Life check-in
Five years ago, in some restaurant in Cubao, two of my most trusted friends and I discussed what we wanted to do with our lives, and each wrote a list of goals with the commitment to work on them and to support one another along the way.
I’m not sure they even kept the sheet of paper that recorded their five-year plans — looking back, we were naive, idealistic kids who believed we can change the world — but I had posted mine on a white magnet board where I put other notes and important billing statements.
Today, I’m checking in to see how far I’ve come.
^ The paper, of course, is from when Nigel was working in a rehabilitation center Career
- Win an award for a documentary I produced
Yes! - Own my house and lot within Metro Manila
Well, real estate is quite expensive in the metro, but I managed to find a small condominium unit I can afford — albeit not without financial discomforts. - Save up to about a million pesos
I’ve got a long way to go, especially with the health crisis and the economic recession hitting us this year, but I’m quite pleased about my saving habits. It’s been keeping me afloat for months now.
Relationships
- Get married / engaged
Nigel and I have been talking casually about getting married though there are no serious discussions on the subject yet. A big milestone in the relationship, though, is that we’ve been living together since the second half of this year. - Sponsor a child’s education
Well, I thought I would eventually have some wiggle room in my finances without sacrificing the little comforts I give myself, but it seemed not to be the case. - Still be Apro’s favorite tita
I guess I win by default? - Mom won’t have to work abroad anymore
She has decided to work until she reaches her retirement age, which will be about two years from now. - Be super duper close with Maricel — just as how we used to be close before
Done! - Strengthen the friendships I already have
Over the years, I’ve had to consciously cut ties with people I trusted and cared about. The process of pruning relationships was painful, but it made me value the ones I am keeping more.
Personal growth
- Read more books
I find it funny how I hadn’t specified a number, but, yes, I did read more books. - Travel and explore Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Israel, Prague, Italy, France, New Zealand (more or less)
Of all the places I’ve identified, I have so far only been to Israel. - Be healthy and fit
If being vegetarian makes me healthy, then at least I got that part somehow covered. I’d been doing yoga for a time, too, though I must admit to an intermittent practice and a mostly sedentary lifestyle. - Donate blood!
I got myself tattoos, so I missed out on some opportunities. - More mountains to climb! (Pulag!)
Sadly, I hadn’t scaled a mountain outside work since five years ago. - Scuba dive
I haven’t had the opportunity yet, but I did snorkel a few times. Does that count?
Important context: At the time we did the exercise, I’d been producing documentaries for ABS-CBN for only two months, Nigel and I had just started dating, and my sister dropped out of college and withdrew communications with the family for reasons we had yet to understand. •