What I Would Leave Behind in 2024
By Nancy D. Galang, MA
"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start." — Nido Qubein
 |
| Here's saying good riddance to 2024!!! |
It's New Year mga Nan-sis! A time to reflect on the year that was, and a time to be hopeful for the coming year. How was yours?
Sa totoo lang, parang itong nakalipas na taon (2024) ang isa sa worst year that I have had in my life. This is not to discount my many little blessings, but you know how it is when the year ends and you kind of reflect whether this year was good to you? Well, I guess my honest to goodness answer is that 2024 has not been good, in my case.
I think that with all the life trials I have been through, I can call myself a very resilient person. I can downplay big, problematic, and bad things that happen to me. As much as I can, I still try my best to look the other way and focus on my blessings, not on what I lack, not on the misfortunes that come my way. But I cannot be oblivious of my reality too.
Initially, as I was thinking of a year-ender blog, I wanted to write about the "Things I am Grateful for in 2024". Pero I found it too cliche', too nice, not too honest on my part. So forgive me mga Nan-sis, if it seems easier to write about the things I want to leave behind in 2024.
1) 'STRESS-TCH' (STRESS)
If money is the root of all evil, stress is the root of all medical issues!
Bakit nga ba tayo na se-stress? According to wikipedia, stress is a feeling of emotional strain and pressure. The past year, maraming nangyari sa G Skwad na hindi masyadong maganda. Naturally, the single(d) mom that I am, ako lang ang usually nagdadala ng lahat. Stress na stress ako, at stretched na stretched talaga ang kakayanan ko bilang tao nitong nakalipas na taon.
Ang resulta? Nagkasakit na ako. What I have learned from my recent health issues is that they are all stress-related. I am lucky to have a doctor who made me realize that no amount and kind of medicine will cure me, if I do not work on my life situation first.
 |
| 2025 goal: No more hospital confinements please! |
Kaya lahat ng ibang bagay na dadagdag lang sa stress ko, I will already repel this 2025. No more stretching myself beyond what I can do and handle. No stretch, no stress!
2) 'DA PRESYON' (DEPRESSION)
The depression of my two children was at its worst this year and the battle with it was at its toughest. As I mentioned in my previous blog, they had their share of hospital confinements and being a single(d) mom and most of the time alone in taking care of them 24/7, also took a toll on my own health. These all happened in the last quarter of 2023 and first two quarters of 2024. Aba'y talagang nakakataas ng presyon!!!(now I am on my maintenance meds for high blood pressure)
 |
| Beating depression should be a team work and having a consistent support system. I felt like giving up - many, many times. And in my mind, I questioned God why He has to put me through such hard times when it is already hard being a single(d) mom under "more normal circumstances". Pero hindi ba in this situation, ta-try mo lang na kayanin? But then I realized, hindi ko talaga kaya. Most of the time, hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko o gagawin ko to make them feel better. And depression? It is what it is - you let it be, because those episodes will pass. |
So this 2025, while I cannot dictate on depression to go away, I will know how to deal with it better. It is a combination of science (the right medicines, the right dosage) and spiritual (lots of prayers) - and a lot of team work. While recognizing my limitation on how to deal with this problem, I have to "enable" my children to help themselves more in dealing with their condition. Doing so would lessen the stress on my part - at higit sa lahat maaalagaan ko ang aking sariling 'da presyon'!
'LOAN-LINESS' (LONELINESS)
As a single(d) mom, I must admit that I still get envious of people who have happy "lovelives". Maybe this is a normal feeling, lalo na when problems and challenges come at wala kang kadamay. Kahit nga lang sana yung makakausap mo and makikinig, or kasama mo mag-isip at magsa-suggest ng solutions. In those moments, I literally cry to God and tell Him, "Nahihirapan na ako. Nalulungkot ako na wala akong kasama." While I know that He has always been there for me, hindi naman masama na magdasal na padalhan Niya ako ng makakasama to help me carry my burdens in life.
I can imagine how nice it would be to have someone take me out on a date especially when I am tired. Or di kaya'y may hinaharap na pagsubok and then he would tell me, "Tara, unwind muna tayo para makalimutan mo muna 'yang problema mo." Or kapag short ako sa pambayad ng bills, he would go, "Sagot ko na 'yan, 'wag mo na 'yan isipin." Actually 'yun talaga 'yun eh. Yung last, that is the most important. Love language ko pala ang pera, haha. Kaya mga Nan-sis, ang sarap iwanan ng loan-liness sa 2024. Mas masaya ang may partner na katuwang sa lahat, lalo na sa gastusin. Dream ko talaga ito! Haha.
Seriously, it is better to leave the loneliness behind and not look for romantic love. As they say, love is all around us in many different forms. On another note, if romantic love is meant for you, let it find you - and it will.
'KAPENG MATAPANG' (COFFEE)
My doctor said I should avoid coffee. And when I heard that, I wanted to tell him, "Doc, patayin mo na lang ako, now na!". My usual was 3 cups, 3 times a day for the past years. Worse, I was once fond of 3 in 1 coffee!
'KAPUY-AT' (PAGOD AT PUYAT)
Kapuy, a Visayan word that means weakness, tiredness, fatigue, lethargy. Puyat, lack of sleep, staying up late. When these two are combined, the result is the inability to function well and to complete your day to day tasks.
I am tired of feeling tired! Extreme exhaustion was what I felt the whole year of 2024 due to the things that happened in our family and my personal life. Kung hindi pa ako nagkasakit, malamang sige pa rin ako at hindi pa din ako titigil at matututong magpahinga.
 |
| Here's looking forward to more rest and sleep this 2025. |
I want to sleep more this 2025 and the years to come! I used to think na okay lang magpuyat. But because of my health issues now, I vowed to practice healthy lifestyle at pinaka-importante diyan ang pagtulog nang maaga. While I may not be able to afford the other forms of self-love that I want, sleep is free and most budget-friendly step towards wellness! So while I do have some problems sleeping because of my environment now, I am working hard on it. Kasama ang melatonin sa sleep regimen ko sa ngayon. So far, effective naman.
TOK-SICK (TOXIC)
Toxic - poison or anything that is harmful to your body. Toxic person - someone who brings negativity to your life.
Even if you are the most positive person in the world, but you are around a negative person often, your tendency is mahahawa ka. Kaya nga combining negative and positive, results to negative.
Para sa akin, toxic ang chismoso at chismosa (those who gossip a lot) because listening to these people is a total waste of time. People who judge other people easily, are also toxic for me - those who lack empathy for other people. People who are ungrateful and are always focusing on the negatives, are also toxic. 'Yung tipong they cannot see their blessings from the Lord.
Are you living or working with someone who is toxic? Have you ever asked yourself how this affects your daily life or even your health? In other words, apart from simply ruining what is potentially a good day, toxic people can make you literally sick. So mga Nan-sis, this 2025, try to keep your distance from these people. As for me, learning to put myself first and setting my boundaries, will be a great start.
'OA TIME' (OVERTIME)
OA - Overacting, exaggerated.
Nothing is wrong with doing overtime work from time to time. Ang mali ay 'yung sobra. Yung OA na, hindi naman kailangan! Gaya ng trabaho sa bahay, hindi naman nauubos ang trabaho sa office. Kung masipag kang tao, palaging mayroong puwedeng linisin, palaging mayroong concept or project na puwede i-develop. I confess, I have a tendency to be a workaholic, hindi ko kaya umupo sa isang tabi nang walang ginagawa --- or ADHD lang ba ang tawag doon? Ang "OA work" ko stretches until I am home.
A couple of times, I found myself answering work phone calls on weekends or sending out emails even when I am sick. And I think wala namang mali dito... kundi ang sarili ko! OA kasi weekend is for rest and family time. Kaya nga mayroon tinatawag na work-life balance which our company advocates for.
 |
| I take what I do seriously and I want to achieve and contribute as much as I can. Kaya lang minsan , OA na ako. |
 |
| Love your job but remember to value work-life balance. |
Mga Nan-sis, I think it is all about time management and setting your priorities both at work and in your life, generally. Hangga't maaari, huwag na mag-o-overtime. You get to help not only your company, by saving on electricity and OT pay, but also yourself, by living a balanced life. I still believe that a well-rested mind, body, and soul, leads to more productivity at work.
So this 2025, I must have the discipline to call it a day and tell myself, "Nancy, may bukas pa!".
SOSYAL MEDIA (SOCIAL MEDIA)
I want everything I see in social media - the travels with loved ones, the grand wedding proposals, the perfect bodies and faces, parents flexing children who are either lawyers or doctors, the nice things, bags, shoes, houses and luxury cars! Sosyal di ba?
Sino ba ang may ayaw - kung mamarapatin din lang naman! Ang problema, mga Nan-sis, is when we become envious of what we see on social media and make these the yardstick of our own success. The world is already too complicated so I hope we do not allow ourselves to be more confused and lose sight of what really matters.
Ano ba ang tunay na success? As I said, iba-iba para sa bawat tao. In my case, to raise good children who are good to other human beings (and animals) is one form of success. To give them good education is another. For them to learn and have the discernment to choose good partners who will love them and take care of them is a major accomplishment. Keeping my children and apo all safe, secured and healthy, is success. To overcome and defeat my children's depression would be a big achievement. Minsan, 'yung malagpasan mo nga lang ang isang araw, linggo, o buwan, na marami kang pagsubok, winner ka na!
 |
| Some of what really matters in life - a healthy and secured family, self-love, and work-life balance. |
What about you my dear Nan-sis? Sino at ano ang mga iiwan ninyo sa 2024? Ano ang mga goals ninyo for 2025?
As for me, these are knowing how to repel stress at its onset, conquering depression and lonelines, allowing myself to have enough rest and sleep, and taking coffee and everything else in moderation! And with these, I look forward to 2025 and the best things it has to offer me and the G Skwad!
Until then, catch you later!
Nancy Mommy
Comments
Post a Comment