SEVENTEEN (the pre-birthday blog)

Have you ever had those moments when you suddenly realize that you are not same person you were 3 .. 2 .. or even 1 year ago?

Well, I’m sure you did and most probably, it almost always happens when you comprehend that your birthday is already coming up.

Yes, the blues! 5 days into my 28^th and it starts kicking in! The horror! … Because this year, it’s getting me into that ultimate self-reflection-what-have-you-done-with-your-life-are-you-ready-for-the-late-twenties-have-you-set-your-priorities-straight zone. So again, yes, the horror! Lumelevel up din ang birthday blues!

As always, there’s a lot of things going on in my mind – but lately, it’s been crazy in there that if I were a thought, I’d find an excuse not to get in or else, im screwed! HAHA! Kidding, kidding! My mind is a party place, all good, happy, lovely thoughts are invited.

Anyhoo! This party in my head is making sense now and is getting me to sit down quietly in one corner, stare blankly into whatever and think... Or rather reflect... and have a deep conversation with myself. And here’s what I got... let me share the SEVENTEEN random, surprising and not-so-surprising discoveries about myself and lessons learned because of them … and life in general (Naks! Life lessons levels na ako. Dumi-deep! High five! :p)

Oh, and why SEVENTEEN. It’s my birth date. It’s my favorite number. And anything more than that would be too much information. Haha. So seventeen, in no particular order of course... drum roll please...

1. Popcorn, is my comfort food now.  It never was. I not even into eating popcorn while watching movies. But even taste buds changes its preferenc and now I am willing to get my hands messy to gobble up all them popcorn in the bag, anytime, anywhere... Even in movie houses.  So yes, things do change. It will surprise you and you can deny it but it’s all about embracing and accepting the new you – messy and all!

2. I still don’t drink Coke and I still am not crazy over chocolate cakes. Some things never change. Accept that within yourself and with others too.

3.  A new chapter of my life opened up 3 years ago and I realized during those times that I was praying really hard like I never did before. OA levels of praying talaga and I thought it was crazy until things started to slowly unfold and my emotions settled, I realized that indeed, Prayer changes things. Nothing is too much and impossible when you hold on to prayer and faith and hope. Faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible… whatever it is, wherever you are, whether in doubt or lost or sad or depressed or even at your happiest .. PRAY and KEEP the faith.

4. The plan was to get married at 24, have 3 kids, my own house, car, business and travelled half the world by the time I’m 30 and retire wealthy at age 35. That was the plan of my un-certain 16-year old self. When I turned 24, I thought I was doing something wrong because my plans are not turning out the way I expected it to be and that frustrated me so much that time. So before things got out of hand, I snap back to reality. So now that I am turning 28, what did I do wrong? Nothing. Am I still frustrated? Sometimes, but you learn that some things are not meant to be, that goals needs realistic time and effort to be met and that if it is truly meant to be, it will find its way. Circumstances may have lead me in a different path, but I am fine and happy to be where I am now, doing what I do and having the life I have now. Do I still make out-of-this-world plans? Yes, all the time... I may not be where I expected myself to be but there are choices and decisions you make that you have to stand up for because you want your dreams to become a reality and trust that with hard work, passion, commitment and a great amount of patience and faith, it will all manifest in its own perfect time.

5. That no matter how much, how grand and how well you planned the little and big things in your life… at the end of the day, you just have to surrender everything to Him and let His will be done. It is always better anyway.

6. Patience is my new middle name. HAHA. A friend pointed out how patient I am in one of those “coffee tayo” moments and that allowed me take a look into what I have been through to for the past years. I know that I am not a naturally patient person. I hated waiting and I easily get bored and I just impulsively shift when I don’t get instant results… but life has its own ways of making you learn things, I forced myself to be patient until eventually, I didn’t mind waiting and taking my time and allowing things to manifest in its own sweet time. PATIENCE is a virtue. Anything worth having is worth waiting for… and when someone says you are a patient person, trust me, it is a compliment. Pwede mo yan idagdag sa resume mo and list of qualities sa slum book.

7. Someone told me 3 years ago that more than the feeling of being in love, TRUST and RESPECT are what makes up a successful, happy relationship. I still keep that in my mind, heart, soul till today and so when the time is right, when God decides that I am ready then I will know better.

8.Anger and bitterness eats you up alive, spits you out then gobbles you up again .. and no matter how you handle it, you will always be at the losing end. Decide to let go because peace is always beautiful. 

9. Forgive… over and over and over and over again and again and again… 

10. Choose love... always! 

11. The best things in life are indeed free .. hugs, kisses, complete family, genuine friendship, true love, pure joy -- the things that i would gladly have anytime. The things I am willing to fight for and will certainly be worth my sacrifices. 

12. Remember, when you were in your early 20's and the late 20's people would often say that you shouldn't take life too seriously. That is true! YOLO! haha!... but then I guess you will only capture the true essence of that as you get older. So yah, lets just let the youngsters figure out things on their own. 

13. Everything happens for a reason. People come in and out of your life for a purpose and mistakes are out there watching you to fall into them because its bound to teach you a lesson. Learn from them. 

14. You can't please everyone. Not everyone likes you and you will be criticized whether you like it or not. Bitches are for real! Accept that fact because it would make it easier for you to adjust to the differences of character and personalities around you, and as long as you're not stepping on someone elses' shoes, your in a good place. 

15. A lesson at any age and stage:  Be yourself. The people who truly love will talk about you and comment on whatever craziness you have, but they will accept and love you the same way anyway. 

16. One Monday, I took the cab because I missed the bus and was already running late for work. Uncle driver must have seen my pissed off face and gave me a piece of his mind... "You chose to be here. Unless someone forced you to work here then you cannot complain. Find purpose in what you do, if you see that it fulfills you then continue with it, if not then stop. You always have the choice. Be thankful that you have this opportunity, this blessing. What's not to be happy about? You will always have a reason to be!" ... In my mind, I wanted to tell him that I am not happy because the taxi fare is $8 off my week's allowance but I just kept my mouth shut, I got a priceles life lesson for that ride anyway. 

17. Love yourself first. Respect yourself first. Believe in yourself first. Do what makes you happy first. Find what gives you peace and joy first. Put yourself on top of your priorities' list. It's not selfishness. It's recognizing and understanding that for you to love and be happy and appreciate others, you should always start within yourself. 

And here's a bonus! 

17.5  Thank you and Sorry seems to be the hardest words... but they work like magic! They are pixie dusts that makes the world a better place to live in! :) 

Whew! There I've shaken off the blues! 

So, watchathink? I am ready for the next big things?... I will be. Have faith in me my 400k prayer warriors! Fist bump? .. oh! lets do a sincere cheers instead, its more 28-ey! hehe ... :)