Cheers to a New Year!

January 1, 2008  --  Got something to say?
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Kutitap by Becky PagsibinganBy Becky Pagsibingan
Once again, as we welcome the New Year, we think of resolutions. Before we begin to make a list of the things we want to resolve this year, a good head start would be to have a quiet time to reflect on how weve lived our life the past year. Time to ask if we made the most of what we had, viewing life as a positive experience.

What are my priorities this year? As the saying goes, The only permanent thing in this world is change, our priorities constantly change. Do I want to slow down this year or continue to gear myself to the fast lane. I want to get into the middle lane, set the cruise control and avoid an overcrowded life. This might be a temporary situation just trying to get a chance to recharge. Being active in community activities, attending to home duties (especially cooking) and working in an office, though part time, need a little extra energy and talent to balance priorities. Oh, I must also add writing this column bi-monthly and the dance choreography work when commissioned. It is an art to create space for each of the activities one loves doing. These are what will keep me going the whole year round. Yes, there will be challenges along the way, but how I will deal with the pressures is of utmost importance.

The magic word for me is moderation. It means doing things within reasonable or sensible limits, no excesses. With this guiding principle, I keep myself out of stressful situations. What also helps is the ability to foresee challenging or problematic situations where right decisions can be made early enough.
2008 will be no different from last year when constant changes happened affecting our daily lives. When the unexpected happens, we hope and pray that we shall be strong enough and have the courage to face the eventualities in life. This is where our faith and inner strength come in. Friends like Fred Manansala and Gary Azarcon who recently lost their beloved spouses have experienced great and hurtful change in their lives. Their beloved met sudden and tragic deaths, they were not sick at all and the husbands were not prepared. We say theres a reason for everything that, us, humans cannot see, Only faith and strong belief will make them see the truth at the end. Fred and Gary were blessed with family and friends who were very supportive in time of their emotional crises. Time heals and in time, both will calm down, accept what is, find the reasons and answers they were seeking.

In reflection, changes in our lives are inevitable, but the challenging part is our ability to deal with the problems to get us through. With the happy events that will happen, celebrate, capture and savor the moments, for it may take a while before they come your way again. Enjoy the closeness in the family as it is the primary source of our joy and happiness. Close friends should not also be taken for granted because the relationship may be lost and even if it comes back it may not be the same again.

In summary, I would like to share with you my resolutions this year - take care of my family and friends and do good things for others. But first things first. I have to take care of myself first to be able to do things for the others. As the saying goes, Health is Wealth and you will agree with me that nothing will be accomplished if we are sick. My New Years resolutions are doable. The important ingredients are self-discipline and determination. As a reminder: set your own goals, go after them and vow to succeed.

Cheers to a new year. This is another chance for us to get it right. If and when we do, it will be amazing to see where it will take us the whole year round.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH AND EVERYONE!!!

Marlene Azarcon Was Laid to Rest
I attended the funeral of Marlene, who was buried on a cold and dreary December day. The sky was grey, mourning with her family and friends who came to bid the late doctor a final goodbye. It was a heartbreaking sight with Gary holding his nineteen month old daughter, Ingrid, in his arms while the casket was slowly being lowered. Marlene, a pediatrician, died in a car accident on a slippery road in Lorton.

I was inspired to write this tribute when I first saw Gary her husband, during one of the nine day prayers at their home in Fairfax Station before the funeral service.

Gary: When Life is Cut in Half
I was dreading to see you,
After the bits and pieces that I knew.
Are you calm, are you in anguish,
Are you contained, how I wish.
Then you were there, people around you,
The child in your arms didnt know.
It was hard to fathom what was in your mind,
It was hard to understand.
I saw the pain in your eyes, it was alien to me,
You and Marlene were amiable, and you full of glee.
You were just watching, but not seeing,
Looking around, unmindful of your being.
Then you asked why did this happen,
Life is not fair, all was so sudden.
I wish I knew the answer, Gary, I wish I could tell you.
Oh! I was told that things happen for reasons, you know.

For now, things are all uncertain until its all over,
When Marlene is laid to rest and Gary recovers.
My life, Gary said, is cut in half with my tiny daughter,
But our wonderful life will live in my memories forever.
By Becky
Email: pagsibiganr@aol.com

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