Why I'm Not Staying

It's hard to look back on my recent "holiday" and say that I didn't go through permanent life defects. It's hard to look back on the last two or three years of my life and say that I haven't gone beyond my limit--I've changed drastically and it's the kind of change that's impossible to reverse and take back. Sometimes, I pray really hard that I haven't gone too far, that it isn't too late to live the life I've lived before.

It has been a slow, painful decay and I wish that some masks can be worn stronger so that all the pruning and breaking and sharpening become a little bit more tolerable. Everyday since December, my threshold for people and scrutiny has shrunk smaller and smaller. I'm afraid that now, that threshold no longer exists. I am meticulous in more ways than one but if there's anything the last few months have taught me, a little bit of leniency, intentional relationships, a strong grasp of purpose and the gift of grace go beyond what the mind can fathom. Not that I received all of those--I didn't, that's why I know. That's why in my head, I can logically and easily pinpoint where the blame should go (and I don't exclude myself when I do).

I'm tired of feeling lonely, of being publicly humiliated, of being laughed at, of being belittled--implicitly or directly. I am tired, so tired, of giving unnecessary sacrifices when there could have always been a simple solution to keep things light, fast and emotionally healthy. I may never be the same again but the promise I made to myself when the New Year kicked in rings so loud and so true: I am off to discover greater things than this.

A Couple of New Year's Resolutions

I normally don't do this, but I think today has proved very timely for it:

1) Get a job that doesn't kill my social life.
2) Get a job that will allow me to celebrate holidays.
3) Get a job that will not ruin my personal relationships with people, as well as my perceptions of them.
4) Rest.
5) Watch lots of wonderful movies and read so many good books.
6) Be gorgeous--no matter what.

Groceries

I've been walking around groceries for the last two days, well... walking and shopping. It seems like grocery-buying is my new therapeutic habit during these times.

I'm enjoying teaching myself how the aisles are organized, and I learned that the number one thing I love about groceries is the organization that just envelopes the entire place. I am a fan of organization, and I would happily sacrifice my life for organization to conquer the human race.

I started visiting groceries when I had to buy materials for my class. Lately, I've been visiting because I keep wanting to refill my goodies and comfort food and drinks at work, re-supplying myself with a box of Swiss Miss Chocolate Truffle, Milo, Lipton Milk Tea, powdered milk tea from a Malaysian brand, Nestea Red Tea Raspberry Iced Tea, Meiji chocolates, pancit canton, cup noodles, Butterfinger, and the like, which you, by now, most probably have a good idea of.

Because I had to buy a number of things and I got exhausted from lugging my handbag around, I taught myself to use a cart. And when I rolled that grocery cart along the aisles, it was magic. I started thinking of how it would be like if I had a family, and a baby, and I could easily choose which baby stuff to buy because I'm becoming a pro at baby brands and what to choose for a baby. I started thinking of how I could do this everyday and buy only the good stuff for my family. The best comfort food. And I imagined my kids so happy because I didn't deprive them of junk food or A&W cream sodas every now and then. And I would eat with them because life is too short to stay healthy. We'd drink the salted-caramel-flavored-hot-chocolate from Starbucks on rainy days, using our colorful and awesome mugs and tumblers and we'd cuddle on mats and pillows while watching Disney movies. Or do art together, like go painting and stuff.

I didn't want to admit this, but going to groceries pushed me to want to be a mom soon. But I still have years to go, because if I'm going to need funds for my groceries and the house I'm going to put my groceries in, I have to survive at this job which I also love.

I Never Thanked the Committee

For selecting, intentionally or unintentionally, the right mix of people who would work well together, inside our outside the workplace.

For selecting, intentionally or unintentionally, the right mix of people who would have beautiful dynamics, worthy enough to make every day resemble a hit drama or comedy show--even better than Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, or The Big Bang Theory.

For including me in that selection, for giving me a job that, albeit difficult, was a privilege as much as a stress-reliever because of the people I worked with and the children I was surrounded with every day.

For giving me another chance to be part of something, after I have wasted years trying, and waiting, to be accepted and remembered by the people I grew up with and the people who raised me.

I will never, ever regret being here. I know this will not last, as all seasons in life may not, but even then, I will always have something to look back on even when I have to get moving forward. Thank you for giving me a circle of friends I can cherish and treasure--completely, purely and adequately. It will be impossible to forget this chapter of my life--it has been one the happiest.

Please Take My Time Seriously

I am annoyed. I am annoyed at people who belittle the work we do as preschool teachers and college professors in the university. "Madaming ginagawa? Preschool teacher ka lang naman ah." I teach preschool and college students. With preschoolers, my materials, weekly plan and activities are not the only things that matter. I have to make sure that every day, they are SAFE. And with that, I cannot compromise. I cannot be stressed because I have to be patient. I cannot be sleepy because I have to be alert. With college students, I have to know enough to answer their questions. I have to know enough to stimulate critical thinking in my students. I have to diligently read; and it does NOT stop there. I have to plan my lessons so it fits 90 minutes and that I don't delay or ruin the syllabus I had prepared. Any deviation on that and I ruin the better chances they have of maximizing their opportunities to learn.

I am annoyed at people who do not consider how precious my time is. I am annoyed at people who do not see how many things I have sacrificed because I chose to commit in educating the minds (and hearts) of the next generation. I knew, the moment this job was offered to me, that my social life would deterioriate if I chose this line of work. But I said yes, because I could not say no to the offer of investing my time (and life) in the next generation. The weekends I have spent working, the movies I could not watch because I had to read academic texts, the extra minutes of sleep I cannot get because I have to get up by 6 am everyday, the heavy bag I bring because I need my laptop to process loads of information, the lesser time I get to spend with my boyfriend, family and friends because I have to finish a series of tasks without compromising excellence. I am annoyed when I am told that I have to be spontaneous and when I give a valid explanation on how serious the job I chose to pursue is, I am given responses that are sarcastic.

It's not funny that I have scheduled hours for "spontaneity," but it's the MOST I can afford, the MOST I can do and the BEST I can give to people who matter. So at least that, I hoped, should have been appreciated.

Busy Season

It's another busy season. I have lots to tell; lots of things going inside my mind. But time is, once again, of the essence. And I just have to breathe and breathe until I get through everything that's needed to be done. One task at a time, one emotion at a time.

Family

I miss, I miss.