Be One with Nature (Day 4 of Thirty- Day Challenge for a More Meaningful Life)

Being one with nature is beneficial both on your body and mind.

A day in a life could just come and go and doing this challenge is starting to have a huge impact on my perspectives in life. Just on the fourth day and I am already realizing that there are effectual ways to break the monotony of life.

Day 4. Be One with Nature
Today, I challenged myself to be one with nature. Thankfully, we are currently on vacation so it is a lot easier to put in reality. Our day started early with a visit to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Scenic Drive. It has about 12 stop over that allowed us to bask on different views. Being one with nature allowed me to smell the trees and reminded me of my mortality.

One of the stop-over at the Scenic Drive.

We went hiking, stopped to save a turtle along the road, savoured the beauty of Lake Michigan, and walked in the cleanest water I have ever seen. I also experienced just laying down on the sand while enjoying the amazing view of Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes Pyramid Point. I was sore all over from hiking and endless walking but it was so much fun.

A plethora of studies show that being in nature allows us to release anger, anxiety and stress. It also offers the most positive boost to provide healing for both body and mind.

Hans Christian Andersen said it perfectly, “Just living is not enough…one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”

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Seize the Day (Day 3 of Thirty-Day Challenge for a More Meaningful Life)

It’s the third day of my thirty-day challenge for a more meaningful life. This day couldn’t be more perfect for what’s on my list- carpe diem.

The expression carpe diem was first uttered by Horace and rooted back from the oldest philosophical motto of Western history. The message resonates different meaning from various perspectives but mostly it signifies a day free from worries and simply savoring the beauty of the day.

At first glance, the tree looks like cherry, but, it isn't.

I feel so blessed to have this perfect opportunity to put this list in reality. Worrying does not change a thing and the pace of life is accelerating whatever we do. So, off we went on our travel for a short vacation. No rush, no worries. We even took the time to check on some cool trees and views along the way. The usual stress that travels bring was noticeably absent. And just like that, we were in a paradise.

Wearing matching shirts made the day more special.

The mere sight and sound of the rushing falling water was heaven. The sound was loud but it gives you this very peaceful and calm feeling.

This is probably the most peaceful town I have ever been.

The beautiful Falling Waters Lodge.

Truly, we could learn from Marcus Aurelius, “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love…”

Day 1: Write a letter for someone who hurt you the most.
Day 2: Show a random act of kindness.

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Show a Random Act of Kindness

On the first day of the month, I started a challenge to do something each day that would pave a way for a more meaningful life. Cliché as it may sound, life is short and there’s nothing more meaningful but allowing experiences and actions to transcend positive energy in the core of our being.

Day 2. Show a random act of kindness.

Kindness is free yet it is something that we oftentimes fail to do. It is wrapped with hope and allow others to continue trusting that life’s condition will change for the better. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing others benefit from a sincere act of kindness.

This was inspired by a random act of kindness shown to me one day at the church. I have always struggled being an introvert so I am so grateful when people are kind enough to initiate conversation with me.

It was just an ordinary Sunday, I was seated while waiting for the service to start when an old lady approached me and gave me a hug. She told me that she’s been wanting to meet me. She’s been to Asia before so she was so excited while telling me about her experiences. The warmth of her gentleness touched me so deeply that it just affirmed my belief that the church is indeed the best place to be during Sundays.

There are many ways of showing kindness but for many people, it’s still a battle. I believe that we need to be cognizant of the fact that everybody has different struggles and we have the responsibility to spread kindness by any act that would bring positivity to the world.

Henry James said, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”

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Thirty-Day Challenge for a More Meaningful Life (Day 1: Forgive Someone)

It is easy to get lost in a shuffle. Wake up-work-sleep-repeat the pattern type of thing and miss the basic truth that one day, we are all going to die. Chances are, we are too busy living our life that we are neglecting the groundbreaking message of what we are here for.

The bigger picture of having a consequential journey is sometimes inconceivable to fathom. Since it is the first day of September, I will start with a thirty-day challenge of living a more meaningful life imbued with commitment, meaning, serenity and contentment.

Day 1. Write a letter of forgiveness to the person who hurt you the most.

A known author once said that forgiving is hard because human consciousness has a hard time living at the present. The episodic memories bring us back and forth to the past and present reminding us of the pain that the experience left us. Hence, finding forgiveness in our heart will definitely not be easy.

I am starting at the most difficult challenge because it would be easier to remind myself in the coming days that if I was able to forgive the person who hurt me the most, then everything else is possible.

Bottling the pain inside is not beneficial to us. Sooner or later, it will coat our heart with bitterness and cynicism that’ll affect us to live a healthier life. Forgiving also means releasing us from the pessimism that incarcerate our ability to make humble decisions.

It is more burdensome to carry the weight of resentment to the person who caused us misery. By choosing to forgive, we also choose to heal and to free ourselves from negativities and toxicity associated with pain.

Martin Luther King, Jr. explicated it beautifully, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”


Today, I choose to forgive and it feels good.

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After the Storm at Lake Michigan

Watched the sunset at the White Lake Channel (Montague Side) 

A storm pummeled Muskegon last night and left behind a trail of colossal destruction. The heavy downpour of rain flooded some areas and caused power outages to thousands of homes. We’re lucky enough to sleep through the night with power. The deafening thunder was so loud that the whole house trembled so many times.

However, just like in every storm, there’s calm after. It was a beautiful sunny day and we watched the sunset at Lake Michigan!

The water was calm and this man was doing the kite sailing. 

Amazing view of the man doing the kite sailing right before the sunset. 

He jumped so high out of the water so many times! 

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Asian Buffet or Red Wok?

Personal favorite?

A typical day cravings for Asian cuisine usually bring us either in Asian Buffet or Red Wok. The cultural contexts that the selection of the two restaurants embody are truly amazing and sometimes it’s hard to make a decision which one to go.

The two offer a wide range of selection that are mostly stir-fried at high temperature gastronomies surefire to suit all kinds of palate. Do not be deceived by the names because both restaurants actually include American food in their choices. Ham, steak, pizza, onion rings, fries and mini beef patties that are described by my husband as ‘scrumpdelicious’.

I personally consider it a luxury to be able to fuel myself with dumplings, egg rolls, chow mein, fried rice, egg foo young, lo mein, and other authentic Asian cuisine thousand miles away from home. They also have sushi ala carte and their shrimp varieties include sweet and sour, hot and spicy Szechuan, and shrimp with lobster sauce.

My husband and I like the wider selection of Asian Buffet but we prefer Red Wok because the owner and the servers are always so friendly. Mary Dillon couldn’t make it any clearer when she said, “I learned from McDonald’s that we can do great things from a marketing and advertising perspective, but if the experience at the restaurant isn’t superior, it might not matter.”

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My Husband Almost Had to Cut My Engagement Ring!

So, it happened while I was sleeping deeply. I woke up with two welts on my ring finger. Apparently, mosquitoes sucked my blood while I was sleeping. I should have known that any bites would always result in swelling and blisters. But, I didn’t see the worst coming.

By late afternoon, my finger was indescribably red and swollen. I tried taking off my rings by using soap and lotion but I only managed to remove the wedding ring. My finger turned unrecognizably huge that the more I tried removing it, the more I got panicky. The puffiness and redness deformed my finger so badly it looked like it's taken directly from the E.T. movie.

While mosquitoes inside our house are fairly rare, we do have a lot outside. How they managed to get in was a mystery. Somehow, they got inside in the middle of the night and feasted on my finger. I was in too much pain and feeling so feverish that my husband decided to cut my engagement ring!

He was so determined to do it since he was worried that blood circulation might be affected. He assured me the ring could be replaced or fixed but, I still didn’t want to do it. I’m sure nobody would want to have their engagement ring cut into two!

For some reason, I was able to convince David to wait at least a day for the swelling to subside. I still have the blisters but my finger is a lot better now- not to mention my engagement ring is still in one piece!

Top secret revealed: Michigan's mosquitoes are the biggest I've seen ever!

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I Played at the Casino (For the Very First Time)

Photo Credit: Katrina M. Vogler

Little things in life are easy to overlook. But, when you are a Filipino who lives thousand miles away from the Philippines, spending time with other Filipinos pulls a gentle string in the heart. So, I was definitely thankful to spend our ‘Fridate’ at Little River Casino with fellow Filipinos-the beautiful as ever Katrina, the regal Ate Myrna O., the ‘luck-streak’ Susan, the caring Ate Vennie, and the sweet Ate Evie.

Filipinas in Michigan.

The seafood dinner buffet was as ostentatious as ever- a wild array of textures and tastes that featured International gastronomies. The queue was an attestation that the food and service was something worthy of visit. 

I got David's share of lobster since he doesn't eat one.

The night was full of fun- picture taking with friends, listening to a live band, and enjoying the company of Filipino friends and my husband. Most importantly, I got to try something I have never done before- play at the casinos slot machines. I wasn’t as lucky as Sue who won $37. David and I won several times but at the end lost $20. I guess casino was not our cup of tea.

Trying something I will never do again.

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The Best Ice Cream Place in Muskegon is in Whitehall!

Everyone knows that old saying, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream”. Well, not me. I don’t scream for ice cream. I am not a fan. Seriously.

David brought me to many places trying the different flavors of ice cream and I always end up not liking it. The problem? My palate is overwhelmed with too much sweetness. The swirl of colors and flavors are not appealing to my penchant at all.

So, imagine my surprise when a night of my husband’s sugar cravings brought us to the small ice cream place in Whitehall. The banana strawberry shake finally got me. Smooth dreamy real flavors rolled into one! This summer rush under the sweltering heat of the sun can be cooled down by the amazing blend of subtle sweetness available at Dairy Treat. They also have a treat for your dog so bring an extra two dollars!

Our happy place! 

Malt or shake? 

Don't forget your dog's treat! 

My husband said this is an antique picture. 

Monster sweetness! :D 

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River Tubing Adventure at Ludington State Park

Tubing (also known as inner tubing, "bumper tubing" or even toobing) is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.

The idea of a river tubing was something I didn’t really think about until I moved here in the United States. I was more of into boating and river rafting. It was my first time last year and so glad to be able to do it again today!

Sitting back in the inner tubes (except I had a tiny raft) while floating at the relaxing water for about two hours certainly belongs to everyone’s bucket list. The adventure treated us to the vibrant display of green trees and beautiful sceneries.

After the tubing, we were greeted by the beautiful water of the great Lake Michigan! Waves were so high but the water was so shallow so we had a lot of fun swimming. For the first time, the water was warm enough for my ‘tropical body’.

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How the Jellyfish Sting almost Killed My Sister

The death of a seven-year-old Filipino-Italian Gaia Trimarchi because of a jellyfish sting during an island-hopping tour in Caramoan (Philippines) brought back the memory of how my sister almost died because of having the same experience.

The little girl who was a gold medalist in swimming competitions in Italy died in her mother’s arms on the way to the hospital. She was stung by the box jellyfish, the world’s most poisonous creatures which kills 20-40 people in the Philippines every year.

The sea is treacherous and it was a painful lesson my friends and I learned several years ago…

I was awakened by a shrill of scream that penetrated the depth of the night. My eyes riveted in the darkness that shrouded me. But, no…it was more than that…the cry was familiar…I chilled when I heard it again. I wasn’t dreaming…

It was almost end of the summer when my former classmates in elementary agreed to spend an overnight swimming in a nearby town’s beach resort. Many of them were in their last days of vacation and about to be back in Manila for their studies.

I decided not to join them since I needed to finish the University requirements the following day. My parents were also quite adamant to permit us. However, after several “conscience pleadings” from my friends and prodding from my sister, I finally relented.

After dinner, one of my friends and I spent our time walking along the shore while others were swimming. Not long after, she decided to join the rest of the group and I fell asleep in the cottage.

The trip immediately turned into a nightmare.

I was trembling when I scrambled on my feet trying to figure out where the sound came from. Then, I saw a friend running while shouting my name. She told me that my sister was stung by a jellyfish also known as salabay.

I saw the group pouring her water and struggling to remove some tentacles that perforated her skin. She was screaming so loudly that I could still hear vividly the terror on her voice. She also fainted several times. We immediately brought her to the nearest hospital after being told by the cottage owner she didn’t have anything for first aid.

When we reached the hospital, she was still unconscious and her arms were swollen as if painted with ugly red lines. Her legs were also full of red stripes.

Time occurred in a haze. When we finally got home, my sister was writhing with fever. Her arms were so swollen. My friends explained to my furious parents what happened while I was in shock the whole time. She was crying non stop and she was brought again to the hospital. She stayed there for about two days but her condition only worsened. She had on and off fever and her blood pressure was so high.

It was the second night when my parents were warned my sister could not make it. We brought her to a bigger hospital in the city and she was given 24 hours to live. Despite of the pain relievers administered, she was constantly in pain.

My sister survived that traumatic accident. However, the tentacles left permanent scars on several parts of her body. Her skin was severely damaged and until now the ugly red blemishes are still visible. Don't be deceived by the beauty of the sea. Always take precautions and bring something for first aid.

What to do when you get stung by a jellyfish? Click here.

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Shocking Discovery at the Wilderness Trail

Our every day walk allows us not only the opportunity to maintain a healthy life style but also to bask on the beauty of our small town. There is no pollution, the roads are clean, and there are trails where we can walk without worrying on getting hit by cars.

That’s the luxury that I enjoy the most living here in the United States. Thus, I was deeply saddened last week when we visited this place (July 27) and found a shocking discovery. We’ve been to this area several times and we never saw it in this condition. Soda cans, plastics, and other forms of garbage were thrown in the small body of water. It was a flagrant disregard to the no littering signs all over which left us the question, why?

We saw several soda cans floating on the water. :( 

At closer look, that thing at the right corner looks like a tupperware. 

Bottles were everywhere.

I simply could not believe that it was the same place where we used to watch fish and turtles. The water was so filthy we could not see anything except garbage.

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