What I've Learned In Life

In my 26th year of existence, I’ve learned a lot of things in life. Some of them are found in the thoughts of Ana Achacoso in her, What I’ve Learned in Life, a life reflection that really describes the condition that I’m in. I know this self reflection holds true not only for me but also for everyone. It’s worth sharing, so I decided to publish it here for others to get lessons from.

What I’ve Learned in Life

I’ve learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I’ve learned that it is taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I’ve learned that you should always leave love ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I’ve leaned that you can keep going long after you can’t.
I’ve learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I’ve learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry, I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to, doesn’t mean they don’t love with all they have.
I’ve learned that maturity has more to do with what type of experiences you have had and what you have learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you have celebrated.
I’ve learned that your family won’t always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you are not related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families are not biological.
I’ve learned that no matter how good friends are, they are going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned that it is not always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I’ve learned that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
I’ve learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I’ve learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a descent human being.
I’ve learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

In Memory Of You

He was my student, a typical shy-typed lad. I began to know him well after he graduated high school and entered college education. He was Bryan G. Gigantana, a person who was constantly in search of his true worth and meaning of his existence. We bonded and created a friendship that was almost perfect. Bryan was ran over by a reckless driver of a funeral chariot on the eve of August 10, 2008 near Surigao del Sur Polytechnic State College in Tandag City. He was brought to the hospital but unfortunately he was not able to bear the pain. He lost his breath a few hours later. True enough, I could remember some events when this student turned out to be my teacher. On the day he finally laid down to rest, I sent to him the following poem.

In Memory Of You

To Bryan G. Gigantana

August 16, 2008

Why is death such a cruel thing?
Why has he taken you away from us
who care and love you unconditionally?
Our hearts are filled with so much loneliness
How could you be gone like that
When you’re larger than life itself,
too alive to be dead!
We cannot help but shed tears for you
We thought it was really unfair
Because you were deprived of a new beginning,
A future that could have been very bright for you.

Life is uncertain
And nobody knows what lies ahead
In your waking days
You traversed this life in despair
We heard so much of your pains, frustrations and doubts
We knew there was a struggle within you
Behind your silent suffering
we saw a kind, caring and thoughtful person
who challenged himself in all the oppression
that was taking place under the sun.
We saw your cheerfulness,
Your sunny disposition because you believed
that everything happened for a reason
You seemed to be completely whole at times
When you shared to us your little joys,
happiness and pleasures
How could we ever forget a person
who was not only nice and energetic
But also full of enthusiasm,
hopes and aspiration in everything he did?
No one could ever resist your sense of humor,
your humility and golden heart
You didn’t even lose hope
that one day your broken home would be restored
You cherished to have a balance life,
fulfilled and significant life
You always put your family above all else.
You’re a seeker, a believer.
You wanted to place your feet firmly on the right path
Then you decided to be a servant of God.

All of us had begun thinking
You could realize your dreams
You fought back against your destiny
and bravely stood up for your own conviction
Yes, you knew that you were not alone in your journey
You’ve got a family and friends who prayed for you
when you couldn’t pray for yourself
But why is death such a cruel thing?
Why is life a big mystery?
Life on Earth will not last long
Life is measured by the rising and falling of the sun
and the rising and falling again
of the effulgence of the moon.
Why so much heartaches and pains in our hearts?
Because you left something wonderful
into our lives and we find it hard to erase from hearts
We’re captive by your memories of good feelings
We mourned in our most sincere way
because you have affected us and have touched
our lives in a lot different ways
We hope we could gain so much courage
and strength to ease the pains
and loneliness pestering inside
When we think but nothing of the funny things we had
Our sorrowful hearts somehow
see the brighter side of your tragic loss
It is said that the dead who had already died
are happier than the living who are still alive.
Your journey to the hereafter teaches us
to realize the shortness of our time
It also reminds us to value our lives
and appreciate life more
You will be spending plenty of your time
alone with God, pouring out what was inside your heart
Why should goodbye be like this?
We know, one day, someday
We will be reunited in God’s right time.