Happy Mother’s Day

Introduction

It’s mother’s day again and in my 30 years of existence, generally, my mother and I don’t really get along well. I have only expressed sincere words of appreciation to my mother once. But at this point in my life, I just want to live in peace and focus on coming to terms with my regrets and failures in life so far. One of which regrets is having been too disrespectful to the one person who brought me out to this wonderful world.

Truth be told, it feels so awkward imagining myself saying the things I think I should have said a long time ago to my mother. Aside from the love language of screaming and yelling- of not communicating our love for one another through soft spoken words that I grew up with at home, my dialect (a particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group), which is Cebuano and Bisaya, also my mother tongue, makes it more uncomfortable especially because we, the people in my family, are not used to using it to communicate our love for one another effectively.

Because it is hard for me to express these things explicitly, I challenged myself to write them through a poetry here instead. I wrote it here, this place being my safest heaven for my deep and sometimes, scattered thoughts. This is here also because I know my mother does not really know how to use social media but I still need to express these guilt feelings and get around to fully coming to terms to everything that I am, I have been and I want to be.

I couldn’t do it at first so I made it like a general message in Cebuano/Bisaya.

I also made one in English.

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English Version

Happy Mother’s Day to the Mightiest

“Life doesn’t come with a manual. It comes with a mother.”

To The Mightiest Mothers,

On this day of the might and powerful, your worth are all honorable and for that alone, we ought to be grateful

Because of the ounces of physical and emotional challenges and sacrifices you had to go through, we are here thriving in this world, and all this, we owe to you

From our earliest coos as adorable infants to our sometimes insolent teenage years, you have been there for us through it all. We know that your love for us is immeasurable, and we can only hope that we have somehow made your journey through motherhood bearable.

Your love for us is unrelenting, and even when we rebelled against your advice, you continued to guide us with your unwavering nagging. You endure our foolishness and continue to love us unconditionally.

Your love for us is unrelenting, and even when we rebelled against your advice, you continued to guide us with your unwavering nagging. You endure our foolishness and continue to love us unconditionally. In times of trouble, you are the ones we turn to for comfort and support.

To the mightiest of mothers, we express our deepest gratitude and love. We are forever grateful for all that you do.

–marymancee

Because it’s Mother’s Day (Tungod kay Adlaw sa atong mga palangang Inahan)

Unsa man deay nang “Mother’s Day”? Sa tinud-anay lang wala jud ko kalibutan unsa ni sauna. Para ra man gud daw ni sa mga naay kwarta. Pero ang “Mother’s Day” deay kay usa ni sa mga selebrasyon nga nagpa higayon nga atong ma dayig og mapasalamatan atong mga inahan nga maoy nag pagawas nato diri aning kalibutana. (oh di ba, bibinsaya jud ning ga paka-paka? haha)

Og tungod kay adlaw na sad aron atong pahalipayan atong mga inahan, nagkalingaw ko og bansay-bansay sa akong bisayang pinulungan.

Kung wala tay kwarta para palit og bulak, basin atong regalo kay pwede ra madala sa pasalamat pinaagi sa balak?

Ania, basaha

Malipayong Adlaw sa Mga Inahan Tang Gamhanan

“Atong kinabuhi wala nagtangag og tamdanan. Pero matag usa kanato, anaa tay inahan.” 

Tinahud namong mga inahan,
Karong adlaw sa mga gamhanan,
Kamo among angay pasigarbohan og among pasalamatan

Tungod kaninyo, nahimugso og baskog kaming naga tikaw-tikaw ning kalibutan
Sa inyong pagtukaw, pag amuma og pagsakrapisyo, kami nahitsura og nahimong tawo.

Inyong walay hunong nga pagyawyaw pahimangno, kaning tanan, nasayud kami para ra sa among kaayuhan.
Inyung walay hunong nga kabalaka og panghingawa, tungod lamang sa inyong walay sukod nga gugma.
Tungod sa inyong pag amping og pag-agak, kami inyong mga anak wala gayud intawon sa kadaot nasugamak

Sa panahon nga kami wala nay laing daganan, naa ra gyud mo pirmi sa among kiliran

Naa may panahon nga kita dili magasinabtanay, pero kamo wala jud ni biya og naa ra kanunay
Sa matag karon og unya, bisag unsa pa man, kamo among mga inahan ra jud among pirming unang madaganan.

Sa inyong walay sukod nga gugma, kami sa matag takna, mapasalamtaon og dapat nagsige unta og pakabana. Busa kining adlw sa inyong pagkagamhanan, kamo among gipasalamatan.

Daghang salamat among mga gamhanang inahan!

—marymancee

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Joel Osteen’s Jokes “The Pastor and The Mayor”

I heard about this pastor. He found a dead mule on the church grounds. He called the health department. They said they couldn’t pick it up without authorization from the mayor. Well, the mayor was not known to be rude and hard to get along with. When the pastor called, the mayor didn’t disappoint. He started ranting and raving. Finally said, “why did you even call me, isn’t it your job to bury the dead?” The pastor asked God for the right response. He said, “Yes, mayor, it’s my job to bury the dead but I always like to notify the next of kin first.” –Keep on Walking, Joel Osteen

For more of Joel Osteen’s Jokes, click the link or go to CATEGORIES (on the right side), then click JOKES, also, so you don’t miss out all of the future posts, don’t forget to click FOLLOW on the home page. Look forward for something Funny every Wednesday, enjoy 🙂

Joel Osteen’s Jokes “The Baptist, The Catholic and The Charismatic”

I heard about these three men “The Baptist, The Catholic and The Charismatic”. They died on the same day and went to heaven. Saint Peter met them at the Pearly Gates and said, “I’m so sorry men! But your rooms aren’t available yet. He didn’t know what to do so he decided to call Satan and see if he would keep them for a little while. Satan reluctantly agreed. A few hours later, Satan called back and said, “Peter, you have to come and get these three guys. The Baptist man is saving everyone. The Catholic man is forgiving everyone. And the Charismatic has already raised money enough for air conditioning. —You Are Going to Laugh Again, Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen’s Jokes: Christian Jokes Involving Pastors (Compilation)

Looking for something to make you smile or laugh today? Click on the title if you want to read each joke in plain texts.

For more of Joel Osteen’s Jokes, click the link or go to CATEGORIES, then click JOKES

Don’t forget to FOLLOW

1st Published on September 29, 2021 3:28 am UTC +0

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Falling in Love

Is love a decision or a feeling? What is love? Like Really. How would you answer when somebody ask you this?

Love is a set of emotions and behaviors characterized by intimacy, passion, and commitment. It involves care, closeness, protectiveness, attraction, affection, and trust. Love can vary in intensity and can change over time. It is associated with a range of positive emotions, including happiness, excitement, life satisfaction, and euphoria, but it can also result in negative emotions such as jealousy and stress.

When it comes to love, some people would say it is one of the most important human emotions. Yet despite being one of the most studied behaviors, it is still the least understood. For example, researchers debate whether love is a biological or cultural phenomenon.

-verywellmind.com

If you Google it, you will definitely see a lot of results about what love is and that there are different kinds of it, too. Romantically though, I define “love” as a choice and a decision.

Love is a choice and a decision because your actions determine if it lives on or ends. You are in control of how you act in your relationships and how much you push past conflict and challenges. When you decide to work on communication, trust, intimacy, or emotional security, you’re choosing love.

Psychcentral

For me, love only becomes an emotion the moment I meet someone and allow myself to be open in getting to know them, to evaluating the qualities they have as to whether they fit into the romance category. Then, seeing the way they are as something desirable or not.

I am a female and just like other females and males out there, we get to meet and interact with the opposite sex or the sex of our preferences every day. But why don’t we fall in love to all of them? It’s because falling in love is a really a decision. The surge of strong positive emotions only start rushing the moment we open ourselves up and put someone in specific categories. And I did exactly like this.

I was 22 when I decided to meet people and find someone to put into this “love category”. When I realized and saw that some of the important qualities I looked for in a “romantic partner” “boyfriend” etc. were in him, he was the one I chose to fall in love with – alongside the knowledge I had, the principles I anchored myself on in terms of making it (the relationship) worked.

It was euphoric. I remember having to use “surreal” at some instances. I was so grateful. I was perplexed to all the emotions I felt. I was overall happy. I was inspired. I was excited. I was hopeful. I could not wait to see him. I always made time for him. I fantasized him. I idealized him. And all the other things. You already know what I mean.

It also came to a point where it became disappointing and painful. Educational in the end – tons of lessons to be learned. Although sad and agonizing that it had came to an end, still it really was a blissful part of an experience.

Once, meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me. And actually, looking back at the first time I opened myself up and fell in love, it still is. I learned most (if not all) of the things I needed in this area. He was surely the lessons I needed. His existence and now his non-existence in my life was the best risk I ever took in my life that I do not regret.

It’s true what Steve Jobs said at his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

— marymancee ✨ || Some Random Thoughts || 6th Writing Prompt, A Risk I Do Not Regret Taking || April 27, 2023

Daily writing prompt
Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

Stephen Covey’s Making an Effective Mission Statement

To focus our vision on the future and not on the baggage of our past

It should contain with vision and principles. Vision is the mental picture of what you are about and principles deals with how you go about it.

You should What is it about? What does it value the represents its core?(vision and principle-centered values)

THE FOUR ELEMENTS WHICH ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL CRITERIA IN DEVELOPING A MISSION STATEMENT

  1. They should be timeless. It should reflect the reality of the situation.
  2. Deal with both ends and means.
  3. It should deal with our four of our needs. To live, to learn, to love and to leave a legacy. The need to live refers to economics, how we keep our body healthy, money, job and so on. The third need is to keep going. The fourth need is the spiritual need for meaning-that your life matters.
  4. It should either implicitly or explicitly deal with all of the roles in your life.

I’m just currently in a bit of a crisis as to how I can make my live more meaningful. Thus, I feel like I need this. Hopefully, it is helpful for you, too.

—marymancee✨|| Collection of Thoughts || Building Good Habits || April 25, 2023

Barron’s TOEIC 8th Edition Audio Scripts

Model Test 1 Part 3 SCRIPT

Part 3 Conversations 

Directions: You will hear a conversation between two or more people. YOu will see three questions in each conversation and four possible answers. Choose the best answer to each question and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer sheet. 

Questions 32-34 refer to the following conversation 

Man: I have a lunch meeting downstairs today until about two. Can we meet then? Or Would later be better for you?

Woman: It will have to be later. I have a..I’ll be in the conference room until five. 

Man: Okay! Let’s meet then because I’d rather not put it off until tomorrow. 

Woman: I’ll bring those photocopies of the budget report. 

Questions 35-37 refer to the following conversation 

Woman: City Wide Realtors, how may I help you?

Man: Yes, I’d like to rent uhmm…I’m looking for an apartment preferably downtown. I’d like to sign a lease this month if possible. 

Woman: Certainly. We have several vacancies listed. Can you tell me your price range? Because you know that neighborhood isn’t the cheapest. 

Man: Yes, I am aware of that. I’ve seen your listings online. I’m wondering if you could, you know show me a few today or tomorrow. Some one-bedroom models or larger.  

Woman: Certainly. Why don’t you stop by my office later today? It’s right by the library. Do you know where that is?

Questions 38-40 refer to the following conversation 

Woman: Front desk. Amanda speaking. How may I help you? 

Man: Yes, uhhm we seem to be missing some towels in room 603. Could you send up two, please? As soon as possible? 

Woman: Of course, I’ll have a housekeeper send it to your right away. 603 you said, right? 

Man: Right. And if we could get some soap too, that would be great. I hope it’s not too much trouble. 

Woman: Not a bit. It’s my job. 

Questions 41-43 refer to the following conversation with three speakers 

Woman: The brochures arrived from the printers this morning.

Man 1: That’s great Mary.  They came much sooner than we expected. 

Man 2: Uhuh, and if we can get them in the mail right away, our customers will have them before the end of the week. 

Woman: Yes, well. I still have to get the address labels on them. I’ll go print those out right now. 

Man 1: I wish I could help you but I have that presentation after work on. 

Man 2: I’m tied up all day too, but if you want after you get those addresses done, I could drive them down to the post office for you.  

Woman: Thanks Jim, that would be very helpful. 

Questions 44-46 refer to the following conversation

Man: Hello. Yes, I’m interested in applying for the job you advertised in today’s newspaper. 

Woman: Thank you for calling. You know we’re a big catering company. Have you ever had a job in the food industry before? 

Man: Uhuh, after I graduated from the National Culinary Institute, I worked for five years as an assistant cook at Bob’s restaurant.  

Woman: That sounds excellent. You may have just the experience we’re looking for.  Could you come in for an interview sometime tomorrow? 

Man: Wait a minute while I check my calendar. Yes, I can be there by two. Can you tell me exactly where you’re located? 

Questions 47-49 refer to the following conversation

Woman: Look at all this rain. I’m really getting tired of it and more rain is predicted tomorrow. 

Man: Really? Then, it looks like I have to call my friend and cancel our 9 o’clock golf game. What a bore! 

Woman: If you’re not going to play golf, why don’t you do to the movie with me? We haven’t been in a while. 

Man: Sorry, but if I’m not playing golf, I am not going anywhere. I’ll just stay home and take a nice rest. 

Questions 50-52 refer to the following conversation

Man: Drive past the park and turn right and you’ll see a bank on the next corner. It’s a small brick building just across the street from the library.

Woman: Does it have a drive-in window? So I won’t have to you know get out of the car 

Man: Yes, and there’s also a parking lot next door, too.  Just in case. It’s not hard to find. It’s just 5 minutes from here.  

Questions 53-55 refer to the following conversation with three speakers

Woman 1: Hey Sam! Do you know what time it is? Nine thirty. You’re fifteen minutes late. Why can’t you ever arrive on time? 

Man: Sorry. The bus was delayed. Traffic was bad all over the city this morning, you know with all this rain. 

Woman 2: He’s right Jane. Didn’t you see how hard it was coming down? 

Woman 1:Right, but we all know that buses are late when it rains. We have to leave home earlier in bad weather. 

Man: I’ll just drive next time. It’s faster. 

Woman 2: You’ll still run into heavy traffic even in your own car. 

Questions 56-58 refer to the following conversation

Man: Have you got everything in order for your trip next Sunday? 

Woman: Just about. I find a flight that’s leaving at noon. I’ve decided to go first class. It’s more comfortable than business class. 

Man: Wow! That’s a bit pricey, isn’t it? The flight is only an hour long. 

Woman: That’s true. But I checked the prices and decided I could afford it especially since I put it on my credit card so I can take the rest of the year to pay for it if I want. 

Man: Well, it’s up to you of course. Will your cousins meet you at the airport? 

Woman: Yes, I can’t wait to see them. 

Questions 59-61 refer to the following conversation

Woman: Have you seen Joe? He’s not in his office. He’s not even in the break room. I can’t find him anywhere. 

Man: He’s going to pick up Evelyn at the airport. She’s coming in on a 10 o’clock flight. 

Woman: Ah right, I forgot. I wanted to ask him. I need him to check my figures on the monthly report, but I guess it can wait. 

Man: He’ll be back before noon. I know because we have a lunch date, then. 

Woman: That’ll be plenty of time. I don’t need to make the final copies until tomorrow. 

Questions 62-64 refer to the following conversation

Man: I’m going down to the cafeteria for a quick lunch. Will you join me? 

Woman: No, thanks. I don’t really care for the food there. I brought a sandwich from home, but while you’re down there, could you get my mail from the mail room? I’m expecting a package. 

Man: Sorry, but I won’t be coming back right away. I’ve got an appointment with a client at 2. It’s all the way downtown. I plan to take the bus so I’ll be gone for a while. 

Woman: Oh, okay then. Nevermind. I’ll get it myself. 

Questions 65-67 refer to the following conversation and train schedule 

Woman: George, would you check the train schedule, please? I’d like to leave for the Brookfield office as soon as tomorrow morning’s workshop is over.  

Man: Okay, I know there are several trains a day. Around what time would you want to leave? 

Woman: As soon as after eleven is possible and I’d like to arrive in Brookfield by two. 

Man: Got it. I’ll let you know as soon as I made the reservation and I’ll let the Brookfield staff know when to expect you.  

Woman: Perfect and please arrange a car to take me to the station. 

Questions 68-70 refer to the following conversation and menu 

Woman: This place looks wonderful. Why haven’t I been here before? 

Man: I don’t know. It’s been here for quite a while. Anyhow, even though it isn’t large, this cafe has the best lunch menu around  

Woman: I’m in the mood for soup. What do you recommend? 

Man: The carrot beef is good. Oh, but you’re a vegetarian. 

Woman: Right, but here’s a soup I can try. I’ll take that. Do you want to sit on the patio? The view of the park looks nice. 

Man: It’s getting late. I think we better just take our food back to work and eat at our desks.  

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The Cookie Thief: A Short Story

I was looking for a TEDTalk speech I could use for one of my class and I came across one titled “The Psychology of Motivation.” The speaker talked about the key points to motivate not just others but also ourselves. He talked about empowerment, training, consequences, choice, communication and being dependent or independent. Then, he shared this story to illustrate how everything is based on paradigm-on how it all is depends on how you see it and how you see yourself, on communication, on how we communicate to others and how we communicate to ourself. The story goes as follows

A woman was waiting at an airport one night with several (long) hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shop, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book but happened to see that the man beside her as bold as could be took a cookie or two from the bag between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene. She read, munched cookies and watched the clock as this gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I’d blacken his eye.” With each cookie she took, he took one too. When only one was left she wondered what he’d do. With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and he broke it in half. He offered her a half as he ate the other. She snatched it from him and thought, ‘”Oh, brother. This guy has some nerve, and he’s also rude. He didn’t even show any gratitude.” She had never known when she had been so galled and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate. She boarded the plan and sank in her seat . Then, she sought her book which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise. There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes. “If mine are here” she moaned in despair, “then the others were his and he tried to share.” “Too late to apologize. She realized with grief-that she was the rude one, the ingrate and the thief.

Then, the speaker asked, “So where were you? Whose side were you on? Were you thinking independent? or interdependent ? I don’t care whether you think independent. That’s how we were raise. Nice guys finish last. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Gotta blow your own horn etc.

I just find the story funny and relatable. While listening to it, I put myself in the situation and see how I would most likely be so annoyed, which I have been a lot of times (similar situations). I also felt the embarrassment being angry and actually it was me who was in the wrong . This brought me back to the moment when I accused someone only to realize it was also my fault. Huuh. It surely embarrassing a situation to be in, but the good thing is I was able to apologize.

—marymancee ✨|| Collections: Some Random Thoughts ||The psychology of self-motivation by Scott Geller at TEDxVirginiaTech || April 26, 2023

Joel Osteen’s Joke “The Man and His Mother-In-Law in Jerusalem”

“The Man and His Mother-in-law”

I heard about this man. He was on vacation in Jerusalem with his family when his mother-in-law suddenly died. He went to make arrangements to take the body back home. The consulate said it would cost five thousand dollars to have the body shipped but he could have her buried there in Jerusalem for just a hundred and fifty dollars. The man thought about it a moment and said no, “I’d like to have her shipped.” The consulate said, “Wow! You must have really loved your mother in law.” He said, “No, it’s not so much that. I just remember a case here years ago, when they buried someone and on the third day he arose and I can’t take that chance.” —The God Who Stoops, Joel Osteen