Flying Amidst Downfall!

Maayong Adlaw, readers! I will be sharing this speech I first shared at Sias University, China. This revolves on the theme "Life is not just about surviving, but also realizing Self-fulfillment."

We don’t allow ourselves to fly, if we can’t accept ourselves to fall.

Let me begin by sharing to you my downfall. I grew up with my grandparents. I don’t know who my father is and my mother is working at Tacloban, Leyte, Visayas while I am here in Mindanao. Islands away, that’s how far we are from each other. I lost my grandfather when I was at grade 5 because of Asthma. And even up to now, I can still vividly see how he gasped for an air and how he pleaded us not to bring him to the hospital because he’s worried about our financial status. Selfless, isn’t he? And the next thing I knew, HE’S GONE. 2 Years after, we moved in Tacloban City, Leyte and November of 2013, super typhoon Yolanda struck Philippines. In Tacloban City, Leyte to be exact. Yes! I am a survivor of the typhoon who killed hundreds of lives and destroyed thousand houses.

"Devastating." - That’s how I described it.

I heard a child hopelessly crying that as much as I wanted to give him comfort, I, too needed the same. Just weeks after Yolanda, my mother was diagnosed with Leukemia: a blood cancer. 6 months of going in and out of the hospital, I lost her. 3 years after losing my mother, my grandmother had a stroke, in a coma and in less than 24 hours, she left me too. I’ve lost 3 people whom I considered my treasures in life. The people who were supposed to be with me in order to survive whatever life will bring. You know what their deaths gave me? Questions. Questions like how will I survive?

Fall after every fall. It’s like a kite trying to fly in a windless place. I’m a bird in pain not being able to fly. I cannot open my wings because it is wounded. Wounded by sadness, and fear! With everything that happened to me, I thought I can no longer fly again. But with those stones life threw at me, God helped me appreciate 3 things: Time, Talent, Treasure. 3 things that made me regain my wings and be able to fly again.

How?

Let’s begin with time. With everything that happened to me all through the years, it helped me shape on who I am today. It healed me. It healed the pains and wounds life gave. And because of that, I was able to prepare my wings.

Talent. It helped me survive all of those trials. It helped me find way in how to handle every situation with positivity. And through that, it sharpened my wings for it to be sturdy and ready whatever circumstances.

Treasure. The lessons that I have learned, the instruments that God gave, my family and friends are the real treasures of my life. They are the most important every time I open my wings and fly, because they always remind me that we all need to be grounded even if we are on top.

With the 3 things that God made me appreciate, I was able to survive. But more than the story of survival, what I’m proud most is that I gained Self-fulfillment. I was pushed down by life a thousand times but I accepted it.

I accepted every downfall that I have experienced and it made me discover who I really am.

It made me realize what are the things that I can and cannot do. It helped me know what are the things that I am able to risk. And lastly, it gave me self-fulfillment because I know that despite everything, I was able to fly again with stronger wings. Time shaped me in realizing self-fulfillment. It took me a lot of time to realize it, but I did. With the talents that God has given me, I have Identified the things that will help me survive my life changing experiences. Moreover, the treasure that I have, my family, friends and the people around me will always be the ones making me inspired and motivated to continue living my life with a purpose. And that purpose is to embrace every fall. Because I know I wouldn’t allow myself not to fly again. How about you? Are you ready to embrace every fall you will have in life?