It's the first week of December and I have yet to begin contemplating on the year that is almost over. Fortunately, I came across this awesome contest (here) from the @hiveph community (shameless self-promotion. lol), which gave me an excuse to ramble on about what I wish for the holidays.
In the post announcement, entries were asked to answer the following:
What do you wish for this holiday? World peace ba talaga? Baka naman sports car, yung red?
To answer the first question, I will be extremely happy to receive a million dollars - who doesn't? I know that money doesn't buy happiness, but it can be used to buy things that would otherwise be difficult to achieve without money. For example, I like traveling and visiting other places to see the sights and sounds and learn about other cultures, meet people, interact and participate in festivals, etcetera, etcetera. I will need money to get me to where I want to go: to pay for gas or buy plane tickets; to pay for hotels and eat. Another example: I like taking photographs. Buying a decent camera would require cash. Even if I search every nook and cranny of Carriedo and Greenhills for my desired equipment, this still require Benjamins ( or Ninoys here in the Philippines).
World peace ba talaga? Baka naman sports car, yung red?
Moving on to the next....
World peace would be nice. War stinks: people (and animals) die, properties get destroyed, and economies obliterated. Even if I am not directly involved, I am aware of the effects the war in Ukraine has on me, here in our country, even if it is 9,000 kilometers away. We are not totally free of armed conflict here in my country, but it's not as bad as what's happening there in Ukraine.
Baka naman sports car, yung red?
I like a nice sports car, a red one is the cherry on top. So, HivePH really hit the bullseye on the qualifying statement. I love cars and it would be nice to have a new one.
That said, my real answer, or at least the one that I most desire at this moment in time, is this:
On a personal level, I wish to have clarity: clarity of thought, clarity of intentions, clarity in the direction I will be taking for the coming year, clarity in general. Such a trite and boring answer, I suppose, but this is what I feel I should be aiming for in the next few weeks before the new year bell rings. For this exercise, I guess a liberal or expanded definition might include peace of mind, calmness, quietude, whatever synonym fits, and more.
Starting from clarity, I get that sense of calmness that gives me a good perspective on things, to contemplate on big decisions, to inspire that creative spark, and to create serenity that so many people long for in life - the calmness in the middle of the storm.
It inspires and motivates one to take the plunge; like jumping from a cliff in a secluded beach cove on a bright sunny day. The warm bluish water almost invisible. Fish swimming. The colorful corals inviting you to jump in. Clarity pushes the boundaries of what can and cannot be done in the mind as it helps remove fear because it is easy to throw caution to the wind - to jump in and take the plunge - when you can see what is below because the sun is shining ever so brightly and the water is calm and crystal clear that you can almost hear what nature is whispering to your ears.
Such a vague and abstract concept this thing we call clarity. I'm not even sure if this is what I'm talking about when I describe what I want. The one thing that is clear to me, however, is that clarity will help me see the goal and understand. It is both an end in itself and a means to an end. And if I don't get my wish for clarity, then I'll gladly settle for $1M, world peace, and a red sports car.
And, that's it for now. If you are still reading, thanks! I appreciate you. Love you as a friend. 😊
Love and peace.
*Shoutout to @bearone for the @hiveph badge. Photos are mine.
*P.S. Salimpusa lang ako. I'm declining the prize so don't judge me.😂