THE CHALLENGE

I have several questions. I do not wish to gain enemies for posting all of these here. Neither do I expect answers from you. I just want you to reflect on all of these and learn more about yourself in the process.

Since you have gained the power to decide for yourself, have you already stood up for something you deeply believed in? Have you fought for it or at least tried to? Have you ever tested your capacity to live beyond your expectations? Have you conquered or tried out something fearful? Have you defied self-control? Have you ever chose uncertainty over comfort?

I do not know about you but I am sharing now that to a certain degree, I have done all of the above and I call it “taking the road less traveled.”

I am expressing this not to brag about myself and my “capacity” as an individual. What I do want to do is tell you how I have generally fared in such situations.

It is true I have fought for my principles and have done so repeatedly. The first time was quite scary but because I was rooting for the truth, I was strengthened by it. Many times have I spoken about what I believed in and the humbling truth about the effort was that each time I did, I always ended up alone in advocacy.

It is true I sometimes win. But usually I lose. Not because I am wrong in principles but because I am alone in the struggle.

This is the sad reality.

I have learned that in this life, there are more drifters than fighters. Many choose to just go with the tide because they are too scared to articulate their thoughts. They only whine about their predicament among themselves but do not have the fortitude to express everything in candor. I am not stating this to encourage you to be constantly at the other side of the fence and play devil’s advocate in any given situation. This is just being articulated so in time, you will consider speaking up for what you believe in as an individual.

When you have no courage to unleash the worst in you and fight for your views and beliefs, then you have yet to prove yourself worthy of ever existing. Why? Because I think living is when you have survived going against the current. It is about YOU making choices and taking sides--no matter what the odds are.

Indeed, you can not eternally remain impartial because life is never neutral. Time will come when your determination and judgment will be tested and I only hope by then, you will learn to simply answer either "Yes" or "No" to a situation and gain respect in the process. This is the challenge.

AIRPORTS

AIRPORTS mean only two things for me. Hellos and goodbyes. As each flight arrives and departs, ecstatic reunions and tragic partings simultaneously happen.

About a year ago, I witnessed one of the saddest family scenarios at the airport. A woman in her late 30s was leaving behind a husband and a daughter who was about 3 years old. It was a moving sight to behold. When both father and child eventually failed to contain their tears and just decided to cry openly at the departure area, it was heartbreaking. In fact, I remembered joining in their sorrow as a silent bystander discreetly wiping away my own tears. I did not know the real reason behind the family’s parting nor did I personally know the members yet up to this day, the poignancy of the whole scene still haunts me on occasion.

It feels strange now though that at the very same airport where I have chanced upon an emotional ending, I have also in so many instances eagerly waited for loved ones. They are usually only away for the weekend but the temporary separation still means their absence in my life. Thus every time I see their familiar figures emerging from the plane, I never forget to say a silent prayer of thanks to God for another generous opportunity to savor a happy reunion instead of a heartrending farewell.

Indeed, even if the deafening roars of plane engines obscure the array of emotions being triggered by flight arrivals and departures, the truth about airports for me still stands. Whether it is the smallest airport or the busiest of the international ones, I will not contest a declaration of the place as an estuary of emotions for it certainly is a place where contrasting feelings of delight and distress meet and merge.