Omake
Life at 25: A Series of (Un)Fortunate Events
On the 13th of December my true love sent — rather, I turned 1/4-of-a-century old, a ‘Quarter Centurian’ according to j1m0ne. Might not be much, but it’s still zOMG 25 freaking years living on Planet Earth! Just another 25 years and I’ll be an obaasan! (or a MILF, we’ll see) Hello quarter-life crisis?
Birthday, by itself, isn’t anything special. Bluntly and unpoetically speaking, it’s just ‘the day you got expelled from the birth canal’, in Leonard of Big Bang Theory’s words. But year after year we celebrate it. What’s the deal? Is it because our parents are soooo happy to have given birth to us? Is it because we are soooo awesome, and that our very existence is enough of a reason to celebrate? Whatever the reason might be, growing old has certainly changed my perspective on birthday. More than just the ‘time I get a birthday cake and gifts from my parents, aunts and uncles’, it has now become my Annual Life Checkpoint.
Each year, we grow older; ideally, not simply age-wise but holistically. One year would’ve passed since our last birthday (with the exception of Feb29 people), and what exactly happened since then? Did anything exciting happen? Did we get to achieve our dreams, short-term and/or long-term goals? Did we make someone happy? Did we grow in wisdom?
Have you ever taken some time off, just to look back at life, count your blessings, see that Awesome Power at work (I consider it His fingerprints, but that would differ depending on our beliefs) through the circumstances that happen in your life, discover the gem that lies in the sh*ttiness of circumstances? Looking back allows you to see things from a different perspective, and in the end make you realize, that indeed, everything happens for a purpose. Let’s do a ‘What Ifs’ / ‘A Series of (Un)Fortunate Events Looking Back’ exercise, shall we?
Had I not entered the company I’m working in up until present, then I wouldn’t have met Seleria. If I hadn’t met Seleria, then I wouldn’t have gotten into blogging at Scrumptious. If I hadn’t gotten into blogging, then I wouldn’t have met all these wonderful bloggers and readers and become part of this awesome community. I also wouldn’t have realized that I can actually write, and be read!
But then somewhere along the way I lost contact with Seleria, and if I hadn’t drifted apart from her, then perhaps I wouldn’t have gotten close to this one guy. Had I not gotten close to that guy, then I wouldn’t have experienced how it was like to have a really close male friend who I can even call my ‘best friend’. But, as they say, there’s no such thing as a platonic friendship between a guy and a girl.
Had I not burst my bubble and acknowledged the possibility of turning the said friendship to something more, then we wouldn’t have been sorta coulda ambiguously MU (stands for ‘mutual understanding’, probably only used in the Philippines). Had we not been sort-of MU, then I wouldn’t have gotten hooked into this game, and started acting as if I’m in a relationship when I wasn’t really in one.
Had I not started acting relationship-y, then things probably wouldn’t have turned sour. Had things not turned sour, then I wouldn’t have realized that it wasn’t meant to be, he wasn’t into me and obviously wasn’t meant for me, and I deserve something much better. Had I not realized that, then I probably wouldn’t have opened the door for another guy to come into my life. Had I not not gotten close to that guy, then I wouldn’t have gone out on a date with him. Had I not gone out on the said date, then I wouldn’t have realized that I’ve been seeking my own selfish ways up until then, not seeking guidance from people who should know better, and ultimately realizing that I wasn’t where I want to be in (and that I need the Almighty Father’s guidance). I personally thanked guy #1 for breaking my heart after this realization, and actually thought we were OK again, that the friendship was restored.
Had I not been in Cebu when this happened, then I wouldn’t have found my way back into church and the fellowship. Had I not been part of the fellowship and met my friends in church, then I wouldn’t have joined the Christian Youth camp this year. Had I not joined the said camp, then I wouldn’t have had a Spiritual Revival and meet even more wonderful people who share my belief.
Had I not joined the Camp this year, then I would’ve been sent to Japan for Hell Work and I wouldn’t have had enough time to prepare for JLPT1. Had I been in Japan for that business trip, I wouldn’t have been transferred to another project group, from whom I learned of the Japan Bridge Engineer seminar which I’m attending now.
As for ye ol’ personal life… Had I not convinced myself that me and guy #1 are good, chums like before but without the ‘more than friendship’ feelings complicating things, then I wouldn’t have had the painful slap of reality and realize that “no, things can never be the same again, woman. it’s difficult to restore the close friendship after all that happened (especially when you’re still not on the same wavelength; balance is still disrupted and all that). and you shouldn’t continue giving him the opportunity to hurt you more, BAKA”. Had this not happened, then I wouldn’t have been completely freed from the chains around my heart. Couldn’t have felt lighter and stronger like I do now! His existence is right where it should be, back to the background of my life. “Never make somebody a priority if they only consider you an option” …and balance is restored in the universe~!
So many what ifs, the ‘little changes in a series of events that can change the entire course of our lives’, as my friend says. But I don’t want to live in What Ifs, in that Woulda Coulda Shoulda Alternate Universe. I’m right here, right now, ‘this is real, this is me, this is where I’m supposed to be’ Whatever happened in my life, both good and bad (and even the unfortunate ones turn out fortunate if you look at it from another angle) shaped me as I am now. Had all these not happened, I wouldn’t be here talking about this right now 
2009 was quite a roller-coaster ride for me, Life’s Ups and Downs, boy. But thanks to that, I grew in wisdom, much more than I expected (no pain, no gain). Life is too short to be taken for granted, look back and see the wonders of life at work! Look back, and also look forward to greater things to come! (forgot to add this when I first wrote this post T_T)
Thank you dear friends, readers, those who were part of the series of (un)fortunate events in my life, from the catalysts to positive changes in my life to the cause(s) of my misery. Thank you for being part of my life and allowing me to grow.
Popularity: 18% [?]
No related posts.
filed under: Discussion
29 comments for “Life at 25: A Series of (Un)Fortunate Events”
The Rotating Blogroll
happy birthday
Happy birthday! I love your post, really insightful. Reading this makes me feel like I know you a lot more (though, of course, I still don’t know anything specific about you). Glad to be one of your readers
Happy bday!
Aw, Happy Belated Birthday!
Things, progress… no?
Unfortunately, my existence here in the blogoculture is the result of many things for which I was trying to escape 9 or 10 years ago. Spin Spin Spin, the cycles.
Realizations and perspectives are intriguing, but as I am learning, there are always shadows cast by the light.
The blogosphere is sorely lacking in MILF bloggers. Hurry up and have kids.
What a worrysome thought: the females in the blogosphere are actually entering mom-mode now…
Anyways, happy birthday, Jen!
Happy Birthday!
It is always strange and scary to think back on how the small decisions in your life can impact your future in such a big way. It’s also sorta neat but makes you focus more on the tiny decisions you make in the here and now.
I think it is really positive you see a “failed” relationship as a positive step towards your future self/relationships. Many people just focus on how that person/relationship sucked OR how their life would be better had they just stuck with what they knew, if they had settled. Instead you are seeing how one relationship did pave the way to a more positive one and that makes it all worth while.
hewow happy bday!
oh you are attending the bridge engineer seminar?!?! srsly where do you get youe info in things like these… please drop me line when the next thing starts… heheehe… err maybe its just an internal thing for your company but if its a open thing pls let me know.. I will brandish my JITSE cert now! hehehe
well I only have level 3 proficiency so its not that possible yet… but I will work for it… hehehe
Happy birthday
Oi, if YOU at crispy happy 25 are already getting the blues, how is it supposed to be at 30 or 40? Take it easy, relax, and enjoy your days!
Happy Birthday Jen!
The older people get the more they grow tired of birthdays.
I feel bad for your aging, but I’m happy that you grow wiser each time. You’re wonderful. Have a wonderful 25.
Hmm, somehow this one is hitting a little close to home for me. But I’m really glad you’ve come to your own realizations and making the best of things, good for you
Also, Happy (Belated) Birthday!! Where’s the cake pR0n??
It’s always mind boggling to think about how a tiny change in your life in the past could have altered your whole future.
And how a tiny change now could put you on a different road to the future.
Best birthday wishes!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, you make it sound like you just turned 30, rejoice for you have five years left…or so you claim.
One day I will be as old as you are now but I agree with the “what to do now?” attitude. A Birthday is well worth celebrating for it has been another year that you have cheated death, well at least for me it is…
At any reat I look forward to part II, Love Strikes Back.
Thank you all for the greetings! （*＾ワ＾*）
@Canne: aww, I feel honored
@Ryan:
Break the deadly deadlock cycle! There are always shadows cast by light, though I hope that in the end, the light will overpower the shadow and come out triumphant.
@Baka-Raptor: LOL we’ll just have to see about that
@Sasa: oh noes!
But ahh~ we should consider this is a milestone! *kanpai*
@Christina: Look back to count your blessings, and look forward to what’s up ahead. One little decision can totally change your life, but the key is to not let fear be the basis of any decision you make
@maAkusutipen: I think PhilNITS informed our company about it, and I caught the news from our project manager. The seminar has limited slots, but is open for all. We’re lucky they allowed Japanese-owned companies to take part in the training this time around, otherwise we’re disqualified (especially for the chance to go to Japan for 1 month). You should definitely join the next time they give this seminar, and I should give the heads up on it too ^^;
@Mentar: haha, don’t worry, I won’t forget to have fun from this point onwards…! (And hopefully that fun will also manifest in the form of blog posts! XD)
@issa-sa: d’awww. Sure hope you managed to ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWAH (douche? lol) too. As for the cake, I already ate ‘em all, sorry D: Here’s a RO-RU KEKKI though!
@aaron: Life is what you make it, the result of all the decisions you make in every step of the way. Which for me is scary, exciting, and also humbling (reminds me that I can’t tread on without guidance)!
@Crusader: lol, you’re accusing me of lying?! I probably don’t even look like 25!
Love Strikes Back eh, we’ll see how exciting 2010 will be for me! 
belated happy birthday… love your blog!
@camille: awww, thank you! :’)
Belated happy birthday! ^^ Things do happen for a reason…we just don’t know it yet till we’ve experienced that reason.
@BeLe: true that! Thanks!
@usagijen: thanks for the info. I should be calling the office often for things like that… XD… I hope I can go there next year… hehehe
I can see it now:
What? USAGIJEN is evolving!
USAGIJEN evolved into MILF!
Happy birthday.
@maAkusutipen: sure hope they’d have more of this training!
If you’re not presently affiliated with a Japanese-owned (semi-owned, even 1%), you’re free to sign-up for their AOTS training, pretty sure they offer some every year, just not sure how many slots.
@mori: lol not yet a MILF! But thank you
Happy Birthday!
You’re one step closer to becoming old, wrinkly, and ugly!
Congratulations! Glad you’re keeping your feet on the ground and head out of clouds but still looking up at the Man behind the clouds.
@Marigold Ran: old and wrinkly yes, but ugly… can’t be too sure of that just yet!
@Ray: thanks! May I never forget to look up to the Heavens and be thankful for every blessing that comes my way
Happy Belated Birthday! I’ll reach that age quite soon as well, but I already feel old