I am so glad that my summer break is finally here. I can relax a little bit and focus on the things that entertain me like reading and writing. In these six weeks, I also like to cultivate my new-found interest in gardening but perhaps, I should postpone that until next year because my husband and I agreed to finish the house’s interior first before we beautify our small garden. I am not complaining at all as there are other things that could easily occupy me like blogging, taking photos, and facebooking.

My husband told me that I spend so much time in front of the computer and I know that I can really be so excessive with it sometimes but I hope that he can see the positive side of it. When I am in front of my laptop, I am not spending money (haha!) and he knows that when I go out, I spend money and I spend A LOT.

I really want to get in to blogging again like in 2007 and 2008. I want to be earning from my blogs again so I really want to build them up now. I feel sorry that I am taking so much time from our “supposedly” quality time with each other and spending it on my online activities but I badly want to work as much as I can on my blogs. In September, I’ll be going back to teaching and that means, I’ll be very busy again. I will also be studying this coming semester so I am not sure how much time I could spend on this particular hobby. Probably zero.

So now, I want to prepare my blogs for the time that I can’t tend to them. For this blog, my friend Lamielle will help me out. I know she’s got a lot of things to say about intercultural marriages because she’s in one. She’s a busy bee because she’s taking a lot of classes like yoga and German, and on top of those things, she’s pregnant but she said she’d be able to put up a post or two for this site. I think that would be nice.

And for the other blogs, I have to manage them all by myself. I plan to create posts and just schedule their publishing dates.  I hope I can do that before September. For now, let’s look forward to Lamielle’s posts on this blog.

It’s a Sunday today and as usual my monumental laundry is already taking their sweet time in the washer and the dryer. I’m already done with my grocery errand and just had a sorbet for lunch. I am not feeling well today. I have not been feeling good lately… I feel nauseous in the morning… I feel like I want to throw up every now and then… and I am always cranky with a little burst of dramatic mood most of the time. I BETTER NOT BE PREGNANT!

Today, I finally got the chance to sit down and browse on my favorite websites. And this is one of them. I love this website. This website and I had a history way back when I was still new in this country (USA). This website served as my outlet to release stress and to keep my sanity intact.

Like Vienna, I am also in an interracial marriage. Vienna and I have common denominators that made us virtual sisters that we are, a relationship so special that even if we have not met each other in person, we have a certain bond that drew us closer, virtually of course. Why not? We both married foreigners. I met her when she was still in China and from then on she became my sounding board. I was a whiner and a cry baby and Vienna patiently listened to all my whining.

I constantly whine because I was once one of those women she described who has difficulty in adjusting to a foreign land. It was a difficult transition for me despite the fact that I was very much aware of what to expect in this country and from my then Fiancé. Before I come here, I was all prepared… emotionally, physically and spiritually. But then I guess I didn’t prepare well enough or I must say… the reality is different from my expectations.

I met my American husband online and got married. And just like any other interracial marriages, mine is no extra-ordinary. I thought it would be easy.

I had a better life in the Philippines… I don’t do many chores and spend more time in the spa having a body scrub than scrubbing floors. I don’t cook my meals and spend more time [and money] dining out or dining at a friend’s place. And I don’t even have to worry to get my well-manicured fingers dirty sweeping the floor or working in my garden because there is always someone who does the dirty work for me.

Coming here… I thought would be easy. I had to do chores and have never been in the spa since I came here. And yes, I scrub floors. I had to cook meals but hubby would treat me to a Chinese every Friday night. My fingernails are now short and un-manicured because I need to do the dishes… and help hubby rake the yard [fall], shovel snow [winter], weed the vegetable garden [spring], and gold pan [summer].

Living here… I thought would be easy. Oh well, I survived 4 seasons and I am used to Maine winter now. My life here is an endless struggle and unending discovery of new things that constantly fascinate me if not surprise me. Having a great life in the Philippines is indeed a blessing I will forever be thankful for. And living a different life here in Maine is a blessing that opened up my eyes to appreciate the best things I had, cherish them and forever be grateful.

I don’t say that I am disappointed with my life here. Maybe, I was more disappointed with myself for being such a baby. My husband did not promise me the moon and the stars when we first met and I had to admit he practically explained to me everything what I should expect from him. He was honest from the very start. He did not claim that he is a rich guy but a poor carpenter who just wanted to start a life with me and to grow old with.

Being in an interracial marriage was not that easy, I had to admit… but just what Vienna said… the love we have for each other made every struggle easier and worth-living for.

I was watching a TV program some days ago and it was about people who are in search for partners. One of the candidates is a restaurateur who is once married to a Southeast Asian woman. When the TV host asked him what ended his first marriage he said it was because his ex-wife didn’t like it in Austria and that living in Austria turned out to be contrary to what she had imagined.

Not once did I hear about something like that and it is just sad.

Being in a relationship with someone whose cultures and traditions are different from yours is already difficult and for some it could be too much to take if it is topped with the difficulties of adjusting to a new country.

Knowing my husband long enough before we moved in his country helped a lot because I didn’t have to take both at once. I’ve first gotten used to the fact that our cultures are different before I have to face adjusting to living in his country. When we moved here in Austria, I didn’t have to worry about whether we’ll get along or not because I already know that we get along well and that he is how he is wherever he is (China, Philippines, Austria) so I can focus on adjusting to living here.

Is it easy?

Well I guess it depends on what kind of person you are and what goals you have.

There are some who thinks that living in the rich countries is like living in the land of milk and honey. Normally, these are the ones who marry rich guys (or so they think). A woman of this kind will surely have the shock of her life when she arrives in her partner’s country and find out that he is, well…. not rich. I think adjusting will surely be difficult for her.

There are some who just take it all. A woman of this kind will do anything to be able to leave her country even if it means marrying somebody she doesn’t love. She is normally the one who, upon arriving to her partner’s country, will take anything—a lousy job and even an abusive husband. I think adjusting is not a question to her because she’s determined to be there.

And there are some who are like me.

I am here because I am in love. That can’t be cornier than it is already but it’s true. I know I can live anywhere just as long as I am with my husband. He is my home.

And because we decided that is it best for us to settle in Austria, I want to have a normal life here. Learning the language and the way of living here could be stressful for people like me who take it seriously. I want to know the city, to get along with people, to get a decent job, to have some friends, to be able to function well in the society, and to be a responsible resident (that is not to say that I’ll forget about being a Filipino, no no). I just want to be able to integrate and to feel comfortable living here. It is not easy specially the “getting a decent job” part. Failure of getting the jobs I want pulled me emotionally down at some point and there were some days I cried. On such days, my husband would lovingly pull me to lay close beside him on our tiny couch and would wipe my tears while reminding me that I have plenty of time so I don’t need to put pressure on myself, that there’s no pressure from him about me getting a job, that he’s always there and that everything will be alright.

I realized that I am not the only one who’s going through a difficult time. My husband took it upon himself to make me feel happy here and I can tell that whenever I am feeling sad, he feels twice as sad. So whenever I start to pity myself, I think of him and all the things he needs to do for me like sending me to language schools, sending me to a driving school, accompanying me to appointments, driving me to places, ordering in restaurants for me, translating what was said to me, teaching me and showing me things new to me, etc. It is pretty much like raising a helpless baby. And not once did he complain about doing all these.

Life would have been a little less hard if we were of the same nationality and were living in “our” country but it is not like that and that is why marriages like ours are special because there are things like “integration” that we have to think about and for such, we have to exert some extra effort.

So is it difficult adjusting to living in his country?

For me, it was but I am now doing well because I was not in it alone. My husband was there too.

This week’s post is totally different from the regular posts you normally read here and that is because it is from our guest writer, Kate Yu. I suppose her honest and figurative tone definitely gives an interesting color to this blog.

Kate is a talented young writer who is currently teaching in China while pursuing a career in writing. Her blog, Live Out of the Box, showcases not only her opinions and advices on traveling, teaching, personal development, and other things but also her writing prowess. I met her through her blog and I have to say that I was, and still am, impressed by her works. When I learned that she writes guest posts, I didn’t hesitate to ask her to make one for Bizarre Marriage even if I know that she’s not in an intercultural relationship because I believe that an opinion from her, a nonconformist outsider, is still worth reading.

***

I saw her grinding the dance floor with a man old enough to be in her grandfather. She could’ve been fourteen but it was hard to tell with her thigh length shorts and f— me boots. She was allowing him full of access to her chest and her face was practically covered by his saliva. I was disgusted with such blatant display of pedophilia and wondered why she would stoop so low till I saw a glint of his balding golden hair and the wallet full of cash.

Ah.

She was a Pinay whore.

It’s women like these that can give decent Pinays a bad name. All you have to say is one word, “Filipina.” and foreign men look upon you as fresh meat they want to jump into bed with. I’ve had this experience in China where I work as a teacher. Just by saying my nationality was enough for one American to tag along with us for half an hour uninvited, a leery glimmer in his eye. My friend Belle told a Frenchman where she was from and was immediately offered HK$5,000 on the spot for one night.

What’s a decent girl to do? Whoredom isn’t our profession but it might have well been tattooed on our foreheads. It’s hard to shake away this tainted assumption what for every Filipino woman earning a respectable living out there, there’s twice the number of hoes spreading their mocca colored legs.

Worse than whores, are those notorious Filipina gold-diggers who milk men endlessly for their money and a one way ticket to their country. A cloud of this doubt settled in on Chinese expat Shelly’s relationship. She was in love with Harry, a scholarly Brit till he accused her one night in a jealous rage of using him to get into UK. “I don’t need your goddamned passport!” she snarled. “And FYI, you can keep your cash because I make more money than you!”. That was the last Harry saw of her.

These are just some of the many problems other Filipinas encounter should they ever find love in a foreign man’s arms. It’s sad that such relationships would be stained with such stereotyping. But as long as families remain unfed, Filipinas as young as twelve year olds would be forced to take up the garter belt to please the sex-starved old men in the world. The unclean assumptions would continue to spread like unshakeable noxious smog. And for the rest with decent jobs? Spat at those who misjudge you and prove them wrong. No matter how much false misconception is out there, we have enough guts to rise above it. If he still thinks of you as some cheap hussy, then leave him with your dignity and respect intact. You’re worth way more than that and you know it.

Whoever said love was easy?

Marrying for money or wealth can be traced back to the beginnings of civilization. In the ancient times, physically strong men are sought after by women for marriage simply because of two reasons. First is the very obvious one; women can depend on their brawny husbands to hunt and feed the family and the second reason is because in their times, hunters and warriors have better chances to be chosen to lead a clan therefore marrying one of them will assure a woman of a place in their society.

Marrying for financial and social security is being practiced since the beginning of time. It’s nothing new. “Strong” changed its meaning through the centuries but the very idea is still there. Today,  “strong” men are those who have money or a good position in politics, business, or well known institutions and women still go for them.

What does it have to do with intercultural marriage? Well, a lot. See all these young women from third world countries getting married to older western guys from richer nations. Is it because of love? Most of the time, it is not. Is it right? One can only argue but this is a controversy has never been solve.

See a picture of an old western guy with a young Asian wife who both get what they expect from their relationship; the guy gets companionship and the girl gets relief from financial constraints plus she’s able to help her family back in Asia. Given that they stay faithful and nice to each other, this can be considered “picture perfect”.

But is it really?

The cultural differences between couples in intercultural marriage are difficult enough to deal with even if there is the presence of “love” so imagine one without it. It could only be a relationship without love but is toppled with expectations—such can only lead to disaster. Both persons will always feel that they are being used by the other and therefore, they will not be truly happy.

But still a lot of young women willingly do it and many older guys agree to such arrangement. For the guy, it could be because of desperation to have somebody and the fear of being alone for the rest of his life and for the girl, it could be because of poverty, obligations, and ambition. They put “love” aside or they hope that it will somehow blossom overtime.

Looking at it from the outside, one can say that this kind of relationship is doomed, shallow, or hypocritical but we know that only the person himself can defined his happiness and for the people who marry for something other than love, their happiness could be defined by the benefits of getting into such relationship. For them, it could still be “picture perfect.”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ruthi again for the wonderful job she did here in BizarreMarriage.com. If you haven’t yet, I advise you to read her online dating series and her article about intercultural marriage. These articles will surely entertain you and give you insights about getting in and being in an intercultural relationship. If you enjoy her articles you may read more about her here and here.

Ruthi also runs a series of blogs and I can understand that she’s busy on her blogs now so for the next few weeks, I would like to take the responsibility in contributing articles on Bizarremarriage.com. I will still ask Ruthi to write articles for this blog from time to time though because I think this blog needs her straightforwardness and humor every now and then.

Meantime, there is something I would like to do for this blog and I was thinking about it for a very long time already and this plan will be revealed in one of my next posts. This will need readers’ support and I am cooking it carefully now so I hope that you guys are staying in tune for that.

For 40-ish women seeking lifetime partner and romance online, age factor is the next big thing. There is no sense in defying age because the truth will always hunt you down. Your age has a big factor both for you as a seeker and the person you are seeking for. If you are within this age range you either are looking for a partner who are of the same age or a bit older than you are but very rare that you will be looking for partners half your age unless you are Samantha Jones of Sex in the City.

Since you already accepted the fact that you are not getting any younger, you have to realize that age factor is a vital point in goal setting. This is important because you will need it as a point of preference for seeking your match. There are 3 age categories that you have to consider.

1. Chronological – This is your “real” age. It is based on the real date of your birth (day, month and the year). Most women always lie about it. They always avoid any question leading to it. And they always deny it. This category is always abused, altered and misrepresented. Some can get away without a problem. Others are caught red-handed. And a few ones are still in the state of denial. So, when you go online, you either tell the truth or lie about your age. It’s your choice. Just remember, God is watching you.

2. Biological – This is your age based on your physical appearance. You may be familiar with the saying… you don’t look your age. Well, it maybe two things. Either you look older than your age or otherwise. If you look younger that your age, you will feel motivated and proud of yourself. You will have no problem telling someone your chronological age because you love to hear them say… “Really? You look younger! I thought you are only 26 years old”. For a 40-ish woman, this is a big thing. [I know how it feels, trust me.] But if you look older than your age, you might want to deny it. Sometimes you will feel discouraged but don’t lose hope there are lots of options you can take. Invest on your appearance. Upgrade your lifestyle and you’ll never go wrong with that.

3. Psychological – This is the age that you set your mind on. So, this is a mind-set age, so to speak. This is the age that you want to stay in forever. This is the number of candles that you constantly put in your birthday cake year after year after year. This is the age that you tell people [without guilt] when they asked how old are you and it remains constant.

Here’s the thing, when I was in the US Embassy waiting for my interview for my Fiancé Visa, I met a few women who were there for the same purpose. I met a 19-year old girl whose fiancé is a 40-something divorcee whom she doesn’t know what kind of works he does. I met a 26-year old woman whose fiancé is a 71-year old widower. I also met a 40-year old separated lady with a 9-year old daughter [who was also included in the petition] whose fiancé is a 50-year old single but with 2 kids. And I am a 42-year old [virgin] never been married and no kids whose fiancé is a 50 year old divorcee with 3 kids. The bottom line is… age may be a big factor, so you might want to consider it in your decision making process.

When you are at this age, it’s very rare that you might find the most eligible-never-been-kissed-never-been-hitched-and-never-been-screwed-up bachelors online. The guys you will meet online seeking for relationships [serious or otherwise] are either single with kid/s or divorcee [with or without kid/s] or widower [with or without kid/s]. So be prepared for the extra baggage because that is something you cannot get rid of.

When you are 40-ish woman, there is no room for being fussy. You cannot be picky because you are buying times already. And with this in mind, there is one question you need to answer with all honesty – am I ready for THE BIG PLUNGE ©

Here is the thing. Your personal predicament in the predisposed-intimate-relationship department officially considered you ready for the next level. This is the “testing-the-water” state where you need to be geared to the tee. Actually, this is the easiest part in the entire online dating process because you don’t have to go through another soul-searching methodology that you already subjected yourself in during the first few previous articles.

Taking into action your decision, you are bound to find the consequences of what it takes to be a seeker. That is the sad reality. You are then considered a seeker. And you have to accept that fact. Being a seeker means a lot to anybody. If you are a woman coming from a conservative cultural background where women are supposed to be sought after, this action is somewhat a shocking truth. But as they say… you got to do what you got to do. This is what I meant by – going to the offensive.

Being a seeker has both the advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that, you have now the power to choose. You can set your own standard and work around it. You don’t have to try hard to be chosen because you are the one who will make the selection. Doesn’t it give you power, or what? With regards to the disadvantages, I let you discover that. But the most important thing is that… you should be able to identify what kind of a seeker are you?

There are different group of seekers that an online dater can be categorized. It all depends, of course, on your personal sexual preference. Here are some of the different categories that maybe a helpful deciding factor for seekers and online daters alike.

1. MEN-SEEKING WOMEN: Women who prefer men, obviously, fall on this category. Most 40-ish women who are seeking men for future partners are on this boat. This is the category for women who are ready to take that big step in deciding for their future. This is your starting point where you will take the leap of faith in finding your prince. This is the category where you will be promoted as seeker of that life-ever-after ending. This is the category where women-seeking men will browse… to find and look for you.

2. WOMEN-SEEKING MEN: This is the opposite of the women who prefer men. This is your prospective seeker if you are a woman [in the real sense of the word]. This is the category where men-seeking women will browse… to go to the offensive. This is the category where you will make your personal choice and selection of your prospective princes. This is the category for what so called – straight men. They are the [practicing] hetero-sexual human beings in search of the opposite life or [sex] partners. They are potential partners who are capable of a lasting relationship or the opposite. And they come in all sizes, color and shape, literally and figuratively.

3. MEN-SEEKING MEN: The existence of the third sex is undeniably acceptable. They already have their own place under the sun. They have equal rights just like any straight men. They have freedom to live according to their sexual preference and good thing their rights are legally recognized now. Men can now marry their gay partners. So there is hope for everyone.

4. WOMEN-SEEKING WOMEN: This is the opposite of the gay men seekers. If you are a woman who prefers another woman, this is your category. This is legit too. Your rights are equally recognized just like the gay men.

5. MARRIED BUT LOOKING: Let it be known that there are people who are not satisfied with their present status in life. There are people who don’t feel fulfilled in one aspect of their lives. And there are people who are plain adventurous. This is a valid category. This is a universal category. This category is for both men and women who are in relationship or wanting to get out of it or just wanting to play a game or two. And in the online dating arena, their needs are acknowledged and addressed. But if you are really looking for a real-life partner and seeking a real relationship and not just a new “sports”, then this is not the one for you. Because there will be complications that one has to deal with along the way. But then, there are cases where there are married women who got lucky and were able to find her ideal life partner. But that is an isolated case. The point is – there is still hope for those who are already in a relationship, so have faith.

6. And THE OTHERS (not specified): This category is flexible. You can even create your own specific category and invite people to join you here. You can come up with anything and your imagination is your only limitation. This could be a combination of the 5 other categories mentioned above. So this is considered as “whatever category”.

So, whatever your sexual preference is, you have equal rights to seek and to be sought. Once you know your category, the next step is deciding on the AGE FACTOR. ©

When I started learning how to use the computer I was only thinking how it will help me with my line of work. Being a teacher, it helped me a lot with my lessons and grade computations. Little did I know that it will also help me find a husband.

In online Dating, decision making is a painstaking process especially if you are not sure of its possible outcome. Even if you were able to make a [fuzzy] mission statement and a [vague] vision of your future in online dating, still there will be a shade of apprehension about the upshot of what you might be deciding on. We both know too that mission and vision are still elusive at this point due to some uncertainties that you harbor at the back of your mind because honestly, the reality is still surreal especially if you are the conventional and typical kind of person.

When I started learning to know the great possibilities that I can do with the computer, it dawned on me how important this tool not only in my work but in my future as well. I took advantage of those opportunities that I can get out of it. I used them to the fullest. I taught myself to use them to benefit my love life. I explored all options that could be advantageous to my personal concerns. And I am now enjoying the result of my hard work.

Yes, online dating is a real hard work just like any other relationship for that matter. And one of the hardships that you will encounter is – getting started. It’s hard to start especially if you do not know what to do… where to go… when to go… and how to go there.

In order to get started, you should be able to deal with the 3 Ws and an H.

WHAT: This is the first issue that you need to address with all honestly. By this time, you should already have a clear idea of “what” you want to do with you life. But this is not really that complicated anymore when you already have your mission statement. In other words, the “what” is your starting point to the next step of the decision making process which is… to figure it out how you will make your mission-vision come true. The “what” will be then more tangible and concrete and this will guide you to “where” you want to go.

WHERE: Where – is always associated with location, a special place or a respite where you can search for that one special someone in your vision. So it could be first and foremost, the place where you will go online. It could be the internet café or a friend’s place or your own [In my case, I used all of the above]. Once you have decided on that, “where” is also the specific place where you see your vision being manifested. This means that you must have in mind which part of the world your special someone must come from. Please be aware that there is a great possibility that once you found your soul mate and when things between you get serious, the odds of you being relocated is huge. You will have to accept the fact that you will have to give up everything [I mean it] in order to be with that someone. But if your dream is to live and work abroad, then this is not a problem at all. Where also denotes two actual places: the free social network [like YM Chatroom, where I found my guy] and paid matchmaking network [like eHarmony and others]. (Note: There will be a separate article on this special topic.)

WHEN: When – refers to time. This is a very important factor in online dating. You must have it. You must commit to it. You must give in to it. There should be no alibi now. Having no time is not an excuse for you to go online. Once you have the time, you will soon develop a habit and that is common… that is natural… and that is the norm for anyone who decided to seek online dating. You will be hooked once you learned how to do it. You will have sleepless nights and you might want to give up your night job or God forbids… even your day job just to be online 24/7. It’s addictive. That is one of the downside of it.

HOW: This is the go-getter of the entire process. Technically, the “how” is the skill that you need to acquire to be able to make your mission statement and vision a reality. First, you need to learn the basic skill in computing. And from there you are good to go. You don’t have to be a computer savvy. Nope, you only need to know some special commands and everything will be a breeze. You can ask help from the staff of the internet café or your friends and anyone who are available and willing to help you and you are all set. Once you learn the skill you are now ready to catch the biggest fish in the ocean. You are now licensed to fish.

But there is still one W that is not mentioned from the discussion above. That W stands for – the WHO. It was not really mentioned because this issue is kinda subjective. Of course you already have in your mind what kind of a person you are looking for, the place where you might want to spend the rest of your life but never whom you are spending it with… that is why you are seeking. The “who” is that person you are looking for and you will be amazed with the result. Here, you don’t need any skill. What you do need is – the faith. The “who” is the W that will give your search a spice of mystery. Now that you know all these… are you ready to be the big “S”? THE SEEKER, that is. ©

When I reached 40, I drew up my mission statement – I am a woman… I am still single… I am 40… And I am not getting younger. Therefore, I got to get hitched, one way or another. So help me God!.

When I reached 40 I thought life will begin there. I was hopeful. I was optimistic. I was confident. Well, blame it to the cliché – Life begins at 40. Eventually I found out… 50 – is the new 40. OMG! This can’t be happening… was all I said. At the back of my mind, I was asking myself… does it mean I still have 10 more years to play safe? OMG [part 2]! This can’t be true… was all I said. At hindsight, I was beginning to cave in.

When you reached 40 and you wake up one day realizing that you are tired of waking up alone, you do need someone. And once you accepted it, you begin to explore possibilities how to address your needs. Once you get an idea, you can draw up a plan which [if you do not have yet realized] is considered as your mission. The mission is – to wake up having someone on my bed. Well, that could be the simplest, most direct-to-the-point, no-pretense, non-condescending and no-non-sense mission anyone could come up with. There is nothing wrong with that. What matter is that… you already have a concrete plan of what you want in your life and for your future.

When you reached 40, it is your mission to do something with your life because nobody will do it for you. But a mission will not be a mission per se if you are not willing to venture into the next level. You need to imagine that mission. You should be able to see in your mind what the future holds. You must live, eat, drink and breathe your mission. Otherwise, everything will just be a dream – a dream with no certainty… a dream with no conviction… a dream with no assurance. And you will spend the rest of your life alone. So sad! Having a mission is only a way for you to have a tangible reason to see in your mind’s eye what you want in your life. Simply put – from mission evolves vision.

When I reached 40, I started imagining my life as a housewife and a mother. I would role-play the vision in my daydream. I would imagine how my life as a housewife and a mother would start and end. I would imagine how I would take care of my family. You see, when the truth is far from the reality, the most convenient way to live life is to see it in your mind. At least there, you have a perfect storyline.

When I haven’t reached 40 yet, I believed I was a princess. And someday, my prince charming will come and make me his queen. But it didn’t happen. Hundred years passed by [just exaggerating to fit the fairytale theme], I found myself wandering in cyber jungle and ta-da… I found my prince. We fell in love and in no time I was on a jet plane heading to farther-than-far-away-land. When the plane touched down, reality knocked and my prince charming turned out to be a frog. Just kidding! Of course, he is no royalty but he is the King of the Hill [in the real sense of the word] then he married me and that made me a Queen, right? The moral of the story is… my vision evolved into a reality.

When you reached 40, you need a mission. You have to state it and believe that you can attain it. Then have a vision of how you can achieve your mission. Don’t under-estimate the power of positive thinking. I am a firm believer of that. I am a big fan. It gives you power over your doubts. And it prepares you to… GETTING STARTED. ©