Accomplishments- 2007

Reflecting the last 12 months, I feel that we should remind ourselves of the minor or major accomplishments we've done. Personally, I can safely admit I'm happy God bestowed me the following accomplishments:












- Los Angeles Marathon, 3/5/07 - Accomplishing my personal goal of running under 6 hrs
- La Jolla 1/2 Marathon, 4/07- Accomplishing another personal goal of running 2 1/2 hrs
- Mending through the hurt of a broken relationship/being stronger from it, 3/07
- Surpassing the summer semester- 2 classes and working full-time (This was definitely not an easy task; First time I was about to crack; Anatomy/Physiology was not good for my health)
- Traveled to Dominican Republic- summer- 2 weeks of construction & running a summer children's program
- Finally took a swimming class- Just need to Practice, Practice, Practice!















Places traveled:
- Las Vegas, NV (Jan, Feb, Apr)
- Orlando, FL (Feb)
- San Francisco/Bay area (Jul)
- Dominican Republic (Jul-Aug)
- El Hongo, Mexico (Nov)

Volunteered:
- National Homeless Count (made my face in the OC Times)- Jan
- Human Trafficking Conference- Feb
- Fibromyalgia Conference- May
- Dominican Republic- Summer
- Midnight Mission Homeless Shelter- Sept
- Fibromyalgia study- Oct
- Flying Samaritan clinic- Nov
- Planned Parenthood- Dec

This year has had its rises & downfalls. My grandmother passed away in June; I was with someone who broke up with me; I was sick numerous times (Primarily due to stress & trying to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.) But despite it all, it's been a blessed year. Thanks to the High Almighty, I've overcome personal challenges successfully. I maintained A's & B's in all my classes for Fall 07 (This is self-noteworthy as I was taking 15 units). I'm also looking forward to receiving my undergrad degree in Spring (finally!) & entering (trying to) the Masters program in Public Health Fall 08. To close 2007, the icing on my cake was meeting someone who I simply fancy.

That said, I wish you a joyous 2007 & a blessed upcoming 2008. May Peace & Serenity endure & capture you.

December 2007 events

Birthday parties, holiday parties, Christmas parties, families and friends all around and so much more!

We are alive in Los Angeles!

Live music makes me happy.

Gratitute & Thanksgiving

THANK YOU- By Rhonda Byrne
Gratitude is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to transform your life. If you become truly grateful, you will magnetize absolute joy to you everywhere you go, and in everything you do. In fact, without gratitude, nothing can ever change. Your life will change to the degree that you use gratitude and begin to feel grateful. If you are just a little bit grateful, your life will change a little bit. If you are very grateful, your whole life will change. If you live gratitude every single day, you will become one of the greatest human beings on the planet, and the light of your life will uplift our world.

The greatest human beings who have ever lived showed us the way with gratitude, and by their example became shining lights in our history. Einstein said "thank you" hundreds of times every single day! Ancient wisdom dating back thousands of years gave us the truth about gratitude. Every single religion speaks of giving thanks. All the sages and saviors of the world demonstrated the use of gratitude in all their teachings.

It is impossible to be negative when you are giving thanks. It is impossible to criticize or blame when you are feeling grateful. It is impossible to feel sad when you are in gratitude. Most people are sporadically grateful, however, to change your life with gratitude, a new way of learning how to be truly grateful is what will bring unlimited happiness into your life.

So how do you live in gratitude? Begin your day by feeling grateful. Be grateful for the bed you just slept in, the roof over your head, the carpet or floor under your feet, the running water, the soap, your shower, your toothbrush, your clothes, your shoes, the car that you drive, your job, your friends, your refrigerator that keeps your food cold. Be grateful for the weather, the sun, the sky, the birds, the trees, the grass, the rain, and the flowers. Be grateful for the stores that make it so easy to buy the things you need, the restaurants, the utilities and services and electrical appliances that make your life effortless.

Be grateful for magazines and the books that you read. Be grateful for the chair that you sit on, and the pavement that you walk on. Be grateful for your favorite music that sweeps you away, and for movies that make you feel good. Be grateful for your phone that connects you with people, for your computer, for the electricity that lights up your life. Be grateful for air travel that flies you everywhere. Be grateful for the roads and traffic lights that keep the traffic in order.

Be grateful to those who built our bridges. Be grateful for your pet, for your child, for your loved ones, for your eyes that enable you to read this. Be grateful for your imagination. Be grateful that you can think! Be grateful that you can speak. Be grateful that you can laugh and smile. Be grateful that you can breathe! Be grateful that you are alive! Be grateful that you are You! Be grateful that there are two words that can change your life!

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

The more that you practice gratitude the more deeply you will feel it in your heart, and the depth of the feeling is the key. The more deeply and sincerely you feel it, the more you will bring absolute bliss and happiness on every single subject. Watch what happens in your life when you practice gratitude every single day and in every single moment and in every opportunity that you can.

Remember, if you are criticizing, you are not being grateful. If you are blaming, you are not being grateful. If you are complaining, you are not being grateful. If you are feeling tension, you are not being grateful. If you are rushing, you are not being grateful. If you are in a bad mood, you are not being grateful.

To understand the power and the magic of gratitude, you have to experience it for yourself. So why not begin by deciding to find 100 things a day to be grateful for? As you practice gratitude every day, it won't take long before gratitude is your natural state of being, and when it happens you will have unlocked one of the greatest Secrets to Life.

I'm thankful for my family, my friends, my many opportunties, my creativity, the love that surrounds me, and the time here on Earth. God Bless all & Happy Thanksgiving. May all of you be thankful for all that you have...- Michelle

El Hongo, Mexico

"The Flying Samaritans: group of professionals from many different walks of life interested in helping bring healthcare to people in Mexico. We are physicians, nurses, dentists, pilots, translators and many other people. We are a non-sectarian organization and our bylaws clearly establish that our purpose is to offer medical assistance and education to the people in rural areas of Mexico."

As part of the Flying Samaritan organization, last Saturday, November 17 was my first experience in El Hongo. Elizabeth was our driver, a USC graduate who longs to be a doctor. Alongside riders included Lorisa and Raquel, CSF- Health Science students as well. Departing at 6:30am from Cal State Fullerton we finally arrived in El Hongo just about 12:30pm.

We set up shop. I assisted with Phillip, an RN from St.Mary's Hospital (Long Beach). He showed me how to take vitals. Needless to say, I only assisted with temperature. I was intimidated to do anything else. I also shadowed a doctor (forgot his name) for a few minutes and played with two adorable girls.

There were close to 30 people. I met several people from UC Riverside and from other medical facilities. It was a terrific experience. People had loads of enthusiasm, energy, and came from various walks of life. Here are just a few pictures of people. Unfortunately we didn't take a group picture. The group comprised of several people- men, women, young as early in their 20's to true professionals who's had years of experience.

today is a new day..

Good morning indeed! Today is a new day; a new week; a renewal if you will. Consider this quote: "With God's help, you can turn judgement into compassion. You can turn hate into forgiveness. And you need to forgive yourself, too."- anonymous. As I ponder this statement, I'm thinking of the times that I need to forgive myself. Usually, we tend to be the biggest critic, being hardest on ourselves than anybody else. What I need to remember: I need to be compassionate to myself. They say, you must love yourself first before you can love anybody else. That said, love yourself- Appreciate the moments of introspection & be thankful for being you! Happy Monday!

feeling overwhelmed

i'm overwhelmed; exhausted; tired; partly confused; I'm taking 15 units right now, I work 32 hrs/week, I have one semester left; I have 1 month/1 week to go before this semester ends; I have two papers to finish before next week- one of them is a huge research paper; I have a C in Chronic Disease Epidemiology; I'm trying to graduate with a 3.4 CSF gpa; I need to start grad school application process; Holidays are around the bend; Taxes is around the corner; I haven't' purchased gifts for the belated birthdays during summer; I haven't been consistent with an exercise program; I'm planning to run the LA Marathon in March; Wondering when will I ever be able to swim; My dad's negativity filtered throughout the weekend; My family is not eating healthy; I'm scared for them; I'm scared for myself; I'm afraid I'm going to catch a cold- with having a low immunity; I feel overweight, lethargic, and unsexy; I have a feeling I failed the EWP again...the list continues

...a state of exhaustion...a feeling of no control...thoughts are all over the place...priorities need to be reassessed..internally stressed & fearful of time

what it boils down to... I simply need emotional support...I need school support...I need encouragement and bursts of motivation


God has bestowed me with several kinds of opportunities each minute, each hour, each day, each year. As soon as we wake up, we're bestowed with the awareness that we're alive. We're bestowed the simple fact that we continue to live another day. As I'm writing a paper on Fibromyalgia, I'm saddened for all those who live with it. It's such an undiagnosed disease yet the majority of people (including medical doctors) have no idea what the hell it is. For those that care, it's a chronic, nonarticular pain syndrome defined by widespread muculosketal PAIN & tenderness. Common symptoms other than CONTINUED EXTREME PAIN include sleep disturbances, fatigue, headache, stiffness, anxiety, etc. Imagine living with extreme pain 24-hr/day. Imagine the symptoms of being pregnant? There is still lack of causality- possibly genetic? environmental? Nobody is quite sure. It can happen to anybody...


That said, make sure to treasure each moment. Tell your love ones you love them. Surprise a random stranger with a gift. Give time to volunteer. Love your people- Essentially we're all one body. We were put on this earth because we have a function. What's our life's mission? We might never know & that's okay. God takes care of us. Leave your worries and problems to him. He'll take care of us and always has. Sometimes we have to go through rough times to realize our true potential. Sometimes we hit stumbling blocks to reevaluate our personal goals. As each experience passes, inner strength is tested-- spirtually, mentally, emotionally, socially, physically... I may complain & whine but now that's said and done in my first paragraph, let's live life to the fullest: carpe diem! Blessings to you and yours... May it be a beautiful week for all of us.

Halloween 2007

Ex-coworker, Rachel and Erica invited me to their new place in Los Feliz. They recently relocated from the Bay area (originally from TX). We celebrated Halloween on Sat, Oct 27. My friend, Jose & I were a bit late but nevertheless, it was refreshing to see them!

Jason & Joy's Bay Area Wedding

The newlyweds- Mr. & Mrs. Jason & Joy Villaverde

From being Noi's roomate to Jason's.... good times..

...i miss the Bay area

...the activities

...the people

...the adventures

Notorious as he is, Jason always throws the funnest parties. It was to no surprise that his wedding was also a memory of its own. Encompassing a room of almost 500 people, both Joy & Jason managed to hold a gripload of closest people into one big ballroom of fun.

Thanks Jason & Joy! I hope you guys are having fun in Italy! "Ciao bella!"

Stoked with Google!

Wow, who would have thought all the services that this services comes with? It's awesome! I'm sure Google has had this for quite sometime now; Nonetheless, I think it's cool...

Peace out

MZ Goals - First Part Of The Year

MZ Goals - First Part Of The Year (JAN.19.07)
Current mood: content, Category: Life
To keep myself sane, Before 1/2 year, I must: - learn how to SWIM- do another athletic event (ie. mudrun, marathon, cycling, etc.)- learn how to SWIM- go to the Griffith Observatory- go to at LEAST two museums- LEARN HOW TO SWIM ....to be continued
Currently Listening : Wincing the Night Away By The Shins Release date: By 23 January, 2007

attitude

Current mood: bouncy, Category: Life, Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly....Leave the rest to God

Everyone knows exercise is good for them, but many don't realize it's a matter of LIFE & DEATH

Professor Frank Booth, Ph.D, was out for his daily run one spring morning in 2000, pondering one of the toughest problems facing public health officials these days: how to get the nearly 70 percent of Americans who don't regularly exercise to start moving.
"Everyone knows exercise is good for them, but many don't realize it's a matter of life and death," says Dr. Booth, who teaches biomedical science at the University of Missouri-Columbia. "My father was in advertising, so I know how important a short, catchy name is to grab people's attention and change the way they think and behave. Running always helps my creativity, and the name Sedentary Death Syndrome just popped into my head."
Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS) may be a little too scientific to be catchy. But it needs to catch on. Because what it means, says Dr. Booth, is that "inactivity kills."
Dead Man SittingIn fact, sitting kills more than 300,000 Americans annually. If it were a real disease, that would make SeDS the third leading cause of death in the United States, right after heart disease and cancer. But SeDS is more than one disease. Being sedentary is linked to a wide range of debilitating ailments -- from diabetes and depression to osteoporosis, certain cancers, and even sexual dysfunction. It affects nearly three out of four adults and a growing number of children and is projected to cost the United States $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.
Though it's not yet a household word, the SeDS concept has caught on with a growing number of exercise scientists. Dr. Booth used his own money to start "Researchers against Inactivity-Related Disorders," or RID, an organization advocating governmental support for research into the disorders associated with sedentary living. A founding group of 40 RID members unveiled the concept of SeDS on Capitol Hill in 2001. Today, the group has more than 400 members in 19 countries.
(Just sitting around is apparently a worldwide phenomenon. Last year, the World Health Organization announced that about 2 million deaths annually worldwide are attributed to sedentary lifestyles and chose physical activity as the theme for World Health Day.)