Tag Archives: new year

A Promise to be Grateful

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2024 has been full of challenges and wonderful things. Looking back, I can only go, “Whew! I thought I wouldn’t survive that!”

In late June I moved back to the Philippines for good. New house, (kind of ) new workplace. Having worked abroad for 21 years, I did not find it easy readjusting to life here. And I thought I could get our house ready in the first two weeks of my arrival, but it took me a couple of months to make the place feel like home. And even now there’s still much to be done!

There’s work, and my PhD, and conferences to attend and papers to write, and my son getting sick, and me getting sick — October was the peak of challenges. I was ready to give it all up. But like good things, bad things, too, come to an end.

All in all, 2024 has been a good year. All the challenges I’ve met this year made me stronger in my faith, and in my appreciation for my husband and my son, and everyone who has been good to us as we start a new chapter in our lives.

So for 2025, I look forward to starting the year with gratitude, and finding things to be grateful for every single day. Just as Donna Cameron started A Year of Living Kindly years ago, I hope I can have years of living with gratitude as well.

Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you and your loved ones a very happy and meaningful 2025.

Blessings,

Therese

A guiding hand in the darkness

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It’s dark, and it’s cold

And I can’t see my way in the darkness

I stumble in the rough, uneven road

But I don’t let go of your hand

You don’t let go of my hand.

Your hand is firm and comforting

I feel the certainty in its warmth and strength

There’s no rushing

There’s no hesitation

Just a sure, steady motion of moving forward

In the darkness

Towards some place

Right now, I know not where

But I trust you

I let you lead

I know I’ll get there.

May you find the guiding hand that will lead you to where you’re supposed to be. 😊

Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Therese

New Day: A Haiku

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A new day, new life

The old, pain-filled year has passed.

This new one brings hope.

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I had a very busy November and December, and this busy-ness is not ending with the end of 2020. Yet, I am very grateful for so many things, and I’m sure we all can find things to be grateful for even though we may have suffered some.

But life has always been like that, hasn’t it? We win some; we lose some. We can acknowledge the pain, but we shouldn’t let it stop us from living because life isn’t all pain. There are joys, too. We just have to open our eyes and hearts to them.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I wish you and those you hold dear all the best for 2021. May we all find more reasons to be grateful in this new year. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Therese 01/01/21

Gratitude and Optimism

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Yesterday I saw a video called “Life Lessons from 100-Year-Olds,” and it brought tears to my eyes. If you have time, watch it. I’m sure everyone can learn a thing or two from these centenarians.

I think it was fortuitous to have seen that video on the last day of the year, as it reminded me to look back at my own life during the past year (well, I am always looking back, lol)  and to count my blessings and be grateful even though 2018 saw me inwardly distraught about a number of things that I could not talk about with loved ones, as I do not want to spread negative vibes.

Today is the first day of 2019. I will try my very best to continue to be grateful and to believe that everything will be all right.

I hope you do as well.

Happy New Year!🎉💕

T.

2017 Favorites

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“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” — T.S. Eliot

Below are two of my favorite photos that I took this year. Both are records of my first visit to North America and of the very first time I saw  snow-covered mountains. That feeling I had as I looked out the window and saw those mountains will always be as vivid as I felt it when I was on the plane flying to Alberta from Vancouver.

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After all the pain and sorrow of 2016, 2017 was overall a calm and peaceful year for me. And I am very grateful for that year. I have no idea what this year is going to be like,  but I continue to be hopeful. I am ready for another beginning.

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

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Canada

img_2011Weekly Photo Challenge:
2017 Favorites

Weekly Photo Challenge: Paths 

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This week’s photo challenge theme is “Paths.” And these photos of a runway symbolize my hope for a straighter, smoother 2017. 


It is quite apt for me to summarize my year with photos of a plane (part of it) and a runway, as this is the first year I found myself on a plane at least four times a month for 11 months (May was the only month I didn’t travel).  

The first quarter of this year, the reasons for flying was my son’s visa and my mother’s deteriorating health (and passing). The rest of the year, I flew home every month to see my son just for the weekend. 

My 2016 path was full of bumps and potholes. I hope (and pray to whoever can hear up there!) 2017 will be straighter and smoother, like a runway!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

T. 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Paths