Still Grateful. 2020

A lot of you will agree if I say 2020 is the worst year ever. From January to December, bad things are happening. From wildfires in Australia, Kobe Bryant's death, Volcanic eruptions,  one typhoon after another, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. Some dreams need to temporarily stop because we are in quarantine for a couple of months; there are people who lost their job, businesses, and even loved ones. I can't believe that it all happened in just one year.  It was a difficult and trying year for all of us, indeed. 

But... this year also taught us important things. 

Number one is to be patient. This year, everything stops. Many plans have been canceled, and we are all obliged to wait; in that way, we are also obliged to be patient because we can do nothing about it. We learn that it is okay to slow down sometimes. Number two, 2020 taught us to know what really matters, and that is not your job, your money, nor your possessions. Our RELATIONSHIP with our family, friends, and to God, and 2020 gave us a lot of time to spend with them. This season also taught us to be more hopeful, to see things positively, and to be expectant that something good can still happen., and the irony of this is it teaches us to be grateful. 

Grateful?? For 2020? With all those ugly things that happened??

                            Is there anything worth being thankful for?

Well, first is...

 We're still alive.

     If you search on the internet, you will see that there are 1.81 Million people had died because of the virus worldwide. The mere fact that you/we are still breathing up to this moment means that we still have a purpose. It means God is not done with your life yet.

We have plenty of time.

    Because everything is paused now, and we are not allowed to go out, we spent more time with our family; with all the horrors of this year, it feels good to think that this year also have most precious moments with our fam. and it gives us also time for our self, those solitude and calm moments are precious for me to reflect and to do things that I didn't do before because I don't have time. 

The kindness of others.

    Personally, I feel so blessed to think that I have a roof over my head, and I didn't experience starving. But not everyone is as blessed as I am. Thankfully, the kindness of others arises at this time. We saw how helpful others can be, and it's very inspiring to see how people help each other during this crisis. truly, when it is dark, light shines the brightest.

Nature. 

    This year made us appreciate our nature more. A lot of people actually became plantito/plantita at this time. 

Internet.

   We're so lucky that we have access to the internet now, unlike the people 100 years ago who experienced flu pandemic. Imagine how bored they were. 

These are just a few; I'm sure you also have something in your mind right now that you're thankful for. And before the pandemic, we took for granted many of those things. 

My point is even if everything that is happening right now doesn't make sense, there's still have something to be grateful for. May we have that faith in the one that is in control, know that He is too wise to be mistaken. Be hopeful that these suffering, frustrations, disappointments, and hardships are just preparing us for what awaits us next year. 

Personally, I feel so blessed that I have experienced all of this with my family by my side, and I thank God for their lives. They have been and always will be my inspiration to fight and to strive in life. I'm also thankful that I have friends that are there for me, whatever happens. Before, I have many "friends," but 2020 made me see who the real ones are. There are few people that I can call my friend now, and to those people, thank you for checking up on me once in a while for all those "I'm here" calls, chats, and texts. I appreciate you all—Mahal ko kayo. 🤍

May we enter the new year with a clean heart and let go of the hurt and frustrations. May we all hold on to the dreams that we have and be expectant that 2021 will be the year that it will be fulfilled. Remember that Nothing is impossible to Him. Let your faith rise through deaths, fears, shutdowns, lockdowns, pain, trials, and sorrows of 2020. Be prepared for breakthrough, triumph, blessings, new memories, and experiences of 2021. 

Happy New Year! 

ADULTING?

 Before, when I hear the word "ADULTING," what I think about is work-life, Bills, love life tapos bills uliit hehe, but after watching the video circulating online today, it made me realize  that being an adult is more than those petty things. It has something to do with the next generation.  We as adults, we have an impact on the younger people around us, whether it's bad or good and whether we like it or not. 

HOW? 

By OBSERVING (I think). I remember the line from the 1990's  Nestle' Philippines' advertisement   "ANG MALI NA GINAGAWA NG MATANDA, NAGIGING TAMA SA PANINGIN NG BATA."  A little bit cliché, but it's still true, right? It just basically means, whatever adults are doing, young people will think that it is right, because they think we knew everything and because they know that we have more experience in life than them. That is why we need to be careful with our words, choices, and actions because one way or another, it will definitely have an effect on how they think and react. 

I'm now talking about the girl on that video; she is receiving a lot of hates on the internet today, which is I perfectly understand, because even me, I was troubled, sobrang alarming ng reaction and facial expressions nya,  pero napaisip din ako, Paano kaya sya naging ganoon? Obviously, there is a problem in this girl's heart for her to react like that,  and I'm certain that the family/environment in which she grew up has/having a bad influence on her, and that is the sad part, just because Daddy nya 'yon, Akala Nya, Lahat ng gawin nito ay tama. What if she continues to grow up like that and have that kind of mindset and having no respect for other people's lives. I feel sorry for that kid. Honestly, she needs help. 

Will you let people like that live with your younger siblings and future children these coming years? or will you stand up and take up space as an older individual to help them realize and to show them how to be a proper citizen. 

I realized how important to have a proper upbringing for a child. Home is their first school, and parents are their first teacher. It means the family is the foundation of a person's principle. Sa Pamilya magsisimula ang pag respeto, pananampalataya at pasensya ng isang tao. Sa tahanan dapat unang nararanasan ang pagmamahal na ibabahagi natin sa mga taong makakasalamuha natin. 

...and by realizing these, I became scared to be a parent (in the future pa! hehe), Because I was thinking, what will be my influence on my future children? Can I raise them well? Can I give them a good environment to grow up to?  Am I a good person enough to raise another good person? Would I be a good example to them?

May kasabihan nga tayo, "Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga" and it leads me to  ask myself; If my future children will become like me today, Magiging proud ba ako bilang magulang? Well, I will just keep my answer to myself, hehe. 

I am trying to say here that as a grown-up person, we have this responsibility to act right as long as we can, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because there are young eyes that are watching us. We influence them, so if we want a good future, we should build these future generations around us. Sabi ni Rizal, "Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan" but we need to help them know what that means, and the best way to do it is to show them how to be the "HOPE" that our country and world needs. 

My heart is crying for Gregorio Family. I hope proper justice will be serve. 

#StopTheKillingsPH 📢

Choices

When I was young, gusto ko na agad lumaki or tumada because I want to know how it feels to be an adult, I want to experience things that only adults are allowed to, I thought life is like, pag matanda ka na, you can do whatever you want to do. But I was wrong ❌ Being a grown person is more than being independent and free, it's not about something I saw growing up.

In between being a kid/teenager and who you want to be in the future, there's a lot of decision-makings to do, what course you're going to take in college, what school or university you want to study, what sort of individuals you're going to associate yourself with, stuff like those.
I have read a quote that says, "The decisions you make today will not just affect your tomorrow but will determine your future."   and that, I think, is very true. The decisions that we are making in our lives now will certainly have an effect on our future, even how small these decisions are.

 Before, I was too impulsive when it comes to decision making, I'm doing things quickly without thinking about what the outcome will be, that's why there are things in my life that I somehow regret, I have too many what ifs and there are things that I wish I had realized then.  

It's so important to know that when we're about to do a huge decision, we must set aside our emotion. Good decisions are the result of clear thinking not strong emotion, maybe because sometimes when the emotions are high, wisdom is low, so before we do something, especially when we know that it's result will be permanently, ask yourself if you're just being emotional.  In situations like this, it's also important that you are surrounded by good people, because sometimes, they can affect the way you think, act and speak. 

 Another thing is, I think you should ask yourself what you really want, because if we don't know what what's our desired outcome, it's easy to be a little undecisive. Give yourself time to think. Don't do things too quickly if its result will be permanently, You should be ready to embrace all the pros and cons of it, be courageous and Don't be afraid to make decisions in your life, because that's your life after all, no one will do it for you. In fact, the worst decision that you're gonna make is choosing to make no decision at all. 

Making decisions is tough, and sometimes were avoiding it because we know that it can change our lives.  Life, however, has a way of requiring you to decide on certain aspects. Even if we don't want to, there are circumstances when we need to make choices and sometimes we're avoiding it because were afraid to let someone or something go, and we're scared to get hurt. Every choices that we're going to make can either make us or break us. Whatever it will be, it will surely make you grow, and that is what you need, to grow and be wiser. There is no growth without loss and pain; be open in possibilities.

Always do something today that your future self will be thankful for. :)