Monday, March 17, 2008

TIRED OF IT ALL?

A friend asked if I had read my mom's column last week.She said she could relate to the sentiments of the people who wrote my mom, basically expressing their exhaustion over the Philippine situation.Pagod na silang lahat.I used to be like that though, thankfully, I don't think I ever reached the point of being apathetic.But I was definitely cynical and tired, too.Then I reached a point in my life, especially after I became a mother, where I made a decision to stop complaining and start becoming an instrument for change, transformation and healing.The journey began during the ERAP drama. I was heavy with my second child and was naturally in an inward mood about my pregnancy, my life, my very being and I realized I was really part of the problem.How could I not be? By not doing anything and letting things be, considering myself separate from government, therefore not responsible,I had become part of the silent problem. I also had the attitude of "eh ganoon talaga", which was fast congealing within me.Well, each child brings with it a gift to travel towards our highest potential and I went for it.That spark was the beginning.Years later, when Nicanor Perlas called on me to join him in PAGASA, I decided the time had come -- thanks to his encouragement.It was then I realized you can either do something about the mess, or forever be tired and hopeless.If you are consciously engaged in the process of change towards something larger than yourself, it is impossible to feel tired because you are in the midst of constant and directed movement.But if you are stuck in thought patterns from the past and are not part of a conscious process for change, naturally your feeling would be one of total exhaustion because the problems are over-over-overwhelming.Be the change and have that impulse radiate out into your community!It starts with the realization that we are always part of the whole and so we CAN move the whole. You can choose to stay tired or choose to start moving. I chose the latter and have never looked back.

2 comments:

matanglawin said...

Hi Panj!

It's really wonderful how our kids enable us to have the courage to change ourselves from within so we can, in return, change the world. I know how Happy was able to help me and Arns improve ourselves and our community.

Happy says Belated Happy Birthday to Andres! She said his birthday is March 1?

Happy will also be turning 6 this March and it looks like she'll move on to grade 1:)

Regards,
Noemi

Panjee said...

Hi Noemi,

Yes, it's wonderful and difficult at the same time! But it is a true grace. Without them we would be so lower self! Happy Birthday to Happy, too. Thanks for stopping by.

Panj