idle. late. lazy.

I don’t know what will motivate me to start working hard again but I’m just not in the mood for everything and that includes coming on time for my office job. I was one-hour late every single day for the entire month of September and certainly, a memorandum awaits me come first week of October. Either a written reprimand or a two-week suspension from the HR. Funny is that I’m not worried. Not at all.

My friend told me I should be thankful the big bosses are not firing me yet because if I were working in their company, I would have been kicked out from my job a long time ago. Or they would have humiliated me in public like maybe shout at me in front of my officemates? Okay. I don’t feel anything about them not terminating me but I do feel blessed that my boss never yelled at me for being tardy.

We talked about it a couple of times already, casually. But I don’t want to elaborate on that. I just want to establish the fact that she, as my immediate superior, already did her part by encouraging me to come on time because higher merit increase will be given to me if I’d improve on that aspect. Sadly, I do not intend to properly behave soon. I must be giving everybody the impression that I’m a conceited person. Or stubborn. Whichever.

It’s not. Of course I have a very high respect for my boss and I do want to show her that I’m seriously taking her advice. But it’s not about her. You see, it’s about me. It’s about me just being irresponsible and care-free. It’s my fault. Only mine. I wish I could tender my resignation on Monday but I still need this job which is hurting my pride even more. Have you ever experienced something as painful as this?

For me this is the ultimate torture: to stay in a job even if I am no longer happy. Again, this is not their fault but mine and nobody else’s. They’d been generally nice to me and so far, I would say that I didn’t do anything bad to them too. So, quits. Hehe.

Why am I discontented? Well, because this job will never enable me to afford the lifestyle I so want. I want to travel and visit places and as a regular wager, that dream is close to impossible unless I won a jackpot prize in lotto. Or, if I made it big in freelancing.

Blah blah blah.

I made a promise to myself not to write too personal things in my blogs but hell, nobody’s really reading my journals so I should be safe.  Speaking of freelancing, I am utterly discouraged with this whole freelance writing thing. I swear I wouldn’t write anything for the month of October. I need a rest. They want a robot or a machine, not a human.

Truth is, I feel so small for writing this post. I hope my bosses will never have the chance to read this. I’m using a pen name but they might have a hint that it’s me so I’m a bit paranoid. I wouldn’t have the courage to face them again forever in case they’d read this crap. This is crazy. I don’t even know why I’m sharing this. Perhaps for therapy.  I wish I could talk to someone about my thoughts but I already know what they’re going to tell me so never mind. That is “it’s your fault.” LOL

Yeah. Everything. Is. Simply. My. Fault.

Two kinds

In person, I am extremely shy and quiet. I tend to be picky with friends and I like to hang around with people who have the same attitude and outlook in life as mine. There are so many things I cannot do because of my personality like attending parties, get-together with former classmates, reunions, etc. Frankly, I prefer to have a few intimate friends rather than a gazillion of come-and-go friends. What I want to do is to read books, watch movies, blog, write, play badminton, and to travel.

I’m an introvert. But to say that I have a very low self-esteem is not entirely true. When you say “shy” does it automatically mean “idiot” or “inferior”? Because most people look at me that way. What about you? What is your definition of the word shy? Whatever it is, I hope that you are not the kind of person who looks down on others just because your self-confidence is as high as the sky.

In my 27 years of existence, I have met people of different attitudes but there are only two kinds of which I find hard to forget.

The first is the kind who shows off his/her intelligence to claim themselves better than others. That person simply wants you to  feel bad about yourself and to realize what you lack. Such kind of people don’t want you to learn and grow. They are scared of your potentials. They fear that you’d become wiser and more talented than they are. They will do everything to discourage you. AACK!

And yet there is the second kind who shares his/her knowledge to help you improve. No big deal. Such kind of people are not scared that you will also learn what they have learned.  Sometimes, it makes me wonder if they are aware of how much it is an honor just being around them? Instead of humiliating, it’s more of a humbling experience for me, I mean to be corrected by someone who means well.

Keeping in touch

A few weeks before our high school graduation, my best friend asked for my contact details so we could still keep in touch even if we were going to study in different universities. Since I didn’t have a mobile phone back then, I gave my home address instead.

Quite frankly, I wasn’t really expecting that she would write me a letter as I my self had not intended to send her a card or anything similar to that, not even on Christmas or Valentine’s Day. I was thinking that she’d forget me as soon as she gets to meet new friends in college just like how my grade school best friend has forgotten about me. To me, we’re going to start a whole new life and there was no chance that we’re going to see each other again.

So, I was really surprised when my father handed me a postcard printed on a full color glossy paper. The lovely postcard came from Jane, just in time for my 17th birthday. I immediately wrote a 4-page letter for her but it took me 4 months before I was able to drop the letter in the Post Office. I was busy, though I know it’s not a valid excuse, with school and work.

She’s always been patient with me. On every occasion, she’d send me a letter or a card and one time I even received a bracelet from her. Jane said, it’s the symbol of our friendship. However, when my father passed away, we moved to a new house and we lost contact. Well, not totally, thanks to Friendster. But there were no handwritten letters anymore.

Although she already met a new best friend, and I also have a new best friend now, we still keep in touch. She’s been a very loyal friend and sister to me. Looking back, I can say that I am very very lucky to have a pal like her :) Also, I learned that it’s not true that people just come and go because there will be a few who will be willing to stay close to your heart no matter the distance.

Withering flower

We were having dinner at Chowking Malate when I told my high school best friend that I have something important to tell. Her facial expressions immediately became serious and then she asked me if I were pregnant. I almost choked with her funny yet stupid question. What does that question supposed to mean? She knows very well my love story and it just so happened that the first and only man I ever loved in my entire life is from the other side of the world. Like we never got the chance to see each other in person. So, how on earth am I going to get pregnant? Haha! I didn’t answer her question instead I just rolled my eyes and next thing was we were just laughing hard about it.

Anyway, I wanted to let her know about my plans of becoming a freelance writer. I’m not getting any younger and at this point of my life, I’m searching for a job that would assure me of financial stability. My current full-time job is dead-end. Of course, it’s great that  my desk job is enabling me to pay for the basic bills however, I’m not satisfied. I want something better and as of this minute, blogging and freelance writing are the only possible opportunities I can get. It seems that working abroad is not for me.  My best friend’s salary is 40k a month which is a fairly huge amount if you are living alone in Manila. I am genuinely happy for her. But somehow, I couldn’t help but feel inferior with my 12k.

Photo credits: www.amourdart.com

Let me clarify that I’m not jealous. She utterly deserves it! She’s so kind-hearted and all. Maybe a little envious but not to the extent that I’m losing hope. Besides, I’m not the jealous type, I am the ambitious type. Shy, ambitious and faithful all rolled into one, that’s my personality. I have an inexplicably strong feeling, He has fabulous plans for me. There is a voice whispering in my heart that something incredible will happen and I just need to wait and to be patient. Trouble is, I’m getting older. In a few weeks I’m turning 27 and I hate to say this, but reality is starting to sink in.

I’m not yet financially stable, I haven’t found yet the right person for me and to make my situation worse, I’m growing old. Never mind that I’m still single, I’m absolutely fine with that. Joke. In truth, I am beginning to see my self as an ugly old maid a few more years from now. My other best friend is one year younger than me and she is already wanting to have a family of her own. This got me thinking if something is wrong with me. They’re all getting or at least planning to get married and I am not.

I am suddenly confused. Which should I prioritize? Career or love? I know women should get married at a certain age. But the thought of staying single for the next five years does not bother me. I’m more worried about staying broke and being penniless for the rest of my life. At the very least I should have a back-up source of income.

Own room

Growing up with so little in material things, I never experienced having my own room. That is why I’m always amazed when someone tells me he/she has her own room. Isn’t that fascinating? To have a place I can call my own? Not that I’m bitter about it. I am quite contented with what my parents were able to provide for me and my siblings. I just think it would be great to experience some privacy sometimes. I want to have a minimalist room without any clutter. Home Fiurniture would be Japanese style – just a few cabinets and maybe a very simple sofa made of wood with a white foam. I’m going to love that :) I saw elegant furnitures in SM Manila and how I wish I could afford that black leather sofa. The price is about 35,000 pesos, quite expensive but I think it’s a worthy investment. Leathers are known to last for a very long time. And by the way, I’m not the only person who has no room. My friends and classmates didn’t have their own rooms, too. Maybe that is the reason why I never asked my parents to provide one for me. Most of the people I know are simple and normal just like me. So, I never felt I’m left behind.