God's Greatest Gift: Life!

I am giving myself time to write before going back to my powerpoint and excel files. It's been 37 years of my existence and reflecting on the things that happened to me all these time, I can only thank my CREATOR for making me the person that I am today. I thank him for making me realize at an early stage that life:

- is not just about eating three times a day
- is not just about making your parents proud
- is not just about doing good in school
- is not just about become a valedictorian
- is not just about winning competitions
- is not just about having many friends
- is not just about having so many problems
- is not just about making mistakes
- is not just about having raising kids

....but rather, life is about:
- appreciating everything that He gives us - may it be just breakfast or lunch or dinner or a bread or biscuit for a snack - never complaining because we were responsible for everything that happens to us
- appreciating our parents - their sacrifices, their mere existence, their love for us
- learning to become better after schooling - better person
- learning to accept that I cannot stay on top but I can and I should never stop trying to excel in everything
- learning to be happy for the successes of others even if sometimes they try to hurt you (thanks to a high school classmate who made one hurtful remark: "alam mo nanghihinayang kami sa iyo". that remark has shaken my whole being but then I am very happy that he has succeeded ahead of me. It has never stopped me from going on with my life. It made me realize how strong I had become.)
- realizing that friends are forever - I may have very little communication with my closest of friends but I know that that they are always there for me and I for them.
- learning from your problems, becoming responsible for them and solving them through God's grace
- learning that mistakes are there to teach us. Nobody's perfect.
- loving your family - your husband/wife and your kids - unconditionally

There is more to life than what I have written in this passage. We all have different experiences that make our life whole.

I've been through a lot of trials and triumphs. There were expectations that were not satisfied. There were dreams unfulfilled. There were goals unreached....same with a lot of people....But that is life. What's important is we are happy and contented with what we have - else, frustration comes and negative thoughts sets in.

I live my life one day at a time but I have never stopped dreaming big dreams. I reflect on my frustrations but I make sure that after that moment of reflection, I smile and take the excess baggage off my shoulder and off my heart. There is more to life than sulking.

I have a beautiful family. I have a very challenging job. I am whole. I am very happy.

Cheers to life!