Today (woops, Thursday) is Thanksgiving day. And in the spirit of Thanksgiving this year, I am publishing five things for which I am grateful (and then some life lessons too).
I am grateful for…
1. My wonderful family– for putting up with an insane relative– me! My mom is the most wonderful woman I know, always giving and never asking for anything in return. I am thankful because I always had an abundance of her love and her never-ending concern :). Oh, and those free trips *hehehe*. My siblings and my sil, for always being there for me and my own family. My ils, for being totally cool and groovy to hang with. And of course my DH and kids, for adding that special oomph to my life 🙂 I am really thankful to have them around. My family is my best friend!
2. All the people who work for me and the people I have worked with. Seeing how I’m always out and about, the people who work for me in my home are the ones who keep it all together. I am grateful to have such a wonderful tight “family” within my home. They taught me so much, in that no matter what happens to me– i.e. should I succeed in my *cough non-existent* career, that I never forget the people who helped me along the way. I haven’t, and I never will forget them, nor will I be ashamed of them. So if you are riding high on the career wave, make sure not to be too arrogant because you can be pulled down from your high horse anytime *heaven forbid you lose your job that pays for the bills and all those bags, right?*. Those people (you failed to acknowledge) who helped you in the past, could very well be the people who will help you one day. Heck you never know, they might be the one with connections too, so never ever treat them like dirt or come up with ludicrous stories that portray them as maleficent people. They might be the ones who could help you get a job or a rewarding opportunity *scary thought, eh?*
3. The time I had with my father when he was still living in the corporeal world. He has given me a very important lesson and a wonderful gift in my life– humility. Thank you Daddy! And this I impart with you too, because while there are people who are quick to forget their past, my dad never forgot his. Acknowledging your past, no matter how sad or how embarrassing it may be, makes you a real person. Turning your back on it will only mean that you are deluding yourself into a false sense of reality. So don’t fib about yourself or be ashamed of your past, because if you are a sincere person, you will gain friends and the respect of your peers. Don’t try too hard to fit in. Ostentation in reality, is not cool. *Besides, people have a way of unearthing skeletons, so let them not rattle in your closet teehee* Stay real! 🙂
4. The food on our table. Again, forget ostentation. So what if you can’t buy a Louis Vuitton bag? You won’t die if you don’t own a designer bag. So what if all your friends own a few Lacoste shirts and a few pairs of Rock&Republic jeans and you can’t even afford one? That doesn’t make you less of a person. Just be thankful that you have food to eat everyday. There are millions of people– and worse, children, who don’t have food to eat or clean water to drink 🙁
5. My life. I have been so blessed all throughout my life. I may harp, bitch, and moan every so often *because I can be sooooo materialistic, ugh*, but in reality, I don’t hold any ill feelings against people who have more than I. Because hey, the grass is always greener on the other side. It’s so easy to succumb to spite and envy because of our own greed *words that could not have been truer, yes?*. I may never get to that same level of financial freedom that some of my peers have, but every waking moment of my life, I remember that I am also blessed in other ways. I may not have all the money or friends in this world, and I may not have a lot for people to like me *heck sometimes I don’t even like me! hehehe* , but I have what it takes to be happy– an intact family: wonderful siblings, amazing parents, great kids, and a loving DH *psst, DH— now can you buy me that bag
I’ve been eyeing? hehehe joke* (Oscar de la Renta clutch, US$995 at vivre.com)
Soooo in the spirit of Thanksgiving, ask yourself what you are grateful for. And stop being a “Miss do-you-have-this” or “Miss can-I-have-that” hag. Hold all those selfish thoughts for now. It’s Thanksgiving, so start thanking! 🙂 A little forgiveness here, a little pardon and understanding there… And oh, a little self- reflection goes a looooong way 🙂
HAPPY THANKSGIVING and welp, *Gobble Gobble* Happy Turkey Day!!!!
xo
Hi, I noticed the name beside my previous comment is “FrouFrou.” I have no idea what happened!! I just know that I left the comment under a Gmail account. I guess that’s my Blogger name. Anyhow, I have a question. When I was living in the PI, I don’t remember celebrating Thanksgiving (probably because I was so little), but has PI always celebrated it or just now? Happy Thanksgiving to you and your bags!
*edit* I can’t leave the comment under my real name. I just found out that I have to sign in with the Google account or be anonymous. What happened? Browser issues?
happy thanks giving to you too Mrs. T, I am happy that you can appreciate the small things in life, and that you know how to appreciate the people who help you in their small ways. At least you can be grateful and still remember them while others would just set them aside. Your kind heart will never be forgotten by the people who help you. I am certain your father is proud of you. You keep it real. Amen to #2, #3, and #4! Keep it up!
M.Mendez
I have been entertained daily for over 6 months now because of your blog, but this is my first time to post because you wrote about things that are very, very close my heart.
You are so right. I was a victim of career and social stampede. Some people really will do anything to get a coveted position in their career or worse, in society (name it and its been done- face on hostility, make up stories, sleeping with boss to get promoted, lying and cheating, the list goes a long way).
While I dont enjoy throwing the word Karma around, I do believe that people in the end will get what is due them, because God is watching.
So your principle about not maligning people is correct and right on. Never treat them like dirt even if they are already burying you with nasty remarks. Don’t stoop to their level of kababuyan. Kumbaga nga, silence is golden. Because in the end, ikaw ang wagi. Ikaw ang may delicadesa, ikaw ang may moralidad. I believe in that because in the end, I also won– because of my honesty and my sincerity. And thanks to that I kept my principles intact. God rewards honest and sincere people. He sees everything.
Even if we don’t celebrate thanks giving here in the Philippines, I thank you for your insight and enlightenment. What you have said in your post, is something I would have said myself. God bless!!
So true..There is so much to be grateful for…Like you, first on my list is FAMILY…I doubt if a ton of Lacoste Shirts and Rock and Republic Jeans can replace a mother’s kiss, a father’s hug and a sibling’s endless teasing..I don’t think a person is defined by his beginnings (although you can be shaped by it)…I believe, in the end, a person is defined by how well and how TRUTHFULLY he has lived his life…so hats off to you Mrs. T, YOU ARE DEFINITELY one FINE and TRUE LADY (with one of the most impeccable bag collections to boot..hehe..I just had to add that one)
Haller MrsT! I wanted to ask your opinion about the new Aranas bags that I saw at Rockwell– the ones that are built in to look like necklaces too. I dont quite know what to make of them, so I want your opinion to decide 😛
JP: YES! I’d like to have afternoon tea together when you are in town! you know my digits 🙂
cflo215: there’s really no thanksgiving celebrations here in manila, but i think it’s always a good excuse to have one, just to be able to say thanks to people who matter to us and to the blessings we have 🙂 also re: your technical prob, it might have to do with the blogger beta that I switched to.
M.mendez: I was brought up by my dad to be grateful for every little thing i have, and be grateful for the work that every person does for me. No boundaries and all. Once you start deeming yourself superior from others, that’s the end of a person. I don’t want to live my life in pretense that everything and everybody loves me. But I do try to make people I care about realize how much they mean to me. 🙂 And in the end, that’s really what matters. Everything else is moot and immaterial.
Mrs.Ledesma: I know how you feel and can empathize. People get sucked into the popularity spiral, and really, that’s fine. But you are right. Some will do whatever it takes to stay up there. It’s really just about keeping it real. There are popular people who use their popularity for the greater good by helping others and that is really noble (think of the celebs); but there are those who use their popularity otherwise and in poor taste (which is such a shame). I’m glad too that in the end, it all worked out for you. You are right to abide by the “silence is golden” rule. Good going!
Anonymous (pls pls post at least a nickname!): I don’t think Im any better than anyone else, but I do know how to say sorry. I also hope that people will learn to accept themselves and not be ashamed of their past (coming from humble beginnings vs having pedigree means nothing really, as long as you are true to yourself like you said). It’s one thing to act pretentious in a joking way, but it’s another to make pretense a reality. I’ve always followed a principle that if I remain honest to someone, that I will be rewarded with honesty. It has so far proven true to me. So I am lucky in that aspect 🙂 and by the way, I don’t have a lot of bags– there are way more bag hags deserving of that compliment than I! Hello, I can name a few hags already off the top of my head haha 🙂
eyeBaglady: hehe I like your nickname, it’s cute 😀 *I have eyebags too– dark ones haha* If you mean the Aranaz bags that double as necklaces, well I wouldn’t buy it myself because I really have no night life to begin with (acting like a *cough* responsible mom and not partying my eyes out hahaha) — in fact, I have only been to Embassy once or twice and that place belongs to my first cousin too *see, how pathetic is that!*. But if you are young and adventurous and love to dance and party (at Embassy I hope *shameless plug hehe*), then I reckon that’s a bag that you’d be able to use. It really depends on your lifestyle and how often you go out and party 🙂
And to the others: I am taking time out tonight and maybe tomorrow and I’m not blogging/ “internetting”. Gonna spend time with DH and my kiddies whom I have sorta neglected since 2 weeks ago *sheepish* 🙂
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND, HAGS!!!
xo
P.S. HAGS: Your posts are insanely long 🙂 I shudda just blogged about it hahaha.
Goodnitey!!
xo
Mrs.T
you should feature this bag .. Dior
Cannage Large Shopper $1,370.00
it’s such a hot bag. i have like this fetish for Dior saddle bags!
IM PROUD TO MEET YOU. YOU DEFINITELY CAN BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN MASS AND CLASS AND TO DO IT EFFORTLESSLY, WOW. YOU ARE TRULY A CLASSY WOMAN. WHATS UP WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL BIRKIN? ITS GIVING ME DIZZYING HEAD ACHES!! HA HA, CONGRATULATIONS !! I HOPE YOU WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE BLESSED WITH SUCH WONDERFUL GIFTS BOTH MATERIAL AND OTHERWISE!
Thanks Mrs.T! I have decided already. I’ll just ask my bf to buy the Aranaz amulet bag for me.I love love love Embassy! Do you get discount there? :-p
You are one classy lady and I’m thankful to have you as a friend. It’s been an up-down-up year for me and you were by my side through it all. Even when no one was looking.
Been meaning to let Mr Vanderbroek know — Mrs T has a self deprecating humour. But don’t let her fool you. She is one talented and productive woman, even if she pretends she has no skills. She’s incredibly gifted and what a multi-tasker. Her family life is wonderful and so full of love. No amount of success at work can equal the success she has with her family life 🙂
Belated Happy Thanksgiving, girl!
Hi Mrs. T!
I’m torned between the saumur mini lin and the saumur monogram, if you were to choose which one would it be.i trust your judgement Mrs. T.Please help!TY