New Year, New Me!

    New Year’s Eve is always filled with fireworks, families, singing, cheering, and delicious food. At least, in my opinion. I tend to erase possible unpleasant memories about it so all I could give are positive comments. Except the New Year’s Eve during 2022. It was too recent to be able to remove from my memory. I was sitting on the bed, away from a vicious Chihuahua (who is sadly a pet of one of my cousins), enduring the pain I felt from waking up early after a morning trip from Vigan to Manila, which took more or less 12 hours. It was highly exhausting, the way the driver drove at the beginning nauseating, and I was running out of snacks and things to do during the trip. Any attempt of sleeping fails due to worsened sleeping problems I had since the pandemic started. I was dizzy, bored and impatient. Thankfully, the view was amazing. As I watched the sun set, my mind drifted to that person once more. I "tsked" in annoyance and tried to redirect my mind to other things by listening to music.

    Despite the body pain and dizziness that I endured as we played games, ate delicious food and used the karaoke, I was happy I got to spend time with my family members who live in Cavite. After we arrived in Manila, we ate dinner at Chowking then had a Grab drive from Manila to General Trias, Cavite. We arrived at one of my aunt’s house and spent the night there. I have two aunts who live there—their houses a 5-minute tricycle drive away from each other.

    I was glad that even though the pandemic hasn't ended, there are less Covid cases now which allows us to travel to our family and loved ones. I hope that the amount of cases would continue to lessen until the pandemic would end. It might not happen within the amount of time we wish for, let us continue to pray and hope this would end. Despite my rather pessimistic attitude, I wish to improve my views and coping mechanisms this 2023.