This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Every time I see elderly people in wheelchairs or walking with the help of a single-point cane, I can’t help but remember my grandfather who was in the same discomforting situation before he died last year. For days since his arrival from Canada we’ve witnessed how difficult it was for him to move around the house with his cane. And being one of his “caregivers” I had always wished there’d be something that would’ve made things easier for him, especially whenever he’d asked any one of us to take him to and from my aunt’s house in the same neighborhood. Looking back, I knew it wasn’t only me whose heart bleeds at those memories, and if only we had known NMEDA a little earlier, things would’ve been a lot different.

Originally formed as an association of mobility equipment dealer, NMEDA, is a non-profit association of mobility equipment dealers, driver rehabilitation specialists, and other professionals whose aim is to provide safe and reliable vehicles to people with disabilities.

Moreover, NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) targets to educate consumers with valuable information that they can rely when they decide to purchase products from NMEDA qualified dealers.

This organization does not sell anything; rather they are at the forefront of promoting safe driving and equipment for disabled people. They are non-profit and their members are required to adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Their dealers are the only qualified members to sell handicap vans and vehicle modifications for disabled people.

NMEDA has both Dealers and Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers under its turf. Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. They comply on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality.

Another great thing about NMEDA is that they have a very convenient way of helping you find a dealer close to your location. You may visit NMEDA.org and type in your zip code to find a qualified dealer that could help you get back onto the road of independence.

My father advised me to drink freshly-squeezed lemon juice with a tablespoon of honey to relieve the discomfort, which I did. And somehow, it helped relieve the discomfort I am feeling.

But what worried me a lot was when my daughter started showing the same symptoms in just a matter of two days being with me. The thought that it could trigger her asthma attack once more scares me a lot that I have to constantly remind my husband to frequently monitor her condition.

At first, I misdiagnosed myself with flu because of the similar symptoms, except for fever which, thank God, I did not experience at all. Just to give myself some peace of mind about my health and my daughter’s I did some Google search and found very helpful information on how to distinguish whether what you are having is flu or colds.

Exactly, I enrolled myself to a one month trial in a gym nearby the neighborhood. I paid P1000 for a 1 month unlimited use of Ryan J’s fitness equipment and had my first day on March 3.

My ultimate goals are my hips, thighs, waist, arms, and legs. Full body workout, anyone?

To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to achieving the sinewy look. I just wanted to flatten my belly and make use of my pre-pregnancy pants once more.  And a toned arms and legs are just icing on the cake. But who cares, anyway.

One month later and four sessions after, I was about to think I just wasted a thousand bucks. After all, what progress can you really make in four visits of two hours each? Well, at least that’s what I thought.

Surprisingly enough, my office-mates were noticing my weight loss. And not only that, some of my pre-pregnancy pants and jeans are already wearable. Whew!

Now, I am trying to decide whether to go  full throttle…lolz. I’m thinking that maybe I should get the yearly membership and just get a good sweat, especially now that I am doing the morning shift at work. That means no more excuses to hit the gym three times a week…yeeey!!!

Reason I asked is because in these days and age where our life seems to depend so much to computers, it is no wonder that we hugely expose our eyes to potential damage and risk. Hence, it’s just proper to look for a good eyeglasses that would protect our eyes from all these radiations we come across with everyday.

But let’s face it, even eyeglasses these days have become way too commercialized and non-budget-friendly. And like our eyes, we also would want to protect our pocket from too expensive purchases without compromising the quality of what we’re getting.

Keeping that in mind, Zenni Optical introduces its full prescription eyeglasses starting at less than $10 a pair. And not only that, you can also enjoy a low shipping rate of $4.95 for bulk orders, so why not take advantage the treat?! After all, it’s not as if you can easily find such good quality pairs without spending too much.

Wow, it felt really great to pamper yourself once in a while! The massage was such a delight. However, unlike before when I’d usually take oils, this time I tried powder for a change. It was smooth on the body, or perhaps I just so happen to get my favorite masseuse.

Now, I’m thinking what could be next for tomorrow…lolz.

Your boss has been acting grumpy and finicky since the beginning of the week and you’re wondering if it has anything to do with you.

Awful traffic jams, pollution, unfinished report, pending household bills, relationship crisis, etc. All these are enough reasons to make your sanity take the zigzag route leaving you like a giddy chick at the end of the day.

Apparently, in today’s frenetic and gadget-driven world where our lifestyle is marred with so much pressure, it is not surprising if at one point—or two—you’re almost always at the verge of taking some sleeping tablets to prevent yourself from going through the tunnel of stress.

So before you do just that, give yourself the much-needed time out that you deserve. And what better way to breeze away from those energy-draining and mentally-exhausting facts of life than to seek solace to the simple, free-wheeling pleasures which do not necessarily require a huge chunk of your hard-earned money.

Listen to happy music

Yup, you heard it right. Most of the time all it takes is just some lively tune to get you going. It doesn’t matter whether it has got some sappy lyrics or a really Bronx style. What counts is you go with the beat.

So to start the day right, fade in a heart-pumping song while you prepare yourself to get to work. This way, you can up that good mood you haven’t had for quite some time. You might want to try some Pussycat Dolls collection or Rihanna’s funky music. Go with it and liven up the day!

Grab a bite

You can never go wrong with food. We Filipinos just so love to eat. So go ahead and treat yourself to your favorite merienda.

Order your fave ice cream or that freshly baked ensaymada you just love to munch since you were in grade school. Forget about cholesterol once in a while and give yourself a good food-trip.

And if you’re quite big in appetite, treating yourself in a buffet on a weekend is not a bad idea. Sure, it may look boring to do this one alone, but sometimes it’s fun to be just doing things yourself.

Get a new haircut

Need we say more? A lot of us go to a salon when not feeling really good. Girls in particular love different hair styling while guys often do it for sheer hygiene and maintenance.

But it doesn’t matter. Either way, have your hair done by a pro and show off. That chopped style might look fabulous on you or it could be that sophisticated boy’s cut Miranda Hobes had once sported in Sex and the City.

Whatever cut you demand just be sure to enjoy it as if it’s the finest look you ever had in your life.

Go interactive

Try online chat. It may sound quite desperate for you, but yeah, it’s a pretty convenient venue to meet new people since you don’t necessarily have to reveal your name or personal identity.

What’s nice about it is that you can always have the option to meet or not to meet the person. Thus, you don’t have to worry about personal blunders or embarrassment in case your conversation didn’t work out or you say or do something that will make you want to crawl back on your shell right away.

Besides that, the possibility to meet someone rather interesting isn’t a bad idea after all. Good if it happens, likewise you won’t lose anything if at the end of the day you didn’t actually come across with somebody to exchange phone numbers with. That’s all fine as long as you’re not on the edge of harming yourself or the other person.

Explore the Net for your own convenience and make new friends.

Shake your groove thing

Rev up your endorphins (better known as the happy hormones) and shake your booty. No need to be an expert breakdancer to maneuver gracefully.

Just enjoy yourself as if it’s you’ve never rocked that hard before. So, the next time you visit your favorite weekend night spot in town with your friends, remember to show your best moves in the dance floor. Show that little wild side of you by gyrating like selling yourself in an auction.

Be like a child again

I’m not saying you act like a bratty, annoying minor. What I meant is, carry on a laidback behavior as if nothing in the day would upset you.

Set aside all your worries. Don’t take yourself way too seriously. Smile and laugh like there’s no tomorrow.

Enjoy the company of your friends like you used to with your childhood playmates.

Sure it is impossible not to feel stressed out especially at the height of too much work and personal worries. It’s normal and it’s ok but don’t get too overboard in sulking in your anxiety.

Everyone goes through it but you don’t have to live with it. Look at the lighter side and convince yourself that indeed, there’s more to life than killing yourself with too much pressure.

Author’s Note: Article originally appeared in Emanila.com on Feb. 12, 2003