Be A Guardian Angel

Today is the Feast of Guardian Angels. In our family, we pray to our guardian angels everyday. 

Through the course of our lives, we meet people  along the way who are like guardian angels. They mentor us, guide us, protect us, support us. Let us pause for a moment and say a prayer for them. Whether they are still living or went ahead of us, let us be grateful for their thoughtfulness and generosity.

How about paying it forward? Be a guardian angel to someone who needs help. Make a difference in this person’s life. Help him become a better person. I am sure you can think of someone whom you can be a guardian angel to.

God bless you, guardian angels!

You Are Blessed Not Because Of Yourself But Because Of Others

 I don’t exactly remember who said this but I am sure a priest said this in one of his sermons. “You are blessed not because of yourself but because of others.”

This immediately came to mind when I received a forwarded message “Don’t just count your blessings. Be the blessing  other people count on.”

Ever wondered why God did not bless that person directly?  Why would He bless you instead and expect that you will share it with somebody who needs it more than you do? What if you rejected God’s call to be a blessing to others?

God trusts us so much. He assumes that our generosity will triumph over our own selfishness. Let us not disappoint Him. The next time you receive a hefty amount of money, do not hesitate to share it with me heheheh . . .

Tip # 9: From Marathoner To Ultramarathoner

You survived your first marathon. And the second. Followed by a third one. What happens next?

You may race to break your previous records or make an entirely different set of goals.

Like running an ultramarathon.

Crazy, yes—but definitely feasible.

If you have the passion to run longer than 42.195km, then close your eyes and take a deep breath. Inhale slowly. Exhale slower. Can you imagine yourself crossing the FinishLine of an UltraMarathon race?

Before jumping into serious Ultramarathon training, it would be beneficial if you have already done the following historically:

1. 5k = sub 30 to 32 mins.

2. 10k = sub 1 hr to 70 mins.

3.  16k = sub 2 hrs to 2 hrs

4.  21k = 2.5 to 2.75 hours

5.  32k = 4.5 to 4.8 hours

5. 42k = sub 7 hours

But of course this is just my personal opinion based from my own experience. If you think you’re ready to run the Ultra, then GO FOR IT!

Lastly, I would recommend the Marathon Handbook for training plans and practical tips. 

Good luck! 

Tip # 8: From Runner to Marathoner

Would you believe running the marathon was never in my bucket list? When I was just a newbie runner and often won in my age category, everybody was urging me to level-up to 10k race. I would just brush it off and tell everyone I will only be a 5k runner: no more, no less.

After 6 months of running 5k, no more sweat—literally! I began to question my previous oath and explored the possibility of runnng 10k. And that perceived possibility became a reality. For 1 whole year, I enjoyed the bliss of running 10k until the emergence of TBRDM (The BullRunner Dream Marathon). I signed up without even thinking!  All I wanted was to give my all-out support to my running friend/blogger Jaymie Pizarro who organized the race exclusively for first-time marathoners. It was a complete package of running clinics and trial runs together with the aspiring marathoners.

In preparation for TBRDM, I ran 3 half marathons before the scheduled race. After 2 years of running races, I was among the first participants who courageously attempted to go beyond their limits.

If your ultimate dream is to run the marathon, then prepare for it. There are many training plans online. Pick 1 from RunnersWorld or Marathon Handbook. Join 21k, 25k and 32k races prior to your marathon. Prepare well. If you love your precious life, do not dare run the marathon without a training plan and proper training.

Good luck! If I can do it, you can do it better!

(You may reach me via Messenger or at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

Are You Striving To Be Good Because You Love God OR Because You Fear To Be Damned In Hell?

If heaven and hell don’t actually exist, will you still do the right thing or choose what is more beneficial at your end?

Will you still hold your tongue and not curse the driver who suddenly appeared out of nowhere and swept you out of your lane?

Will you not kill your husband who flaunts his womanizing conquests at your face?

Will you still flash an endearing smile to your Boss after he humiliated you in front of everyone?

Will you not lose your temper when your child screams at you and call you names not written in the dictionary?

Will you still pray and attend your religious gathering even when God doesn’t seem to listen?

Will you not strangle the person who refuses to settle his long-overdue debt?

Will you still give alms to the poor even when you yourself struggle to live day by day?

Will you still forgive your very close friend who is now living with your ex-husband?

Will you not seek revenge on your business partner who purposely cheated you?

Will you still show mercy and compassion to those people who offended you?

Love Hurts

The more we love, the greater the possibility that we will get hurt. Is it logical, then, to love a little less to avoid getting stabbed in the heart?

Some will say YES, some will say NO. How about you? What is your take on this?

I used to advise newlyweds NOT to pour all their love on their spouse and leave a significant space in their heart to love their own selves. This is to prepare themselves for the worst to come, if ever it will come. But now, I dare say “ Live and love to the fullest!”  If you get hurt by doing so, then bring it on! Don’t worry. Your heart will take it. You will get through the storm and eventually emerge a better person than before.

Misundertanding between friends is inevitable. It strikes even the best of buddies. Sometimes pride, envy, anger, greed and selfishness gets in the way. Nobody is perfect. Hence, there is no perfect relationship. Yet true friends will always find their way to reconnect— no matter what happens, no matter how long it will take.

But a mother’s love for her children is a totally different genre. Mothers will be hurt by their children’s arrogance, disrespect, indifference. Yet a good mother will always love her children. Unconditionally. She will suffer in silence and continue to love them more than anything else in this world. She will even swallow her pride and ask forgiveness from her erring children. She will move heaven and earth just to make her brood happy. Such is a mother’s love. Never afraid of being hurt. Never allowing her personal pain to dampen her love.

(Thanks for dropping by. Chat with me via Messenger or email at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

On Being 65

No big deal really. You just move slower than before and think longer than before.

Like when you wake up in the morning. You used to jump out of bed as if your date is waiting for you in the receiving room and you can’t miss a second to see the love of your life. Now that you’re 65, you slowly get up and sit up first, linger for a while before finally lifting your body out of bed. Sometimes, you even have to drag your leg one at a time hahahah...

You used to dress up in a jiffy. Nowadays, you grab a chair to wear your pants. If not, you might lose your balance and fall flat on the floor. Wearing your socks while standing up was some form of stretching routine before. That was then. If you value your precious life, you need to sit down now inorder to properly wear  your socks and shoes.

Even if you only slept for 4-5 hours before, you still managed to go out before dawn for your morning run. Now, you and your bed are inseparable like glue. You’re so attached to your bed that you seem not to get enough of it, even though you already cuddled each other for 8-9 hours.

You used to walk hastily that even Speedy Gonzales could not keep pace with you. Now, you walk very slowly that even your pet turtle will arrive earlier than you at the Finish Line.

You still enjoy talking with your family and friends as before but expect stories to be interrupted because you fumble for the right words to say. Worse, there are times when your feeble mind just freeze and no matter how hard you try, no words escape your mouth. Yup. Brain fog is as real as it can get.

You used to eat non-stop from 11am to 3pm at your favorite Unlimited Buffet Lunch Restaurant and still craved for more! Now, you’re already full after tasting just a few servings of lechon, roast beef, sushi, maki, sashimi and tempura that you could no longer accommodate your previously loved desserts.

Horror films and suspense thrillers used to excite you. You even wished before if you could be an alluring vampire or a despicable witch. Now, you avoid watching them at night for fear that they might haunt your sleep.

Healing and recovery take much longer now. You felt invincible when you were at the peak of your prime. You played tennis twice a week, Tai-Chi once a week, ran and lift weights at the same day 3X a week. Whereas now, you need to accept the brutal fact that there should be a rest day in between your physical activities or suffer the painful consequences. Shoulder pain, back pain, knee pain, etc.

You used to throw a tantrum when friends fail to greet you on your birthday. Not anymore! You can totally relate and understand now. In general, you’re now more tolerant, less violent, more forgiving, less judgmental, more hopeful, less worrisome, more appreciative, less cynical, more prayerful, less pessimistic, more realistic, less daring, more responsible, less shameless, more loving, less antagonistic.

I still can’t believe that I am now 65. My eldest son is only 25. If there’s one lesson in life that I would like to share, it’s for you NOT to follow my footstep when settling down. Get married as soon as you can! Enjoy life to the fullest by doing things together with your children. Time spent with them is priceless.

(Thanks for dropping by. You may chat with me via Messenger or email at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)