I want to spend the last days of my life with these folks.

I believe that in this life, there are few essential people:

FAMILY: Many of us probably have been blessed with a family. Some complete, some not. And unfortunately some may not have the “biological” family; but still belongs to and have something that is called a family. It’s the home we used to be with and go back to when we’re losing the right track. We may have different stance towards our family, but one thing is for sure, our family is part of who we were, who we are, and who we are becoming. The first people who show love to us is our family… a mother who gives unconditional affection, compassion, and care; a father who stands beside us whatever happens; a brother who protects us with all means; a sister who shares our dreams, wishes…

My family is not perfect. Attitudes of people in our family might not be that acceptable for some sometimes. Problems arise almost all the time, but the thing is, we face (and I mean it literally) these either big or small problems altogether. There are lots of misunderstandings too, especially lately; but thank God there are still chances to iron things out. I love my family no matter what… and yes, there might be times when they are not my priority but they are the most important people for me.

FRIENDS: We can have all kinds of friends; but we can’t be friend with everyone in the deepest sense of friendship. It’s a question of quantity vs quality. We may either choose to have many many ‘friends’ and don’t share our deep selves to each of them and they won’t share either. Or we can establish great great deep friendships with few that will last for who knows, maybe more than a lifetime. I think the best number of quality friendship is two or three. If it’s more than that, I think the quality of “great” friendship would suffer. Imagine, how can one manage a conversation in phone with 5 people, or 10 or more, especially if all have equally important things to share in only a limited hour? And when I say conversation, it should be 50-50—fifty percent listening and fifty percent talking... no more no less. Most relationships work and get stronger in the 50-50 set-up. In that manner, each individual in the so called relationship shares sufficient part of him/herself to the other (or two) persons. We usually share the things that we don’t normally share to our family, to co-workers, or classmates, or neighbors. 

Trust and common interests bind us and our friends together. We would stick together in good and bad times. Possible conflict is solvable because one way or another, we will try to go out of our usual way in order to fix the conflict and salvage the priceless friendships. Like a family, no time difference or distance will absolutely separate a friend from his/her real friends; only when the trust is lost and when passion/interests collides then a huger conflict becomes detrimental to years of deep friendships.

I am blessed to have few but real friends.

LOVER: They say that when you meet this person, everything is in slow motion... and seems like the wind is humming a lovely song that you and you lover only hear. Even if that stage of life—sharing love with another individual in a manner not same as the love for family, love for a friend, love for the people you care, love for countrymen, and co-human being…in other words, the kind of love that is exceptionally exclusive for another individual. Yes, I am sure of it… that kind of love has not yet come into my life. But when that time comes, I will make sure that I will appreciate all the love, patience, and care that that other person will give me… For time is precious, I think I can’t stand wasting it for ignoring a special love coming from a special someone.

MENTORS: Guides, advisers, teachers, big brother, big sister, godmother, godfather, parents, friends…whatever we call them, they are there for an extraordinary purpose. Our mentors are there when we need guidance. Not an ordinary guidance, but an exceptional guidance in life, generally speaking. They are sources of prodigious wisdom which gives us ample preparation for the battle in this journey of life. I am blessed, once again to have not only family and friends but also great great mentors.

I can say that I am who I am today and I am becoming who I want to be because these family, friends, soon-to-lover (:P) and mentors are there to support and journey with me. They are the essential people of my life. But that doesn’t end the list.

he strangers I interact with and acquaintances I have also matter to me as a person. The kids/people I teach everyday, or the complete stranger I sat next to in a jeep matter to me because their presence indicate that I am here not just to exist but to live.

If I’d have one last day/hour/minute on earth, I will spend it with these people from which I saw the magnificent works of God.