A Letter From The Past

by Jazmin Dhane O. Garcia

DEAR 2023 Self, Hi.

It’s been a while since we last connected with each other. Since you’ve been doing so many things lately, it must have been quite stressful and hectic. I can sense you are unmotivated and disconnected from our passion. I know every cold drop of sweat makes you slip and every warm tear forces you to melt. You don’t have to lower your head. Rather, I wrote this letter so you can lift your head up high again. I want to remind you why we even started in the first place.

We started because we wanted to make our family proud, to be like Mulan, who will bring honorto the name we bear. They were the first to support us in pursuing our aspirations, and as such, we wanted to reciprocate their generosity tenfold;

We began because we aspire to be wealthy and successful. Who doesn’t want that? To be able to buy the things we want and need without worrying, to sleep without having to plan the next day’s expenses, to go out with friends without the fear of being left behind;

We started because we wished to inspire others just as others did to us. We want those who have yet to make their first step know that if we can achieve it, so can they. We wanted to be their ray of hope.

There are many reasons why we took a step forward. However, the best of them has yet to be engraved on our minds and bones, on our hearts and souls— we wanted to make us proud.

You’d always say if my past self is watching me now, I want them to be proud of what I’m doing and not be disappointed.

You wanted me to be awestruck by your craft. And guess what? I am. You wanted me to be ecstatic that our dream is becoming a reality. And you know what? I am. You wanted me to be proud of you for persevering through the hardships of life. And voila, I am. I truly am.

I can’t imagine how exhausted and stressed you must be to feel unmotivated and disconnected, but, still, look at you! You’ve managed to accomplish what needs to be done while producing excellent outcomes. You’ve managed to regularly give 100% to your tasks. And you’ve always been able to demonstrate improvement and growth in both your work and yourself, and for that, I am very proud of you.

Remember that I am always here for you and will be your biggest supporter. If you ever feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place.

Wishing you the best, Your inner child.

SA ATING pagtahak sa pang-araw-araw na buhay, anuman ang ‘yong antas at kalagayan, ay mayroon lamang iisang katotohanan—ang bawat isa sa atin ay may dinadalang pasanin na kung minsa’y hindi batid ng iba.

Tayo ay mahihilantulad sa mga manlalayag na humaharap sa bawat hampas ng alon sa dagat. Ang kada pag-uga ng bangka ay may bitbit na samot-saring hinagpis, gayon din ang bawat talsik ng tubig dagat ay may dala-dalang iba’t ibang kuwento: kuwento ng katapangan, pagpupursigi, pagbagsak, at pagbangon. Sa madaling salita, ang kuwento ng pangarap. Gaya ng mga manlalayag, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nilalabanan at sinasabayan ang alon ng buhay. Tayo’y nagpapakita ng katapangan sa tuwing nababatuhan ng pagsubok at palaging nilalabas ang pagiging pursigido kahit na minsan sa dulo’y talo.

Sa mga pagkakataong tayo’y bumabagsak, natatalo, at napapagod, tiyak na sa susunod na pahina ay muli tayong bumabangon—bumabawi at tinitindigan ang lupit ng panahon.

Patuloy lang nating kabisaduhin ang ruta ng paglalayag ng buhay, hanggang maisarado natin ang libro at mabuo ang ating kuwento.