The Wisdom of Donya Buding

We all have this person that we admire and look up to. Someone who teaches us how to live life. For most people, they can be famous entrepreneurs, athletes, or TV personalities.

For me, that’s my Mama.

She has the skills and the guts you can learn from.

If Steve Jobs is great at selling Apples, my Mama is great at selling Pandesals. 30 years in the bakery business is not a joke.

If Michael Jordan returns to basketball after retirement, my Mama plays with her hips in her 60’s. She doesn’t want to stop learning and enjoying new things in Zumba class.

If Oprah Winfrey loves interviewing people on TV, my Mama is never shy to ask people to get what she wants. From what I observe, strangers are the ones who get shy!

I am always amazed at how she does things. She has ways to figure things out.

Not only am I inspired by her works, but I am also moved by her words.

When I was a kid and I was afraid of joining the contest, she said to me,

Kung kaya nila, kaya mo rin. (If others can so you can).

Imagine the boosts of confidence I got hearing those words.

One day, I was complaining about my job, and she says.

Ikaw gagawa ng paraan kung paano mo ma-eenjoy trabaho mo. (You have to find ways to enjoy your job).

Talking about the reality of the job and how to keep your sanity at work (pun intended).

When I slack in my life, especially in my health, she texted me,

You have to take care of yourself. You are in charge of your life.

When I remember these words, it reminds me I am not a kid anymore and I have to act like a grown-up man. It is up to me, what happens to me.

Of all the lessons I’ve learned from my Mama, there’s one that has the most impact on me.

You see, life is full of struggles. That’s a fact. No one is immune to that. In life, you will experience a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes you can handle it easily, sometimes you don’t. When that happens, I always have to remind myself what my Mama taught me.

Don’t take life seriously.

This does not mean that you have to dive into anything, live your life in Y.O.L.O. (you only live once), and forget about your responsibilities.

She shows me, through her actions, that you can still enjoy life despite problems. You can be responsible without taking it hard on yourself. Whatever happens, there is someone who will love you no matter what.

That’s the wisdom of my Mama.