Have you given yourself these ‘gifts’?

How simple it is to feel good if we only open our eyes, our thoughts, our hearts to how we really feel!

Very often we feel guilty about giving more to ourselves because of all the things we need to do. It seems there is no time to "give in" to what will give us pleasure.

I’ve realized more than ever that we owe it to ourselves to feel good. It is a gift we should give to ourselves. These are some of the "gifts" I’ve given to myself these past weeks and I’ve been feeling wonderful ever since.

Go back

Recall a forgotten joy from your childhood and carry that feeling with you all day.

I thought of my Dad picking me up every Sunday and taking me to Aristocrat along Roxas Blvd. Where we would eat an adobo flying saucer sandwich. "Ay ang sarap nun." We would sit outside, me sitting on his lap under those big umbrellas.

Recalling made me feel like a little girl again. My Daddy’s little girl.

Watch the rain

On a rainy afternoon, my daughter Arabella and I sat outside and watched the raindrops fall. They looked like stars as they hit the ground. She wore her orange rain boots and I my jacket. We snuggled and marveled at each raindrop. But more than that, it felt magical sitting beside me my little girl and watching one of God’s miracles.

Smile at a stranger

Giving a smile and getting one in return feels very nice.

You never know how your smile can affect another person. Maybe that’s what they needed that very minute and you gave it.

Indulge in your own company

Be with yourself. Do anything or don’t do anything. I find my space at home and just sit there and do nothing. Sometimes I just close my eyes and feel I get in touch with myself, feeling anything and everything.

Delight in the small stuff

Feeling good doesn’t have to mean doing big things. Removing my makeup after a day’s work, cleaning my face, I feel really good. Removing my socks after a workout and resting my tired feet make me realize I trained hard. Knowing I took care of my body makes me feel even better.

A hot towel on your face after a tiring day also feels so good.

Be silly

The other day I danced with my children, copying their moves, feeling awkward at times because I couldn’t follow them, laughing when they imitated me and just enjoying being silly.

I feel like a child again. We should never lose our being childlike. Let go and discover how uplifting it can be.

Have fun with a camera

Just the other day I checked my camera and found out I still had seven shots. My daughter Arabella wanted to take some. Part of me said "Sayang naman baka kung ano lang ang kunan," but a bigger part of me wanted her to have fun. And I must admit I was excited to find out what she would take and how she would come out.

I allowed her to snap away. Boy, did she have fun (and I did, too). She asked me to pretend I was asleep and I did. She took a fun photo of my rubber shoes, my coffee mug and a slice of my whole wheat bread. She even took a photo of the toilet being flushed. Funny talaga siya. Then of course she posed and asked me to take pictures of her.

What fun we had. We were so happy that we promised we’ll do it again.

Giggle

Giggling and laughing are like aerobics for the soul. Find something, anything to laugh about and you will feel better immediately. I laugh at myself, at the stupid and crazy things I do sometimes. It is healthy to laugh.

Create

Creating anything is one of the greatest pleasures of all. I marvel at my daughter Arabella because she creates anything out of everything.

I give her scraps of paper and she’d find something to turn them into. Different shapes, different sizes. Tissue paper she’d soak in the water and let it dry and wait to see what shape it will take after.

We had fabric paint and she asked for an old T-shirt of mine and made designs. How happy she was when she finished it, but even happier when I wore it.

After watching her complete something, seeing the joy in her face is a wonder.

Sing

Sing loudly and enthusiastically and if you’ve been feeling low, you won’t anymore after singing a few bars.

My daughter Rikki Mae heard a song at her Ate Issa’s house the other night. She liked it so much that everyday on her way to school she would sing it so loud, marveling at how she would reach the high notes at the end of the song.

My youngest daughter Arabella would pretend she would be annoyed, covering her ears and her Ate’s mouth, but would be singing the song herself later on.

It surely lifted their spirits and put us all in a good mood.

Say ‘thank you’

It feels good to be appreciated. A thank you from my eldest Kenneth made my night.

I took them to Rockwell two Sundays ago. It was a typical outing. Going around, playing billiards, bowling, eating. But on our way home, Ken turned to me and said, "Thank you, Mama." I asked, "Thank you for what, son?" "Just thank you for today," he replied. It was a simple thank you but I felt so appreciated. My heart became warm with joy.

Say thank you for the simplest things. Kenneth’s thank you filled me with happiness.

Life is short, often complex. Find pleasure in the things you do. Savor every moment. Taste Life! Welcome everything that comes your way. Living is about experiencing everything. Feel good! It is a gift we should give ourselves and others.

(E-mail the author at babyjackster@yahoo.com)