journeil

[journeil]

In Your Arms

In your arms you hold me tight,

Never letting go through the night.

All my dreams are peaceful because of you,

Holding me in your arms like you do.

Your lips are as sweet as ever;

I wish to kiss them forever.

My heart beats only for you,

Holding me in your arms like you do.

When we met I knew it was fate.

I found my one true soulmate,

As I look into your loving eyes,

Knowing our love will never die.

So hold me in your warm embrace.

In your arms I'll be no other place.

To be with the one I love, which is you,

Holding me in your arms like you do.

[journeil]

A throwback from my 17 years old self micro essay

Hearts Day

Yearly nalang akong bitter pag Valentine's day e pano ba naman kasi e wala akong lovelife! Kung meron man tuwing panaginip lang. Sinubukan ko namang manligaw kaso nga lang sadyang pang snatcher kasi mukha ko kaya puro basted pero masarap ako. Oo! Masarap akong magmahal kaso di ko ma-apply kasi single, ha! Pero ngayon nagbago na ang lahat. Pero single parin ako kaso nga lang nakahanap nako for the future si Danille Ann kaya ngayong Valentine's day perfect na sana kaso may konting epic!

Meron kaming penpal activity na ginawa ni Sir Sunga sa amin para sa subject na reading and writing. Ito ung penpal activity, na kung saan meron kang isang tao na kasulatan mo sa buong isang linggo pero hindi pwedeng malaman ang kanilang pangalan, section, kasarian at personal na inpormasyon. Yung letter pina-pass yun kay Sir at siya ang nagbibigay sa mga eatudyante nya.

At ngayong Feb 14, 2017 ang huling araw ng pagbibigayan ng letter.

Ngayong valentines day wala akong budget kaya letters at chocolate lang regalo ko kay Danille pero nung araw na yun ang ganda niya! Naka make-up sya kasi sasayaw sila nun sa court kahit matigas siyang sumayaw haha!

After that binigay ko sakanya yung letter at chocolate sa room at pumunta na kami ulit sa program kaso nga lang di sya namamansin at ang lungkot lungkot na nya sabi nya ok lang sya. Nung penpal activity

Kinuha ko sa case nya yung chocolate at letters sabi ko, "binasa mona?"

sabi nya, "bat nya babasahin eh di naman sa'kin yun"

Mukha siyang nagtatampo kaya nagulat ako!

sabi ko sakanya "sayo yan!"

Sabi nya, "Kasi sabi mo kanina, 'da, pahiram muna yung lalagyanan ng letter na binigay mo sa'kin. Para kasi sa ka-penpal ko kasi to' ..

... Hindi naman kasi ako gumagawa ng letter na kusa, ngayon lang. akala ko kasi ibibigay mo yung lalagyanan ng letter na ginawa ko para sa'yo. Though alam kong choice mo naman na ipamigay, pero masakit kasi. Akala ko ganun"

Kala nya sa ka-penpal ko yun kaya halos maiyak sya dun sa court at kinilig! after the program sa sobrang gwapo ko tinake-home nya ako, nakita ko si future mother-in-law ko. Unang valentines day naman di nakakagkilig pero nakakatawa lang kahit nung naka tambay ako sa bahay nila pero di bale may next year pa mga brad single man ako ngayon sa inyong paningin malamang next year ganun pa din!

Hihintayin ko siya at di ko na pakakawalan! Yung handa naman nung valentines sa bahay nila pancit canton pampahaba ng buhay noodles! walang connect diba? wala memasabi lang. sa pag-ibig

Patience is a must kasi people come and go, masakit diba? Don't worry ilang bilyon tao dito sa mundo one will stay with you ako tinigil ko na ang paghahanap buti nalang sinaktan ako ng mga maling tao kasi dahil sa kanila nakita ko ang best, si Danille.

[journeil]

Leadership amidst crisis: Can traditional traits work in current times

Covid -19 is just not a medical crisis, it’s fast becoming a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportion. It is posing many unprecedented questions on economic survival in front of nations, organizations and their leaders. This global pandemic has compelled nations and organizations to change strategies, policies and the way of dealing with their people, especially demanding from Leaderships, skills that can help lead them through this crisis.

As the world grapples with this virus, economies and nations are facing huge disruptions, and there is a lingering fear that things may not go back to the ways of before, not in the near future at least. This has created a sense of dissatisfaction amongst a lot of Companies and their employees, for one or the other reason, as the changes and disruptions imposed by Governments around the world to check the spread of this virus is sudden and unmeasured. The pandemic is spreading across the world, slowing down and in some cases shutting down businesses. Organizations’ are made up of people and with businesses locking down, the effects on employee morale and job security and continuity has started to show.

In times like these, the citizen look up to the leaders of the nation, employees look up to the leaders at the organization. The question that is posed on most of us - how does one showcase effective leadership in a situation as unprecedented as this?

There are no set scripts for leaders to follow in order to sail through this situation, at least not the one that I have seen thus far. This extraordinary situation has certainly placed some uncommon question like never before to the leaders around the world. Traditionally, there have been few traits, described below, which have continued to define leadership across generations, but the question remains whether they hold any good in current times of managing the storm.

Decisiveness: Being the captain of the ship, leaders have the responsibility to take decisions without being exempted to go any wrong on that. The decisions need to be timely, clear and may not go down well with everyone. Leaders should decide on an approach which is balanced, taking cognizance of maintaining business continuity, business liquidity as well as employee’s welfare with a very calculated risk of not impacting the culture of the organization.

Communication: Communication is the key to an effective leadership. Be it world leaders or business leaders, one who have been able to communicate their true intentions well have disseminated clear and transparent information to their people have been hailed as examples of true leadership.

Planning: True test of Leaders is their ability to plan, both for the short and long term. While this crisis has thrown all known plans out of the window, effective leaders will still be able to plan their strategies around business, employees and operations. A clear strategy with possible scenarios helps bring confidence to people and helps them to stay focused. Given how dynamic the situation is, Leaders have to continuously monitor the changes, revise their plans as well as explore new business avenues.

Engagement and Motivation: It is only human for people to feel disengaged and demotivated at a tough time like these. It is expected of Leadership to keep their people motivated and engaged, an example of the same being, Heads of State across the world, finding new ways of encouraging health workers and engaging locked- in- people with activities that seek to keep them positive and motivated. Organization leaders have to make sure that they are engaging their talent in different assignments to keep their morale high.

It is said that an organization is a reflection of its leadership, as leaders are the ones who set the cultural foundation of the company and inspire teams to lead the organization during crisis time. However, this global pandemic crisis has certainly put leaders on test as there are no clear answers considering this is an unparalleled situation. Leadership during a pandemic as this, need to work on keeping their teammates spirits higher than they usually do. This may require some people to act out of role. Leaders need to convey that this is an opportunity which will help them to learn and showcase their talent.

As we can see, the traditional traits of leadership hold steady in this crisis too. The truly effective leaders will come on the other side of this crisis as better, humble and more learned leaders.

[journeil]

New Normal

Never committed a crime,

but now I feel like a prisoner.

Trapped in our minds,

our spirits leashed,

our existence wanders among these all too familiar walls.

How have we not become hysterical?

Have we accepted this insanity as the new normal?

For those that thrive from the bells of laughter and the “hustling and bustling,”

now feel trapped, surrounded by radio silence.

Reluctantly and unexpectedly we have signed up to a new “quarantine routine.”

A simple notion of could you imagine Corona coming here?

has now become our reality.

This muffled routine encompasses not only COVID-19,

but ongoing issues of human cruelty, racial injustice,

as well as social and political division more than ever before.

We can’t help but wonder, when will it all end?

“New normal” is repeatedly stressed across the media,

but when will life as we knew it come back?

Do we even want that back anymore?

We continue to navigate through these unsolicited times,

grapple with these uncertainties,

but must bear in mind to find ourselves amongst the chaos.

Despite the incessant isolation,

the turmoil, and the division,

no one is alone.

Be kind to one another and ourselves,

seek and provide help to one another.

Work on yourself,

continue to explore and spread love,

and try to free yourself from the chaos of it all.

[journeil]

The five traits that define great leadership.

Great teams are led by great leaders, and great leaders all share traits that are absolutely essential to their ability to lead. These are the 5 most important traits leaders have--if you're a leader, they will transform the way you lead for mind-blowingly rewarding results.

1. Empathy

One of the most valuable traits a human being can possess is the ability to understand people. Those who are able to understand the emotions of others are better equipped to respond to them--and subsequently develop stronger, more substantial relationships with those on their teams. Leaders who are able to demonstrate empathy can more easily gain the support of those around them, becoming more respected in the eyes of their employees.

2. Awareness

Self-awareness--as well as insight when it comes to the actions of others--is always key to making the best decisions. Having enough awareness of how employees feel, even without someone explicitly telling you, or which projects are or aren't going over well, is a tremendously valuable asset. Without first being aware of a problem, it will be impossible to fix it.

3. Honesty

There's nothing more despicable than dishonesty. When someone's trust is broken, it can rarely be gained back. This is something that holds true both in our everyday lives and our professional ones as well. Great leaders always maintain a level of transparency, regardless of how difficult it may seem. It always pays off in the end.

4. Decisiveness

One of the biggest problems with society today is our inability to choose from the multitude of options surrounding us. Thus, in such a dynamic landscape, it's imperative that great leaders have enough decisiveness to carry us through. They should be quick on their feet and able to make huge, on-the-go decisions in an educated manner, gathering the data they need.

5. Optimism

Despite how easy it may seem, it's not easy to keep up positive energy. When things go sour, morale is the first thing to fall, but excellent leaders are always the ones who can pull it back up. They know the time for encouraging words, for boosting team spirit, and for making sure that people feel good enough about what they're doing to keep forging on.

[journeil]

10 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games

Complex, challenging, and ambitious, video games have come a long way since the simple arcade titles of the 1970s—and evidence is mounting that the benefits of play go well beyond entertainment and improved hand-eye coordination. In honor of National Video Game Day (today), here are 15 ways games are programming better people.

1. VIDEO GAMES ARE PRODUCING BETTER SURGEONS.

While you may think you want your surgeon reading up on the latest medical research instead of playing games, you might want to reconsider: a study of laparoscopic (small incision) specialists found that those who played for more than three hours per week made 32 percent fewer errors during practice procedures compared to their non-gaming counterparts.

2. VIDEO GAMES COULD HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME DYSLEXIA.

Some research points to attention difficulties as being a key component of dyslexia. One study has shown dyslexics improved their reading comprehension following sessions of games heavy on action. The reason, researchers believe, is that the games have constantly changing environments that require intense focus.

3. VIDEO GAMES COULD IMPROVE YOUR VISION.

“Don’t sit too close to the television” used to be a common parental refrain without a lot of science to back it up. Instead, scientists are discovering games in moderation may actually improve—not strain—your vision. In one study, 10 weeks of play was associated with a greater ability to discern between different shades of grey. Another had participants try to play games using only their “lazy” eye, with the “good” one obscured. Those players showed significant, sometimes normalized improvement in the affected eye.

4. VIDEO GAMES COULD HELP MAKE YOU A BETTER LEADER.

Because certain genres of games reward and encourage leadership traits—providing for “communities,” securing their safety, etc.—researchers have noted that players can display a correlating motivation in their real-world career goals. Improvising in a game can also translate into being faster on your feet when an office crisis crops up.

5. VIDEO GAMES COULD PIQUE YOUR INTEREST IN HISTORY.

Many games use actual historical events to drive their stories. Those characters and places can then spark a child’s interest in discovering more about the culture they’re immersed in, according to researchers. Parents who have obtained books, maps, and other resources connected to games have reported their children are more engaged with learning, which can lead to a lifetime appreciation for history.

6. VIDEO GAMES CAN MAKE KIDS MORE ACTIVE.

While some games promote a whole-body level of interaction, even those requiring a simple handheld controller can lead to physical activity. Sports games that involve basketball, tennis, or even skateboarding can lead to children practicing those same skills outdoors.

7. VIDEO GAMES MIGHT SLOW DOWN THE AGING PROCESS.

So-called “brain games” involving problem-solving, memory, and puzzle components have been shown to have a positive benefit on older players. In one study, just 10 hours of play led to increased cognitive functioning in participants 50 and older—improvement that lasted for several years.

8. VIDEO GAMES MIGHT HELP EASE PAIN.

It’s common to try to distract ourselves from pain by paying attention to something else or focusing on other body mechanisms, but that’s not the only reason why games are a good post-injury prescription. Playing can actually produce an analgesic (pain-killing) response in our higher cortical systems. The more immersive, the better—which is why pending virtual reality systems may one day be as prevalent in hospitals as hand sanitizer.

9. VIDEO GAMES CAN HELP YOU MAKE NEW SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.

Gamers are sometimes stigmatized as being too insulated, but the opposite is actually true. The rise of multi-player experiences online has given way to a new form of socializing in which players work together to solve problems. But studies have shown games can also be the catalyst for friends to gather in person: roughly 70 percent of all players play with friends at least some of the time.

10. VIDEO GAMES CAN HELP IMPROVE BALANCE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS.

Since it is a disorder affecting multiple nerves, multiple sclerosis patients often have problems with their balance—and no medications have been conclusively proven to help. However, one study showed that MS patients who played games requiring physical interaction while standing on a balance board displayed improvement afterward.

[journeil]

The Four Loves

The Four Loves is a 1960 book by C. S. Lewis which explores the nature of love from a Christian and philosophical perspective through thought experiments. The book was based on a set of radio talks from 1958 which had been criticised in the U.S. at the time for their frankness about sex.

Storge - Empathy Bond

Storge (storgē, Greek: στοργή) is liking someone through the fondness of familiarity, family members or people who relate in familiar ways that have otherwise found themselves bonded by chance. An example is the natural love and affection of a parent for their child. It is described as the most natural, emotive, and widely diffused of loves: It is natural in that it is present without coercion, emotive because it is the result of fondness due to familiarity, and most widely diffused because it pays the least attention to those characteristics deemed "valuable" or worthy of love and, as a result, is able to transcend most discriminating factors. Lewis describes it as a dependency-based love which risks extinction if the needs cease to be met.

Philia - Friend Bond

Philia, Greek: φιλία) is the love between friends as close as siblings in strength and duration. The friendship is the strong bond existing between people who share common values, interests or activities. Lewis immediately differentiates friendship love from the other loves. He describes friendship as "the least biological, organic, instinctive, gregarious and necessary...the least natural of loves". Our species does not need friendship in order to reproduce, but to the classical and medieval worlds, it is a higher-level love because it is freely chosen.

Eros - Romantic Love

Eros (erōs, Greek: ἔρως) for Lewis was love in the sense of "being in love" or "loving" someone, as opposed to the raw sexuality of what he called Venus: the illustration Lewis used was the distinction between "wanting a woman" and wanting one particular woman something that matched his (classical) view of man as a rational animal, a composite both of reasoning angel and instinctual alley-cat.

Eros turns the need-pleasure of Venus into the most appreciative of all pleasures; but nevertheless, Lewis warned against the modern tendency for Eros to become a god to people who fully submit themselves to it, a justification for selfishness, even a phallic religion.

Agape - Unconditional "God" Love

Charity (agápē, Greek: ἀγάπη) is the love that exists regardless of changing circumstances. Lewis recognizes this selfless love as the greatest of the four loves, and sees it as a specifically Christian virtue to achieve. The chapter on the subject focuses on the need to subordinate the other three natural loves – as Lewis puts it, "The natural loves are not self-sufficient" – to the love of God, who is full of charitable love, to prevent what he termed their "demonic" self-aggrandizement.