…a ReMiNiScEnT tImE

I just couldn’t help but think of those days I happily celebrated this day with my family, relatives, neighbors and circle of friends. I feel I am homesick now. I just find this so peculiar this time. Couldn’t explain what I feel. Mixed emotions surround me now. So strange! Well, maybe because it’s a special time, yet away from them, and I feel so lonely, and first time to encounter this situation.

I have several impressions in mind now. I keep thinking of, “If only I were with my family, if only I were home, if only were not away, if only I were with my friends, if only they were here, if only we were together, if only… if only… if only…, I wouldn’t have felt this way, I wouldn’t have been lonely, I wouldn’t have been sad, I wouldn’t have felt homesick, I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t…"

Somewhat I hate everything. I do love music, yet I don’t want to listen to it. It would just somehow add my loneliness, especially listening to songs we usually sang together before. I would just remember those times the more, and add this odd feeling of mine. I don’t know what to do. I can’t understand. I just badly miss them, I guess. That’s why I don’t want to remember special occasions, ‘coz it would just make me feel lonely, instead of being happy. Well, thanks to technology that it’s just easy to communicate with them. But sadness still rules my world at this time. Yeah, I can do it. It would just be over in due time. I only have to be strong. Thanks a lot guys!

…tHe DaY I wAs BoRn

Ever since I got to know what’s going on around me, I never thought of experiencing this situation, celebrating one of the most special days in my life away from my loved ones. I was always around them when this day comes. We celebrate together, eat, laugh, sing and talk together on this day. Kinda sad to think about it now. But here I am, away from them. I have no choice except to accept the reality of life – we are not together always, right? I never had experience this before. Yet life must go on.

Well, now that I am away, I just wish I could make myself go back to the day I was born. I would never have felt sadness or whatever. I only thought of eating and sleeping, and be in the bosom of my mom or dad. Always being hugged, kissed and taken cared of. What a nice feeling! Yet it’s inconceivable. We always change and grow. And here I am! Proud to say I do exist and develop and grow.

Exactly 25 years ago, everybody was totally happy especially my family and all people around me, seeing a healthy baby came to witness the beauty of the world. They had a blank idea of what and who would I become in the future. They were just wishing I would live a good life and be successful in due time. Thanks for all their wishes and prayers, they are truly part of what and who I am today. I do owe you all a heartfelt thank you. I do miss you all. I love you and hope to see you all again very very soon. Thanks and have a good time. Hugs and kisses to all of you.

…tHoUgHtFuL PaLs

Thanks to my sponsors! LOL. My colleagues bought me some presents. They do find time to look for one and gave me this afternoon. There’s just one present I found so peculiar. Amazing! I couldn’t imagine ‘coz I never heard of this before.

When she handed over her present, she told me that I should be careful in opening it. It’s fragile she said. So I slowly opened the gift, tore its wrapper and opened the box. I saw a glass covered with somewhat foil and there’s water inside. As I picked it up. There are two fishes in side. Pretty small. It’s totally covered. I innocently asked, “How will I feed them?” They answered, no, no need to feed them. They won’t die for four or even five months. They added, I only have to put it in a cold place. No sunshine at all.

People, thanks a lot for that. I do appreciate them. Once again, I gratefully thank you.

…DiNnEr AnD KTV

That’s my ultimate plan before when I would celebrate my birthday here. Somewhat no other choices. Well tonight, we are going to dinner and KTV. I invited all our staffs and all my adult students, for I suppose to have a class with them tonight. So we are going to have our class in KTV, joke. We will enjoy once in a while. They agreed, too. So no problem at all. They also like the idea.

So, my boss called the place in advance. Then he also phoned all my adult students and reminded them again and told them the place. So, see you all later, guys! Let’s enjoy and have fun. Thanks for being with me as I celebrate my happy moment. Let’s have a good time. Let’s party!

…I dIdN’t ExPeCt

Well, as I announced to my colleagues that this day is my birthday, they were all surprised. They were shouting and blaming each other, for one has remembered but somebody said it’s not yet. So they were laughing and saying a lot of things but I couldn’t understand. They really didn’t expect that.

Someone actually asked me about it few days ago, but I didn’t answer yet. She asked whether it would be this month or on June, but somebody interrupted. Then, I wasn’t able to tell. So they were really surprised today.

They went home early in the morning. I was left alone in the office. I was a little sad. So I went home, too after few minutes. And when I came back in the afternoon, they weren’t in the office yet. Kinda strange ‘coz usually, they will arrive earlier than me. Only to find out, they bought some presents for me. I was so elated. Thanks for them. I somehow forget my loneliness and homesickness. I feel I’m at home with my friends. Thanks a lot! I cordially appreciate your efforts to comfort me. Thanks you very much.

…YoU aRe CoRdIaLLY iNvItEd

As I celebrate my 25th birthday today, I am inviting everyone to celebrate with me. Join me as I blow the candles and take wishes. Wish me a happy, progressive, healthy, strong, and a long life. That I may survive through all the hurdles that may come my way.

It’s my silver birth anniversary, 25 years of existence and survival here in this battlefield, we call earth. I have fought a good fight, as St. Paul said, combating all the hassles that I met along the way. Thanks to all the people who in one way or another gave me a hand as I go on my way each day. Thanks a lot to all of you.

With this special day, come and join me in my happiness. Let’s forget our troubles. Set them aside and be free from them. For a short moment, let’s be happy and celebrate this such a special day. Let’s go to dinner together and KTV afterwards. Let’s have fun this day. Let’s be happy! Thanks a lot.

…DeSiDeRaTa

It’s been a long long while I haven’t read this poem. Such a beautiful one. I just remembered the time when we had our presentation regarding this poem. Our teacher gave us time to make a real life situation drama to be presented in the class the next day, and should be based from the wonderful poem. We did all we can to have a fantastic presentation. We all cooperated and performed very well. We had a pretty high remark from our teacher.

I have accumulated a lot of learning from the poem, for it talks about life, attaining happiness, and, of course, the struggles one must do to achieve it. It gave me ideas on how to live my life in accordance with what is socially upright and ethically accepted. It showed me rooms for improvement, betterment and success. It opened wide doors for me to valiantly face the real life, the battle here on earth.

This is such an interesting and educating poem. Come, read and learn from it. Just like I did. Take you time and have fun.


"Desiderata" (Latin for "desired things", plural of desideratum) is an inspirational prose poem about attaining happiness in life. It was first copyrighted in 1927 by Max Ehrmann.
In the 1960s it was widely circulated without attribution to Ehrmann, sometimes with the claim that it was found in St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, Maryland, and was written in 1692 (the year of the founding of St. Paul's). Nevertheless, the estate of Ehrmann has kept various editions of the work in print. A spoken-word recording of the essay was made by Les Crane and reached #8 on the Billboard magazine charts in late 1971.
At least one court case has held the poem to be forfeited to the public domain because of distribution during and before World War II, but other cases have ruled that the assignee through Ehrmann's heirs holds the purchased copyright.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,

they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career,

however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit

to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life

keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann (September 26, 1872 - September 9, 1945), an attorney from Indiana, was best known for writing the prose poem "Desiderata" (Latin: "something desired as essential") in 1927.
Ehrmann, who was of German descent, received a degree in English from DePauw University, followed by a degree in Philosophy from Harvard University. He then returned to his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana to practice law. Eventually this led him to work in his family's meatpacking business and in the overalls manufacturing industry. Finally at the age of 41, Ehrmann decided to forget such work and become a writer. At the age of 55 he wrote Desiderata, which achieved fame only after his death.