1. Health- Be prepared. You'll never know when sickness strikes you.
I still have four eyes, one mouth, two hands, and one heart, but zero appendix.
In September of 2023, I woke up with severe stomach pain, and 14 hours later I had my appendix removed. (For more details, read my other article entitled: Appendicitis[Coming Soon] [LOL])
2. Financial- Never fear debt than death.
While working in a store for four years while studying in college, I learned a lot about finance. And one thing I promised myself was to never get into any kind of debt. Three years later, I was living the dream. I had no fancy clothes or lifestyle but was debt-free, to the point that I was afraid of debt more than death. But truly God has to put a stop to that insanity. It was too much. It doesn't mean I have to get into debt now but I have to stop obsessing over not having it.
3. Romance- LOL
I don't even know why I include this aspect here. Something and nothing happened at the same time, on the third week of November 2023.
Let's just say, someone unintentionally gave me a butterfly but five days later he intentionally murdered it. It's not his fault, though. God is just humorous and all.
4. Intellectual- Never stop learning.
I read approximately 1,095 articles this year for work. Thanks, Engoo!
On the other hand, I read 23 books for my own entertainment. It was not really that many compared to the past couple of years but I read some that I would consider my favorites this year. (Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez, Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Rome Sweet Home by Kimberly and Scott Hahn.)
5. Family- Keep them close. Their love for you runs deeper than you can imagine.
Before getting sick I knew my family loved me, we've always been close to each other, but one thing I learned in 2023 was I never knew and will never know how deep that love runs.
One left his job in the early hours of the day, and the other delayed her meals for one day. One crossed the sea, and the other held off her pre-wedding activities. One offered his little encouragement and the other expressed his little prayer in his own unique way.
6. Spiritual- Never doubt God. He is always with us.
In 2023, God has shown me that he is ALWAYS with me no matter what. In the middle of the year, when I was so confused in life and doubting Him, my prayer to Him was just 'Please let me go to the place where you want me to be'. And before the year ended he really made sure I was in that exact place, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The process of getting to the place where I'm now was not smooth, I could even say he dragged my ass because for many months I was being stubborn. He guided me and let me witness the beauty of Catholicism that I never experienced even as a cradle Catholic. I know I have a long way to go to deepen my faith but I know now to never doubt Him. He is always with me, no matter what.
P. S.: To those fellow Catholics who might read this, I highly recommend watching these YouTube channels to deepen our Catholic faith: Ascension Presents (Father Mike Schmitz), Pints with Aquinas (Matt Fradd), Breaking in the Habit (Father Casey Cole), and The Religious Hippie (Amber Rose).
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