This picture was taken a day after I turned 46 years old.

There must be a reason why I did not write a birthday (it was in October) post until today, the first day of November and All Saints' Day for Catholics. 

I think the reason was that on Sunday (or this weekend), we, Catholics, remember the dead. Along with that, we also remember the life that those who have passed on led while they were still alive. 

Today, I learned that an aunt, sister of my mother, passed on. She was 75 years old. You could say, Iya Rosing lived a full life. Still, we would definitely miss her. Early this year, I lost another aunt, a cousin of my father. AuntiLen as I fondly call her, acted as my mother here in Manila. the same way that Iya Rosing was my second mother when I was growing up. 

I'm blessed that way. All my aunts (and uncles, too) have taken care of me and loved me  at one point in my life. I have been surrounded by love of family all these years!

Life is precious. Life is short. Time is fleeting. 

But, for me, we cannot think of life as going to end anytime soon every single day. If we do, we will tend to be cautious. Some of us may even live in fear of leaving this earth too soon. 

Instead, we should just live. Do the best we can, and do all the good that we can every single day. If life responds to you positively, then good. If not, then learn from your mistakes and move on. 

I know for a fact, that bad things happen even to good people. Do good, anyway. 

If loving too much means to be hurt deeply in the end, love anyway.

When you have to make a decision, don't do it at a time when you are vulnerable, or when you are emotionally and mentally unstable. The consequence can be devastating. Turning around can be a long climb.

At forty-six, I realize that not everybody will understand you totally, trust you completely, respect you fully. Some people can just be ungrateful son-of-bitches! The earlier you realize that the better for you. Sadly, I realized this four decades later. 

At this age, when most people are probably thinking of slowing down and retiring, I changed careers. I found myself in a spot where I had to untangle myself from the reality that I have been used to for eight years. It's not easy. 

As I find myself reeling from the changes, life goes on and I have to move along with it. 

I am grateful that life gives you second chances. I am beginning to like second chances, because that means I can start over and be more in control of things, and do it better.. especially now that I am older.

Meanwhile, I hold on to my favorite verse in the Bible, Eclesiastes 3:1-8:

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.