Something old, something new...

 ...and how sentiments change over the years... but not the love for music.

======================================================

by PAM

Among many activities in the coming week, I am currently preparing for my 'debriefing' tomorrow with the Executive Director of the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), which is the Fulbright Commission of the Philippines, or simply, "Fulbright Philippines".  This is the second time that I will be doing this as this is my second time to receive a study grant from one of the Programs administered by PAEF on behalf of the Philippines and the United States of America (USA).  Somehow, it feels different than how I felt 15 years ago when I returned to the country after five years of studies in the US as a Fulbright-Philippine Agriculture Scholarship grantee.  Although that wasn't my first time to study abroad then, it felt different because of the expectations attached to being a Fulbright scholar and earning a PhD even when the experience was extremely humbling.  It was a life-changing experience though and that was why it was a challenge to be re-integrated to my work's community.  This time around, it is even more different because of the expectations in the workplace, primarily due to my age, experience, and the more challenging work that awaits me.     

The same University, the same person...

two moments in time, twenty years in between.

Everytime I feel like I passed a milestone in my profession, or in my personal life, I offer a 'special' prayer to God... to allow contemplation.  And, just when I thought that I have experienced the best in my current profession already, therefore, I am done, and I am ready to diminish into retirement... a 'new chapter' opens up.  Then I realized that the milestone that I just passed is 'the best' in the previous chapter... while the most beautiful moment in my life is yet to come.  'The best is yet to come', indeed - thanks, BTS for the reminder.  I think that when we adopt this way of thinking, this attitude, then life will always be exciting for us... and it will always be worth living for, and living to the best of our ability, too.

This generation is very lucky because they have BTS to keep reminding them about these things.  When life throws us a curve ball, and we struggle to hit it, missing it most of the time, sending us to the darkest of moods and bleak vision of our future, BTS reminds us in "Mikrokosmos" to just 'shine, dream, smile' because someone else might be finding inspiration in us.  If we keep smiling no matter how much we're hurting, we shine our light upon them... and they glow, and shine their light upon us, too.  And then, through our lights, we create our own constellation, our own cosmos... our very own mikrokosmos where there is nothing else but wonder and beauty.  Through their songs, BTS built 'that door in our hearts' that opened to the "Magic Shop", where all the answers to our questions await us, comforting us, assuring us of our life's significance, our relevance, our place in this world... just waiting for us... there in our hearts.  And, when we pray, the answers become clearer, more meaningful, make so much more sense.  And, when the 'new chapter' feels more intimidating than the previous one, in "Life Goes On", BTS offer their hands so we can 'run away to that future' where all the sufferings and anxieties fade into just an 'echo in the forest'.  

Physically older but wiser (gosh, I hope!),

less stylish but more comfortable (I swear!)...

less years in the future ahead, but happier... 

much happier (it's true!)!

I am no longer young... and I am not complaining either!  I've gone through so much in this life already... thankfully, with very little regrets.  And yet, I, too, bump into seemingly insurmountable challenges once in a while.  And, every once in a while, I need a sweeping inspiration, too, to keep going.  BTS provides some of that needed inspiration... the reason to laugh through their hilarious antics; the reason to get up and move about, shake about, and rid myself of the negative energy by trying to move like them.  Of course, it is impossible to move like them (well, for me!  Hahaha....)... but as I try, the momentary distraction makes my heart swell with glee.  It gives me time to re-think my priorities, what is most important to me... and then, as I settle down to reflect, I hear the door knob to my heart clicking.  And then, I find myself walking into my "Magic Shop" in my very own "Mikrokosmos".  As I watch the stars glow so beautifully, I get convinced that, indeed, "the best is yet to come". In the meantime, "life goes go on"!

If people in my generation doubt about BTS's ability to make sense out of life through music the way our favorite artists in the past did, then I recommend that they listen to this...

2021: BTS ("I'll be missing you")

Isn't it as good as this...?

1983: The Police ("Every breath you take")

I rest my case. 💜

***

Photo credit:  The photos in this post were taken by various individuals for me.  As such, they belong to me and, therefore, I have the freedom to do as I wish.

Video credit:  The owners of the videos featured in this post are indicated in the videos themselves.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

***