Becoming a "SpongeBob"

We're all familiar of the hit tv animated series Spongebob Squarepants, right? This yellow spongy character sure brings one hell of a fun together with his friends in bikini bottom. But becoming a human spongebob is similar in some ways but different in other aspects. Sure you bring happiness to others who are down and weary, but surely it will tire and wear you out. I've been a human spongebob lately, or moreso called the emotional trashcan.

Being a confidant of a person sure is a priviledge, most especially for your friends and family. This gives the assurance that they deeply trust you and you will never fail to give out your listening heart and comforting arms to them. It gives us this next level of friendship, creating a stronger bond that goes beyond just mere fun and gimmiks as it tackles a deeper sense of personal exposure to vulnerability.

Consoling

Consoling is not as easy at it looks. The slightest misinterpretation of your actions and words might bring more confusion and discomfort to your friend. You don't know how this person might react to how you deliver your message of comfort. It should be simple and not imposing and most of all non-threatening.

Well, trust your instincts. Your friend has chosen you to listen. With that fact, he/she is already comfortable with your presence. You have that redeeming factor that your friend found in you.

You might be the joker that could bring back the smile. Or the dictator who yells back and command what he/she must do with hus/her life. Or a communist who will freak out and charge the other party. Or the democrat who lays down the pros and cons of the situation. Or the headbanger who nods all the time regardless of where the topic goes. Or the optimist who shows the bright future and the great opporunities that lie beyond sea. Whoever you may be, the fact remains that he/she is your friend you you are there for the purpose of consoling.

Listening

What about it? Yes you might be listening, physically, but are you really listening? Listening is a skill that goes beyond hearing. It takes a heart to hear what your friend is really talking about. You will get the feel of the true essence of listening when you start to imagine yourself into the situation, going beyond the words and breaks the doubts that you have.

Giving Advises

The best advise is not to give an advise as this would tend to either make tye person retreat or stage an uprising. At the end if things don't go well, you are to be blamed. So no advise is the best advise.

Then what else to do? Give options. This is the part where you lay down how you think of the situation. "if you do this, this might end like this. Or if that, i thnk this will result to this." Let the person decide the course of action. This is the main reason you are there, to give sane, sober, legal, plain, realistic, simple, unbiased and humane cognitive view On how things are because your friend is not in a normal state of thinking. Lay down the cards.

Each person has a different reaction to different situaions and stimuli that provoked surfacing of such strong emotions. Nonetheless, you are there to comfort and support your friend who trusts you. Your main task is to be the sponge who will absorb all the emotional hits (and sometimes physical).

Take time to squeeze these emotions out of you as well. This may affect your thinking and feeling and even your health.

So, how are you as a spongebob?

Keystrokes and Muses

Whenever I get bored, or have nothing to do, I always snap up myself with different activities that could fill my day. I have been thinking for a while to get my blog up and running again to share my thoughts especially on my recent travels around the country (or just a mere trip to the mall) which others might find interesting, informative, or better yet entertaining, my newest experiences, food that I feasted on, my point of view on politics, and others.

2010 was not a year of writing for me as I have not posted a single blog. Was I that busy? Hahaha. This is my coming back to the world of writing. Summoning the muses was not that easy and the first few words were the most difficult to finish. The courage to open my laptop and actually start hitting the keys was a painstaking task that it took me months to do so. The moment I think of writing, something comes up that distracts me from doing so. As a result, zero posts for 2010. Shame on me.

Then what made me write again? I got my inspiration from my friends and my brother who filled my weekend with emotionally-stirring, life-challenging, mind-boggling conversations that left me ideas and emotions worth writing. I got so interested of what's happening to their lives that it made me ponder on my own too-the bitter-sweet taste of it.

Here I am, ready to brew some thoughts and pound my keyboard. Who knows, I'll get a lot of readers. :-)

Coming Back

Hi Guys,

Its been a while since i have written anything on this blog. I just acquired a new laptop and I think this is the perfect time to start writing again.

I just missed writing since technology and time hindered me from doing so. This time, both are now conquered and the mighty power of words will again visualize the ideas and give life to the meaning of life.

Here is your Coffee Addict, now signing on...

See you soon... :-)

Focus, Focus

Focus. I've been telling myself this for the past days but it really seems that I am out of focus. Maybe because I have a lot at hand right now and my tables, yeah tables, are full of papers and wires. Argh! I feel so helpless over the mound of papers. But then again, it's really up to me, right?

I've been working with several things at the same time. How's that? I should be listening to my friend, Lou. She's been telling me to relax and take things slow and focus. I just reason out most of the time that I'm so busy and I'm in control of things. And now I'm stuck with things that I think are way too heavy for me to handle. 5 tasks at the same time, I thought that I was superman. Hahahaha. Juggle on several things at the same time. There's the annual report, the Manual of Operations, 5 program manuals, Program evaluation and reviews, and the upcoming National Coordinators' Assembly.

Next week, I'll be off for Davao. Home at last. For 5 days, I could be with my family, physically at least. My mind would be swirling with the preparations for the National Assembly a week after. I have to travel from Davao City to Cagayan de Oro City for 7 hours. Just thinking that gives me all the worries.

Right now, I'm just stuck on my chair, facing my laptop, thinking what may be done but still nothing would come my way.

What I realized now is that I have to prioritize things out. How could I prioritize things if all would start and end on the same date? Nosebleed. My boss also thinks that making program manuals would be as easy as completing it within 3 days which includes the research, policy making, lay-outing and printing. How's that again?

Well, I have nothing to qualm about. It's my job. LOL. I will just have to work things out.

Big Problems, Small Problems

Have you ever felt that you want to give up on something and quit because life seems to be pushing you too hard? I often feel this at work when i wanted to quit because of multiple tasks that need to be accomplished simultaneously. Plus some people who are so darn insecure about themselves that try to pull you down. Is this life?

While doing my work juggle, a friend of mine called me up and asked me to be the guest speaker of their activity. I asked what the activity was all about and she quickly answered me, its for the community. Here i am again with my passion to serve communities, said yes despite the fact that the event would be on the next day and i had to travel around 2 hours from Manila to reach Baliuag, Bulacan.

Finally i was there. I was wearing this subtle blue long sleeves and black pants with black leader shoes, which by the way, i haven't worn for ages. I was a bit uncomfortable with the attire and even became more uncomfortable when people there started to treat me as a person in rank or position.

I just prayed that my part would end soon and kept on checking my watch. Fast forward, and the event ended. Then after the event, we went out to get some drink. I love the place where they brought me.

Sharing with what had happened, they started talking about problems and mounds of problems with what had happened and should have happened, their qualms about the school, and the unfelt support of the admin.

I thought to myself, these people should not be worrying too much since their program is a lone one and they have the focus to do it. I was comparing them with what i do, thinking about the programs and projects implemented nationwide. But what i saw in their eyes is the sincerity of heart that wishes to make the program better for the people in the community. Their hearts are so warm that they already integrated themselves to the community system. So amazing these people that they offer their lives to serve.

I was taken aback. I though i was serious with my big problems, as I thought they were, and trying to seek answers, these people have the strongest desire with their small problem, if it were for me, to be solved in as much i do.

Going down to their level was the only way to feel and see the situation better. I placed myself is their shoes. I was stunned by the situation they are in. It is a big problem now. I really wanted to ease them during that night with stories of life and stuff.

I really enjoyed their company. So genuine and fun. I hope I could come back and be with them for fun's sake.

Lessons learned? Problems are problems if we treat them as one. Optimism is needed in order to fight back and never lose hope. Our commitment is what we hold on to; to continue serving. There are no big problems or small problems, they are all but challenges in our lives that God wants us to learn something out of it. The key is, never panic and point fingers.