Memory Chip of 2006 (Part 1)

“You’ll never miss the water... until the well runs dry!”

If 2005 was a year of blessings, gifts and memories, then 2006 could be labeled to be the Year of Responsibilities and Challenges. The year paved the way for things I have never experienced before. Things I never thought of doing. Things I never found to be fun and enjoyable.

The year 2006 definitely, was likened to the personality of the Dog. Not only by the typical Chinese belief but as to how it came to be in my life. Tranquil at times, playful in some moments. Fearless… Harsh… Sensitive… Very human! There were a lot of opportunities barking by my front door steps but when examined I thought of them as rubbish. How could I have possibly considered it to be rubbish when in fact I never had any taste of it at all? Lesson number 1: Being bitten by a dog is no trouble at all, bite it too and the dog will feel the greater pain… from shame and your bite!

2006 opened. January came in. A new year and a new month for change. January 2006 became a time to realize and finally assess the past. It is the month of looking back and of rekindling happy thoughts and learn from bad memories.

Every New Year there is a tradition of a new year’s resolution. For me, a new year’s resolution would be appropriate to set and start living with it from the very first day after your birthday. Nevertheless, I have one! My New Year’s resolution is to be closer to my Creator, God. It seems to me that I have been truly blessed the last year and it would be truly ungrateful if I don’t give any appreciation to that. Yes! I am thankful! Very much thankful and grateful to God and to everybody.

For some reason my destiny was helping me fulfill or should I say “making my resolution come true”. Our Guidance Counselor (Madam Annabelle Maglasang) wrote me in the list of students who will be attending the ADORE 2006, a gathering (as I would define it) of some of Cebu’s youth in an effort to relay the message of God to those who are highly susceptible with temptation. Yep, the youth. This was on February when we attended the conference and somehow it did make an effect to me. After which, I started going to mass every Wednesday noon. I prayed the Rosary daily. Later, it drifted away. I am very sorry to be very outspoken about his topic, many might find it blasphemous. Soon, I realized that saying memorized prayers is not the best way of talking to God. For me, talking to God is holier when you do it alone. Talking to Him as you talk to yourself. You pour out everything you need to say in a manner and arrangement never ever heard from anybody else. What a refreshing feeling it would be for God to hear these words from you. A prayer made by a faithful soul is far more sincere than anything else. God listens, I’m sure of that, and I live because of that. Lesson number 2: Be yourself, even with God.