I received a text message early this morning. A good friend just lost his battle with cancer. I couldn't go back to sleep, as all these questions ran through my head. On life. One's purpose. Our mortality.
Derek was a happy man, brimming with positivity, a joy to work with. He never changed after the diagnosis. I mean physically he did, as both sickness and treatment wasted his frail body away, but the easy smile never faded. Not even with the thought of leaving a young family behind.
At this age, a number of us begin to look at our lives and ask, Where am I headed. Am I on track. What have I accomplished. What will be my legacy. We often measure success along the lines of career and wealth. And since I quit working, I have neither.
As I began contemplating my supposed failure, I received another text from the same sender. She was grateful that I was her first boss. For inspiring her in her career and personal life. And for being a friend. She added that I look much happier in my recent FB pics, and she hopes that I stay that way.
So am I on track? What have I accomplished? What will be my legacy? The unexpected text made me revisit all these questions. Perhaps success cannot be determined by traditional measures alone.
photo from here
18 comments:
condolence sa friend mo. sa akin ang importante wala kang sinaktan na tao. at ang puso mo walang galit sa isang tao para magkaroon ka ng peaceful death and sure heaven ang punta.
kasi pagmamatay ang tao ang kanyang kabutihan nagawa sa buhay ang importante di masyado ang achievments or kayamanan
Siguro hindi lang talaga natin napapansin yung success or changes na nagagawa natin sa buhay. Kaya meron tayong mga kaibigan na nandyan para sabhn satin yun?
condolence po
The loss of somebody we care about often causes us to pause and reflect about our own lives and where we are headed. You're lucky you received some affirmation of the good you have been doing from a friend.
My condolences to you and your friend's family.
condolence sir sean...
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ang bait mo naman kasi ayun nga nainspire yung emplayado mo at magkaibigan pa kayo.. youre such a good man... keep it up..
and keep enjoy your life.. buti pa u.. saya saya ng buhay mo... :D eehehe
smileee koyaaaa..
“I have finally figured out that the purpose of life is to enjoy it.”—Rita Mae Brown
My condolences, Sean.
Too often, we base our success on "measurable" barometers. But, what we too often forget is that what matters at the end of the day is that we are happy. All the rest that comes is with are trappings. Icing on the cake, if you will.
..and how often do we forget to live today as if it is our last.
a toast to your friend.
Condolences to you and your friend's family ading.
Ehem ehem. Ikaw na ang blooming at glowing ading :D
my condolences...
enjoy life to the fullest, do not worry and hurry too much, there is SOMEONE out there who will never leave us in our journey through life...
cheers to LIFE!!!
Ang sakit naman.. Condolence pareng Sean.. Things will going to be okay soon..
I only have good words to my former trainees and colleagues to live by...I hope his family is okay after all these difficulties.
i condole with you. i can relate because i have a friend who is struggling, too.
it is a good thing that you know at least one person who appreciates your effort. at some point your efforts paid off. you will be remembered.
condolence po.
kagabi i was thinking that especially kapag may mga moments talaga ako mag-isa sa bahay (which is almost everyday.lol)
thinking what's the real purpose of my life here. i don't know why, may plans naman ako sa buhay ko and doing something about it pero there's something else na nararamdaman ko na parang may kulang...
copy paste dabo's comment.
Kapag inuman at napapagusapan na ang salary sa pagitan naming magkakabarkada, napapapikit na lang ako saka napapakagat labi kasi alam kong walang wala ako kumpara sa kanila.
I share your sentiments Sean.
*Hugs*
@lonewolf: salamat papa milch. sa kaso ng friend ko, di siya pumanaw na sikat o mayaman, pero he touched a lot of lives.
@ibanez: thanks ibanez. oo nga mabuti nandiyan ang mga kaibigan natin to let us know our worth.
@^travis: that's true, these instances lead us to reflect on our own lives. I expressed my gratitude to the friend who sent the affirmation. thanks travis.
@egg: salamat eg. oo nga dapat i should focus on the positive. maraming salamat ulit - you made me smile.
@dabo: so simple yet most of us never realize this in our lifetime. thanks dabo.
@juan der last: that's true. when i had a good job that paid well, i wasn't happy. thanks juan!
@paci: yeah, we shouldn't forget. thanks paci!
@nimmy: salamat ading. ay haha, di ako ganyan ka-singkit :)
@xian garvida: thanks xian. we should enjoy it to the fullest. i should always remember what you said, that He is always there.
@tim: salamat pareng tim.
@mr. g: thanks mr. g. i hope so too.
@the green breaker: thanks gb. i hope your friend overcomes his struggles. it's always good to be appreciated, esp. if I myself don't.
@kuya kyle: salamat kyle. hey, you're so young! don't be too hard on yourself. enjoy life.
@orally: salamat bien.
@mugen: salamat mugen. minsan nga naiisip ko sana may sweldo na lang sa ganitong klase ng blogging - ikaw na ang pinakamayaman :)
@carrie: thanks sis.
The news saddened me in so many ways...
Success is relative. There's no single way to measure it. It all depends on how you make people around you feel contented, but most of all, on how you feel contented yourself. For me, at least. :)
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