Growing Up?

I never really thought about it but growing up is one of the hardest things to do. You go through so many motions in life and have to discern what to keep in your life and what to move on from.

Today's my brother's birthday.. Happy 25th birthday kuya. This is the third birthday in a row that I didn't get to spend on him, since I moved away to college. Little did either of us know that after that first year (his 23rd birthday) we wouldn't be spending his birthday together for a while. He's one year into the US Navy now and has thus spent his past two birthdays serving the country.

He is one of the strongest people I know, and I greatly admire his courage and strength. It's really hard to be alone. Sometimes I complain about being so far from everyone here, not being with family and all.. But I'm blessed with some of the greatest friends here in Berkeley and the opportunity to go home whenever I want. My brother doesn't. He's stuck somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, floating around and "celebrating" his birthday without any of his family or friends there. Whenever I think about my bro, I realize that I really have NOTHING to be complaining about.

I think out of all the people I know, he's had the most drastic experience in growing up. It makes me really proud to know and love him, and it just reminds me that I have to do a lot of that too. Maybe not in the most extreme measures that he has, but definitely in my own way through my own efforts and will.

Looking at all this, I've learned that growing up means moving on.. which is hard. Especially when you move from a life you love to a life you never imagined or hoped for yourself. It's crazy how it takes so much sacrifice.. But in the end it's worth it. Growing up is a struggle, but a blessing too.


It's the process that makes it so crazy.