Every day for five weeks
There is that friend who is so busy and always on the go, who barely has time to actually enjoy at least four hours of sleep and eat three meals a day, who has to be monitored regularly to be reminded to eat lunch and dinner because she can’t be expected to look after her own health. She tries to squeeze in all the activities in her already tight and hectic schedule, taking forty winks in LRT rides and planning activities on the phone while waiting for a jeepney ride, striving still to be available for her friends no matter how eventful her days have always been.
She is always there for others but never for herself.
I was that person.
After graduation, I still had prior engagements but I had more free time. Since I was no longer a student, I knew my lifestyle had to be redesigned. I sealed a deal with my good friend to help me with this resolution. That was how our five-week challenge came about.
Studies show that doing an activity for 21 consecutive days, or three consecutive weeks, makes it part of one’s system, a habit. So, my friend and I decided to work on something we would want to change in ourselves for five consecutive weeks, to be sure.
He should not smoke, and I had to do something for myself that makes me happy. Every day for five weeks.
I kept a list of all my activities for 35 days, but I shall only post the highlights, which are as follows:
Day 2 (April 18): I had breakfast, which I rarely do, and I dropped by the university in the afternoon after editing my material at Probe.
* I had two starting dates.
Day 4 (April 27): Maricel and I spent the afternoon at Red Ribbon in Madison Square where we ate half a brazo de Mercedes cake on our own. In the evening, we shared potato chips.
Day 10 (May 3): I met MFL after almost a month. We celebrated our bloated tummies at Barrio Fiesta and over a cup of coffee. (Note: I do not drink coffee but I learned to appreciate cappuccino because of him.) We shared stories and insights about life, and he introduced me to child singer Kaitlyn Maher, who had been making me cry since that night.
Day 12 (May 5): We had set a send-off for our dear seminarian-friend Patrick.
Day 17 (May 10): The plan was to receive copies of my graduation photos and meet my friends Yish and Jimpy in Manila, then meet another friend in Quezon City. Alas, I left my wallet at home and had only P200 in my pocket to spend for lunch and transportation. Good thing, my meeting in Quezon City was rescheduled.
I dropped by the Student Affairs Office before going home to give Ms. Beng the present I should have given her last year while her father was confined in the hospital. I had been hesitant because I feared she won’t appreciate the book. It turned out to be an item in her “books to read” list.
(Photo from Ms. Beng’s Facebook account)
Day 21 (May 14): I had stayed at my aunt’s residence. The day after elections, I was back at PCIJ. After office, I went to the despedida of Sr. Vianney and went home with Ate Regina.
^ Not even the stormy night could stop the student leaders, volunteers, and alumni from celebrating the special day with our dearly beloved SPC sister.
(Photo by Erine Apan)
^ The one and only, Sr. Vianney
(Photo by Erine Apan)
Day 23 (May 16): Milk tea with the summer interns!
^ Top, L-R: Belle, Ilych, and Lav // Bottom, L-R: Kezia, yours truly (sitting in for Celine), and Maya
(Photo by Ilych Mana-ay)
Day 25 (May 18): I accompanied my sister to Far Eastern University (FEU) for her entrance examinations, which she passed. We had late lunch at Senya Kitchen; their sisig is saliva-generatingly wonderful!
Day 30 (May 23): Patrick was worried about his mother, as he was entering the novitiate formation. I promised to look after his family, along with our other friends, while he’s away.
It was his mother’s birthday. Franz and I planned a surprise celebration for Tita Mel, which turned out to not be surprising at all because Patrick’s inquiries had already raised his mother’s suspicion. The birthday celebrant made me drink alcohol that evening, I would never forget.
Day 32 (May 25): I was supposed to jog with Franz that morning, but I was too tired the night before. We had breakfast instead. We saw Angela and invited her to join us; it is worthy to note that she was eating a chocolate ice cream that early.
(Photo by Angela Leron)
After breakfast, I spent the rest of the day with Mariel in Festival Mall in Alabang.
Lesson learned: Productivity is not always defined by the amount of output made and the number of goals achieved. A life well lived, in fact, is not measured by productivity but happiness. •