i am 30 and my name remains to be the best and first gift i have received from my parents. anu nga ba ang kwento sa likod ng aking pangalan? my full name is aristhotel de leon castro...and no, i am not named after the scientist and philosopher aristotle and yes the spelling of my name is rare. my nanay would always tell me and to other acquaintances that she got my name from a magazine that features the life of aristotle socrates onassis, a millionaire at the age of 25 and a shipping magnate of the 20th century, the second husband of jacqueline kennedy and same with me, he was born on the month of january. but until now i do not know why my mother did not copy the same spelling of onassis' first name. nevertheless, i am happy that there is a magnificent and lucrative story behind my name, a name that i try to make my own story and history at this day and age.
i am 30 and my mental health is consistent and progressing. i am living my life to the fullest, flexible to the increasing and everyday challenges i am into, my sense of humor is making others and myself happy too. but i am only human and sometimes there are anxiety, stress and depression all around me, but the good thing is, i know when and how to cope and recuperate.
i am 30 and my emotions are damaged ( of course it is a joke )...i have been through and into a lot of hullabaloos for the past 3 decades and i have managed to survive and it is safe for me to say that my emotions are pretty normal and nothing special. i cry when my heart is heavy, i laugh when a joke is thrown at me and i admire and feel amazed with the beauty of people, places and things around me. i will be successful someday because i am happy today and not the other way around.
i am 30 and my physical health is decaying at a very low speed. do not be alarmed, i just want to make note few of the bodily changes that have occurred and occurring... my hair is thinning and many have outspokenly told it to my face, the reason why i am thinking to allot and spend on some chinese herbal haircare centers, and also.... its in the genes i guess. my tummy is bulky than it was my younger age and i do not know where to attribute its root cause. nanlalabo na ang aking mga mata lalo na pagsapit ng dilim, i can see clearly things that are near me and it troubles me to see at a far specially small letters and words, i am a nearsighted person. maliban sa mga nabanggit ay wala namang "major major" na pagbabago sa aking pisikal na estado. my nails are regenerating fast that i need to cut it thrice a week, i sweat when there is a need to, a regular bowel movement, and even if i made mentioned of my hair dilemmas it still grows in a natural manner.....a slight cut and bruise heals untreated and generally, i am healthy.
i am 30 and single.... and a virgin.....you think so? hahahaha
i am 30 and my god is one and the same today and 30 years ago. i must admit my service to him is not that very evident at this point in my life. i never get to sing on choirs, never get to be an active lector and never get to be the most active practitioner of different church activities. pero ako ay laging nagdarasal hindi lamang sa oras na kailangan kundi sa oras na dapat magpasalamat. magpasalamat sa mga mumunti at malalaking biyaya at hilahil ng buhay, sa masaganang kalusugan, payapang isip at kalooban at sa hiningang ibinibigay sa bawat pag-gising. there were times that my faith was adulterated, tested and polluted... but i am glad that i have won the battle of doubts and in the end i have always turned and went back to him.
i am 30 and i am starting to see what, how, which, who and where will i be 30 years after.tatlumpung taon after this date i am 60...unti-unti nang nawawala ang aking sigla at liksi, kulubot na ang aking balat at marahil marami na ring iniinda sa katawan subalit ipinagdarasal ko na sana sa pagasapit ng aking edad animnapu ay mas malinaw at matalas pa rin ang aking pag-iisip kaysa sigla ng katawan. i want to return to the academe and teach, and in my own capacity integrate in my lessons my personal lessons and experiences in life. kahit na nga mabagal na ang aking lakad at pinag-uukulan na ng upuan, prayoridad at atensyon sa mga pampublikong serbisyo gusto ko pa ring malinaw ang aking mga binibitiwang salita, pinakikinggan at may kaisahan at kabuluhan ang aking mga kaisipan.
i am 30 and these are my guiding beliefs:
pagmamahal sa sarili,
pagtingin sa magulang,
pagtulong sa kapwa
pananalangin sa oras ng kaginhawahan at kakapusan;
at manatiling may kababaang loob....
just two days ago, i have visited the site www.oprah.com and have seen the video wherein oprah is giving her parting message to audiences after a series of oprah shows in australia and somehow it strucked and affected me so much suddenly and i quote, "if you live your life with the intention to do good, good will come to you and good will come to others...." live your life on purpose, its the only one you have".
i am 30 and i am counting not my age but rather i am counting the blessings all around me, i am counting the people and friends whom i have shared my life with and met all along the journey that i can add some more, i am counting the trials and problems i have gone through that made me the strongest, i am counting the pain that i have felt that made me more human and humane, i am counting the days of my life to come that i can make my precious time worthwhile and fruitful, i am counting the people and instances that have hurt me so that i can be reminded of how to forgive, i am counting my answered prayers and all the unanswered prayers that i can pray the hardest all the time.
i am 30 and i am alive.
i am 30 and i am thankful.
