snippets

Today, I spent some time chatting it up with a friend of mine. If you looked at us, you'd probably think that there isn't much we would have in common...different backgrounds, different cultures, different majors, different dispositions....night and day. But then we get to talking and I learn a lot...or at least things that were in the back of my mind were reinforced...

Some factoids that I stumbled upon today:

1. No matter how corny or cliche-ish it sounds, I believe that we can learn at least 1 thing from every person that we meet and interact with. There are things in my past that I never truly understood. Like why certain people did what they did. And then this friend of mine, while we were talking about his life, gives me the answer, plain as day. And I think, "Dengit, ganun lang pala yun. So it really was JUST that. " I could've saved myself a lot of sleepless nights and tears. But then, finally, I can write another one of those issues off: case closed.

2. I've gone through a lot of things to get to where I am. But no matter how we feel we've sacrificed, suffered, endured...there's at least one other person who has sacrificed, suffered, and endured more than we have. I told him that we go through all these trials and come out stronger than people who have every single thing handed to them on a silver platter. And he said, "If you gave me a choice between being happy but weak, and being strong but sad and alone...I'd go for happy and weak in a heartbeat." That stumped me because I've felt that way before, too. Being strong ALL the damn time can get so tiring. Where does it end, you know? But then, I told him, being strong now makes you want to go on...it's what pushes you so that you'll be ready for the good that follows. And he said, "But see, that's what scares me...that someday, I'll be this strong, unshakeable person...and something comes along but I'll not be able to feel and I won't realize it's even there." That's true too. We get so busy building a wall to protect ourselves and in the process, we shut things out. Life is so complex.

3. Most of all, I am so blessed to be married to the one person who has seen me through it all and still accepts me whole heartedly, unconditionally, without reserve. We've faced some of the biggest challenges that relationships can go through. And yet, here we are, best friends. Husband and wife. Growing stronger in our faith, in each other, and in life. I love you, John!