Begin Again

Begin Again
Steps for a Better and Fresh You

Kristina Noelle Andaya

They say that 2012 will be the end of the world, but the optimistic ones are more concerned on how they will make their selves better this New Year. A better you can start from having a total makeover or having peace of mind and heart by letting go of the awful things that happened in the past year.

You don’t need a new year to refresh or restart your life. You can do it anytime. It just feels refreshing to embrace change as you welcome 2013 full of hopes and dreams.  Sometimes when you want a fresh start, it begins from within.

Choose confidence

Start the year by allowing yourself to be more self-assured. Stop caring about what everyone else thinks. Life is too short to always seek others’ approval on who you want to be. To gain more confidence, begin by accepting who you really are and everything will fall into place. Also, surround yourself with people who will bring out the best in you.

Choose now

Everybody’s excited about the future while others dwell too much in the past that they forget to live in the present. Today is a good start to have a wonderful tomorrow. Stop reworking yesterday and don’t peek too much in the future. It is time to make the most out of today and live in the moment.

Keep it real

There’s nothing more refreshing than being your authentic self. Drop the mask and show people the genuine you. Say no if you really mean no and utter yes if that’s what you really had in mind. Being true to the world often makes your surroundings more true to you, too.

Keep making mistakes and learn from them

Do not be afraid to fail. Mistakes are there to remind you that you can keep getting better. As Michelle Williams’ character Jen said in the 90s drama Dawson’s Creek, “Be sure to make mistakes, make a lot of them because there is no better way to learn and to grow…”

Welcome forgiveness

Holding grudges and burning bridges are unhealthy ways of living. You can never be happy when you fill your heart with hatred. It may be the hardest thing to do, but as the new year arrives, allow yourself to forgive. Forgiving is a gift that you give to yourself. Live your life by accepting apologies and dropping the hard feelings that have been in your heart for a long time.

Welcome challenges

Problems are a big part of life. Your existence here on earth will be dreary if you get everything easily. These problems are challenges that allow you to become tougher and wiser. Once you’ve overcome these challenges, you can face harder battles in life.

Stop blaming

Another year means another chance to improve your take about conscientiousness. End the day when all you do is blame others or let others defend you in situations that you know you are responsible for. It is now time to take a stand and have the power to take responsibility.

Stop hating life

Life may never be fair, but it is still worth living. Instead of complaining about your life, make the most out of it. It is easier to be said than done, right? But you have to accept the ugly truth because one way or another you still have to get up and face it.

Remember: enjoy the journey towards a better you.

Things to start doing in 2013

ð        travel

ð        sleep early and wake up early (Oh! Gosh!)

ð        try listening to a new genre of music

ð        save money and watch the concert of *insert name of favorite band*

ð        make a bucket list and start doing it.

ð        learn a language you hate

ð        read more

ð        take a technology break

ð        accept change

ð        let go

ð        forgive

Editorial: Think things over

This article was my exam for Editorial Writing. I got a high grade on this which means the Guillermo Santos standard. This is just a simple editorial back then, I got the chance to reread it and I thought that the original article has many empty spots. I tried to change some of it for sample work pursposes. It is not timely because I made this 2 years ago...
I just changed the middle and last parts (where my editorial really begins). The first two paragraph are facts... :)

The Philippines and other poor Asian countries are no longer G-8’s priority. The sad news came from our former National Treasurer Leonor Briones when she came from Germany. She added, that the G-8 countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Russia) will just spread their help to Africa and give other poor countries in Asia, little attention.

The G8 leaders’ aimed to place the African continent firmly on their international agenda’s list of priorities. The premise for this new focus was the awareness that Africa has been deprived of the international community’s much needed attention for far too long. It was a way of recognizing adequacies of the past.

Now that the Philippines is no longer G8’s priority, we have to stand alone and work for our country’s economic recovery.

We might think that it would be hard because of the Global economic Recession, but eversince the country is already experiencing recession.

The Philippines has many useful resources. The people should just learn how to use them properly. Everyone should also help the government in gaining our country’s progress. If we want change we should start from ourselves. As the MMDA sign board says, Akala ko ba gusto mo ng Pagbabago?. Nobody has a perfect government but if all the rules were followed strictly maybe our country will be a better place to live in to.

It’s time to open your eyes and face the fact that the government is not the problem, not only the pro government, not the anti but all of us. We are all part of the problem and maybe we should all think things over.

Hearing the phrases “They should do this..., Why didn’t they do that?” is so whiny. Why can’t someone say, “What can I do to help?”