My Birthday Post

So, this is it, my birthday post. :)

I hope I am able to publish this just on time, just before this day, my birthday, ends. Knowing me...who always have a hard time organizing my thoughts, I reckon I won't be able to make it before 12 o'clock strikes. Well, here goes the drama of my day. Yes, I am claiming it...this is my day. Period.

I planned to celebrate my birthday with a good cause. Something that is unique and a celebration that is worth remembering and if not exceptional, at least seemingly extraordinary or quite far from just ordinary. And that after some significant years, if God permits, I have something to recollect from with excessive self-esteem, considering that it was my 21st year of existence on this planet. I wanted it to be memorable. Who knows this would be my last birthday. Life is very unpredictable and we must learn to number our days. We never can tell what a day may bring forth, really.

Ergo, I decided to join an event that concerns about the environment. And wishful as I was, God granted my desire -- my angkan family forged a tie-up event with ecotour, an organization that advocates the importance of the environment. These events were mangrove planting and coastal clean-up in Cavite, my home town.

But, sheering of events is uncontrollable, which is always the sad part. My supposed happiest day of this year, 03-15-09 (I told you about it in my previous post), became, all of the sudden, culpable of the shift of events. 03-15-09! I came home very late, slept late and awakened very late. And oh noes, it just meant I was late in my appointment. I tried my best, my very best, to make it on time. But I failed. Good thing was that I was able to witness a bit of the program. Oh well, trite as it was, "better late than never" is always true. And I'm glad I was still able to celebrate a portion of my day with my angkan family.

This year, I have received more greetings than last year. Yes, I am counting these greetings. Even though the greeting was just a simple "hi happy birthday" or someone just happened to know it was my birthday and he/she felt an urge to greet me out of "pakikisama", as long as sincerity can be felt, well for me that matters a lot. I was remembered, at least. And even for just a minute, someone has flexed a muscle and cared to send me a message through text, or through whatever social networking site. And that also matters to me. And I say, it really really has an impact on me.

So, to all the people who remembered me this day...SALAMAT at pinasaya niyo ang araw ko.

I'll be better now. Less talk and more of listening. Less of being tactless but more assertive. Less of being judgmental but more critical. Less ambitious but more of envisioning. Less of old Joel and more of a better me.