Mindset

Our mind is the aspect of intellect and consciousness experienced as combinations of thoughts, perception, memory, emotion, will and imagination, including all unconscious cognitive process. Meanwhile, mindset is a set of beliefs or a way of thinking that determines one’s behavior, outlook and mental attitude. Special thanks to Wikipedia.

     I have always been observing my environment. It had been my past time to watch over the irregularities of life which turn out to be disappointing. It is really frustrating to know about it. But ironically, I like it. I know you might laugh or raise your brows at me but I don’t care. Neither should you. It’s how I think. It’s how I see these ‘whatevers’. This is my mindset. This is my column and I’ll take the chance to put it into words. So, read between the lines. Who knows, we might share the same observations.

     For many years now, EDSA had been a witness of a long bumper to bumper traffic jam. It seemed that the vehicles were not moving. Even before it was named into what we call now, EDSA had been experiencing a massive vehicle gathering due to traffic. If only EDSA could talk, it would surely complain about the foul odor from smoke belching vehicles.

     Along the streets of ‘wherevers’ reveal the real situation of the man who is usually seen in caricatures and cartoons. The narrow pathways of busy cities have become a refuge of our homeless fellowmen. More often than not, beggars from corner to corner will not stop on chasing you unless you give them alms. The mirror walls of renowned fast food chains have been watching how these unfortunate people desperately waiting for kind ‘whoevers’ to drop even just a single coin into their empty cans. These people who happen to be the highest form of animal become the top competitor of dogs, cats and the like in a search for leftovers over the garbage bags and bins.  It has been a clear manifestation that most of Filipinos share the same plight. Oh poor Juan Dela Cruz.

     I really appreciate the efforts of our new administration to restore economic stability which all the more becomes evident. Everyone has been playing the roles given to them to finally topple the long time problem on corruption. I salute them for initiating this campaign which I believe it should have been started way back then. They’re really performing their duty as what they have promised the mass during the star- studded campaign period with a variety of colors as identification. Special thanks to celebrities who actively participated and promoted their personal bets telling the people that their candidates are far better than the other aspirants. Who knows, these celebrities might later become our self- proclaimed law makers who do nothing but to sleep during sessions. Hey! You are being paid!

      I am a student. I still have no job. But sooner, I might own a very confined cubicle with a lot of post- it notes glued in my cubicle wall or I may later stay in an air- conditioned room having seated on a swivel chair with a lot of papers to be reviewed and signed and a white Apple Laptop too. Who knows? I’ll be in an office where supplies are plentiful. I’ll be with people who do office works that when the boss is out, gossips will be around. Of course, unethical employees are expected to ruin the day, some of them maybe abusive, some are bossy even if they are not the head. Some are wasteful, some are messy. Some are absentees, some are late comers. Some are lazy, some are incompetent. Then out of the blue, the boss will conduct an inspection. Only to find out, the office supplies were all consumed for unreasonable purposes. In just a couple of unproductive days, the stacks of Substance 20 long and short bond papers that stand like the height of a basketball player have turned out into a pile which now stands like the height of a midget. The packs of Pilot Pens and Markers, the bottles of Elmer’s Glue, the boxes of staple wires, the heap of folders and the like become scarce. Then, the sexy secretary who always flirts with his executive is about to print a resolution but only to find out that the Continues Ink System has no ink and that the computer monitor shows a “No paper fed” pop up warning. Then out of his anger, the boss created a fact finding committee to investigate the abrupt expenditure of office supplies and even called an accounting firm to audit the expenses of the company. Huh, too much for this! I might get the ire of those office employees similar to what I have mentioned. Pardon me if I did. In cases that I am just misjudging you, then prove not only me but also to your officemates who do nothing but to spy on your every wrong moves that you are ethical if not holy and that you are not bringing home the supplies intended just for your office. Etcetera. Etcetera.

     In connection with the workplace issues aforementioned, I am really disappointed with employees whose behavior is similar with the wicked witch of any fantasy stories.  They talk as if there is no other day. They yell at customers who wishes nothing but to be eligible. They scold as if they have seen a red cloth as what a bull do in a Bull Fight Festivals. Huh! Where are you morals then? Oops! I did not pointed anyone. You know yourselves. Another despising issue in a workplace is the employees who spend their eight hours or less in front of the computer playing Gamehouse games instead of doing related documents in Microsoft Office. They spend their supposed- to- be- productive time guessing the longest word in Text Twist when in fact they can’t even answer the three letter word and all they have done is to twist the letters or trying hard to protect their house against the dancing brain- thirsty zombies or patiently shooting similar balls in Luxor.  Some may also surf the Internet and sign up on a fast growing networking sites which I usually do. So what if I am hooked with Facebook, or Friendster, or Twitter? At least I am not employed and not being paid by the government.

     I must admit I come to school late at times. Not just once but twice and ultimately became a part of my daily routine. Thanks to some instructors who do not mind putting “T” on my class card for being late. Nevertheless, I found myself enjoying my tardiness. So what? But mind you guys, I’ll be happier if the teacher comes late in a class. I don’t care. It’s the same way around when I don’t like being snoop with my tardiness. That’s it.

     I may sound sarcastic if I am not giving justifications why I like these things I observe. You might not see good things from it but for me, these are significant issues we should look into. I’m not fooling you. There are nice things behind these concerns. You may not believe me but it’s true. Anyway I didn’t write this to convince you but just to inform everyone. It’s hard to convince people whose mindset is different from me. It’s the same way around when I try to convince you that the Earth is the closest planet to the sun when in fact you have just visited a Planetarium or you have just read it from the Almanac that Mercury is the first planet in the Solar System.

     As I was saying, EDSA is a traffic prone area. However, the good things about it are trafficking on my mind. But sad to say, some of it cannot move out from my head and be penned down. Whatever! Anyway, back to the business, traffic is anywhere. It’s not only seen in EDSA. It can be seen from any part of the 360 Degree world. Consequently, there are lots of annoyed passengers, drivers, commuters and the like. But mind you, traffic is nice. Take the case of a job seeker who is about to meet his possible employer for an interview. Because she was rushing, she was not able to put on her make- up which made her look like a rape victim. See? While waiting for the red light turn into green, she will able to fix herself. Who knows, she might be hired as the executive secretary well in fact she only applied as the Xerox lady by the fact that she is beautiful. Instant job, instant position so to say. Those who have no time to eat can pack their breakfast and be eaten inside their luxurious BMW or red sports car. Those who are intentionally making themselves late in office just to avoid her possessive and die- hard officemate suitor will be able to have reason when his boss calls her to explain why her DTR shows her tardiness. Did you see it’s nice to have traffic?

     On the other way around, poverty is okay. Laugh at me? Go! For me, the presence of beggars is God’s way of reminding His people to share what they have got in their life. Through them, well- to- do people will be able to give some part of their resources to those who terribly need help. These unfortunate people need compassion from us. A one peso coin can satisfy the ears of a blind beggar. A smile rather than a criticism from you can somehow make them feel better. I’m not requiring you to be charitable. Neither I am telling you to go to slum areas and start saving them. We can do more than that.

     The campaign against corruption has not something to do with my observations that make me disappointed. Why should I be disappointed when this campaign is commendable. The fact that it was not initiated way back then makes me upset. Thanks to our responsible national leaders who started it. On the other hand, the presence of celebrities during the campaign period is highly appreciated. While helping to boost the candidate’s image to the public, these celebrities will be able to train themselves as future candidates to national and local positions.  Did you get my point? Anyway, if celebrities reign in the national positions, die- hard fans will be able to see their idols not as actors or actresses but as an official whose privilege speech is as kilometric as the speech of any high knowledgeable politician. Consequently, these fans will not be able to huddle themselves in a very crowded areas during mall tours or concerts. At least if they just go to the session area, they will be enlightened about the current national concerns being debated upon.

     The issues regarding the workplace are somehow healthy. You doutb me but I am certain about it. Take the case of an employee who happens to be a struggling single mother to his Grade2C son. His son’s teachers required him lots of school projects. For her to save money, she steal a rim of bond papers, folders, pens, glues, fasteners, markers and the like from the stock room. She may have stolen those supplies but at least it was utilized and not just stocked in a cool dry place. Thanks to the company for the office supplies for without it, the mother may not have paid their monthly rental that gradually became the reason why they were thrown away from their apartment. Of course the mother will be doing the project of his son for he was busy playing with his playmates. Surprisingly, she discovered that she was creative to the extent that his son’s project was highly appreciated by his teacher. And for that, she will treat herself with cups of drink- all- you- can brewed coffee sponsored, again, by the company.

     In cases that the employees whose behaviors are as monstrous as the roles played by the antagonist in box office movies or highly acclaimed prime time ‘teleseryes’ might come across this article, I’m not asking for sorry. Instead you should ask sorry to all your customers whom you have yelled at. This part will just somehow ease your annoyance from me after reading the part where I strike you. Anyway, I salute you for scolding your customers and making them humiliated infront of other people. Two thumbs up for the unprofessionalism you have showed. By doing so, you have just proven your fellow that you still need to go back to school and learn GMRC or if not the basics of Professional Ethics. You also have made them stronger to face any humiliations of respect- undeserving people. You made them more humble. You taught them to strive better so that they will be able to get out from where they are in and be able to treated as humans not as pets being yelled and played upon. After all, you are a good moral booster.

     I also congratulate you for playing computer games during office hours. Why? It’s because you were able to used computers compared to those whom you have humiliated who doesn’t even know to manipulate this device. You’re lucky for you were privileged to have it in your office that when your children need a printed school report or project, you will undoubtedly print it for them. By playing the Text Twist, you have somehow added words into your vocabulary. In cases that you got the highest word, nice job! I hope you also did your job well. I also recognized you for killing lots of zombies which will enter your house. You also have proven me that you have good eyesight and be able to recognize colors in the Luxor game. Cheers for you have just signed up for Facebook where you have added friends and even strangers. Oh wait! You can also send friend request to me. I’d be glad then. We can be friends.

     I also have mentioned my teachers who come to our class late. Ma’am, Sir, it’s okay. At  least you have showed up. Thanks for not coming early at times for I had more time to review my notes for recitation or quiz. You have given me more time to trick around with my classmates which all the more made our bonding closer. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.

     To make it fair, I even admitted that I am a late comer to school. But I have no regrets. Why? It’s because I have done other more important things that needs attention. I was also able to evaluate myself that coming late at school is a bad habit especially when the teacher gives a surprise quiz. In the end, I  became more responsible to my every action.

     Now, may I hear your laugh at me. May I see your brows if they are still raised against me. Sometimes I have to be mean and judgmental for you to be able to realize that there is goodness behind the bad things around you. Remember I am always here probing around and eyeing your every move. I have set my mind to be a keen observer at all times. This is my mindset and I am proud of it. #