March 23, 2010!!!

Happy 30th birthday to me! :)

One's birthday does not come everyday and, so, before this beautiful day ends, I'd like to write about how I spent it and maybe share some realizations and thoughts along the way. The day was a beautiful and well-balanced one. Good weather, good times, good memories, good food, good friends! I truly hope and pray that this year will be a good one, in every aspect, for me and my loved ones.

As soon as the clock struck 12 midnight and the 23rd of March 2010 officially started, I received birthday greeting text messages from very special people. I couldn't stop smiling as the text messages and the FB messages came pouring. Birthdays are supposed to make us feel special, even just for the day, and special I did feel. And, more than anything, I am thankful to every single person who made me feel that way.

I slept very late (early morning), but woke up quite early because I had some things I needed to finish and submit at the department. I woke up with my mom by my side and hugged her. After that, I whispered a little prayer for my dad. I believe that was the perfect way to "start" my day. I hadn't even eaten anything when I proceeded to the department. As soon as I got there, I had to get down to business. I realized how difficult it is to revise and/or design a curriculum for a degree program. I was getting dizzy and having headaches as we checked and re-checked, counted and re-counted, read and re-read everything. It's really stressful, but I'd say it's still fun. It was fun for me because talking about all the subjects and offerings brought me back to my college days.

A realization: We may think that, as we grow older, things get easier because we become more experienced and wiser as the years pass. That could be true. Partly. But, in reality, things that we have to do become harder and harder and more impossible as we grow older. The same applies to decision-making. But, the good thing? Our years and experiences teach us how and what to prioritize.

I had to leave the department at exactly 1:00 in the afternoon as I actually had to attend my last Finals Activity for the semester-- Toastmasters' Meeting for my Public Speaking class. The program was not as good as I expected it to be, but I asked my students to promise they'd do better in future speaking events they might be in. I knew that they could have done really well, but they didn't. And, that was what was most disappointing about the event.

A realization: Should we set high expectations on things and people? Sometimes, when we expect so much about something, we tend to get disappointed because our expectations are almost never met. But, I guess it's alright to set expectations. We just have to be sure that our expectations are sound and fair.

After two activities that were both rather stressful, my friend and I went to the Commercial Center to unwind and wait for our other friends to come and meet us. They all came and we enjoyed good times and good food! Early in the evening, we found out that the Annual Seniors' Torch Parade was abut to start. So, we decided to watch the program. It was fun, really. We ended up dancing to the band. We enjoyed the fireworks, we were shouting, together with everyone else, at the top of our lungs. My friends and I were joking about how the whole event was actually my birthday celebration and the fireworks, their gift for me.

I love how my birthday was capped by the Torch Parade because The Torch Parade has always been my favorite activity in the Seniors' week. I remember that back in 2000, the year I graduated from college (Wow! I can't believe that was ten years ago already!), our batch's torch parade was also during my birthday. It really made my birthday much more special 10 years ago and today.

A realization: It's the "small things" that truly count. Happiness and contentment are very well within our reach.

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Being 30 comes only once in one's life. I am excited and, at the same time, scared about turning 30. I waited for this for so long. Being 30, for me, means being in control of your life. Reaching this age gives one person more freedom to choose what s/he wants to do. The thing is that no one is to be blamed about your mistakes except yourself. When one is 30, s/he is neither too old nor too young, right? Being 30, as with any kind of freedom, comes with a huge responsibility. I don't exactly know what's in store for me in the future, what I know, though, is whatever happens to me in the future is now solely in my hand and no one else's.

I am not a kid anymore. I am 30. I am officially an adult. :)