525,600 Minutes

525,600 minutes. How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

So goes the song Seasons of Love from the Broadway show Rent. How will people remember someone once he’s passed away? In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee? In the bridges he’s burned or the way that he died? No. It’s measured in love. In seasons of love.

I believe that this is the secret to living a full life and, at the risk of sounding too cliche, that no amount of material things or professional achievements can take the place of healthy, loving, and genuinely caring relationships with family and friends.

2007 holds a lot of significance for me, son. It was the year when I left you and your mommy to go to school in Australia. It was also in this year when I met my good friends in Canberra who’ve managed to appease my homesickness and won a special place in my heart. More important though is that 2007 was the year I realized that the feeling of emptiness that I used to carry in my heart is the result of my looking at the wrong places for fulfillment. I’ve come to realize that it’s only when I’m surrounded by the people I love when I truly feel happy and it’s only when I know I’m making them happy when I feel a genuine sense of fulfillment.

The things that make me feel whole are really simple things that, when combined, make up a significant amount of my life:

• Waking up beside you and your mom.
• You calling me ‘deedee’.
• Your mom giving me random hugs and kisses.
• Watching you play basketball in the living room (in 2007, you refer to it as ‘beebeebol’).
• Holding your mom’s hand.
• Talking about anything and everything with your mom until the wee hours of the night.
• Room 351, Unilodge@ANU (This was where I used to hangout with my friends when I was studying at ANU)
• Going for a walk
• Laughing

And the list goes on and on.

I hope you will realize this early on, son. That it’s healthy and genuine relationships that make life wonderful and that work is just a means to supporting a full life with family and friends (although it’s still important to strive for quality with your work). Here are the lyrics to the song I referred to above.

525,600 minutes
525,600 minutes so dear
525,600 minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles
In laughter, in strife

In 525,600 minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love

Seasons of love.
Seasons of love.

525,600 minutes
525,600 journeys to plan
525,600 minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?

In truth that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died

It’s time now to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let’s celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends

Remember the love
Remember the love
Remember the love
Measure in love.

Water Balloon Fight

When you’re older, let’s you, me and your mommy organize a water balloon fight with your friends. I expect it should be lots of fun.

Quotes from Einstein

I’ve been reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Einstein lately and I thought I’d share with you some of the great genius’ philosophies on life.

On keeping your balance:

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.

On leading a full life:

Life for its own sake is hollow. People who live in a society, enjoy looking into each other’s eyes, who share their troubles, who focus their efforts on what is important to them and find this joyful—these people lead a full life.

I hope you’re healthy and happy as you read this, son. Take good care of yourself always.

When Mommy’s Not Around

Your mommy commented a few days back how we seemed to have more fun with each other. She seemed a bit worried because she and you, according to her, were never that rowdy and energetic. She certainly enjoys spending time with you, but she noticed that there seemed to be more laughter between you and I.

What she doesn’t know, however, is that we’re really only this energetic when she’s with us. Otherwise, we seem to spend our times in a sort of calm enjoyment. What she doesn’t know is that it takes the three of us to have the sort of energetic fun that she observes.

Life just feels incomplete when mommy is not around, doesn’t it?

Overwhelmed again

I’m sorry for being a sloppy daddy these past few days, son. Having been away from you for the past six months, I feel like a new father again: I’m trying to re-learn the things that you’re trying to say to me all over again, trying to re-learn your sleeping patterns, and trying to re-learn your eating habits. Parenthood is truly a very challenging job. I feel just as overwhelmed as I was a year ago.

I’ll tell you one thing though, the little things that you do every now and then that makes me laugh or warms my heart more than make up for everything else. I love listening to your laughter when I tickle your tummy with my mouth. I enjoy watching the fascination in your face when you discover something new. I loved your reaction earlier this morning when a tiny lizard jumped out of nowhere (you giggled every time I said ‘lizard!’ and the lizard jumped).

I have a feeling my second semester in Australia will not be any easier to go through than the first.

Cooking is Fun

I’m going to be honest with you. Six months ago, I never imagined myself becoming so interested in cooking. Not that I’m any good at it now, but I’m having fun learning and practicing. Here’s one recipe I’ve enjoyed preparing. I learned this from one of my cookbooks (I’ll get back to you on the title). I’m sharing this with you now because, well, I’m just eager to share with you what I’ve recently learned and I’m also hoping that you will discover the joy of cooking at an earlier age. Anyway, the book calls the recipe “265-Calorie meal” and it serves about 4 or 5 individuals. It’s not that complicated, really. But it’s fun to prepare. Note that I’ve made a few changes here and there to suit my taste. This takes me about 1~1.5 hours to make.

Putting Your Heart Into It

Taken  from Signal vs. Noise

…rather than just taking on jobs you can put your heart into, you should find a way to put your heart into everything you do.

Remember to support the three I’s

The three I’s that I previously mentioned are great. But also remember to support them with the following:

• Love – To constantly be there for those around you.
• Happiness – The habit of being sincerely appreciative of the many blessings in life.
• Health – Soundness of body and mind.

She’s crazy about you

Don’t forget to show her how much you love her.

I took this photo of you and mommy when you were just 1 month and 1 day old. I remember how that sleeping position was the only way we could keep you from crying that night.

Remember the three I’s

The three I’s are integrity, industry, and intelligence. These are actually the values of the Ayala family, but it immediately resonated within me the moment I read it. I’ve been trying to live my life by them. I can’t say that I’m perfect with it, but I try. Here are the meanings of the three I’s:

• Integrity – To be constantly aware of what is right and wrong and to consistently think and act according to what is right;
• Industry – The habit of sincere, steady, and continued devotion to any useful or productive work, whether manual or mental; and
• Intelligence – Applied knowledge. The ability to exercise the higher mental functions; the ability to grasp the significant factors of a complex problem or situation; and the capacity to meet situations, especially if new or unforeseen, by a rapid and effective adjustment of behaviour.