“Where am I? What’s happening?” Those were the first questions I asked the moment I opened my eyes last December.

On October 17, 2009, an extremely horrible event occurred. I was involved in a car accident right after a sumptuous dinner at SM Mall of Asia. The good thing here is that I’m still alive, despite the month-long unconsciousness. But right now, the question to be asked is, “how do I move on?”

Moving on. Full recovery. How do I seriously get to that stage? I just want things to be like before. And then I thought, “Crazy girl! Things cannot exactly be like before. Get used to the changes instead. Don’t dwell on the fact that things at this moment have changed. Different. Just get used to them.” That’s it. Getting used to the changes. But how do I do that? Is there like a special class that gives lessons on getting used to changes? Everything has changed, so how do I get used to that? Changes. What a term.

First things first. Are the changes good or bad? Well, I can say that they’re both good and bad. Good in a way that there are some things that are making me happy and comfortable right now, and bad in such a way that I feel like I’m not part of any of it. I feel like an outsider who suddenly came and nobody notices. I know that it seems like I want to get the attention of people, but that’s not it. It’s not about the attention. It’s about the feeling of being like one of them. I just want to feel welcomed once more. And that really depends on me, doesn’t it? So, what should be done? Live the way like how you were before. Just think and keep in mind that you’ll get used to the feeling. And it just takes time and effort for you to succeed.

Second, be happy. I know that this might sound such a cliché, but it’s true. Happiness is such a huge and powerful thing that it truly captivates the one who has it. Just be happy, and don’t think too much of the things that devastate you. Think of the happy things. Think of the things that give you joy, and not pain and sadness. Think of Enchanted Kingdom, or Disneyland, or graduating Cum Laude, or getting a good job, or passing your thesis, or travelling around the world. Happy and good things. They’re all that matters.

Last, but not the least, enjoy with whatever it is you’ll be doing. Never do things that will upset you. You were given a second life for you to be able to enjoy, and have fun. There are still some things that you should do and finish. Find them, and then commit yourself into doing them. But make sure that you are enjoying whatever that is you’re doing. If you get that feeling of exhaustion, and tiresome, and repetitiveness, then find some other thing you can do. Just be sure to finish whatever that is you started.

Once you’ve done all these things, then I can say that you’re fully recovered and that you’ve totally moved on. J