It was just fitting to have finished the 25 random things about me yesterday. Starting today I have to get used with a new number called "my age". And as always, it feels surreal to turn a year older. When I was much younger (like 15 or so years ago) I always daydream of how and what will I be after 10 years. Say, when I was seven, I can't wait to become 17 and wonders how does it feel to be 18 (my bday cake has something to do about it I think - Papa decided that my cake should have this lady figurine on top of a stage with 18 counts of stairs..not to mention what I wore that day...). Then, I turned 16 and pondered about the "quarter-life" (as if to say 100 is the Filipino average life span).
If I can turn back time today and speak to my seven year old self, I want to tell and convince her not to wish too much of growing up faster than necessary. Tell little Des that it just feels just the same - the energy lives on as long as you keep it burning. Keep trying to learn volleyball, watch more cartoons, do what I want (that is to convince my parents to let me audition to 5&Up and meet Atom!), keep writing (in spite of massive grammatical errors later in time), keep dreaming and working to earn it but do not falter in faith when she fails at one point or another. Don't wait for a resident visa to arrive before exploring my own PI islands. Don't pick up fight with cousins, laugh much often and start young socializing. It doesn't matter what you become BUT how.
Then I go back to the future, face the mirror and say to my now 26 year old self - "Why are you still single??? What happened?" Whoops! no wrong thoughts.. what i meant was.. Continue to daydream like a little girl. It's a good reminder how to STAY young at heart in the long run. Then wink at myself.
