Gratitude List - May 28, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. Joy
2. Content
3. Elation
4. Excitement
5. Peace
6. Serenity
7. Simple things
8. Satisfaction
9. Motivation
10. Happiness

Gratitude List - May 27, 2012

TOP 10 reasons I am grateful for the weeks (May 21 -26)…

1. An eventful Long Beach Pride weekend; love working with API Equality-LA and Barangay LA.
2. The Filipino festival in Buena Park; reminds me how important social interactions are to your happiness.
3. Knowing happiness isn’t always having positive emotions, mixing up a few negative ones always gets one motivated.
4. The opportunity to bring Happiness is NOW to Rialto Middle School.
5. The past 2 years being the manager and friend of the Poreotics Dance Crew.
6. The opportunity to speak, educate, and inspire at Westminster HS for Happiness is NOW.
7. The opportunity to dance, educate, and inspire the students at Santa Ana HS.
8. The Trevor Project - being the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.
9. The opportunity to possibly hold a dance intensive for the dancers at Santa Ana HS in June.
10. Today; gonna enjoy and be present as much as possible.  Happiness is NOW.

Gratitude List - May 26, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. GLAAD - they ensure images of LGBT people and allies grow acceptance, understanding and build support for equality.
2. The Trevor Project - being the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.
3. Barangay LA - a not-for-profit community organization serving the LGBTQ Filipino & Filipino-American community for the past twenty-one years in Los Angeles.
4. API Equality-LA - a tireless advocate in the Greater Los Angeles Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities for fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and marriage equality for same-sex couples.
5. NOH8 - a charitable organization whose mission is to promote marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest.
6. Human Rights Campaign - advocates on behalf of LGBT Americans, mobilizes grassroots actions in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect fair-minded individuals to office and educates the public about LGBT issues.
7. Out Magazine - a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States.
8. Huffington Post Gay - named after its founder, Arianna Huffington, a left-wing activist and socialist socialite) is a large online “newspaper” and blog site.
9. The internet
10. All of the outlets above which help educate me with the LGBTQ community.

Gratitude List - May 24, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. The opportunity to dance, educate, and inspire the students at Santa Ana HS today.
2. My dance assistant/choreographer, Esteban Escamilla; wore me out with that “Space Jam” routine.
3. Meeting a special dance teacher, Barbara Noel, over at Santa Ana HS who really cares about her students and has a passion for education.
4. The delicious lunch at Mother’s Market; love their hot food bar.
5. Apple warranty on my iPhone; I accidentally dropped it and shattered the glass.
6. The opportunity to possibly hold a dance intensive for the dancers at Santa Ana HS in June.
7. The cardio/dance workout I experienced today; 5 dance classes.
8. The time to relax with the boys in my bed while I create today’s gratitude list.
9. My dad for feeding and taking care of the dogs today while I was gone for the majority of the day.
10. Today; feeling accomplished : )

Gratitude List - May 23, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. The past 2 years being the manager and friend of the Poreotics Dance Crew.
2. The opportunity to speak, educate, and inspire at Westminster HS for Happiness is NOW.
3. The trip to South Africa; where I made the video “What happiness means to me.”
4. The trip to Russia; where I experienced the coldest weather ever in my life while only wearing jeans.
5. The trip to the Philippines; where we got to experience Boracay and open up for Justin Bieber.
6. The video shoot for Bruno Mars’ “Lazy Song”; so amazing to experience such creativity.
7. Attending the VMA awards and being a part of all the amazing artists; I’m not mad at you Lil Mama for spilling your champagne on my lap.
8. Attending tapings of ABDC; such a great show to show kids about the importance of finding your passion and doing what you love.
9. The 2 trips to Australia; so tiring, but so worth exploring the “down under”.
10. Dumbo, Charles, Can, Justin, Chad, and Law…I’m gonna miss you guys : )

Gratitude List - May 22, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. Happy Harvey Milk Day; the first openly gay elected official in the US.
2. The opportunity to bring Happiness is NOW to Rialto Middle School today.
3. A great season, with a not-so-happy ending, for the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.
4. Waking up early so I can get back into the gym; summer is around the corner.
5. Souplantation for lunch later with the gang.
6. My dancers for today:  Esteban, Breana, and Samantha ; )
7. Knowing happiness isn’t always having positive emotions, mixing up a few negative ones always gets one motivated.
8. The wonderfully, relaxing day I enjoyed yesterday at home.
9. The clear skies this morning; no clouds in sight.
10. Today; gonna enjoy and be present as much as possible.  Happiness is NOW.

Gratitude List - May 21, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. The song “Work it Out” by Lil Jon and Pitbull; gonna work it out with DBHS dance in August.
2. An eventful Long Beach Pride weekend; love working with API Equality-LA and Barangay LA.
3. The Filipino festival in Buena Park; reminds me how important social interactions are to your happiness.
4. My mom and John taking care of the boys while I work on HIN @ Rialto Middle tomorrow.
5. Avocados; chips and guacamole all day every day.
6. APAIT Health Center (apaitonline.org) for helping the medically underserved communities; perhaps I will work there soon : )
7. My dental assistant who taught me how to properly floss; you have to really get in there.
8. The possibility of a “Happiness is NOW” Benefit Show in Nov/Dec. 2012.
9. Booking another HIN presentation at Walker Junior High in August.
10. Today; what a gorgeous day in Southern California…Wear your sunblock everyone : )

Gratitude List - May 20, 2012

TOP 10 reasons I am grateful for the weeks (Apr. 30 - May 15 -19)…

1. A reminder that happiness is a journey and not a destination end-point.
2. Spending quality time watching “SMASH” with one of my best friends,Michelle Maramba.
3. Attending jury duty today; made me appreciate my time and made me re-focus on what i need to do going forward.
4. Being able to face fear, feel it, and move on.
5. Happiness; it motivates me to get off my @ss and do something.
6. The awesome haircut I received from an upcoming hairstylist, my sister,Meli Batimana.
7. Chip & guacamole period.
8. Planning my first trip ever to San Francisco Pride in June; super excited!
9. Love
10. Life

Gratitude List - May 19, 2012

I am grateful to GOD for…

1. Earth
2. Nature
3. Animals
4. People
5. Water
6. Sun
7. Air
8. Hope
9. Love
10. Life

Gratitude List - May 18, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. The awesome haircut I received from an upcoming hairstylist, my sister, Meli Batimana.
2. Spending quality time watching “SMASH” with one of my best friends, Michelle Maramba.
3. The delicious mini cupcakes at ‘Big Man Bakes’ in Downtown LA.
4. The protein-packed p-nut power shake I had for breakfast at Robek’s.
5. Being a shift lead for API Equality for tomorrow’s Long Beach Pride festival.
6. Lil Jon and Pitbull’s song “Work It Out”; can’t wait to use it and choreograph for DBHS co-ed in August.
7. Planning my first trip ever to San Francisco Pride in June; super excited!
8. Chip & guacamole period.
9. Spending a Friday night at home watching the Lakers game with my boys, Cabo and Lucas.
10. Today, what an awesome day it has been.  Have a safe night everyone : )

Gratitude List - May 17, 2012

I am grateful for HAPPINESS because…

1. It motivates me to get off my @ss and do something.
2. It allows and promotes for a longer life span.
3. You make more friends; people want to be around you.
4. It sustains better health and helps to build a stronger immune system
5. It allows for a better night’s sleep.
6. It puts you in a better mood and allows you to appreciate the simple things.
7. It means you’re not depressed.
8. It helps you deal better with stress and unforeseen obstacles.
9. It leads to optimism.
10. You feel better at the end of the day…accomplished.

Gratitude List - May 16, 2011

I am grateful for…

1. The awesome workout at 24 Hour Fitness this morning.
2. A former Brahma classmate, Holly Fletcher Gorman, for supporting and donating to HIN.
3. The nearby park which has become my recent place to journal, play basketball, and enjoy nature.
4. Another former Brahma classmate, Liezl Van Riper, for supporting and donating to HIN.
5. The great dinner last night with the Poreotics at Yard House Brea; I miss those guys.
6. A friend and fellow dancer, Aileen Ablaza, for supporting and donating to HIN.
7. Dorothy Lunney, Lexus service agent, who always has great energy and a positive vibe.
8. A reminder that happiness is a journey and not a destination end-point.
9. The NBC show “SMASH”; what a finale…I love Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee.
10. Today; it’s getting warmer, which means summer is right around the corner.

Gratitude List - May 15, 2012

I am grateful for…

1. Attending jury duty today; made me appreciate my time and made me re-focus on what i need to do going forward.
2. The opportunity to give back and serve as a prospective jury member.
3. Being able to face fear, feel it, and move on.
4. Brian Johnson’s “LIVE from Bali” talks on my iPhone.
5. My new book “Happiness” by Ed Diener.
6. The vegetarian stroganoff I had for lunch; not to mention the microwave to warm it up.
7. Comfy chairs, big tables, air conditioning, and free parking at the courthouse.
8. My mom cooking vegan kare kare for me again.
9. The opportunity to bring HIN to the seniors at Westminster HS next week.
10. Today; a nice change of pace…re-dedicated and re-committed.

Gratitude List - May 14, 2012

TOP 10 reasons I am grateful for the weeks (Apr. 30 - May 13)…

1. Love
2. My mom; for being a constant supporter of me, my lifestyle, and the thousands of crazy things I’ve done throughout my life.
3. NOW…live in the present, enjoy the day, and be grateful…
4. The mantra “Happiness is NOW”; you can’t dwell upon the past or focus on the future, the key to sustaining happiness is living in the present moment.
5. “The How of Happiness”, which will serve as one of the references for the Happiness is NOW Club (coming soon).
6. The movie “Bully”, which brought to light the seriousness of bullying in our schools.
7. Vincent Zabala; I’m gonna miss him dearly when he goes back to Thailand.
8. The opportunity to speak, educate, and inspire the Vietnamese Student Association at Cal Poly Pomona.
9. The opportunity to work with Music Mgmt Int’l and be with my favorite woman, Rhiza and Myra.
10. The hot yoga class this morning; it kicked my @ss, but managed to get through it.

Gratitude List - May 13, 2012 - Mother’s Day Edition

I am grateful for my MOM…

1. For bringing me into this world and taking care of me for all of these years.
2. For being a constant supporter of me, my lifestyle, and the thousands of crazy things I’ve done throughout my life.
3. For working 2 jobs to support the family during high school and college; taught me about tenacity and hard work.
4. For taking care of the boys, Cabo and Lucas, whenever I’m out of town or when I need a break from them.
5. Loving me unconditionally.
6. Driving me crazy by constantly reminding me to get my master’s degree; maybe one day I’ll pursue it if needed.
7. Taking me school shopping when I was younger; perhaps the best days of my youth.
8. Always being concerned about my happiness; wants me to find a loving, caring man.
9. Cooking the best Filipino food (vegan/vegetarian twist) I’ve ever had in my life.
10. For being her caring, considerate, and crazy self.  LOVE YOU MOM!