Monday, 30 December 2013

Managing Your Inner Monologue (Not Exactly a Self-Help Article)



Running inner monologue. This is something that people of the introvert sort are said to possess. However, I think everyone has this, only it's just more pronounced in introverts as they are more silent than others. But that silence is just on the surface; on the inside introverts are as loud as they can be. So many thoughts running through their minds, constantly tumbling, jumbling together into one organised mess that no one else could understand but them and their select peers.

Sometimes having a running inner monologue is comforting and entertaining. Sometimes it can get really annoying. And when it does so, you can't help but wish it had a pause or stop button. Or maybe a volume control. The good news is that it can be very easily managed. So for everyone out there who are having issues with their inner monologues, here are simple tips on how to manage your running inner monologue and even have fun with it:

1. Write. Yes, that's the first thing anyone should do when the inner monologue gets loud enough that you practically cover your ears to silence it. Your pen and notebook (or laptop if you prefer it) are your very best friends here. They're good listeners, they're silent, and they can go on and on without telling you to stop. Writing about what goes on in your head can give you ideas for stories. It brings out your creative side. Weave odes and tales that only your inner monologue and imagination can provide. They may come out as inspired and brilliant no matter what mood you are in when you write them. Or not. But who cares, what matters is that you managed to bring out your thoughts. That's what blogs (for sharing) and journals (NOT for sharing!) are for. Think of them as your own personal pensieve. Writing not your thing? Then...

2. Draw. Bring to life the inner recesses of your thoughts with your art. Light or dark, deep or comical, you'll never go wrong. Drawing stick figures and simple shapes is highly encouraged. Let your imagination go wild with your pencil, pen, crayons, oil pastels, paints, or what-have-you. Splash your world with colours. Thinking of animating your creations? Then take it to the next level, take an animation class. No one's going to hinder you. Maybe except for your resources. Bottom line, just draw. Period. (Other art forms are also very welcome.)

3. Talk. This can be a bane to people who find talking a tedious task. However, it can also be a boon because there's nothing like that light feeling afterwards of having unloaded your thoughts. Sharing what's in your mind goes very well with coffee and pastry. A word of caution though when you dare to tread in these waters. You have to take into consideration the possibility that the person you talk to might find you inane, trivial, or worst, loony because you look like you're just talking to yourself. So choose your person very well along with that coffee and pastry. When you've done so, then you've got the best combination ever. Ever, ever, ever. 

Questions? Suggestions? Comments? Drop me a line in the comment box. Cheers and advance happy new year!

Thursday, 26 December 2013

for the first time in forever and for the first time in forever: reprise - frozen

two of my favourite songs from the movie. these songs give out so much broadway feels, really. much more than any other disney song imo. and oh, don't get me started on the lyrics. winner, winner, winner.

just hit play!








I CAN'T!!!

Sunday, 22 December 2013

:)

so! three days before christmas. how time flies. time for another grateful list. ;)

- reunion and christmas party with college friends. i haven't seen a lot of them for years, and others since we graduated. so this was certainly a lovely and crazy night to remember. :D
- movie dubbing gigs. woohoo!!!
- answered prayers. prayed for a taxi driver who is nice, kind, and who wouldn't charge me more than the metred fare. also for a branded taxi. :)
- phase 2 of christmas cooking: done!  

Thursday, 19 December 2013

randoms

akalain mo yun ilang araw na lang pasko na. bilis ng mga araw sobra.

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no explanations. no apologies. no nothing.

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more things that i'm thankful for:
1. cousin bonding. especially with those who are older than i and had cooler and better things to do than hang out with me when we were younger. now that we're older, we've gotten to this point in life where we're on an equal footing.
2. phase one of christmas cooking: done!
3. achieved cleaning and fixing my bookshelf. now i have more space for my new old books. ha.
4. lily allen's version of somewhere only we know, which is one of my favourite songs. she did a great rendition of it. love listening to it in the deep of night. :)
5. new old phone.
6. watched frozen for the second time. i can never get enough of it. after beauty and the beast and mulan, frozen is my newest fave disney animated movie.

Saturday, 14 December 2013

thankful twenty

christmas season has indeed descended upon la manille. along with the rush of christmas shopping come the inevitable hordes of people in malls and horrendous traffic trapping people in vehicles... or leaving people stranded on the streets and scrambling for seats in jeepneys and buses. it's so easy to let my inner grinch out at this unfortunate yearly happening. but because i am i try hard to be considerate of people, i stay indoors as much as possible during the christmas rush... i'm just sorry that my cohabitants are the ones unfortunate to experience my grinchiness though. so what to do, what to do? focus instead on the finer, simpler joys that are so easy to overlook when emotions run high.

i've done this list in my old blog some six years ago, and then in my good old journal. these lists of gratitude are way better to read in the future than keeping a list of wrongs. and so, here is my pre-yearend list, randomly listed but the number 1 is really the first. hehe.

1. the back rub a kid gave me when i was so ready to collapse during the christmas show where i was an assistant stage manager. (my first time to be one so i was so strung up)
2. the kids knew their cues. when to get ready and when to get onstage.
3. was able to have a nice dinner and chat with an old friend.
4. arrow's episode 8 (the scientist)!!! :)
5. my sample writing was chosen among others for a writing gig. first time to do that kind of writing too. humbled and awed.
6. the opportunity to be there for a friend.
7. was able to have at least a civil conversation with friend and son.
8. lovely reviews on my fanfiction. tee-hee. ^_^
9. shane filan's everything to me. oh my, i got a lot of warm, fuzzy feels from this song. :)
10. taylor swift's 22. definitely, absolutely my song of the year.
11. frozen. what's not to love about that movie?? and i've discovered my new favourite disney princess. (queen elsa)
12. had a lot of great help from my cousin and nephew at the christmas show even if they were a bit hard to rein in. haha.
13. david baldacci's the sixth man. the woman who got ahold of the book first didn't buy it after all, so i did. thanks a lot, dear lady. one more book and my king and maxwell collection will be complete. :)
14. catching fire. i could hardly breathe during this 2.45 hours movie. i love it!
15. arrow!!! :D
16. glorious napping in the afternoon... for four hours. is that still considered napping?? ;p
17. a bed and a soft, fluffy pillow.
18. two snail mail from friends arrived in the mail yesterday! yahoooooooooooooooooooooo~
19. a new cell phone (a lovely hand-me-down from my bro).
20. the opportunity to make this list.

what a good time to remember all the good things that happened this year. again this is only a partial list and it spans 3 months. i have a lot of things to be thankful for this year. and among them would be the likely chance of sleeping soundly tonight even with the neighbours are singing on the videoke. ha.

advance happy christmas, y'all :)

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

let it go - frozen (idina menzel)

watched frozen last night. loved the movie!


lyrics:
The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation
And it looks like I'm the queen

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I've tried

Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Well, now they know

Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway

It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
I'm free

Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You'll never see me cry
Here I stand and here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on

My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back, the past is in the past

Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand in the light of day
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway

sunday currently vol. 61

Currently... reading: Serena on Webtoon.  writing: this. i'm not holding my breath for when i will finally write a decent paragraph that...