Villapaña, Arren F.

N-303

REFLECTION #1:

Most of us, if not all, do not realize how lucky we are. We feel like we are hard done by

and complain about all sorts of things, when in fact, we do not realize the agonies that some

people have to go through just to make it through the day.

Last January 8, 2011, I came to appreciate my mere being by meeting these people who

really maximize their existence to the fullest. Munting Tahanan ng Nazareth was a place

endowed with affection and compassion. Upon arriving at the place, you will see the genuine

smile that warmly welcomed us. This initial impression really boosts us to offer selfless service

to them. At first, we are still hesitant to mingle with them, but as soon as we introduce

ourselves, we already establish a rapport to them. This prompted to us to socialize and

establish camaraderie to them. Seeing a smile in their face meant a lot to us. We play with

them as if they are our siblings. We communicate with them as if they are our friends.

Some people tend to look these people as “disabled”. But if you will really scrutinize the

situation, these people are not different from us. They have emotions that are sensitive to

criticisms. Also, they deserve the happiness they are experiencing. We must not deprive them

to their rights. This event will surely be a remarkable one that I will surely treasure. I learned to

value my life and give meaning to it. I can really say that I am lucky enough on what I am and

who I am. Life is complex in its meaning. Many people love and hate life. Yet they do not

completely understand the purpose of life. Life does have meaning because it gives us a reason

to exist. Stay contented, and you will see the beauty of life.
REFLECTION #2:

Have you ever sat down and wondered what life really means? Why is it so important?
Life is short and many people do not realize it. We often forgot God, but God never forget us.
These are the main theme of the seminar I attended last February 5, 2011.

There are at least two ways of looking at the meaning of life. One is that we give
meaning to our life by the choices we make, the actions we take, the beliefs, attitudes,
assumptions, and expectations we bring to life. The other is that life is inherently meaningful.
This usually suggests the idea of a deity, a Mind behind the creation of life.

I believe that both of these are true. I believe that we can make our life more
meaningful by what we choose to do with it. All of us have various pieces of baggage from our
childhood. Nevertheless, as adults we can choose how we will perceive life and how we
perceive our own life.

And it is our perception of our life that can largely determine the quality of life we
experience. A lot of people objectify life, or try to. One's life is either good or bad. It is either
filled with positive things or filled with negatives. But if there is one thing that is far from
objective, it is our life experiences.

If we are in pain every day or struggling just to find enough to eat or shelter to protect
us from the elements, we would all pretty much agree that life is not good. But for the vast
majority of humankind, this is not our experience. And for the majority of Americans, our lives
do not approach this level of difficulty.

The fact is, the meaning of our lives and the quality of our lives are greatly determined
by our own choices as well as our attitude toward life. You could have two people who are
having exactly the same experience. One would be complaining loudly, feeling put upon, feeling
victimized, and angry. The other would be calm, at peace, not ruffled, and not feeling
victimized.
 People who are frequently angry tend to attract others who are angry. They tend to
attract situations that make them angry. Think about your own experiences. If you are in a bad
mood, you will tend to experience other people who are in a bad mood. The reverse is true. If
you are feeling good about yourself, you will tend to experience people who are feeling good.

Optimism doesn't just make your life appear to be better; it makes your life better. On
the physical level, optimism and a tendency to have fun, is good for your immune system and
actually keeps you healthy. Optimism and a positive perception of your life is also contagious
and makes others feel better.

The second type of meaning is founded on the idea of a Creator, a God who gives
meaning to life because of its origin. From this point of view, life is meaningful whether we
experience it as positive or negative. Our negative experiences are just as meaningful as our
positive because our experiences tell us how we're doing in our own spiritual growth.

This doesn't mean, from my point of view, that we are rewarded for good behavior and
punished for bad. It means that we are here to learn lessons. We are here to experience the
divinity of life and to learn how to be co-creators with the divine. Rather than seeing life as one
under a higher power, I see life as one in which we are given power to choose the life we live.

Going back to the question, what does life means to you? You will not find the answer to
this question in a book or library, everyone possess the answer within themselves already. We
posses the right answer, everyone is different and so are their expectations.
This isn't a question directed at the whole of mankind, it is a question, which in my
opinion, is directed at each of us individually. What is the meaning of life? There really is no
wrong answer.
You only have to ask yourself one simple question, what gives your life meaning? Think
about it for a while, what makes you get out of bed every morning and makes your life worth
living? I have already found my answer.