LIFE IS A GREAT SUNRISE

“After God perfected the sunrise, he created photographers, artists, and poets to ensure his feat remained immortal.”

– Terri Guillemets

As I am battling against existential midlife problems, I took refuge and comfort at my hometown; seeking strength in solitude and finding the love I lost for myself. The sudden realizations in life pointed out foibles on me and mocked ruthlessly. But the scenes and familiar things from my hometown also bring back those childhood days where pain can be cover by band-aids and kisses, and where no one judges you for having dirty clothes at the end of the day — having the dirtiest clothes mean being the happiest kid in town. But now, it’s different. My vision’s gotten darker and darker. Everything is small yet it seems so big. Everything’s dragging into a pitfall of the abyss. It feels like drowning in an ocean of nothingness except everyone around you is breathing. It feels like a lonely night with your thought tumbling after another with volcanic force. My eyes telling different stories than what my lips would utter and shaped in to. My heart sings a different tune in pitch black night and my soul just weeps in full-eclipse darkness. That’s what I felt on the night of my life. But nevertheless, my hometown revivify my worth coming from people I first felt true love who always pointed out the best in me — my family and friends, the strongest light in this world.

Personally, I’m not a morning person but I would not miss every sunrise in our hometown. There was no sunrise so beautiful that it is so worth waking me up to see it. It’s not mere chasing a fleeting happiness but a way to give my life new perspective each day. An hour of scooter-drive in the vast ricefield and mountains is all it takes to fuel me up through the day. After all, I need this for myself.

I was up in the hills waiting for sunrise amongst the clouds the morning when I read an email from the team and greetings from my friends on Facebook and Messenger that I was one of the finalists of Best Cebu Blog Awards 2018 under Photo Niche. I felt like I was in cloud nine, literally and figuratively. It was like experiencing a sunrise you asked from the cold night. Quite a feat for my 16-month old blog ASANASADsiJAMES for its first recognition from the very prestigious blogging community in Cebu. Then the world brightens up as the sun creeping out from the silhouettes of the mountains just like this recognition helped me realized the joy in my passion for photography brought to my life. When life seems down and dark, my photos are always there to light and lift me up. It opened up again on me the reason why I started culturing my passion: to inspire people. I often forget about that as I am always misled by negativities. But now, it beacons me to overcome those problems in life and to look forward to each day.

I am very thankful to the supporters of my blog and other social media platforms for the undying support for my craft and passion. And also, to the wonderful persons working behind Cebu Best Blogs Awards and to the sponsors and partners, thank you for giving me another perspective in life.

There was never a night that could defeat a sunrise. Every sunrise gives you a new beginning and a new ending. Let every morning be a new beginning to a better life and a new ending to the bad memories. It’s an opportunity to enjoy life, breathe freely, love, to inspire others, and be grateful every day. No matter how lonely and dark your night is, remember to jump out of your bed every morning to witness your sunrise. May you find your sunrise in the faces of your family, friends, in your passion, or your life itself.