At 33, I may not be someone you would call very wise and accomplished, but I sure have fought my own share of battles in life that some people may deem to be tremendous. I’ve managed to stay out of trouble and have a comfortable family life, at least for the past few months. I’ve felt what it’s like to be very young and flighty, yet I also learned what it means to be responsible not only for my own sake, but to look after others’ interests and well-being, too, both because I simply have to and I have committed to do so.

At 33, I have already experienced so many things. Some are wonderful and worth reminiscing over and over, but some are rather regrettable that I vow not to do such things if given another opportunity to live in those days again. But I shall try to remember to pass on to my children the lessons I’ve learned from those experiences.

At 33, I no longer have a mother to behold and to run to when the whole world is tumbling down on me. I recognize, however, that I still have a family to call my own, a father, brothers and sister who would always try to be there for me and still try to look after me as I would always be the baby in the family. I have also become more aware of God’s presence than ever, it seems.

At 33, I have already been married for nearly eight years and have seven- and four-year old daughters. My own family life is not exactly an ideal one, but I have learned to deal with the things that come with married life. My husband and I have faced so many difficulties together that it makes us wonder how we’ve gotten so far in just seven years… from passion to disillusionment, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, not to mention having to deal with people trying to ruin our marriage.

At 33, I have come to meet so many different types of people. I have come to know who are my true friends, and I still continue to discover real friendships. Sadly though, this entails losing friends as well.

At 33, there are still some things that I would like to experience and hope to have. I would like to be able to tour the rest of the country, see places abroad and experience all the seasons as well as different cultures with my own family, help anonymously a child in need until she/he is old enough to fend for him/herself, establish a profitable business, live in a nice house that we could truly call our own home, spoil my father, experience receiving a consistently fat paycheck on paydays, and have an adequate savings account to do all the things that I want to do and still be able to support church ministries and a few people in need, and  even keep my family and my own health in check.

At 33, I have already done a lot of things, but I also still have so many things to do in life. And in between, there are things that I wish I could undo, but I simply have to accept that I can no longer do so.

At 33, it seems that my life has just started. Everyday is a chance for me to become a better person and get closer to my dreams as I grow deeper in faith.