A month after I turned 22 last April 2, I decided to make a list of the 22 things/people/events in my life that I am grateful for. This is because I have read Lexi Fernandez’s post with the same topic last January after she turned 22. I got inspired so I wrote mine too.
This list doesn’t include everything and everyone I am thankful for, because if so, I couldn’t imagine how long this would be; I just ended up listing whatever comes on my mind first while doing this. Hope you take a while to read it.
1. Jesus
He will always be the first! If I didn’t get a chance to encounter him, I couldn’t imagine what my life will look right now. It will be a total mess, that’s for sure. I spent 30 minutes to 1 hour of my time everyday reading a particular passage in the bible which helped me a lot in my everyday life. And I know, that’s the secret of having a positive outlook amidst pain, struggles and uncertainties. Jesus saves me everyday! ❤
2. Family
No words can how much love I have for my family and vice versa. We may not be as perfect and as rich as the others but I would never, ever, trade them for anything or anyone. They’re my greatest treasure.
3. School Of Leaders 1
There are a lot of things I missed in this world when I was a teenager but enrolling in the SOL1 gave me a deeper understanding in life. And I am glad to be in the process and be one of the future leaders at church. And yeah, I already graduated in SOL 1. Sad, I haven’t completed yet the requirements to be a qualified enrollee for SOL 2 but I promise to work hard for it this month.
4. Czarina, my workmate that eventually turned best friend
Thank you for being true from the first day we met. And for being supportive when I decided to leave GMA even though I know, it both broke us. You even cried in front of me and that made me feel so loved (Sorry, Haha, but I honestly love that night Feb 24, 2017) I love you!
5. Ate Cristina, my cell leader
I may not be as sweet as my other cell members but I care for you that much. Know that you are always in my prayers. Sorry for not being bold but that’s me. (Haha)
6. Having the courage to leave my previous job
It was hard, too hard. But I had to because the Lord told me so. Now, I knew the reason why, I couldn’t be thankful enough for taking me out of the place that burned and stressed me out. Nobody saw it, but I was just really good at hiding the truth and pretending I was okay.
7. Ate Vida and kuya Harris
The two people I consulted on the days of considering the offer I received before finally deciding to leave. Thank you for encouraging me so much to trust in the Lord and in his plans. And of course, for being my movie buddies!
8. Magpakailanman Family
It was a good roller coaster ride. Thank you for all the lessons learned. For all the ups and downs that shaped to be a good employee and to be the best version of myself.
9. GMA Network Inc.
My 1 year and 8 months stay was worth it. I’ve got to experience a lot and meet new people who taught me different things in life.
10. DRAMA Team
Before I was just the video editor but you gave me a chance to write and eventually directing a short film. Thank you for the trust! Cheers to more films and presentations to make this year!
11. Sunday School
Last March 24 was just the day I expressed my interest to be a sunday school teacher and you already gave me a lesson to teach on my birthday. And I absolutely enjoyed spending my birthday teaching those little kids.
12. Zion Christian Fellowship-Apalit
I’m very much grateful and thankful that I belong to this church. I stopped attending for 4 years but when I came back, you accepted me again and let me feel that I still belong to the family. My heart is truly joyful that I am one of the royalties.
13. Children International – Manila
This NGO was my first love. This place molded me to be a good youth leader and facilitator. For all the trainings, workshops and events I undergone and in return facilitated, I was totally moved out from my comfort zone. I also learned the habit of giving in whatever way we can. It was a good 4 or almost 5 years with you!
14. Kuya A
You were the one who introduced me to a passion-driven life. Thank you for the friendship and for all the life lessons and especially for teaching me the child-friendly methodologies that I adapted now that I am teaching kids at Sunday School.
15. Rica Dee and Lyka
We may not see each other that much but you two are my bestfriends forever. We have been “bes” for 8 years and I thank God for having you both as my BFF. Love you!
16. The directors I’ve worked with
Never in my life I imagined that I will be able to work with all of you, thank you for all the lessons I learned. Each of you has your own uniqueness and style which I am truly honored to witness with my own eyes. It was a pleasure to work closely with all of you and I promise to keep in mind the pointers you shared to me. See you all in the field someday!
17. Palakas
Aj, Lianne, Patricia and Kem, you stayed with me in my entire college days and you are still with me until now. I can’t wait to see us all finally achieving our dreams. Cheers to more kwentuhans, tawanan and iyakan as well. I love you all.
18. My cellphone
I never really intended to buy this phone (Samsung J7 2016) but since my phone prior to this got snatched, I ended up buying this. But, I am grateful because everytime I was in the mood to write random things – poems, short stories, I will just pull my cp’s out then saved it on my notes. This phone stored so much of my feelings for I expressed myself more in writing.
19. Starbucks at the Veranda of Robinson’s Galleria
The place where I spent almost all of my “ME TIME”. Staying for 3 long hours doing nothing, just getting away of my stressful life; the place where I escaped from all the issues and dramas of my professional life.
20. Ms Rebya
I only worked with you for only three months but it felt like forever. Haha. No joke. I love those beautiful 3 months. I enjoyed every single day of taping, I even got excited of going to the office the next day. Those months were the least pressured days of my showbiz life. And before I forgot, I loved the night we were texting using highfalutin tagalog words yet we still understood what each of us were saying. Thank you for a short break to a stressful world of showbiz and for all the happiness we’ve shared together with a joined force of MPK and now DTBY team.
21. Euwenn Mikael Aleta
I have loved you from the first day we met and you’re kind of my stress reliever. It was really hard to explain why. I’ll just continue living with it. Haha. Thank you for singing happy birthday to me on a facebook post. I’ll see you soon, I promise. I love you! ❤
22. TEAM REAL
This year was my first time to celebrate my birthday and I am glad that I spent it with you guys. We may belong to a different cellgroup at church but it doesn’t hindered us from getting close to each other. Thank you for being real and supportive always. I love you guys so much!
I have so much to be thankful for but unfortunately I couldn’t include it to this post because I promise to only list 22. But anyway, God knows my heart well and everything in it. He knows that I am so much grateful for having lived this wonderfully written life for 21 years and now living this 22nd year.
Let me take this moment to thank you all for being a part of my story. Thank you to everyone who stayed, to those few who left, to those who tried hard to understand my extroverted introvert attitude, to those who caused me pain and sorry to those I hurt and to all who tried to be a part of my life but I was too blind to see and too dumb to feel. It needs a deeper discussion why.
I can’t wait to write more of my story especially now that I am about to take another journey. Most importantly, I am too excited to see where God will send me next. I know this new phase will be more amazing, awesome and adventurous than what I had before.
Thank you for supporting me. I love you! ❤
Love,
Leslie