Are you in a Rut?

The beginning of the year was great

There are so many things we should be thankful for

Happiness is a choice we choose

Nutella+banana=best dessert combination?

This is how my mind is right now. It is currently filled with muddled up thoughts that hardly make sense.

So here is my dilemma right now. There are a dozen of random thoughts swirling in my mind … JUST swirling.

That’s it.

It’s turning round and round in circles…but it doesn’t seem to churn out good enough words that could build up a good paragraph sentence.

Is this what they call a writer’s block?

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The 10th of January would probably be marked in my calendar as a good great day. It was a day filled with overwhelming emotions and achievements.

It was a day to remember. A day worth writing in the books.

1. Achieved another milestone at WordPress

I finally broke a 100 followers. It was a feat that I simply dreamed off for a while now. It was a milestone achieved because of all of you.

To my avid readers and followers, thank you.

You have made my heart swell. You placed a smile that reached from ear to ear. YOU MADE MY DAY.

There are not enough words to express my gratitude to each and everyone of you.

Cheers to many more milestones ahead… TOGETHER.

2. I received my very first nomination ever.

Pinch me. I must be dreaming.

Thank you for believing in me when I myself doubted.

Wow just wow.

Is it alright for me to dream of something even bigger?

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One of the many great things that WordPress has to offer is a really great community.

The people/creators/bloggers/readers are truly amazing. I’ve never felt this much camaraderie between writers and reader before. It is truly a blessing to meet such amazing people.

• To find people who engages, shares a pieces of their thoughts and take the time to simply comment is a blessing.

To find individuals who inspire you and to inspire others in turn was something I could have never have imagined in my wildest dreams…back in the day.

It wouldn’t have been possible without my ever supportive audience.

It wouldn’t have been possible without content that somehow connected with people.

It wouldn’t have been possible if I had given up.

But will continue to live up to everyone’s expectations?

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I’d like to think that I’m not the only one who experiences a rut.

So amidst this current crisis that I am in, I jotted down 5 tips that may help avoid this sticky situation.

1.Create a blogging schedule

Consistency is key to building up an interactive and dynamic audience.

Aside from being a writer, I too am an audience. Being in this perspective made me appreciate authors who are loyal to their readers.

So in order to satisfy the needs of your followers, follow a schedule and post regularly.

If posting once a week works for your schedule then great. If posting everyday is for you, continue striving hard in order to reach your deadline.

Every creator has a different pace. The best judge of one’s pace is you. Make your own schedule.

2.Interact with other bloggers. Your audience is the best source of inspiration.

Authors alike experience bad days.

Reading each other’s content, dropping a comment and most importantly interacting with each other is a great source for ideas

No man is an island. Bounce off ideas with one another.

 

Great content comes from numerous trials and errors. Write, write and write.

Practice makes perfect but no one is perfect so strive for consistency instead.

No one is born with a pen in one hand and a manuscript in the other.

Books worth publishing were written over numerous drafts. Great content are products of mediocre drafts that failed to make the cut.

We all have to start somewhere right?

4. Rest if you must.

We are human beings, we are not a perfectly oiled machine. Remember, we don’t run on fuel but on passion instead.

Burn out is a real thing.

We do run out of ideas. That is what makes us human.

 

5. Be true to yourself, no one will appreciate your work if you don’t.

Writing something you are passionate about, it is a ton easier than being force to scribble down insensible words about something you are least interested in.

Write about your passions. Write about something you love. This would surely resonate with everyone reading your work.

Authenticity sparkles beneath rubble. Dig if you must. Don’t stop until you hit a gold mine.

 

I’d like to think that everyone has good days where inspiration comes barging at the door.

I’d like to think that I’m not alone in experiencing bad days when thoughts and ideas are dry as a deserted land.

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So what are your thoughts?

 

So I’m currently having “those bad days” and yes I’m sadly in a rut. With the numerous drafts I’ve made this is the only thing I’ve managed to come up with.

 

So before capping this off, I’d like to ask this.

 

After feeling a great sense pressure to produce great content, instead of succeeding you end up being in a rut instead. How do you overcome this?

Please do comment down below. I’d love to hear your inputs. To those in the same situation as me, let’s help each other out.

 

❤️ Eva

© 2018-2019 Eva Gamallo

Photo credits: WordPress

 

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Left Utterly Helpless

Living in a tropical country only gives you two seasons. The wet and the dry.

The Dry season or simply exemplified as summer gives the perfect opportunity to spend a day out at the beach, lying on a hammock and soaking up the warmth of the day.

Nothing beats attaining the perfect sun kissed look, not to mention the tan lines that simply screams, Hey look! I had a great day at the beach.

The Rainy season in contrast provides a more laid back atmosphere. This when one finds themselves cooped up in the house, lounging about and enjoying the “bed weather”.

And if I had to choose between the two, I’d choose rainy season over summer in a heartbeat.

In case if you’re wondering why I love this season most especially, the reason is this.

It provides me the perfect scenery and vibe to pour over my muddled up thoughts and to segregate them neatly in my mind palace.

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So here I am, stuck in the house, resting peacefully with my feet propped up as I listened to the rain pour heavily over the tiled roof.

And mind you, I was dressed in the most unflattering yet most comfortable clothes ever invented.

It was a good 30 minutes after having settled in when I got a text message from a close friend of mine. He was expressing his utter frustrations after having spent a long day trying to resuscitate someone but failed due to lack of medical resources.

Since it is is not my story to tell, I’d leave out the all the gory details and focus on his frustrations. His sad experience in turn triggered up some pent frustrations to boil over once again.

One clear memory that still leaves me completely and frustrated up to this day and time is this.

Working in the medical profession is challenging. But what makes everything even more challenging is when you are placed in a life and death situation and you simply cannot do anything due to the lack of equipment and funds.

This is simply the reality of being in a third world country where health care is inadequate and unavailable for all.

After working endlessly to attain all the knowledge in order to save lives but still unable to completely give what is ideal is utterly frustrating.

Having under resources in treating individuals suffering from various conditions could be likened to a bird clipped of its wings.

The wingless bird becomes helpless and is left eventually unable to fly. Its means of survival is stripped away leaving him utterly vulnerable to everything around him.

At this point, I’d like to apologise for the redundancy. I did notice that I have said utterly and frustrations too many times.

Sometimes I am left at a lost for words. I guess frustrations could be the root cause of this problem.

So what have I learned in this bitter experience?

I have learned that some frustrating situations are simply unavoidable. It is only but normal to find ourselves yet again in this very ill spot.

We just have to adjust to it rather than avoid it.

What else can we do?

When our hands and legs are both tied down, how do we manage to rise up again?

How can we leave our frustrations and start anew?

Too many questions left unanswered in this rainy day.

So I the only thing I knew I could do was this…

I closed my eyes and allowed the sound of the raindrops comfort my restless soul.

So what are your thoughts?

I really want to hear your thoughts to the numerous questions left in unanswered. I find that sharing your ideas is an excellent way to vent out your pent up frustrations.

Were you ever placed in a situation that has left you feeling utterly helpless and frustrated? What did you do bounce right back up?

❤️ Eva

© 2018-2019 Eva Gamallo

Photo credits: pexels.com

One Lazy Thursday Night

Lying down comfortably on bed with music blasting through the speakers perfectly described this lazy thursday night of mine.

As the week nearly comes into a close, I am in much need of this mini R&R after having spent the past 3 working days on repeat.

Waking up at the wrong side of the bed. Being stuck in a traffic jam to work. A pile loads of paperworks to go over. Long tedious meetings. Being stuck in traffic once a again on the way home. Collapsing on the bed after a long and tiring day.

Does this sounds quite familiar to you? Hit the like button if it does.

Before steering completely away from the original intended topic, let me get back to my mini breather before starting off another busy work day.

With my mind completely blank and devoid from its usual worries, for the first time in a long time, I savoured everything around me.

And well… I also began to write this blog post of mine.

So what were the things keeping me entertained?

1. My comfortable bed and the feeling of being buried beneath the fluffiness of a freshly washed blanket. My motto is simple. The fluffier the better.

2. The soothing music blasting from the speakers sitting on my nightstand. And boy, did the singer’s smooth vocals bless my ears quite well.

It was an unfamiliar song.

Having been listening to music for the past hour or so, out of all the songs playing in shuffle on Spotify, why did this specific tract catch my attention?

Photo credits: Spotify

Song credits to: I belong to the zoo

And to readers reading up to this point, it’s my pleasure to introduced this track played by this Filipino music artist, I Belong to the Zoo.

And no that isn’t a typo.

And yes that is his stage name.

The song was entitled: Game of questions.

After listening to this song on repeat, I managed to piece together the lyrics of the chorus and it went like this.

Why do we have to fall in love
With a person who doesn’t feel the same way as we do
Why do we have to cry at night
Thinking about the sense of loving and letting go.

The lyrics got to me.

The song tugged a few heart strings. It struck an emotional cord and … am I thinking too much?

The song narrated beautifully the roller coaster ride I’ve been going through this past month?

The lyrics were simply just beautiful.

So let me bring this question up?

Why do we have to fall in love with a person who doesn’t feel the same way we do?

Here is my take on that question:

1. It is probably human nature to want something we can’t have. Call it a thrill a heart simply yearns.
2. Most people enjoy a good challenge. And I probably belong to that certain population. Conquering a challenge would definitely be a really sweet victory. Making someone fall in love with you. Wow.
3. I … ah! I’m not still not sure.

So what are your thoughts?

I really really want to hear your answer to this question coz I myself haven’t found an answer. I’m having this internal conflict and another point of view would be great

Why do we have to fall in love with a person who doesn’t feel the same way we do?

❤️ Eva

Lets stay connected. You can find me in Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/dailytidbitswp

© 2018-2019 Eva Gamallo

Photo credits: Spotify

Song credits to: I Belong to the Zoo

A Fresh New Start

The new year often brings out the best in people. This is the time of the year when one marks out various goals and resolutions.

Whether it is on their new planners (probably attained through drinking 20 cups of coffee) or on electronic calendars, one thing is for certain.

This is one way to keep people preoccupied for the next hour or so as they spend their time plotting away their schedules for the next upcoming months.

1. Start going to the gym. Workout at least 30 minutes per day, four times once a week.
2. Go vegan. Try out the new keto diet. Eat a balanced meal.
3. Read 3 books on the New York Times Best Seller. Read more.
4. Plan a 4 days and 3 nights get away at El Nido Palawan. Take a vacation every 6 months. Catch up and have coffee with friends
5. ________

I, however am not like most people.

For starters, I am not an avid collector of stickers. I do prefer giving them out to random strangers I bump into at various coffee shops.

I am also not a big fan of coffee too.

ANNNND Contrary to the EXCITEMENT that most people would feel, the new year often brings out mixed emotions in me.

HAPPY. For being blessed with another day.

DREAD. For what has yet to come.

SCARED. To let go of the old and start a new.

Those are the 3 emotions that keep swirling in my mind and heart on most new year eves. This feeling would eventually reach to new heights the moment the clock strikes 12.

So to settle out all the uneasiness in me, I’d like to take this moment to jot down the Best 3 epiphanies that have dawned to me in the year of 2018.

Photo credits: Eva Gamallo

1. Hard work won’t betray.

In everything that you do, do you best and the rest will follow.

Believe in your capabilities because no one else will.

Confidence and effort are the cornerstones to success.

2. Relationships take time to build.

Lasting friendship take a lifetime to create.

Make an effort to: Connect. Keep in touch. Say hello.

Celebrate success together. Share hardships together.

3. Life is too short to be spent worrying.

Our lifetime is short. We all go. It just a matter of when.

Life is beautiful. Life is meant to be enjoyed not fussed over.

Give and receive. I think that’s what makes life more memorable.

And yes I’m quite aware that this post is a good 8 days late, however I’d like to see things in this perspective.

A new year doesn’t always have to start on the 1st of January. It could always begin everyday when you simply want it to. 😊

So what are your thoughts?

What are you Top 3 Realisations for the Year 2018.

Can’t wait to hear from you

❤️ Eva

© 2018-2019 Eva Gamallo

Photo credits: Eva Gamallo

A Rude Awakening

To be born is a blessing.

To be able to enjoy nature’s beauty is a blessing.

To be able to have a chance to say “I love” and “I’m sorry” is a blessing.

Youth is indeed a beautiful thing. It is an era of one’s life where one simply enjoys being young.

A lot of books and songs were made in order to celebrate this milestone in our lives. A lot of movies too were made that clearly showed what it is “to be young, wild and free.”

Youth, like a burning lamp glowing brightly through out the dark night, eventually burns out and fade away.

Being in my late 20s made me realise the my own light is slowly dimming out as the years continue to pass by.

Responsibilities begin to start pilling up. Bills payment, insurance, healthcare plans, … and the list does not simply stop there.

From attending sweet sixteen parties and debuts back in the day, invitations sent in the mail are now of weddings or of baptismal ceremonies.

Before I even had a chance to blink. . . time flew by instantly.

This is what happens when you get caught up in everything. And this is what life throws at you casually.

• Trying desperately to find any good opportunity you can simply get your hands on.

• Trying to meet ends meet on a monthly basis

• And simply.. trying to get by everyday.

I too was blinded by all that.

• Trying to get into the best college and working my way up.

• Trying to find the best opportunity that could propel me all the way to the top.

• And simply.. trying as hard as I could.

This was how I lived.

Is this how you live as well?

Until one day, a rude awakening came by knocking on my doorsteps.

I began to slowly see the wrinkles on my mom’s face. Age spots that washed away her youthful beauty. And my dad’s thick black hair was now thinning out in grey hues.

When did I miss all that?

Did you miss all those details as well?

And that’s when it hit me…hard. Time doesn’t stop because we work tirelessly. And most importantly, time doesn’t halt because we want it to.

So as my youth slowly fades away, here are some of the things I want to remind myself in a day to day basis.

1. Appreciate life, it is a blessing to wake up every single day.
2. Amidst everything, spend time with the people who matter most. Family and friends won’t be there forever. Cherish every moment.
3. Say “I’m sorry”, coz we do make mistakes. Say “I love you”, since time won’t tell when it would be the last.

What are the top three things you want to remember on a day to day basis?

Feel free to answer any of the bolded questions up above.

I really can’t wait to hear from you.

What are you thoughts? Please do comment down below.

Let us all share the love this holiday season 😊

❤️Eva

© 2018 Eva Gamallo

Photocredits: pexels.com

Come Share Your Blog!

Thank you for giving us a chance to grow more as a blogger. Thank you for giving us a chance to show case our work. And most especially, thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet amazing people.
Phoebe you are amazing.
❤️Eva

Two Sides of a Coin

To love and to be loved are like to opposite sides of a coin.

One side receives and the other gives.

It only makes sense that 99.9% of us wants to be loved. Right?

And admit it … you desperately want to be part of that larger statistic and fear to be categorised in that slim 0.1 percentile.

Whether it is love from a parent, a friend or a partner, it is but human to yearn this warm emotion.

So this bring us to a series of important questions.

How do we love?

How can we be loved?

As that famous saying goes.. give in order to receive.

With that in mind, we begin to invest all of our time and most importantly, all of our efforts in order to receive all the love that we can.

What wistfully wishing.

But what if that side of the coin never flips?

What if you end up being stuck in the giving end and only end up loving.. without being loved in return?

I guess that’s the sad irony of an unrequited love. You give and give but never receive.

So…Was this a good enough introduction to my one sided love story?

• We first met out of pure luck.
• We met the second time around according to chance.
• We met again for the third time because of a choice.

Part 1. We both met out of pure luck

Out of 500 students starting freshman year, it was but pure luck to have been introduced to one another.

With a hectic class schedule and difficult classes to attend to, it was impossible to socialise with everyone in our first year of medical school.

However, circumstance looked down on us. We blamed the situation we were in and ended up drifting apart.

What I can say .. life happened.

Part 2. We both met the second time according to chance

After achieving another milestone in our careers, we had the greatest fortune and met again the second time around.

At this point in time, we both attained our doctorate degrees and were now starting a fresh.

It was but chance that we were matched at the same institution and never the less placed in the same working group.

Odds were definitely in our favour.

If I recall right, this was probably the start of my long standing one sided love.

Time now became generous. It finally gave us numerous opportunities to get to know each other better … this second time around.

We witness each other’s ups and downs and shared many tears and laughters together.

365 days were simply not long enough. And before I realised it, all the significant occasions had passed.

Orientation -Christmas – New Year- Valentine’s Day – Commencement Exercises.

We parted ways as good friends. It was score that I’ve always known since day 1.

This period marked another era. My heart was now overflowing with love.

Whether it was love for a good friend or something every deeper… it was something I chose to ignore.

My heart knew that it should be stashed away in lock and key from the moment we agreed to be friends

…coz he made it clear that he was in a committed and loving relationship.

I’m proud to say that no lines were crossed. And no feelings were hurt but my own.

Bittersweet as it is , this chapter finally winded to an end. We said our proper goodbyes this time and left with a promise to keep in touch.

Part 3:We both met again for the third time because of a choice.

Everything after that became a blur. Adulting was finally real and we faced our own set responsibilities apart.

Facebook helped but it was never the same.

Until one random day, he called and asked if we could have coffee. Before putting the phone down, he hurriedly said that it was all on him.

Being a mature adult that I am, I brushed anyway all the butterflies in my stomach.

What else could this be but an opportunity to see each other a day before his scheduled flight.

And no … time didn’t slow down like those in the movies.

And no … there were no fireworks nor a flash mob on stand by to catch me off guard.

It was just him and I sitting across each other in a quaint coffee shop.

Time passed by quickly. We laughed and reminisced.

It was just like old times. Nothing changed. It was light, easy and comfortable.

And yes.. he became single for the first time in six years.

I’m not quite certain if my side of the coin finally flipped over.

I’m not sure what his reasons were and why we had to meet me that very day. Only a mere day before his flight.

And most importantly… I still don’t know what his feelings are for me.

But here is what I definitely know.. that I’ll continue to love in the hopes of being loved.

I know this steers away from my recent blog post but I wanted to break the ice once again. I wanted to be spontaneous and live in the moment

Love can be felt and seen in different points of view.

So here is a question I would like to throw.. what if you had to choose one side of the coin. Which side would you prefer? The one that loves or the one that is loved?

Feel free to answer any of the bolded questions up above.

I really can’t wait to hear from you.

What are you thoughts? Please do comment down below.

Let us all share the love this holiday season 😊

❤️Eva

© 2018 Eva Gamallo

Photocredits: pexels.com