More than a bucket list (2)
I also used “More Than A Bucket List: Making Your Dreams, Passions And Faith A Reality” by Toni Birdsong as a reference for this article. Her words are highlighted and followed by personal reflections.
Study integrity and humility. Aspire to a life committed to both. Who would have thought the day would come when doing the wrong thing would become a norm, be easily acceptable, and worse, be celebrated? We are living in those times.
Being a person of integrity is reflective of one’s values and upbringing. How can we learn what was never taught, lived, and upheld by the people who were entrusted to ensure we would grow into morally upright and decent individuals? Oftentimes, the obsession revolves around carving out legacies. Shouldn’t the values that need to be kept and fiercely guarded be the top priorities among the intangible treasures to be handed down through generations?
Possessing integrity is not innate, nor is it a genetic predisposition. Everyone is accountable. If we dream of turning things around before we eventually morally decompose, let’s start questioning ourselves about what we believe in and stand for. Moreover, we should start acting on it and be consistent in doing so.
Bloodline, material wealth acquired through any means, and influence of any kind are not tickets to entitlement. For that matter, in this borrowed earthly existence, nothing or no one is. How many times have we all witnessed people who are famous, or wanting to be, brazenly doing or saying anything they wish, acting as if they are indestructible or untouchable, and answerable to no one?
On humility.
We were asked to join a multistakeholder meeting to discuss how we can be better at forging public-private partnerships. As appointed representatives, colleagues similarly rearranged their schedules to accommodate the request, believing that something concrete could come out of the discussion.
I post this question to you: How would you feel if met with this scenario? The public official who called for the meeting arrived an hour late, offered no apologies, and had no fixed or written agenda. Thinking that it was the exception, we let it pass. Experiencing repeated occurrences over the years, we came to realize that it was a deeply ingrained habit.
Pre-pandemic, attending meant time away from the office, skipping clinic, postponing necessary appointments, and traversing traffic through crowded areas of Manila. Post-pandemic, we were not spared. Called to a Zoom meeting, midway, we were made to wait while the official (not the same person mentioned) attended and finished another meeting, then proceeded to act as if we were duty-bound to report to him.
The messages sent and the lessons learned.
This is not how to conduct a meeting, even if you are the boss.
You do not respect our time or appreciate our effort.
You owe it to us to be present.
This is the most effective means of killing volunteerism.
Despite these realizations, we need to continue to help anyway. Lending a hand to the cause is more important.
Honor the strength of others. If you think you are good at what you do, someone will come along who will be better than you. You are not the only one who can do the job, nor are you solely responsible for whatever success is achieved. Someone gave you the opportunity to realize your own strengths and encouraged you.
Listen and learn from Grandpa. My sister once asked my grandfather why his skin wasn`t wrinkly. His reply, ”I don’t take a bath.” Anyone might be incredibly shocked by that piece of information. But guess what? The number of baths needed by anyone over 65 is now a current topic of debate.
He was a public school teacher who became a Protestant minister. Though he was strict, he was also a free and adventurous spirit. In his 80s, he would insist on climbing the roof to harvest santol and star apple from the trees that grew in their backyard, just so that he would have something for us when he came to visit. Lolo was a giver.
He loved to go on motorbike rides to Tagaytay with his only son. When he could no longer drive his rusty MINI Cooper, he would always do a Houdini, taking public transport to enjoy afternoons in Luneta. There were quite a number of serious accidents encountered, but he managed to surpass them all. He rarely ate, indulged in an occasional hamburger, enjoyed ice cream, and loved milk. Lolo lived to be 94. His full life was courtesy of good genes, being prayerful, and finding joy in simplicity.
Reframe a failure. Reframe a failure as an opportunity for intimacy with God. We forget to talk with God whenever things run smoothly. But when failure strikes, isn’t He the One we call and pray to in earnest? To fail is difficult, even paralyzing. Our faith will always sustain us.
This bucket list and yours might still be half-empty. Let every day be an opportunity to fill it up, to hold lessons needing to be taught, learned, lived, and shared.
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