By Manny Piñol
There are moments when in our loneliness and desperation, we ask ourselves what the true meaning of life is.
At 62, I have been through those moments countless times.
Those were the low points of life when I discovered that people who I thought were my friends turned out to be just opportunists who benefitted from the political power that I had. Those were the times when loved ones found a reason to go their own way and travel their own path in life.
The thought of giving up everything and quitting entered my mind during those moments of desperation. But each time, I was able to convince myself that the life I was living had more meaning than just losing an election or losing a friend and a loved one.
There is more to life than just the moments of desperation and setbacks.
Come to think of it: Why do we remember the failures more than our successes? Or why do we count the losses rather than the blessings?
It is simply because the failures and losses are so few that we could count them with the fingers in our hands and our successes and blessings so plentiful we could not even remember all of them.
Even at my age and after I have retired from politics, I still find a reason to wake up every morning all excited to discover what the new day offers.
When the plants flower, when the hens lay eggs, and when my grandson takes his first walk, I find meaning in going on with my life.
In my mind, I think of the day when the flowers turn into fruits, when the eggs become chicks, and when my grandson learns how to jump.
Today, my early morning hours are spent writing about a man who I would like to see become President of this country, Rody Duterte.
The thought of change coming to this country through his leadership keeps me going every day.
I had the good fortune of befriending an old man who lived his life planting trees, Honesto Cabacungan Sr.
Until the day he passed away two years ago at almost 100 years old, he kept on planting trees. He said seeing the trees he planted grow made him feel young.
He said his trees were his contributions to the endless cycle of life where one living creature gives birth to another, on and on until eternity.
Old man Honesto never believed in retirement while he was still breathing. He wanted to be remembered as the tree planter and that was how he defined his life.
Indeed, he was right. The meaning of our life is not defined by others. It is how we live and what we decide to do that define our lives.
As we celebrate another Christmas and New Year, I urge everyone who follows this page – Let us live life to the fullest.
Forget the sadness, the failures and disappointments.
Think of the blessings, the successes and the gifts that we receive each day from God.
Let us continue crossing the rivers and climbing the mountains of life. There is always something exciting that awaits at the other bank of the river and the view from atop is always unbelievably beautiful.
I am sure there is always a reason for us to keep looking towards the dawning of a new day in our lives.
Weave one dream, find a reason and live life chasing it.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
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