Challenge Accepted

One of my dreams as a teen was to meet a1.  They were my favorite band ever; and Ben Adams was my first love.  He didn’t know it though.  I only met him in my dreams, literally.  I actually listened to them 3x a day.  Because I remember in one of their interviews, Ben said we should listen to their songs 3x a day to feel close to them.  So I was ecstatic when I saw posters of a1 displayed on lamp posts on my way home one day from school.  Tickets were not on sale.  Rather, they were to be won in a contest.  Call 1800-MyMusic and answer a multiple choice question.  If you get it right, you get a chance to win two tickets to the a1 concert.  Calling 1800 numbers back in 2002 was considered a long distance call which was very expensive.  I called the number everyday, and our phone bill racked up to almost Php 3,000 which meant I called approximately 150 times (if cost per minute of long distance call was Php 20) within a span of one month.

Amazingly, I won thrice.  I got a total of 6 tickets.  I didn’t know any other friend who was a fan so I invited my mom, my dad, an auntie, and our maid to join me to the concert.  I still had 1 spare ticket, but it’s okay.  It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life.

Right after class, I went straight to NBC Tent in Fort.  There was a huge line before me already.  Then I saw one of the organizers choosing girls who were raising their hands.  I didn’t know for what reason.  But I saw those girls leaving their line and just entering the concert hall.  And so I raised my hand, and to my surprise she chose me!  

I wiggled my way through the crowd to the organizer.  She told me to enter the hall and sit in the front row.  Then my ultimate dream was about to happen.  A camera man came over and asked me to say my message to a1.  I asked, will a1 really see it?  And he said yes. Gosh. It’s my chance to talk to a1.  It was a dream come true.  

There was a problem.  I didn’t know what to say.

My camera shyness also did not help.

What happened next became one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

The words I uttered were just, “I love you Ben.”  Two times of that, and then “I love you” and mentioned each of the other a1 band members so that they wouldn’t feel left out.  It was neither witty, creative, nor memorable.  I just sounded like a die hard fan that could scare Ben away.  What a first message to a1.  What added to my embarrassment was that this message was shown on MTV as well.  (Back then when there was slooooow internet, MTV was a huge thing.)  The whole concert including my message was replayed on MTV.  More than once.  

For weeks, I beat myself up for not saying things properly and wasting such perfect opportunity.  I learned speaking in front of a crowd or a camera was a weakness of mine and I needed to work on that.  This made me take classes, double the effort when I do presentations, prepare in advance what I have to say, etc.  This experience pushed me to work on my shy self.  

But there’s more (and I feel more important).  I actually gained a new perspective, particularly on viewing problems.  When I was much younger, around 12, having a bad day would mean having a problem or two.  I would count my problems and then become sad for the rest of the day if I had a problem.  I hated problems, even small problems.  They were unnecessary.  

      This event with a1 was actually the first time I realized problems could actually be an opportunity for me to stretch, to learn, and to grow.  Problems are challenges wrapped in ugly, stressful packaging.  Having to carry  such a horrendous package is always painful and burdensome..  at first.  But once God reveals to us, the precious treasure (may be an opportunity, a life lesson, a build up on character, etc.)  inside this packaging,  we might just be revamped to version 2.0.  

Version 2.0 may appear in different forms.  Some relational problems may cause us to experience and appreciate God’s love more.  Some conflicts may reveal us of our sins and bring us to repentance.  Problems in business may teach us to depend on God. Health issues may lead us to appreciate our families more.  Mishaps may remind us of our finiteness, and the thorns of this world may remind us that this world is not my home.  Problems can actually be blessings in disguise.

How about you?  Are you experiencing any problem lately?  Perhaps, it is time to redefine it as a challenge.

39 Ways to be a Supportive Mother

My mom is the most supportive mom ever.  Here are 39 ways she has exemplified that:

[She looks 39 to me (a decade or two younger than the real thing), hence the number. But of course this list doesn't comprise everything she has done for me.  The list can go on and on.  ☺️]

1. When I was 3, she enrolled me in school.   
2. When I was 4, she enrolled me in swimming classes. And to encourage me to swim, she played The Little Mermaid album in the car everyday after school.
3. When I was 6, she took me to piano lessons.
4. She encouraged me to read by letting me choose one pocketbook every Sunday, right after my piano lesson. Back then, my favorite was Sweet Valley Kids.
5. She encouraged me to write by letting me choose a pretty notebook every summer as my diary (or whenever the pages of the previous notebook had already been filled).
6. When I was 8, I told her I wanted to become a gymnast.  She enrolled me in ballet. 😂
7. When I was 10, I wanted to buy cassette tapes.  She would encouraged me to take voice lessons by telling me she'd buy me the tapes if I take voice lessons.  But because I was shy, I didn't take voice lessons; yet she still gave me the cassette tapes.
8. She let me try theatre instead.
9. When I was 11, she encouraged me to start a "business" by buying and selling stationaries and earrings.   She would go with me to Divisoria to buy at wholesale prices.
10. When I was in my teens, she had me attend different types of arts classes: arts and crafts, charcoal drawing, acrylic painting, oil painting, etc.
11. When I was 15 and I wanted to become an actress, she put up with my childish dreams and drove me to some VTRs and shoots. 
12. When I was on a diet, she accompanied me to the gym.
13. She also enrolled me in Tennis classes.  I then realized I was not really good with ball sports. 
14. She encourages me to explore.  She even had me take speed reading classes.
15. When I made mistakes, she comforted me by saying, "It's okay.. it happens."  
16. When I was 16, and I didn't have any A1 fan friend, my mom (together with my dad and auntie) watched the concert with me.
17. When I was turning 18, she was the one who organized my debut party. I only had to choose the theme, the color motif, and friends who would be part of the program.
18. When I was in school (from elementary to college), she never complained about my grades.  No pressure came from her.  
19. She protected me from boys before by setting reasonable parameters that I would most likely copy when I have my own children.
20. One time, I was trying to bake and sell cakes.  She suggested that her Christmas gift for me would be Kitchenaid mixer.  I told her no need, because I had burnt many of the cakes already, so I wouldn't push through with the business anymore. 
21. She never pressures me to follow a certain career path.  She lets me choose whatever trail I want to take.
22. There was a time that I wrote blogs as part-time work.  She would be one of the first to read my entries.  And sometimes she'd share them to my relatives as well by asking them, "Have you read Joyce's new entry?"
23. When I had to feature certain restaurants, events, or hotels for the blog, she would accompany me to those places.
24. When I wanted to work for my dream job after college, and the pay was relatively low, she was still happy for me when I got in.
25. When I wanted to quit the job to find my niche, she was okay with it. 
26. During my soul-searching years, she would take me to seminars and classes with her.
27. When I wanted to start my own business, she was okay with it too.  She would take photos and buy innovative products for me as inspiration.  
28. There had been times when she would sleep at 3AM to help me pack products for delivery.
29. She, along with my dad, would help me with my business.  They would sometimes do the deliveries, accompany me to do purchasing, or drive me to meetings.
30. Since shopping is not my hobby, she would be the one buying me new clothes, bags, and shoes.  I remember when I was about to get married, she was the one reminding me that I would be needing new clothes when I get married.  She told me I could choose from those on the mannequins.  (Great shortcut tip, 'coz looking around for clothes was such a chore to me.)
31. She would sometimes cut out newspaper clippings of events and classes, as well as articles, that she thinks would be beneficial to me.
32. She would suggest ways for me to improve the systems in Mori Notes.
33. She would also encourage me to go abroad and take classes.
34. She likes my friends.  She entertains and bonds with them when they come over.
35. She cares for the people I care about.  I remember on one New Year's Day she helped me look for clothes, blankets and other necessities to give to a Mori mom whose house was burnt down.
36. Whenever I felt like collecting something (i.e. Stickers, stamps, stationaries, notebooks, books, musical notes items, etc.), she would help add to my collection.
37. She does not compare me with anybody.  
38. She has word of honor.  She sets a great example to me.
39. Whenever I fail, she never gives up on me.  

Happy happy _9th birthday Mommy! I ❤️ you! :)