Reader's Corner: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

This book had a simple and profound message - that each one of us is connected to one another, 

and whatever we do will have an effect to the next person.Yet another Mitch Albom classic.

And my favorite quote *paragraph* from the bestseller:

"Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, that's all. You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those weakens, another heightens.

Memory. Memory becomes your partner.

You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it."

"Life has to end. Love doesn't."

Life is indeed wonderful.

Readers Corner: Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

Over the weekend, I spent my free time reading this bestseller. Given it's a Mitch Albom, it's inspiring and heartwarming.The story revolves around two preachers, their journeys which cultivated their faith and a request for a eulogy. This book gave me a new perspective on how to lead my life, in faith and in continuous hope. I wrote down a lot of notes and quotes, one of which is -'you may find there is something beautiful to learn, and it doesn't bite you and it doesn't weaken you, it only proves a divine spark lies inside each of us. And that spark may one day save the world". Enlightening, yes?

I'm in awe at how much I have learned and changed(for the better) these past months. Life is an everyday classroom where I meet people who serves as teachers, students or most of the time, both. I am eternally grateful for this existence.
More books coming up!

Reader's Corner: Fifty Shades Series - Grey, Darker & Freed by E.L. James

When I said that Twilight is real deal sweet, romantic, the works, it means I haven't read Fifty Shades yet.

Fifty Shades, in case you haven't heard yet, is an erotic fiction novel which has been making noises all over the world due to its popularity(especially among women) and the controversies that it produced.
Love stories are my weakness so I just had to gave in to the fad and try one book. The rest is history.

It's the usual boy-meets-girl, boy-sweep-her-off-her-feet, plus relationship-ups-and-downs story but it was so captivating, I find it hard to put the bestseller down. I guess it worked for a lot of lady readers because girls being girls, wishes to be treated, cared for and loved the way the main guy, Christian Grey, treats, cares for and loves Anastasia Steele. Oh well, it worked for me that way. Theirs is a relationship so ideal in the cheesy, lovey dovey sense, it makes me giddy and root for their tandem. Though personally, I would not want to be in such relationship in reality because I find it too complicated and suffocating. (I'm so having haters for saying this. Ha ha ha.) There were sexual scenes, which caused a stir globally, but it did not bother me because I've been through more opening book experiences before.
To sum it up, reading the trilogy was a sweet escape.

The main characters in the story shared a lot of firsts in their relationship. As for me and my 'short fling' with Fifty, it was my first set of e-books and the very first time I finished a trilogy in a weekend's span.
That being said, can I just thank my friends Sheshe & Potxee for supplying me with my copies? I enjoyed them to bits. Now, I have to get back to my actuality of zero Christian Grey and continue striving for my happiness in the here and now.

Laters, baby!

Sidetrip: Pamarta Bali Resort, Bataan

On a rainy August Sunday, my office mates and I travelled up north to Bataan for a quick getaway.
We went for a day of relaxation, over food, videoke and swimming, at Pamarta Bali Resort in Morong. The three hour travel time was worth the beauty of the lush surroundings on the way and back, the fun conversations shared, the nice ambiance of the resort, and the great company of my buddies. I liked the Bali-inspired resort theme, the infinity pool that faces the beach, the nipa hut cottages and the nature feel of the environment. It isn't overcrowded. Plus factor was passing by Subic, where I haven't been to in a long time. It would have been better minus the downpour but it was a good way to rejuvenate, away from work.
I love weekend trips and though it's costly, to travel is worth any cost and sacrifice.

Reader's Corner: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

After a stressful Monday at work, I went home only to see this big blue book in my cabinet, with a note from my stepmom. My stepmom loves giving me books and articles once in a while and when I read the shouting title, 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff', I was in tears because I had a bad day. When I started to browse the book, which opened to the page where the bookmark is placed, the title of the chapter was "Life is a test. It is only a test". I was crying and immediately called my parents to share how the thoughtful gesture turned around a horrible point in my life and thanked them for being there and for knowing what I needed.
As stated in my previous posts, May and June had been tough months for me. I was really down and I succumb to my parents for advices. This book is a tangible proof of how much they care for me.

'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' Omnibus is a collection of articles, one lesson for each, with the same approach as that of Regina Brett's God Never Blinks(which I liked too). There are hundreds of insights and thoughts which will help you address every day 'challenges', how to manage them and be the one in control, and see the world in a lighter perspective. Being the over-thinker that I am, this book is a great help to relax myself and made me realize that the problems I thought were problems, challenges I thought were there to bring me down, were just little stuff that I don't need to stress about because I'm bigger than all of them. I'm the one in control, after all. That it's just all in the mind.

I haven't finished the entire book because I only read 5-10 articles each day so I can absorb and reflect more upon each lesson. I read them in the mornings, during breakfast time, as a positive welcome to a new day. I recommend this to everyone because it provides you a newer perspective to your existence(and the package that comes along with it), gives doable advices on how to treat each occurrence and the approach is simple, straight to the point and understandable. You'll learn a lot, no sweat.