Happiness, birthdays, and hope
AN old saying goes “Do not count the candles but notice the light they give. Do not count the years; look at the life you live.” When I was thinking about how I wanted to spend my last day as a 24-year-old (before officially being a quarter of a decade that is), I knew I wanted to do something that would perpetuate the gift of hope to those who needed it most. I thought back to last year at my moment of utmost despair after my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer. In those trying times, the most valuable support I received was encouragement and motivation from friends to stay strong; and in the aftermath of it all, I realized that it was the hope people around me so lovingly gave me that allowed me to pull through.
Sometime earlier this year, I was at PGH to give a talk to student leaders of the UP School of Sciences. And as I walked through those halls to the auditorium, I had a eureka moment – I wanted to be able to show some love and give some hope to the patients there. Narrow it down to those closest to my heart (children) and the reason I was so inclined to give back further and in that manner, I knew I wanted to share my special day with patients of the pediatric oncology ward. Knowing though that I couldn’t narrow it down that much because there would be children with different kinds of ailments there, I settled to spend it with the patients of the pediatric ward. I contacted some friends who I knew shared the same sentiment, and told them of my plans. Luckily, even those who couldn’t make it sent some goodies and contributed to what I called “project hope.”
As my cousin, my best friend, and I made our rounds through the wards, what warmed our hearts most was the gratitude we received from the patients and their families. The kids albeit in pain and not in the most comfortable of situations smiled the biggest that they possibly could and that will forever be ingrained in my heart – a memory I will remember for as long as I live. At the end of it all, it is I who must and should be thankful to the children we were given the honor and opportunity of visiting. Because of them, I have been reminded of the importance of time – spending it wisely and with our loved ones – and that it is the smallest gestures of hope that in fact yield the brightest forms of happiness in our lives.
So to the children, their families, and anyone else who may be going through bouts of doubt and despair, never fail to remember that it is in fact temporary and nothing is constant in this world but change. As the famous hymn from the movie The Rescuers goes, “Always keep a little prayer in your pocket, and you’re sure to see the light. Soon there’ll be joy and happiness, and your little world will be bright. Have faith little one, till your hopes and your wishes come true. You must try to be brave, little one…” because many in this world do love and care about you.