Now in my early 40s and looking back, I realized that the world has cultured me with a massive amount of insights in my four decades of existence. The 10 things that stood out:
- Sunrise taught me that a new day is life’s way for giving me a fresh start, no matter how messy the day before had ended.
- Paragliding taught me that I can only overcome my fear when I face it. There is no other way around it. Avoiding the thing that I am afraid of will only strengthen its power over me.
- Mountain climbing taught me how to pack light, to be resilient despite the odds, and to focus on the goal, especially when the going gets tough.
- My wedding taught me that people could only break me because I allowed them. I was a survivor of domestic violence, where the perpetrator never showed remorse. Thank God for the enlightenment and the strength to carry on. Our marriage has been annulled, and I now have a harmonious family life.
- The photo with my Tatay taught me about regrets. It is heavy to carry in my heart the things that I have failed to do with my dad when he was still alive. I wish we had shared more adventure together.
- The monolith–a natural rock formation that has been blasted off–taught me that humans tend to destroy things that they don’t understand..
- Motherhood taught me the real essence of selflessness and unconditional love. I never really fully understood my purpose in life until I became one.
- Having a premature son, whose twin died ten days after being born, taught me acceptance. It strengthened my wisdom in prioritizing, self-discipline, and the true meaning of success.
- Zumba taught me that taking care of my body is as important as taking care of the psychological, spiritual, and emotional aspects of myself.
- Baguio City, my family’s favorite getaway place, taught me that a good break from the routine gives me a healthier vantage of my daily affairs.
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