Monday 20 February 2012

A CONSCIOUS GRATITUDE




by Earlie Doriman
To me, gratitude is a feeling and a virtue of being grateful to others whose influence into your life creates a lasting remembrance and profound difference. To say you are grateful means you appreciate genuinely the kindness and goodwill extended to you by someone who might be a family member, a relative, a friend, or perhaps a complete stranger. Therefore, conscious gratitude is an expression from your heart flowing out naturally, expands within, and makes you an inspiring reflection of that same compassion bequeathed unto you by others. You become what their kindness has sown into your own being.
I grew up in a big family. My father was a very humble farmer and my mother a plain homemaker, who looked after seven children. I knew then that as a farmer, my father could not provide us everything that we wanted, but I did not reckon we were deprived of our happiness as young kids because what I could reminisce today were the happy memories of a countryside life. The bursting laughter with my younger brothers and friends as we climbed trees like monkeys, the thrill on riding carabaos (water buffalo which is so called farmer’s beast), the enjoyment of flying kites, the real excitement running on hills and valleys and a whole lot more.

Philippine carabao or water buffalo
I could not forget the slingshot that my father made for me which I was supposed to use to scare away tiny birds (which we locally call ‘maya’ bird) feasting in our rice field. But I used it sometimes to hunt for birds like owls, trogon, wild ducks, black bittern, white-collared kingfisher (tikarol or tingkarol), crows, and others. I was not aware that my hunting contributed to the extinct of some tropical bird species. There were loads of birds in the farm before, of various colours – black, stripy, grayish, brown, and mixed; of varied sizes - small ones, big ones, crazy ones, fierce ones; differently shaped beaks – curve, long, sharp, dull, anything. I remembered being attacked by a very angry female owl because I was moving close to where her offspring (owlets) were. It was truly frightening but to remember it now, was so much fascinating and exciting.
Philippine Maya
Not only that, there were also nasty creatures on the ground (or so I thought). I knew I killed more than twenty different snakes, along the roads, or in rice paddies, or under coconut trees, or some in swampy areas. They were not dangerous snakes, (or should I say they were just a bit venomous). What I was honestly afraid of was the local cobra, which fights back if your attack is not as accurate. Since snakes became a daily encounter, I always made it sure to carry that flexible guava stick in my hand if I went to the farm. There were many times too that I have to run for my life. Pythons were not very friendly when you disturbed them, you see. Plus the fact that one of our neighbours died due to snake bites. It wasn’t a joke certainly.
Generally, it was a simple life, a laid back existence, and exciting countryside survival, something that I wish my children could experience too, of course without the snakes this time.
Like everybody else, our parents have a dream for us. They wanted all of us to finish our education. My Nanay (it’s how we addressed our mother), used to tell us that we could have a much better life if we get a degree and she told us that we have to do our best, study hard and believe that in prayers and hard work God will provide. These are the words of inspiration that propelled us to endeavour and conquered better lives. My high school principal is a God’s blessing, an answer to my hardest prayers, he was truly instrumental for my university scholarship and I am perpetually thankful about it. Tatay Oren and Nanay Domen (who passed away few a years ago), my father’s bother and sister in law respectively, have been so kind to offer me financial help during my university years. In fact their family were so generous to us that they trusted my father to look after their farm and eventually give it to us in the early 2000’s. The Brothers of the Sacred Heart that gave my younger brother a full secondary scholarship and the many other friends and relatives who helped us realized our dreams. These were just few to mention about the wonders of God’s provision.




Yet it was not a smooth journey. It was filled with all sort of frustrations and possibilities, challenges, disappointments and uncertainties. However, these were the best experiences, which humbled us all along. And in these events, that the blessing of good people, abounds. People whom my parents and my siblings feel very grateful and thankful then and now. They were gifts who came, supported us, and continue to be gifts today and inspire us to extend that kindness to others. I know how difficult it is to need something beyond your grip and I must know how amazing it is to find people who lead you the way to get it. 
If I were to list down people who I should thank for, for all the things that I have and for everything that I am now, I know it would take a whole lot of counting and I might not be able to remember every single individual who in their own little way supported me unconditionally. It is truly a blessing in ones life and existence to know people and to have families and relatives willing to help without asking something in return. I am so fortunate I have them in my life.
I would always be proud to tell others about our family, our journey, my journey and my sibling’s respective journeys. Definitely, I would be proud to tell my kids that in this life, there are so many kind-hearted people and we are so blessed we are able to know them so well.

32 comments:

  1. ...and I'm so lucky to have crossed paths with you my dear friend..:) -wengcons

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  2. Hi my Friend,

    Thanks for dropping by and for your message. I truly miss the old pure fun...the bloopers..mga katawa nga walay makatupong...how about our college experiences..the CHED?..the SSP?...hehehe...the allowance?..sus kalingaw na lang..but i said my friend, those things kept us determined and more inspired?hehehe....Bitaw salamat my friend.

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  3. Reading at your post, I cannot help but wax nostalgic about my humble beginnings... a poor boy dwelling in an island town. Congratulations, I like your writing style.

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  4. Hi Islandvacations,

    I truly appreciate the time you spent to read this article. Thank you too for the kind words. It is a celebration to look back and recall the simple life and the rich experiences of our humble beginnings and i am glad you, very thankful about what you have become now. Success is a celebration from the heart. Congratulations too my friend.

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  5. Wow your childhood sounds fascinating, and like so much fun! I didn't grow up with very much either, but definitely had MORE than enough. I was never in want for anything, and I was blessed with the most amazing family.

    Reading about how you have been blessed by other people and have experienced such support and love from those around your is wonderful! AND I love how you have remianed humble and grateful.

    Thank you for sharing so much about your life. I really enjoyed reading it.

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  6. Our humble beginning and keeping that humility in our spirit make us simply admired by those who have been known or even unknown to us...
    I love this bro, as you descriptively recall those experiences...journeying back in time seems so vivid... ang atong kapubre ug ang mga tawo nga nahimong instrumento para makab-ot nato ang atong mga tinguha DILI JUD DAPAT NATO'NG KALIMTAM...In like manner,(personally) there are times that I wish to walk back those laid back days, were the genuine laughters resonate around as i just watched my cousins nga magsakay sa palwa ug magpaslide sa bakilid, maglumba ug dagan nga hubad din salum sa sapa, maglumba ug sakay sa karabao nga sa lubot muagi gunit sa ikog... simple joy and contentment...in contrary to the complexities that though we hate to have but we need to conquer.....KUDOS bro...SANSU

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  7. Hi healingleaf,

    Your kind words are as inspiring as the sunrise and I am very thankful that you appreciate my journey. I deeply appreciate too that you provide a preview of your happy life as kid although in entirely different ways. You are very fortunate to have your amazing family who made you so successful but remained very close to the Lord to your faith.
    I know you are an amazing person and I believe you also inspired others in your own ways.
    Thanks again and hoe we keep in touch here.

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  8. Hi man Su,
    Dili lalim ang gipang-agian mam pero walay makalabaw sa ka-nindot sa experiences sa simple life sa bukid. And never gyud nga malimtan or ibutang sa kalimot ang tanang kalingawan, tama musakay sa karabao muagi msa ikog..hahahaha..musakay sa palwa magpaslide sa bukid padulong sa labong nga sagbutan..hahaha..
    Tinuod gyud mam..it is so fascinating to recall those days and surely exciting to experience them again..Congrats too for all your successes in life that in site of the challenges - you conquer better life. Thanks for dropping by mam.

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  9. What a rich and colorful childhood you had! Such wonderful memories. And what a beautiful attitude toward life. Your children are lucky to have a father like you.

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  10. Hi Nothingprofound,

    I truly appreciate your kind words. It was a very simple but happy, lively, full of memories childhood. Childhood days that remain worthy and a treasure to look back. The traditional games that required physical stamina and discipline as well as ingenuity. Those were the days that I am very thankful of about my parents who brought us up very appreciative of anything little and humble.

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  11. Reading this post is like reading my own childhood memories and my own humble story of how i came to be where i am now. my parents occupation are like yours and they also raised 7 children of which i am the youngest.

    having the all the six married already --- my parents survived my education. i needed to stop for two years after spending a semester in MSU-Marawi and had to venture the life in Manila.

    my parents asked me to go home and by then they had decided to finance my college education to the best they can with a meager income of selling "kakanin". and like you there had been many people whom i needed to thank for for being a blessing while my journey towards my degree was on...

    inspiring post...

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    1. And congratulations for making it through my friend. Our childhood experience made us more prepared and hopeful what life has to offer..and it thus proved meaningful now.
      Thanks for your message.

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  12. it's always good to reflect and know where one comes from.
    you definitely have beautiful thoughts.

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    1. I agree Athena..there is more beauty and more promise to know where you come from and be grateful to everyone who helped you through.

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  13. What an article is this? You wrote an article with virtue of excellence. So inspiring! Your life in bukid reminds me when I spent my holiday sa basakan sa akong lola. Every time I think my childhood and shared to my husband he wants to go there in our bukid and see how beautiful was my childhood. I'm sure you have loads of stories to share with your kids every night. LOL

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  14. Your Article reminds me when I was a child, I also grew up in the province and have much fun. thanks for sharing and reminding me...

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  15. an inspiring story. i like reading post like this. =)

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  16. God has given you the very same people to help, mold and shape you TO BE YOU! You have unknowingly blessed us with this post.. thank you!

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  17. Eeeek! Snakes! I'm afraid of snakes.. I've killed some, though. Little snakes that ventured to go inside my room. I live in a farm, too. Life is indeed simple in the countryside.

    You used some lovely words. Thanks for the share.

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  18. Wow... this post appeals to the country girl in me no matter how stuck I am in the city. Slingshots! Gimme one! I have always fancied that but nobody would let me play. Ah well.... :)

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  19. thanks for sharing this, it is always nice to look back and check how far we have traveled so far and appreciate our humbling beginnings. I used to vacation also in my granfather's house, and whenever we are hungry we will just grab singkamas from lolo's farm.. or climb trees.. i even experienced staying overnight with our pigs whenever the mommy pig will give birth to assist her with the piglets! i am always thankful of my beginnings and how it made me stronger to be what I am today.. ;)

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  20. your post reminds me of my life in the province. and if given a chance, i'd rather stay in a place like that again, where time runs so slow, nothing to worry about but food to eat, getting along with my siblings and parent all day long. a PEACEFUL life indeed.

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  21. what an inspirational story thanks for sharing this

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  22. I like the way you tell your story about your childhood. Everyone of us should be grateful to our parents who shed blood and tears just to make sure that we get to where we are right now. ^_^

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  23. we all should be grateful towards our parents... I'm sure many people will be inspired by your story...

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  24. I've read from the Bible about those blind people who came to see Jesus in order that their blindness might be cured. Out of ten of them who have been healed by Jesus only one came and thanked Jesus. And this kind of attitude is the sin of all ages, that is, ungratefulness. How it is related to your life story is very much important. You're be grateful to your parents who brought you up of what you're now. You're also very grateful for your relatives, among others who have greatly influenced your well-being. Their good deeds are something for you to be conscious of and something for you to be immensely grateful and thankful. And this kind of attitude is heavenly and godly.

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  25. I am thankful for every little thing in life too!

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  26. One thing that you should be thankful about this life is the people that God has given to remind us and to make us a better person. Gratitude is the key to success

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  27. There are so many reasons we should be filled with gratitude towards God and having a wonderful family is one of them! While we may have different kinds of family, the relationship we have with them would be the most enduring so we can make our "home a bit of heaven on earth" and it starts with being grateful to our parents, siblings, other relatives and kind -hearted people we meet along the way!

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  28. What a wonderfully written post. Very inspiring.

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  29. Thanks for sharing your humble beginning! God Bless you

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