Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

We look back at the year 2008 and we see a difficult year for most of us—the fall of businesses, people losing their homes and jobs, and the financial crisis that has affected not only the country but the whole world. Yes, what has happened this year is a big change to what we have gone through the previous year.

We have conformed our lives in certain living conditions—something that we were comfortable in, something we think we should keep as long as we can. For us, it is our safety zone.

And as instinct would tell us, any change, drastic or not, will upset the balance we think we have now.

So we resist the changes, we try to look for excuses not to work around it and in the end miss the possibility and opportunity to change for the better. This is all because we were scared about stepping to the challenge of making our lives different, regardless of the difficulties we have to face.

We forget that change—good or bad—not only brings the best in people, but also shows the real character of those around us.

So as we leave 2008 behind, we face the new year on a clean slate—full of hope and ready to face another year of challenges—and change. (AJPress)

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published on December 31, 2008 Asian Journal Los Angeles p. A8 )