Maslow is a verb: Maslow it!

I've been reading Kaplan's NCLEX-RN Exam Review (as per my brother's advice) for the better part of yesterday and today. It's a really good book. The test-taking skills discussed are particularly helpful and aside from the test questions in the book and accompanying CD, they also threw in, for a limited time, access to their online qbank (only 20 questions though). Hey, the more test questions I answer the better. Just like what the book says, in order to know which strategies to use come exam time, one needs to practice, practice and practice. I have yet to answer the questions on the CD but if I understand correctly, the software is suppose to churn out results regarding the test taker's area of weakness. Of course I don't need some software to tell me which area I need to improve on but the validation would certainly help. One of the ten strategies taught in the book is to "Maslow it". This method entails prioritizing physiological needs over psychosocial needs. Very simple yet effective. I like it. I like it soooo much, in fact, that I can't stop saying Maslow It! inside my head for quite some time now. It's starting to irritate me.

More on this after I'm done with the book. One more thing...style and strategies are great but if you don't know your stuff then you'll be in trouble. This is why I'm working on the content as well.

Label Cloud

I've envied blogs that has word, tag and label clouds for some time now so I've decided to put one in mine. I just googled "label clouds for blogger" and came across phydeaux3 blog (btw, I thank you!). I simply followed the instructions there and voila, I have my lovely cloud! Just look at the lower left side of the page. Now, put one in yours!

I've Learned that...

I've learned that knowledge is no match for wisdom. I've learned that the words "tengo familia" is true. I've learned that both good times and bad times WILL pass. I've learned that permanence of the state of things in this life is almost impossible. I've learned that one should have a plan b, c, d in life. I've learned that those plans should include God, family and friends. I've learned that no matter how hard I try to change, I am who I am. I've learned that being a yes-man is detrimental to my well-being. I've learned that people see you for what you do and not for who you are. I've learned that as humans, it's inevitable that we'll let people down and people will let us down. I've learned that there's much to life than what I see in front of me. I learned that luck does exist, it goes along with extremely hard work. I've learned that I can still recoup my losses in the past by doing well today and the days ahead of me. I've learned that there is still a lot to be learned.

ACQUAINTANCES

Cameron: I don't own House's cases. You had just as much right as I did to write it up. You should have told me, but, I should have handled it better too.

Cameron: If we want this not to get in the way of our friendship, I think we both have to apologize and put it behind us.

Foreman: I like you. Really. We have a good time working together. But ten years from now, we're not going to be hanging out and having dinners. Maybe we'll exchange Christmas cards, say hi, give a hug if we're at the same convention. We're not friends. We're colleagues. And I don't have anything to apologize for.

Excerpt from HOUSE, Season 2 Episode 18: SLEEPING DOGS LIE


I am not much of a people person. I tried several times being all nice and friendly but it’s something that just doesn’t agree with me. I just don’t have the charm chi in my genes. Maybe I’m shy, maybe it’s a self-esteem thing, maybe I’m lazy having to sound and look interested, maybe I feel so small in the midst of over-achievers, maybe I don’t want to mingle with dim-witted people, maybe I’m just preoccupied with my own life. That’s a lot of maybes. I’m really not sure. Perhaps I’m just wired to be this bumbling, inarticulate and stuttering fool among acquaintances but this almost eloquent, lucid and expressive person when among friends. I don’t know what that says about me but the bottom line is that comfort and function should always win over aesthetics. Huh??? Read it again, it’ll make sense :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

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HoLidAyS

I feel like I should apologize for not writing anything for the past three weeks. I think you guys know how it is during Christmas season. The festivities were just too tempting to turn down, even for a bore like me, that I was too tired or too uninspired to write when I got home. I did go to several gatherings that are customary during the holidays and if I wasn't busy gobbling up food good for two at those little get-togethers I was working on some papers and statements at my friend's company. I was able to squeeze in several study sessions though, which was totally not the plan. The plan was to study more and eat less. My strategy got all messed up and I'm to blame for it. All in all, this was a very busy holiday for me and I have pictures to prove it (I'll post some later). I'm happy :-)

It's New Year's Eve tomorrow...wow, time really flies when you're nearing the big three O.

I wonder if I should bother myself with a new year's resolution list or just forget about it. I can't remember ever fulfilling any of what I list down anyway....

Hoops, I did it again.

After who knows how many years, I got to play basketball again last night. I huffed and puffed and blew my arteries out only to find out...that I still suck at it :-) Seriously, there was a point where I thought that I was going to just drop dead right then and there. I didn't realize I was so out of shape although I was never IN shape, hehehe. Maybe I should just stick to walking.


I did have fun though.

I came, I saw, I wrote

I perceive writing as a trustworthy friend who is always ready to sit down with me and listen without judging. It has a relaxing and soothing effect on me that rivals any kind of relaxation therapy that I have experienced. I think most people feel the same way too because of the number of personal blogs that are put up and maintained daily. Most don’t care if anyone reads the entries or not. What is important to them, and me, is to get a thought, a feeling or an emotion out there in the open.

Pleasure and pain can be derived from writing. I say that because a writer can have instant gratification when he is able to express his feelings and emotions clearly and unmistakably. In his book, Politics and the English Language, George Orwell said, “A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?” Once a writer has the right answers to these questions, you will see him with a big smile on his face merrily tapping away in front of his computer. Writing can also be a source of extreme displeasure. This is especially true when words just escapes a person who is trying to finish a simple essay or a complicated manuscript for a book.



Every writer starts out writing for themselves but eventually the situation changes as the writer matures and essentially wants to be recognized. The only way that is going to happen is if his works gets published. There is no way for that to occur unless he makes some compromises. So, sooner or later, the writer has to take into consideration other factors such as what is currently a popular subject so as to have some kind of a chance to be noticed.

Fortune smiles upon the writers of today. The Internet has made it possible for aspiring writers and those who are just starting out as one to have a launching pad of sorts to propel, if you will, their articles to greater heights and to a broader and wider range of audiences. For the would-be writer, the Internet offers rich ground where they can hone and improve their skills. To those who have been around and has started to make a name for themselves, they will still be able to speed up the process of being acknowledged by utilizing websites that exist mainly to receive and distribute articles thereby giving their works the proper exposure that it deserves. This does translate into more people reading and more people recognizing the authors because of that. These sites make the writer’s life a bit easier, now they only have to worry about the essential stuff, which are inspiration and the dreaded writer’s block. Being a writer these days do have its advantages after all.

small fruit of my labor

I got a somewhat decent score in our post-review exam yesterday, no doubt a direct result from studying beforehand at another center. I didn't bomb the test, which is good, but I also didn't do splendidly either. The good thing that came out of yesterday's exam wasn't much of how I did in the test but how I'll still be on my toes after it. The worst thing I can do right now is not to score below average but to let my guard down. Complacency will be a killer and vigillance a life-saver. The real thing will happen in six month's time, I really can't afford to relax.

I might do well in some of the practice exams and do extremely bad in others but having the will to carry on and try to get better after a massive setback will be the key to achieve my goal. Now, before I sound like a self-help book, I must say that I'm glad I spent some of my brother's money (thanks Ko!) on that review I did back in October and November. It was money well spent. I also thank the progenitor of this whole review thing, I would not have thought it prudent to cough up some extra dough that I didn't have if it wasn't for his great idea. Thanks Jon.

It's December!

Wow, the week just blew by me with nary a sleepless night nor an entry in my blog (except this of course). Hmmm...I would like to think that I spent most of the week studying or preparing stuff for me to study. Yes, I'd like to think that. Now, if only fact is the same as perception, then I'll be all set. Hahaha.

The year is almost over and it is again almost time to look back and reflect on the year that was. I said almost, so I won't be doing that right now. I'll save that for the end of the month. It's always a pleasure to do that -- NOT.