Of Making Choices

All of life is about making choices.

What you chose in the past made you what you are today. Do not blame your parents, genetics and the environment nor fault destiny. You are what you decided or not decided to be.

If you are not happy and satisfied with the way you are, you can still make new choices to change things. It is never late to choose wisely and responsively to deserve a rich and meaningful life.

Choose health. Eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and have an ample rest. Do not overindulge in anything you do.

Choose truth. Take time to study, contemplate and discern the truth from lies and appearances. Do not be trampled and be swept away by the conviction of the mob. Stick to the truth however it may inconvenience you at the moment because it will ultimately set you free.

Choose courage. Do not be afraid to take risks because risks are actually opportunities to enrich life. Stand for causes that are moral and noble which affect the people you love, society and the world at large.

Choose freedom. Do not sulk in a corner and let things you do not like happen. Get out from your comfort zone now and then and be counted in making a difference.

Express yourself. Make a statement and never be silenced by the cowardice, the apathy and the indifference of those around you.

Choose love. Free yourself of hatred and vindictiveness; they are a burden to your spiritual journey. Instead, spread love and compassion to all around you, most especially to those who suffer from social injustice and from the tyranny of those in power. If you have not much to share, just listen to their cry. Say some kind and comforting words. The gesture would mean a lot to them.

Show understanding and kindness, too, to those who are lagging behind in the spiritual journey. They might have hurt and caused you pain along the way, but they now are also suffering from the fruit of their choices. Taunting them and ridiculing their plight does not offer anything good to anyone.

I Survived

On this day three years ago at around 9:30 in the morning, I figured in an accident while attending a national church (UCCP) planning conference at the First Pacific Leadership Academy in Antipolo, Rizal. I tripped and I heard people shouting: It’s a stroke! They rushed me to a hospital, and the physicians after some tests confirmed it was, indeed, a stroke -  a cerebro-vascular accident.

 Great Thanks to God, I survived the accident.  My gratitude is beyond words to those around who extended  all possible support and assistance to help me overcome those moments of  helplessness.

The accident, like many other accidents, happened without any signs or warning. I experienced no bodily pain or discomfort before and when it happened. The stroke cut off the power supply to my left extremities to this day. I can’t move my left leg and arm. My vision gets a little blurred, and I lost strength and control in my speech. I notice I talk rather fast and tire immediately.

After three months of physical therapy I was able to rise from bed unassisted and walk with a cane inside the house. In a little while I managed to walk some few meters without a cane. The progress was disrupted by a sudden inability to pee.  My left extremities convulsed in excruciating spasms. I thought my left arm and leg would break and separate from my body. It was torture for some 5-6 days before and after a ureteroscopy to remove a kidney stone from my bladder.

Indeed, when it rains it pours. I was back to square one  in my walking exercise. It was never the same again because the drop foot seems to have worsened. Nonetheless, I am back with a cane. But I weigh 53 kg. Imagine dragging a sack of rice to move a distance with a cane.

The struggle continues with the encouragement and support of my loved ones and friends;  I thank everyone for this.

Life is still good despite some piercing bouts of depression now and then.

I am grateful to the Lord for not repossessing my mind. This frees me from the prison of my body and allows me to move far and wide in time and space.

Life is beautiful.

On Comparison

To maintain a positive outlook in life, I’d been told to count my blessings and have also told others to do  the same. It seemed to work for some moments but at the end of the day, I was back to square one. I’ve been told not compare myself with others, and I told others the same; because if we compare ourselves with others we either become vain or miserable. Compare yourself with yourself and enjoy and take glory of the progress – the difference.  This worked for me for a long, long time until in recent years: I was  terrific in the past, now I’m in a terrible shape.

Lesson: Avoid making any comparison of any kind  to escape misery. Accept people, things or whatever that comes. Live at every moment. Be happy or be sad according to what is called by the situation. Savor what you feel, whether joy or pain, to the last drop;  nothing lasts forever.

If Life were a Race

Birth is a great divider. Some are born with valuable talents and gifts, others are not. Some have already wealth upon birth, others don’t have . If life is a race, the racers are not in the same starting line. It  looks unfair, but in reality is not. Those ahead by a lap or two and those falling far behind, the swift and the slow will all reach the finish line; all will be humbled not glorified by the race.

At the end of the race, nothing really counts. Our dreams and achievements, our failures and pains, our missteps, indecision and regrets, our health and aches, joy, sorrow and suffering do not matter at the end.  Life is fair after all. The finish line is a great equalizer.