This old adage is commonly heard especially in the advent of researches supporting healthy diet and good nutrition. It is quite simple to understand but by the mechanisms to which how this works may not be as simple as it is. These mechanisms and how they affect our behavior will be the focus of this blogpost. You eat well you feel well This is perhaps standard belief about food. What we take into our body will start a series of reactions that dictate the functioning of our organs as a whole. Nutritionists recommends everything in moderation, not entirely removing one food group because in a way even bad stuffs have purpose in the body. That is even bad cholesterol which has fatty acids that make up the protective linings of our organs. These cholesterol are not just the sole source of these fatty acids, but nevertheless, they could provide one. But excessive intake of food containing bad cholesterol would probably clog our arteries, reducing the amount of circulated oxygen need...
Living in Norway for over 2 years, I have often encountered questions about the languages I speak. I usually answered I speak Norwegian, English and two Filipino languages. Then, people start asking if the second Filipino language is a dialect of the other. Given my mother tongue is Cebuano, the second language referred, I abruptly debunk the misconcept that it is a mere dialect. My most common explanation is that all Filipinos speak the Filipino language, but those who only learn to speak Filipino have difficult time understanding or communicating with one speaking Cebuano. Throughout the span of my childhood, I got to grasp the political and cultural differences of Filipinos speaking Filipino language or Tagalog as referred by most, and those coming from the Southern Philippines speaking Cebuano. The language in itself has become the boundary between the two groups of people. Due to their innate differences, misunderstandings result, not because of mere language confusion, but of cu...
Non-verbal communication is an essential part in a society, as well as understanding the values the community believe in. This reflects a good overview of how communication and tradition have evolved through time. These expressions are never constant, such that meaning changes from time to time, and is greatly affected by the events or the kind of environment one belongs in. Filipinos, being a society with mixed Asian and Western influences have unique facial and body expressions. These are the focus of this blogpost. 1. Silent stare Stares could mean evil look for Filipinos. It may indicate sarcasm or manipulation. It is considered rude to this, especially when in a conversation because it may also indicate disinterest or disrespect. 2. Lip/Eye pointing This is quiet funny gesture common not just in the rural areas, but also in urban communities. It is quiet hard to explain the direction in verbal language, so it is better to point them vaguely, interestingly with the use of lips,...
Moving to a new country can be both exhilarating and challenging. When I arrived in Norway, I faced the daunting task of adapting to a new culture, a foreign language, and building a life from the ground up. In those early days, the mantra "en dag om gangen," which translates to "one day at a time," became my guiding light. The Arrival: A World of Uncertainty Stepping off the plane in Norway, I was immediately struck by the unfamiliar surroundings and the realization that I was far from home. The Norwegian language, with its melodic but mystifying sounds, posed a formidable barrier. I had no work lined up, and I didn't know a soul I could trust to help me navigate this new chapter of my life. It was a daunting prospect, to say the least. Learning the Language: Babysteps to Communication One of the first and most crucial challenges was the language barrier. Learning Norwegian was essential not only for daily communication but also for securing...
Imagine a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis, emerging from its cocoon as a majestic butterfly. This metamorphosis represents metanoia, a process of shedding old limitations and embracing new possibilities. Similarly, in human experience, metanoia manifests as a journey of self-discovery and growth. This is the focus of this blogpost. Metanoia, a term originating from Greek, encapsulates the profound concept of transformative change. It signifies a shift in one's mindset, a deep inner transformation leading to a fundamental change in perspective, beliefs, and behaviors. Examples of metanoia include personal growth. A person stuck in negative thought patterns and self-limiting beliefs can experience metanoia through therapy or self-reflection. They let go of fear and embrace self-compassion, leading to greater confidence and fulfillment. In addition, society often undergoes metanoia, catalyzed by collective movements or paradigm shifts. For instance, the civil rights m...
Since December last year, I have been immersing myself on learning French and Spanish. It may not be the most practical thing to learn two languages at the same time, but I think that consistent efforts could be the key. This approach has proven effective for me in the past, and currently I am hoping would work again to my advantage. This known as the Seinfeld Technique, which is the focus of this blogpost. Seinfield technique is named after comedian Jerry Seinfeld, is a simple yet powerful productivity method built on one principle: don’t break the chain. Originally intended for writing jokes daily, Seinfeld’s method involves marking an X on a calendar each day you complete a task—and then refusing to break the streak. In language learning, this approach can be a game-changer. It shifts the focus from dramatic effort to steady, daily exposure, turning progress into a habit rather than a hurdle. Imagine a language learner who commits to practicing Spanish for just 15 minut...
Today (November 30) marks the birth anniversary of the known Filipino hero Andres Bonifacio. Many including me are used to hearing Bonifacio's name but never really got to deepen the appreciation and knowledge about him. There were controversies and unresolved issues regarding the motivation, personality and death of Bonifacio; but in this blogpost, the focus would rather be on the learnings we could possibly derive from the story of Bonifacio and how we could reflect on it when applied on our own respective lives. Family and friends first At the age of 14, Bonifacio needed to stop going to private school to support his five other siblings because both their parents died of illness in a duration of a year. Because of this, he earned a living for his family until his siblings had been regularly employed thereafter. On the other hand, by mere impression, Bonifacio treated Rizal as a friend or as an important person of the Filipino revolution. Motivated by this, Bonifacio with his c...
Before I became a nurse, teacher, licensed real estate appraiser, I became first as a mathematics lover. Some consider me a geek then, but I was not, I just simply love the logic of mathematics. Now, I can say my mathematics skills have deteriorated significantly, when I am confronted with numbers, I do not leave my chair not until I somehow figure out what could be the problem. So, why then mathematics is difficult to many of us? Is there something can be done? Mathematics is much more than counting and simple arithmetic. It is a cumulative science in which new results are built upon and depend on earlier results. Humans have accumulated a huge amount of mathematical knowledge – far more than a person can learn in a lifetime, even if the person spent all of their time studying mathematics. This history perhaps will give us the impression the necessity of mathematics. We may not appreciate the subject, but it useful because without it, the world will end up in chaos,...
Conozco is a Spanish term for knowing. Conozco Pablo literally means "I know Pablo." Through my blogposts, one will understand my personal and social perspective. In the past two years of blogging, I have already written exactly 200 posts by now. There are several themes revolving around life, emotions, relationships, social issues and travel. Those topics maybe irrelevant from each other, but all articles are deeply associated with my experiences and from where I come from. Not long ago, I was struggling for a decent future and even with supporting my family's needs. I strongly believed that through doing good in school, I would be successful in life through hardwork and determination. From that dream I had and to where I stand now, I could say the distance I traveled was quite long enough. It took a lot of effort, luck and guts, but I am happy on what I have become - imperfect, changing for the better but satisfied. If I could make an analogy of my life in the ...
There are many who consider morality as subjective. What is moral to one may not be moral to the other. Due to its subjective nature, morality has been a source of conflict as the majority in a certain society indirectly dictates what the rest of the population should follow. This results morality becoming a primitive source of laws, ethics and tradition. Although these terms are not the same, morality is well-associated with them. The challenge of morality is to describe what is moral in a particular society. This description has been product of various sociocultural influences, which include the role of family, value on autonomy and ofcourse religion. In most societies, some aspects are stronger than the other. This variation causes sometimes misunderstandings among individuals with contrasting moral values. Furthermore, the complexity of describing what is moral eases with the use of core values. This core values somehow encompass what a certain social group honors and believes for...
Comments
Post a Comment