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The Official Home of Author Donna Dias Manuel

Gratitude 2020

October 12, 2020 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

How do you stay grateful when the world is falling apart? It is not easy, but it is certainly possible to do so. In 2015, I began my writing journey with an article on gratitude. And the lessons I learned then still hold. My sister made her heavenly abode in 2016, but she taught us … [Read more…]

Posted in: Life Lessons Tagged: #Covid19, Cancer, Family, Gratitude, life lessons, October, THANKFUL, Thanksgiving

My Heart, Be Still

September 10, 2020 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

I watched her slip her little feet into her pink shoes and toss her new bag over her shoulders. My bright-eyed first-grader was ready for her first day at school. “Are you ready?” I asked a few minutes before we left our home. “Finally! Trust me, mama. I will be OK.” Lil Z replied, trying … [Read more…]

Posted in: General, Parenting Tagged: #Covid19, children, masks, pandemic, parenting, reading, resilience, school, teachers, Virus

Where do we go from here?

May 3, 2020 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

It’s been more than a year since I posted anything on my blog. Why? Because life got in the way. We moved from balmy Thailand to frigid Canada (a newcomer’s perspective). But this post isn’t about transitioning from Pad Krapow Gai to Poutine (although I can’t help shedding a tear every time I think about … [Read more…]

Posted in: General, Life Lessons Tagged: #Covid19, Gratitude, hope, life lessons, MOTHERHOOD

Taking the Wheel in my 30s

March 6, 2019 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

Home truth: My father was forbidden from purchasing a car because my mother insisted it was a death trap. My family never owned a vehicle; honestly, I missed having one only during the monsoons and on festival days when we had to get to church in our best clothing seated in an auto rickshaw. It’s … [Read more…]

Posted in: General, Life Lessons Tagged: driver, Driving, fatality, license, life lessons, motorway, road traffic

I Forgive Me

August 27, 2018 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

What goes into the making of a thirty-five-year-old woman? Relationships, circumstances, heartache, big wins, losses, small wins, obstacles? A double tick for all? I don’t know about other women, but I’m certainly a product of the above. I’ve always believed a birthday is like a fresh start; a chance to start over in the same … [Read more…]

Posted in: Life Lessons, The Ordinary Life Project Tagged: anger, closure, feelings, forgiveness, life lessons, LifeProject, self-care

Crash & Goodbye

May 30, 2018 by Donna Dias Manuel 2 Comments

May 2018 This month began with a blast from the past; a very dear friend made some last-minute plans and dropped by to see us. I was thankful for the wonderful opportunity to spend time with her and the little ones. Last year, before leaving Thailand, she gave me the gift of another treasured friendship … [Read more…]

Posted in: Life Lessons, The Ordinary Life Project Tagged: ANGELS, first impression, FRIENDSHIP, KARMA, laptop, theordinarylifeproject

Making Magic

April 18, 2018 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

APRIL 2018 This month has been anything but ordinary, and so I found myself scratching my head while listing down the ordinary joys I had experienced. Let me just begin by saying April has been magical; our visit to Disneyland Hong Kong was extraordinary. Disney theme parks are creativity in motion. Sometime around Christmas, last … [Read more…]

Posted in: The Ordinary Life Project Tagged: Bubba Gump, childhood, DisneyLand, Family, Holidays, Hong Kong, IKEA, Mickey, plastic, The Ordinary Life Project

Feminist! Who, Me?

April 17, 2018 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

“Are you a feminist?” Strangely, no one has ever directly asked me that question before, but many have assumed I am one. My presumption is that going by my demeanour people slot me in the feminist box. I’m a female with a strong, assertive voice; basically, a woman with an opinion that screams “you don’t … [Read more…]

Posted in: General Tagged: choice, empowerment, feminism, Jane Austen, MOTHERHOOD, parenting, Pride and Prejudice, women

Can Abstinence be Enjoyable?

April 2, 2018 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

MARCH 2018 – Part II I got down to writing this post later than I expected, but better late than never, right? The first quarter of the year went by quickly, March was an extremely busy yet fulfilling month. Who knew pre-schoolers had so many school events that needed parental participation. Phew! The school doesn’t … [Read more…]

Posted in: The Ordinary Life Project Tagged: beach, digital detox, Family, Gratitude, Holiday, Krabi, Life Goals, life lessons, LifeProject, parenting, THANKFUL, theordinarylifeproject, travel

Carpe Diem

March 8, 2018 by Donna Dias Manuel Leave a Comment

MARCH 2018 – Part I   The last twenty days have been more like a blur, I was under the weather for the most part. A runny nose, chest throbbing cough and blazing heat is the worst combination ever. I came close to abandoning my project; it was just too hard to be joyful about … [Read more…]

Posted in: The Ordinary Life Project Tagged: carpe diem, digital detox, flexibility, FRIENDSHIP, life lessons, light-hearted, mental wellness, PATIENCE, social media, theordinarylifeproject, toddler, toddlermom
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