I am an advocate of a non-combative way of life. This must have been influenced by my Buddhist readings about pain and suffering. According to Sylvia Boorstein : “A non-combative response, the Buddha taught, assures that pain does not cause suffering. And unclouded by the tension of struggle, the mind is able to assess clearly and respond wisely.”

But my experiences in life have taught me that indeed my journey in life entails struggles and hurdles but I do have choices. For example, I do have a choice about training my mind according to the teachings of Buddha.

I recall how one cousin went out of her way to offer me a teaching job in a prestigious college somewhere near Pearl Drive. This was shortly after I recovered from a severe clinical depression in the 90s.

I am glad I chose to teach at a nearby college years after I retired from a college in Makati. In a nearby college, I chose this time not to conform blindly. After all I was a senior citizen! Supposedly aged in wisdom!

I felt I was being “Who-I-Really-Am” according to Neale Walsch etc. Being a part-timer with no admin duties was very liberating The paper work was significantly much more than in my previous college. Some routine tasks outside the classroom were tedious but I was not devastated I CHOSE to do the tasks. I was not into Sylvia Boorstein yet but: “…unclouded by the tension of struggle, the mind is able to assess clearly and respond wisely.”

I was teaching because I liked it . It was a bonus that I experienced the energizing energy of a coed classroom.
What also helped was the fact that I was traveling more at around this time.
My worldview changed. I was transformed

Needless to say I felt better because our daughter lived in Singapore, then Australia and back to Singapore. Now I feel grand because our daughter lives in London; she is now a British citizen. I have felt and still feel she is far better off away from Manila.