Happy Golden Years

50 years of existence, WOW. What does that mean to you? Retirement years? Nope, you've done that 4 years ago. Hearing difficulty, sight impairment? I don't think so, you've had that since way, way back. Now, I got you thinking.

Today, you're closing 5 decades of your life, 50 years of productive existence. Looking back, you may think of what you have done or haven't done to be in your present state. You're maybe contemplating now on a lot of if's and but's. You might be even laughing or crying, remembering how you've reacted on different situations in your life. Now, you know, what being 50 is all about. It means beginning of a new chapter, a start of a new decade.

 

Before you close this chapter of your life, you may want to look back and see what you've done. Please remember, this is not a time to be sorry. Regrets have no place here. Your 50 years of existence is not a mistake but a journey of experience and lesson learned, 5 decades of continuous struggle and frustrations yet a life full of blessings. I may have known you for only 15 years but I'm confident enough to say that somehow I've known a glimpse of how your 50 years have transpired. I maybe right or wrong but this is how I view you as a person, as someone whom I felt I have strong connection. 

 

 Base on my observations and on what you have told me, I can say that for 5 decades, you have been struggling to live your life under your own terms. You always do what others want and you let them control you. Some may see this as a sign of weakness but for me, it's a sign of goodness. Only good person can sacrifice their happiness for the sake of other people's gladness. You are not a superhero but I know you are a tough guy. I have seen almost all the conflicts and challenges you've faced and I know what have kept you going is your full and unwavering faith to our creator, your belief that He will not forsake you and that everything happens for a reason. I admire your capacity to forgive and forget. I adore your persistence to pursue your goals and though sometimes you failed to realize your personal dreams, you are the type of person who knows how to count your blessings.You have not lived your life in a silver platter and all the little success you have are products of your blood, sweat and tears. Your children is your significant accomplishment and all the other things that you have achieved are just mere icing on the cake.

In your 50 years of existence, you have met a lot of people who have influenced your views in life. I may have not know all of them but I'm sure they are great beings for they define who you are today as a person, a person I'm truly proud of. Yes, I may not say this often, but I am really proud of you, proud of what you've become and proud of what you've accomplished and I'll always be here for you, through thick and thin.

You begin your new journey with a lot to thank for. With all the trials and difficulties, failed relationships, major debt issues, one operation and life-threatening accidents in the past, you must be surprised on how you've reached 50, still alive and kicking.

ALIVE AND KICKING

And as for my advice, unsolicited advice, I want you to take it easy. You know who you are and what you want. You should have a lot more control over yourself and you should not let others push you into directions that you don't intend to go. You have the wisdom to know how to go against the tied and be exactly who you want to be. Be happy that you're 50. There's a saying that you only old as you feel. Remember, age is just number. Sure, your body is aging but it's not an excuse to enjoy life.  Life has much to offer and that it is senseless to let age stop you from having fun and feeling young. You're just starting to live life and it's just a matter of attitude.

As I end here, I say a prayer for you.

Thank you so much Lord for bringing him to his golden years, 50 years full of miracles and blessings. As he entered a new journey, please do continuously support and do wonders for him.  Please always make him happy and healthy. Above all, make him feel my love and support every minute of the day. 

By the time you hit fifty, you have learned your hardest lessons. You have found out that only a few things are really important and you have learned to take life seriously, but never yourselves.

♫ ♪ ♫ Rainbow Connection ♫ ♪ ♫

For some people,  rainbow is just an arc of spectral colors that appears in the sky. To some, it's just an illusion created  by the sun shining on all the little drops of rain. Others think it's an optical phenomenon that involves spectacular display of lights.

I view rainbow as one of the wondrous occurrences in nature, an art form with  perfect color scheme in the sky. It's not a piece mastered by an artist but  it's a great masterpiece being God as the artist. As a child, I see rainbow  as God's way of telling me the rain is over and so I can play. I also remember hearing stories of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It's not true of course, but seeing rainbow is a reward in itself. It's not everyday we get the chance to see the result of God's working hands.

As I grow old, my views on rainbow deepens. My appreciation now is beyond its physical attributes. I have deeper sense of understanding  the reason beyond its existence. Rainbow was created by God not just for us to appreciate its beauty. More than the pleasure it brings, rainbow is God's way of telling us to have courage and hope, to have grace under pressure.

When I see rainbow, I feel much lighter. Rainbow makes me appreciate life in spite of its imperfection. Rainbow makes me see the beauty of life. Yes, life is beautiful but its exquisiteness is far beyond what eyes can see. It's not just about the flowers and the bees or the birds and the trees; the wonders of nature or colorful culture, it's not just about humanities or heavenly bodies.

There is a thin line that separates life's beauty and life's cruelty. Take the case of a man who has power and richness but lacks happiness or the case of a man who lives in poverty but has the time for his family. We all love sunshine but not hotness. We appreciates rain but not when storm reigns. We use fire to cook but we hate this same fire for the life it took. What do these imply?

We cannot see life's beauty unless we experience its cruelty. How can we appreciate something when it just pop out of nothing. Experiencing cruelty doesn't mean allowing things to hurt or punish you. It means giving God the opportunity to teach you what life is all about  and it is only then you'll see life's real beauty. Cruelty is an opportunity in disguise and you will not know it until you find life's meaning and its purpose.

Rainbow can be seen right after the rain. For life's beauty, it is also the same. After the storm in our lives, rainbow appears. Rainbow is God's covenant to mankind, the fulfillment of his promise and our reward for trusting God's goodness.

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.

So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.