10th December 2022
When I was young, I have this perception that when we throw coins to fountains or wishing wells and make wishes, they will come true. Probably the influence of watching those movies with that kind of episode. There was one time I was in Manila looking for agencies to apply for abroad, and behind the Baclaran church is a wishing well where people believe their wishes would come true if they make a wish in there and throw a coin. Curious I was, I tried what other people around were doing. I tossed a coin into the well along with my wish.
But prior to that, it was an epic day for a first-timer in Manila and a solo traveler. Since I wasn't familiar with the places, I was only relying on Google Maps in locating agencies and places I want to visit. That day, I was from the agency somewhere in Baclaran and looking for another agency near the area. Yet, I wasn't good at using Google Maps, lol, so I got lost on my way and I just keep on walking and walking under the scorching sun, uncertain of where my feet would bring me.
Just imagine a newbie and a noob in a big city. I just told myself, "as long as I have the money to pay for the fare, and there are buses on the road, I will be able to go back to my boarding house in Taguig." Remembering that day made me laugh. I looked so ignorant. Instead of looking for a certain agency, I looked for the right bus stop as I wanted to go back to my boarding house since it was already afternoon.
I don't know if it was fated or what, but I ended up standing at the entrance of Baclaran church, tired and thirsty from walking for long hours. I only heard from folks and on TV that this church is miraculous. So I took that opportunity to pray and when I saw the well at the back, I made a wish and threw a coin.
And my wish? That was to get a job abroad. I almost gave up when after a few months, I was still stuck in the city. But after almost half a year of trying my luck and getting lost in the capital city, I got consecutive calls and messages from different agencies I applied for. I wasn't sure though if it was because of my wish or just because my effort paid off, lol. Whatever it was, I am so grateful for the outcome.
It makes me wonder if wishes really come true if we fervently pray for them. But I am certain that, when they are granted, they are the result of our hard work and perseverance.
For this Christmas, I wish for both tangible and intangible gifts.
I wish for a new laptop or DSLR Camera
I've been yearning for a new laptop or buying a DSLR camera as a gift to myself. The laptop is very important in blogging and vlogging, and I thought I could easily manage vlogging well if I had one. Although I have a laptop here, it's useless and I need to spend a lot to fix it, so I would rather buy a new one. Meanwhile, the DSLR is for my photography hobby and traveling.
Yet, every time I have savings for either of these two, unfavorable circumstances occur. Just this year, two of my family members were hospitalized on two different occasions and they needed financial assistance. And adding the huge monthly expenses at home left me no choice but to set aside my own wishes. Moreover, the crypto market doesn't want to go in my favor. My trading orders recently were all failures. So I just gave up and wait for the real bull run instead. A little more patience is truly necessary.
If My Wishes Won't Come True, Just Grant Me This One
Created in Canva
No tangible gifts are more important than intangible ones. I have limitations when making wishes, and if I know that tangible gifts aren't achievable, I would simply wish to have good health for myself and my loved ones so I could live longer and have more chances to achieve all my goals and desires in life.
It's not through making wishes we can achieve the material gifts we want, it's through hard work. Because only money can buy them, not God or Santa to whom we offer our wishes. There isn't magic here that if you wish for a house, it would fall into your place. We need to grind to get what we want. And for me to be able to get the material gifts I want this year, all I need to do is to save and save until my saving is good enough to obtain my wish without compromising the ones allocated for my family.
But for intangible gifts, there's a chance that God would grant them if we would do our part as well. If we wish for good health but keep a bad lifestyle, that's pointless, isn't it? Self-discipline is a must to attain good health too, not just wishing them to God. Everything involves action, not just words and wishes. Just like the adage says, "Do your best, and let God do the rest."
Lastly, of course, I wish for peace in this world. 2022 is full of chaos and we can't do anything to stop them, but only pray for peace. It's a powerful tool as well to achieve the intangible desires we aim for.
And it's been three years that we've been battling with Covid here in Hong Kong. While other countries don't give a damn about it anymore, we, the people of Hong Kong are still following protocols and wearing annoying masks. I wish by next year, everything would be back to normal, with no more masks and restrictions, not just here in HK, but in all parts of the world.
It's quite impossible to achieve peace on earth. But I just wish for it. Because if there is peace in the world, then there'll be peace in our minds and hearts, as well as love and joy.
Advance Merry Christmas everyone!
This is in response to Hive Ph contest. Just click the link if you want to know about it.
However, I believe everyone can be Santa this Christmas. We don't need to give out fancy gifts just to make someone happy. A simple gift is enough to make someone smile. Even your smile and message are enough 😊.
Thanks for dropping by. Happy weekend.
(All photos are mine)
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