There are memory boards, memory boxes, happiness jars, memory jars, and even remember-lution jars, instead of New Year’s resolutions. And for those? I. Thank. God.
If there would be one peso, for every New Year’s resolution that I have actually achieved, I would have only collected, seventy-five centavos for each. I would not even have collected one peso. It is always an-almost-achieved-New-Year’s-resolution for me. You see, My New Year’s Resolutions and I, we always get into a passionate start. But then, before the year ends, we fall out of love. We become suddenly strangers, just months taken, from our passionate lovers status. We end up, with total repugnance for each other.
So instead of New Year’s Resolutions, I give myself five quotes, for the year to come. Like last year-which was 2014, I had my 5 Filipino Quotes that I Will Equip Myself With in 2014.
The quotes I chose, became my battle cry for the year. So early last year, when the last of our remaining house-girl said goodbye and I, apparently, with an already bad back, started facing the reality of household chores, inspired myself with one of my quote for 2014, “Para kanino ka ba talaga bumabangon?”
And when dirt on the bathroom floors became more stubborn than my son, I attacked it in Spartan fashion and Gilas rallying cry, “Laban Pilipinas, Puso.” Those quotes were my tools, in successfully achieving my goals last year. ( I was even, way more successful , in pep talking myself up and applying the rallying cry, than Coach Chot Reyes ever did, I think.) From easy to difficult, from washing dishes to teaching my son math ( yeah, this is one of the highlights of my 2014 :” Dummies for Grade 1 Math.” ) , I stuck it out, for my 5 Filipino quotes in 2014. So far, they were the greatest tools I had, in achieving the goals I had set for myself.
As I turn a year older today, ( happy birthday to me ) I promised myself that I will once again, keep five quotes or slogans for the year 2015. I will try to be true, to this quotes. They will be like my bumper stickers, for this year. The quotes will serve as my personal slogan or slogans, for the year.
1. ” The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…one step at a time.”
Something I have to constantly remind myself of, so I would not do things in haste. I learned that one, last year, from setting up a particular goal for my blog, to teaching my son, oration and multiplication.
We have to be patient in dealing with everything, -with ourselves or with our family and friends. We all have to painstakingly, go through the process of learning and un-learning, and of winning and failing, till we achieve success.
There are no shortcuts to success, right?
2. “Keep calm and write on.”
Sometimes, I lose sight of my blog’s purpose, especially when I panic and conform. But when I take things calmly, – I see clarity. This year, I hope to remain relaxed and composed –and compose blog posts that will have significance and meaning to readers. Or as one reader puts it, “yung tagos ba sa puso, ‘Te.” ( with smiley face)
Also, I would like to allude this quote, not only to writing, but also with life, in general. As we go through the details of our lives, let’s “Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.” ( Desiderata) It is only, when things are at a standstill that we see a different perspective, sometimes -a better one.
Let’s all“Keep calm and write on” and contribute to the story of our lives.
3. ” So anong plano mo? Usap tayo. “
As I have mentioned, New Years Resolutions, as far as my personal history with them is concerned, are but just a fad to me.
My New Year’s resolutions would include plans that just get bumped off, by my refusal to commit to them. I might have majored in planning and minored in drawing. ( or you might have heard of the expression –“plano ng plano puro lang naman drawing”)
Dami ko din naman talagang plano… AT PLANNERS.
I chose this quote, ” So anong plano mo? Usap tayo” for 2015, because I would like to start making some of my life-long goals realized.
So now, I am not just going to make plans, but I am going to seriously talk to myself about them and carry them out.
“SERYOSO ‘TO , Usap tayo, Self.” I will try to be consistent and patient. ( and of course lessen my addiction to planners.)
4. “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” –Jane Howard
Yes, we need to belong.
Me? I have always placed great premium on family, whether in my writings and in my everyday life. My family, my husband, my son, my siblings, my parents , my grandmother and my in-laws , they have propelled my small and big ambitions, in life. They are my source of inspiration and strength.
Many of you out there, are like me too, or like most Filipinos are. ( as balikbayan boxes speak volumes of who we are working hard for )
I was born this way, I guess.
Last year, I discovered the joy, of becoming part of communities, of bloggers like myself. It was a significant experience for me, since I have been blogging in my cave, long enough.
As I grew older, my sense of individuality has now been anchored more, on my love for family and community. I appreciated my uniqueness with every phone call I make, to my mom or my siblings. I begin loving myself more, when my son and husband, thank me for what I do for them.
I feel grateful for some mommies in my blogging community, who asked me tips on writing from the heart and be funny that way. I, on the other hand, read blogs and listen to discussions of other moms, on how they raise their children.
This year, I promise to strengthen bonds between my family and value my community even more. I will strive to be part of something significant.
5. “A coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.”
In our lives, certain things happen exactly, on the right moment. But most of the times, we fail to recognize the hand of God, we think of them, as mere coincidences. I am like that too -despite having the personal experience, of Him orchestrating my love life. I still label things as coincidences, when they are in fact, miracles.
I sometimes say, ” Haay, buti nalang”, when I could have said, “Haay, ang buti ni Lord.”
How many times in my mommy life, have I opened a Pedialyte bottle, yet having not perfected it at all -till I would resort to a pair of pliers and attack it? But then once or twice, I successfully open it. I vow to say this time, ” Naku Salamat, Lord.”
( instead of saying “Salamat sa pliers” or “No, thank you, sa nag isip ng packaging ng Pedialyte.”)
So for 2015, my aim is this : to be always grateful to Him, even in the tiniest bit of my being -for even the smallest of things are not mere coincidences. I will make it a habit, to thank Him for everything from the smallest to the biggest. I will thank Him always, for having given me, my husband, my child, my big family, my friends, my readers –you, most especially, who is reading this now and well, okay, my pliers, that too.
