Happy New Year!!! I just couldn’t
let this day pass through without my dose of blog writing. For the past few
months I have focused much of my blogging time to our newly started blog
entitled “Now brewing”. It is a group blog dedicated to movie and book reviews –
I guess further explanation of the title’s choice is not a necessary thing anymore.
The title has already says it all – we’re coffee persons and self-acclaimed
movie and book freaks. You can visit Now Brewing anytime for freshly brewed reviews (great, I
just started my article with a promotion).
I’m really excited for this 2014
and I’m pretty sure all of us feel the same thing. It’s a human nature anyway
to have a natural inclination for hopes and dreams no matter how bad the things
were from the past. Now let me warn you that this article is really something
very personal. Just so you know right early from here that this is quite
different from other of my writings of which often intends to inculcate a
general message or thoughts to everyone. This is really more of me and of what
I considered to be the highlight of my 2013. I really feel blessed that I can’t
resist the urge within me to acknowledge it even through a simple blogging like
this one.
So many things have happened to
me this year and I looked on it as a stepping stone for more years of happy and
fulfilled life. Let me give you first a little retrospection of that year
before 2013 came – on the last few months of 2012 I was quiet down and loss on
what I would want to do then in my life. I resigned from my job and refused to
apply again for another regular job. I was depressed and broke; deep within me
then I felt so wasted. But then as they say “Nothing is permanent in this world
and the bad times too shall pass.” Many may see my decisions as something that
is not appropriate or some of you may say that I could do better or deserve
better than what I have achieved for this 2013 but men let me tell you this –
nothing has ever made me feel so happy, contented and fulfilled inside than
these following remarkable moments have done:
1. I LOVE MY JOB
Whenever people ask me now on
what I do in life I feel a bit hesitant to answer not because I got nothing to
say. It's simply because my answer would surely follow a brief explanation on
why I engaged myself to being a freelancer when I could find myself a regular
one. I’m working now as freelance home-based online writer – and my earnings aren’t
that big but it’s quite enough to sustain me and allow me some few bucks to put
aside for my savings. I’m also a theatre actor who is affiliated with community
based theatre groups and that I would discuss on my next remarkable 2013 moment.
2. MY PASSION FOR PERFORMING IS NOURISHED
I feel so blessed to be a part of
theatre groups who not only help me live my passion but also provide me a
family whom I could call my brothers and sisters in arts. I’m connected to
various groups like ARNAI-ACTION, Obra Incorporated, and Tanghalang Hulyo
Beinte Tres. The year 2013 has been so gracious that it has given me a new theatre
family -- Hiraya Theater Production -- wherein I earn new friends, new mentors, and new learning. 2013 is a
year full of theatre performances and I really enjoyed it with all my heart.
Being in theatre will not make you rich in money or in any other material
things, but it will enrich your whole being. Nothing can ever make me feel so much
more alive than when I am there in theatre losing myself in dance or singing at
the top of my lungs. They say that only crazy people would stay in theatre – well
small wonder that my sanity has left me quite a long time ago!
3. I FOUND A FAMILY IN CHURCH
The first main reason to which I
owed my happy survival of 2013 is my growing and deepening relationship with
Christ. I prayed to Him that I want to serve more and offer Him more so He gave
me a ministry to where I could use my talent and passion to worship and
praise His name. This 2013 I became a part of St. Peter Parish Choir and I’m
so overwhelmed for all the opportunities that opened to me in there. I found
new family, my brothers and sisters in Christ, I’m given chances to use my
passion for singing and the Lord is really gracious and loving that He use the
choir to improve my talent for music.
4. WORKING MY WAY TO SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Okay, now don’t think that
because I refused a regular job means I would be settled for whatever “enough”
I’m receiving as freelancer. Of course like anyone else does, I also dream for
a brighter future to benefit my family and future children. Slow moving maybe
but I can confidently say that me and my friend Jen are on our way to a more successful business endeavour.
Our online shop Jenra’s Passion is doing quite well (though not really highly
income-generating for now) but we have planned things to be more improved and
developed this time. We have started it two years ago and we got no plan of
quitting or stopping. The new fashion dictators will soon rule so watch out
for that! For affordable and high quality dresses check Jenra's Passion now and message us for your orders (now, this is my other promotion! Hehe).
5. MY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVED!
And this is another of my
greatest achievement this 2013 – since I began working, this New Year is the
first time ever that I greeted new year with savings still left on my account.
Honestly, I was a big-time spender, draining my wallet thinking that I could make
up for it with my next month salary. When I got short of my money I went for my
little savings promising that I would replace it (again with my next salary) of
which I often failed to do. If there’s
something that I can be proud of myself now, it is that I learned to handle my
financial far way better than the previous working days of my life. It is just so
ironic that I’ve managed to save some bucks just when I’m already a freelancer
whose earning opportunities aren’t fixed and continuous not like when you are regularly
employed in a company. This is one of my treasured blessings for the past 2013 –
the insight to value money and spend wisely. Don’t get me wrong about my
savings, it is just a small amount but the big thing here is the wisdom on financial
management of which no millions could buy.
These are just few of the
handfuls blessings that are worth million times to thank for. There’s more to
life than money and material things but of course we all still need these to
survive living and benefit from a prosperous life. But let’s not forget the much
more important things that we should be striving for in life.
I could never be this happy and fulfilled if not for the ever consistent love and support of my
family. We are not a perfect one but who family is? I’m so happy that we
spent the Christmas and New Year this year with everybody present – my brother
Keenan went home for holiday vacation so we are complete in the photo op! I wish for nothing else more but for good
health, much deepened spiritual relationship, and more wisdom to guide us in
each and every moment of our life!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF US!
