The End is Only the Beginning

“The end is only the beginning…”, I remember these words delivered by the high priest, Imhotep, from the famous movie The Mummy. I believe this is also the most fitting line that can best describe the series of events that took place in my life, which started on March 2007.

Over 2 years ago, I made a decision, which I considered then as very significant, life changing even. I decided to resign from my job of three years from the “world’s local bank”. Some thought that it was a drastic move given that I do not even have a ready job to replace it with but I chose not to listen. I chose not to care. I plunged into the unknown, impelled by the realization that my life is not going anywhere and will continue to do so if I do not make a move, now.

So effective 15 March 2007, I officially became a BUM (Beautiful, Unmarried and with dwindling Money). On the days that followed I begun catching up with the things that I actually would like to do but do not have the time and energy to do so like watching Korean novellas and DVDs, working out regularly, cleaning my room, sleeping around and of course surfing the internet to my hearts content.

At this point, I actually remember that I have a Friendster, imagine that. Frankly speaking, I am not really a Friendster fanatic, but since I am a BUM now, I might as well kill the time by checking my account. After visiting it ages ago, God knows when, I logged in. Thank God, I still remember the password, and there I met him, the beginning of the next chapter of my life. For purposes of anonymity, allow me to call him Cheekboy.

Cheekboy would like to be your friend, click the “approve” button if you are really friends.

Naturally, I was curious after all, I do not know anyone with the name. Besides, he seems like a decent person and it truly helps that he looks like Carlo Aquino in his picture (hehehe!). I found that we attended the same high school, so there was the connection, and that he is an engineer working in a well-known telecommunication company “connecting people”. In the end, I decided to accept him, and just like my other “friends” in Friendster who are actually more of acquaintances than friends, that’s the end of the story… so I thought.

As the days passed by, I have completely forgotten Cheekboy. Until one day, while I was checking my email, hoping that some company might have already responded to my job application, there he was again.

Cheekboy has sent you a message in Friendster.

What does he wants now, I wonder. After checking his message, I was surprised and found it refreshing to see that he actually said thank you for my having accepted his invitation. Mind you, not everybody does such courteous gesture in this time and age anymore. From then on, the wheel starts to turn.

Come tomorrow, we are going to celebrate our one year and six months as a couple. It never occurred to me that the drastic move I made would open the door to a new and much more exciting phase in my life. It might not be related to my career but it is a blessing nonetheless; a blessing I would not exchange for anything else.

Naturally, I would like to take this opportunity to say….

"I still thank God for the day I decided to resign and be a BUM for it gave me the opportunity to meet the man I am going to spend my whole life with. Happy 72nd week honey!"

The journey from the time we first met to where we are now, like any other couple, is not smooth sailing. We have lots of differences and misunderstandings to deal with. Even more so considering our long distance set up coupled with our religious beliefs! No less than a Muslim and an Opus Dei! A match made in heaven, indeed! Nonetheless, nothing is impossible with a little maturity, a dose of patience, a sprinkle of respect, a cup of trust and a whole lot of loving!

In life, there will come a time that a person has to learn to let go and move on. Expect that every action that we do have its corresponding consequences. However, let us NOT expect that these consequences will always be bad. My experience thought me that letting go of something significant in our life does not mean it is the end the world. All we have to do is keep the faith and believe that God has a grander plan for us.

When life presents you with an opportunity to change, grab it! As the saying goes, the one thing that is constant in this world is change. So embrace it. For together with change is chance. A chance for you to experience something different, may be better, may be worse, but a learning experience all the same.

A wise man once said and I quote “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” … very true, very well said …. Thanks Einstein!

A Glimpse

To start the ball rolling, let me tell you a little something about myself. I am the youngest in the family. Like any family, we have several problems, dramas and issues to contend with beyond anybody’s imagination (so much so, it’s like being in a telenovela… whew!). However, surprisingly, unlike any other family, we are very close. In this life, I realize that every person has a way of dealing with problems specially those that concerns the people they love. They may opt to stay or run away.

I personally believe that in making choices, whether to stay or run away, the decisions that we make at the specific moment is never wrong. Mainly because those are the best, we can come up with, given the time and circumstance. Only history will tell whether we made the right or wrong decisions. Here is where the power of prayers will play its role.

In the almost 5 years of my career, I have already been part of three companies in the (exciting!?) world of banking and finance. Until now, I am still deliberating and asking myself. Is this really the career for me? A wise man (I do not really have any idea who in particular, because I just heard this in our team building! ehehe!) once said that a person should find a job that he is most passionate about and make sure that he will be the best in the world at it.

Frankly speaking, I do not see myself becoming passionate and best in the world at dealing with other peoples money! Still, I have to be practical. I may not be ecstatically happy with my current position (for sure, I am not alone in this area!) but that does not mean I am going to stop searching. After all, a job should not just be something that we have to do. Considering that we are investing 8 hours, even more, or our time to it everyday, it should be a vocation, a calling. In time, minus all the limitations, I know I will find that job to which I can share my heart.

Speaking of my heart, it is currently single but taken ; ) Only time will tell what will happen in this area of my life. What I am sure about is that I am happy with the person I am with right now. Our relationship is not perfect. We acknowledge that we have many shortcomings. But it’s ok, because I know that these imperfections are what makes our love for each other relatively perfect.

I love the beach but I do not want to get dark. I crave for burgers, ice cream and chocolates, time and time again, but I do not want to gain weight. I need to work out regularly but I always have a reason not to. I want to be mean sometimes specially at work but my values get in the way. I miss bonding time with my friends but do not have the time. I smile even though I feel like hitting someone. I laugh when it is more fitting to cry. I want to go to heaven but lack the discipline to pray regularly. These are only some of the paradoxes that I have to deal with everyday; they are also the aspects in my life that makes me human. Life is no fairy tale, indeed, but it’s worth the try.

The Start of Something New

Today, I am going to do something that I have always wanted to do but just do not have the time or better yet the courage to do so. That is to express my thoughts and feelings through writing.

Other people may consider this as just a journal of someone insignificant that just want to be notice. After all, what exactly is so interesting about me that people will give their time and energy to read what I have in mind? True, but what the heck, my general reaction to these people would be “THINK WHAT YOU LIKE! In the end, it has always been and will always be a personal choice of an individual to read whatever he or she wants to read. Therefore, if YOU are reading this right now, whatever you feel afterwards, remember that you chose to read it.

One thing I know for sure, I am doing this for myself. I am aware that by doing this I am giving myself a sense of direction. A sense of happiness and fulfillment for I am putting into action what just have been a dream. Nothing is more fatiguing than an unfinished task, they say. If this is the case, imagine how fatiguing it can be not to be able to fulfill your dream.

After feeling happy and positive about myself, I know that I can also make the people around me happy. More than anything else, I wish to set that as my goal.

At this point in my life, I am very thankful that I have met a special person who believes in me. A person who is proud of me and makes me feel important. So much so that little by little I am starting to realize my worth as a person. This person is the same person who constantly encourage me to turn my dreams into reality. You know who you are, thank you. ; )