#felicityfix

As a kid I was taught not to brag. As a teen I practiced to swallow my pride. As an adult I learned to accept the things I cannot change. My God is all powerful and all knowing. I humbly bow to His will.

My inferiority to my God keeps me in check like a child abides by his parents. He sees my every right and wrong. He sees how I deal with the people around me and my environment. Yet there is a bigger scheme I do not see and only He knows. I am one character among many and one day I’ll walk into a scene that will change the course of my life. Then another door will open in a few more years, and another. Life goes on.

It is comforting to know that my God looks after me like a parent protects his child. Things may go wrong but I know someone always has my back. As long as I follow His advice, I will eventually find myself in a good place.

There will always be greater and lesser persons than myself, in one aspect or another. Humility teaches me to share what I’m good at and to ask for assistance where I’m lacking. This mutual relationship with the people around me creates a wonderful bond and atmosphere.

To humble myself despite humiliation and rejection is the taller order. Accepting failure would be a good example. To do what is just and fail is a noble thing, rather than to do something unethical and succeed. I may hurt myself and the people I love but I know I have not failed my God. There will be other opportunities to succeed.

So many great entrepreneurs who I look up to had humble beginnings such as Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, J.K. Rowling, Henry Ford and so on. Their holistic points of view, good understanding of people and nothing-to-lose attitudes brought them business success.

To do the less fortunate a service and to treat them as equals is another lesson on humility. I’m glad I see so much of this when calamities strike. Many Filipinos are naturally benevolent and empathetic. In Ondoy alone, we saw celebrities help rescue victims from the flood.

Humility leaves plenty of room for self improvement. Because I know I’m not perfect, I constantly look for areas where I can be better. I listen to the opinions of others and take criticism constructively instead of negatively. I can say I have grown a lot because of it. When I have my feet firmly planted on the ground, I know I will go places. My God, Your will be done. #myjourney

My friend Clark asked about my thoughts on life with cancer. Here are my answers.

Hi Clark,

First of all, I'm a "generally happy" and optimistic person. My sister calls it indifference (manhid). Like when I shaved off my hair, she said she would've cried if it were her. But I was all amazement. She says she hates me sometimes for it. It's really hard to put me down. So I'm not so sure I'm the perfect person to answer your survey. But here goes.

>> How did you see life before you had cancer?

Great! I've always seen life as a blessing from God and it is my utmost responsibility to take care and make the most of it. I believe each of us has a purpose in life and it's our responsibility to the Creator to pursue it and make it happen.

God has been very generous to me. He has especially blessed me with a wonderful family and friends. Don't get me wrong. I do have my share of misfortunes and difficulties but I see these as lessons. We need the bad to see the good. It's been a wonderful life.