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Making the Connection
I have been cooped up in the house almost everyday for a month now what with the new baby and all. My daily schedule is no longer dictated by deadlines, errands, and meetings but rather of diaper changes, hourly feedings, and 45-minute naps (sleep is now an alien concept, instead I just take short naps and count myself lucky if I get at least 5 hours of cumulative z's at the end of the day). Under normal circumstances, I would have gone berserk or pulled all of my hair out from cabin fever. But for some strange reason, an inner calm has taken over me. I guess babies have the power to stun any insanely hyper mom to temporary inaction and serenity. The truth is, I don't mind being cooped up like this. In fact, I'm actually relishing every single moment of this interim respite. Somehow, being away from everything and everyone has actually made me feel closer to the things and the people that really matter in my life. This is, I think, one of the ironies of life – for how can one feel closer and be “connected” when one is away from the daily grind, the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and the company of other people? No doubt, we're now at a time when everything seems so accessible. We are more fiber-optically, digitally, and technologically linked to each other, but sadly and ironically, we are also losing our significant and real connections. We have lost contact not only with the people that matter in our lives, but more importantly, we have disconnected from ourselves. And so I consider myself blessed. This “alone” time with my baby and spending almost 24/7 in my house have actually made me “connect” with myself, my family, and my true friends once again. Now that I'm baby and house-bound, I spend hours in calm introspection (especially when the baby is asleep or when I'm feeding her), mulling about my life and trying to get to know myself once more. If I'm not in my “introspecting mood” (be warned, too much of this will also make you crazy, think post-partum blues), I do all the things that I can't normally do when I have a full schedule. I read, surf the net, watch TV, and bond with my husband and son. And guess what, I have managed to find old college friends while surfing the net (googling has become a nasty habit). I've also realized that the only person without a blog among my contemporaries (most of them are writers) was me. Their blogs are linked in spite of geographic considerations (I was amazed to find out that almost every one have managed to uproot themselves from this country) and so I was able to connect with them with just one click. Watching TV, particularly the news and with the PGMA scandal have also updated me with what's been happening to some of my batch mates and old friends. Some have become news reporters, lawmakers, politicians, and lawyers (I guffawed when one good friend I haven't seen in a long time was interviewed about the Osang and Revilla clan fiasco. He was the latter's legal counsel which was hilarious because he used to hate Pinoy showbiz). It's good to know that they've done well for themselves. Aside from all the re-connections I've made with old friends, I guess the most important one I've made is the one with my family, particularly my husband. Having a new baby in the family have strengthened our relationship and made us appreciate and know each other more. I guess it's safe to say that we've also done well for ourselves. And so, I would like to share with you what I have learned and realized from my temporary hiatus. As our lives become busier, faster, and more complicated, it's easier to stray away from ourselves and from each other. I think it's time to sit down, relax, breathe deeply, and get to know who you are, and who or what is truly meaningful in your life. Go ahead. Make the connection now. |
