Ways to be Happy

The happiest people are often known to focus on these four key areas in life:

LOVE

A long- term relationship helps create a lasting sense of well- being. A supportive partner helps you cope with life's ups and downs. However, married people are less happy if their parents is neurotic or doesn't prioritise family.

STRIVE

The happiest people have meaning in their life- religion, spirituality, volunteer work, parenting or a passion for work. "They tend to be much more appreciative and grateful," says Dr Tim Sharp. People with lots of friends are also happier.

WORK

Long- term unemployment ranks alongside losing a partner in the unhappiness stakes. Losing a job is deeply distressing to us, while working more or fewer hours than we would like also makes us unhappy. Being underworked is worse than being overworked.

MOVE

People who make time to exercise regularly and have a health body- mass index are more likely to have a higher life satisfaction than those who don't. Obese women are unhappier than those who don't have a partner.

- Women's Weekly

with Sheen and her mom

Sheen's mom visited Brunei to take advantage of the FOC tickets for dependents. They were fresh from Cambodia and Bangkok and now her mom is discovering Brunei. I went with them to the Empire Hotel and since I already had lots of photos in Empire with my younger sister, I took most of their photos. It was fun because I got to see the entire surroundings of the hotel. 

We had lunch at a Hong Kong Dim Sum Food Zone. While both of them had Mango Fish, I had a Japanese Hong Sau Tauhu Beef with Rice. It has mixed vegetables, onion, red chili, and Japanese beancord.

Afterwards, we visited the Sultan Oman Ali Saifuddin Mosque, named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei. We took photos and headed home.

a photo of me outside the mall in the capital of Brunei

Sheen and I with the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque as our background

with Gwen

Yesterday was an evening well- spent with Gwen. We had dinner at Coffee Zone. Afterwards, we had coffee at Coffee Bean. We watched The Darkest Hours on 3D at The Mall. And finally, we went to Net Zone and accompanied Kuya Bong who took his late dinner. 

I will surely be missing her and the rest of our batch =(

chicken soup for the soul: answered prayers

Afternoon of December 31st, I got this book from one of the bookstores inside The Mall. 

"Miracles happen all the time and these amazing stories of answered prayers will fill you with awe, inspire you, and strengthen your faith and hope. There are 101 answered prayers to inspire you, deepen your faith and make your day brighter. These fascinating stories prove that God is actively involved in our lives, listening to our heartfelt hopes and needs. You will be awed by miraculous true accounts of healing, divine appointments, angels among us, signs from above and timely gifts."

This good book is a good way to start the year. =)

Happy New 2012!

Happy New 2012, everyone! Gwen and I just got home from the church. It's nice to spend the first day of the year with Him. =)

For the first or second time, I haven't celebrated the new year with family and loved ones. Just like last week, I celebrated my New Year's Eve with the same people and I was grateful to have them as my family here in Brunei. We pretty had a great time. After spending some time at Tita Nene's house, Ching took Gwen and I to her friend's house and we ate again until early morning. We had tequila to end the celebration and headed home. 

I don't know whether this year of the dragon is going to be good to me or not. I basically am starting this year, jobless and basically no work to look forward to. Unfortunately, many of us already got rejection emails from the airlines we recently applied to. I guess this isn't the right time. 

From the last Bible service we had with Pastor Rex few days ago, he mentioned the following:

1. Put your heart at rest.

2. Lord will make a way.

3. Learn to wait and be fruitful.

4. Focus on your dreams.

5. Be diligent in seeking God.

I have taken note of those things while he was Bible sharing. Reading it again today inspired me very much. I realized that this is already a great opportunity for me to finish what I have left in Cebu. I took my university prospectus, estimated the units and time and found out that I have 3 semesters and 2 summer classes left to finish my degree in Psychology. I know it isn't just weeks or months but time flies. I wouldn't notice time until I'm ready for graduation. 

Lord, I know You will make a way and I know Your plans are better than mine. <3 Please help us to make this year fruitful.