Mishy’s #Dare2016
My word for 2016 is DARE. I remember thinking I needed to be braver and that I should take more risks. Looking back, I think I did achieve that. To close this year, I am writing my twelve ‘dares’ for the year. Here we go! :)
January 2016; Lantaw Restaurant, Cordova, Cebu
Be brave enough to break your own heart. Recognize the moment when it is time to walk away and do so without looking back. Don’t worry, you have all the love you need. Your best friends will help you make sense of all the pieces. Road trips, good food and long conversations are welcome. Take as much of them as you can.
February, 2016; CNU Tandang Sora Hall
Let people go. Students will hold your heart forever but they are not and will never be yours. You will continue to pray for their success and root for them in the challenges that they will face long after they leave your classroom. Facebook will remind you of their stories and it is okay to miss them from time to time. As you welcome a new set of kids, you will learn that people really must leave so you can make space for those coming your way.
March 2016; Guanzon Beach Resort, Naga
Invest in relationships. Again. Turning twenty-seven will remind you that there is so much more to learn. Ancora Imparo. You will be tempted to think that you are running out of time. Or, that you have wasted much of your life. Do not believe your anxiety. The story is not over yet. There is the next chapter. Welcome the new characters. Live through the twists in the plot. Focus on your life’s purpose. Serve with all your might. Love with all your heart.
April 2016; Starbucks Ayala
Don’t just wait for true love, work for it. Don’t believe the statistics. Commitments are not overrated. Till death do us part still exists. Forever takes a lot of hard work but I was told it is worth it. You will discover that it truly is.
May 2016; Our Lady of Manaoag, Carmen
Forgive yourself especially when you don’t deserve it. To make mistakes is part of being human. You will learn that some mistakes are more costly than others. Pay the price. Move forward. But again, forgive yourself. You deserve that second chance.
June 2016; The Buzzz Cafe, Robinsons Galleria
Learn to restrain yourself from eating too much ice cream. Tonsillitis is painful. Health is wealth. Take care of your body because it is the only one you get to have in this lifetime. Anything that is too much is bad but ice cream in itself is a good idea. It does not solve your problems but somehow it lessens the blow. When your friend asks you to eat ice cream with him or her, do not think twice. Go. The people in your life are your most precious treasures. Make sure they know how much they mean to you.
July 2016; Cebu Normal University
Allow people to take care of you. It does not make you less when you verbalize that you need others. When people tell you they miss you, believe them. To love is to be vulnerable. Fall in love. On the days when the feelings leave you, choose to love. Remember your ‘why’ and focus on the ‘who’. Be aware though that you may be someone else’s ‘who’ and you may be part of their ‘why’. Open your heart. Let people in.
August, 2016; Harold’s Hotel
Welcome new dreams. On the outside, people may think you have it all figured out but there are days when you are not even sure why you are where you are. That’s normal. Generally, that is not a bad thing. Remember though to not get stuck in the moment. The world will not wait for you. There is a challenge at every turn. When what you hold dear falls apart and you begin to question that one thing in your life you were absolutely sure about, walk through the crisis. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. True seven years ago. True today.
September 2016; The Bada
Be true to yourself. Listen to that small voice inside. There will come a time when you will feel that everyone is leaving. The people around you will go and come back. Then, you will realize that you have always been here. You will be tempted to leave. Just when one foot is outside the door, something inside breaks. You are where you need to be. And if you’re to be honest, you are where you want to be. Staying takes courage, too. When you feel like you’ve lost all strength, God sends people who will give you a share of theirs. When you’ve finally decided to close the door leading to the exit, people will open a gate. You can laugh and leave that one open indefinitely. Maybe someday. As of the moment, you are home.
October 2016; Camotes Island
Travel in the middle of a busy month. Your work will still be there when you come back. That paper you are working on can wait. It is okay to rest. Sleep is non-negotiable. You need it to stay alive. When you strive to make a living, don’t forget to actually live. Face your fear of heights. You will jump. The moment before the plunge is worse than the landing. Make your life the greatest adventure you can possibly have.
November 2016; Kuya J’s, Ayala
Splurge on family. No treasure in this life comes close. No dream more precious. Family first. Remind yourself of that every day.
December 2016; Bacayan, Cebu
Better your best. Circumstances will break you. People will let you down. You will disappoint and frustrate yourself. But this is not the end. Even if it feels like it. You can always begin again. Pace yourself. Trust the bigger picture. Hold on to the promise of the Lord for all the beauty He has prepared which will be revealed in His time. In moments of triumph, bask in His grace. Acknowledge the blessing. Use it to bless others. To be a bigger blessing, you have to grow. Growing hurts. But, so does stagnation. You can’t stare at the crossroad forever. Take that step forward.
Walk with hope. Live in faith. Dare to always, always love. Thank you, 2016!
