There’s No Easy Way

 It has been ages since my last post. I have always made a personal goal to put a smile on your face when you read my blog. To lighten the burden you are carrying, to have a relaxing break amid the chaos happening around you. When I am down and grieving, I know I cannot fulfill that mission. That is why you haven’t heard from me for a while now. 

There’s no easy way to get over a heartbreak. As Ziva of NCIS aptly put it: “one does not get over the loss of a loved one. You just have to go through with it.”

Life is short. Savor each moment when you can still breathe, laugh, and love. Do not waste your time holding elephants in your chest. Let go of hurts, bitterness, frustrations, supressed anger. Forgive others who have hurt you even though they seem not to care. Forgive yourself. You are not perfect. So is the rest of the human species. You can no longer change the past. You have no choice but to accept that. But you can choose to be better today and every day thereafter. 

Nourish old friendships but always be open to new relationships. It might even surprise you that there are still good folks out there. People who are kind, thoughtful, generous, caring. And some will still love you just the way you are.

In joy and in pain, give thanks. For how can one experience true bliss and happiness without going through pain and suffering?

(For comments, you may reach me at ndelr62@gmail.com. Thank you for dropping by. Stay safe everyone!)

2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Part 10

 This rundown of 2024 Highlights should have ended in January but March is almost over and I haven’t listed everything yet. Well, as our Grade School teacher used to babble, “finished or not, pass your papers”. So I will end this recollection here and now. No IFs and definitely no BUTs.

As you may have noticed, the sequence of the 2024 Highlights were written in random order. It did not in any way follow a pattern whatsoever.

In so doing, let me finish this 10-part synopsis with my daughter Eia’s return to Shakey’s (Eia is my daughter with Down Syndrome). Yes, she did! But unfortunately, the branch in SM Southmall closed so even though SM MOA is farther, we accepted DSAPI’s (Down Syndrome Assn. of the Phils. Inc) recommendation to transfer her there.

We had to pay ₱35 for the CAVITEX toll (₱70 for the 2-way trip) and ₱50 for the parking fee. Not to mention the cost of gasoline and the extra time allotted for the journey going there.

But why would I still consent for her to work in Shakey’s MOA given these negative scenario?

It is because I love my daughter so much that I would move heaven and earth just for her to experience what living really means. I consider her work as part of her Occupational Therapy. And that makes everything else acceptable.

(This is the final part of my 2024 recap. Stay safe everyone! Thanks for bearing with me through all these years.)

2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Part 9

 Exactly one year ago today was the saddest moment of my life in 2024. Ate Ella, the “WIND BENEATH MY WINGS” for 24 years finally left us to be reunited with her family in the States. I was of course very happy for her but at the same time, severely devastated with her departure.

All good things never last. A part of me died when I watched her disappear from my sight at the airport. I couldn’t stop my tears from flowing so I just cried and cried until God knows when.

I lost my no. 1 fan, my guardian angel, my counsellor, my constant partner through all the darkest and happiest days of my life. It was not easy to let go. But Ate Ella fervently prayed for this miracle. This was a dream come true for her. The least I could do was to be happy for her. Even though my heart was grieving. 

It still is.

Why Forgive?

 Let’s face it. When we are deeply hurt, we cannot find in our hearts to forgive the persons responsible for our misery. We are just humans after all. We recklessly cling to our anger, bitterness and resentments for as long as we possibly can. We couldn’t stop thinking of how we could take our revenge. We even wish that lightning strikes at them thrice. Or the ground they are trodding on suddenly breaks and swallow them whole.

While it is totally true that time heals all wounds, only time will tell when the lingering pain will stop—unless you deliberately put an end to it. You have the power in you to make it happen. When you hold on to negative emotions, you are actually punishing your own self. This kind of stress may unfortunately lead to a higher blood pressure and worse, a fatal heart attack.

Let go of everything that makes you boil inside. Be kind to yourself. Forgiving others doesn’t mean you have to be lovey-dovey with them. At the very least, free yourself of negative thoughts towards them. Then ask God to bless them instead of cursing them. Whether they ask forgiveness or not, forgive them anyway. Be responsible for your own actions and emotions.

Do yourself a favor. Choose happiness. Choose to forgive.

(Thanks for dropping by. Your comments/reactions are important to me. You may email them at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

 

2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Part 8

Do you harbor some regrets in your life? I have a few and the passing of my dear cousin last Decemer triggered one of them. I should have previously dropped everything and rushed to the hospital when I could still talk and laugh with him. For days, I cried because I was thousand of miles away when he died and couldn’t visit his wake. I was so afraid that by the time I get back in the Phils, it would be too late.

But truly, God works in very mysterious ways.  Gil’s burial was postponed and I was able to say my proper goodbye to him. His wife and sons were relieved to see me before he was laid to his final rest. We buried him on the very morning that I arrived. So grateful that our flight was not delayed and we touched down as scheduled. 

To be continued . . .

2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Part 7

Gio and I started our yoga practice January of 2023. Randomly, Eia would go with us and observe. But whenever I encourage her to join us, she would automatically affirm that she didn’t want.

Then sometime last year, Gio had to skip yoga for the physical therapy of his painful shoulder. Eia just watched me leaving the house alone for yoga practice.

Without any prodding from me, Eia simply declared one day that she will go with me to yoga.  And so, the two of us attended our yoga class without Gio until my son was finally discharged from his physical therapy.

Now, the three of us get to bond together by practicing yoga as one, happy family. Isn’t that amazing? Life is great!

To be continued . . .

2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Part 6

 One fine night, my son Gio unexpectedly asked me “would you be willing to accompany me in a 4k race?” I hid my excitement and replied “of course I would be more than willing. But isn’t there a longer distance, perhaps a 10k?” My son immediately informed me that there was only 1 category and no other options.

A few minutes later, he asked for my Credit Card. To my bewilderment, we were joining the Pokemon Run in Taiwan! Too late to back out now. I already consented to his wish.

And so we flew to Taiwan and arrived late at night. Woke up the following day and walked 4.5km to the venue. A festive atmosphere filled the grounds, families with babies, toddlers and children enjoying the Pokemon-inspired exhibits.

I will spare you with the details and go directly to the gist of this story.

We headed to the airport in the afternoon, boarded the plane and arrived late at night in Vietnam.

We again boarded the plane in the morning and headed to Bali, where we stayed for 2 nights. In going back to Manila, we stopped over first in Singapore.

So to summarize, we flew to 5 countries in 5 days. This may be a natural occurrence to some people but definitely NOT with me! 

To be continued . . .