beyond toxicity

Yesterday,  my 4 year-old son Gabby enjoyed his trick or treating at Gateway Mall in Araneta Center,Cubao.   It’s his 3rd time to do it;  first was shortly after he turned 2, back then he wore a cute pumpkin costume in Glorietta.  Then last year at Trinoma and The Block, we transformed him to a prince of darkness complete with black and purple velvet cape.  And for this year’s halloween trick or treating, my wife and I, with Gabby’s approval, decided to dress him as a Red Dragon Ninja.  And he was so excited to wear it the moment we bought it few weeks back in Makati. He also wanted to have a red & black devil’s fork and a new pumpkin for his candies so we gave in to his request.  After all, it’s only once-in-a-year-event.

We arrived at the mall around 4pm; the trick or treating was scheduled at 5pm so we sipped iced coffee first & ate banoffee pie in wherelse but starbucks. 

Then we saw kids coming in, in different costumes assuming various characters.  They were so cute but ofcourse we love our own.  No one came close to Gabby’s cuteness, hahaha…  True! even other parents and sales people of most shops adored Gabby and his costume. 

Living statues also walked around the malls as both colorful and  dark creatures and were generous enough to pose for photos with Gabby and other kids.

And these were the goodies he gained from having fun at the mall…

We’re going to bring Gabby again to another Trick or Treating in Trinoma Mall this week … Till our next happy halloween…

This afternoon while proctoring the final exams that I prepared for Medical-Surgical Nursing for the  graduating hopefuls, former students who are now licensed nurses paid me a visit for two reasons.   One, to inform me that they are interested in attending Allgen Reviewers 2nd Open House on October 25th to know more about NCLEX-RN & IELTS processes and preparation and second, to give me something to show their gratefulness to my humble efforts.   They personally wrote their gratitude on a mounted poster bought from a local shop which was definitely one for the books…  

This simply reminded me that what I am doing  isn’t a THANKLESS JOB after all. 

But I know it’s HIGH TIME to move on to greater heights where my efforts will be recognized and reciprocated.

To  nurses Valerie Aquino, Russel Chan, Edmor Joseph Sebello, Julius Marquez and Dexie Manigbas, you are most welcome.

And THANK YOU too for being grateful.  Carry on…

“Successful living means doing life in community with God , using what He has given us, at His direction and thereby laying up treasure in heaven. At the same time, He promises we will experience the adventure of what it means to really live.”

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Quotes from the Lloyd Reeb’s From Success to Significance : When the pursuit of success isn’t enough.

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”   

-Morrie,  from Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie.