Recently, I heard someone say, “We are one decision away from a totally different life.”

It made me stop in my tracks, reflect on all the most important decisions in my life and reexamine where these decisions have taken me.

If I didn’t decide to go to GISRSMNHS instead of Mayamot National High School, where most of my grade school friends and classmates went, I probably wouldn’t have experienced my first friendship heartbreak.

Without this heartbreak, I wouldn’t have become a little cautious in selecting my circle. I probably wouldn’t have known, early in life, what’s more important in this world. When all I had was God and my family, I realized that I had to stop doing what people expected of me and start looking for the purpose that is intended for me.

Because of this heartbreak, I got to focus more on my studies— and after that, in my career. I had no interest on casually going out or dating too, which led me to being content on my own.

As a result of my extreme introversion in college, I got too much into manga and decided to work as a quality controller of mangafox.com. I never thought that by doing this, it would lead met to meet some of the most special ladies from all over the world who will start ALICE DREAMS scanlation team with me. Although that team didn’t last long, our friendship remains, and I still get to meet some of them when I travel to the country they are currently in. We grew up, but when we talk and our old otaku self comes out, we can expect no judgment— only pure understanding.

If I didn’t decide to resign from my first job as a travel consultant to work in the BPO industry in order to help my family in our financial issues, I probably would have never met my mean girls, Ching and Thine (and our other friends). Being the youngest of our group (since I just graduated when we met at work), it has its perks too whenever we meet. I don’t have to act all mature and grown-up when I’m with them. I can be the “young” me that was forced to grow up early because of some life difficulties.

If I didn’t work in the BPO industry, I probably would have stayed timid in public speaking. Working there for two years helped me a lot in improving my self-confidence. Being a resolution specialist in customer service also helped me hone my leadership skills and (let’s face it) improve my temper.

It also helped me and my sister get enough savings to have our first international travel in Thailand and Cambodia— which of course, led to more travels in the future.

If I didn’t decide to work there, we probably wouldn’t have been able to pay off our family’s house in the span of a few years.

If I didn’t work there, I probably wouldn’t have felt so lost after I decided to resign (only when the loans were paid in full). Being so far from my field of Tourism, it led me to decide on pursuing my master’s degree to get back on track.

When I decided to get my MBA, it led me to appreciate friendship while studying. My classmates thought me that’s it’s okay not to take everything too seriously. However, it didn’t mean we didn’t have some very memorable heated debates during class.

If I didn’t inquire with Ms. Amicar about the MBA program of PLMAR, she probably wouldn’t have been able to tell me that my credentials can get me a good tertiary teaching job. Then I would have never tried to apply in Asian College to be a Tourism Management Instructor.

If I didn’t take my MBA in PLMAR, I probably would have never met Sir Ed who told me to try applying for a part-time teaching position in the university’s Tourism Department.

My decision to teach led me to meet my kiddos. The ones who messaged me earlier to greet me “happy birthday” and the ones who message me out of the blue “just because”. The ones who give me headache as much as they give me love. The ones who tells me they look up to me but also had a lot of complaints when I asked them to do a course work.

If I didn’t teach, I probably would have never met my AC babies, Kring Kring, Antoneth, Zoren, Angela and my other PLMAR babies. My family would have never had an Uno.

If I didn’t teach, I probably wouldn’t experience my burnout last 2016-2017. I gave my all in this career (since I fell too much in love with it) that I didn’t realize I wasn’t really taking a break even if I am on a break physically.

If I didn’t have my burnout last 2017, I wouldn’t have decided to work in Bahrain last 2018.

If I didn’t work in Bahrain, I would have never met my Life Group sisters who helped me fully face my childhood demons. Maybe, I also wouldn’t have been able to travel to Georgia and Armenia. Who knows?

If I didn’t work in Bahrain, then I probably wouldn’t have been able to tour my whole family in Singapore last year: A big check on my bucket list.

If I didn’t decide to come home to the Philippines last year despite Sofitel Bahrain’s offer, I would have never come back to PLMAR.

If I didn’t come back to PLMAR, then I probably would have never felt the need for something better for myself. I probably would have stayed content without trying to improve myself. Then, I probably wouldn’t even thought of trying to get a position in AIM.

If I didn’t decide to come back to the Philippines, then I wouldn’t have been here with my family during this COVID pandemic. I probably wouldn’t have introduced BT21 to Uno. I also probably wouldn’t have been here when my sisters had gone through some tough times.

In making decisions:

We meet new people.

We gain new knowledge.

We experience new things.

Sometimes we win. Sometimes we fail.

Of course, I know there are also so many what ifs— but I decide not to dwell on those.

You know why?

Because I learned something very important this past year: my God is the God of impossibilities.

Maybe I fret sometimes, and I get a little frustrated if things don’t go as planned. But I know that in the end, things will work out for the best. It’s a promise from Him that I will hold on to as I face another year of my life.

Now— before this day ends, I will make new decisions.

I decide study again. If time or finances don’t permit my PhD, then I’ll probably study a new language at least.

I decide to be consistent on my health and fitness.

I decide to not let my busyness hinder my prayer time.

I decide to increase my monthly travel fund savings.

I decide to strive for a better version of me.