The Cycle of Life

On Life

Today is a very special day for our family. My sister is giving birth to a beautiful princess. In fact, she is still in the hospital. It’s been hours, and she is still in labor. How I wish I can just teleport, fly across the Pacific Ocean, and witness the joy when the baby finally comes out. I am so thrilled for them. I am sure every member of the family is excited to meet and greet the new addition to the family. It is amazing how we share the same fate. Both of us started with the labor signs/pains on the 17th, admitted to the hospital on the 18th. We were both in labor the whole day and night. The babies would not come out still. All the epidural, the pain, so unbearable! In the end, we both needed to have C-sections. Both babies born on the 19th! (But mine of course happened 6 years ago)

This is it! I know that it will change them. It will change their lives forever. Just like how having kids has changed mine. My children have given more meaning to my existence, more meaning to my life. Now, I have a purpose and a reason to live.

On Death

When I was younger, I did not give much thought about death. I finished college, had my Master’s degree, found a fulfilling career. I got promoted, had my own office and I loved my job. Moreover, I was able to travel to different places, my favorite was the Europe trip with my parents. Visited the United States too and went to different vacation spots in the Philippines. I remembered me saying to myself, “I have been blessed. I can die now.” But it all changed when I married and started my own family. Now, I am terrified when I think about death! (My death or losing a loved one)

My 6 year old has been asking questions about death: when, why people die, where people go when they die, what happens to the body, etc. I try to give him a simple explanation since the questions are NEVER ending. As a Catholic, I know we all go to heaven (this is what I tell my son). At the back of my head, I am also thinking of other explanations as to what happens when someone dies. Maybe we are like the energy transferred to one form into another. Or maybe, when we die that is the end of it. Nothing else. Blank. Black. No more.

I always ask God to grant us (me and my  husband) a long life, at least until we are both 90 years of age. I want to see my children grow, finish school, get a job that they love, find the love of their lives, have their own family.  Surely, I would love to play with my grandchildren!

So holding on to dear life! Appreciate every waking moment.

Way to Happiness

The following are collection of phrases I read somewhere. I usually just put together all these lessons in my head, and try to remember them by heart. Sharing to you some of my favorite credos:

Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a dream. Today is a gift. So live TODAY, be present.

I love this phrase because it guides me when my mind starts to wander off.

It is very nice to reminisce and appreciate your journey by looking back. I often recall some memories in the past from my childhood, teen years, when I started working, the family where I grew up as well as the dearest friends along the way. I can say life was  simpler then. Some make me smile, some make me cry. Definitely, looking back makes me understand more my present life.  On the other hand, there are times when I keep wondering what my life could have been if I chose a different path. Then I am left with questions, lots of questions of what could have been.  Then I go back to my credo. The past is history. I can never go back or change it. It is useless to over think and waste my time and energy  about things I can not change.

Every circumstance in our lives (both good and bad) are necessary for us to be where we are right now. There is a reason for every event, every encounter with people who walk on our path. 

People come and go in our journey, and some linger for a while. There is still a reason behind. As of now, we do not know why. Only God knows why (by the way, I love this song by Kid Rock. I remember my brother and his friends)! So just welcome the people in your life right now. These are people we love and cherish, and some we might dislike or hate.

It is good to have dreams and hopes. They keep us going. They inspire and motivate us. It surely helps us to have a happier life. And as we have an eye for the future, we should bear more importance on TODAY. If we keep looking back or forward, we might miss out the feeling and the beauty of today. Try to recognize and appreciate the people and things we have right now. We are blessed in so many ways. I believe that if we cultivate in ourselves this way of thinking, we can be happier and satisfied.

Bloom where God planted you. You are special. You are blessed. Refrain from comparing yourself with others. You will either find yourself  superior or inferior. You are special. You are blessed.

Have a beautiful day!