Taking the First Step

It has been four months since the first lockdown in Manila. With that, I've yet to have my hair cut until today. After weeks of debating with myself regarding whether or not I should have my hair cut, I finally decided to do it today.

With the new normal due to the pandemic, it'd be very surprising to still see barbershop scenarios like these. (From Facebook.com)

It wasn't easy. Since I was a kid, I wanted a longer hairstyle, one that I could slip onto the back of my ears, one that could hide my ears. School regulations didn't allow me to try having that. So when I graduated, I saw that as a chance to sport that long hairstyle, except that I had lost my silky smooth straight hair I used to have when I was a kid. Also, the Coronavirus scare was not ready to leave us yet.

My curly wavy hairstyle got me through my licensure exam last year. Now, it got me through the first four months of the Coronavirus lockdown. 

Not like last year, I was motivated and eager to do what I had to do because I knew I wouldn't ace my licensure exam without doing the essentials.

However, things were different during the past four months. I procrastinated and used the pandemic era as a reason to not strive the same. way I did last year. I was neglecting my side hustles, my writing, and further development in my profession.

For some reason, I thought that cutting my hair would be the first step in beating down this procrastinating season I've been having. Cutting my hair would mean I would no longer be accepting mediocrity in my outside appearance. Lousy hairstyles sometimes could reflect a lousy lifestyle in any aspect. 

Just as I am now back on track with my hair, I hope to also be back on track with regards to my eagerness and drive for further improvement in my professional career, passion, and character. 

It's a work in progress, but it will never start without taking that first step.

The Art of Saying “Sorry”

“Sorry” seems to be the hardest word, as depicted in the Elton John song. But on what grounds? On what basis? Is it really hard to say “sorry”? Will I ever stop from referencing songs?

The common logic about saying "sorry" is that the one who says it is automatically guilty of doing something offensive to the other party. The first one to stay “sorry” admits his or her guilt over any issue. Although it may be wrong to think of that, it may also be not wrong to do so.

Since we were young, we have already been thought of apologizing for the wrong and awful things that we did to or have caused others.

However, thinking deeper about the matter, saying you are sorry to the other party just manifests the existing humility and courage within. Saying you are sorry to the other party means that you are humble enough to acknowledge that something wrong, or awful has happened. It does not automatically mean you are guilty of the crime, it means you are guilty of feeling bad for what has happened. Still, anyone can be humble enough to take the blame. Not everyone will be courageous enough to be responsible for the matter.

We should be sorry for getting things without borrowing them, for having access to secure and valued things (or whatever) without having the appropriate permissions to do so. We should be sorry for invading the things we have no jurisdiction of.

We should be sorry for being late and wasting the time of the other party, for being reckless and inconsiderate of others’ efforts and limits.

We should be sorry and be responsible for the consequences of actions that we have control over. We must not blame anyone (or anything) else. Think of a "common good" resolution to the problem, instead of an escape plan.

We should be sorry for causing disappointments and dismays, to our friends and colleagues, to lovers, and mostly, to our mothers and fathers. Man up and change.

Clearly, saying “sorry” states that the speaker himself is disappointed and unhappy with the way things have occurred. It embodies the initial desire to change the unfortunate turn of events into something that is desirable and pleasing to the offended and/or disappointed party.

Saying “sorry” does not need a clarification or a clearance that it is you who committed the deed. It only needs you to man up and have the desire for making things better for the benefit of all.

“Sorry” will always be the hardest word but not until it is said from the bottom of your sorry heart.