I used to regard myself as a busy person. I packed my calendar with TO DO list and TO GO, not food but TRAVEL. I was always on the go, attending meetings and functions, going there, here, and everywhere. Plus maybe because I was younger and had more energy.
I equated busyness with success. When we are busy, we not notice the time, the days, the months. And how many times do we say “What? it’s Friday again?” , “Lunes na naman?”
I was like that too. I WAS. Then I got sick. I was staring at a situation that I perceived as a death sentence. All of a sudden my days, hours, minutes were numbered and even seconds felt like eternity. I found solace in prayers. But I also had to help myself. I survived the day by breaking it down into ten minutes. Yes, TEN LONG MINUTES. Even 10 minutes felt like forever. I didn’t know whether I could last for months or even a year. But I had to get up and live.
How could I survive a day feeling terrified of being seriously ill, of dying young? I figured, I would try to live 10 minutes at a time, then maybe I can make it till lunch, then afternoon, then nightime. Then I start again the next day. Ten minutes at a time.
I have learned my lesson. I don’t hurry my life. I take my time. I squashed my busyness equals success thing. Never mind if my calendar is empty. Nevermind if I don’t have meetings the whole week. Nevermind if I don’t reach the moon. Nevermind if I am just me.
Very true. As we grow older, we focus on our health, the time we have & as much as possible use it to be with our loved ones. My spare time is spent enjoying and watching how my granddaughter develops into a really smart kid. Her early love for music attributed to her roots is amazing.
Life is precious and mysterious. One of my mentors where I work was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. So young (44yrs old) & vibrant to leave this earth so soon. I will treasure our moments when she would call me to her office to just chat with me but would sometimes get interrupted by our director. I am missing her as I pass through the corridors & glance at an empty dark room. Is there any miracle healing somewhere to help survive this deadly disease?
Sometimes material things don’t really matter if you can’t enjoy life to the fullest because of failed health.
My younger days wish was … if I see Paris / Europe, I can leave this earth. As I mature what is important is to see my daughter & granddaughter have a stable life. This is what matters most now.
Thanks Rae, for regularly reading OMB
I thought your officemate is undergoing treatment. Namatay na pala?
Yes, It’s true, Ate Annie. ‘Health is wealth’. Let’s not hurry time. Let’s enjoy and appreciate every moment of our existence.Thank you for sharing and posting your words-of-wisdom, thoughts, insights, reflections, comments, reactions and experiences. We are learning a lot from you. Take care, Best wishes, Warmest regards with love and prayers to you, Kuya Edmund and your dearest family. Let’s pray for each other..for one another. God bless us..always. Amen.
Thank you so much Riroy,
Warm regards