What I do find intriguing, is not the promise of excellence in a resolution, but the courage found in failures. 2011 proved to be a difficult time full of disappointments. A flurry of activities/trips, that I thought would be enriching, actually taxed my spirits, resulting in this feeling of isolation. The loss of a beloved uncle the year prior was still lingering; and to top it all off, I saw my homeland washed away by Hurricane Sendong - an occurrence so rare, the last time a flood came to the area was when my dad was five years old (and even still, not at the level of destruction).
Through unfulfilled expectations came renewed perspective. In isolation, came an appreciation for solitude. In the depth of my sadness, came clarity in my life's path and a deeper appreciation in relationships. I cannot see the goodness from all the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Sendong. However, it exposed the deforestation crisis due to legal/illegal logging and conversion of forests in to agricultural farms, which I hope the citizens of Mindanao will respond by doing more to protect their forests/environment.
To discover how painfully rewarding it is to see yourself through conflict, I liken to a Phoenix rising from its ashes. The Mayan calendar predicts doomsday this December 2012. Even so, I am certain there will be a new way to exist...and if the doomsday prediction is debunked by the end of the year, I am confident I have the fortitude to face whatever adversity 2012, or 2013 for that matter, throws my way.
