Follow Your Passion

I've been part of the corporate world for 10 years. I've been quite lucky with the companies I've worked for in the past. I can say that I am a seasoned HR Practitioner with experience in various branches of Human Resources. 

Recently, I've done a 90 degree turn in my career and shifted to a more IT driven practice. Although the focus of my work still involved working with HR practitioners, I am now at the other end of the stick. I am a Business Consultant providing implementation consultancy to customers who purchase our HR software. The work is definitely challenging for a newbie like me but the pay is good. Our team is highly results oriented. The company sincerely strives to give the best to its employees. 

I can honestly say that I cannot ask for more. This is as good as it gets. I like my life the way it is. I can't find anything to complain about. But the question is, would I settle for just 'like'? Although life is good, I feel that it can still be better. I like where I am now but I am not passionate about it. I feel as though something is still missing. 

I envy people who wake up each day looking forward to what lies ahead. People who love what they do and are passionate about it. That's what I'm looking for, that passion to drive me to do the very best I can every single day.

Would I feel much better if I returned to HR? I feel that I would be much much happier doing something else. But not back to HR, definitely not. 

This feeling has been bugging me for quite sometime. I've had this nagging feeling that won't go away. I've always had flashes of these feelings come up from time to time but I try to push them away. But now, I think I have to accept it. 

After working as an employee for 10 years, I feel that this is not enough for me. If I transfer from company to company, this nagging feeling would still be there. I realized that I don't want to be an employee anymore. 

I want to go into business.

There I've said it. I've finally accepted what has been deep inside me for the longest time. Now I know where to go, but how do I get there? 

The answer is, baby steps. I'm going to keep my day job to ensure that I have a steady cash flow. But I will begin with a little capital first and set up an online shop. 

I've actually already purchased my first batch of items to sell. I'm going to be selling Braided Cables at a low price. These are sellling online for about Php500. In Greenhills, you can buy them at Php300. But I'm selling them for only Php150!!!! 

I've also been brain storming about my shop's name. I've chosen the name 'Bonne Affaire" (pronounced as Bun Afer), which means "Good Bargain" in French. My store's concept would be to sell popular and quality items at a cheaper price. My business goal would be "To be the affordable alternative". 

I've also commissioned my husband to come up with a logo for my shop too!  

I'm going to begin with selling online then at the end of the year, I will join bazaars with my cousin [so at least we get to split the rent]. Hopefully, as I earn more, I get to buy more items to sell. I already have other items in the pipeline that I would want to include in my store. 

This is it! I'm feeling really excited about it. Hopefully this project turns into a success! 

Just as my blog theme says, Life the life you Love! 

It's time for the stork's delivery!

One of the main reasons why Jai and I got married was because we wanted start a family of our own. Unfortunately, before we got married, I acquired Choroiditis -- its the inflammation of the choroids [the area behind the retina of our eyes]. I was treated by huge doses of steroids and methotrexate [immuno drug] for more than a year. Because of the amount of medicine I've been taking, we had to put on hold our plans to have a baby.

Finally on Jai's birthday, my Opthalmologist cleared me of Choroiditis!! He told me that I'm back to normal and there would be no chances of the sickness ever coming back. That was probably the best gift I could give Jai that day.

After that, the logical next step was to consult an OB-GYNE. So I visited our family OB-GYNE [who is the head of the OB-GYNE department at the Medical City] and asked her if it is safe for me to conceive a child? I gave her my medical history and she had me undergo a pap smear and a transvaginal ultrasound just as routine check up. After she received my ultrasound results, she told me what I've been wanting to hear for a long time...."Go and conceive a baby. I will see you in 3-6 months. Don't forget to have intercourse on the 14th, 16th and 18th day after your menstruation"

Aaaaahhhhhh!!! I am so excited! This is cause for celebration!! I can't wait.
 

Happy Birthday to Us!

Jai and my birthday is just 3 weeks apart. For this year, Jai and I opted for intimate celebrations with only each other and our immediate family.

For my birthday, we went to Pangasinan to Our Lady of Manaoag then ate at Vikings with Jai and my parents. 

We went to Manaoag because I firmly believe that when you pray and request from Our Lady, it will be given to you. Right now, I will keep my birthday request a secret. Hopefully in time, it will be granted and I could tell everyone about it.

Jai had his birthday salubong with me and his friends at Distillery in Eastwood. We spent the entire day together, ate at Stacey's and ironically went to the doctor to visit my optha. The results of our visit to the doctor was perhaps my birthday gift for Jai (I will tell you about the good news in another post). Finally in the evening, we celebrated with our families at their house in Ipil. 

This is our first birthday celebration as Mr. & Mrs. I know for Jai it is a very different kind of celebration from what he is used to. But I am happy that he changed all that and spent his birthday with me. 

I don't really mind where we celebrate our birthdays as long as we celebrate them together. I am definitely looking forward to more birthdays filled with love and celebrated with each other. <3 

Remembering Papa Arthur

Arthur Brown Tamula 

January 11, 1932 - January 26, 2013

Today is my grandfather's 40th day.

It is a Filipino Catholic belief that the soul wanders the earth for 40 days after death. This is a belief rooted in Christ's resurrection on Easter Day and his ascension to Heaven. Just like Jesus Christ, finally after 40 days, we say goodbye to Papa Arthur. He has now crossed over to eternal life in Heaven with God and my grandmother, Mama Babe. 

To celebrate his ascension to heaven, I would want to share with everyone my short eulogy for my lolo on the day of his funeral: 

"You are all here to honor and remember a man who to you may be a friend, boss, land lord, benefactor, brother, cousin or father. But to me, he is Papa Arthur. 

I remember him as a child when we would spend summer vacations in Kolambugan. Early in the morning, he would always be in his office watching the people in his store from his one-way mirror. I would go to his office and he would greet me with a warm smile and big hug. Then at the end of the day, in the rare moments he would join us in the music room to watch a movie, he would be snoring even before the movie began. 

That is my Papa Arthur, a simple man who is very easy to love. He has helped so many people with his generosity not just with his resources but also with his love, affection, friendship and time. 

Papa, you will always be in our hearts. I am proud to be the granddaughter of Arthur Tamula. Thank you for being our Papa. We love you." 

Weep not for me though I am gone into that gentle night.  

Grieve if you will, but not for long upon my soul's sweet flight.

I am at peace; my soul's at rest there is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed for all those many years.

There is no pain; I suffer not, the fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts, in your memory I live on.

Remember not my fight for breath, remember not the strife.
Please do not dwell upon my death, but celebrate my life."

 - unknown

 

So now what?

After almost a year of planning, the "I Do's" have been said, the gifts have been opened and the honeymoon is over. The 12.08.12 most awaited wedding ceremony and celebration is done. So now what? 

Now, the adventure begins. We embark into the most exciting part of our life together as husband and wife.  As the dust settles and the buzz die down. Jai and I learn how it is to live together and discover each others quirkiness. 

With nothing but hearts full of love and moments filled with laughter, we journey off into the unknown. Please allow us to share with you every little triumph and disappointment, as we live the life we love. <3 

photo by Wesley Oraña