Helping Others - What My Parents Taught Me

One of my male cousins visited us yesterday. The last time I saw him was three years ago. Within that period he got stabbed and hospitalized. He also became a father at age 50 or so. I was really surprised to see Kuya Willie ("kuya" is a term of respect Filipinos use to refer to an older male sibling, cousin, friend, or acquaintance). I even said, "Oh, you've resurrected!" He replied, "I was never dead." "I know. Why haven't you visited us in ages?" I clarified. 

While talking to my mom - his paternal aunt - I learned that he had a falling out with his two sisters. Kuya Willie is the middle kid, by the way. His eldest sister, one of my beautiful spinster cousins, has been working in Dubai; while the other one is a single mom, a nutrition graduate, who has dedicated most of her personal time taking care of her twins, my smart nieces. Kuya Willie revealed that they got mad at him when he got his girlfriend pregnant. They didn't approve of her and Kuya didn't want to abandon her.

Never Again - Promise to Self

A positive self-love starts at an early age.

A few weeks ago, after years of having it stored in my computer, I finally deleted a folder I named "Never Again" in 2007. It contained images of a man and his loved ones, mostly his three kids. A colleague advised me to do so back in 2009. I didn't do it, thinking that if something happens that would need some proof of the transgression, I'd have it. Alas, that was just an excuse for me to continue punishing myself for a mistake which I could've avoided if only I listened to people, especially my daughter, who told me not to trust again those who have fooled me the first time.

I'm not going to give the details here of what happened. I'm past that. I had to admit though that the ghost of that incident would come visit me occasionally. Fortunately, this time around, I no longer feel sorry for myself. People like that man aren't worth my attention anymore, much less my affection. It was such a struggle to forgive myself though, but it could be done.