Little Miss Chemist

Photo taken from picjumbo.com

If you know me, you know how I am not a big fan of socializing. I tend to "hate" on people a lot. Now I put the word hate in quotes because hate is such a strong word, but at the same time it is often used nowadays. Simple things such as people driving recklessly around me make me so angry and I just hate on them.

With this project, I plan on hating less. I know there are lots of things that I can't control, like the amount of crazy drivers on the streets. And since I can't really control that, I shouldn't waste my time and energy just thinking about "what if there aren't crazy drivers around"? Or just the fact that I'm hating on every person who doesn't agree with my opinions and values.

I'll let you know how this goes. It's going to be a big challenge since I just have an automatic reaction of just hating on everybody. Hopefully this goes well :)

-N

Photo Taken from CartoonBucket.com

As to what Timon and Pumbaa said, it simply means "no worries".

Photo taken from SplitShire.com

Throughout high school, I definitely worked well under pressure. I always waited the last minute to do my homework, my paper, or even with studying, and I got away with it without my grades having to suffer. College was different. I mean, I was still procrastinating, but this time, my grades suffered. Because of this, I've always told myself that I should not procrastinate anymore, but in reality, it never really happened. But whatever, right? I graduated.

Photo taken from https://unsplash.com

After I started working, I always told myself that I need to "treat myself" all the time. I was always into buying the latest technologies available. There was always a justification as to why I need to get the all the things I bought. Whether it was, "I've been wanting it for a long time", or "it will help me with writing music", or just simply "I deserve it because I've been working so hard".

Listening to The Happiness Project book opened my eyes to something different. Then a co-worker suggested a podcast to me, The Minimalists. I've told her about me wanting to move to a tiny home, or decluttering, and she said that I might like that podcast. I'm just trying to catch up from the episodes, and I am enjoying every little moment of it.

I have always wanted to try to live a minimal lifestyle, but I thought that being a minimalist means that I can only have 10 things or less that I own. The podcast taught me something else, it taught me that living a minimalist lifestyle means that you own things that add value to your life and discard things that do not.

Grant should also get credit to this. Everytime we go out to shop, he would always ask me, "do you really need that?" Yes! I do need the tartelette 2 eye shadow palette even though I have four large eye shadow palettes at home. At first, it was annoying for him to as me this question, but as time passed by, I realized, no, I do not need that $54 eye shadow palette. I have all the other ones, and I hardly even wear make up. So, thanks babe! :)

The podcast opened my eyes to new things. Will I be a complete minimalist? Maybe, but it takes time. Will I own only 10 items? Definitely not. I definitely realized how much belongings I own when we were moving out and it took me a couple of weeks to completely pack my stuff, and he took half a day. Knowing what I know now about minimizing makes me feel comfortable and excited to start this new journey. I am happy that Grant is supporting me 100% on this challenge for myself. I think he's already a few years ahead of me with minimizing.

-N

Picture taken from http://startupstockphotos.com/

I started working as soon as I turned 16. I never thought that I would start working at that very early age. When I was still in the Philippines, I had the plan of just going to finish college, and start working after college, which was when I turned 21. But plans are meant to be changed. My parents decided that it would be better to immigrate to America. Now in America, it is very normal for a 16-year-old to work part time, and since I wanted to visit the Philippines, I decided to start working and saving up money.

My first job was at a smoothie place called Froots. I definitely enjoyed it. I was working with my really good friend, who recommended me to the owner of the store. It was the perfect high school job, maybe up until college, too. I stayed there until I was a freshman in college. I moved jobs because I had the opportunity to work as a CNA at an assisted living. I was a nursing student as I entered college, but eventually switched to a Chemistry student after a couple of changes in my life. I've always had at least one job, but there was a point in college when I had the opportunity to work as a lab aide, which means I get to sit down at the Chemistry stockroom, clean labs, and just do homework when there's nothing that needs to be done. At one point, I was a full time student at a university and actually have three jobs: I was a lab aide, a CNA, and a sales associate at Charlotte Russe.

I've always worked hard and I won't stop until I get where I want to get. I don't know where I want to be yet, but I am pretty sure I will get there.

This is a recent thing for me!

For those of you who really know who I am know that I worry a lot. It definitely is difficult not to overthink about something, well at least for me.

I have a co-worker who I talk to a lot, and I guess we've developed some kind of a friendship. One day, I came to work, and I just felt really sad. Someone reconnected with me and told me why we stopped talking. I know for a fact that I can take criticisms, if they make sense, but this reason just didn't make sense to me. Instead of getting mad about it, I just got sad. I was thinking that it was a really petty thing, but that's just my opinion. As soon as I got to work, my coworker asked me what was wrong, so I explained what happened. Then my coworker told me, "That's the lamest excuse ever," and then went on about how "stupid" the reason was. Towards the end, my coworker said, "My father once told me to never let anyone rent space in your head for free. You should do the same."

It is not easy. I tend to dwell on whatever people say about me. But then, if you think about it, you can't really please everyone. Some people will just say mean things to you just to make them feel good about themselves, and it's not your fault if that ever happens.

So this is what I told myself, "I'll take my coworkers advice and try my best to not even let anyone rent space in my head for free!" So far, it's been going great. All I care about are the people who actually care about me, and I feel like there is less things for me to worry about.

You should try it. Maybe go for a week, a month, without having to think about anybody who doesn't really add value to your life. See the changes that happen!

xx

It's easier said that done!

©Aeizha Sarinas

I grew up in the Philippines, where we refuse to admit, but Filipinos are very judgmental people. That's how "chismis" gets around. My parents always told me, "don't do this", "be like this", and I don't blame them. People are just very mean; it's just easy for them to make up something in their heads rather than approaching it in a more mature manner. I know; I am guilty of this, too. This is why "Be yourself" is my first commandment!

To be fully myself in this journey, I have to know who I am first. Who am I? Who is Nikki? What are my likes and dislikes? What are the things that I enjoy doing the most, and what are the things I refuse to do? Well here it is.

My parents decided to name me Nathanielle Monique. When I was still in the Philippines, I would write my whole name all the time. They considered Nathanielle Monique as my first name, then middle name would be my mother's maiden name, In America, it's different. Nathanielle is my first name, then Monique is my middle name, so imagine in a teacher's roster, my name would just be Nathanielle M. Guevarra. Considering how long Nathanielle is, it would usually get cut off after the first L, so professors would  think that when they are calling my name, they are looking for a guy. They would always have that surprised face when I raise my hand. One professor even asked me if I was sure I am Nathanielle. "Yup, since birth!" I responded.

Because of the confusion, I have been wanting to legally change my name to just Nikki, my nickname. When I had the chance to do that, I didn't, and just kept Nathanielle. Yes, my dad did tell me that I shouldn't change it. But that wasn't the reason why I didn't change my name. I've been living my whole life as a Nathanielle. Why would I change who I grew up to be just because some people cannot accept the fact that when they are looking for a Nathanielle, they are looking for a girl, they are looking for me. So, yep! I kept my name. People can keep doubting me that I am Nathanielle, but whatever! I love my name, and this is who I am.

Apart of being a dork, I am also a NERD! Yep, you heard me, a NERD. I'm not just saying that because being a nerd is "in" right now. I don't even know if it actually is in right now, but I am. The first time I have seen a Star Wars movie, I already fell in love with it. I'm not as big of a nerd as others claim themselves to be. I have not read a single comic book, I like the episodes I-III of Star Wars better than IV-VI (yes, be disappointed), and I don't collect all Star Wars memorabilia, but I still consider myself as a nerd. I love Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel superheroes, and I play some video games. I guess I don't really have to explain myself much on this, but once I get my blog going, you'll realize how much of a nerd I really am. Initially, Grant and I wanted to name this blog Two Nerds in a Pod (coz we're both nerds, sorry babe), but it was already taken.

I love reading, playing instruments, painting, cooking, baking, and cleaning. These things I really like doing, but since I've been really busy, I haven't had the chance to actually do any of this (except for cleaning). The last book I "read" was The Happiness Project, and I didn't really read it; I listened to the audiobook. Right now, I'm in the process of actually reading Harry Potter, since Grant already finished reading the whole series again. I haven't played MichelAngelo (this is my acoustic guitar) in a while, and I'm pretty sure he feels sad that he's just collecting dust at home. I make sure that he's dusted, though! The canvas that's sitting on my easel has been unfinished since last year, and I just need to make little adjustments to it, and it will be done, but I still can't find the time to do it. Cooking! I loooove cooking. Living with Grant made me practice cooking more. No, he doesn't make me cook all the time. He occasionally cooks, too, but I volunteer more, so I can be better at it (and post recipes here)! I haven't really baked anything after moving. Grant and I are still missing a couple of kitchen appliances to actually be able to bake, so I am just waiting for those, and I'll be baking a lot of cookies, maybe even try to bake a cake, and using both buttercream and fondant! Cleaning, that's the only thing I actually still do now. I mean, who would want a dirty home, amirite? Every chance I get, I tend to organize things more than they need to. Or I organize one way, and see something else on Pinterest, and try to do it the next week. I always feel like I need to keep Grant updated on how I organized certain things. I did this a lot when I was still living with my parents. My bedroom always has a different layout every month.

Now to get a little bit more serious.

©Joy Foronda

I am Nikki, and I do have depression and anxiety. I definitely feel a lot better than before, but there are still some days where I would feel "off". Some people would not accept the fact, or even believe me, that I have depression because I would always look so happy in front of people. Sorry to break it to you, but sometimes what you see right now is not what you see behind closed doors. I am very lucky though because the man that I am with (Grant, if you still haven't figured it out) has been very supportive of me. The past year that we have been together, I think that he's made me feel more open about how I am feeling. It was very difficult to try to open up to people, especially if they are not very open-minded about it. I had dated someone long time ago, and I would try to open up to this person about how I am feeling, and this person would just tell me, "why are you being sad about that?" or "some people have it worse than you do". Honestly, that didn't really help me. I know someone out there has it worse than I do, but right now, I feel like the world is collapsing on me. I don't need to know what happened with some other people who I have never met before. Because of how this person would react to my episodes, I have just decided to keep everything to myself, which didn't really help me a whole lot. Apart from that, I know someone who always thought that I am depressed because this person is depressed, too, and we hang out a lot. It was a series of not-so-good people surrounding me, and it was just pulling me down even more.

©Morgan Hirschfield, check out her blog @ marvellouslymorgan.com

When I started dating Grant, I was a bit hesitant to actually open up about all of my episodes. But as we gotten more serious, I decided to be brave and try to explain myself so he'd understand me better. It was the best decisions I have ever made! He doesn't always know what to tell me when I'm having my episodes, but he always knows what to do: give me a tight hug and rub my back, sometimes kisses on my cheek and forehead, too! Sometimes, I don't even need to explain myself to Grant. All I tell him, "Babe, I feel eckkk." And he responds back, "Well someone deserves more hugs and kisses tonight, then!" It's nice to know that there are still people who care.

I was more open to my parents about my depression. At first, they seem like they were refusing to believe that one of their daughters has depression, but the more I am open with them, the more they understand. Because of this, my parents have been more understanding of me, and they give more advice and just more supportive of me.

©Nikki Guevarra, Picture taken by Grant

AMBIVERT. That's what I am. I am an ambivert, a balance of extrovert and introvert features. I enjoy being around my friends, hanging out with them, but I also enjoy being alone and nobody around me, except for Grant. When I discovered that there is such a thing, there was this someone I know that claims that I am not really an ambivert. Let's hide this person in the name of John. I told John that I enjoy being around people, but there are days where I just want to stay home and do nothing, and just not be around people. John thought that he knows me better than I know myself and told me, "You're not really an ambivert. An ambivert is someone like me. I just hang out with people I am comfortable with but I enjoy my alone time". I just nodded at John and thought to myself, that's exactly what I had just said about myself. According to John, I am not an ambivert, but who is John to tell me who I am and who I am not?

This post ended up being longer than I expected. Opening up to people is a bit scary, but you shouldn't be scared of who you are. Whoever you are, you are a beautiful person. You don't need to explain yourself to anybody. The people who matter to your life will accept you for whoever you are. If they can't accept you, then you don't need them. You don't need to negativity from other people. As to what my co-worker tells me, "you do you, boo-boo".


xx

Photo taken from http://www.resplashed.com

In the beginning of the book, Gretchen mentioned her "Adult Commandments"; it's a list of rules that, as an adult, she will live by. It took me a while to complete this list, and as soon as I completed the list, I started trying to follow all of them, even though I haven't officially started my happiness project. It was DIFFICULT! I never knew that trying to start this happiness project was such a challenge. But before I get into this, I want to share my own ten commandments as an adult.

1. Be yourself
2. Never let anyone rent space in your head for free
3. Work hard, play harder
4. If you don't need it, you don't need to buy it
5. There is only love
6. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all
7. Not everything is about getting gold stars
8. Show your smile to everyone
9. Hakuna Matata
10. Don't procrastinate; do it now

Photo taken from Google Search

Recently, I have started listening to The Happiness Project audiobook. I am halfway done and I am inspired to change a few things in my life to fulfill my happiness. Gretchen Rubin, the writer, had herself be the lab rat of this project.

I borrowed the book from the library and failed to start reading it because of how busy I was. I initially gave up and returned the book. Later on, I found out that I can borrow audiobooks online and just listen to it through my phone. I have been listening to different podcasts while working so I told myself, if I cannot find time to open a book, I'll just listen to it. I borrowed the audiobook two days ago and I am almost done with it.

I have learned a lot while listening to the book. I made sure that I have a notebook next to me to take notes. I feel really inspired to actually make my own Happiness Project. I decided to post them here on my blog, and hopefully like what Gretchen Rubin's book did, inspire other people to start their own Happiness Project, as well.

-N