Monday, June 19, 2023

Love Hurts

The more we love, the greater the possibility that we will get hurt. Is it logical, then, to love a little less to avoid getting stabbed in the heart?

Some will say YES, some will say NO. How about you? What is your take on this?

I used to advise newlyweds NOT to pour all their love on their spouse and leave a significant space in their heart to love their own selves. This is to prepare themselves for the worst to come, if ever it will come. But now, I dare say “ Live and love to the fullest!”  If you get hurt by doing so, then bring it on! Don’t worry. Your heart will take it. You will get through the storm and eventually emerge a better person than before.

Misundertanding between friends is inevitable. It strikes even the best of buddies. Sometimes pride, envy, anger, greed and selfishness gets in the way. Nobody is perfect. Hence, there is no perfect relationship. Yet true friends will always find their way to reconnect— no matter what happens, no matter how long it will take.

But a mother’s love for her children is a totally different genre. Mothers will be hurt by their children’s arrogance, disrespect, indifference. Yet a good mother will always love her children. Unconditionally. She will suffer in silence and continue to love them more than anything else in this world. She will even swallow her pride and ask forgiveness from her erring children. She will move heaven and earth just to make her brood happy. Such is a mother’s love. Never afraid of being hurt. Never allowing her personal pain to dampen her love.

(Thanks for dropping by. Chat with me via Messenger or email at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

Friday, June 9, 2023

On Being 65

No big deal really. You just move slower than before and think longer than before.

Like when you wake up in the morning. You used to jump out of bed as if your date is waiting for you in the receiving room and you can’t miss a second to see the love of your life. Now that you’re 65, you slowly get up and sit up first, linger for a while before finally lifting your body out of bed. Sometimes, you even have to drag your leg one at a time hahahah...

You used to dress up in a jiffy. Nowadays, you grab a chair to wear your pants. If not, you might lose your balance and fall flat on the floor. Wearing your socks while standing up was some form of stretching routine before. That was then. If you value your precious life, you need to sit down now inorder to properly wear  your socks and shoes.

Even if you only slept for 4-5 hours before, you still managed to go out before dawn for your morning run. Now, you and your bed are inseparable like glue. You’re so attached to your bed that you seem not to get enough of it, even though you already cuddled each other for 8-9 hours.

You used to walk hastily that even Speedy Gonzales could not keep pace with you. Now, you walk very slowly that even your pet turtle will arrive earlier than you at the Finish Line.

You still enjoy talking with your family and friends as before but expect stories to be interrupted because you fumble for the right words to say. Worse, there are times when your feeble mind just freeze and no matter how hard you try, no words escape your mouth. Yup. Brain fog is as real as it can get.

You used to eat non-stop from 11am to 3pm at your favorite Unlimited Buffet Lunch Restaurant and still craved for more! Now, you’re already full after tasting just a few servings of lechon, roast beef, sushi, maki, sashimi and tempura that you could no longer accommodate your previously loved desserts.

Horror films and suspense thrillers used to excite you. You even wished before if you could be an alluring vampire or a despicable witch. Now, you avoid watching them at night for fear that they might haunt your sleep.

Healing and recovery take much longer now. You felt invincible when you were at the peak of your prime. You played tennis twice a week, Tai-Chi once a week, ran and lift weights at the same day 3X a week. Whereas now, you need to accept the brutal fact that there should be a rest day in between your physical activities or suffer the painful consequences. Shoulder pain, back pain, knee pain, etc.

You used to throw a tantrum when friends fail to greet you on your birthday. Not anymore! You can totally relate and understand now. In general, you’re now more tolerant, less violent, more forgiving, less judgmental, more hopeful, less worrisome, more appreciative, less cynical, more prayerful, less pessimistic, more realistic, less daring, more responsible, less shameless, more loving, less antagonistic.

I still can’t believe that I am now 65. My eldest son is only 25. If there’s one lesson in life that I would like to share, it’s for you NOT to follow my footstep when settling down. Get married as soon as you can! Enjoy life to the fullest by doing things together with your children. Time spent with them is priceless.

(Thanks for dropping by. You may chat with me via Messenger or email at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)