Things I Love Sundays: Slow Living

It's funny that the universe throws a lot of appropriate sequences in life when you need it.

My birthday week whizzed by. I keep reminding it to myself because it happened together with so many other tasks and deadlines and before I knew it, it was over. It was a lot of fun though. I already celebrated with my family back in August, so this time it's with my closest friends. It started with an impromptu birthday salubong, then we had dinner in BGC and it ended with another sleepover. It's interesting to note that I couldn't wait for 12AM because I was too sleepy.

HAHA. To be fair, I did wake up at 5:30 AM that morning.

Anyway, I just came back from a yin yoga class conducted by Victor Ching. It has been a hectic week, yoga was the best possible thing that could happen to me. And it did. As I listened to Dona Esteban, Ria Tirazona, Dinah Salonga of Yoga+ and Dr. Kit Navarro of Beyond Yoga, about holistic living and emotional wellbeing, I realized how neglectful I've been of my emotions lately.

The truth is, I loved the rush. I loved being busier than ever because I didn't have time to stop and feel anything. I didn't have time to be bored and everything was moving according to day to day plan. But now that I look back, I was so exhausted from the mental exercise, from second guessing other people and trying to fit in. Culture dictates career grit to always come first so we always forget being soft and tolerant and forgiving and responding with calmness. I betrayed what I know and what I stand for. I'd forgone yoga in favor of more aggressive sports and I hated being a softie.

So today is all about slow living. About wishing every person I encounter the same happiness I wish upon myself. It's all about training my mind to be calm, clear and on demand. To pay attention in particular way, on purpose in the present moment, non judgmentally. It's to manage what I feel inside so I don't have to manifest anything bad outside. My friend, R, and I were talking about Type As, and as we pored over the description of it, I couldn't help but pray I wouldn't have to turn into something like it. I pray for better stress management/coping mechanism.

It's to take care of myself before taking care of other people. Sure, it's a woman's role --- but not paying attention to your own reproductive health, your own mental, spiritual being, it's going to be eventually bad.

You can't give what you don't have, my friends would say. And I believe it. I really think that it's that time now, to really slow down, pay attention to what the body is telling you. Maybe do yin yoga like me. Maybe it's a massage that you want. Maybe it's an extra hour of sleep. Maybe it's a glass of fresh unsweetened juice over chatting with your husband, or your best friend.

In other news, here are some snaps from my week. I hope you had a great one, and I look forward to a calm, tolerant week ahead!

Last night's red lipstick for my red lipstick themed party: Chanel Rouge Allure 💄 Thanks for the theme idea @tventmakalinao 😘 #chanel #lipstick #beauty #blogger

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:30pm PST

Chanel Coco Rouge Allure | Because my birthday theme is red lipstick!

Hihi, the cake and I are wearing couple outfits 😛 Thanks for the photo @polcab 😘 #afterlight #birthdayweek #colgate #palmolive

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Nov 11, 2014 at 12:54am PST

My birthday OOTD, a nude dress from Forever 21, H&M accessories and my cake!

Lipstick of the Day is Happy Skin's The Morning After. Such a lovely MLBB shade 💄💖 Hair {treatment} c/o: @piandresalon Hair cut and color by: @jurosalonexclusif #happyskin #afterlight #taragram #beautyblog

A photo posted by Tara Cabullo (@champagnedreams) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:55pm PST

Love this blowdry from Piandre Salon <3 b="">

Welcome back @lizlanuzo and wow is this your coming home party? 😛 Thanks for my fab hair @piandresalon and Keratin Complex! #prestigeph #afterlight #vsco #vscocam