40

I have always wondered what would “40” feel like or what I’d be when I get to 40. Today is that day that I cross over a new decade in my life. I am truly grateful to God for the blessing of life (my second life).

Last year, my birthday was all about healing, recovering and letting people in.  I was going through a very challenging time overall but life has its way of providing us the answers we need through people and events that come meet us in many points of our journey.

This year, my birthday is a revalidation of that journey – transitions, changes, resilience from the unexpected and the unplanned and most importantly, being open to many possibilities. God has given me biggest blessing of making sure I was born in the right family.

My family has and will always be my biggest blessing. All I am today is because of my parents’ unconditional and unrelenting love and support. God blessed me with His best stewards, my Mom and Dad. I will forever be grateful. God is good. (Mom and Dad did their own virtual celebration for me. And so did my other nephew, Clyde.) God sends angels in our lives along the way to remind us that we are loved and to help us fulfill what we are sent here to do. I have many I have met along the way. These are my brothers and their growing families, my friends and our extended loved ones.

We also meet not-so-angelic ‘others’ along the way to challenge us and give us teachable moments so we get to be stronger and better. I am truly grateful to have an equal share of those in my journey. Thank you for the lessons and life teachings.

To those who have given me time for messages in many forms through social media, calls, texts, thank you for your thoughtfulness. To my family and friends who helped made my transition to another decade a memorable one, thank you with all my heart.  You all made me feel that no distance or time is a hindrance to show you care. You have given me the best gift, your time.

No words can describe how overwhelmed I am by your language of love you showed unto me. I see you, hear you, I appreciate you, I thank you. Maraming salamat po.

Cheers to spending each moment as if it is our last. Cheers to being present in every moment of our lives. Cheers to being patient with ourselves more as we are patient with others.  More importantly, let’s use our time to be generous to others as we are generous to ourselves. Time is all we have. Let’s maximize every second and every opportunity to be kinder to ourselves as others. This world will be better with all our kindness combined.

#TheGratefulCompilation #RoadToBubbles #FabForty #BigFourZero #AneurysmSurvivor

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