Greatest Love of All: Remembering Whitney Houston (Aug 9, 1963 - Feb 11, 2012)

   


     Having no time and effort to watch or read the news, Facebook proved useful in delivering the shocking news of Whitney Houston's sudden death. She died of unknown and undisclosed reason at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on February 11, 2012, just a day before the 54th Grammy Awards. The stage was then set to give tribute to this legendary artist with one of the great voices the world has ever known.

     When I was a little girl, during my elementary days, I remember singing Whitney's Greatest Love of All in front of the class. And I did this more than twice. Those were the days when I still could sing pretty well, I guess. It's my favorite piece at that time.

     This song empowers us, teaches us that all we need is love. It makes us see that in the face of trials, we can survive on our own, that love can really keep us alive. We just have to remember that it all starts with learning to love our self. This may not be as easy as it sounds for some people, but Nothing Is Impossible to the one who BELIEVES.

     Thinking about it now, this song would have helped Whitney in overcoming her self-destructive behavior. It may be too late for her, but for the others who are feeling lost and beaten down, there's still HOPE.

Here's the chorus of this song:

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow

If I fail, if I succeed, at least I'll live as I believe

No matter what they take from me

They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all

Is happening to me

I found the greatest love of all inside of me

The greatest love of all

Is easy to achieve

Learning to love yourself

Is the greatest love of all

     Whitney, you will not be forgotten. Thank you for your songs that move and empower  today's women. 

This "Girl From Hell" Needs Help

     I'm having this bad PMS (again!), and believe me, I break someone's heart every month because of this. When this curse takes over me, I turn into a witch bitch and ruin someone's life, and then feel sorry afterwards. To be honest, there were a few very bad decisions that I've made on impulse (courtesy of my raging hormones), which, when I think about it now, caused my life to be a bit messy.

     Imagine this happening every month. If you're the unlucky one who is the object of my outbursts and endless drama, even if you know I'm just having my period, you wouldn't put up with me for long. I wouldn't put up with me, too.


     My diagnosis:

             Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

     According to Mr. Wiki, Women with PMDD suffers from anger, anxiety and depression. Other symptoms, which can be disabling, include:

• feelings of deep sadness or despair
• feelings of intense tension or anxiety
• increased intense sensitivity to rejection or criticism
• rapid and severe mood swings
• bouts of uncontrollable crying
• lasting irritability or anger
• increased interpersonal conflicts (sufferers are unaware of the impact they have on people close to them)
• disinterest in daily activities and relationships
• chronic fatigue
• insomnia or hypersomnia
• increased need for emotional closeness

     It's not that I'm using this to rationalize my regular tendency to ruin my life and those dearest to me. I know what's wrong, but I can't control what I'm feeling, saying, and doing when I'm having my period (this usually happens a week before my period starts).  Little Red Riding Hood turns into the Bad Wolf.


Treatment


     Desperately looking for a cure, I stumbled upon some articles and online forums about women suffering from PMDD. The good news is, there are ways to treat this or alleviate its effects, such as:

• regular exercise
• balanced diet
• vitamin B6
• some SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (a form of antidepressant)
• birth control pills
• acupuncture
• homeopathic treatment

LOVE is Always the Best Cure


     But for me, the best cure is lots of TLC! More love, extra care, and lots and lots of understanding and attention.

     Loving a woman with PMDD may be hard. But if you love her dearly,  then it's no big thing.

Shower her with all the love and attention and understanding she needs. 

Never ignore her. That will just drive her away. 

Hug her and tell her it's okay, it will pass.

Let her cry if she wants to, for whatever reason. 

Buy her favorite ice cream and chocolates (Choco Almond Fudge, Coffee Crumble, Kisses with Almonds).

Don't let her walk out the door. You'll never know what she's capable of doing.

Listen to her outbursts. She's just feeling down at the moment. 

Always forgive her afterwards. She doesn't mean to hurt you. 

Don't let her do anything stupid, something that will ruin her life, or yours.

Ask her out on a date, watch a movie or something.

Sing to her.

Cook her favorite meal. 

Give her lots of kisses.

Tell her you love her every 10 minutes. 

This list is endless! But you know where it's going... this Girl From Hell needs your help.





Images are from Google

The One Who Made Me Believe

     Not so long ago, in the four corners of our office, I saw this guy with long curly hair and sleepy eyes -- and a goatee. He smiles all the time and so I thought to myself, "Is he nuts? No. He's probably just a really nice guy." Well, I thought he's cute. And really, really nice... hhmm...

     Then, a few months later, we became friends. Our friendship started over a few bottles of beer with his college friends at Mogwai, a historic place in Cubao Expo where you get to see all the cool people: artists, musicians, poets, mountaineers, activists, and the wannabes. We're one of the lucky ones who have spent some crazy and loud nights in that place before it was forced to shut down. Sadly.
   
     Our friendship blossomed into something else that we didn't know what to call at first. We weren't sure what we were doing. All we knew was that we want to be with each other every day. We're happy together.
   
     Until that time came, when we realized that we're inlove. Everything started to change. We loved and argued. We laughed and cried. We broke up and reconciled many times. But in the end, we promised to never be apart.
   
     That promise to keep our love strong and positive is the inspiration for this new blog.

                     New year.
                    
                     New perspective.
                    
                     New blog. 

     This nice guy, who looks like a surfer dude by the way,  knew what I needed when he designed my blog. He showed me the things that make my life meaningful --- my daughter, our love and friendship, even my favorite accessories. Unlike my first blog, this one has colors in it, telling me that my life is not dull and there is hope for a brighter, colorful future.

     I'm so lucky to have met this guy and to have him in my life until now.

                       He made me believe. 

                      He made me choose to love.    

P.S.
Kathy, this is not a blog about my love life, solely. Don't worry. I have other things going on in my life right now. I'm a busy bee :) Carlo helped me understand that it's about time to look at things in a positive light. And this blog is his gift to me. And this is now my instrument and my medium to show the others that It Is Possible If We Believe It.