You remember making that collage about your dreams at 30, from cut-out magazine models and scribbles from your fancy coloured pencils. 

When you look back over the years, a lot has changed for you. You've grown up looking forward to the same dreams as your peers. But you change, and your life path took a different road. Your dreams have changed, your aspirations took a different turn. You refused to be domesticated and monotonous.

Do I regret any of it? No. There were more times that I experienced things of the ordinary and events that can only happen in movies. A Filipina's worth and success was often measured if she's able to build her own family at 30 despite her failure in career. 

But I know I'm not just a Filipina. God revealed that I'm a different woman. If ever I was the same as others, I won't be striving that much harder to be better at everything and dreaming more ambitious goals. I sometimes get tired of trying and questioning the Lord why a blessing that I receive will be taken away from me. Then I fool myself to believe, there's always a good purpose that only someday I'll be able to understand.

For now, I'll just enjoy the risk of failure, of what I can be capable of doing and achieving. And as for being me, my heart would still stick to is own uniqueness and bravery.

(written on my Notes phone last November 25, 2016)#