crazy year. It's been a different past couple of months for all of us around the world with so many restrictions, but I have to say, looking through a lens of positivity that there are some good things that came with staying at home. Aside from the fact that we get to spend more time with our family members than the times when we are all busy with work, we get to learn more things to do, more time to accomplish other things we always wanted to but never had the time too, and even learn more things about ourselves.

"Barred" view from the back of our Terrace

One can hear a lot of complaints in social media about how bored they are, well I can't blame them and it can get really boring. But if, instead of whining every single day, they start looking for a hobby or keep themselves occupied through having their hands on something. Alright, I know it can be really hard for some people but even reading books can be pretty productive and at the same time entertaining.

Now, let me look back and share you some things that I can coin as accomplishments from the very first day of this year and the four months that came after that. My friends, may I present you:

Steve's "Accomplishment Report" for the first 4 months of 2020

  • Spent New Year's Day in Paris (Last day of my three weeks in Europe) and flew back home the next day.
  • Edited and Published a few VLOG episodes on my YouTube Channel
  • Prepared my own lunches for work every single day 'bento' style.
  • Re-Designed this blog's theme and template and added a Destination's Tab.
  • Repainted my bedroom wall and added new frames to complete the 22 countries I have visited.
  • Been a part of my younger brother cousin's wedding last January 25th. (Can you find me?)
  • Photo Credits to CamZar Photography
  • Re-opened Cavite Daily Photo and posted daily since the lockdown.
  • Prayed the Rosary every day since the lockdown which helps and calms me.
  • Treated my baby cousin's to a long waited Ramen Night
  • Coping up and continuously battling my anxiety (with big help from ALL OF YOU my blog friends)
  • Fixed My Garden and found a new hobby and place to find peace and relax.
  • Work with Scraps and add DIY fixtures to my Garden.
    Linking Jesh's ALL SEASONS - SPRING BLOOMS linky

  • Finish my third Semester of Graduate School in University of the Philippines.

Also, my friend The Padre from his blog What Else is Possible (visit his blog for a big doze of positive energy all the way from Colorado) shared a list of Goals on his last post which inspired me to write one of my own for this coming month. Besides, this will be the last Month of my 20's because I'm stepping up to the 30's platform this coming June (exactly 30 days from now). Let me also share some accomplishments in this past 4 months.

Goals for May

  1. Spend afternoons in the Garden instead of the hot bedroom
  2. Continue repotting more 'pups' into their own planters
  3. Present my dashboard at work to North America managers
  4. Finish reading "Empress Dowager Ci Xi"
  5. Start reading and finish "History of Thailand"
  6. Look for old photographs
  7. Post on all Thursdays of the month for Timeless Thursdays
  8. Daily Rosary
  9. 9-Day Novena to Our Lady of Fatima
  10. Host weekly video conferences for my High School friends and another for my College friends
  11. Read more about the plants I have in my garden and how to take care of them
  12. Think of more ideas for photography even inside our house
  13. Fix refunds or rebooking my tickets for my cancelled Myanmar trip
  14. Spend more time of meditations and grateful thoughts per day
  15. Try my best to spread more positive vibes to my blogging friends through my posts
Never Stop Getting Busy
Steve
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Our World Tuesday Graphic

This post is part of Our World Tuesday. Click on the photo and be taken to beautiful views around the world!

43 comments:

  1. ...Stevenson, you filled your days with fun activities, keep making goals and make sure staying healthy is one of your top goals.

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    1. Oh Tom thank you so much and thank you for reminding me about staying healthy, I need that reminder because there were times I forget to take my morning hypertension meds. Should be top 1 goal :)

      Happy New Week Tom!

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  2. You have been so productive during lockdown. I'm a garden person and like seeing your plants and flowers. I'm with you on spending time there instead of in your bedroom. Sharing space with a live plant calms the mind and soul.

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    1. I love that Carol, thank you so much! Your affirmation makes me wanna spend more time than I have been spending in it :)

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  3. I like your attitude. Your activities of the first four months are inspiring and I've noted some points from your list for future. Lovely post!

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    1. Oh that is so nice of you Shiju! And I am so happy to see you here in my blog :) I have a number of friends from work there in Bangalore :)

      I wish I can live through those goals for the month! Happy New Week Shiju!

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  4. You are very organized in your goals and activities, which seems to make you better able to handle the challenges of the worldwide situation. I think all of us in the Northern Hemisphere (at least those in appropriate housing) are lucky because we will be able to enjoy and cultivate our gardens.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much Mae, that is really nice of you to say. I try to keep myself organize in my mind but it really does help to write those thoughts down time to time just to have a good record of it. Lucky and blessed we are to have spaces for gardening that keeps our mind at ease on times like these.

      Stay safe and Happy Monday Mae!

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  5. Wow, you've accomplished a lot. I like the idea of goal setting. I might do a similar post on my blog.

    Love the bento style lunch. I get so lazy preparing my baon sometimes so I'll pack rice and some sardines...lol.

    I also just got into taking care of succulents. I am getting ready to plant some vegetables on the yard. And yes, I have bitter melon seedlings. It's a must for my garden.

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    1. Thank you so much Kayni! I got really hyped when I saw The Padre write his set of goals and I thought, wait this would be helpful! I will look forward to your own set of goals :)

      Oh we are very much the same Kayni! Especially if the ulam on the last meal was so good, I will not cook my lunch anymore and just take some leftovers plus rice - BOOM! Baon is ready!

      Oh they are very cute plants to take care of Kayni, you will love succulents! But vegetables are always top! Oh my! We also have Ampalaya here although the last couple of yeya's Ampalayas were killed by the strong winds. I never thought they can be super sensitive to open winds!

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  6. It's been a long period of isolation but I, like you, have had plenty to do and am in fact enjoying the experience.

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    1. Oh Yogi I am glad that I am not alone in feeling quite okay with being locked at home. I thank the Lord for the blessings that come despite the lockdown and my brother who gets all our needed groceries and medications. But I really did not mind staying at home since I am also blessed to still get to work from home.

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  7. You had me at "New Year's day in Paris." I'd say you've been quite productive in this quarter and certainly you've enjoyed some wonderful times with friends and family. I do like the photo wall in your room -- that's very nice. And of course your terrace garden must feel like a bit of a haven. It's fun to see some things from "before I knew you." Onward to your terrific May goals!

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    1. Oh Jeanie! Thank you so much for your beautiful words! They warm my heart so much. I am happy that you like my 'mini gallery' at my bedroom wall and yes, cheers to our goals and lets turn them into our next sets of accomplishments! Hugs to you dear Jeanie! Love the pond lives you shared with us on your post today!

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  8. Thank you for reminding me to look backwards sometimes and realize just how much we have achieved in the last few months - it is so easy to think we haven't done very much but it can really add up.
    Hope you get to achieve your goals list for May (I look forward to Timeless Thursday again!). I must get back into making goals myself, as they give purpose and direction to life and I could do with some of that :)

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    1. Hello Margaret! You've said it very well, even small victories when added up becomes inspiration of our accomplishmanets and to move further and grow stronger.

      You gave me such a big smile Margaret with your words about Timeless Thursdays! Thank you so much for joining and I am very much looking forward to your next entries, the last one with your grandfathers photos were beautiful treasures that I really enjoyed!

      Cheers to us setting our goals and track our small victories with love and hope for the future! Stay safe dear Margaret!

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  9. Hello, wonderful series. I love the garden! Stay positive and take care! Enjoy your day, have a happy new week ahead.

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    1. Thank you very much Eileen! My garden sends warm greetings and beautiful blooms!

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  10. Your garden looks a peaceful place and excellent for one's mental wellbeing.

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    1. That is very nice of you, thank you so much! I wish it can grow more beautiful as time goes by :)

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  11. I love your garden, such a great place to relax! And I like your idea of preparing lunch everyday, cos you know I love cooking ☺ Nice year so far, great pics! I never get bored at home to be honest, with toddler around it is quite difficult to be bored☺ Hope the virus will end up soon, stay safe and healthy everyone!

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    1. Oh that is super cute! Now that makes me miss my niece so much! Thank you so much for your kind words and I am happy you like my bento meals because I know you like to cook :)

      Happy Wednesday my friend Natalia and Stay Safe!

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  12. beautiful flowers in and around your terrace....
    look like some orchids

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    1. That is right Tanza, you have spotted our orchids :) Thank you so much!

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  13. What a great post filled with goals, accomplishments and positive energy. I love your new wall with the framed photos on it. It looks very good. Keep being positive, stay healthy and safe!
    Have a wonderful day, my friend.

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    1. Oh that makes me happy Bill! I am so happy to see that wall growing frame after frame everytime I travel :)

      Have an awesome Wednesday my friend Bill! Hugs to Ireland!

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  14. this was really fun to read...you have accomplished a lot, and you have done a lot of traveling.

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    1. Oh thank you very much Rose! I am grateful for your kind words :) I hope and pray I can travel again someday when all the world is back to safety

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  15. Nice to know that you began the year traveling.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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    1. Thank you so much Photo Cache. You are right, it was a blessing to spend Christmas in Italy and at the same time, begin and end the last one while travelling :)

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  16. Good job withe lunches, I used to do it, too.
    Now I only prepare brekkie and lunch for hubby - boring bread... and colored eggs.

    Weee 22 countries! I can count, but I´ll never reach that number for my countries!
    More stories, please!

    LOL, tempting photo, weren´t you "afraid" someone might sneak up behind of all of you and give a good push? ;-)

    Great list, looking forward to #12! Always keen on learning about how friends live :-)

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    1. Iris you make me laugh again so much! Hahahaha Oh yes!!! It's really been on my mind that what if they fall! The craziest part is if those frames fall, it will go straight to my head if I'm sleeping.

      I am happy you like the list and yes, I need to take more photos even inside the house and learn new angles maybe?

      Sending you hugs to Germany my dear friend!

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  17. Beautiful garden. I am Not bored at all this times but i would like to everything return to normal :)

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    1. Very much with you on that Agata! though I do miss working in the office with free A/C because the heat here is starting to toast my flesh! Stay Safe!

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  18. Dearest Stevenson,
    That is a great accomplishment for a young man your age and with fond memories of your last trip!
    Did just pray the Rosary too, one lady from your country and several others... May we all get heard.
    Came home and composed an email for you - so please look for it. With some tips.
    And now I have to get back to my Memoirs, not mine but for my dear Pieter... Have to search his publications still in lots of years. Started with 1957 and have completed yesterday 1964...
    Oh, your balcony with the orchids looks like our patio in Indonesia with the orchids. MISS that very much. You can read under Label: Our life in Indonesia. Yes, we were neighbors once...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Mariette I was able to read your email and I am very grateful for you taking time to compose that to me with a lot of helpful tips, thank you very much! I am excited for your project on Pieter's Memoir and taking them from decoades ago makes it very precious as they already are!

      I am so happy you like my plants and I am amazed that you lived in Indonesia! Such a beautiful and lush country Indonesia is and I am sure you know how hot and humid our summers are in this side of the earth haha.

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    2. Dearest Stevenson,
      Glad you received it and anticipating you getting it all implemented, for your own interest.
      Indonesia was cooler than the place where we live now! Here it can reach 40ºC and more in summer and 99% humidity but thank goodness we all have air conditioning for removing the humidity from the air! But to be honest, I prefer the tropics above any cold region! Worked once for one week in North Dakota with -40ºC and high snow...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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    3. I Agree Mariette! Thank you so so much and I am so happy! Oh my -40C is just crazy to think about!

      Hugs Mariette and Happy Weekend!

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  19. Hi Stevenson, it seems that WFH displays the best of you, look how much you have accomplished by staying at home. From my side, staying at home enables me to spend more time with my wife and my baby boy, start blogging, and run more frequently.

    Stay safe

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    1. Hi Cipu! First of all, welcome to my blog! You got that right Cipu, wfh really has made me do a lot of things that I cannot do before. I am happy that you get to spend more time with your family, those are priceless moments for sure!

      Stay safe, Terima Kasih!

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