Most people change over time, some for the better, some for the worse. Time has a way of affecting how we look, think and behave. It has been some time since my last birthday so perhaps this seems like a belated reminiscing of the past. I blame the weather. The rains have kept me indoors for more time than I can care to count that I couldn’t help but be sentimental and reflective.
I smile with amusement whenever I see my pictures especially from childhood. “Simple” would be an understatement to describe how I looked back then! I had absolutely no sense of vanity. All I did was brush my hair and put on a little powder — that was it. I was just after hygiene and comfort. So other than that, there was virtually nothing else. I went to school in plain jeans and shirt, with my naturally curly hair in its wild splendor.
As I got older, I became more curious about fashion and styling. From simple jeans and shirts, I began to fix myself more. I discovered makeup and accessories. I also started to explore other clothing styles. Finally, I had more in my closet than just denim and cotton.
I started enjoying dresses, be it simply cut or with all the frills and trimmings. I also loved trying out different tops. I actually cannot believe all the time I spent just wearing shirts. I could probably say I am making up for the lost time with the amount of tops I now have in my closet.
Of course, it had a lot to do with the fact that I started joining pageants. This made me open my eyes to the fun world of dressing up and enhancing your individual style. Interacting with so many stylish and pretty ladies challenged me to find my own strengths. I started experimenting even with my hair. I straightened it for the first time.
Even my choice of footwear changed dramatically. I used to live on flats — for comfort and function. But because of the pageants, heels became my best friend! They can do wonders for one’s posture and make you look taller and slimmer. I can now walk comfortably and project with confidence with the right pair of heels for long periods of time.
I also started collecting accessories to liven up any plain outfit. I am not afraid to experiment, knowing that people associate my style with my outgoing and free-spirited personality anyway.
In terms of how I am as a person, I have been independent even as a child. But of course, I really couldn’t be too independent because of my very young age. Even in kindergarten, I joined all the activities in school, even dance numbers. That is the reason I did not grow up shy at all. Even at school, I was already honing my performance skills. It also helped a lot that my family was very supportive.
However, growing up, in spite of the fact that I was happy, I could not help but be intimidated by those who were rich not just in school, but especially in the pageants that I participated in. Some of the girls were really sosyal. Being a girl from the province, I was intimidated most of the time. But the more pageants I joined and the more training I underwent, I learned how to carry myself, how to present myself in front of everybody, how to speak and most importantly, how to be confident.
But it was my upbringing in the province that I am really happy about. The values my mother instilled in me will never be forgotten. They will always be with me. She has taught me the values of honesty and discipline since I was a child. It is amazing how sometimes we are hardly aware of the treasures our parents have imparted to us. As I started to mature, I just realized how precious my mom’s teachings are and how they help me until now.
The most important thing that I hold on to is my faith in God. This is one thing that I will tirelessly acknowledge. It is said that we may reach the worst ends of this Earth but if we never forget God, He will never forsake us. My faith has not always been this strong. It took so many challenges and prayers before I got to this point. And I believe it can even grow stronger. In spite of trials, there are so many reasons to thank the Lord. We should never be near-sighted, and always see beyond the difficult times. I value my personal relationship with God the most. Once I surrendered my life to Him, it has been a victorious journey.
I am so blessed with all the people I have been blessed with that has made this on-going transformation to happen. I can only hope that I do not disappoint them, and that I could too, share my blessings to more women out there.