Gleniz da Menace
I was doing my very late mid-year review a while ago (yet to be published) at after kong matuwa sa mga na-accomplish kong goals, na-stress ako after. Dun kasi sa 13 goals na sinet ko in the beginning of the year, dalwa lang yung fail, tapos isa na lang yung natitirang work in progress. So parang sa isip ko, isa na lang? Meron pang 4 months na natitira this year. Ano pang dapat kong gawin?
I forgot who or what influenced me to read this book but I’m so happy, and also lucky, that I picked it up. I have no expectations. I have no prior knowledge of Mary Oliver. But when I started reading the first few pages, I was captivated. Her writing is so delicate and beautiful. There were lots of moments where I needed to pause just to savor the words. Where I find myself smiling and taking a deep sigh. This book calms me and invigorates me at the same time.
Iba ang tama sakin ni Mary. Nakaka-ilang pages pa lang ako sa libro nya, bumili ako agad ng physical copy. Sobrang rare ko bumili ng physical copy ng libro. Nire-reserve ko lang sya sa mga librong sobrang nagustuhan ko at plano kong ulit-ulitin. Tapos Black Friday pa nun so ang mura nung hardcover, swerte.
This was our book pick last May. So more than 8 months ago na. Grabe ang bilis ng panahon. Since 8 months ago na, wala na akong masyadong maalala. Kaya dapat talaga nagno-notes ako habang nagbabasa. Dalwang bagay lang talaga yung nag-stand out sakin:
READ THIS BOOK IF…
May shinare yung author about sa lola nya:
She told me to enjoy my youth, to savor the feeling of being young. Adults, she said, always ruined things. Don’t grow up, she said. Never grow up.
Lola nung author
Wala naman ako masyadong realization about dun sa sinabi ng lola nya. Shinare ko lang kasi interesting and I kind of agree. Wag maging laging seryoso sa buhay. Minsan kelangan natin maging playful at mag-try ng mga bagay bagay. Kasi ang mga bata diba laging curious.
READ THIS IF…
Lately nagkaron ako ng ‘health and wellness phase’ so naghanap ako ng mga libro under this genre. Meron kasi akong mga karamdaman pero hindi naman malala. Pero ang dami. Yung isa medyo malala pala kasi twice na kong na-surgery dahil don pero manageable naman as of now. At ayoko nang mas dumami pa at maoperahan ulit so biglang isang araw na lang, sobrang naging aware ako dun sa mga existing medical issues ko kaya gusto kong mas maging proactive pagdating sa health ko.
Isang naisip ko nga ay magbasa ng mga libro about promoting health at ang isang napili ko ay ito ngang The Whole-Body Microbiome. Ang subtitle nya ay: How to Harness Microbes—Inside and Out—for Lifelong Health.
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Convinced? Click to buy on Amazon.
Etong book na ‘to ay nominee sa Gleniz’s Best Read of 2021 Award. Ganun ko sya nagustuhan. Siguro right book at the right time din. Nung binabasa ko ‘to ang daming moments na gusto ko munang tumigil para namnamin at ramdamin yung impact nung sinabi. Short lang yung book pero medyo nagtagal akong basahin kasi ayokong matapos.
This book answers a lot of my personal questions. I’m so happy na finally naisipan kong basahin ‘to kahit feeling ko noon wala ako masyadong mapupulot. Tapos hindi pa nakatulong na hindi ko ganun kanagustuhan yung Eat, Pray, Love. Pero buti na lang. Eto yung mga tanong na nasagot:
Sa personal reading journey ko, yung non-fiction book na pinaka nag-cause ng mental strain sakin ay yung book ni Neil Postman na Amusing Ourselves to Death. Pero grabe ‘tong book na ‘to. Sobrang dense. Hindi ko kinakaya. Ang daming studies, experiments, statistics at word problems. Grabe talaga.
Nevertheless, eto yung mga natutunan ko sa librong ‘to:
READ THIS IF…
Already convinced? Click to buy on Amazon.
During the course of reading the book, I think I experienced equal parts of annoyance and admiration. There were a lot of comments about her being self-absorbed (and a ton other hateful adjectives) but in her defense, she didn’t travel the world to become a philanthropist (although did everyone forget about the fundraising she did?)
I think there’s nothing wrong with dedicating an entire year just for yourself if you’ve been through something that you feel is extremely painful. And whether people understand it or not (I know I didn’t), it’s none of their business.
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I discovered this book through a YouTuber. Interested ako sa money matters kasi ayaw namin na maging problema ang pera pag retired na kami. Gusto kong maging prepared sa mga pwedeng mangyari. When it comes to budgeting, lahat ng expenses namin up to the very last cent naka-track. Pero lumalagpas pa din kami sa budget. Dumating yung point na na-frustrate ako. Parang wala naman effect yung expense tracking ko. So mas lalo akong naging interested sa book na ‘to kasi parang kulang pa yung alam ko pagdating sa pag-manage ng pera.
Lahat naman tayo gusto na pag nag-retire tayo, sapat yung pera natin. Pero feeling ko kasi hindi pa ko sobrang knowledgeable para ma-achieve yung financial independence. Ang hirap nung gusto mo lang pero hindi mo naman inaalam kung pano. Kaya curious ako kung anong matuturo ng book na ‘to. And gusto ko rin yung title kasi hindi sya yung tipong, “How to be a Millionaire in 90 Days” (whut) or “How to be Filthy Rich”. Gusto ko yung The Psychology of Money.
To rephrase an old saying: everyone talks about retirement, but apparently very few do anything about it.
Gleniz da Menace