"Kids Only- 11 and Down"

That was the sign the kids this Sunday wrote on the sidewalk today.

I told them I can still fit within those boxes but they're very strict!

Age is just a number.

In God's kingdom, 100 years of age is just a pup. 

I'm turning 50 soon and wow, how time flies! 

I was just 25 last time thinking about what I'm going to do with my life, where should I live, what career should I pursue, will I marry, have children? Will I go abroad like the countless Filipinos who have ventured outside of the country and pursue their ambitions?

I had lots of questions.

As I look back at those years, I knew a few things.

That 25 year old me will be proud of the 49 year old me.

I had moderate success but the best of all, I have made good decisions.

I thank God for these good decisions, good parenting, good siblings, good friends, good experiences, influences, and jobs.

Without this goodness that I experienced in my life, I will never be able to appreciate that perspective in times of struggles, frustrations, and trials.

Because of the goodness of God in my life, I never feel that I'm alone, or in control because I'm not, and that He holds my future.

Because of this goodness, I learned from mistakes and lessons, and persevered when times get tough.

And because all of these seasons I went through, I'm reminded that life is not a race. 

We don't race with each other, or with machines, or with technologies or with time itself. 

Everyone goes through life differently. So there's really no need to look at the neighbors.

And third, acceptance is key to real contentment.
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I receive contentment, joy, and kindness, and I freely give as well.

"Kids only," says the sign. Yes, I'm a Child of God!

My first book was rejected 60 times by publishers and agents.

Guess what, it's been selling consistently for the past few years.

I've been rejected in previous job searches for 25 times.

Guess what, I landed the best job a new immigrant in Canada, two-months, fresh off the boat.

My consulting proposals were rejected a few times.

Guess what, I'm still here giving value and offering my best insights.

My speaking proposals didn't get traction in some conferences. 

Guess what, I get asked and paid to speak all over the world.

I'm a key person of influence and I self-authorized myself to be.

Case closed. 


You can't rely on one rejection as a barometer that you're no good.

Some work is accepted or rejected on very subjective grounds, as to how much sleep the evaluator had that day or how much you look like her best friend.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Find the person that will appreciate that beauty in you, your work, and your ideas.

Okay, now it's really case closed. 

I was in a Zoom call last week and people were apparently angry that I have a different opinion to theirs.

I'm not morally inferior and I take my perspective in tandem with the rest of the world.

I don't think that we should be angry when one has the courage to state facts and evidence as opposed to the world's opinion on the matter.

I don't care how the world sees it, and if the UN says so, because the UN is highly-compromised ideologically and they don't know what's actually happening on the ground. Or WHO or the Department of National Defense.

They're not the final arbiter and judge as to how things went nor able to make the proper recommendations for action without any partiality.

I'd rather take that people make their own independent thoughts and understanding.

Look behind the 'worldwide consensus' and see the true facts.

If you're angry because others see things differently, then you have some growing up to do.

If you have to shout to register your disagreement, you need to wake up quickly out of the delusion that your opinion represents the highest human intelligence. 
 
Grow up!