MANANG NA BA AKO OR AM I AGEING WELL? - INSPIRED BY MAKE TODAY COUNT by JOHN MAXWELL

Disclaimer: No offense to those who are at the prime of their lifecycle...I know you some of you might say, "26 in October?! Hello! Iha, eh ako nga 40 plus plus na..."

In a few weeks, I'll be turning 26 in October 1st (No, this is not my way of announcing ad reminding everyone that i'm about to celebrate my birthday to collect greetings or gifts but for those who are reading this, a simple Happy Birthday will be greatly appreciated! haha!) I remember back in my grade school days, I made a list of goals that I intend to reach before I hit 25, and as I look back, I realize I cannot really remember those goals anymore. Maybe except for the major ones which I can't dare state here because as I said, I haven't reached any of them, and it's a bit too personal.

I realized a certain change in my habits as compared to before. If you knew me way back, I was the tomboy who didn't even get to comb her hair well before going to school. I even wore oversized t-shirts, pants (GOD whoever made those elephant pants a hit, he or she wasted so much cloth!) and my hair had an experimental stage where I cut it really short, then long, then dyed it then curled it and the list goes on and on. I also didn't care about how I walked (But I guess that hasn't changed, I know I walk very brusko-like at times, forgive me I have flat feet), how I sounded (and that too hasn't changed, people still call me sir at the telephone). Heck, even my face creams changed. Before, I used Clean and Clear, then I switched to Ponds because I broke out with Clean and Clear. I switched to Ponds day protect cream I think and now I'm using age defense. I'm also using Garnier undereye cream, the one with the roll-on. So far, that formula works for my face and my pimples have gone.

Even in relationships, my viewpoints have changed. Before it was just about not being alone during dinner parties, enjoying rather than getting serious, being together almost everyday and getting angry when he doesn't answer his phone, etc. etc. Now, I think of having my own family, settling down, having a stable source of income together, having good ties with both our families, dreaming about growing old together and the list of blissful moments just keep going and going and going and going...(fade out) Most importantly, I can now truly say that I am complete and secure with myself enough to let him go if life already calls for it. Now, (sorry for the mush) love is simple but so exciting in many ways I never thought possible. A simple trip to the public market at Balintawak becomes memorable or a simple walk in the rain at the La Mesa Dam becomes a memory that you want to repeat over and over again.

I guess before, I was so into the present so much, I kept on going back to the past and I neglected my future. Now, yes, I'm still into the present, not delving so much into the past but making an effort to make my future bright. I read the newspaper, my favorite section being the front page. I listen to am news, I watch news on TV, when I see kids they call me ate and they're already college students. I now have nieces and nephews. I'm already a ninang to beautiful kids. I have pet fishes and I talk to them like my babies. I wear glasses now because my vision is already blurry. I shop at different stores now, shoes being my favorite thing to buy and before it was all about comfort and now it's all about style and I can now walk in heels, HIGH heels (my highest is at 4.5 inches)!  

I guess the cliche is indeed true, age doesn't matter. It is what you make of everyday that defines you. In John Maxwell's book, Make Today Count, he talks about 12 aspects in life that need emphasis:

1. Attitude
2. Priorities
3. Health
4. Family
5. Thinking
6. Commitment
7. Finances
8. Faith
9. Relationships
10. Generosity
11. Values
12. Growth

In a nutshell, he talks about being responsible for all your actions everyday. Each day, being an opportunity to make the most out of every moment. My favorite section was the last one, growth. He does not talk about physical, mental, spiritual growth individually. He talks about a holistic approach on how all our abilities as a human being should conive to make us better individuals. He even talks about planning for change and being committed to grow. Asking yourself "What is my potential?" during every opportunity for development. 

My favorite part of being 26 this October are the possibilities. This time, I won't set a deadline for myself when I reach 30. Yes, I will still set some goals, but those goals will be about happiness and quality of life. I'm afraid of turning into a MANANG!

MANANG (ma-nang): wrinkled due to frowning; pessimistic ; unhealthy ( I still have to work on this), easily affected by her surroundings ; lacks self-love ; not driven to live to the best of her abilities, etc. etc.

It may be a hard journey ahead, knowing some parts of my future will be challenging and may not go according to plan as I want it to. But, I know deep inside I'll be ok, as long as I keep convincing myself that I'm getting younger but wiser by the day so that when I reach 88, and I know I'm about to pass, the curator of my grave can put these words on my tombstone,

"Her life was good, then it got better, and on (date) it ended GREAT!"