IT’S THE SMALL THINGS Alex Eduque At the end of the month, President Duterte will deliver his last State of the Nation Address (SONA). I still remember watching it on television last year as if it were yesterday – a very different SONA from what we were accustomed to given the pandemic protocols. Knowing that it is once again closely approaching, it got me thinking as to what has changed from last year. Although a lot has changed, and progress has been made in various aspects, a lot has still remained. And the latter, I have realized, is oftentimes controlled by our own mindsets, perceptions and beliefs. The biggest difference in terms of the pandemic from last year, at this time, is the rollout of vaccinations, which has given people an added layer of protection. With that, came a staunch shift in mindset for many who were otherwise paralyzed by the fear of the unknown virus. While we must remain vigilant and cautious, and still adhere to safety protocols and minimum health and hygiene standards, we must also realize that we cannot be crippled by our fears forever, and that we are also key in helping our nation bounce back on its feet. And while ultimately how we choose to live our lives is a choice, what we choose to do today will determine our future tomorrows. At a time so uncertain, it is but natural of us to want to control everything, but reality is, half the battle to our success is accepting defeat when things do not go our way, and everything spirals out of control. This past year has shown many of us that a lot of our happiness is dependent on our ability to accept that we must relinquish control at times. Resilience has proven to be essential to survival, as is the flexibility to roll with the punches, and keeping the faith that this too shall pass, and that a greater lesson is to be learned at the end of all this madness. In the grander scheme of things, we hope to one-day look back at these last two years as but a whirlwind, a roller coaster, a blur – of when the world came to a stop, and how we essentially had to re-learn how to live life with but the utmost essentials. We will one day see this period of time as one that came and went – with so much changes, but even more learnings. It is one that taught us to appreciate the small things we otherwise took for granted, and to relish in slow-living we used to scoff at in the past. As much as we miss social interactions, it enabled us to shift to a virtual world, and get work done without much movement. It is a time that ultimately forced us re-evaluate our lives, and de-clutter. To me, personally, it was a time of many milestones, but one that strengthened my faith like no other. And if only for that, I will always be grateful.