Rain-soaked Hand

NDRRMC(5:25AM, 11Jan23)Orange Rainfall Warning sa Leyte at Cebu (Camotes Island). Nagbabanta ang matinding pag-ulan, pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa. 

A single, loud and clear ringing brought me out from my deep slumber where I dreamt  of horses galloping on the overhead roof. 

It's the 11th of January, ohh how time flies just so swiftly! There's always been a constant downpour, since when...I can't precisely recall. Last days of last year's holidays were greatly enjoyed indoors, in front of a television monitor where Netflix is the source of joy for everyone. A hobby that me, the kids and my hub came to master due to the incessant cold, and rainy weather, we just cuddled there in our living room all day long, taking the liberty to stand only when taking trips to the comfort room.                                                          

This was an unfinished story that is just one among a hundred of titles and introduction that I am planning to share here in the World Pulse platform. To my dismay, oftentimes, I just feel so lazy enough to finish even just a coherent sentence or two. 

Where are we now, yes, it's already the 17th of January. Time is indeed fleeting! Soon it's going to be February, March, April and so on.. As to where I am now, and what I am up to, it's a mystery that even myself can't fathom. 

Here I am, with the intent of finishing up another 340 plus days in this 365 days of 2023, all with flying colors to match. This year's even brought me a more glimmer of hope, (with the zodiac predictions) this year's going to be good for us Dragons, more luck in wealth, work, love yet a bit down in health. Yes, I've been feeling the strain too frequent lately. Is it pure signs of aging? Well, for the first time, I've been musing in solitude, will I still have the same energy as a decade ago? Would I still have that kind of briskness where I used to be up as early as four in the morning and retiring as late as twelve at night?You see, as we get older, kids likewise get to be a bigger responsibility. 

Here's the mystery, I work 8 hours in a row of five days, doing these and that in between, before and after work, got three kids of 11, 8 and 7 to attend to, doing assignments, cooking, doing laundry, cleaning, all at the same time. On late evenings, I got myself some law classes to attend to up to weekends where I do commissioned paintings to further sustain my studies and other necessities. It's a mystery until now why I'm still up and going, despite the many hindrances that should have been stopping me from doing something fruitful any further.  

No, I just simply refuse to do so. Despite being too weary, and brain-tired oftentimes, I choses to see beyond the gray lining and just focus instead on positivity. I am born for this. To be a multi-tasker. Someday, all of the days' hard work will pays off too. This might not be at this moment, but yes, it will be, in the next days to come. In God's perfect time. 

See the gnarled, rain-soaked hand? It is the hand of a seventy-two year old Lolo (grandpa) who's pedicab I used to ride on commuting to my workplace. When asked by me why is he out pedalling despite the heavy rains, he answered curtly, "this is my child, the price for not making a difference when I was still able and younger,".  

Those words did strike a cord. As the old adage says, strike while the iron is hot. Now then is the time, the time to give it all a shot. I'm not in the position to judge Lolo though if what he might have been while he was younger, I felt a deep pity for him. Pity from the thought that life would have been different if he should have just made a realization earlier. Well, there's no ending to  life, so long that there's breathe in us. It's never too late. 

"  Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy ."

--- Desiderata by Max Ehrmann