A Reason for Every Setback

Elle Woods' heartbreak merited Harvard success.

If there's one quote I've learned to appreciate and live by, it's this:

"There's a reason for every setback."

I cannot begin to enumerate the number of times I've had "Aha!" moments just by realizing this.

My earliest memory of how this meaningfully—or even magically—worked in my life was 10 years ago. I was 19 and an avid climber at a gym near school. While I didn't exactly train everyday, I was a mainstay and felt quite at-home in there. At the time I'd already joined a handful of competitions, and was at a comfortable place.

Every year, the owner of the gym and staff picked a handful members for the national team training pool. The main perk of being part of this team was that one got to climb for free (monthly fees waived) and of course, get the prestige of being part of the group.

I thought I was a shoo-in for a slot until a friend told me I was overlooked, because I didn't exactly workout there everyday. (In retrospect, there was some truth to that; I spent more time having coffee and eating banana bread by the counter than actually scaling walls.)

Another friend got in. Suffice it to say, I was heartbroken. Being told I didn't make the cut for basically not seeming to want to train was insulting, plus, I could really use the free monthly training. I was on a very meager student budget at the time.

Feeling betrayed, I started avoiding that climbing gym altogether. Instead, I went to the other branch, owned by the same people, but the likelihood of seeing them, and other friends who casted their vote, weren't as likely because this other gym was FAR from the one by my school. I probably had to take two kinds of public transportation to get to that place but it was worth it: I could concentrate on climbing, training, and getting stronger.

And train, climb, and get strong I did. I focused on finishing difficult routes, and just kept climbing and climbing and climbing until my body smarted and my hands were as callused as a carpenter's.

During this time at the other gym, I got to partner and train with my friend and mentor, Marie Calica (former beauty editor of Marie Claire Philippines; visit her blog, The Beauty Coach here ).

I climbed my heart out. With Marie, I finished one of the toughest and highest walls there after weeks of training. Eventually, the same owner who gave me the thumbs down, noticed, and finally included me in that branch's roster for the nationals. For some reason the mechanics were different in that gym (there was no free training), but finally, I was part of Team Xxxxx-xx.

The moral of the story is: Diligence, hard work, and persistence always pay off.

It's just ironic that I had to travel miles to get to a place and earn my climbing merits, far away from the homebase. Strange, but worth it.

But here's why this incident is special and major to me. Fast-forward to succeeding events, months and years down the line:

1. Marie opened up the world of fashion and beauty for me. As in the kind that one can make a living out of. That's why I call her my mentor.

2. Marie's sister, Maya, became my first boss at Seventeen, where I interned for four months and eventually got hired as an editorial assistant.

3. I stayed in the magazine for years and eventually became beauty editor. At 24! And a freelance makeup artist.

(Take note, Marie is also a full-fledged makeup artist. In the beginning, I got weirded out for wanting to pursue the same thing, but what she said truly touched and encouraged me and warmed my heart: "There's lots of room for everybody." To this day I still maintain that same outlook when people approach me for advice.)

4. Five years after that summer, I became beauty editor of Cosmo! I got to travel the world and fully enjoy life as a magazine editor.

So you see, if that whole Team Rejection didn't happen, if I never got so heartbroken as to avoid my friends and flee to a faraway place, I would have never had the opportunity to train with a new climbing partner—whose influence extended beyond scaling walls. If it weren't for Marie, I would have never heard about freelance styling, beauty editing, or fashion sitting.

I have other stories to share in relation to finding reason and light in every setback. It would fill too many pages, but if any of you are going through a tough time, or if any recent development doesn't make sense at all, don't fret. This includes losing a job, breaking up with a boyfriend, or discovering a betrayal: It all leads to something wonderful and amazing that will knock your socks off.

Just wait and see.

Part of this month's Cosmo Series, fourth of 16 posts also published at Cosmo.ph.
(Image Courtesy of http://allmoviephoto.com)

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Forward March

"Fashion's not about looking back it's always about looking forward."
—Anna Wintour

I recently watched The September Issue starring the staff of American Vogue. I'm more of a Cosmo girl in terms of dressing fashionably on a relatable, practical scale. But I liked watching Anna Wintour and her team, (particularly Creative Director Grace Coddington) and I liked how the former described the forward-thinking characteristic of fashion.

Sometimes it's too easy to dwell on the past—be it a fashion faux pas, a beauty boo-boo, or even a particular person you've regretted dating. Yet living a charmed and meaningful life involves the ability to pick up the pieces, remember the lessons from every experience, and hopefully move forward armed with an enlightened mind and heart.

Here are three things to take away from the quote above and tips on moving past life's curve balls.

1. When something keeps happening to you, there's something about the situation that you still have to learn.

I realized this from what one of my aunties said back in 2003: the year I notoriously dated guys who kept breaking my heart. During one of my sob sessions (the guy I was dating practically ditched me via text; so much like Carrie and Berger's Post-it breakup) she told me, "Never ever let a guy make you feel that way. Ever!" While looking out the window, a la Sharon Cuneta, complete with raindrops, I realized an important lesson: Guys who were insecure and caused so much stress were NOT worth it. (Eventually I found a steady, laidback, no-hang-ups guy whom I'm marrying next year.)

2. Don't take yourself too seriously.

So what if you wore a baduy outfit? Or showed up with concealer two shades lighter? People around are more than likely to be absorbed in their own mishaps to notice (or remember long enough) yours. I've had my share of many style-sablay moments but have learned to belly up and fake confidence when needed most.

A few years ago I was invited to a beauty event which turned out to be part of the grand opening of Mall of Asia. Cosmetic company executives arrived in business suits, while brand managers and designers wore flowy, flirty dresses. It was a Saturday, so guess what I had on? A white tank and khaki shorts! Thank goodness I had some makeup on, a cute headband, and wore comfy heeled leather sandals. Whew! If I were back in college I would have been mortified (see "Short Shorts" post here). But I reckoned people thought I dressed that way on purpose; which was also true because I'd heard how massive MOA was, so I put on something comfortable I could walk in for hours.

At the end of the day, it all works out. And if it doesn't, tomorrow's another day. So put on a smile—and move along.

3. There's a reason for every setback.

This quote merits a whole blog post altogether because I've witnessed its truth on many, many occasions. But I'll save the details for later. As much as it's ideal to live a "forward-themed" life, sometimes, things don't go as planned or certain disappointments and setbacks emerge. Don't fret. If you look back, notice that when you expected something but didn't get it, you actually ended up with something better. Now that I've started talking about this, I'll dish some examples on my next blog post! So watch this space, Cosmo girls!

Part of this month's Cosmo Series, third of 16 posts also published at Cosmo.ph.

PREVIOUS Post - Short Shorts
NEXT Post - A Reason for Every Setback

Offshore

Listening to "Offshore" by Chicane—the really long ambient version—brings me back to those early days at Seventeen...like a delightful, wonderful, and soothing time capsule. I actually met Nick Bracegirdle (head of the group) and asked what he thought of the song. Here's what he said:

"You know that feeling when your vacation is about to end? That's how I felt when I wrote Offshore." And it's true: If you listen to the song, you get this beachy, melancholic feeling. It's truly amazing how music can translate emotions so eloquently and vividly.

	Chicane - Off Shore [Ambient Mix]
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Like Katrina, or Maybe Worse

I always try to paint a sparkly picture of the Philippines. Simply because I only hope to educate people in the U.S. who know nothing about Manila and other wonderful places back home. But sadly at this moment, my country is in a state of calamity. Times like these, I am at a loss for eloquent words, so I am pasting an email sent by a friend, writer Lille Bose, imploring everyone to donate to Red Cross. Please help. Thank you in advance.

Dear friends,

Hello. I hope this e-mail finds you well. (And sorry for the multiple e-mails, in case I sent this to more than one address.)

The Philippine capital Metro Manila recently experienced a devastating typhoon. Dozens have died, whole houses are underwater, and the Philippine government is ill-equipped to deal with the disaser. BBC's report is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8276347.stm, but I don't think anyone will know how just how much damage there is until much later.

Imagine this: Katrina dumped over an inch of rainfall in Louisiana for 3 hours and another 0.5 inches per hour over the next 5 hours on August 29, 2005. Philippine typhoon 'Ondoy' dumped an average of 2.24 inches per hour for over six hours.

By the time the rain stopped, more than 16 inches of rain had fallen over Manila in 12 hours. To put that in context, only 15.39 inches of rain fell throughout the month of September.

Many have lost their homes. Many are still stranded in their roofs in desperate need of food, clothing, and shelter. The typhoon affected people from all walks of life -- rich and poor were stranded and lost homes -- but in the Philippines, the poorest are the most affected.

Please refer to this blog for pictures and video on the flooding so you can see what has happened for yourself.

http://www.quezon.ph/2009/09/26/how-to-help/

I am writing to you now to appeal to your sense of compassion and strongly encourage you to donate to the Philippine Red Cross.

I was able to donate using my U.S. credit card through this link:

http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/Default.aspx?S=48&SS=972

I'm terribly frustrated and sad that I can't do much more to help. The one thing I can do is spread the word about the disaster; international news sites haven't reported much (hours after the event, I still don't see any stories on CNN).

There aren't enough distress signals out there, so if you can forward this email to people you know who want to help, please do so.


Peace and love,
Lille

UPDATE 09/28/09: You can also easily send donations using PayPal through http://www.philippineaid.com. Click on the "ChipIn" button and it will take you to the PayPal login page. Thank you.

Sweet Intermission

While I wait for Cosmo.ph to upload my next few blog entries, here's a sweet break from the series: a double-layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum!

I made this the other night and I must say it's delicious—a bit too many raisins for my taste, but overall scrr-umptious. I followed Ina Garten's recipe from FoodNetwork.com which you can find here. You can also turn this into carrot squares or cupcakes, and adjust the baking time accordingly.

In Manila, my friend Sharlene Tan—an entrepreneur, former Summit editor, food writer, fashion stylist, jewelry designer (whew!)—made the best carrot cake squares ever! One day at the office, she just handed me a box of those gorgeous, gorgeous, creamy squares of bliss. Talk about sweet :)

Just a few tips if you're planning to try Ina's (yes, in my mind we're on first-name basis) recipe:

1. If you're not that much into raisins and walnuts, add less than what the ingredient list calls for.

2. If you do keep the raisins, you might want to cut back on the sugar, perhaps a fourth to half a cup less. Between the dried fruit and powdered sugar in the cream cheese frosting, it's quite the sugar bomb.

3. Try not to eat the cake right after you bake and frost it. Trust me, it's better the next day after it sets in the refrigerator. And the next (if it's not gone by then!).

Short Shorts

I'm so thrilled that shorts have finally climbed the fashion tier and are now considered stylish. I was just browsing "Haven For The Hip And Fashionable Set" at Cosmo.ph and found it wonderfully refreshing that what I wore in college is now considered in vogue.

You see, being a student in the 90s, I was surrounded by peers who wore button-down tops, designer jeans, and heeled loafers. I, on the other hand, went to class in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals. I know I've gotten flack for this in the past, for my informal way of dress. At one point, one of my guy college orgmates pointed to my outfit—a Sesame Street baby tee borrowed from a roommate, red checker shorts I've had since highshool, and leather Birkenstocks—and said:


"That's what you wore today, like everyday that's what you wear?"

I was embarrassed, but what could I do? That was the time I knew nothing about shopping, and didn't really have the resources to arrive decked to the nines in school. Besides, my outfits were COMFY and I felt my aesthetic made sense.

Another fashion faux pas I remember was wearing a Giordano striped piqué collared tee and pants to a movie premiere, when all the girls were wearing little black dresses. I'll be forever thankful to my friend Henry, the members' committee head, who kept me company during the movie and made me feel at home amidst the sea of slinky semi-formal wear.

It's ironic though, if I wear the exact same outfit today, and then pair it with killer heels and maybe a gold lamé belt, I wouldn't feel a notch self-conscious at all. In fact, I know I'd feel fierce and fasyon (I just read earlier that men's trousers are supposed to be trendy this season; also, I started wearing piqué and collared shirts again last year).

During my magazine years, I came to realize that I tended to overdress because of this underlying fear of being ridiculed for not being outfitted well for any occasion. Eventually I snapped out of this and actually started going to events—and to the office once I found out it was okay—in shorts and easy tops (see Cosmo beauty ed Nicole's cute tank-and-denim combo); of course paired with good footwear and accessories. These days, I'd like to think I've struck a balance between my choices in casual and event wear. I now dress by mood and follow my own fashion(able) pulse.

Part of this month's Cosmo Series, second of 16 posts also published at Cosmo.ph

PREVIOUS Post - Major Oh
NEXT Post - Forward March

Major Oh

When I joined Cosmo as beauty editor in 2005, I was fresh out of a four-year stint at Seventeen, its sister publication. I had to learn many things, including new luxury brands I didn't work with previously, plus the uncanny nicknames of Cosmo's fun fearless sexy sections.

During one of the first staff meetings I'd attended, nothing struck me out of the ordinary: Like any other planning session, each editor narrated her lineup and story ideas, while the Editor-in-Chief and the rest of the team put in their two-cents worth. After I 'passed' my turn, things started getting fuzzy. One of the editors began to say:

"So for minor sex, are we working on…?"

I paused to make sure I heard right. The other editor continued:

"But for major sex, we're running [name of article]."

I took that as my cue to ask, shyly to boot, "Um, what do you mean by minor and major sex?"

Immediately I was let in on these racy section heads. "Minor sex are the one-page, short features we run on sex and relationships," one of the girls explained. "Major sex are the longer, in-depth features we do, like those four-pagers on how to get the best orgasm, etc." she finished.

"Oh." I muttered feebly. "I see."

The next two and a half years would be filled with many of these 'minor' and 'major' articles. While I mostly kept to the beauty pages, with the occasional essay and travel piece, it was nice working with a dynamic team and on an equally dynamic read filled with not only the hottest hunks and relationship tips, but also tongue-in-cheek, straightforward pieces catering to every Cosmo girl's dilemma—fashion, beauty, food, living…and everything in between—out there.

And now that the mag has revamped its space over the blogosphere, I can only imagine endless fun and fascination with all things wonderful and Oh-inducing!

Part of this month's Cosmo Series, first of 16 posts also published at Cosmo.ph

NEXT Post - Short Shorts

Oh, Cosmo!

The new Cosmo.ph! It's as awesome as the magazine :)
And I'm a guest blogger for September.

So after many wonderful years working in Seventeen, I "graduated" to Cosmopolitan, its sister magazine. And for the next two and a half years, I would be busy beyond belief short of being dipped in algae. It was an honest-to-goodness roller coaster ride and I eventually hopped on to the next amusement park that is New York City. But that is a whole other story.

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm guest-blogging for the new and improved Cosmo.ph! It's like being back working for the mag—including getting used to raunchy section heads like Quickie Blogs—but being able to work in my pajamas.

Check out my first post, "Major Oh," and I'll meet you back here where I'll also be uploading the entries as part of the Cosmo Series—16 fun, fearless posts that will hopefully make you laugh, wince, or maybe even cry. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I've had (and am having) fun writing them!

Click HERE to go to the first post.

Calling Doctor Beauty

Seventeen girls circa 2002: Monica, Tata, Maya, Mariel, and Anne.

When my former boss (and first magazine editor) at Seventeen, Maya, uploaded this photo on Facebook, I couldn't get over how FRESH I looked in it. I admit I got a little bit affected and fixated on then and now: as in comparing a recent pic to this. Futile, I know, but necessary. (It could also be the lighting; after all, I believe this was taken on a stage with spotlights. Hah!)

I'm not exactly one to be bothered by the aging process. Or maybe I should take that back because I've worked in beauty for quite some time now so I probably don't realize that I have a slightly heightened awareness of skincare and makeup, and it's something that's just there so I tend to take it for granted.

Anyway, this picture is a beautiful and painful reminder that I should follow my own advice and commit to a new skincare regimen. I'm most inclined to hit the Clarins counters only because I've seen this brand work, on myself and on peers who have used it in times of dire skin.

Now, never say never but if there's one thing I haven't tried during all these years writing about skincare, hair, makeup, cosmetics… it's plastic surgery, or anything that involves needles. At Seventeen, I didn't have to worry about covering this 'beat' because my job didn't call for it. But eventually at Cosmo, we were offered to try everything from mesotherapy injections, Thermage facials, breast augmentation, liposuction, and so forth.

Fortunately, I didn't have to do any of these because there were always other people who were willing to test-drive these cosmetic 'innovations.' I was left to deal with orange hair, robotic perming machines, body wraps involving seaweed and mud, and all else in between. Not a bad compromise.

Plastic surgery is something that requires a delicate sense of proportion and an impeccably refined—and most importantly, balanced—aesthetic that not very many who are in the profession are able to show for in their work. If you're considering going under the knife, it's crucial to shop around, do extensive research, and look for people who have achieved great results (you'll have to look hard because if a surgeon's good, chances are you can't even tell someone's had something done).

Weekend Beauty Buys

 

Ready, set, shop!

At my former job as beauty editor, I got to try out new products at quite a fast-paced rate. I had a bottomless supply of lipstick, mascara, skincare products...you name it, I had it in my drawer, or in one of the huge plastic bins under my desk (which also spilled to the side of my cubicle). It was a constant challenge to keep everything organized and accounted for.

These days, it's not so hectic in my personal beauty department. I write a weekly lifestyle column for a newspaper I love (and the only one I had ever wanted to work for since college; an esteemed professor had the utmost respect for this publication and it just rubbed off on his students). The pace by which I work now is gentler and more languid, and the best part is getting to work in pajamas and squeeze in naps when I hit writing roadblocks and need a breather.

The downside to this is that my body clock is really skewed.

Anyway, I just found out about BeautySak.com and browsed its contents. Not sure how these products hold out, but they're quite fun to look at:

1. Molton Brown Blu Maquis Fine Liquid Hand Wash, $25

I recently visited my friend Niña's apartment and her bathroom was filled with colorful bottles that perfectly accented (and decorated) the all-white interior. A handful of them were Molton Brown shower gels.

2. Kai Nighlight Candle, $22

I've never really heard of Kai Body but it looks interesting. The line has parfum sprays, body butters, but I'm particularly drawn to their votive candles. Back at my old apartment, I lit candles whenever I was stressed out, or just after a long day, to unwind and relax. My particular favorites are citronella, lavender, and thyme (also as burner oils).

3. Liquid Keratin De-Frizz Shampoo, $27

Honestly, whenever I hear the word 'keratin,' Palmolive Optima comes to mind. Remember those commercials in the 90's? And I think my hair was at its smoothest and silkiest, when I was 13—using Palmolive Optima! Anyway, I wonder if this anti-frizz shampoo will give the same silky results.

4. Keratin Complex by Coppola - Thermo-Shine, $18

Since I rarely go to events these days, I no longer do the whole shampoo, conditioner, blow-dry shebang, unless I'm off to a meeting or just feel like it. But what I do notice is that whenever I work in shine serum after towel-drying, my hair looks better as opposed to just leaving it as is to air-dry. I'm still finishing my TIGI Girl Toys shine serum, and when I do, I'll most likely scope the scene for a new one.

Happy weekend internet-shopping everyone!
 

At last…

After several attempts at making muffins last year, and another failed (flat/sunken) try a few days ago, I've finally succeeded in making blueberry muffins that looked like how they were supposed to look like. You see, unlike cookies and brownies, or even some cakes, muffins require unbelievable precision and an exact method to yield perfectly domed and crumby results. This time around, I used a kitchen weighing scale (to measure the flour) and I believe that made a world of difference.

If you're curious, I followed Alton Brown's recipe from a Good Eats episode ("The Muffin Method Man") which you can find here. Brown describes in great detail—and in an absolutely fun way—the science behind this tricky baking territory. Enjoy!

Happy Spaghetti

Reposting from the September 9, 2007 blog entry at Chocolate Soundboard, my first blog. Today is our fifth year anniversary and we're miles apart and both down with some sort of flu/strep. I've updated the photo from a batch of 'Comfort Spaghetti' I made a few weeks back. Enjoy! (Oh, and Happy Anniversary to Alvs and moi!)


Over the years I have mastered what I like to call ‘Comfort Spaghetti’—a very easy mix of onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, tuna, Italian seasoning, tomatoes, Hunt’s Four Cheese tomato sauce, tossed with al dente noodles and a big helping of grated cheddar cheese; and of course, Pinoy style, with garlic bread (smothered in butter) on the side. What makes this savory meal special and different each time is the variation of the ingredients: oftentimes I add in mushrooms and parsley, sometimes I use fresh herbs, other times oregano and basil, and almost always a tiny bit of sugar plus a dash of sour cream in the end (for this one, I used milk and lemon juice instead). These little touches make all the difference. Alvin’s mom makes a hearty version with cream of mushroom soup and green peppers thrown into the basic marinara mix. Yesterday, I sautéed chopped cremini mushrooms with the sauce and let the onions get extra sweet by letting them ‘sweat’ in the pan longer.

We're now on our third year together, so perhaps subconsciously, whipping up this comforting meal on our anniversary was my way of celebrating and reminding myself that the distance doesn’t matter when you know you can make something as reliable as pasta, and that it can taste wonderful and different every time, no matter how familiar.

And consciously, today, I wore one of my favorite dresses, made a crisp salad of romaine hearts and arugula in a lemony vinaigrette to go with the spaghetti, washed it all down with iced green tea and apple juice, and finished this happy meal with a crunchy nectarine. And I’m definitely going back for seconds :)

Trapper Keeper!

You know you want one.

I was just over by Elle.com and came across a post on perhaps my favorite school accessory of all time (Elle Undercover "Fashion Week Accessory: The Trapper Keeper" by Johanna Cox). Oh my gosh, I LOVED Trapper Keepers as a student! My mother helped indulge this fixation by buying several of them in different designs, even for herself and for my father (who was starting a journalist career at the time).

I am this close to getting myself one for...oh well, just because! I should probably buy several and have a Trapper Keeper Giveaway here, picking up from the Sharpie Giveaway I held last last month. Oh what fun! Do drop me a line and let me know your thoughts.

The author of the article mentions another 80's school supply icon, Lisa Frank. Admit it: You looked forward to those Balikbayan boxes for those bright, whimsical stickers and folders. To quote from the post in which Cox notes the usefulness of the Trapper Keeper for the upcoming New York Fashion Week:

"Although no longer themed with Lisa Frank’s acid-trippy unicorns and dilated teddy bears, the TrapKeep is still very much for sale. A Moleskin notebook is fine and nice, but does it come with tabbed folders, one each for Narciso, Marc and Rodarte? Can you slip your day’s invitations into its convenient plastic pouch? Can it double as a seat cushion if your mini goes micro mini upon taking your seat in the front-row? I think not."

True.

Another remnant of my 90s student life is the FILOFAX. I remember pre-schoolyear trips to Regina's and Tickles, where they sold a variety of colors and fabrics, along with a bevy of refills, pockets, and whatever one could insert in every slot.

Eventually and at the turn of the millennium, things got smaller and smaller by way of the Palm Pilot. (I got the Handspring instead in an effort to not have what everybody else had.)

These days, I write everything down on a fuchsia pink Mead notebook and punch calendar reminders on my trusty Nokia phone. Everything else, I email to myself on Gmail.

Now if you'll excuse me for a sec, I'm browsing the Mead website, reviving my long-lost Trapper Keeper fancy :)

Images courtesy of Mead.com

UPDATE 09/09/09: I just won this on eBay! It's the exact same Trapper Keeper design I had from Freshman year in high school :) Thanks, jump-dumpster!

“Don't stop believing.”

DAY 7 of the Inspiration Series

With Journey lead singer, Arnel Pineda and drummer, Deen Castronovo, in the background.

My recent errand trip to New York was highlighted by two events:

1) The Journey performance outside the CBS studios and

2) A last-minute showing of “The September Issue,” starring Anna Wintour herself, Grace Coddington, and the rest of the American Vogue posse.

Both were unexpected and proved be pleasant, wonderful, and immensely entertaining. And for the former: inspiring.

I blogged earlier this year about lead singer Arnel Pineda's meteoric and fairy tale-like rise to fame, having been discovered by Journey founder and guitarist, Neal Schon, one late night on YouTube. The rest was awesome music history and in the past year and a half or so, Arnel has been touring the world with his favorite band. (Read my “Hiatus” post here.)

While Journey and Steve Perry songs like “Open Arms” and “Foolish Heart” never waned in terms of airplay in the Philippines (hop on any taxi or bus and you're likely to hear either one), in the U.S., the band has enjoyed a career renaissance of sorts when The Sopranos ended the series with that cliffhanger diner scene and played the band's 1981 hit, “Don't Stop Believin’”—a song that has also become a mainstay in the New York club and karaoke scene.

One of the things I love about NY is that you can turn around the corner and walk right into a movie set, or an outdoor concert, like this one.

It was so nice to watch Arnel and the band live and literally soak in (it was drizzling) the happy, energetic vibe. If there's one inspiration story to cap this series, it's Arnel's: He represents 40 years of hard work, faith, and persistence—from humble beginnings down to finding refuge and success in music. I especially loved the sincerity and sense of gratitude he exuded onstage. He just seemed so kind, lighthearted, and happy—qualities to strive for on a daily basis. It was truly a treat to be amidst the crowd on that rainy New York Friday.

So that wraps up my Inspiration Series. I do have some more inspiration-themed posts planned along the way. Meanwhile, here's the trailer of “The September Issue.” Enjoy!



(The September Issue photo courtesy of http://moviefuns.info.)

From my "Hiatus" post:

(7:18 will make you cry: "[My mother] taught me to fight the world
when it's just not too kind on you.")

The Inspiration Series

DAY 1 - "It smells like God."
DAY 2 - "You're a kind soul."
DAY 3 - "Just wait for it."
DAY 4 - "I have all I need."
DAY 5 - "Take the plunge."
DAY 6 - "Go in peace."
DAY 7 - "Don't stop believing."