Rollercoaster Ride

When I was in fashion, I learned that the first step in making a design is always Inspiration. So you either watch a movie, go to a museum or travel to a new country to get the theme or reason for your collection. I’ve always felt it a little contrived, because you intentionally look for inspiration, before your pencil even hits your canvas.

In writing, your essays are always, involuntarily inspired by a certain recent happening, or person, in your life. There will be no essay if there was no experience, no realization, no lesson.

And so, to all the people who’ve come, passed and mattered in my life and in my thoughts, you may recognize yourselves in some of my writings. Some are named, others unnamed, but always with impact.

Before I became a writer, and life would slap me with such people and experiences, I would console myself and say, "One for the books!’ Now, they really are.

Life experiences? Random people? Wide array of actions, reactions and emotions? Bring ‘em on!

I wish I could do this as my full-time job. Thank you all for reading my work, and for all your sweet notes. If ANYBODY would hire me to do this, call me!

Strengths. Weaknesses. Opportunities. Threats.

If we just apply this method to ourselves, and not just in our business plans,we’d discover our talents, improve ourselves, find the perfect job and avoid heartache. We’ll be better businesses - and happier persons.

Confident but not self-absorbed.

Well-bred but not flaunting.

Accomplished but not flashy.

Initiates but not flaky.

Humility, kindness of spirit, and genuine interest in others are still key.

I think, at the core of it all, we are our own best friend.

We know what we want, what we don’t want, and what we totally despise. We know our strengths, weaknesses, good traits and bad habits and we fully accept them as part of us.

And I think at the end of the day, we should be able to answer a strong and resounding ‘yes’ to the following questions, before we can truly say, that we like and take ourselves for who we are:

1. Would you hire yourself?

2. Would you befriend you?

3. Would you ask yourself out?

4. Would you marry you?

Before we can say ‘I love you too,’ we must be able to say ‘I love me’ first.

Without falling into self-absorption (the worst thing in the world), we must first become our own best friends, before we can even become acqaintances with anybody else.

You know those times when you’re quietly walkin’ on the road, and you get hit by a car or more precisely, by the one who drives the car?

As we happily skip and hop In the streets of life, people bump into us - either by introduction or by accident - and jolt us into an awareness that we never knew before. We ask, answer, and get to know each other. We hit it up and hit it off, and then walk far far away.

Maybe I’m guilty of being reckless too. Because in the constant social highway of men and women, we meet people, make an impact, then leave. While really hoping to find the ones who’ll stay, we hear about the ones that got away. They’re the ones that hit us - then run away, like a criminal on a getaway. And we are never ones to set out a chase.

Are you okay? is all they ask…We get bruises and broken bones, and still they drive away.

When stories hit us, we must be moved - to action. I am so super excited about this campaign that Annaliza and I are starting. It will truly make a difference–not only in our lives, but in the lives of those who truly need a change: the poor children in the Philippines…I hope that when we do launch it in December and January, our friends, contacts and other random nice people will join in! It’s quick and easy. Yay!

You know when we see babies and we wonder what they’ll grow up to  be? Will they be a doctor, lawyer, writer? How will they decide to live their lives and contribute to society?

How about our generation? Has anybody realized that our future is now? We were the kids that they’ve wondered about 20 years ago. We’ve made our choices. We chose a school, a major, a job and a career - from among many fields and options.We are living our lives, developing society and making the world a better (or worse) place. We are the ones who are truly making strides - affecting changes in this new world of technology, mobility and connectivity. We’ve made decisions.  There’s no wondering anymore. There’s only living.