Enjoy Life as it Comes

To different people, our human life can have distinct meanings. Is our life on earth a test that we have to pass? Whatever our social standing, we have major or minor issues, personal problems, or particular worries. But is life on earth all about faith in humankind? Do we have the skills or adequate resources to combat the many issues we face every day? Are we all living as transient tenants in this world? Are we borrowing this life from the Creator? Why is a life full of mysteries and questions that only God knows anything about?

We don't know for sure when our exact time will stop, but as repentance often comes too late, we can best spend our time doing good things for others. I feel like I don't have enough time left every morning when I wake up to the sound of the alarm clock, even though I'm only starting my day. But when I get up and look for glasses for my eyes, a whole new world now offers a new vision, like the silence of dawn that never minds vanishing.

To see our loved ones dying is weakening to the bones. The experiences of extreme suffering and tragedy hurt, killed, cut us, and all these left us with nothing but more misery. We have learned a lot of lessons about how to survive because of how they die. But how do we genuinely plan for these catastrophes when we don't understand the fact that we face every day?

As in nature, we need to love and care about one another. Many of the casualties have yet to recover from their horrific fate. Our cooperation is vital to rising as people, as a nation, and as fellow Filipinos dealing with other trials.

We are resilient, and from these encounters, we can heal. There are many little things we can do for our neighbors. Expect people to continue supporting our country, our climate, whatever issues we face. Together, not just this year but in the years to come, we will rise in our lives through the grace of God. The anger, sorrow, tragedy, and other intolerable life events have been encountered by many of our people in recent years. But we should think that sometimes we still slip and sometimes we soon recover and be merry again.

In general, any setback that we experience will only provide us with a new chapter and make us more comfortable coping with the difficulties we may face. Fresh hope is signaled with a new beginning. We must not be victims of the disappointment of our history. We are using them instead as instruments to carve out our vibrant future.

Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives

I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This is one of the most common regrets people have before they die.

Many people seem to be living in a trance state of rigid routine lifestyles accumulated over the years. These routines layout a perception of stability, which amounts to an illusion in a fluctuating world. Bland life variety comes from changing television channels or ears out for latest celebrity or politician scandals in the Philippines doing their roundabouts.

Many dreams are unfulfilled due to the fact of not choosing to pursue them. Overworking leads to missing interaction with loved ones. Hoarded capsules of resentment and bitterness all through life because of lacking the courage to express true feelings. Settling for mediocrity and essence of existence fades out true capability.

Many long for happiness in its true essence, but the fear of change comes with a false presentation of contentment to others and themselves. Friendships and connections slip away once life activities capture them in a net of economic hubs and activities. Beneficial old friends come in the limelight in their final moments and there is regret about not giving friends the necessary attention and time.

Regret comes mainly in the form of what we did not do, and not about what we did. The journey of our soul is an intrepid myriad of a maze with tidal waves life experiences blended in bouts of hurdles and storms. When we are in our twenties, we are set in a robust mode to take the launch into worldwide possibilities. There is an outburst of passion and energy to explore every hidden corner of the universe.

Exploring should have no limits. To live life to the fullest, I should allow changes in the present moment. I should decide on what is of importance to me. I focus now on myself and not what others desire me to be. Everyone has an opinion, even society can impose on our ambitions, yet every breath we take is our own life moments. Once we focus on ourselves, pieces of the life puzzle come together.

Our ambitions matter and we do not aim to settle down in early stages of life on an illusion of 'stability'. Let's take all the risks we need, and not postpone dreams. There might be danger in risks, but remember that every reward has a risk attached to it. Looking back on years that passed by, the deepest regrets come from risks and challenges not taken.

Our past is an important thread to reflect on the lesson learned to step forward into the future. Plan our future, reflect on our past for lessons learned, but live in our present. By being anxious about the future of struggling with something that happened in the past obstacles is sprouted in living life to the fullest. Live in the present. There will always be people in our life sphere pointing out streams of our failures. Success comes from persisting through failures. So let's take action on our ideas creatively, mindfully, and with awareness.   And don't forget— express our love to our friends and family often.

Note to Self on Valentine’s Day

When you're with someone, you want to be consumed in them. I know I do, at least. I want to share my thoughts and I want to know that my good morning text made you smile. I want to know that when I am not there, you reach your hand to my side of the bed in search of my own and the thought of me not being there at least brings you a little sadness.

I want to feel secure in myself, as well as in us, and not be worried that I am going to be replaced or that someone takes my spot when I'm not there. I want someone who wants me regardless of my scars, regardless of the things that haunt my past and linger into my present. I want to be wanted.

I don't want unanswered texts, chat, and mixed messages. I don't want to lie in bed at night and wonder why I am not good enough or what I could do to make myself more appealing

And that is why I can no longer have you as a priority because to you I am only an option. And that is not an option for me.

I am not a thought that crosses your mind when you turn over to see the spot next to you bare. You only care about you. And that is why I have to let you go. And that's okay. I have spent years catering to others, hoping that one of the times all the things I do for this person or that person would finally fill this emptiness inside.

I deserve the type of love and the type of relationship that feeds my soul that does not drain it. After falling face-first into the hard concrete of tough relationships, I think it is time to take a step back and take care of me. So I am choosing to stop putting you first, and to give myself a shot.

I come from a long list of insecurities, each a little less pretty than the last and I am looking to change that. I am not looking to make the list longer. I want to wake up in the comfort of my own company and not have this burning need to text or chat with someone. I want to tell myself good morning and feel the sunshine on my face and know that I am okay with or without you, or anyone else for that matter.

So I am vowing to myself, to let go of those toxic relationships that allow my insecurities to weigh me down like two pockets full of rocks. I vow to embrace the potential relationship with myself and work as hard as I can on looking at myself in the mirror and knowing in my heart that I am enough. Learning to love me is truly the greatest love of all. So from now on, I will always say "Happy Valentine's Day to me!"