Dear relatives who I haven’t seen in a while,

This may come as a surprise to you, but I figured this would make all our lives easier this coming reunion. I hope you’re all reading this and I hope you’re all ready. I hope you’re sitting down too, if you can tie yourself to the chair, please do. Because despite our lack of communication, I actually care about you.

If you’re ready, then please continue reading. If you’re still not on your seat, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

1. No, I’m not a lesbian, but I have nothing against those who are.
2. Yes, I am still single. Please don’t rub it in my face the next time you see me.
3. No, I am not dating too. Please don’t set me up with the son of the guy who dated your best friend’s cousin’s office mate.
4. That said, no, I’m not getting married soon. And no, I’m not jealous of my married cousins. I’m just 23.
5. Yes, I’m still writing for a living. That, and I’m doing freelance work too. No, your son’s salary is still bigger than mine. No, I don’t want to apply at their company. Thankyouverymuch.
6. Yes, I gained a couple of pounds. Yes, I still like to eat. No, I haven’t thought about losing weight. Not yet, at least.
7. And finally, yes. It was nice talking to you too.

Love,

Mia

Raise your hand, mi loves if you’re with me on this one.

My, I was a mess last year. Always looking for something, wanting something that I don’t even know if I need. I seriously have no idea what I was doing last year. 2011 was the only year that I really, REALLY run out of space in my planner (hell, yeah!). I was doing a lot of things, some were down right hilarious, some were super important. But nonetheless, at the end of the year, I was tired.

But I guess I should be thankful. I was given a lot of things, a lot of opportunities. So, even if I still have no idea what I’m doing right now, I’m happy.

Let’s do it, mi loves, let’s go travel.

And when she looked back, she saw a girl who was scared. Of everything and nothing. Yet she saw that girl went on. She drove through life with all the courage she has in her. No matter how few that must have been.

She was proud. Proud that she dared. Proud that she dreamed even though she failed.

She was happy. Happy that she lived the way she did. Happy that she had it in her, she had the courage to fight.

She had fire. And it burnt.

This is gonna be a good year. We all begin like this, believing in the best, wanting nothing but the best.

This is gonna be a good year. We all hope for at least one good day, and on more optimistic days, we hope for at least a good week.

But the thing that we really should all remember is to make it happen. Live the life we want, and then for sure, your life will be lived full of chances, full of hope. It’s all gonna be good.

Make it work was the only good thing that I learned from Project Runway. Whenever Tim Gunn sees something that isn’t feasible, something that seems to him is not gonna work, he recites these magic words. Make it work.

And perhaps, these are the only words that we all should live by. Make it work. Because the world can never be encapsulated, it will continue to grow and change. Things around us will never be as easy as they used to be when we were two. The things that we hold will never be as grand as we thought them to be when we were young. So you have to make it work, no matter how hard it gets. Just make it work. Because really, there’s nothing else that you can do.

Life as I know it has changed. And no matter how many times I try to bring the old times back, the times when all was fine, it won’t because it can’t. I tried but I stopped eventually. And afterwards, my I was bruised ego and all.

These days, I just decide not to care. Everything’s easier that way. I hurt no one and I feel for no one. This is the life that I choose to live. I’m not recommending it, but if you ever feel like you have been let down one too many times, then you might as well give it a try.Because these days, the only thing that you can do is to make it work. And hope in the end that it will all turn out fine.