2020 Lessons Not to Lose – Manila Bulletin

Our tradition has always been to write resolutions for the New Year. We keep a wish list of what we intend to do to make our lives more meaningful. Some prefer to make a list of places to see or things to do. But this year is different. As difficult as 2020 was, we pause and reflect on the lessons we have learned and the ones we can preserve.

Now I have learned that, unlike what the poem “Invictus” says, we are not the masters of our destiny or the captains of our soul. Thomas Kempis put it correctly: “Man proposes and God disposes.” There we were with our strategic plans so organized in a Gantt chart and a logical framework. But they weren’t meant to be.

The confinement made me feel imprisoned and totally alone. But, out of nowhere, Governor Migs Domínguez sent me a box of sardines; her sister Cecille sent a box of fruit. Congressman John Rey Tiangco sent a basket full of fish and prawns. Marla, my niece sent a bag full of groceries. And then there were food deliveries from Annie, Chingkel and Minie. Now I can only smile when people express their apprehension about getting old and being alone. We can never really be alone. God send us angels disguised as friends. And the family love never ends.

I have learned that gratitude is the beginning of humility. I start the day with a prayer of thanksgiving. I have been lucky to wake up to a new morning. I have been given a new day to convert. Gratitude ends my day by remembering the blessings each day brings. With joy, I recite the poem that my first grade teacher, Mrs. Correa, taught: “All things bright and beautiful, the Lord God made them all.” I thank God for the Internet, for the text messages from my friends, for the songs of hope that Dr. Torralba sends, for being healthy and getting rid of Covid.

Now I am a big believer in exercise. My bed calls me every morning and invites me to sleep late. But I resist the temptation and prepare for my morning walk. Studies have shown that people who exercise are less prone to depression and anxiety. Exercise keeps us energized throughout the day. Rain or not, morning walks are now part of my daily ritual.

I have come to realize that less is more. For the past few months, I have subsisted on a couple of house clothes. I can’t even remember why I needed so many pairs of shoes, different jackets depending on the weather, and bags to match what I was wearing. I have even forgotten their colors and why I bought them. Even if the malls have opened and the stores have gone on sale, I have not had any strong desire to shop, not even online. I have become a huge advocate of “Simple is beautiful” and that it is not that difficult not to buy anything. I’ve become more generous and I think we have to give until it hurts.

I have learned that more and more people are less fortunate and have greater problems than we are. They have their own stories: the gardener, the delivery man, the security guard, the housekeeper, the teachers, and the parents in our zoom workshops. The greatest gift we can give them is the gift of time to listen, and if we can, to help, since the smallest help is appreciated a hundred times over. Some peso bills bring a sincere smile and a study table is greeted with shouts of joy from a child.

I have experienced what I have always taught in economics: the satiety point. We can only have a limited amount of fast food and online deliveries. One day, I woke up yearning for homemade food. Where before I didn’t enjoy cooking, now I really enjoy whipping spaghetti, preparing “patola en miswa”, “upo” with chicken broth and pork marinade.

I have really been inspired by the victory of President-elect Joseph R. Biden. And if Americans can do it, Filipinos can! We just have to believe that we can choose the leaders we all deserve. As Julia Roberts says, “Eat, pray, love.” And if I may add, we have to work hard as if our lives depended on it.

Here’s a toast to a brighter new year!

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