Wake up, it’s gonna be a beautiful day. Today,you turn 22.
2015 was more of a trial and error stage of my life. I had a job at a university and I wasn’t happy at that job. Why? Because, the pay is low and I don’t see myself going anywhere up in that place. So, without any regret, I left and decided to follow my mom in Thailand.
I thought so much about leaving. My mom wasn’t really in a good financial state but at least I know that I can do better someplace else, somewhere away from all the blabber of my extended family, meaning my aunts and uncles.
21 was the year I fell in love, or at least i thought I was. Thankfully, I bolted out of that complicated “thing” before it destroys me. I now know that waiting for the right person would still be better than forcing love from someone who doesn’t have plans for the future.
21 changed me. I realized what things matter, what should I leave behind, what I want in my life, and what do I allow in my life.
At 21, i learned how to guard my heart and clear my head. I learned to look for the sun when everything around screamed darkness, and sometimes I had to look for it a little bit harder.
At 21 I have come to realize the value of progress, not perfection. I’ve learned how to accept what’s in front of me, how to act more and whine less. I have become more grateful with what I have and more patient with my dreams.
At 21 I’ve met very strong people who would work so hard for the people they love back home, these people inspire me. I was lucky to start meaningful friendships with strangers and hopefully it will last.
At 21 I fell so hard, but I now know that sometimes stumbling is what you need to know where to land.
At 21 I’ve had the best relationship with God. I don’t go to church every Sunday, but I know what God wants me to do and slowly I’m trying to live a life that would inspire others.
At 21 I have fully accepted myself, physically. I’ve never been happier with my wide forehead, flat nose, and wide hips. Why? Because I know the person that lives inside this body by heart. She is a person full of love and compassion for other people. She is a girl who wants to help other people so bad that she wants to be financially independent so she could help the people having less. And that, for her, is the definition of real beauty.
At 21 I learned how to stop relying my happiness on material things. I don’t care about the latest phone model, or the trends in fashion. Happiness depends on perspective. I have a great family, a job that gets food on the table and allowance for my siblings in PH and that’s enough to make me happy.
Well, being 21 was a life changing experience. This time I didn’t have a cake on my birthday, people didn’t know that it was my natal day because I removed my birthday on facebook, but I was happy. My mom and I went to an ice cream parlor, enjoyed the dessert, went home, and slept.
The lessons I’ve learned was bigger than any material gift I could ever receive. Thank you God for a roller coaster 21. I hope 22 will teach me a lot more.
Slow living MD 