Measuring Myself
by: Ulysses Ybiernas ♦ July 4, 2012
A personal reflection on life, health struggles, family responsibilities, and daily self-assessment while trying to stay strong through hardship and uncertainty.
This morning was busy at work. There were many clients to attend to, and I barely had time to breathe. I just came back from lunch, and I’m using these few quiet minutes to write down my thoughts in my notebook.
My mind keeps going back to my family. My children are growing up so fast. My wife and I once dreamed of a simple life where neither of us would have to work overseas. But over time, those dreams faded because we needed to survive.
Still, I’ve managed to come this far through hard work and persistence. But good luck often feels out of reach, like it slips away just when I get close. So while I still have strength, I need to keep moving and take every chance I get.
Getting older has not been easy. I don’t have the same energy I once had. Time has made me accept my limits. Even so, this is the life I know, and I still need to work, even while I recover from illness.
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Just last week, I was in the emergency room. I was very sick with severe stomach pain, diarrhea, high fever, and dehydration caused by an amoebic infection. My body was weak, and I felt close to death. If my wife had not taken me to the hospital in time, I might not have survived. Now she is back overseas, and I am on my own again.
Despite everything, I continue with my daily self-assessment, something I started at the beginning of the year as my New Year’s resolution.
Here is my current progress:
House Construction – 60%
The project is moving forward despite loans and contractor problems. It is not finished yet, but it is progressing.
Credit Card Spending – 20%
I am trying to reduce spending, but I still haven’t paid much of the debt.
Life Goals – 10%
I am still unclear about my direction because of limited resources.
Not Being Affected by Others – 30%
I still get hurt by what people say about me.
Extra Income – 2%
I want to start a business, but I don’t have the resources yet.
Patience – 40%
I try to be patient, with my children and others, but I still struggle.
Prayer and Reflection – 30%
I sometimes find time to pray and be thankful.
Enjoying Life – 30%
I try to relax and enjoy life, but worries still affect me.
Health – 60%
I jog when I can after sending my kids to school. I am not fully following my doctor’s medication, but I still feel okay.
Gratitude – 50%
I try to end each day by being thankful that I survived another day.
Overall Progress: 33.2%
This is not a good score, but it shows where I am right now. It reminds me that I still have a long way to go.
Life keeps moving forward, and I have to move with it. No matter how difficult things become, I need to keep going for myself and for my family.
“Even when life reduces me to numbers, struggles, and survival, I still choose to measure my days not by what I have lost, but by the strength it takes to keep moving forward, for myself, and for the family I refuse to give up on.”
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