I’m turning 36 on December 31. If I were asked a year ago what was the best thing about turning 36, I could only think of one thing and one thing only:
I can now legally marry someone half my age!
Well, not that I tried in previous years, but let’s get off that train of thought before this post takes an unpleasant turn, shall we?
As I turn 36, I look back to a year of adversity. My hypertension took a turn for the worse and had palpitations that feel like heart attacks each and every day, and because of that, I was able to do something I once thought impossible: change.
1. Finally quit smoking after 18 years. (I used to consume at least a pack a day and now I wonder how.)
2. Lost 23 pounds. (My body is constantly looking for all that weight it lost so I’m constantly hungry.)
3. Lost 6 inches off my waistline. (My pants don’t fit no more. Was surprised when one day I wore my briefs but it slipped down my legs.)
4. Exercise at least an hour a day. (Mostly walking while listening to the coolest classic 90s hits like Jabongga, Bring Dat Booty(Over Here), Stars(I Hope you Comprehend), Boom-Shak-A-Lak, and Informer. Repeat all and loop.)
5. Cook simple, healthy meals by myself. (I now love cooking with red bell pepper.)
6. Write creatively again by having this blog. (I majored in English: Creative Writing, but it has been a decade since I last wrote something entirely creative, imaginative and fictional. Oh wait. That was my resume. Make that 15 years.)
7. Be more spontaneous, social and outgoing through cosplaying. (From Mr. Antisocial to strange fellow who can now make a few new friends every cosplay event.)
I have always resisted change because I thought I could just get by as I have always done. When I meet friends and former students again and they ask me what’s new with me, I can only say, “Same old, same old,” and somehow found that comforting. I was constantly afraid that change was too difficult to achieve. It’s quite unfortunate that it took a serious medical condition to get me started changing myself for the better. Don’t get me wrong. I was entirely content living my life up to a year ago, but now I discovered that by changing just a little, I can appreciate my life just a little bit more.
One year of healthy changes may not be enough to overcome two decades of unhealthy, careless living, and I might die anyway this year, but at least I went down fighting. But for now, I’ll be turning 36 and I’m still alive. I have a lot to be grateful for. I thank my family and friends who have been nothing but supportive despite my difficult personality. I now realize, more than ever, that I am lucky to have all of you.
Continue supporting me because I realized that just being positive is hard enough when you’re alone. It just takes one bad day alone to set you back down that slippery slope of depression. So please help me by visiting my blog daily, reading my posts, browsing through the pictures, liking it on the page or on Facebook, or by leaving a comment. Any comment. It won’t cost you a cent. I really don’t make money from this blog, but knowing that people read my work makes me really happy and makes my heart pound with delight. Oh wait. Those are palpitations.
Thank you, everyone. I am 36 and alive because of your support.
So in conclusion, please allow me to marry an 18-year-old girl. Thank you.
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