WHAT IT MEANS TO BE 31?

me and my nephew on my birthday dinner

I am no longer getting any younger, and that's for sure. Being in early 30's means a lot. In this age, gone are the days when you lament and burst out in tears in wounded knees. Gone are the days when you fight with your siblings over TV Channel to watch or clothes bought by your parents. Gone are the days when you just think about the present, your inner drive and ego, but rather you now think of your future. A realistic future that needs to be set with realistic goals. And i thanked GOD with the maturity i have as my age gets one notch higher each year.

And so to celebrate the special day, me and my mom cooked Filipino food to serve to small group of friends and relatives. WE have sotanghon guisado, fried chicken, pork humba, macaroni and cassava cake. Though, i do not have the abundance to host a lavish party, but celebrating the day with close friends and relatives over a simple dinner is already a celebration thanking the people around me and of course GOD for blessing my 31 years in this earth with laughter, care, love and support.

I know that the reason why i still wake up everyday because i still need to define and do my purpose in this world. God gives me another day with another opportunity to enjoy life, live life and share life. Maturity is an innate abilities that simply cannot be acquired. I am so glad that as i mature i come to realize to be responsible in my words and actions. I may not be a perfect and profound person full of knowledge and skills but i can say that my values are still intact and so as my family. 

Being in this globally competitive world with high-tech technologies and gadgets, i still keep in tune with my values and morals in life. I use internet responsibly. I talk to parents on my cellular phone with tact and care. I watch inspiring movies instead of violent ones. I communicate with people to their level and do not regard myself as superior over inferior people.

That's it. Being 31 means more defined maturity couple with essential responsibility. Being 31, i should not forget the good things that define me as a person because WHAT I AM NOW IS GOD'S GIFT TO ME, WHAT I WILL BECOME IS MY GIFT TO GOD. 

What I've Learned

WHAT I'VE LEARNED

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. The same goes for true love.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.
I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many years you have lived.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.
I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many years you have lived.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

 I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.