Wednesdays with Buena: Warrior

September 14, 2011 By 1 Comment
Twitt

Editor’s Note: Please play the video above while reading today’s post from Ms.Buenaflor Laoang. Make sure that you turn up the volume on your speaker, before you start to read. Feel it!

 

Dear Warrior,

How are you today? Have you kept up with your latest fight? Did you win? Or had you headed home with hanging shoulders?

However you have become after that battle- dear warrior, congratulate yourself. You have gone this far. And if you’ve just been on bended knees, smile. You are alive! You have a new day to greet. Get up, and bring on that bright face.

Look at your face on the mirror and see that angel with the glowing accomplishment.

Why do I believe that YOU are a warrior? Let me tell you about my story, when I thought I was simply a loser:

I have also come from many fights in this life- fights that if I tell you about, we would both spend the day crying, because you had been there too. I also wanted my teacher’s attention in grade school.. I also desired that crown in juniors/seniors’ prom..  I wanted to be in the best university teams, too… If you sighted that promotion at work, me too. I longed to be the center of attention in my home while you did in your group.. I loved to be leading everywhere I go, same as you. But– life isn’t just fair to both of us.

Most often, I finished with the same hanging shoulders, with bowed head, bended knees. At times, I even thought I lost the fight, and should not have even been into it, because I ended up surrendering, and torn.

Tired.. broken.. no power or strength left.. But when I tried to straighten my face, there I was, at the finish line! – I was able to conquer, after all.  And I was just so sure that as I came out, I had given my all with those shoulders; humbled and taught grace by the fight; and even when I thought I surrendered and did not emerge mightily strong- like hands on the air and shouting my win- I saw the beauty of leaving it all to God.  

I did not see the big fruits of achievement, but I saw seeds of bravery, courage and grace in me.

I am indeed a warrior.

And the secret is, when you leave it to Him, you are receiving much greater wins.

Warrior, if you’d listen a little to my words today- success in life is not actually about winning. Or, about taking home the gold. It’s not even about ending triumphantly with all banners and the confetti, or being staged as a hero.

Success is more apt to those who fight the battles in this life- enduring the pains and yet smiling at the seeds of honor sown in his heart. It is the warrior who ends his fights quietly, but soon those he saved will come out and speak about his deeds of stopping at them and giving his life. It is you who slipped through the backdoor – like no one ever noticed – but without whose contribution the army will not reach the end quite fine.

Have you once thought- like me- that you’ve constantly lost, always a failure? What had those battles in life left you, or in you? Or, how did they make you? Your answers shall determine how successful you have become.

I salute you. Because a warrior, no matter what, is a warrior. You go through the battles of life. You hold the courage to fight. You are headed to finish with honor. You may surrender, but you succeed. You succeed in risking to endure, you succeed in getting it done.

WARRIOR- you are my best definition of success- because you are a SURVIVOR- not just of yourself, but for the lives of many others.

Succeed, warrior. There is no way to lose your fight.

Love,

Buena

 

About the Writer: Buenaflor Laoang, “Buena” for short is a writer by heart. She can not live without writing alongside her family and her three adorable kids. In fact, when she was sick recently her pain reliever was her writing. Truly, therapeutic writing works best for a writer her calibre. Her works have been published on literary e-zines in the Philippines.

Filed Under: VIDEOS, Wednesdays with Buena Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Day 70: The first 30 seconds

August 25, 2011 By 4 Comments
Twitt

Photo: Shem Pablo

The first thirty seconds is for the ultra efficient person.

Maybe also for the mega successful person.

Probably for the metro social as well.

Most importantly, this is for YOU!

And… this is how the first seconds is very crucial for you.

When you have an idea, you’ve got the first thirty seconds to play around with and decide what to do with that idea. The first five seconds is when you have the a-ha moment. The time when you feel like you are a winner; that you have a winning idea right on your fingertips. It is very easy and quick to identify whether you’ve got that one great idea, at that particular moment. Then, the next few seconds – between another five to twenty seconds – is your action call! This is the time, when you need to act on it. And the first action that goes along with the positive attitude that you have towards your idea is to jump, hop, crawl, grope for some writing utensils. Yes, grabbing a piece of paper and also a writing utensil takes about ten seconds. Once, you have that – you move on with the remaining of your thirty seconds.

Let us do our simple math here – which means that you have about 15 more seconds left. The last fifteen seconds is for you to write your idea. You know it is brilliant and you know that it is god-sent! You do not know why in the first place it came right out of your head. You just had it!

So, why don’t you write it down? Writing down that/those ideas will take about fifteen seconds.

If you didn’t capture your idea within that time frame, guess what – somebody just lost the game? You lost it!

The next time, you have that burning feeling that this is THE IDEA – work on that thirty seconds. It is very crucial. You would know that it is brilliant, because your inner self will tell you so.

Thirty seconds means your life.

Thirty seconds could be your future!

Daily with you,

- Alpha

If you enjoyed reading this post, please share this to  your friends on FACEBOOK or DIGG. Thank you for continuing the cycle of inspiration, motivation and success!

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Day 69: Friendship

August 24, 2011 By 7 Comments
Twitt

 

Photo: Michaela Cruz-Ungos (Teacher Mica)

Starting this week, we will be featuring a guest writer who will share his/her ideas of inspiration, motivation and success.

This week, MS. BUENAFLOR LAOANG joins us with an empowering letter addressed to me. You will read her thoughts here on a regular basis. She’ll be sharing her amazing gift from her own desk in Tarlac, Philippines. She’ll be with us across the globe once a week. This will be for midweek present for all of us. On Wednesdays, we’ll be with Buena – Wednesdays with Buena.

Starting today…

This is what she has in store for us:

Dear Alpha,

The very moment I received your message inviting me to contribute to your blog, I was mouth-open.

 First, it’s huh?!

Why me? Did you believe I was the right person? Can I commit to it because, I have all the reason to say NO—my tight schedule, anxiety if I could do it as to others’ expectations, and so on..

But, your message also brought with it- appreciation, encouragement, confidence, trust… friendship, that added a glow to my face.

And if I’d be asked what is the first thing for me behind all aspirations, motivations, successes (as your blog is all about), it’s FRIENDSHIP.

Yes, that’s the key word. Friendship. Anyone can e-mail me who disagrees.

As I was telling, I felt incompetent about doing it. I have every reason not to do it.  I can just say no.

But you led me to say, YES.

Why? Because of your genuine friendship. Along with it- the acceptance, appreciation, confidence, warmth, trust… that no money can buy.

For the invitation I say, thank you. To share inspiration, yes I’ll do it.

You inspire me to.

You motivate me to.

It’s your friendship.

 Love,

Manang Buena

Filed Under: INSPIRATION, Photos by Michaela Cruz-Ungos, Relationships, Wednesdays with Buena Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Day 25: Have it your way

July 7, 2011 By 2 Comments
Twitt

Yes, this is from Burker King’s famous advertising line! Does it work? Sure it does, many folds. I remember hearing the story behind this phrase and how it revolutionized the way people’s orders are being taken. When I look back, it sure does make people happier, including me.

A few days ago on our way up to NH, we stopped by a BK joint in Tilton,NH for a quick bite. As I placed our order, I asked the staff member if I could get the milk for Tala’s kiddie meal order instead of the apple juice and her reply was, “You can order anything you want. You’ll have it your way!” then, she smiled as she punched in our final order.

Looking at the previous scenario made me really think about one of the concepts in the book, The Secret  by Rhonda Bryne which I read many moons ago. In one of the chapters there, it was stated that whatever you ask the universe, the universe will respond to you the way you had formulated your question. For example, if you wanted a Haymarket Burberry bag in medium size – you must really put this exact image of this particular brand to the universe (in the form of positive thinking,affirmations, etc.) and the universe will respond back, exactly how you send out to the world.

It is like ordering food- you have to really know first what you want and then place your order. Once you have placed your order, you are going to really love what you ordered and be excited about it – after all, you’ve paid money and was craving to have your orders fulfilled perfectly!

So, if you want something – place your “order” any way you like it.

But be careful what you ask for, you might just get it.

 

- Alpha

 

If you enjoyed reading this post, please share this to  your friends on FACEBOOK or DIGG. Thank you for continuing the cycle of inspiration, motivation and success!

 

Filed Under: Aspirations, Dreams, Goal setting, Positive Thinking, Success Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,