#STAYALIVE2020 : CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US SURVIVORS (JAN. 2020)

By Lauren V. Macaraeg

2020 na… at buhay pa ako! 🎆💃😅 At buhay ka rin! ❤️ #StayAlive2020 Congratulations to all of us survivors who made it to the new decade in spite of mental health struggles + physical health challenges + tambak na problema. 🤗 For the past few years, I wasn’t even sure if I would make it alive the next day, let alone the next year, because of both my physical health challenges (especially my allergies to hypertension medicines that makes me vulnerable to potential life-threatening situations, as I’ve explained in more detail in another post) and my mental health struggles, such as my old frenemies: depression & anxiety disorder (plus, I even suspect ADHD recently, though this last one is not yet diagnosed). And while I am praying for the Lord’s healing every day & while I am doing my best to help myself too, I am understanding that the length of my life is not something I can fully control. And while this can make me feel scared or sad many times, it also teaches me how precious every day of my life is. And this realization has led me to make many changes in my life & even in my own self the past two to three years. Changes I’m thankful for. Changes na gagawin ko pa rin, although not everyone can understand my decisions & actions, which may seem random at times but actually have reasons behind them. Pero maintindihan niyo man o hindi ay gagawin ko pa rin kasi kailangan.

I’m thankful to Jesus for His daily gift of life. I’m thankful for God’s everyday miracles that I witness because of, not just in spite of, my weaknesses. I’m thankful for the people in my life, especially my parents, family, friends & good-hearted strangers who show unconditional understanding, genuine concern, unshakeable love, careful consideration & unexpected kindness & help to a broken person like me (kahit halos walang gustong maniwala na madalas ay wasak ako inside kasi naturally bubbly ang personality ko… at ang ganda ko kasi. 😜 JOKE! 😂😜🤣 Wish ko lang pero sa totoo ang feeling ko mukha akong jumbo-size siopao, lalo pagkatapos lumafang nitong Christmas at New Year 🐷). I’m thankful for the lovable animals in my life, my Cutiengs Cats who are not just my friends but also my mental health guardian angels. And I’ve even learned to be thankful for myself. In spite of all my regrets & frustrations, I’m glad to be me, someone who can enjoy her own company. In spite of my less than perfect health, I’m glad I’m still strong enough to dance & Zumba like a crazy person lol. 💃

I hope you will all learn to be thankful for yourself too. Whether you are someone na hindi halatang may pinagdadaanan like me or someone who is more transparent about their struggles on a regular basis, what’s important is: We’re still alive. We made it. There’s still hope.

Life is a great blessing. And like most great blessings, we often need to fight for it. Which is not always easy to do. So I’m proud of all of us for fighting for life & for surviving. 🌳 And I’m also proud of us for admitting that we’re not always okay. Ayos lang naman aminin yun. Kasi totoo.

I’m simply honest with God during my special prayer times at my special prayer place (and yes, I find it easier to pray outdoors instead of indoors these days). Sinasabi ko lahat kay Lord ang nasa puso ko, maganda man o pangit. Holy man pakinggan o hindi. And it’s such a relief na magpakatotoo.

Please pray that my Mama Uni & I will both have better health, more time to relax & a break from back-to-back problems (please, Lord, utang na loob, tama na! 😂 Quotang-quota na kami). Sa ngayon, hindi pa nga kami nakaka-recover sa mga dating pinagdadaanan ay may mga bago na naman kaming pinagdadaanan, hay. I hope that someday I will finally have the time, opportunity & energy to finally focus on my blog and vlog, where I hope to finally start my Live4Infinity Life Project main posts & share more about mental health. I’ve only done personal sharing so far but I want to write so much more that might help others too: books, “first aid kits”, tips, lists, definitions, etc. I’ve been so busy just trying to survive – trying to juggle real-world problems while working at the same time – the past few years that I haven’t written a fraction of all I want to share. Sana this 2020 na! ✏

Whether your 2020 is happy or not exactly, I pray for healing, recovery & fresh hope for everyone this new year & new decade. I may not have been there for most of you recently gaya ng nakasanayan niyo dati, pero I still love you guys. Marami mang pagbabago, hindi naman nagbago yun. Kailangan ko lang munang palakasin ang sarili ko para balang araw ay may lakas na ulit akong maibabahagi sa inyo. Kailangan ko lang munang humingi ng tulong kay Lord na ayusin ang buhay namin bago ulit ako tumulong na ayusin ang buhay ng iba.

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng nagmahal at umunawa at hindi nanghusga.

I thank you all as we continue to request for your patience, understanding, and most of all, for your prayers for Mama Uni & me.

2020 meowhugs & prayers from Lauren, Mama Uni & the Cutiengs Cats. 🐈😻🙏

“The Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4:2)

#LaurenVMacaraeg #2020 #NewYear #StayAlive2020 #Survival #Survivors #Congratulations #Prayer #Healing #Grace #Love

#SelfHelp #PhysicalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #AnxietyDisorder #ADHD #Exercise #Fitness #Zumba #Dance #Philippines

#ProjectTIME #ProjectHEAL #SelfDate #Family #MamaUniAndLauren #CutiengsCats #CutieJunior #PutolTheFluffyCat #Cats #LoveIsSpelledTIME #GWU #Psalm1611

Blog Post Title: STAY ALIVE 2020: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US SURVIVORS (JAN. 2020)

URL Link: http://laurenvmacaraeg.com/2020/01/08/stayalive2020-congratulations-to-all-of-us-survivors-jan-2020/

Written by: Lauren V. Macaraeg ✏️

Photos by: Lauren V. Macaraeg 📸

Date Posted: January 8, 2020

Date of Photos: January 5, 2020

Hi! I’m Lauren V. Macaraeg, a children’s book author, freelance writer and cat lover. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and other official channels to be part of my adventures with Mama Uni, the Cutiengs Cats, family, friends & readers in the world of books and beyond.

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