3 Kilometers of Life After Work
No, it’s not a coincidence. The daily prompt’s question today is something meant to be, personally.
“After a long day at work or school,
what are your favorite ways
to wind down and decompress?”
For the past year, my daily activities were almost the same. It turned out to be boring sometimes.
I go to work at 9 o’clock in the morning and since I am a secretary of a company, I sit most of the times in front of a computer receiving emails, answering telephone calls, writing different correspondences and printing a lot of documents. I go home at six in the evening and check my facebook and blogs after dinner, call my wife through skype, then sleep alone in my 25 square meter room space. A routine. Something I have to live with for I am not in my country. I am working here in a foreign land away from home.
Recently, after work, I asked myself why not try something new. Since I have my camera with me which I consider as my best friend, I decided to take a 3-kilometer walk from office going home. I took some photos along the way and I never expected that my photos would remind me of some things about life.
1. MY LIFE IS A RESULT OF MY CHOICES. It is both a genuine journey and destination depending on which road I take.
2. LIFE IS LAYERED. I can never be on the same shoes of anyone. I have my space to stand and fill which I have to nurture and enrich.
3. FEEL BLESSED IN EVERY SITUATION. However tough life is, I should learn to smile and be thankful I am alive. There will always be someone there who has heavier loads than me to carry.
4. CHOOSE WHICH SIDE. It’s either black or white. It’s my choice and decision to do good or bad, or to live it fair or not.
5. YET OFTENTIMES IT’S BOTH. Same as others, I have my brighter and darker side. No one is perfect. I just need to use the goodness in me more often.
6. HAVE A BREAK IN BETWEEN. Being too much busy makes me forget to notice the essence of living and the simple things that give me genuine happiness. From time to time, I have to stop because not all things are meant to be done in a rush.
7. ENJOY THE FRUITS OF HARD WORK. I should not forget to enjoy the juices of my labor.
8. UP OR BELOW. Everyone seeks success. If ever I find it, I would rather keep my feet on the ground with someone than be on the top alone.
9. BE CONTENTED. There’s nothing fulfilling than to be with a friend at the end of each day’s journey. Someone to share with.
10. LIFE’S A CYCLE. I have my own life’s orbit. A journey worth travelling. I just need to live life to the fullest before it ends.
11. EXPECT A TREAT. However hard life will be, I will push through it. There will be a celebration. A bountiful table at the end.
So, that was my 3-kilometer of life after work. Things to remind me everyday for the rest of my challenging yet fulfilling life.
Thank you for reading.
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Maybe you would also like to know what others think about today’s prompt.
Framed
As soon as I read this week’s photo challenge, I went out for a while and luckily had this photo.
Makarona Street, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
You can find other blogger’s thoughts on this week’s photo challenge about street life here.
Street Art #02
This kind of art is not allowed here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is just one of the few graffiti arts that can be seen in Jeddah. Most of the times graffiti artist do this kind of thing secretly.
Two Friendly Pakistani
Let me give way to this two Pakistani expat who allowed me to take a photo of them during one of my walks here in Jeddah. They were waiting for the prayer time to start when I approached them. A friendly smile is what I got.
Thank you my friends for the opportunity making this portrait for you.
Nightly Colors
These three photos below belong to only one shot. I cropped it 2 times to show some details and a closer look of the subjects.
It made me glad about the performance of my Fuji X100s in low light condition.
Although this doesn’t strictly follow the guidelines of this week’s photo challenge in wordpress. I still would like to share it with you.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/weekly-photo-challenge-threes/
Have A Break
Unlike in other countries where workers and employees only work for 5 days in a week, it is different here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. People spend 6 days for work and a day for a day-off.
Many expatriates and Saudis grab the opportunity to unwind on an early morning walk on a day-off. At this time, the streets are not crowded.
Here are two photos of my fellow Filipinos having fun mingling with pigeons at Corniche area in Balad.
Flock of this kind of birds is a common sight here in the Kingdom. They would usually gather around you every time you throw some foods on the ground.
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This post is my share for WordPress Daily Prompt for today with the theme “fun”.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/daily-prompt-good-time/
Colors #01
These are famous garments use mostly by our friends in Muslim communities. There’s a lot of displays here in Jeddah which I thought good subject for color photography. I was not mistaken, perhaps in my opinion.
This post is my share for WordPress Daily Prompt for today with the theme “fad”.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/daily-prompt-new-sensation/
Street in Color #01
A marriage of shadow and light is good in photography specially when shooting in the streets.
The scene below was taken on an early morning of a Friday while Salah (prayer time) is on-going at Old Balad, Jeddah. All business establishments here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia closes to give respect at times of prayer.
What’s with Math?
I’ve gone to school
they taught us numbers;
Figures and equations
I couldn’t even remember;
Geometry, Algebra
all the inches and meters;
All year long
every given semester;
Graduation at last
counted a lot of beers;
But then when at work
All I need are my fingers.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/daily-prompt-numbers/
To Where Should I Be?
To where should I be?
If endless roads meet,
and my wings limit the sky as I flee.
To where should I stay?
If seasons change,
like any other place I played.
To where should I die?
If to dust shall I be
as time passes by.
Tell me, to where should I be?
I Have a Secret, I am Superman – Daily prompt: Mirrored
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/daily-prompt-mirrored/
Who Love Butts?
This series of photos is a part of my first day of trying my Fuji X100s on street photography. I’ve done it in my hometown’s market area. Generally, I love it a lot. The X100s gave me all kinds of comfort as street photographer.
But this post is not about my experience or a review about my camera. It’s not my kind of thing. This is about a usual scene in a market that sometimes we also do unconsciously. It’s all about butts.
So, next time you go to market be aware of bending forward your body, a crazy bored photographer might be taking a photo behind you. 😀
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/daily-prompt-quirky/
Daily Prompt: On The Road
I am surprised as I saw today’s Daily Prompt entitled on the road. Although its main objective is to show bloggers about “travel”, I still want to share this photo of mine taken from the streets of Baclaran, Manila, Philippines.
This might be a good literal cover photo for today’s theme, “On The Road”.
today’s daily prompt’s theme was printed on the wall along the streets of Baclaran, Manila. 😀
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/daily-prompt-travels/
Daily Prompt: Clean House – THROWNed
Here in Saudi Arabia, you can see a lot of things like this things abandoned in an empty lot.
In life, oftentimes our place in society depends on what kind of chair we sat upon. In offices, the manager has a better kind of chair than a simple employee. Kings have their own kind too. Look around. You can see people’s society status by simply looking on what kind of chair they’re using.
In life, we don’t have to change ourselves, only get better. We need to improve but keep who we really are. So aim for a better and improved quality chair, but don’t change how you sit. It’s you. You’re unique.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/daily-prompt-junk/
Daily Prompt: Standstill – I Miss Home
I wish peace. I long for serenity. I want calmness. I need happiness. I MISS HOME
Actually, time always stood still, every time I miss home. I’m working here in abroad while my family is in the Philippines. My wife is taking care of our first baby born child, now 12 days old.
Time stood still while I’m remembering each moment while we were together before I went abroad. Treasured moments of laughter and struggles. Things flashed back on my mind on how we become successful in overcoming trials together.
And if I could only tweak a thing, it would be being there for them even for a single moment to give them both a hug and a kiss.
I miss home.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/daily-prompt-stillness/
THE MARRIED MAN WHO LOVES HIS X 