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| (Image courtesy of mama Benilda Magante, taken at The Garden, Ciudad De Victoria, Bulacan Philippines) |
And so, I am back. I could not stop my self from smiling right now. Maybe the Community Quarantine, whether “enhanced”, “general” or “modified”, has made me realize that I have been giving all my time blogging for other sites, yet The Ripples of Koi has been on “super” enhanced community quarantine since I do not even know when. Thanks to those who missed me… and thanks to those who will start reading again.
The Covid19 has truly taken its toll on all of us, from our home to the world. We could feel its ill effects, not to mention, the anxiety and grief it has given us. It's been months since we lived like hermits and feeling the threat each time we go out of our homes. Yet we are here today, still living life, staying courageous despite the chaos.
At this time of our life, somehow we may have come to realize so many things that are so vital yet we failed to appreciate before the saga of Covid19.
Since the quarantine has led me to think of and miss my own blogging site, let me share with you this enlightenment that somehow kept us going and the things that we learn from life at this point in time, and the blessings that these trying times have brought upon us.
- We are once again reminded that we do not own our life. In a blink of an eye, it could be altered or be taken from us. Yet we are all blessed with the understanding of living each day like there is no tomorrow. We remembered the value of spending quality time with our loved ones, we are reminded of the significance of seizing the day to make our loved ones feel important and needed. We are more aware of the importance of taking care of ourselves and one another.
- That we can choose to rise or fall to any occasion. There are people who relentlessly complained out of anxiety and discomfort, yet there were people who have chosen to create opportunities for themselves and their loved ones at this time of crisis. We can see people who lost their jobs or people who did not have enough income or no income at all, because they were on a no work no pay rule. This was the time when we started seeing the complainers and the doers. The doers definitely had the attitude of real winners. We see them creating jobs for themselves. And honestly, I enjoyed ordering homemade delicacies and other stuff from my friends who acted like winners even at the worst of times.
- That there are unknown heroes among us. We see them every day, talk about the doctors, the nurses, and other members of the medical team. Talk about the policemen, our national and local government officials, the garbage collectors, the mall employees, and the unknown people who were there to help in every way they can. Think about our imperfect government, that no matter inadequate they may seem for some, they are still doing what they can to keep us safe and somehow overcome the grim that is upon us.
- That even in the darkest times, no matter how much some people give their best, there will always be imperfections. And at the midst of an almost perfect or simply imperfect help that they share, there will be people who will NEVER LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE GOOD. There will always be killers of goodness and emphasizers of the bad. There will always be complainers who unknowingly torture their own soul because of focusing on what is ugly. And there will be the thankful ones, who know how to appreciate even the smallest drop of grace and hope in times of darkness, they are the ones who harbor the smallest light that could brighten the world up, if only there were no obstacles called “the killers of goodness”. At this time, we learn that we could choose to appreciate and invigorate our own life or complain and keep our souls in total darkness.
- That no matter how much help we could get, it is our own choices and priorities that will determine our future. It is sad to see people being helped and even being given cashouts, just because they are considered as the less fortunate or even indigents. Yet they make poor choices of gambling or choosing to have a physical aesthetic done using the cash doled out to them. At the brighter side, there are people who started creating a new source of income for them and their loved ones out of the money doled out to them. It is vital to choose to be wise enough to create our own opportunities for better living while there are still people willing to help. It is not the help that makes us who and what we are in the future, it is what we do with it that creates our substance as a person and decide our tomorrows.
- That gratefulness helps us to overcome obstacles because it kindles our hope and happiness. This is the time when we see people who know how to be thankful for the little blessings. It gives them a positive mind to think clearly and do what is right even in times when they have to grope in the dark.
- That we are no supermen nor wonder women, no matter how powerful we are, no matter how much we own or even if we feel like we own the world, we can NEVER control everything. Yet we learned the value of entrusting our future to the One who has given us all. We realized that at the time of crisis such as Covid19, when we are at war to something we are not familiar of, to something we could not see… we learn the value of kneeling in prayers. We are reminded of the One who has taken care of us since the time of our conception.
These are just a few of the realizations I have come to appreciate at this difficult time. Let us be reminded once again my co-creators of ripples to behave and be resilient like the koi fish who manage to swim upstream a waterfall, no matter how turbulent it is. At this point in time, we can choose to be like the koi fish. We can choose to swim in this ocean of life no matter what the obstacles are because it is in the darkest times that we can see new opportunities and it is at this time that we can learn how far our own light can go. Let us always keep in our hearts, that if He who created us all, has blessed the koi fish to be so courageous, it is US who are made of His own image that should be more courageous and who are more willing to continue a positive journey in life. Let Him be the sturdy shelter that keeps us going. Believing and really knowing in our hearts that His love and grace will NEVER FAIL to keep us safe and see us through even in our darkest hours, always keeping in mind that we can create our own ripples of hope no matter what lies ahead.
I am still smiling… and now, with a very thankful heart to the HANDS THAT MADE US ALL.
May this song give you joy today! Stay courageous! :)
(Video credit to Maylis Susan on Youtube.com, please watch it on youtube.com)
