I Live a Blessed Life!

October 3, 2009

I thank You God for most this amazing day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes. -e.e. cummings

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I turned 41 today. I've lived half of my lifetime already, and it's amazing how the Lord has been with me through these years despite my shortcomings. He has blessed me more than I can imagine, and has challenged me several times. But in every challenge, He has always been with me, so I win every time!

When I was younger I would hear people say that life begins at 40. I couldn’t imagine that. Because I didn't think I'd have to wait that long to begin my life. My life begins---in the sense that I am free to do whatever I want to, go wherever I want to go---the moment I went down the stage of UP Theater 19 years ago. Clutching onto my diploma, some honors, and a job from a multinational company awaiting, I was ready to conquer the world.

But the country was at its most unstable then. In fact, my last semester in the University was interrupted because of the fatal 1989 coup attempt. I still remember it so well. We were all huddled in Ilang-Ilang Residence Hall. We slept in our street clothes,and a ready backpack for any eventuality. We were told that when worse came to worst, it would be UP
Diliman campus that would be rounded up first. Away from our families, we were scared but we had to be brave for our sake. We amused ourselves with playing board games and watching tora-tora planes hovering our dormitory.

The one-week coup ended on December 10, 1989, and UP declared that everyone went on Christmas break. All of us students rushed to the nearest PAL office and booked a flight. We came back the following year, 1990, only to finish all the requirements for graduation. It was a year of black outs and more coup attempts. My parents thought it best and safe to find work in Iligan first while the country was going back on its feet again.

Half-convinced, I went home to Iligan. I think part of the reason why I relented because my best friends went home, too. But I sort of rebelled. I took it easy and bummed for a year. I said I would stay for only a year, but I got caught up in a flurry of things, one of which was the Jaycees. I stayed three more years! No regrets. I had the best time of my life. Most of all, I met Wizheart. ("Sobrang cheezy." I can almost hear my kids say this line now.)

Well, now that I’m a year past 40, I think of the what-ifs, especially when it comes to my career. Had I stayed in Manila after graduation, and worked in Procter & Gamble, I'd probably be somewhere up there in the corporate ladder. But then again, I wouldn't have met Wizheart, and wouldn't be leading the life I have now. We may not have everything we want, but we have everything we need.

It's true. Everything happens for a reason.

I lead more than a charmed life. I live a blessed life.