Lessons from the Road

Share

I was trying to get some sleep but I just couldn’t dodge the thoughts that suddenly bombarded my mind. I got up and turned on the computer and in a few minutes from now, you’ll see this post on my blog.

I’ve been a traveler ever since I was a little boy. My parents used to take me to Luneta Park every Sunday morning. They believed that the sea breeze would cure my asthma (Manila Bay doesn’t stink during that time). And maybe it did.

When I went to high school and college I started traveling outside the city with my friends. Usually to some resorts and I joined a lot of out of town excursions organized by the school. And when I started working, I started traveling farther. I started going to places that I used to see on TV and in some pictures in my books.

Along the way, I picked up some lessons that I would never forget. Lessons I’ve learned from the people I’ve met and from the experiences that they’ve shared with me.

Lesson 1: Time

Time doesn’t care if you’re late or not. It’s inanimate. You can’t turn it back nor wind it forward. You could do it to your watch if you want, but it wouldn’t have any effect on time. The only time is NOW.

The past is just a mere collection of thoughts you chose to hold on to. The future hasn’t happened yet. The best way to predict your future is to be good in whatever you’re presently doing.

Lesson 2: Choice

This is one thing that I used to overlook. I used to think that I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t choose to be born in a poor family, then why do I belong to one. But as I grew up I realize I could change it. I studied hard, work hard and played harder. I’m still not rich but I could say I’m not that poor anymore. Maybe I was able to alleviate myself at least one notch higher.

But what if I would be diagnosed with cancer, would I still have a choice? Yes, you could either deny the fact or accept it. You could either live your remaining days in anguish and despair or live your remaining days happily and cherish it with your love ones.

Lesson 3: Emotion

It’s too overrated and we tend to let it run our lives. We have forgotten that our emotion is just a part of our life. It’s not our entire life. Emotion changes and it gets triggered by thoughts associated with people and situations. Try to think of happy moments and try to think of traumatizing moments, what did you feel?

I’ve learned that I may not be able to control my environment. It often pushes me to my limits a lot. But I could always control my reaction which is related to my emotions. Emotion is also related to how you see yourself.

Lesson 4: Know and Love Thy Self

Knowing yourself is not related to the tags and labels that our society has given us. I’m not talking about your gender, age, profession, societal affiliation, achievements, failures, relationships etc. Do you really believe that words could define your being?

Think about this: If you throw away all your material things, discard all your relationships, forget all your dreams, achievements and failures, who are you?

Knowing and loving yourself is quintessential to forging a meaningful and lasting relationship to people around you. This should be our main priority.

Lesson 5: Life and Death

Life is like the beginning of a sentence and death is the period. Life is the Yin and death is the Yang. Death completes the cycle of life. We all know that everyone dies right? Living and dying is part of our nature and yet we’re so afraid of it that we tend to keep ourselves inside a relatively safe box.

Would you rather live on the edge and enjoy every single millisecond of it? Or would you rather live an agonizing life securely inside a box.

Most of us in the Philippines believe that there’s a second life. But no one is really sure about it. I wouldn’t waste my first, because this maybe my last shot to life.

P.S.

I’m just thinking out loud and decided to share his thoughts. Some of you may have similar or different views about the topics discussed above. Feel free to share it in the comments field below.

Live and enjoy life… regardless.

Share