IT’S THE SMALL THINGS

On Monday, May first, we celebrate Labor Day. Known as “Araw ng Manggagawa” here in the Philippines, it is a holiday celebrated in many parts of the world. It is a holiday essentially to honor every hardworking Filipino (or laborer around the world for that matter) regardless of their occupation. In essence, it is a day that equalizes and recognizes hard work, grit and perseverance no matter what sector one works in. From farmers, to domestic workers, Overseas Filipino Workers, entrepreneurs, executives, government workers, the list goes on – it is an extra day that reminds us all to give time to ourselves, and spend the day how we choose. That in a world where most of our days are spent working, we must never neglect ourselves. At the end of the day, just like battery, when we are running low, our output is not at optimum. Even the most well-oiled of machines needs a break. As with many other things in life, the pandemic refreshed my perspective on what it means to be a worker. I write this with a lot of the front liners who risked their lives in the names of their jobs at such a grim time (when a lot of them I am sure would have much rather been home, safe and sound with their families) in mind. I think about the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) all the time, who tirelessly sacrifices his/her time with their loved ones back home in the name of sometimes back breaking jobs to augment their lives, and oftentimes, of those who matter most to them. I acknowledge and recognize how blessed a lot of us are who have the leisure of going home to our families everyday, at the end of a long day, others who can still work from home and remote, and realize that this is but another small thing we oftentimes overlook and take for granted. In a society that can seem so stratified on most days, and where some jobs are undoubtedly higher paying than others, we must condition our minds to never think that one occupation is more important than another, or that one job is more prestigious. At the end of the day, while the grass may always seem greener on the other side, we must never forget that even the most powerful of roles come with its cons, and if we take a moment to appreciate what we have, and focus on being grateful for that rather than on what we still want, then our world automatically becomes a more joyous place. And to end this on a grateful note, here is to working hard, but also knowing how to enjoy and to live life. As the saying goes, “work hard, play hard.” May we always find purpose in our every day, and may we always find happiness in what we set out to do. Sa lahat ng manggagawa, mabuhay kayo!