Raison d'être

“Which person is the one you look up to the most?" is a question that has been thrown at me a gazillion times already, but my answer would always contain the same person. "My mother."

The reason why is simple. Ever since I was an innocent child, my mother has been my mentor, number one supporter, best friend, cook, guidance counselor, seamstress, alarm clock, refuge, superhero and most especially, my anchor. She defined the word "love" in a million little ways I cannot imagine.

 She taught me when and how to trust people and how to stand on my own two feet. She also enlightened me with principles and ethics I still observe to this day, opened my eyes, and gave me a glimpse of the various faces our world has, how it truly works, and its realities. She molded me to always find the beauty in any state or position I come across; to become adept in every situation, may it be easy or difficult to surpass through, for life has its own bumps and hills; it will not always be smooth sailing. And lastly, she taught me to stand adamant and strong, whatever hurricane or storm passes through. I have learned so much from my mum, and I am beyond grateful to have her in my life.

 

Once again, the time has come for us to commemorate and honor our mothers and the invaluable contributions they made to helping us grow into the greatest versions of ourselves possible.

This momentous occasion had once more occurred in our lives, and this year's Mother's Day celebration was truly amazing and different in its own special manner.

 This year's celebration was rather simple yet sincere. Last Sunday morning, I opened my eyes to be greeted by a beaming ray of sunshine. The warmth that I felt in my eyes served as a preview, a sign that this day would be as heartwarming as it was planned and expected to be. I went out of my room, looked for my mother, and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. I greet my mother in celebrations like this without feeling constant awkwardness, for I am not very vocal in terms of expressing myself, but I always make sure to take a leap of faith and exert some effort to be able to explain myself in words so that the other members of my family can feel the sincerity and warmth of my love for them, especially in significant celebrations like this.

 

After that, me and my three elder siblings gave our mom our present: a cake. It was indeed a simple gesture, but what makes it special is our sincerity, love, and respect as we thank her for all the things that she has done and surpassed for us to have a better life.

 

Later that day, we chose to spend this annual event with my father's aunts, who are also mother-like figures to me and the rest of my family, for they have been showering their motherly love on each and every one of us over the past years, giving us insightful advice about life, providing us enough support for every endeavor we have in life, and not forgetting to send us gifts and treats every single time. As planned, we met at a local restaurant and dined with them. After we gave our greetings, kisses, and also the roses we had prepared for them, we had our kumustahan, which made the whole moment more worthwhile as seeing them in a good state warmed our hearts, for they also hold a very special place in our hearts.

 

Celebrating the contributions of every matriarch, standing strong, and supporting the very beams and walls that stick the whole family together should not be observed on that specific day, but we should take it as a reminder that this should be a daily effort and activity.

 

As this day ushers in, may we also get reminded of the fact that without them, we would not be here, having the ultimate best of our lives. We would not be the same people that we are today if it were not for them. Everything that we had attained over the past years would not have been possible without the love and dedication they showered upon us, which nurtured our very minds to pursue any endeavor that we had in mind.

 

We all have different definitions of the word mother. Indeed, they are all unique and beautiful in their own ways, but they all have one objective in mind, which is to provide the best for their children no matter what circumstances they have to face. No matter what problem is patiently waiting for us in the foreseeable future, our mothers will always be there for us with their fervent love and adoration, guiding and accompanying us in our journey with this longest of rides called life. When we are led astray from the road we choose to partake in, they will be our human-form compasses that will lead us back to the right track. All the achievements, recognitions, and medals we have attained in life would not be deemed possible without the comforting hands of our mothers. Without them, we would not be thriving, living the best of our lives, and spending our time improving and building a better version of ourselves. No matter how the world turns out, our mothers will always be our raison d'être, our reason for existence, always and forever.