(Written on December 30, 2011)
One of my resolutions for 2012: to get back to writing, read more books and listen to more music.
Today, while being in the most unlikely place to have stirred such a random realization on life’s many intricacies and idiosyncrasies, really made me realize the value of putting down on paper (or in this modern age as what I’ve done: Tweet) the many ideas that came into mind amidst an overall state of repose. They seem to be the most potent compared to just simply sitting down and waiting for inspiration to come along. Then again, it’s most likely Divine Intervention. As we are nearing the new year, we are often on the fence on coming up with New Year’s resolutions, as tradition would have dictated since time immemorial. But do we really understand what it truly means to come up with such? Why do we ever make them at the beginning of the year? Somehow, while being in a state of idleness, some of these questions were subtly answered while I was sitting down in the middle of a photography workshop organized by my mentors for the benefit of Typhoon Sendong victims. Unlikely place? Yes, quite unlikely actually considering that both do not seem to have a common attribute to put the pieces together. The idea of conducting a workshop came about from the harsh reality of the plight of our fellow Mindanaoans who are physically, financially and emotionally scarred by the wrath of a natural phenomenon that had never ravaged the area, and in such a massive scale at that. But I decided to dig deeper and tried to connect the dots as to how these thoughts came about. Somehow, I found one thing in common between the two: they are both answers, decisions or convictions made despite the difficulties of life. Just like resolutions, we try to resolve the difficulties of the past to help us move forward and to start anew not just for ourselves, but also for others. Allow me to share my personal realizations:
First of all, as the new year draws closer, we start off with a clean slate. Back to one of one, the first day of the first month of the new year. There is always that feeling of wanting to conquer the coming year, and the desire to change the wrongs that we have done in the year that had passed. But as the days, weeks and months progress, we tend to stray from our paths of desired change and are once again consumed (or should I say, devoured) by the routinary scheme of everyday modern life. Work, school, careers, are all but part of the hierarchy of the years that have passed and are to come. But sometimes we fail to realize that it is through how we manage the pressures of all these is what truly makes a difference in life itself. As the new year ushers in new challenges and greater responsibilities, we forget to accomplish the things that really matter and focus on the things that demand our most immediate attention. We sometimes forget to realize that our greater responsibility is to do better for ourselves, and not just plainly succeed in what we do. Self gratification weighs more long term that just simply getting a job. It’s the value of gaining independence and a greater sense of self confidence, rather than simply having the means to earn money. Attached to everything we experience in life contains a deeper meaning that gives us a deeper sense of self worth, and all we need to do is change the way we look at things.
Second, New Year’s Resolutions are lifetime goals set on a more doable time frame. While I was watching the evening news the other night, the Entertainment segment did a feature wherein local celebrities were interviewed regarding their new year’s resolutions (which made me go back to that short segment on National Geographic wherein award winning film maker Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes poses the notion on how we Filipinos tend to live our lives so vicariously that we really have to know how our favorite celebrities lead their lives). As the interviews progressed, some mentioned to have not made any new ones this coming year since they still wish to continue from where they’ve left off from the past year. Somehow, I still found it quite intriguing how some admitted to no longer believing in making resolutions since “they can never really stick to it” and that “they are somehow eventually forgotten”. Well naturally, with their insanely busy schedules its partly understandable but what surprised me even more considering their stature in society given that they are after all, tv personalities, was their ability to influence opinion on others especially their loyal followers and other people watching the interviews. It’s not that their opposing view of a given norm has completely diminished them from a praise worthy platform, but because voicing out their belief with such a negative, cynical tone might influence the same idea unto others who might agree with their sentiments and would tend to hinder others from dreaming and believing in change, since they think that it would no longer be worth their time. To quote the great Mahatma Gandhi who once said “be the change you want the see in the world”, how can one believe in dreaming for the greater good of mankind when they can’t even begin to believe for their own welfare? Then again, as much as cliché would make people feel so jaded about creating new year’s resolutions, I’d like to believe that they are our life’s ultimate goals, or as what others would perceive as the elusive Bucket List, made more doable given a time frame we can fully grasp and control within 365 days at a time. Since we can never always wait for opportunities to come, we can however anticipate them by making a guide of which ones we can achieve for the year, given the different events that may help grab them. Say, part of your Bucket List would be to go Skydiving, you cannot just wait for the moment to come. Grab the opportunity, given that you might have some travels within the year to a place that would allow you to experience your dream in the best way possible, then claim it. One advice given to me by a dear friend was to grab the opportunity even while it’s still brewing, so you won’t have to wait till your body might not be able to hold up to your other dreams for long. Taking risks would always be part of fulfilling dreams. Don’t wait till you start aging to realize that you are not truly living. At the back of my mind, I constantly remind myself that I am in my early 20’s and I am at the prime of my life and that I must do what I can while I am young to truly relish and experience the joys of life in my own personal way.
Lastly, going back to what I mentioned above, one of the most important things to remember would be to write them down and constantly keep it updated. Take them in “chunks” per year & you’ll feel more fulfilled. Nothing feels more gratifying than seeing a check on a bullet you’ve already accomplished. Every once in a while, you can look back and feel that you’ve done a lot more than you’d realize. Aside from feeling accomplished, it helps draw us closer and be thankful to the Almighty Father for helping us achieve our dreams and for abundantly showering us with his blessings.
May the good Lord continue to shower his bountiful blessings upon all of us this 2012. I wish you all peace, prosperity, good health and a life full of love and opportunities.
LA VIE EN ROSE 