Majestic and towering were two of the words I used to described this tree that was planted in the school's garden a year ago. There were some leaves and colours of spring green when it found a home in the corner of the school. It was a great addition to our garden.
The tree produced ample leaves in the beginning of its stay. The new environment made it susceptible to adjustment. The ground must be constantly watered but it wasn't the case. Weekends meant no water as there was no gardener present during those days off. The tree started to turn weak, spurting sparse of leaves, and believed to be dying.
After this winter break, I came to school and was appalled to see the magnificent tree that became my model in most of my sad stories in life. It was trimmed to its half, leaving only one side that had bore leaves during the span of the past seasons. It looked terribly scarred, hurt, and desolate though there is hope that it will grow.
My grandfather used to be a happy fellow when he was still living in our place. He settled in Santa Ana and met friends even if there was a language barrier. I remembered him always alert, laughing and filled with life until he needed to moved. In his new found home, he tried to adjust but the place was not conducive to neighbourly chatter. He lost his friends, he became quiet, and the sadness in his heart made him weak and longing. He passed away many years ago but I will always remember how jolly he was in the company of others.
Currently, my dad is being encouraged to move in with my brother and I do believe he knows in his heart why he does not want to leave Santa Ana. It is his home and it is where he established a family and found solace through happy and sad moments. Taking him away from his comfort zone might not work thus his decision to stay.
In my life I learned how to stay put when I am happy in a situation whether it is personal or professional. The convenience is there and I do not need to constantly adjust and change things. But I also learned that if I stay put in a place where I am not happy, I will be like the dying tree. I always question myself if I will find solace in a new place or in a changed situation. There is always no answer, not even any assurance so it takes a lot of courage to accept and make changes.
So when I left the country I took in me three things: hope, courage and will. Hope, that I will make a positive change in my life by doing the right thing. Courage, that I may face the challenges of being in a different land. And will, to experience great things in life by making the bold step to leave.
I will stay like the first tree, strong-willed and brave but making the second tree picture as a reminder to continue with life's viccisitudes.
Igo-google ko pa po yung meaning ng last word sa post na ito.. Lols...
ReplyDeleteGrowing up with grandparents is a very great experience, not all have had. Im happy you had. Coz I, myself had enjoyed my time being with my lolo and lola.
It must be really hard for your dad to accept the changes, I hope he accepts it positively and wont pose any health hazards to him.
Of the three you had brought with you, I think it's the will thats most important. One can only hope if there is will to hope and one can only be brave if he choose to be brave. So keep that will and that faith. It will take you to a lot of places, adventures and maybe you can also meet extraordinary people! Happy Sunday!
Deep.. Someday I will find my happy place and stay :)
ReplyDeletehayzt totoo yan.
ReplyDeleteMinsan mahirap umalis sa comfort zone mo pero ako iniisip ko na minsan dapat at subukan mo na lumabas sa comfort zone mo para malaman mo kung ano ang naghihintay na supresa ng mundo sayo. If ever na hindi ka maging masaya may option ka naman na bumalik ehehe.
just like the tree, when a person moved and find his place in this world there are really changes that we have to do for us to adapt the environment.if not, we might just fall and die. i like the 3 virtues you mentioned. those 3 serve as your supplement(your hope) just like the tree aftr it was trimmed.
ReplyDelete@yccos,
ReplyDeleteMy time with my grandparents were fond memories of my childhood. I had the best time with them that's why I was saddened when they moved to another place.
I encouraged my dad to move but I know he won't do it. It will be difficult for him to adjust with his age, way of thinking and health issues.
Yes, I bring with me will, the will to go on and make changes not only with my students but also within me. To be stronger, better, friendlier, happier and at peace.
I wish I can have a support system by being around people like you but I guess my choice limits me to be around great people.
@ Simon,
ReplyDeleteYes, my friend. Life is a rollercoaster but it also stops. When it stops, you will know that the exhilarating feeling of being in a relationship, work, family issues, and the like will bring learning experiences. Your choice is to be in a place where you will be happy with someone.
@Rix,
ReplyDeleteI remember the first person who hired me from the university to come here and she mentioned to me when I wanted to leave her school. "Go spread your wings and when the flight becomes wearisome, you can always come back to my school."
We must leave our nest to see the world because we can only make regrets in the end.
@jeison,
ReplyDeleteWell said, and it is only within our own power that we can be sure whether we can stand or fall. We are resilient and adaptable to changes but we can also fall that's why hope comes, faith, courage, free will, wisdom and love.
That is the problem of getting old. Loneliness.
ReplyDeleteThat is why, at work, I always see to it that the elderly get the attention they need when they with me.
I moved a lot, but I always try to adjust myself to be content and happy until an opportunity to a better place or situation comes.
I salute you for your will!
Have to google the last Word. ..:)
just like in friendship, you don't stay being friends with people that pulls you down.
ReplyDeleteyou keep a company and stay in an environment that makes you happy... that makes you grow.
Change can be difficult. Especially, for the aging.
ReplyDeleteTama ang ganda ganda ng sinabi nya... for me nakaka uplift ng spirit lalo na at alam mo na may assurance ka na may mga naghihintay sayo if maiisip mo na bumalik...
ReplyDeleteGanda ng message ng post mong ito sir jonathan :) sana one day makapagpost din ako ng medyo may kabuluhan na post ...
ReplyDelete@ Ms. Joy,
ReplyDeleteA lot of younger people can learn from you. I am actually interested in your job as you deal with the elderly. I remember having great moments with them because of their stories. I learned a lot from my grandparents too.
Finding happiness and roots to grow, almost always the goals of everyone.
@ Lili,
ReplyDeleteAnd it works when you find a family to call your own. Take away the bad vibes, move forward to the good ones and grow in greatness.
@ Sandra,
ReplyDeleteChange is one thing we don not like and for the elderly, it is always a struggle. I will not be able to dictate to my dad where to go but I can be there for him if he needed me. Thanks for the visit.
@ Rix,
ReplyDeleteLike with families, whatever happen, they will always take you back and with deeper friendships, our friends will always be there no matter what. That's why we need to nurture relationships and communication.
@ Josh,
ReplyDeleteIt's a realization and for those like you who are still young, remember that the time will come for you to decide and make changes for your family and yourself. Though we build our own lives,we know that we still need to be in the midst of our parents and siblings. As for the posting, go!
This post reminds me of this passage that I read in a book, "If you stay in a place long enough, you will become that place." Back then I was still working in a military agency and I had been there for 5 years. So reading that passage felt a lot like being doused with cold water.
ReplyDeleteIt is always hard to leave something that you have been doing for many years. But if there is one thing that I learned in this life, it's the fact that life is too short to refuse change in your life. There is so much to be explored. The world has so much to offer.
I admire you for deciding to leave and find your luck in another country. Such decision entails courage.
Magkaiba tayo Cher Jo. I also enjoy the convenience of good things in the present. However, because of my short attention span sa mga bagay-bagay, nothing is permanent sa future ko. Madali akong ma-bored at magsawa. This has been my constant problem noon pa man. I thought na baka dahil sa bata pa ako. Pero little by little nari-realize ko na this is something that I could'nt shake off easily. Kailangan ko itong paghirapan na maalis. I need to grow up.
ReplyDeleteso much agree with that.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandable na dahil sa mga bagay na dapat pagukulan ng pansin ay medyo nawawala ang communication nyo sa isa't isa pero hindi nawawala ang kasabihan mo na makipagkwentuhan pa rin sa mga kaibigan..
feeling ko nagcomment na ako dito sa post na ito yesterday pero bakit wala?
ReplyDeletemaganda ang post mo. Pahingi naman ng English... hehehe
@ Marjorie,
ReplyDeleteI do like some changes in my life such as visiting new places and meeting new people. However, as we grow older, just like my dad, changes are something they probably do not entertain in their lives. I am a witness of how we grow when we do something different and in my case, though I am conveniently settled in my place, I still wanted to infuse such living with excitement. In this way, I learn.
@ Geosef,
ReplyDeleteI wanted my dad to go away, to travel, to make changes in his life but the old way of thinking is far different from how the younger generations think. I am just afraid that if I push through with the move, it becomes radical to his taste.
Yes, sep, you are still young and you should enjoy life. Try to find your place in this world and when you had challenged yourself enough, then it is time for you to make a permanent place to stay, to grow older, and look back at your life. No regrets, but great experiences.
@ Rix,
ReplyDeleteAt dahil na rin sa layo at oras at pakikibaka sa buhay, darating ang panahong mawawala ang mga kaibigan subalit ito ay panandalian. Ang tunay na kaibigan ay laging magiging kaakbay sa ating pagtanda.
@ Senyor,
ReplyDeleteWala po kayong comment kahapon. Thanks for the compliment. Like what I mentioned, pahingi rin ng Filipino. I wanted to write in the vernacular pero baka maging katawa tawa ang kalabasan.
We always have the ability to choose kung ano ang sa palagay natin ang makakapagpaligaya sa atin. At first, I know it's hard to go out of our comfort zone lalo pa nga at nakasanayan na natin ang ganitong gawi. Huwag natin madaliin ang pagbabago. One step at a time lang and before you know it, na-achieve na natin ang pagbabagong ating inaasam.
ReplyDelete----------------------------
Happy Birthday sir Jonathan!
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truth! ganyan talaga ahaha.
ReplyDeleteHapee beerday :D
I remember this avocado tree my father planted when we were not yet born. It was the best tree there was around our home as it bear lots of avocado. The thing was, my father planted it on the wrong land. As far as I could remember, may bakod na talaga bahay namin at nasa labas talaga yung puno but the wonderful thing was Sir Jonathan. Papasok sa bakuran namin ang mga sanga at bunga kaya almost all avocado went to us. June or July was the best time for me as it was harvest time. After my father passed away, Mom decided to pour poison on the roots of the tree. Gradually and eventually, the tree died. Losing all the leaves, branches and memories. I was upset when Mom told me about that. "Tinanim yun ni Papa!" I said. Pero sabi lang ni Mama, nakatanim daw kasi sa lupa ng kapitbahay namin at ayaw niyang nakikinabang sila sa bunga neto. It was unacceptable. But there's nothing else that I can do. I miss that old avocado tree.
ReplyDeleteHello, this comment is not related to this post. Just want to say thank you ng marami esp sa pagbabasa at pag baback read ng posts ko. Akchuwali, nagbackread lang din ako kaya ko napansin comments mo. So so thanks. It's nice to have someone RANDOM (haha) appreciate whatever it is that you have written. So much for this. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHapi bday
ReplyDeletewell in my case I'm a person of change I never felt contented, i always want changes something new in my life, in my self. Anyway my grandmom was a bit like that, when my grandfather passed away and when she lost her sight it was indeed a heartbreaking to see her in that situation:(
ReplyDelete@fiel kun,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, one step at a time especially for those who are afraid of change or the unexpected. I am afraid of my father thus the posting but k do hope that he will realize that change, for now, is going to be good. It is something he needed for a long time.
@ Rix,
ReplyDeleteMaraming salamat. Gaya ng puno, inaalis din natin ang hindi makakatulong sa ating paglaki tulad ng pakikipagkaibigan. Naway kahit na lamang sa pagsusulat, ang mga taong kumakatok sa ating mga tahanan ay ating maging tunay na kaibigan.
@June,
ReplyDeleteI do love this story of yours. Hindi naman kasi pinatay ang avocado tree, pinatay nito ang alaala ng iyong ama. The tree must had been a root cause of conflict between yours and others that's why your mom decided to let it go.
I can learn a lot of things from your story and I can make many versions of this but I will let this beautiful narration to be a part of my posting about grandparents, parents and change. Thanks for the wonderful sharing.
@ ester,
ReplyDeleteI do blog hop but I rarely write a comment unless it is relevant and heart warming. I look for quality and the way the writer can narrate his or her experiences through words or pictures where I can still give a valid contribution by writing a comment. Thank you as well for appreciating my visits.
@ josh,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the greeting.
@ MeCoy,
ReplyDeleteI also felt the need to seek my fortune and look for where I should mark my footprints. though I have settled well in Thailand, my stay in here is constantly bombarded with changes for the better so as to grow.
My heart goes for your grandmom as I do understand how losing one's promised love can give us heartaches and loneliness.
Life in a foreign land will be full of challenges all the time. The moment you leave your own soil peculiar thoughts invade the mind, attitudes change and anxiety level rise !
ReplyDeleteThese are typical of all the expatriates, no one is spared, whatever the counter arguments may be :)
Just be cool, float in life and live in the present.
When one door closes nature opens many interesting doors.
Work permits are available aplenty in so many exotic places !
"Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you :)
@Rajiv,
ReplyDeleteGreat wisdom is often spoken by people who are wise and you are one of them. Your words will inspire and encourage people to try new things and by motivating them with positive vibes, we feel less scared.
Ask, search and knock...three words to ponder.