tito and tita

growing up filipino, we were taught to be respectful of our elders. hence, i call my parents' friends 'tito' and 'tita' (filipino words for 'uncle' and 'auntie.' they're derived from the spanish words 'tio' and 'tia') even if we're not related to them by blood. same with my own friends' parents. i call them auntie and uncle too instead of mr. and mrs. forbes. otherwise, i'd feel disconnected and awkwardly strange and disrespectful. i don't know why. maybe it's my upbringing.

we don't have any blood relatives here in edmonton. but we have an abundance of extended family that i happily call my aunties, uncles, and cousins. with the holidays creeping its way in, they are the closest thing to blood family that we could have.

we are blessed.

you have a heart and a nose

today, our pastor talked about affirmation in his sermon. it's a very simple thing to do. everybody has their own flaws and ugliness and what have yous. focus on the good on people. the truth in them.

grab opportunities to affirm somebody, especially the ones close to us, and wait for what difference it'll make.

oh btdubs, you have a beautiful soul. you are loved.

mean it

you know when people say "i love you" for the sake of just saying it? well damn, the next time you say "i love you," mean it. let the person you're saying it to know that you genuinely mean it.

life is too goddamn short for blah i love yous.

11/11/11 - a hitRECord affair

a hitRECord collaboration i contributed to. pam, mad props for doing this.

it's very interesting and amazing to know what other people are wishing for. i'm glad to be a part of an intelligent and caring generation.

i wish to stay happy. what about you?

a story in wishes