Your mantra for the week: “As I uplift myself, I automatically lift up others.”

When we speak of love relationships, people respond instantaneously and enthusiastically. However, they always associate it with loving another person, forgetting that love should start with loving oneself.

We have been taught to love others, so that turning it toward ourselves becomes difficult.

Here are 7 of 21 exercises that can improve your capacity to love yourself:

1) Forgive yourself for all the so-called “mistakes” you have made, examine your heart if there are others who also need your forgiveness, and make amends.

2) Be your own best friend, be gentle and supportive of yourself by accepting your humanity with all the weaknesses that come with it.

3) Know how blessed you are by counting the graces the Universe has showered you with—your good health, if not your ability to heal yourself, your talents, your uniqueness, your friends, associates and family who love and appreciate you.

4) Start a “these-are-mine-now” scrapbook with things you desire. Browse through it frequently.

5) Get into a cheerful mood and give yourself compliments quietly if you’re with others, and openly if you’re alone. Yes, you can pick up a mirror and say, “I love you, you are so wonderful.”

6) Try sporting a new look if you haven’t done so in a while. Consult others, or get a stylist if it helps.

7) Mind your own business, and your business is to improve yourself in every way you can.

Ballet, art, workspaces

On Manuel L. Quezon’s birthday, Aug. 19, “Journeys on a Galleon” was presented at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as a tribute to the late Edgardo J. Angara. Although it was a short participation, the Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) was proud to be part of the event.

Last week at the Provenance, Shangri-La at the Fort, Joanna Preysler introduced the latest works of Jayson Cortez, titled “Obsession,” curated by Ricky Francisco. It’s open to the public until Sept. 2.

Adam de Leon Klecheski, 23, recently launched his “Crown Spaces” at the Crown Condominium, H.V. dela Costa Street, Makati.

After finishing his studies in the Netherlands, he went into business, opening his “workspaces” to interested parties in his aunt’s Crown Condo.

“Everyone is free to rent a workspace and get coffee and snacks for a reasonable fee,” says Adam. Contact 09478232392.

Big crowd

Johnny Litton’s Latino-theme birthday bash at Bellevue Hotel in Alabang drew a big crowd. Aside from the 400 guests invited, almost 200 more came.

In the days of the original Manila’s 400, this would never have happened. At most, there might be four to eight who would gatecrash.

At Johnny’s party, one of the uninvited had the gall to insist on sitting at the presidential table, just because her husband is an honorary consul.

Another one, with five companions tagging along, confronted Johnny about why he hadn’t written in his column about her son’s jewelry creations “that are very much in demand,” as she claimed.

I do not believe kabastusan is a Filipino trait. What is prevalent in today’s society is thickness of face that no facial cosmetic can disguise—not even a facelift.

In most of his celebrations, it is customary for Johnny to speak to his guests with a microphone like a ringmaster. This time, he decided to take a break, except that he had no place to sit. So I suggested that, next year, his birthday party should have a circus theme—because it always turns out that way, anyway.

Usual suspects

I will not bother mentioning names, which Johnny can do in his columns. Many of the usual suspects were present, like his Chinese angels, past, present and Best-Dressed ladies, all trying to outdress each other—I guess in preparation for the Philippine Cancer Society’s Best Dressed Women of the Philippines, which Johnny is involved in.

Johnny is truly a gentleman. If it were my party, I would not be as polite as he was that evening. Part of the program would be an announcement of the names of people who were there because they tagged along with the uninvited.

Kudos to Johnny for being so cool and amiable!

Peter’s pepper

There are times I run into unusual things that most people won’t believe, unless I could produce evidence, like the very extraordinary Philippine flower “Puki-reyna,” which I first wrote about on Aug. 27, 2017, including its scientific name, “Clitoria ternatea Linn.”

Now comes a most unique vegetable that grows in East Texas and Mexico which only proves that no wall, even that of US President Donald Trump, can stop this Peppered Peter from growing where it wants.

The photo was sent to me by my cousin Felix Teodoro, with a note saying “that those chili peppers can grow as long as 18 inches. Doesn’t it just bring tears to your eyes?”

E-mail the columnist: [email protected]. Catch his lectures on IAMISM every Sunday, 7 p.m., on his Facebook page.