Abalayan: A fresh start

Abalayan: A fresh start

STARTING a new year is exciting, right?

But before we even get so hyped up to make our 2022 resolutions or what have you, may we all take the time to reflect on the life lessons we have learned in 2021.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the calamities that struck the country have all taught us so many things, a wealth of realizations that can help us make wiser judgments and better decisions.

As 2021 almost came to a close, our family also faced a challenging storm. Our youngest son was diagnosed with a seizure disorder. It was a shocking revelation. But his neuro Pedia is optimistic that through oral medication, the slight abnormality in his brain waves that caused the seizure attack on November 22 would be completely healed, say in two, three, or five years.

Seeing our son blank staring, not able to talk for three days, and restless for several nights crushed our hearts. My faith was shaken. But crying and praying to God helped a lot, confiding in my family, our best friends at church, our son's godparents, colleagues at work, and our wedding ninongs and ninangs, coupled with prayers, have helped us go through it all.

Life is indeed short. We don't have the luxury of time so we need to realign priorities. No amount of money will ever be a fitting substitute for the quality time spent with our loved ones. For a parent, seeing one's child suffer is feeling the pain that is beyond description.

Thank God that our son, after his two-day hospitalization, has regained his mobility and speech. It will take two, three, or five years of medication for him to completely heal. That's a long shot but as long as there is a glimmer of hope of his complete healing, we shall be content with that.

The year 2021 may have brought so much pain or loss or anxiety or hardship to most of us, but we also have our share of victory and success. The fact that we are still alive is one good reason to celebrate and be thankful. To see our loved ones, whether face-to-face or online, is such a great blessing in itself.

Indeed, there are so many things we can be grateful for. Instead of focusing on what must have been and things that are beyond our control, such as Covid-19 or a disaster, we ought to direct ourselves, minds and hearts, to what we can fully manage -- our priorities, our time, and our faith.

We can also work out our relationships, say with our spouses, siblings, parents, children, friends, or colleagues.

Every day we live is an opportunity to change, to grow, and to make a difference.

May this 2022 be a journey we can all be proud of and make us all better versions of ourselves. May God continue to protect us and bless us all. Happy New Year!

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