Write a letter today to someone who needs your encouragement. –Jeff Goins

This is the last challenge that Jeff Goins gave to the people who joined his #my500words challenge. I have to admit that I failed it because I haven’t completed the 30 days. I just have at least 12 posts. 12/30, ha! But at least, it encouraged me to write more. I may not have written on my blog everyday but I have left more notes in my little notebook, in my journal, and my planner. Whenever I think of something, I don’t hesitate to write it unlike last year that I chose not to write what I think because I thought it is dumb.

I learned to suck it up and face my fears. I was so afraid that the world might come and get me but I realized that I should stop acting that way. Time to be braver. If I want to write, I should believe in myself and practice more. I need to stop comparing myself to others and stop thinking of not being good enough. Even if my writing is far from perfect at least I am slowly learning from my mistakes.

Even if I am late for the last challenge, I still want to do it. I always talk to people who are close to me, email them every day , chat or tweet and say encouraging things so I figured that I can write an encouraging post for someone who really feels down today – to a frustrated/or depressed or lost twenty-somethings today.

Dear whoever you are,

I don’t know exactly what you are going through but I want you to know that I understand if ever you are confused on where you really want to go. Maybe you have a job or maybe you don’t have one yet. If you have one and still feel lost, well been there, done that my friend. I really can’t say that go and freakin’ leave. No, I won’t do that. I remember when I was also thinking of leaving my first job – I was torn between my dream, my family, and my personal finances. At that time, I was happy until I realized being happy is not enough. Being JUST happy cannot pay the bills. So I decided I have to do something about it. I have read and watched almost all the encouraging, most positive articles and videos just to feel better. Or make myself at ease that I will not make the wrong decision. I was so scared to leave because I’m holding on to what they say "if you’re happy then go for it…" Then reality happened. Life happened. You’ll realize that life is not all about you. There are many factors in being happy especially now that we are still young.

I really want to give up at that time but when I watched this video of a famous broadcaster...She said that if you are happy with what you do, money will follow after you (okay, I’m not sure about this but it is something like that..) then she took a pause and added, “But is it applicable for everyone?” No. She added that some are just lucky while others need to fight harder to achieve their dreams. Don’t grieve and be disappointed for not being part of the privileged ones. Do not mope and give up just because you are one of the people who need to work harder. Instead, work hard, fight harder, and live more.

If you really want to leave your job, leave… but make sure you know what you want to do after. It will be better if before you send that resignation letter, you’ve already figure it out. But, if you can’t figure it out yet, start by talking to people who you know will never judge you on your decisions. 

I remember when I have this conversation with my brother, I told him that what if my decisions will turn out to be mistakes? He said (with an annoyed face) so what? If you’ll realize that you made the wrong choice then treat it as an “experience.” Another advice I got is from a veteran photographer in the fashion/entertainment industry, He asked me on why I will leave my job, I told him some of my reasons (like greener pasture and I just want to take a break from the media world). Then I suddenly felt the urge of asking him if I am making the right decisions.. He told me that I am just the one who can answer it and how can I tell if I am wrong or right when I haven’t done it yet? He told me that I am still young and go do the things I want to do.

Well, there are so many encouraging things that we can relate too but not all of them are applicable in our lives. Just pick out the best that you can relate to.

Never ever give up. Allow yourself to grow by making your own decisions. Because at the end of the day, it is your life. Go and do what you want, you freakin’ twenty-something! Make mistakes “Make a lot of them, because there's no better way to learn and to grow, all right?” –Jen Lindley, Dawson’s Creek

Love,

Kit

Being Human with Emotions

Tao muna ako bago ako naging Journalist. -Kara David

It is not her exact words it is how I understand it.

In my sophomore year in college, we were taught to forget emotions whenever we are in duty. You have to forget feelings in order for you to deliver the story well (as said by our Professor.) I am a very emotional person. I always choose love over anger so I really tried to forget feelings/emotions. Practice makes perfect. :))

I experienced an actual training when we covered the Interfaith Rally organized by NUJP last summer (for my internship). We listened to the victims' families talk about their life after the devastating incident in Maguindanao. How do they live without the fathers of their family. How do they feel whenever random people would send death threats?  My co-interns even got teary-eyed during the event. I did not look at the the wives because they are crying so hard while they are telling the press that they wake up everyday feeling clueless about everything... What will happen next, can they seek justice? (I'm crossing my fingers for that)...

I remember when I got home, I go straight to my mama's room, get my towel and take a bathe. Tears roll down on my cheeks when I reached the bath room. It is really depressing to witness those things in such an emotional environment. Everyone has tissue, trying to control their emotions as the wives speak...

So why do I have to tell this story?

It's because I can do my work and be human too (after work :p.)