When you most need it.

Today was a hard day. Like those dreaded days in your life you end up asking yourself "why me?". I had started the morning with an unexpected visit from my boss at the worse timing. I was watching YouTube when there nobody at the pharmacy, just after i had entered my break from website development. As soon as she left, the small place filled up with a never ending crowd! In the midst of the hectic environment, i forgot to call my partner about this deal we had to buy shirts for the pharmacy's advertising campaign. He canceled the deal and cut all the progress we had made.

Later on when all the patients were gone, boss showed up again, throwing all the paychecks for me and leaving me to decide how to deliver them. I decided to deliver the uptown branch myself for many reasons. On my way uptown Manhattan  my $39.99 earphones got stuck on the handrail of this staircase i took after making evasive maneuvers through the crowd, and ripped apart. I was pissed and tired. When i came back to the Chinatown branch, I waited nearly an hour for the boss and the head technician, Rowson (cool guy) to close the pharmacy.

After nearly a decade of waiting I finally resolved into leaving with my girlfriend. As a last minute planning, We both went to our favorite tea spot. I didn't feel like going, but she had been waiting for me at work so the least i could do was making it up for her.

We had fun, discussed about our days and had amazing drinks and food. Then i remembered how i felt throughout the day and went all stressed again. On our way to the train station she explained to me other reasons that may have caused the termination of the deal and other things. That helped me. Maybe the other guy really was having a bad day too, and if we meet again and don't get along, perhaps he's not the right person to make business with. I agreed.

When I got home, i dropped my bag on the floor, dragged my feet to my room and as i took off my jacket, i saw a small message written by my girlfriend i haven't seen before. Made my day and made the time typing this post worthwhile. Thank you Xenia :)

I guess that was a divine timing. Thank you Xenia, you're the best.

Anger is a choice.

"Its not what you eat that kills you, its what's eating you that kills you." -Pastor Kerrick-

Today I learned more about an emotion I thought I already knew. I learned how can it be triggered and how to defuse the landmine of Anger.

When we hear about anger, the first thing to pop in our heads may be someone shouting with squinting eyes and blood-rushed face. But what exactly is anger?

"Anger is the destructive emotion we feel when trying to control what is outside of our control." You see, we are ambitious beings, and many of us want to control everything. However, in the midst of controlling everything we tend to lose control of ourselves.

Alexander the Great conquered a great chunk of the world and in one of his celebrations he had an argument with one of his childhood friends, which resulted in Alexander killing him. He later recognized what he did and regretted bitterly. He had conquered the 'world', and yet he couldn't control his soul.

What I am saying here is that anger is a choice. Don't believe me? think of a time you were arguing with someone and in the midst of the argument the phone rang. What was your tone when you picked up the phone?

Eleanor Roosevelt once said,
         "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use you heart."

Proverbs 29:11,
         "A fool gives full vent to anger, but a wise person quietly holds it back."

Have a nice day :)

Costa Rica from the Skies

         This is my city, my province, my homeland -San Jose, Costa Rica. Many times have I complained about her and few times have I praised it. I do miss it, true and this video changes my perspective. My country, my beautiful country. You have abolished your army in 1960, you have guaranteed free public education and you have been home to over 5% of the world's biodiversity. I could go on an hour about your deficiencies, but I could go instead a day about your legacies.

Personal Note #8

     There will ALWAYS be someone in any job that will give you a hard time even though in some cases their field of work has nothing to do with yours. Accept this fact and expected less from the future in the sense that there will be a perfect job with perfect coworkers.

     Focus on the small steps to fulfill your goal, not on the trivial traits of the environment and life will become easier to deal with.

You got to love "Hungover" :)

House = life

Life is like a house. Why? You will Find out tomorrow ;)

Europe London & Brussels

Hogwarts

The first days i arrived to Brussels, I had convinced myself that it wouldn't last long until the trip ended and I went back to my regular life, cutting off all connections i made in Europe. For the first 3 days I denied myself of enjoying the rich culture and diversity the city had to offer as well as the opportunities of going out with my classmates and befriending them. Oh if I only knew better...
 

HMS Belfast (WW2)

It was not until I got to London where I finally realized the marvelous gifts the continent had to offer. The amazing, old architectural design of every single structure, the countless of historical sites with endless tales of epic journeys, the HMS Belfast, Landors, The Parliament, the Warner Brothers' Harry Potter studio(best decision ever), and many more came to become what would be the best experience I would ever have in my life.

There were many times i wished Xenia was there with me.  But now I know where to take her or anybody else if i get to go back to Europe.

During that time, half-way through the trip my roommate John and I got to really know each other and had discussions of many topics. He is a nice guy. Tall one too. He and I shared many stories and in the end, it was bitter to go our own ways... though he studies at the same school as I do hehe...

Now I miss that corner of the world as much as I miss my home country Costa Rica as much as I will miss this city of New York when I move on to other places. 

 Life is full of surprises, sometimes we get lost in what we wished we could have had or done in the past that we lose track of the present and ruin the future. You got to let it go its own Pace and you will realize how many lessons it has to teach. That is why that from now on I will be more optimistic and enthusiastic about my trips, school or job events, family reunions, etc. because you can never know how much you will end up enjoying it, just like how my stay in Europe changed my feeling towards it in the first place...

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Belgian waffles are the best!!! never going to have another one until i am back there! :)

It was the first time in my entire life that I went to an Apple Orchard. It was fun and delicious. Living for 20 years in Costa Rica I got used to the perception that going to pluck apples was just like climbing 20ft high slimy trees infested with bugs just to pluck mangoes. I loved it and expected a challenge. But once I got to the Orchard I was amazed by the endless lines of trees running trough the horizon. It was a good day, we had breakfast, we ate fresh apples. Juicy apples. We had a coconut custard pie with a cold cup of cidron apple slush and had fun playing with many animals. It was a good day to spend before my birthday. Jersey Apple Orchards, changes your perception of apples. Don't wanna miss out.

Many things happened that made the entire day much enjoyable. I got to meet Xenia's entire clan and apparently I boosted up my stock with the family. If you ever want to do something new while eating free fresh fruits, go to an orchard :)