MY WHOLE employment with SunStar Davao that spanned 23 years saw me training staff. Majority of these were the young ones fresh from college or not even out of college yet (I never discriminated against dropouts, undergrads, and grads of unrelated courses because I was always focused on attitude and that elusive but very valuable drive).

Journalism is a most demanding job. There are whips to be cracked, and I whipped them all, many scarred for life maybe, but have learned gumption and life lessons they still carry with them long after they found other employment.

I was a terror before. I mellowed down with age, the decibels of outbursts have been controlled, but the demand for the best remained... and yes, the kick-butting order to find one’s purpose in life.

Two pet peeves:

Ego

Absence of purpose/Heartless expertise.

A writer whom I’ve been mentoring about life for almost a decade now asked to be mentored on writing recently. She has been saying for a few years now that she feels she is not improving in her skills as she gets her bread and butter online.

I asked her to write some briefs I needed Asap. She delivered, and she’s good.

Did I read what she wrote, she asked. Was it okay?

I replied: “Yups. I know na your problem. Bwahaha!”

Later that day I told her what her problem about her writing is: emptiness. Her current source of income does not feed her soul. It’s just writing to beat deadlines.

Indeed, in the bid to sustain needs and wants and support families, many do not have the time to spare to nourish the soul. But that’s because we separate physical work from soul work.

My friends and I have endeavored to continue with our soul works while proving to all that this does not mean we will live impoverished.

Take care of the world and the world will take care of you, said pranic healing founder Master Choa Kok Sui.

Since jumping out of a well-paying job that was squeezing out my soul with no Plan B to land on last year, I have proven to myself that this mantra works. I may not be compensated as much as last year, but I am on the way to recover more than what I had to give up just by taking care of the world.

Curious to know how? Ask me. But... only if your motivation is not money. It’s a roundabout route to greater wealth as we reap what we sow, many, many times.

saestremera@gmail.com