SELF CARE ISN’T SELFISH (Mental Health Awareness)

As we all experiencing a pandemic today, you probably having a mixed emotions each in everyday. You might be feeling stuck, depress, lonely or you are too afraid of the future. Some Country or States, probably open their new normal, it’s really sadden to compare our situation here in the Philippines. As I’m a social media person myself, I was also feel jealous sometimes as some of my friends on other country can do things that we still cannot. And we are still hoping for a better situation where Covid19 are gone.

I know everyday feels so slow while we are at home and do the same routine everyday, I know. I was like that too, I actually cried, laught and pity myself alone. Some days was okey most of the days it was horrible. You might also feel that everyone may already forget about your existence. Overthinking is our number one enemy right now, and the social media making it worse, with the memes and negative fake news or real news. People tend to post bad news than good news this day. Most of the people is so negative about everything. If you are depressed or feeling bad about yourself, don’t be so bad that you share it with everyone on your Facebook, Instagram or Youtube account. Talk to someone, no one to talk to? Pm me on my page I will try my best to reply. It’s really hard to say this right now but let’s cherish every moment and be positive that we can all survive this pandemic. Help each other instead of the crab mentality we all know about. Spread love and positivity, I mean positive vibes not positive covid.

It’s okey not to be okey sometimes dear. But you have to do something for yourself to feel better. It’s okey to log out of all your social media accounts for days and focus on yourself, do some exercise, yoga or meditation. Write the stories that stuck on your head for years, try new things and explore more about yourself. Make plans for each day you wake up and follow your plans. Give yourself some detox on everything. Eat healthy foods and forget about unhealthy comfort foods while on detox, It’s okey not to anwer messages and calls from anyone if that’s what makes you feel better. It’s okey dear, because SELF CARE ISN’T SELFISH.

Avoid this Top 5 While At Home (Covid19)

How are you staying at home while we are in lockdown? Are you working home or not working because of Covid19? First month, second or third is probably fine for you, just like on vacation, but we are almost 5 months now at home. Hang in there and read this tips, on what to avoid while you are staying home.

1. Overthinking, Oh dear I know I know, bills? food? nothing’s happening in your life? feeling stuck? Don’t worry to much, you are not alone, everyone right now are feeling the same way you do. But if you stop overthinking, anxiety, stress and depression will never be your friend while staying at home. Oh maybe you are thinking about your boyfriend or girlfriend not being together? There’s internet dear and this is the great time for you to spend your alone time at home or enjoy being with your family and your adorable pets. Appreciate every little things that’s happening in your life even Covid19 is out there. Stop thinking something that’s impossible to do right now, better to start organizing your closet, make-up, or find a new hobby that doesn’t require going out.

2. Sleep, Eat, Repeat, you called this a good pattern? Nah! We totally disagree, don’t let your body suffer while at home. Move your lazy ass and do some workout once in a while, we mean physical workout like jumping jacks and squat, you will not regret it, I swear. Plus you are browsing a lot of memes that saying whoever doing that pattern is lucky, don’t believe those little devil memes. You don’t have to be sexy whatever body type needs exercise for a good blood flow.

3. Social Media Addiction, I’m not saying to quit social media because I don’t agree with it either. But don’t evolve your life on just browsing that newsfeed, trying that Tiktok moves, and get upset to yourself because you can’t do it, and please stop feeling bad because that girl/boy on Instagram is so perfect on his/her photo. Stop pulling yourself down, because someone looks better than you. Social media has two sides the good and bad, don’t get stuck on the bad sides. The bad sides that ruins relationship because of so many expectations memes and photos, let me tell you this, everyone is not the same on how they express themselves, If you force your partner to be someone because on what social media saying, about being an ideal partner, you better stop. Partner is not what you are looking for, social media approval is what you are seeking. The ideal body on internet that you are trying so hard to get, because you think you are not sexy enough, you better try hard to be healthy. The side that makes your insecurities explode, then you will become someone else’s basher, because you cannot have what they had.

4. Not eating Healthy, I’m literally guilty about it but I changed, you can too. This is a great opportunity for you to add healthy foods on your diet, veggies and fruit will not hurt you while on lockdown, you can finally cook for yourself because you are not going anywhere. Yehey! No excuses right? Learn new recipes, youtube and a lot of sites with good recipes they got you. Unleash your inner Gordon Ramsey, and please, avoid artificial seasoning.

5. Bored, and thinking of getting a new pet, Guilty? Some people are thinking of getting a new pet just because they are bored, they either spend their money to get one or get from a friend who has new litter of puppies and kittens. Let me remind you that pet is your responsibility until their last breath. Having a pet means you have to give what your pet needs, food, cuddles, patience and your time. A lot of dogs and cats are being abandoned, because they can’t control their pets behavior (lack of knowledge), they can’t provide it needs, or because they just think they don’t want them anymore. So please if you are getting one, think about it, like you are having a child. Are you willing to abandon your child? If you are reading this and you think, Why would I compare my child to an animal? Please don’t get a pet PERIOD.

I had a lot to say but this Top 5 is enough to summarize half of it. I hope you guys are doing well at home. We will get through this. Stay safe everyone. You? What do you think people needs to avoid while at home?

Why you need to Spay/Neuter your pets?

It is so devastating that abandoning dogs/cats to the street is seems normal in the Philippines. Why abandoned your pets who loves you more than itself?

Is it because they cry at night? They pee on the wrong spot? They bite your favorite fair of slippers? They became more aggresive? Or because they were sick?

People actually tend to abandoned their pets just because of that. But what if the dogs wondering around are not actually abandoned? Well here in the Philippines Under RA9482: The Anti Rabies Act, Owned dogs out in public that are not under the control and supervision of their owner (i.e, owned dog allowed to roam the streets without a leash and without owner, owned dog is just outside owner’s gate but with no leash accidentally ran out) are immediately considered strays and are to be captured dor the public’s safety. Animal control officers and dog catcher do not need to ask permission from the owner to catch and impound this dogs. Dogs that have been captured by Animal Control officers are placed in the pound where they are kept for a fixed holding period. Upon the expiry of this holding period, if no one claims ownership of the captured dogs, or no one adopts them, they are euthanized (legal under approved methods of euthanasia stated in Administrative Order 13 Revised Rules on Euthanasia for Animals).The most humane way to euthanize an animal is through barbiturates.

Yes people, this is what happened when you want a dog but you are irresponsible owner. As we can see this is legal but, it is very alarming also because the Animal Officers who captured dogs or cats supposed to have knowledge on how to catch/handle them, lots of videos are uploaded on social media. Dogs and cats are captured but being harrassed. Why everytime we watched a video from other country on catching stray dogs/cats they really know what to do, they know how to get them without traumatizing them. We hope that this can be solved, don’t traumatize them, dont forget the Animal Welfare Act Section 6.

Why we want you to spay/neuter your pets? Spaying your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. And behavioral benefits Your spayed female pet won’t go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house! Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways escape from the house. Once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals. Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he’s neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering.

– Source ASPCA ORG

As the goverment is more active now, please be responsible on having a pet. Before adopting please make sure that you can take good care of them until your last breath. Spay/Neuter, so no future stray puppy/kitten too.

Your pets depends on you to keep him safe. Please do not fail him. -PAWS

Follow my furry babies on Instagram @yasha_zilan

Why Girls love Make-up?

Most of the people today will either judge you from a far or whatever you posted on social media just because you had make-up on. Why? Why do you hate us?, just because we put make-up on. Lot’s of question from people. Why girls love make-up? Are they not comfortable with their skin.

*make·up – cosmetics such as lipstick or powder applied to the face, used to enhance or alter the appearance. – Google Q: Why girls love putting make-up? A: Because it’s exciting and fun of what new look we can have. Make-up is art. It might be look crap or annoying to you but it was a masterpiece for us who loves doing it. ( over-reacting, I think not) Q: Are you girls not comfortable with your skin? That’s why you used make-up? A: There might be some girls out there who does that. But mostly no, we love make-up but we love our skin too. Putting make-up has a lot of benefits actually, you never knew but it was also a skincare routine. Since it’s hot here in the Philippines we can use make-up with SPF and moisturizer plus all other make-up like eye-shadow, blush on and etc. it’s now protecting the skin. Most girls are being judged when they like putting a lot of make-up, which we don’t understand. We put make-up not to look cute for all of the boys out there. We put it on our face and skin because we wanted it. Don’t judge our art saying “You look like a slut!” WAIT! WHAT? Just because we put make-up we are a slut now? “Are you going to hook-up someone? Whooo! No!. “She’s only pretty when she has make up! Absolutely! The description says enhancing. “She just want all the boys attention look at her make-up and sexy dress”! 2points right? Make-up and sexy dress what’s wrong? We don’t need boys to wear any of it. “That gay thinks he’s pretty with make-up, he’s still gay”! HEY! Have you heard about expressing her feelings and no please he’s a she. We might be putting make-up when we go outside but we are actually enjoying most of the day make-up free at home and sometimes when we travel away from the city. Using cosmetics product is not a crime, not a bad thing and not also for you to judged anyone. We are not encouraging you to put make-up if you don’t want too, but don’t judge anyone to quickly just because she has a make-up on her face or wearing a sexy dress. My message to all the girls out there who love make-up more than I do. Keep on doing what you loved. And to all the girls who’s bashing other girls, you don’t have to do that, you can keep your comment to yourself. We should lift each other up not tearing each other down, we don’t have the same passion, so let them be.

Aikido Journey Begins

If you are one of the person who thinks martial arts is all about learning how to fight, I’m telling you now, your mindset about it, is wrong. When I was a young girl, I’d loved to be part of any martial arts because I was often bullied when I was Grade 6 and 3rd year highschool, most of the students gave me names, bad names, and I’m wishing that I could fight them physically which is now,I can tell is wrong, couldn’t help it, my mind is so young back then. When I finished highschool, I moved to Manila. I have no intentions of joining any martial arts, not even popped into my mind when I was living in Manila. But I became a Roundgirl at Mixed Martial Arts Tournament. My mind started to think about trying it again, but MMA is too hard for me.

Until Year 2013.. I had a boyfriend, who introduce me to his Martial Arts “AIKIDO”

What is Aikido?

Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.Aikido is often translated as “the way of unifying (with) life energy“ or as “the way of harmonious spirit.- Wikipedia

I watched my boyfriend’s practice several times and you know what I think it’s very easy. Until I tried it myself. First the basics, how to enter (irimi), turning (tenkan) and all the other basic movements and you know what? It’s not that easy, then they started teaching me techniques.

Aikido Ikkyo – First Teaching (Elbow Control) Aikido Nikyo – Second Teaching (Wrist Control)

Still not easy. And the movements is so uncomfortable. After learning the basic fall and movements. I never attend again, I did not survive the awkwardness. I just usually watched their practice (Keiko). I’m still interested! Im just nervous and shy whenever I can’t do the techniques right. That’s what on the back of my mind. I sometimes joined when the students is just two or three but it’s rarely happened. I’m usually joining my boyfriend when his attending Aikido events, and I’m also watching their Aikido seminars, and I got to know a lot of Aikido practitioners. And you know what? Knowing those people is like a huge gift to me, they don’t treat you like a stranger inside and outside the mats. And even I’m just watching, they treat me like I’m actually one of the students. And I called them “My Aikido Family”

It’s been years, I rarely joined. Until I got a major operation (Incision and drainage) on my right wrist.

December 2016

What is the connection of having operation of me joining Aikido? Well, because after this operation, I felt like my right hand is so fragile and I need to do something about it.

It’s just a normal day my boyfriend will attend Aikido and I’m going to just watch him wearing my Aikido T-shirt. Then I found myself inside the mats joining, and wow! Never felt any awkwardness at all.

That’s when I started joining again, finally my inner voice was heard and joined. And after week Im in my Aikido Uniform (Aikido Gi).

I started to put that awkwardness to the past and set my mind, that it was always hard at first but practice will make it easy. Also Sensei Dino of Makiling Aikido Club once told me “Not everyone who joined Aikido stay, you just need to be patient and let all that awkward feelings go away”.

I even got a chance to meet the Aikido Philippines founder at Aikido Philippines 25th anniversary.

Last year August 2018 I had my 5th kyu examination and passed. I received my Certificate and Yukyusha Card.

On my intro I mention that martial arts is not just learning how to fight. Why? Because when I joined Aikido I’m learning not only how to defend myself but I also learned how to be patient and calm. Not everything can be done or learn when you lose your patient, and you will just cause stress if you will not stay calm. Thats why every martial arts teaches discipline.

Im Aikido Student 5th Kyu (White Belt) at Shin-shin Aikido Club https://www.facebook.com/shinshinaikidoclub/ , I know this is just the beginning of my journey in Aikido. But most of the woman black belter I know,gave me inspiration that I can also make it. And to my boyfriend whom I met when he was blue belt, and became black belt just last year I was so grateful to him.

“Don’t ever stop learning new things, it will help you to your future journey.”

Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.

-Morihei Ueshiba Sensei