I just turned 31 today!

How does it feel to be 31? Hmmmmm, I don’t know. This is my first time to be 31 and I haven’t noticed much difference just yet.

Ah okay, let me look at myself in the mirror to see if there are unmistakably noticeable physical changes. Look, I still have my trademark thick eyebrows, my dimples are still as deep, but hey what are those…. oh my God, those are strands of white hair, long streaks of wrinkles… don’t tell me these flab that I feel with my hands on my waistline are bilbil! And oh come on, don’t dare say that these little pains in my knees are symptoms of arthritis or that these involuntary movements of my arms are indicators of Alzheimer’s. Am I really that old already? I hope I am just exaggerating.

It is my first time to celebrate my birthday in a place where I know less than twenty people. No, it’s not an exaggeration. Rome is indeed a gorgeous and romantic place wherein to celebrate something as special as one’s birthday but still there is no place like home. I miss the Philippines so much today. Here no one has ever bothered yet to sing me a happy birthday song. I will just perhaps play a birthday song on my Discman later in the day. Morag luoy jud kaayo ko paminawon no. But I am so grateful that my family and some of my friends back home have gone out of their way to phone me and email me their greetings.

But I will still turn this day into one of the best days of my life. Nothing can stultify my spirit because today I have decided to be happy. Just knowing that I have reached 31 years without any life-threatening illnesses or accidents is already one good reason to be happy about. Another good reason to be happy about is my conviction that my birthday is no less than a special gift from God. I firmly believe that God has numbered each of our days. Today I get to be 31, and it is only because God has willed that it would be so. To wake up each morning knowing that the day ahead is a complete and holy gift from God is a blessing that puts every birthday in perspective, isn’t it? For no matter how long we live, better is one day in his embrace than thousands of days elsewhere.

So today is a day of thanksgiving for me. That includes thanking God for the white hair, the wrinkles, the bilbil… everything. Today, I am going to thank God especially for the unbelievable life I have had so far: the achievements, the thrills, the countless blessings and, yes, even the hardships and problems because these have served to make me stronger, more understanding and more patient.

Today, I am also going to thank God for my friends. I am acquainted with many people but there are those who are really extra-important and dear to me. These are the people who prod me on because they believe in my potentials. These are the people who tell me I have done something wrong yet assure me that they still see the goodness in me. These are the people who challenge me, who tell me I can still be better where I am good at. These are the people whose understanding and support I can always count on. These are the people who inspire me. These are the people who are helping me grow. These are the people like you.

Today, I will allow myself to be in awe at the small, everyday things: the brown earth, the blades of grass, the morning dew, the fallen leaves, the flowers, the tree trunks, the swaying foliage, the sweet breeze, the clouds, the birds, and of course, the sunset. Today, I won’t allow these little yet miraculous wonders escape my attention.Today, I am also going to ask God for his blessings to surround me in times of trials, doubts, and stress; for inner joy to fill my heart with peace and happiness; for a heart that will always be compassionate; for him to fill my life with his love so that I may grow as strong as his holy mountain and as faithful as his Son.