2022 Year-end Reflections, Hello 2023

 

On this last day of 2022, I reflect on the year that was. In the grand scheme of tragedies, wars, poverty, and the continued menace of Covid-19, I can truly say that I am blessed beyond belief. 

At our year-end Thanksgiving service in the church, I remembered the moments of blessings and happiness, and I gave thanks for the spiritual guidance from the Almighty God. My gratitude abounds. 

I have my own share of ups and downs, disappointments, and trials, but I am hopeful that 2023 will be a better year for all of us. I wish to share and pay forward all the great things I received.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Vacation in the Philippines, September 2022

The best thing that happened in 2022 was that I hugged my mother again. Finally, after three years of video calls, I held my 91-year-old Nanay in my arms. She is the reason why we endured the long arduous plane ride to the Philippines; why we suffered through turbulent rides and backside-numbing pains.

In the picture, my mom was actually trying not to laugh because she didn't have her dentures in. She was conscious of her appearance, making sure to wear her perfume every day even though she did not often leave her bedroom anymore due to her weak knees. As long as her favorite tv shows are on, she is content.

Whatever her heart desires, I will always try to give in to her, except on staying at her side for good. Unfortunately, I have to live apart from her and work far away to provide for her. Thankfully, her mind is still sharp as ever. She playfully hinted at a new watch from her grandson Jordan.

All good things had to come to an end. I had a great time reuniting with my extended family, friends, and classmates. My heartfelt thanks to family and friends who made our vacation a fantabulous one. 

It was not easy to kiss my mom and the rest of my family goodbye, to wait until the next vacation. But wipe the tears we did, for we had to get back to work.

Beautiful Philippines

Being a tourist in my native country. There are so many hidden gems in this country of 7,100+ islands.

Birthday celebration with family

Far away from the somber 9/11 ceremonies in the US, my birthday this year amongst family and friends was most significant for me. This was the first time I celebrated my special day in Manila after 39 years and the first time since 2001 (21 years) when I didn't feel a smidgen of guilt for celebrating a day more remembered for the attack on the twin towers.  In the haze of purple attire and a standee of BTS Jin, there was just peace, happiness, and contentment to be with the people I love.  

Life is simple, after all. There is joy when you're surrounded by love, there is no need for an ostentatious celebration. Just celebrating life, although I still cringed when I saw the number 64. I just have to remember that age is just a number and that I am much wiser and more blessed.

 

Publication

My article “Finding My Joy: Fighting Nurse Burn-out” was published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing November 2022 issue. It was a personal account of my own challenges and journey as a nurse leader during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. I believe that this will resonate with other nurse leaders out there.

Finding My Joy: Fighting Nurse Burn-out

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0099176722001842?dgcid=author&fbclid=IwAR3NTcIkMBZtepK83vnnA_6g-nGp3TqUu5j7Q0cpJbfhLN8igB9D1yQH1VE

 

Los Cabos, Mexico, for the 1199SIEU Continuing Education Wellness Conference

So thankful to be part of the Instructor team from the #1199SEIU Continuing Education group. The Wellness of the Mind, Body, and Soul conference at  Los Cabos, Mexico, offered the topics on Self-care: Building a path to healthy kidneys, DM: Prevention & Health Maintenance,  The Search for the true self, and my topic Finding Joy in Nursing. This conference proved that nurses (or any healthcare worker) deserve to take care of and love themselves first to fight burnout. One cannot run on empty. 

After the challenges of Covid-19 as front liners, nurses need to recharge and invigorate themselves to find their joy. We all need help to find our purpose and meaning, our "Ikigai."

 

 

 

Hello, 2023. 

We all enter the new year with a little uncertainty about what the future holds. But it is full steam ahead for me. No matter what, we will persevere. I will let God take charge of my life.

'Let God Take Charge of Your Life' (No. 457)

 

The Year That Was and The Gift of a New Year

As the year 2013 ended, it gave me much comfort to come to our church in Forest Hills for our Year-End Thanksgiving Prayer. The brethren gathered together in reflection of the year that was, and to pray for the year that will be. Even as New York City was in the midst of frenzied preparations for the ball drop, we bowed our heads in silent retrospection and gave thanks to God.

It has not been an easy year. Tragedy struck the Philippines, first the earthquake, then the super typhoon that had demolished Eastern Visayas.

Four special people passed away this year (Uncle Alex, Amy, Phyllis, Jennifer). Each one of them will be missed. When someone special had enriched your life and had touched your heart, the sadness comes from missing the grace or the knowledge of their presence. We can only hold onto the memories in our minds and give thanks for the gift of knowing them.


Because I am an eternal optimist, I look at the past year as a glass half-full. I was blessed.


FAMILY VACATION…

Who says I can’t go home?

After twelve years, I came home to the Philippines. This time, it was not to mourn my father’s death from a stroke attack. This time, it was to see my family, my mom, my two brothers and an extended family quite unlike any other.

My calendar of activities was filled with places to visit, things to do, people to see in just three weeks. I wanted my son Jordan to experience the land of my birth. He was just ten years old on his last visit; and this time, he came much prepared, his Tagalog vocabulary was much more extensive although still heavily accented with a New York twang.

The Filipinos are known for their extended families. A vacation brings all the cousins back to reminisce our childhood escapades; sometimes it’s the only time when the Cerrudo clan gets to see each other again.

I loved the food trips. Trying almost every restaurant in the mall and sharing the bounty with relatives. Bingeing on fruits (santol, lanzones, mango) and Nanay's home-made cooking.

Experiencing the Walled City of Intramuros. Soaking in the ambience of a world gone by- of old houses during the Spanish era with the wide lattice windows and open verandas. I could almost feel the ghosts of senoritas strolling around the paseo as they cover their faces with the fans.

Riding the calesa around Intramuros. Even if the horse looked scrawny and apathetic, unlike the beautiful horses in Central Park, it knew how to do a proper u-turn in a narrow street.

Jose Rizal's execution site in Luneta. As soon as we saw this tableau, I felt deep emotions at the sad scene of Rizal executed by the Spaniards, all in the name of patriotism. The sculpture pieces were amazing; they captured the life and death of our national hero. It was a history lesson for Jordan.

BALUT!!!!! “Fear Factor” audition recorded on camera. To see the look of utter disgust on Jordan's face- PRICELESS!!!!

Finally, I am thankful for the chance to hug my mother again, tightly but not long enough to last me till my next visit. In her 80’s, she is still a fireball of energy and humor; someone who will break into her funny chicken dance when the spirit moves her. I need another vacation; I want to tell her in person again how much I love her.


CAREER

I love my job. It has its share of challenges and stressors, but I know I have risen up above most expectations, mostly mine. The future holds more opportunities for me, more pathways to explore. So, since being a Clinical Nurse Specialist came up number two in the article "Best Jobs in America", that means, I'm doing alright.

http://money.cnn.com/pf/best-jobs/2013/snapshots/2.html


MY SON

Jordan continues to amaze me. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry. He dabbles in a strange world of molecular biology, genomes, genetics, polypeptides, mutagenesis, quantum physics, and whatchamacallit. He dissects mosquitoes in the lab, and plans to pursue doctoral studies in research. I might have my own Dr. Nye later on. A scientist who also plays the piano. Even though he does not still clean his room.

I guess, like mother, like son. (the cleaning, I mean)



MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS:

1. Choose the people who whisper things in my ear. I choose to surround myself with friends who are trustworthy and with co-workers with no hidden agenda or crab mentality. I will treasure friends, near and far, who grace my life with their presence.

2. Look for things that inspire, and uplift. Life is too short to waste on inconsequential people. I will draw my strength from those who give positive energy and inspiration, despite all odds.

3. Go for it. Live life with great appreciation for the gift of living and be not afraid to explore where else life can take you.


2014, I am ready for the gift to be unwrapped and to let my light shine even more. This year is another gift from God. Ready to face whatever life brings. This year, I am looking forward to celebrating the one hundredth year of the Church.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson

Surviving Yolanda: Disaster in the Philippines

Unknown source


How can one community survive from a disaster called the worst to ever hit the country? How can one recover from overwhelming devastation?

Typhoon Yolanda with its Category 5 winds slammed into the islands of Leyte and Samar in Central Philippines last November 8. 2013. The disaster left a path of destruction which flattened both the concrete houses and nipa huts, and left dead bodies in its wake. The storm surge swept away homes and people. Nature gone mad. A poor community was rendered helpless and hopeless.

Right now, the roads are impassable due to debris and collapsed buildings and fallen electric cables. Misery is everywhere. Even as donations pour in and rescue efforts are underway, there are still some survivors sheltering in makeshift structures, bracing for the next storm, even as they mourn for their dead loved ones. A whole family torn apart; sometimes single survivors left to pick up their shattered lives on their own.

The images posted on the intranet are horrific to behold. Thousands of humans and animal lost, properties destroyed ; the once beautiful coastal areas transformed into a wasteland of rubbles and dead people and animals.

A whole community struggles, waiting for food and water from rescue groups unable to reach the isolated areas fast enough. The lack of electric power makes it difficult to communicate on the whereabouts and destinies of the people of Leyte. The fate of some loved ones are uncertain.

There is an outpouring of sympathy from people around the world. And yet, there are some heartless individuals who begrudge the help that the US government had sent to the Philippines and had demanded that monetary aid be redirected to help domestic people first. Self-entitlement and selfishness sometimes rear its ugly heads.

The rest of the caring world can only watch helplessly as heart-wrenching stories of loss are recounted by the survivors. Prompted by desperation, men and women sought out television cameras to plead for help and to connect with loved ones outside of the affected areas, mostly to tearfully announce which family member had passed away. Good or bad news, those who were left behind just wanted to reach out to anyone who may listen.

Filipinos are known for their resilience. The country had been plagued by natural disasters over the years, but its people had always bounced back from the trauma, made stronger by their faith and the optimism for a brighter future.

Could it be that most of the affected victims have been empowered by the harsh realities of life and that they have learned to live in the moment because the thought of thinking far beyond the present is inconceivable? When there's nothing in the horizon, one can only try to treasure the fact that their lives were spared then give thanks for another chance of redemption.

This latest tragedy had shaken us to the core and had rendered the future bleak and unimaginable. But there is no other option but to survive. To just take each day as it comes. To just hold on to the flicker of hope that there is still something worth living for. To just keep the Filipino spirit of resilience, against all odds.

To find something to smile about. To just find the courage to live again.

My heart bleeds for you, Philippines. Be strong.

All I can offer (aside from my donations) is a prayer that our countrymen in the Visayas will pull through yet another tragedy. Mabuhay.












Please donate:
http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations
https://www.wfp.org/donate/typhoon
http://www.childfund.org/emergency/
http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate
http://www.care.org/emergencies/typhoon-haiyan
https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=16500&16500.donation=form1

Filipino Global photo- Amidst the destruction around them, these kids still managed to find something to smile about. A testament to the resiliency of children


Thank you, Anderson Cooper, for the brave reporting. You bared the ineffective rescue efforts in the country and incurred the criticisms from those who were offended by the truth. There are lessons to be learned in a disaster; it's just too bad that these lessons came at the expense of the victims.




“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
-Confucius