Monday, December 31, 2012

Adieu, 2012.

In few minutes from now, we will be bidding 2012 a good bye, and say hello to the 2013. Everyone is wishing for all the negativities to be left behind, and hope for the best to be received come 2013. 2012 has been one crazy roller coaster ride for me, just like all the past years. But what made this year different was, despite all the bad stuff, there were more good things that surfaced.

I may have lost few friends along my life's journey, but I definitely gained new ones, and old friendships have grown stronger. No life status nor educational background, all the more age, can dictate a friendship. Friends I have made this year have come from all walks of life, and it does not matter to me. There are the friends who are there to listen, ready to give you a hug, ears to listen to whatever you say, a shoulder to cry on, gives me an imaginary slap to return to reality, and urges me to take risk and not to give up. You know who you are, thank you for being there. Near, far, it doesn't matter, you surely are a real friend.

I did not expect to fall for someone this year. After falling in love and being disappointed, I just couldn't bring myself to fall all over again. But slowly, and unexpectedly, I did, funnily, to someone who was initially a complete stranger to me. Love isn't my priority really, but it comes, and I grab it.

Academics, they burned me out. I got to the point where I wanted to just let go-- again. My heart wasn't there anymore although I am happy on where I am right now. And with school, I found my love for volunteering at the hospital, prompting me to gain more knowledge when it comes to the small animal medicine world. I may not be as good with theoretical as I used to be years ago, but I sure learn a lot from hands on experiences on the months I've been volunteering.

Life itself is crazy. So much fights, frustrations, anger, hatred, disappointments, laughter, memories, experiences, risk; name it, it's there. As Forrest Gump said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." And with my friends around, they keep me sane, snapping me back to reality. Just another positive side of my life, I started healthy living again. :)

On new year's eve, we await for the entrance of the new 365 days that we will face with hope, courage, fear, or whatever else. I was rewatching New Year's Eve a while back on TV, and Hilary Swank said, "And as you all can see, the ball has stopped half way to its perch. it's suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop, and reflect on the year that has gone by, to remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken, the times we opened ourselves up to great adventures... or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt, because that's what new year's all about , getting another chance, a chance to forgive. to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more, and to stop worrying about what if... and start embracing what will be. so when that ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other, and not just tonight but all year long."

I am wishing for a wonderful 2013. No more big new year's resolutions for me-- just like for the past couple of years, just the simple, practical ones:


  1. Continue living healthy
  2. Concentrate with studies
  3. Go with the flow
  4. Take risk

Happy new year, everyone! Have an awesome 2013! 

Respect.


“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
― Confucius, Sayings of Confucius

Respect. Paggalang. 尊敬.


How hard is it to respect another person? Like the quote above, you have to learn to respect yourself first before you could respect others, because if you don't respect yourself, how can you expect them to respect you back? Respecting yourself is when you know until where is your self-limitation, how you dress, how you bring yourself to public. 

When we were younger, our parents and teachers taught us to respect the elders. Yet as we grow older, wiser, and more mature, we learned that we don't only respect those who are older that than us, but we should also respect those who are younger.

When we respect other people, we don't choose whom to respect; everybody deserves to be respected, whether he is a very rich person or someone who has nothing. Even if he's the jeepney driver, or a bystander, or a security guard, or even the drunkard. May he be a PhD degree holder or someone who is not given the chance to study for a degree.

Respect is also given to someone who admits his weaknesses; it may seem that he is ashamed of what he lacks, but this could not mean that you will take pity on that person. Instead, it actually could lead you to have a bigger respect on that person for having the courage to admit of his weaknesses.

In my opinion, respect, like trust, is earned. And once broken, it may be difficult for you to gain the other person's respect on you. We must not abuse the respect being given to us by others.