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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider On Easter and new beginnings

On Easter and new beginnings

Published Apr 5, 2024 04:03 pm

IT'S THE SMALL THINGS

alex eduque.jpeg

There has been an unexplained and abrupt silence in this space since January, and I heavily apologize for that. My last piece was a welcome to the new year and ended with the desire to share my goals and set my intentions for the new year (as I always do) but alas, that never happened (I promise to do it at some point; maybe at the middle of the year), and here we are, at the end of the first quarter of 2024.

The days were long, but the weeks, and the months, just passed me by. To say the very least, life happened. And while I thought I was prepared with what was to come, as always, I was met with the most unexpected twists and turns that I found myself just facing one curveball after the other, and just going with the flow. It has been quite the ride since, and slowly, but surely, I will use this space to share these stories, but most especially the musings, realizations, and learnings in the weeks to come.

Right after my last piece in January, the roller coaster ride begun and life took quite the turn. My pregnancy became more complicated than anticipated, and turned rather high-risk in its third trimester, and bi-weekly fetal monitoring, ultrasounds, non-stress tests and doctors’ appointments quickly took over. Insert an unexpected overnight hospitalization in there, coupled with the anxiety and uncertainty of what tomorrow would bring, most of my days though rather agenda-less ended up being consumed as my priorities quickly shifted and changed. I found myself back to day-to-day living. Before I knew it, a month earlier than expected, I delivered.

After delivery, as I was physically recovering, I went through what was probably the longest 10 days of my life, to date. I will go into details in the weeks to come, but as I felt like I was on default zombie mode, it was once again an episode that proved to me the pillar that faith remains to be in our everyday life. When all else falters and expectations go wayward, it is what will give you that little glimmer of hope that the sun will rise again tomorrow. It will keep you grounded, and although doubt may linger, clinging on to that faith and arming yourself with prayer will tide you through the most trying of moments.

As Easter symbolizes a season of new beginnings and hope, I embark on a new chapter; an entirely new season in life – the journey of motherhood. And as I do so on my tippy toes having never experienced it before, I reflect back on the days leading up to the birth of my son, and realize that it taught me so much more than I ever could have learned otherwise. As cliché as it may sound, it is true – your heart grows in ways unknown, and you learn to love a human being in an infinite and indescribable way. It is a love like you have never known, and a love I am looking forward to knowing and nurturing for as long as I live.

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Alex Eduque IT'S THE SMALL THINGS
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