“LEO-Looking back gives you confidence to move forward. Learn from all your mistakes.Looking back can be very educational and enlightening today. You’ll notice a real pattern of behavior that will help you move forward. This is a day to be confident of your decisions — don’t worry about what other people think of you. Walking forward with confidence might take a bit of false bravado at first, but once you get a sense of comfort with your new swagger, you’ll never be meek or mild again. Your growing strength will ensure that mistakes you’ve made in the past will not be repeated.”

That’s an excerpt from my daily “prescription” of horoscope. I have to admit, I read horoscopes. It’s not that I believe in them, but for me it’s like a form of a guide, especially if the reading is good. But if the reading is bad, I don’t dwell on it, I take it as a challenge to improve myself.

For some reason, it seems like my horoscope reading always come true and most of the time tells what exactly the situation that I’m in. Horoscope reading for me is just an entertainment for the brain. It could be some sort of food for thought also.

Yesterday was ‘inventory day’ at work. And that’s a ‘first’ one for me, especially now that i’m in the retail business. I’ve done inventories (or audit) before, but this one is very different (very different from an office environment)…it’s very tiring and stressfull! not to mention that the inventory finished around 2:30 am! whew! I was soooo tired.

Last night was like an initiation of fire for me, I was working alone for the most part of the night, and while doing my preparations and stuff, i was constantly thinking of how the inventory for my department would look like. I was also nervous, coz I didn’t know what to expect.

And then the mayhem started…”SKU check!”…”SKU check!”….”SKU check!”…my gosh! I thought it will never end. I realized that I made several mistakes and ‘oops’. ‘Oops’ that me and my team mates should have corrected before. But that’s a water under the bridge now… i have to move on and  i’ve learned my lesson. Thanks to my fellow workmates who helped me, kudos to you all!

Thanks to my mom for all of those food for thoughts that she’s been feeding me since childhood. One of them is: “Little things matter”.It helped me alot as a person and how to interact with other people.

I try not to forget to pay close attention to the little things that make such a big difference…the smile that means so much to another person, the extra effort I give to a project, or the little touch of creativity that makes my work shine. A simple gesture, like the hi’s and hellos we give to another person, even though we don’t really know them…really makes such a big difference. It might help the other person to brighten up his day but most of all, that good feeling you feel inside, like a natural high or something.

Being a Filipino Catholic, I was brought up with this tradition (which I don’t know if we’re the only ones who are doing it): Like making a sign of the cross everytime I pass a church. I make no exceptions, even when I’m walking or inside a car or even when I’m riding my bike, I make sure that I make that sign. That little touch of gesture makes me feel that I am always safe from harm, I don’t know why, but it does. It also serves me a reminder that I am always blessed and cared for.

I also try to not to forget to pay attention to the little things and gestures that others give me. Even though that little thing doesn’t mean anything to them but it does to me. A personal email from a friend just to say hi ( a real breather from all the spams and forwarded emails that I get regularly in my inbox), those small gestures of thoughtfulness, appreciation and encouragement from others really means alot. I don’t demand all these things, in fact I don’t expect them to happen to me alot…but it really makes my day when I get them, especially if i have little or no expectations at all. Let’s call it a little ’surprise’ for me.

One of Kit’s many endearing qualities is the way he gives me little reminders. I call it ‘thoughtfulness’. Kit knows about the signing of the cross thing that i always make everytime we pass a church. This morning, and everytime he gets the chance, he would remind me that we are about to pass by a church and that it’s time for me to do my thing. That little gesture, really matters to me. He made me feel that he cares.