Thank you to everyone who greeted me. I used my birthday as a day for reflection—to think deeply, contemplate, and better understand everything, especially the events that happened to me this year.
To everyone, especially to those who’ve been checking in on me, messaging me, and asking how I’ve been, here is a bit of my journey
1. If you ask me how I am, my answer would be: I'm not completely okay, but I'm trying, and I will be. I'm working on it.
2. The second half of 2024 was incredibly tough for me, and lately, I’ve felt so exhausted that I almost wanted to give up. But a friend helped me realize that the storm has passed. The worst is over, and though I was deeply affected, it’s now time to rebuild. The storm may have damaged my house, but now I’m starting to pick up the pieces. The challenges aren’t entirely gone, but what’s left is more manageable, and I’m slowly finding my way forward.
3. I lost some friendships, which hurt me deeply. There were some I thought treated me like family, but I realized they only saw me as a service provider or supplier. But I found new friendships with people I never expected to connect with.
4. You’ll have friends who stay for the long haul, and others who are only with you for a season—a specific chapter or phase of your life. I used to feel hurt when they moved on, but I’ve learned to accept that maybe their role in my life was only meant to go that far. Perhaps it happened to make space for new friends to come into my life.
5. Employees come and go—some leave, others come in. I should be used to it by now since I’ve had a business for quite some time. I’m still human; it still hurts when someone leave
6. I’ve gained weight again and this has affected my overall confidence. My body was already in better shape. Now I’m at an XXXL, and I need to embrace it. But I’m definitely going back to the gym; I know I can still do it. Please invite me if you want to do sports activities. I could use the activity and the company.
7. We all face problems—different ones. Never invalidate someone else's struggles just because you feel that what you're going through is more difficult. Even if you think their concerns are minor or trivial, remember that, to them, it might already be a big deal. Learn to respect their feelings, be a true friend, and take the time to listen.
8. You know you're getting older when you're more often giving than receiving. They think you can just buy things for yourself anyway. Hey come on, I'm actually easy to please. The thought really counts, doesn't it?" So beke nemen...
9. I’ve been struggling with anxiety for a long time, but the difference now is that I’m aware when it’s happening. I’m also aware that I can be destructive, so I’m making an effort to manage it in a way that doesn’t hurt others as much as possible.
10. I realized that it's not money, love life, or the lack of connections or friendships causing my depression. Even during times when I had money, a love life, or was surrounded by people, it was still there sometimes. I believe I’ll figure it out one day, and I hope to overcome it.
11. I got tired of always trying to be the best and being number one. Even if you’re the best today, someone better will come along tomorrow, and you won’t be the best anymore. Now, what matters more to me now is doing the things that make me happy. I’ve already experienced what it’s like to be the best before, so I know how that feels. This time, it’s your turn.
12. I feel like I want a change of scenery since I've been in Manila for so long. But I still don't know where to go. So far, the closest option I've considered is Siargao, but I got a bit scared when they had a brownout that lasted more than a week. Plus, the fish there is so expensive, haha!
13. I want to share with you that I’ve rediscovered my old hobby of writing. I hope you can support the page I created—and please, don’t report it! Haha! Paki like and follow na din. https://www.facebook.com/themarkexperience2
14. I fell in love with riding a motorcycle when I was in Siargao for two weeks. I was riding every day, and now that I’m in Manila, I no longer have a car and just ride a motorcycle instead. So far, I’m happy with it. I’m not sure yet if I’ll buy a car again (assuming I have the money).
15. I'm no longer the golden child of the family because my sister has become very successful. I'm genuinely happy for her, though sometimes I feel envious, but she's been a huge help to our family and I'm content accepting that I'm now in the backseat. That's life. Like a wheel, isn't it?"
16. Only a few of you know that I have a phobia of flying. I’m very happy to share that, after 8 years, I finally got on a plane this year! I hope to have more trips in 2025, so feel free to invite me to travel!
17. I just realized that I’ve already accomplished so many things on my bucket list. There’s still probably some left, but I still can’t believe that I’ve achieved and fulfilled so much of it. Ngayon ko lang naisip talaga sa birthday ko kasi iyong iba doon ay pinangarap ko noong bata pa ako.
18. My family truly loves and accepts me for who I am, including my sexual preference. This is one of the blessings I’m most grateful for. We’ve become even closer now, including my relatives. I’m thankful because their acceptance has been a big help in easing my anxiety.
And there...
I went ahead with my plan—I had a picnic at the park with my dog and my baby, Lotty. It was there that I came to a few realizations.
By the way, if you're on the heavier side, a great trick for getting good photos is to hide behind a tree! Hehe.
Thank you for taking time to read my journey. Thank you to everyone who loves and supports me. Here’s to celebrating not just life, but growth. Cheers! Happy New Year.
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