Blog - speakoutsam

Can i just say that i'm really happy it's Friday already!

I can't help but join in the collective relief that most of us have today. Last Monday, we had Labor Day (I still instinctively type "labour". That's what I get for spending five years in an Australian company!) here in the Philippines so we had the day off. I spent the day working out, running errands (like getting my legs waxed and having my pixie trimmed), starting the #15DaysOfWritingTrue (I submitted my entry from Bo's Coffee because their purpose is displayed on each cafe and I like companies which are sure of their big why), and eating Good Burgers with my boyfriend (I always order their veggie margherita). So you can just imagine how hard it was to get back to the daily grind last Tuesday. I started my day by working out with YouTube cardio videos every morning until I survived the morning hustle until today. I feel as if this week was just a challenging opener for this month so we all deserve a pat on the back for going this far!

Drew the flowers before logging out of work yesterday. The lettering was quickly done before I wrote today's assignment 🗒

Before the weekend commences, I have to ensure that I get to submit all my deliverables for work. I also have modules for my Braver Goals course to complete after lunch. That is why before everything else, I really dedicated time in the morning to write this assignment for Day Five. I cannot believe I'm already one-third into this course. I am enjoying it tremendously and I think the best indicator for its wondrous effect on my life is how it motivated me to begin this blog and just write.

I feel that my love for routine and early mornings has developed in me an instinct to be a warrior in the sense that I truly embrace my surroundings and people without compromising my sense of being. Like any warrior, I always begin each day with the affirmation that I got this. Even when I'm too sleepy to workout, I still do my ab routine. Even when I do not feel like driving myself to the parking lot, I still push myself to enter my car. Even when I am already tired of eating diet food, I still savor each bite, thinking that due to my hypothyroidism, this is the only way I could nourish myself. You see, my thyroid disorder (or better yet, condition) is a lifetime one and I have to take thyroxine supplements for the rest of my existence if I want to live normally. Believe me, I've tried not taking care of myself and I had falling hair and weight gain. So I really had to go back to my endocrinologist to make sure that I'm getting my twice-a-year blood tests and that my thyroxine supplements are attuned to my blood levels. I also had to work with a dietician-run food delivery service so I get professionally-planned meals every weekday. I also workout each day to jumpstart my metabolism and improve my overall health. One of the side effects of my condition is chorionic fatigue. Coffee helps, but through the years, I have observed that a good cardio and ab routine can work wonders on keeping me on my toes and reducing drowsiness. You have no idea how many coffee-induced days I have wherein I would still be sleepy and I would end up napping while standing up in the MRT or bus. Yup, true story. Some people say that my ability to sleep while standing up is a talent, but really it is more of survival for me. When I workout, I tent to prevent this from happening, but sometimes I still do. Again, I just have to do what I have to do. If it means sleeping while standing up, then so be it. There are crazier things that could happen than that.

My daily commute is unpredictable because public transport is unreliable in Metro Manila. By the time I alight my car at the parking lot, I have to be prepared for anything, I love listening to the radio or podcasts because I get to learn about the news and business while stuck in traffic. (Reese Fernandez, the founder of social enterprise R2R, has a kickass list of podcasts which I used to jumpstart my podcast collection.) I usually take the MRT since it still has a relatively few amount of passengers before 7AM. If the queue is unbearable, I take the P2P bus. Walking to the P2P bus station means crossing two footbridges along EDSA. I just have to keep moving to the beat of whatever I'm listening to, whether it is a pop track with techno infused elements (aren't they all these days?) or a podcast on startup businesses (I'm not even into business but allow me to geek out on this. It is fascinating to listen to brave people hustling their way to the top!). Once I get to the CBD where my university is based, I walk to my workplace and buy coffee. Nothing like the smell of freshly-brewed arabica rewards all of my senses and makes me feel so alive and thankful for another day on earth (I'm not exaggerating, coffee moves me to pray). Speaking of prayer, I always drop by our chapel to check-in on our Creator and to plead for help with my tasks today. What I have observed about this is that praying makes you conscious. It makes you realize how badass (the rhetorical irony!) you are just to survive each day in this world and that you can still get some energy in every mitochondrion in each cell that you have in your body to hustle harder today. You do not have to be religious or even believe in God to do this. Just reflect before starting your workday. You will be amazed on how mindfulness and gratitude can propel you to produce better output without losing yourself.

So after my shift, I walk to the MRT or P2P bus station, depending on what my best commuting option is for that time of the day. I am usually wiped-out after this, so I drive to the park near my house to buy coconut juice for Php30. That's a whole coconut with the meat and water in it. I ask the vendor to scoop it out of the shell because it entails you to eat the meat like a big chunk of fruit and sip the water with a straw. It makes me feel so island girl-ish, and really, this coconut routine makes me feel cleaner and hydrated after a long day on my feet.

Once I get home, I immediately eat dinner. I usually have lean meat with brown rice from my diet service. Last night was special because I also received a card from one of my best friends, Cez, who's based in San Diego. Never mind that Easter was weeks ago. Snail mail never loses its appeal to me, as it reminds me of simpler times.

I slept just after receiving an SMS from my boyfriend that he is already home. This morning, I did this same workout and prepped myself for work. I commuted via the MRT (check out this crowd) and I could not be happier when I realized that I'm already immune to crowd. Heck, I can even ride the wave of humanity this early in the morning (think 6:30am). I walked to work while listening to my podcast and just felt amazing because I got through another morning commute and yeah, it's already Friday.

I usually end up with wrinkled clothes after being sandwiched between the morning rush of fellow working class heroes. I really do not mind, as my armor can get polished so to speak.

This is how I am after commuting: my outfit is a mess. Just lemme drink my cuppa and then I'll sort myself out ☕️

While our building has a lift, I take the stairs most of the time because I enjoy the walking that much. By the time I reach my cozy nook at the fifth floor, I recharge my fan and turn on my USB one. I'm a cool girl like that. It makes everything easy-breezy, pun intended.

So that is how I am a routine warrior and how I have injected some transcendentalism into the mundane. My fan is still recharging, and my day has just begun. Thank you God for creating me and coffee.

I hope you will have a freakin' awesome Friday ahead!