#conquer2017

Since 2014, I have chosen a ‘word for the year’. It is a battle cry of sorts. I reflect on the things I pray to achieve and what I intend to do to make them come true. I enjoy doing this simply because it forces me to be more mindful of my life and the journey I am taking. It is not to say I have everything figured out. Rather, it is recognizing I am but a pilgrim trying to make the best out of this ‘adventure’ I have been given.

#FreeFall2014, in a nutshell, was me dealing with my trust issues which led me to #Love2015 where I tried to understand my heart and what it wants. In 2016, I challenged myself to be brave and face my battles.  This year, I knew I needed the grit to see them through. Thus, #Dare2016 led me to #Conquer2017.  Here are the lessons I have learned this year. Kadima! :)

January 2017; Liv

When you go dancing, do so like no one’s watching. Chances are, no one actually is.  Do not give in to paralysis caused by fear of what people would say. Youth is fleeting so spend it well. I do not advise that you cling to it. There is something beautiful about growing up and growing old with those who have shared your crazy.

January 2017; Horizons 101

When you are faced with a calm morning, embrace it. Do not label any day as boring. There are days when the sunrise asks you to focus on the beating of your heart or the beating of someone else’s. The call is to be present. Be sure to answer it.

February 2017; SM Seaside City

When you desire to learn something new, allow yourself to be taught. Bucket lists are more enjoyably pursued when done so with friends. Successes are more meaningful when shared. If you should fail and fall, these friends will help you get back on your feet. Sometimes, they do so literally.

February 2017; Cebu Normal University

When you make a promise to help people make a shared vision come true, pull through. Surround yourself with people who are better than you. Dream for others and with others. Work for something bigger than yourself.  Make mistakes, learn as much as you can from the experience and try again. Easier said than done but you were not built for easy. Cultivate your hunger for growth. Face the pain that comes with pruning.

March 2017; IEC Pavillion

When the people you care for succeed, be there to celebrate with them. When you have milestones of your own, they will be there to share them with you as well. Do not take them for granted. Sometimes, it is easier to find people who will share your sorrows than your victories. Those who show up to share both are treasures. It is a gift when they walk into your life.  It is a miracle when they stay. 

March 2017; Boracay

When in doubt how to spend your birthday, you can never go wrong by surrounding yourself with people who love you. Travel with your family.  When you do so, where you go fades into the background. You are always home.

April 2017; Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

When you say you want to grow, be aware that you have no total control over the timeline by which opportunities come. One moment you are on a tour just like everyone else and the next, you are reading a text message that changes your entire year. Do not miss out on answered prayers by labeling them as mere coincidences. The road ahead will be tough but my dear, so are you.

April 2017; Manila Ocean Park

When you want your picture taken, say so. Never mind if they think you’re weird. You are. Every person is. Take courage and do you. Be you.  

May 2017; Siquijor

When your ‘yes’ overwhelms you and the temptation to back out is strong, remember your ‘why’ and think about ‘for whom’. This is not about you now. You realize it never was from the start. However, you have to take care of yourself. Call a friend. Stare at the horizon. Chase sunsets. You are more than what it is you do. You are more than what it is you fail to do.

May 2017; Cebu City

When you decide to live independently, take it as a chance to journey to yourself. Enjoy your company. Be fascinated with bed sheets, curtains, and furniture. Clean your place regularly. Exert the effort to wake up on time without anyone forcing you out of bed. You will develop a greater appreciation for your family and the comforts of home. Living on your own forces you to ask the questions you drown out by being busy in the company of others.  The quiet nights will be your best friend and worst enemy. In the end, you will walk out proud of yourself. That in itself is priceless.

June 2017; El Nido

When you travel, try not to worry too much. You can plan as much as you like but life eventually wins in the end. There will be misadventures but it is the imperfections that go with the experience that make for lasting memories.  Your trips will bring you to places but this year you will realize that travel brings you to people, too. Choose to care for the people more than your checklist and itinerary.

June 2017; University of the Philippines- Cebu

When you get to live through days that are too precious for words, it is enough to bask in the moment. Your students will live out your dream and by divine orchestration, you will be given the chance to share in that milestone. It is a privilege. Do not just simply let it pass you by.

July 2017; Cafe Margarita

When you said family is everything, hold on to that truth. Life will be a rollercoaster ride but for as long as you have family, you have all you need. The ups and downs of the road to adulthood will show you that your love for each other is stronger than anything that life throws at you. Your brother will make you proud. Make sure he knows. He will give you an awesome sister. Make sure she knows.

July 2017; NAIA Terminal 2

When something you have prayed for is not given to you because of a technicality, allow yourself to be sad. Again, do not live in that sad state. Life does not wait. It will ask you to get up the following day and do what needs to be done.  The following week, another dream will come true. Choose to celebrate even if your wounds are still fresh. Before the month ends, someone’s honesty will break your heart. You will never look at July the same way again. Just when you thought you understood what it meant to be an adult, you will learn that you have underestimated life’s ability to throw you curveballs. Rest assured that you will survive. Your heart is not made of glass.

August 2017; Gibbs

When you complained to God that you would not survive a third heartbreak, life will teach you that you can and you will. One of the bravest things you will do this year is to willingly walk towards an ending. You knew it was coming but you just had to hear it for yourself. See it happen. Feel it come crashing down. Just like that, you start again.

August 2017; Cebu Normal University

When many people do not understand your life choices, rest in the knowledge that they don’t need to and you don’t have to make them. However, acknowledge and be grateful for their best intentions. It is a blessing to be cared for by many. There will always be people who believe in you and in your dreams. That is enough.

September 2017; Cebu Normal University

When you finally accomplish that which you put on hold for two years, be happy. #Conquer2017 never felt more real than this. Some of the most difficult battles to fight are the ones we have with ourselves. All the insecurities that you try to hide deep inside will come crawling out. Do not run away. It will take time but the struggle will be worth it.

September 2017; Chateau by the Sea

When another best friend marries the love of her life, you will be reminded why love is worth the risk. There is no miracle greater than this. You will be sitting on the floor trying to get some work done when you realize that smiling comes easy again. In all its curveballs, life also has some pretty amazing twists. Do not doubt it, you will love again. At the very least, you open your heart to the idea that maybe. Just maybe. October will redeem you.

October 2017; Senate

October 2017; La Vie Parisienne

When you fail people, try to make up for it. Life is short. Make sure the people you love know you love them. Do not sacrifice your relationships to protect your pride and preserve your ego. It is not worth it. It will never be worth it. One can always forgive and forget but things will never be the same again.

November 2017; Tops

When you want to walk away and just let some battles pass you by, it does not necessarily mean you are coward. Some things and some people are not worth it. There is so much wisdom in learning to let go.  You have no time for self-inflicted drama.

November 2017; Philippines

When people go low, go high. When it proves to be extremely difficult, be vulnerable enough to ask for help. People will pull through for you. Yes, you are loved. In all its heartbreak, your year will end on a happy note. You will make peace with the ghosts of your past. A leap of faith is in order. Also, take care of yourself. Be mindful of your health. Do not make the people who love you worry.

December 2017; Coron

When you want to travel alone, do it. There is something liberating about being able to venture into the unknown on your own. But as you stare at the setting sun, you will begin to wish that you weren’t alone on the adventure. That is not a bad thing either. The tides have changed. The wind is blowing in a different direction. You acknowledge that life is just better when it is shared.

December 2017; Coron

The irony is that this year began with a battle being a metaphor for life. That chapters in the story hold territories to be conquered. However, 2017 ended with a sense of calm.  Acknowledging that though there is a big world out there to be discovered, you will miss out on life itself if you treat it as a list of things to do.  

To be honest, there was a great desire to win this year. At some point, I felt like I was a loser in life. With grace, this year ends with a sense of contentment. What is here is more than enough. What is yet to come will come in His time. Life happened too fast this year. To live with intent and to conquer life so to speak necessitates pacing. There is a need to take the time to breathe, bask in the miracles, and let love in.