Day 4: Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea

 

Day 4: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

   Allow me the title because I am doing this at mid- sea; to be more specific, mid-Tayabas Bay.  Two reasons for going home to the island.  One is for touch base with self and nature; the other is be priveleged to speak before educators of the province.   Safe to say, the devil is far.  But the deep blue sea is not calm today.
   
      Such is our life when faced with things that veer from our plans or go south.  We face a catch 22 situation.  What to do?  Which to choose?  Have you encountered such predicament?  I think it is safe to assume 100% of normal people have been caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, so to speak. I remember in one of my most trying times when  I DID have to choose betwen the devil and the deep blue sea.  Of course I chose the latter.  A lifeguard a la Baywatch may save me.  With the devil, there is no turning back from Hades!
 
       Looking across the rippled deep blue colors of the sea makes one gaze in awe at the wonders of nature.  How amazing is this gift from God!  Just awhile ago the rain and wind blew the ripples to form white foams on top of angry waves.   Now as we slowly turn to navigate the entrance to the island,  one can see the white cotton clouds at the seeming end of the horizon. How often do we feel the same in our life?    When we think all will fall apart, we pause.  After whispering a prayer or two, the darkness is pushed away by rays of sunny hope.  In the same breadth we are awed by God's amazing love.  These times and these small things recharge our spirits.  We are enlightened.   With this luminance, it is but right to be a light for others too.
        When someone comes across the devil and the deep blue sea, be a bright horizon for them.  How about being the devil?   I advise not; but your choice.  You choose the quality of your eternal life, anyway!
   

Day 3: Word For The Day: Vanitas

    I was invited to a first solo exhibit of a young artist.  I often attend these things as I enjoy art as they are.  Don't ask me what a piece signifies cause what the heck do I know!   I just appreciate art works as they appeal to me.  Yeah, I am shallow!
     So I was excited going to LRI Design Bldg as there are so many things to see in terms of furniture pieces, etc.   Rico Renzo Gallery was also where my daughter's "PROJECT BATA, MAGARAL KA"  had their exhibit of street children's art works.
    Before my thoughts travel to another topic, let me get back to VANITAS.  So I reached the exhibit place.  Thank you, uber, no need for parking.
      Honestly,  I wondered how VANITAS can be expressed.  The huge paintings that welcomed guests were colorful.  They stimulated something in the realm of the mind.  What is it about these works?   The longer I look at the ones that caught my fancy, the more the paintings seemed to call out to my mind and senses.   There was so much life breathed into the bright hues and strokes.
    I am not a promoter of the artist!  This is one of those rare times that paintings evoked so much emotion and thought in me.    That was me;  just go and check out for yourself.  Nevertheless, I promise you will be moved too.   Like some things, this exhibit is not for the light of heart and mind.   Just go and open your heart and soul.   VANITAS  can make you sit in front of one work and get mesmerized.   I wondered too how the artist, ALEXANDER CASTRO II,  put together such deep thoughts and emotions  mixed in colors and hues into the canvas.   Well, perhaps that is why there are artists and I am not.
        For me, as in literature, art reflects life.   The stimulating colors of the works in VANITAS show the intricate flow and  vibrance of life.   We can live a dull life or a colorful one.  Fact is, after all that is said and done, we are here today and will be gone tomorrow.   You may want to ask yourself , "Did I paint the canvas of my  life with all the  colors of the rainbow or just kept it white?".

For those curious:  VANITAS  will run till March 28 at Rico Renzo Gallery (LRI DESIGN BLDG)  along
N. Garcia (aka Reposo St).
Viewing is from 10am till 7pm.  Check it out!

Day 2: Life Begins at 50

    I cannot believe I am over 50!  But when the joints have tingling pains, I put afar what I have to read or reach for my bifocals...reality sets in.  I have lived half a century!
But then numbers cannot define our capabilities or limitations.  The Golden years are supposed to enlighten us w the experiences we have had. There is so much of life ahead simply because we have gone through hell and high water and back; yet we are still alive & kicking- or dancing!  There were so many trials we thought we won't survive but amuse us now.  Or even amaze us because of the inner strength we never thought we had.
     All the things we went through allowed us to find, in the deep labyrinths of our being, strengths or weaknesses which made us who we have become. How fantastic is it that just as we think of getting to the half century mark, we realize the excitement in living!  Upon reminiscing, you say, " Been there; done that!",   only to fathom there is more!  It's like watching Indiana Jones over and over & everytime you decipher new things.   Or like reading a novel again and again, making us understand it deeper.
     Some are cool grandmamas and mothers-in-law by now.  C'est moi!!   We realize motherhood never stops when the kids get married!  Our family grows; family gatherings become more boisterous and festive!  We add names to the birthday calendar, the Christmas list and so on.
   I think it is safe to say we are all into the roller coaster of hormonal changes - even men!   Lucky are those who go through the phase with a breeze!   What could be the reason?    For me, I can surmise that it is because I had hysterectomy due to ovarian cyst.   The painful facts of genes.   That is another day in allaboutmidlife.blogger.com.
    Before I lose my thoughts,  going back to menopause- my cardio said menopause increases women's risks of acquiring illnesses like hypertension, etc. (I forgot the others...golden moment there!).   Do you agree?
      Why does life begin at 50 and not 40?  Simply because I passed 40 and I want to affirm that after a decade, life begins again!  Between 40 and 50 some of us go through major medical, emotional
and psychological challenges. I had hysterectomy at 45.   After six months, my hubby had aneurysm. God is great because He, somehow, gave us a very good neuro & cardio.   After one & a half months of his expertise, my hubby was homeward bound.
After a year and a half, hubby jogs daily.  Now he is more fit than I.
         Maybe you had your own chrysalis.  How did you manage it?   At midlife, we are lucky to have some sense of retrospect & appreciation for the good and the bad we faced.  We are deeper in faith, wiser, humbler, benevolent pragmatists- supposedly.
             For the many past things that have enriched our hearts and minds yet to many more ahead, at 50, one is lucky to realize the golden opportunties that can renew one's life.  We've only just begun!
   

     
   
     

Day 1: First Step is Courage

After many years of prodding, I have finally faced the cyber challenge of blogging!  I know this is piece of cake for you guys; but I had to muster up enough courage to fight my insecurities & lack of confidence.  Thank God for grown up children who guided me (well I strategized & creeped into their schedules) in this exciting  world!   You will get to know them as we build this blogging (not blaughing) relationship.   I reached midlife with many life stories which gave me morsels of lessons worth sharing.   I'd love to know your stories too.  After all, everyone goes through midlife.

 What is midlife anyway?  For a housewife like me, it meant another  crossroad in life.  I remember the first time my son and daughter left for college. My hubby was also in Manila.  My 2 other children and I stayed in the island but they were in school everyday.   I vividly remember the loneliness and feeling lost.  What next?  My life evolved in nurturing this family and one day I find myself alone.  They all have grown up, have their schedules and I had nothing else to do! Crossroad!  What to do?
    Since I am a person of prayer and reflection, I gathered my wits & did a personal inventory of what I can and cannot do.  It brought me back to my other passion: teaching.   As I went back to my private tutoring,  I felt so blessed because I had more children under my wing.
    Life is really what we make it!  You gotta find yourself.   When I thought I have, I keep coming to crossroads!  Ah, what is this midlife?  Finding oneself is harder than I thought!