Firstly, I want to greet my family and friends with a bear hug and a warm smile. I LOVE YOU ALL! :) While I do not believe in Valentine's Day (I think it's just a huge marketing ploy of merchants... after all, this is the florist's and chocolatier's equivalent of Christmas), I do believe in love. :) And there is no better love than friendship!
C.S. Lewis said that "this alone, of all the loves, raises us to the level of gods or angels." It really is "the happiest and most fully human of all loves... the crown of life and the school of virtue." And oh! How I've been blessed with friendship, though until now I keep asking myself what deed I've done to deserve such goodness.
A highlight of my week (and of my month, and probably of my entire year) was meeting Meewa. Though we had only one golden hour together, the happiness and tranquility that remains in my heart knows no duration of time. :)
The little things I'm busy with include:
* Our high school play: Am directing it, what a challenge it's turning out to be!
Whew and I thought we actors/performers had it bad already.
* M.A. : Someday I must blog about my thoughts on Assessment in Music
Education and my personal philosophy of education
* Planning the rest of my life. (oooooh....)
Something happened to me this month... a real milestone. I lost my voice. I was put on voice rest for the better part of two weeks. I know now what it feels to have no voice, it may sound strange but I honestly felt like I was a ghost, like I didn't truly exist as a person.
I observed that during my "mute" period, people treated me more kindly than usual. HONEST!! You'd have thought I lost a limb or two, instead of my voice. I was both touched and embarassed.
One good thing that's come of it is that I was forced to choose my words carefully because it's so tiring to write EVERYTHING that one thinks of. I think I'm FINALLY learning to filter my thoughts, haha!
One more thing I've learned is how much of my identity is tied up with my voice. It is rather unsettling to realize just how much of "Gabi" is connected with singing.
This whole experience forced me to pause a while, to take stock and re-evaluate my life.
And on that note, I will end this blog post and blow you all some more kisses and hugs. :)
*toodles off to write an essay : WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BEING "WELL-EDUCATED?"*
great; your concern about how your voice is tied up with your self identity really made me think twice about where I had "tied up" my own self identity......I mean, my other self's identity...or......o shucks! why is it a bit complicated in my case..............? I can't think at the moment!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGabi, it seems as if losing your voice is turning out to be a "purifying" experience for you... like a polishing process. Difficult but not without its fruits. It would be a nightmare for me if I were in your place but it's inspiring to know that you are using this ordeal as a ruminating period for refinement.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe in Valentine's Day either, but "anti-love" movements bother me too! If these people are against the "mushiness" of the season, they should know that Love has nothing to do with it.
ReplyDeleteGabi, another "freaky" moment for us: I was watching Becoming Jane last night and the word "well-educated" from one of Jane's phrases kept ringing in my head until I wanted to write something about it. haha
ReplyDeleteMeeting you and the whole process of getting to know you is also a highlight in my life, Gabi. I'm praying for you (and your voice) and wishing you all the love.
ReplyDeletehappy valentine's day! our pastor was telling us this morning how many people go through life looking for someone to love and appreciate them, and it made me realize how thankful we ought to be for the loving people God has put around us. :)
ReplyDeleteyeah! perhaps bitterness towards love is even more dangerous than worshipping love. (then again, the latter is also dangerous.)
ReplyDeletegood thing your voice can come back. if i lost my fingers... :P i guess we can't help but be identified with our talents. but another thing that's nice about this multiply community is that i found out that there's more to you than singing and music. :)
ReplyDeleteall i know is yesterday (Valentines day, approximately Feb. 14 1am to Feb 15 2 am) is still so in my head. so that is what love is:)
ReplyDeletesounds like someone had a hearty valentine's day! wahaha
ReplyDeleteah yes:)
ReplyDeleteLove is in the eyrrrrrr!!!haha
ReplyDelete