How to stay young

I am already 41 but people have mistaken me at around 30s. Others say late 20s. Of course I am flattered! Being younger looking is a plus especially in a world that has gone vain. Men and women pluck their brows. Men and women put balms, liniments, lotions, whatever on their faces and bodies to retain moisture and to make skin supple and younger looking. Men and women hit the gym. Men and women undergo operations, no matter how painfully expensive, just to look young. The list is long.

But again- No, you don't have to buy those cosmetics or undergo operations that moviestars are fighting about. (If you want to look like Boy Abunda you go to Calayan stuff hahahaha.) It's all about attitude my dear. It's all about enjoying life.

Speaking of which, I received this email a few minutes ago and it's worth a read.

Try everything twice. On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice- loved it both times!

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches.)

Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

Enjoy the simple things.

Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him/her.

The tears happen: Endure, grieve and move on. The only person who is with us in our entire life is ourselves. Live while you are alive.

Surround yourself with what you love- family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

Cherish your health- if it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next town, province, country, to a foreign land, but not to where guilt is.

Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Forgive those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance.

And if you don't believe this will work- who cares? Remember- Lost time can never be found. Be kinder than necessary. for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Left Behind

I was shocked to learn that our younger sis got pregnant!

I was actually looking at her and asked why her tummy was now bigger. She plainly told me she was pregnant as if nobody cared. It never came to my mind that this 32 year-old sister has the guts to do premarital sex. I was dumbfounded for a minute or two. I could not even ask her the details. It was like- hmmmm, Okay.

When my senses finally got back, I asked her what would happen? I was envisioning a sister who would be kicked out from her job because she got pregnant outside of marriage. O my, another mouth to feed. And lots of milk to buy.

What about? she plainly asked and was rather amused.

Your job? Do unmarried girls still permitted to work at your company?

Of course! What century were you born? I never knew you are that conservative.

I fell silent.

Here was our youngest sibling talking like she belonged to another era. Here I was speechless like I was born yesterday. Many, many yesterdays, in fact, yesteryears ago.

Gone were the days when the whole family would cower in shame because an unmarried daughter/sibling got pregnant. Gone were the days when parents would kill lovers who did that shameful act and would do anything to regain the family's honor. Gone where the days...

Only to find out I, too, was gone out of this generation and the only one feeling shame in the family.

Indeed, I am still a conservative person.


Photo used without permission from parenting-for-him.blogspot.com.