I woke up one wonderful morning. With a perfect smile chiselled in my morning fresh face, I stood in front of the mirror and confidently said, “This is my day!” Beaming, I had a good look at my face and I made sure that I have a good picture on my mind of my happy face to keep me company for the whole day ahead. I was in a swell great mood until...

I accidentally deleted all my contacts.

                Your contacts are the most important data in your smartphone. You know that instance when a burglar takes your phone and you think about the contacts and the other important data more than phone itself. I was confronted with a situation that was the other way around, I have my smartphone safely nestled in my hands, but my contacts vanished in thin air, of course they did not disappear just like that. I accidentally pressed a button that swiped them all out.

I bit my lips twice

                Clock struck 12, and it’s time for lunch. I picked up my bag and headed straight for the cafeteria looking forward for a hearty meal that could compensate on all my hard work for the first half of the day. I was comfortably seated in my favorite spot at the cafeteria, near the window. I’m enjoying the view, trees seemingly dancing to the melody of the wind. I took a bite of my burger, and then another, and there it was, I bit my lip the first time. It bled like crazy, bringing forth the metallic taste of my own blood. It did not end there, I bit my lip one more time and from there I completely lost my appetite.

I had my pants wet.

                No, no, no. I think you guys got that wrong, I did not pee in my pants, never. While brushing my teeth in the office, water splashed all over me, thus having my pants all wet and moist after that. Every one of them looked at me like I was a kid who first used the sink.

My laptop stopped working

                Just when I thought that I can stop for a while to take a break and relax from all the misfortunes I experienced that day, my laptop was drained with battery power. And guess what? My charger is not functioning! How lucky can I get? Now I have to purchase a replacement charger which I believe is not cheap.

                Maybe it was just my luck, or maybe everything was just a mere coincidence cleverly overlapped in a single day. The thing is, no matter what it is that comes your way, you must be equipped with a positive outlook to battle it out teeth on teeth.

Have you been in a situation where in you received a low battery notification from your smartphone while you are on the road? Well, isn’t that an inconvenience? This is even more frustrating during the times when you need your phone the most to be turned on. There are actually ways to make the remaining juice of your battery last longer. Check below to find out how.

1.       Reduce brightness. Dim the screen of your device to preserve the battery life. It also helps if you reduce the screen timeout of your phone to a minimum to provide you with extra hours to use it.

2.       Turn off vibrations. Keeping your phone in vibrate mode consumes more energy that having it alert you about notifications via ringtone. Sounds produced by your phone as ringtones are just tiny vibrations from the speaker, while vibrating the whole device drains your battery quicker.

3.       Close all unnecessary apps. You may not notice that when you open app after app without closing them properly, they remain open until you kill the apps one by one or restart your phone. Manage your applications and close unnecessary apps to prolong the battery life of our phone.

4.       Turn off notifications. Being notified periodically by the activities of your apps can drain your battery faster. Disable notifications among apps that are of less importance.

5.       Wi-Fi is better than 3G/4G connection. If you really need to be connected to the internet considering the low battery life, then use Wi-Fi connection instead of a 3G/4G connection because the latter drains the battery faster than Wi-Fi.

6.       Turn equalizer off. Though I guess with your almost drained battery, the least you could be doing is playing music through your mobile earphones. But in any case you might be doing this, turn off the equalizer, especially the bass booster, to lessen the battery consumption of your phone.

7.       Keep track of software updates. Having your apps up-to-date ensures you that they use less energy their outdated counterparts do. Don’t be foolish by doing this on the time that your battery life is about to run out. Do this every so often when not in danger of draining your battery life when you need it the most.

8.       Store device in room temperature. The battery of your phone depletes faster when in a warm temperature. Store it somewhere cool or away from direct sunlight.

Doing the abovementioned can provide you with an extra hour or two to still stay connected especially on the times you needed those extra hours for emergency purposes. Still, the best way to solve your about-to-be-drained battery problem is to have a replacement battery handy so you won’t have to worry ever again.

                Being a parent is not an easy job. I don’t understand why there is no school or discipline that attempts to teach it considering that it’s one of the most difficult professions in the world. I remember when me and my husband were about to have our first child. We tried our best preparing for the coming of our son, read parenting books, listened to the anecdotes of long time parents, and tried to borrow our nieces and nephews just to have a firsthand experience of having a child at home.

                So much have been said and done, but when our little guy came about, we were still nowhere near ready. We weren’t exempted from the jitters and nerves of having the first child, at one point we panicked. But that is how parenting is, we learn based from experience and it’s always a case to case basis. Raising a child can be very laborious and stressful at times, especially when your little one becomes a teen. As I’ve said earlier, you cannot really learn how to parent your child through any material but experience, this blog only attempts to give you a hindsight in case.

Listen

                As much as we want our kids listening to our every whim, our kids no matter how young they are also need to be listened to. Do not underestimate their capability to voice out their thoughts and opinions. You’ll be surprised on how your kids know about a lot of things. Like for example you wanted to buy your son a mobile back case for his smartphone, instead of deciding it yourself, you can ask him about his likes, his choice of design, his preferred color, or maybe he knows an online mobile store where you can get what he wants.

Trust

                I get it, parents will do anything to protect their children from whatever outside forces that may corrupt their innocent minds now that we are in the digital age with the latest gadgets everywhere in sight. Parents tend to be over protective with their kids but most of the time they forget that no matter how young they are, they already have developed a certain sense of self preservation, as well as a sense of what is right and what is wrong. Keep in mind that it wouldn’t hurt your kid if he commits mistakes once in a while, that’s how he will learn. So you must learn to trust him with his decisions and give him some space to spread his wings.

Say Sorry

                I know it’s hard to say sorry especially to our children, because we try our best to preserve our credibility over them and impose them our authority as parents. But that doesn’t mean that we should not apologise if it really was our fault. Contrary to what others believe, saying sorry and acknowledging your mistakes will merit you extra respect credits to your child. It wouldn’t really hurt if every once in a while you swallow some of your pride and say sorry, especially to teens.

                At the end of the day, it will just be you and your kid. It’s not always them who learn from us, most of the time it’s us who learn from them.

 “I am so tired of waiting,” I told my Mom on the phone.

I’m trying to replace the pain that I’m feeling with anger but tears gently gushed and my chest can’t bear it no more. It‘s been five years since he left, it’s been five long years of waking up alone, having dinner on my own, sleeping without someone beside me. I don’t want to be that huge wall between him and his dreams so I didn’t pry in anymore when he told me he’s leaving for work. I was dismayed, but I’m happy for him. The first two years were good enough. He calls almost every day, he sends me post cards and latest gadgets but they cannot replace him. There was no chance of replacing him. The subsequent years concluded our doom—a bitter ending.

“Honey, if you love him you’ll wait for him,” my mother said comforting me.

“I do really love him. But— I did my part! I waited long enough! Long enough to leave him!” those words just came out of my mouth.

 “Calm down sweetie,” she said. “Why don’t you visit home this weekend? Your Grandma misses you.”

It’s been a while since I went home. I’ve been busy working for the last couple of years or perhaps, I’ve been busy forgetting him. It’s a 2-hour drive from my place to our home. As I steer my way, the summer breeze softly covered my face. My eyes gleamed as I relish the striking beauty of the view, finally, I’m home!

The noise of my car alarmed them. “She’s here!”

“Sweetie, you look thinner,” Mom said as she gives me a warm hug, “Have you not been eating much?”

“I work hard Mom,” I said while hugging her snugly than ever. “I missed you”

“Are you alright now?” she sounded worried.

“Better. Where’s Grandma?

I saw Grandma sitting at the patio as usual; she was reading her favourite book. For the longest time since I was a child, I never had the chance to ask her what that book was all about, until now.

“I’m here Grandma,” I said as I sit next to her. “You’re reading that book again. I always see you reading that since first grade.”

“You did?” she chuckled. “I have been reading this even longer.”

“It must be a great book then. What’s the story all about? How did it end?”

“I don’t know,” she simply said.

“How is that possible?” I was baffled,

“I haven’t finished it yet,” she said in her croaky voice.

“I’m so puzzled”

“I can’t finish it,” she replied, “Not until he comes back”

“Who?” 

“The man I love,” she gazed me. “You look confused… let me tell you a story,” she continued. “My story”

I’ve never seen Grandma with such aura. She looked thrilled.

“Three decades ago,” she began. “When I was at your age, I was beautiful like you,” she chuckled again.

I smiled.  

“—I only loved one man”

“I don’t remember a thing about Grandpa,” I said openly. “What about him?”

“He left”

“He left for somebody else?” I asked her swiftly.

“No,” she paused. “He was a noble soldier. He chose to serve his country. But he promised it was his last”

I was surprised. I didn’t know Grandpa was a soldier.

“Before he left, he gave me this book. I still remember what he said before he left. ‘Promise me, my love, you won’t get tired of waiting... right before you start reading the last chapter I will be here’

                “I finished the 22nd chapter countless times, but he was nowhere,” she sighed.

                I was wordless for a moment.

                “You still wonder why I haven’t finished it?” she said smiling.

                I smiled back. I can sense the sorrow she feels.

                “I’ll never get tired of waiting,” her face smoulders with abiding hope as she stood firmly on her feet.         

   

I watched her feebly amble her way inside the house clutching close to her, the book—her hope.  

                For a minute or two, I sat there still. Grandma’s three decades of incessant hope hit me by that much, and then I realized something—something I should’ve realized long time ago. I took my smartphone out of my pocket and called him. My heart quivers as I hear the ringing.

                “Hello?” he said.

                Now I know what to say.

The Johari Window is a representation of our personality. It is divided into four regions: the arena, what we know about ourselves and what is known to others; the blindspot, what we don’t know about ourselves but is known to others; the facade, what we know about ourselves that others do not know; and the unknown, which is unknown both by ourselves and others. This is a tool for illustrating our personality and to improve self-awareness and mutual understanding among individuals within a group.

With a lot of new things being introduced to us every day, we sometimes lose track of what kind of person we become. An example of this is our exposure to social networking sites such as Facebook. As more and more people (including you and me) become avid users of this site, even when we are on-the-go with our smartphones, changes gradually take place to us that appear in the blindspot of our personality. Find out below what in you might have changed that you are not aware of.

1.       It makes people fatter. Though it has been found out that Facebook can boost self-esteem, it can also lower self-control at the same time. Most people, while checking on their Facebook accounts or surfing the net, have snacks on hand. These small binges can eventually make a user gain some pounds.

2.       It makes you self-absorbed. People who use social networking sites on a regular basis have a tendency to become self-conceited because it is easier to be noticed and brag about themselves in Facebook than in real life.

3.       It makes you a close-minded person. Professor Christopher Sibona from the University of Colorado surveyed Facebook users and found out that 40% of them would avoid the people who unfriended them on Facebook when confronted in real life. According to him, the act of unfriending someone else is a form of rejection that may cause psychological problems.

4.       It makes your significant other uncomfortable. For couples who are avid users of Facebook, one tends to stalk the account of the other every now and then. They become obsessed in stalking over likes, comments, and even in adding friends and accepting friend requests of each other. Even the choice of how one personalizes his/her profile is scrutinized by the other.

5.       It makes people depressed. There was a study conducted in 2011 that shows that there is a possible correlation between children who use Facebook regularly and depression.

It is always important to know ourselves inside-out. We must be transparent as an LCD screen protector when dealing with ourselves and with others. It is also equally important to acknowledge what others might have to say about us because as the Johari window illustrates, only half of our personality is known by us. There is, and will always be a part of us that may be bad that we don’t know, and a way to know what they are is to ask the people around us.

We’ve all been fallen victims by brilliant manipulators into believing we are ever so capable of achieving accomplishments, big and small. These manipulators are those individuals who are either psychopaths or are in deep shit that they have to train themselves into possessing a cunning mind so they could pay their debtors full price. Most of the time, they are psychopaths.

Psychopaths are individuals who are given an advanced manner of thinking when compared to your everyday person. It has also to be pointed out that even though these people excel in certain factors, they are also proportionately lacking in some like their emotional quotients. This is only true at birth. It’s up to the person how they take care of their deficiencies and act alongside everybody else.

In a world such as the one we live in, the previous statement might not be considered at all by the wonderful minds. They own incredible intellect that they utilized to the limit so they could survive in this cruel world. Really, it’s not only them that are to blame for their tricky actions. The people who are tricked are also to blame, or should they?

Instigators

These people are those that hold grand creativity that they are able to construct believable accounts referenced by reputable foundations. Take for example those that attempt to sell you cheap mobile phones that they display on their stands positioned on the sidewalks and shout out how affordable their products are. Once they catch a slight hint of interest upon your face, they would then launch out their memorized piece and he will sweep you off your feet, like a sworn lover to his muse.

Believers

Sometimes the fault is with the victim. Some might even say it’s real foolish to trust someone you only just met.  But can you really blame them? It’s not their fault these master manipulators know just where to get them. Then again, we are thought to never talk to strangers and more importantly, to never trust them no matter how good they sound.

Situation

There are incidents that call for rush decisions. Concerns like the price, quality, and reliability do not matter. These manipulators are oftentimes stationed at near locations where they can dupe innocent persons into buying their merchandise. There are unreasonable bosses that make you do their personal chores like getting their pre-ordered replacement parts! Other bosses will even have you get them a luxury leather flip case because they forgot to buy their girlfriends or boyfriends the day before. Where else will you turn to but those easy-access retailers?

In conclusion, any of these three involved could hold the blame. Although there is still one more factor that hasn’t been considered – luck. Some people are simply ill-fated to be hoodwinked by these clever operators.

The world is a jungle of discord. It’s a dog eats dog world out there. Opportunities are equally as many as the roadblocks we face. You may be thinking, “What is that thing that separates the successful from the unsuccessful?” Is it the color of their teeth, the amount of body fat, the number of hair in their armpits...Or maybe their intelligence?

Intelligence Quotient or IQ is probably one of the best indicators of human ability and potential. Higher IQ scores are associated with better academic accomplishment, outstanding job performance, and higher earning capacity. Most often than not people with IQ scores classified as “exceptional” and above achieve more in their professional endeavours as compared with people having lower than the said class.

It was believed that one’s IQ remains the same from childhood to adulthood. But recent studies suggest that the IQ of a person can increase if one takes care of himself and stimulates his brain habitually. Here are some tips to boost your IQ to the next level:

1.       Choose brain foods. Oily fish such as salmon, mackarel, herring, and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential oils that cannot be produced by our body. According to some studies, they are good for the brain. Nuts and seeds also contribute to slower cognitive function decline because they contain rich amounts of vitamin E.

2.       Get enough sleep. After a long day at work or school, your brain gets tired from all the thinking. It is advisable to complete an 8-hour sleep daily to help your brain convert short-term memory to long-term.

3.       Physical activity. Exercise promotes blood circulation to the brain. More oxygen to the brain means more energy for thinking.

4.       Don’t let technology slow you down. While it is true that computers from the calculator to the latest gadgets available in the market speed up our daily tasks, too much dependence on these devices can have an opposite effect in the long run. British psychiatrist Glenn Wilson found out that workers who are overly distracted with technology suffer greater loss of IQ than of those who smoke marijuana.

5.       Challenge yourself. Find a way to get out from your same old routine. Explore something new and find challenging activities that stimulate your brain. Try reading books, learn a new language, or play crossword puzzles or Sudoku in your smartphone.

6.       Listen to music. A group of researchers from the University of California gave two groups of college students an IQ test measuring abstract reasoning. One group was asked to listen Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D-major before the test. Results show that the group which listened to the piece scored 7 to 10 points better versus the other group.

7.       Make caffeine your best friend. Coffee and tea are both rich in caffeine that can help stimulate brain function for a limited time. Drinking a cup of caffeine goodness increases your alertness and intelligence to help you keep your mind prepared.

Although having higher IQ does not ensure a good life, it can make you feel more confident knowing that written in a piece of paper is an indication that you have the ability to be someone great. Who knows, that added ounce of confidence may take you to places you never thought of reaching.

We’ve reached another year to fill up with great stories that shall be rewarded with our praises and deserving fascination. There are just so much to look forward to that every waiting minute is like a breath of air is being robbed. There’s the World Wide Web to comfort your worries as to when and where your yearnings are to be launched and delivered for everyone’s satisfaction.

This time, it’s not those extravagant smartphones taking the stage. Some other extravagant contraption shall be positioned in the spotlight – tablets. They come in various forms with their corresponding functionalities. There are the slate computers, booklets or e-readers, convertibles, and hybrids. Each form provides their intended operation. In order to boost their given utilities, we buy tablet accessories such as speakers, protective cases, and rotating case stands.

On the other hand, e-readers are selling their way through the market as books are being converted into their digital versions. That’s why there are specially made accessories or eBook accessories so our reading experience will be as good as if it was a reading session with the author himself. I can’t wait for these books to be released so I could finally indulge myself into yet another world of heart-stopping adventures.

INFERNO by Dan Brown

The long-awaited sequel to Robert Langdon’s adventure is about to unfold in July of this year. Right when we thought it was the last for Brown’s brilliant conceptions, now he offers us with another of the controversial historical works of art – Dante’s Inferno. Once again, Langdon is tasked to save the world from sure darkness with only his knowledge in symbology at hand. Will he be successful and have a partner for good in this volume?

THE BEST OF ME by Nicholas Sparks

With your book-style case attached to an e-reader, you can feel the love and passion thrown by two lovers, Amanda and Dawson, in another novel written by the master of heart-bursting emotions, Nicholas Sparks. This time, the story is about love that was found then lost and then rewritten for the sake of unwavering emotions. Like his other best-selling novels, The Best of Me may actually be the best of Sparks’ work.

REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver

The finale to Lauren Oliver’s best-selling Delirium has raised its flag for everyone to see. The third part story will now revolve around an all-out revolution where Lena becomes the focal point. What will this breathtaking tale conclude with now that Lena’s first love will come back to haunt her dreams?

NEFERET’S CURSE: A HOUSE OF NIGHT NOVELLA by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

A side story to the eight-part series of the House of Night created by father and daughter P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. This time around, the book will focus on the villainous greed of Neferet who originally was named Emily Wheiler. Bits of her past were mentioned in the previous novels of how she became a victim to his own family and how her being Marked salvaged her sad fate. Like every good author, a tour into the life of the top villain in Zoey’s vampyre life is a necessity before the war ends.

Love and hate; peace and war – the life of every story concocted by ingenious authors who share with us their own version of the world. I just can’t wait.

As we grow older, we take in some of the lessons taught to us by the invaluable people in our lives. For the first ten years of our life, it is our loving parents who take the part of instilling us with the introductory morals and ethics we are expected to mature with. Professionalism is one of the core values we should always regard after the eight more years that follow.

Professionalism can be achieved in many ways through different persons. Simply following the rules and guidelines can put in a sense of professionalism within you. Becoming an open-minded individual is the foundation towards becoming a professional employee to your co-workers and directors. Factors that display your expert side should always be kept at heart:

1.       Dress code. The most basic presentation of your professional self is through strict observance of the dress code most especially in work places. During a job interview, you dress up into your spotless suit and pants so as to impress your prospective manager. Neckties complete the set because these little add-ons depicts expert on its own. Careful not to mix the black ones with the festive neckties. The human resource officer will turn his attention to the tie instead of you. And nobody wants to be ignored at first sight especially when your goal is to impress without limit.

2.       Personal Hygiene. Never mind it if your clothing is designed with pin stripes. If you show up at work without your teeth brushed and your body washed up. Please, just please. Be considerate enough for the people around you who might unfortunately smell you as you walk over their stations. Their working mojo will easily be destroyed just at the sight of you. It doesn’t matter whether the company or department wills an air of casualty in the office. You smell and look disgusting, you’re out!

3.       Personality. It is a must to have an adaptive personality as you struggle your way into the real world. Experiences you might encounter will test your endurance up to your limit so you should make sure your strong enough to live through them. As a professional, being open-minded is of utmost significance. There are a lot of things that will truly render you speechless and if you’re body and mind are not ready for it, you might lose the game.

Becoming a professional is hard work which is in equal ground with gaining respect as an individual. A person should constantly check himself, his actions, and his words to continue living without worry which in itself is a paradox. And this may be one of the most important lessons of maturity that we continuously have to go through by ourselves.

Ever noticed a happy couple holding hands in the park, laughing their hearts out while feeding each other cotton candies? Those picture-perfect pairs which are too good to be true are only possibly seen on movies. Oops! Do not put an immediate conclusion to that. There are still happily in love real life couples who still hold hands fifty years after taking their vows. Become the awesome twosomes and turn on the “honeymoon mode” in your happy and healthy relationship by doing the right things. Keep it healthy and successful by following these smooth-sailing tips:

1.       Always go back to the real reason why you are together.

While it is nice to be a good parent to your child, you also have to be a good wife to your husband and vice versa. Your offsprings are the fruit of your love for each other. They are there because of you two. Both of you are not here because of them. In other words, you do not stay together for the sake of the children. Instead, the kids make your bond more intact. In the first place, it was the love which brought you together.

2.       Know what makes him or her happy.

Knowing each other is an everyday work in progress. Exceeding the getting to know stage, at this point you should have mastered the basic likes and dislikes of your spouse. Whether he likes football more than basketball, action over romance comedy films, and a heavy rice meal over a vegetable salad, it is important to take note of what he likes. Indulge him often in these sources of happiness and he will certainly appreciate it. Rather than whining everyday and constantly checking his smartphone like a suspicious girlfriend, why not just try to do everything with love and concern?

3.       Reassure your partner every day.

Do not just sulk in one corner and think about how your partner does not appreciate all your efforts. Worst case scenario when holding up your resentment, you might look for reassurance somewhere else or from someone else. To avoid this issue, express your gratitude more often. It is a good way to keep admiring each other every day. Make every day a Valentine’s Day by making your spouse feel special all the time. The key is to acknowledge his strengths and to understand his weaknesses.

4.       Engage in some humor.

Marriage is a sacred thing. It is not something to be merely laughed about or something that can be easily let go of like your latest gadgets. On the other hand, learning to share belly laughs can help straighten crumpled areas on your relationship. Taking it from the old cliché, “Laughter is the best medicine”, do not forget to exchange daily giggles by making each other laugh. What a nice way to bond with your loved one.

5.       Spend quality time with your partner.

Allow time for each other even if your work gets on your way. No excuses. Making an effort to do this can make you stay longer together. This simply means you value your family more than your other priorities.

6.       Promote individual interests.

Before you were united as one, you were two different persons first. Aside from maturing as a couple, you also have to grow individually. Respect each other’s individuality by letting each other pursue what is close to your hearts. If he likes to go biking with his friends and you want to do yoga, go ahead. Give each other some freedom. This way, you remind each other why you fell in love with that gym buff or that health conscious woman.

Your spouses are not like your cell phone accessories or your mobile back cases that serve as add-ons to your smartphone. You married them because you pictured and hoped to have a future with them. Bear in mind that you need to maintain how you see each other. Like how Kangaroo Care works for babies, your partner too needs your touch therapy to make them feel secured and comforted. Frequent hugs, cuddling, holding hands, and forehead kisses keep the relationship warm. Make certain that the spark does not fizzle, instead make it ignite.