“I miss my lung...”Pacesetter Vol XLI No. 1 Broadsheet Issue
This summer was the first time that it didn’t seem to be one. On-the-job training occupied what’s supposed to be a vacation period. Instead of enjoying the cool breeze of air and the beach view, I “enjoyed” the cityscape of air pollution and the stuffy MRT which is the greatest cause of delay—and tardy slips. I guess, this must be what they call “you’re-getting-there” stage. There’s a fulfilled feeling with this fact, meaning I’ve come this far and I'm so close to being a bona fide Filipino citizen who would get to contribute for the country’s Gross Domestic Product sooner—not later, please.
This summer was the first time that it didn’t seem to be one. On-the-job training occupied what’s supposed to be a vacation period. Instead of enjoying the cool breeze of air and the beach view, I “enjoyed” the cityscape of air pollution and the stuffy MRT which is the greatest cause of delay—and tardy slips. I guess, this must be what they call “you’re-getting-there” stage. There’s a fulfilled feeling with this fact, meaning I’ve come this far and I'm so close to being a bona fide Filipino citizen who would get to contribute for the country’s Gross Domestic Product sooner—not later, please.
I’ve wanted this as early as I’ve known what benefit it could bring me and my family. But with all the gasp, sweat and pressure, I think it will take a long time before I get to say, “I’m ready.”
Reaching the finish line of school life this fast like sprinters do made me realize things are getting quicker than I expected. Usain Bolt seemed to start dominating international running events just recently—when all the while, it was during 2008. But now, he’s already a four-time World Athlete of the Year by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the international governing body for the sport of athletics. And he just conquered the app Temple Run 2 as he is now the fastest running character of the said game. So sudden, isn’t it? Not really, because time flies. It truly does. It just caught me off-guard—and panting to catch my breath, too. After more than a month of internship from one of the country’s leading networks, my longing for rest was sustained when my radio OJT came out to start at once. Though I want to take some time off, I just told myself that 150 hours won’t be so much—though it’s still 150 hours since I don’t want to have a complicated first semester more than I like to have a break. Then there’s total change with the environment. Series of field works plus additional tasks kept me busy and have a good time together with my co-OJTs. But let’s be honest. Everything may be enjoying but at the back of it, there’s exhaustion. It’s just like the Gold Gears enjoying every match and victory, yet there’s the underlying fact that they did, do, and will get fatigued. But why does it have to stay at the back when it’s marked right on your face? Then here came the first semester as a fourth year Broadcasting major. And as expected, there are loads of things-to-do. But it took me by surprise that it would be this full. This kind of hectic schooling with an unfinished OJT during the first two months, student publication duties as the Sports Editor, and a thesis to do for a year must have made my 24 hours a day very short. Though we can never manage time, as told by my Broadcast Research professor, we can manage ourselves. It’s true. But no matter how hard we practice this, you can never get things done if there is no ample time for it. Yes, you have to allot your time and prioritize things to avoid this. But as we are humans who are never perfect but can be extra obsessive-compulsive about everything, what can’t be can never be. |
It’s been a cliché and traditional for people to inquire on what keeps you busy at the moment. And when you tell them, you can never go wrong when you expect them ask, “Kumusta? Masaya ba?” Athletes always encounter this question whenever a staff writer from Pacesetter asks them during an interview. A yes and a no could be an answer, but you will never say no even if that’s what suits the question. You can never afford to say no. Your pride can never take it. You know this person wants a positive answer. Everyone wants it, the society wants it. So you’ll reply yes and back it up with all the happy thoughts you remember. Then you’ll discover that that’s all you have to be glad about.
Let’s face it. Though there’s a term “kayod-kalabaw”, the said animal also has the concept of being drained from work at the fields and his boss farmer allows him to take some time to unwind before working again. But as for humans, the boss would never tell you to rest but to do your best. We do aim for being excellent in what we do, but we also root for some time to loosen up. We are not robots. They too have their limits. So we are, and so as Usain Bolt. He was reported to pull out from the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix and 2011 Athletics World Championships in South Korea due to fatigue and risks of injury. Having the monickers "Lightning Bolt" and "The Fastest Man in the World" are not enough to keep him like that. He is still human after all who gets tired and sick, which goes the same for all of us. And to finally cut these lamentations of sentiments, those I mentioned are just mere realizations and not rationalizations. Because there’s something that only we humans have, and that’s determination. We may be all worn out but only our kind of creature can pull things off despite the hurdles on our track. And this is what keeps me going. I still do what I have to do and I make sure all my effort and my heart is on it. But there’s no doubt that we all get tired physically, but never of hoping for the positive. A clear manifestation is Bolt set for the world championships in Moscow after suffering from a balky hamstring. Mind strength, it is. We always say we enjoy everything. This is when we are determined. The joy gives rise to the momentum, and the tasks coming keep us active. It’s just that, we must know when to stop when we’re at our utmost. We must know when to breathe again. We can’t bear to forget it—but I think I do, most of the time. And it seems I miss a part of me. I must have mastered living half-alive. There’s me who wants to go for it, but there’s me who wants eternal rest. Not being morbid here. Just tired. Really tired. But still hoping for the better. For the best. |