Things to be Thankful for ~ Happy New Year indeed!

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!