July 4th, 2009

I've carried one main struggle-to remain in my comfort zone or not. Staying in your comfort zone is equivalent to having that warm, ooozily safe feeling. It's about being surrounded by familiar faces, friendly laughter, marked hang-outs and doing things you've always loved doing. Safety and predictably, aaaahh the good life. Imagine being around  a fireplace with your friends and family, sipping hot mushroom soup amidst thunderstorms outside. Once in a while, I step out of these comfort zones, mustering enough courage to push myself beyond self-set boundaries. Dilemma is, there's always that risk of getting burned, and feeling terrible after. Wrong decisions, regrets. Then I can't help but to blame myself. But there's always that thrill, that high of doing something for the first time, of dipping oneself into uncharted territory. After all, who doesn't want to avoid monotony right? Adventure is the essence of happiness. Variety is the spice of life.

I've missed dotting down so many stories in this journal. Most of which have been me stepping out of my geographical&social comfort zones: my trips to Negros' Bacolod City (an ambitious, modern city built on the annals of the powerhouse sugar industry), Cebu City (advanced on all levels, the Visayan answer to Manila) and back to Tagbilaran Bohol (quaint and magical), the hair-raising adventures I've had in the corporate world (buking-to-the-bone. Nyarks!), my experience of voters' registration and resolution of political issues and ahay, the passing of one of history's greatest entertainers: Michael Jackson.

It was early morning, I was preparing to take a bath. I switched my Bravia on, setting the background prep sound to Magandang Umaga Bayan. And there I caught the country's breaking news: Henry Omaga-Diaz saying Michael Jackson, King of Pop at 50, pumanaw na. When I heard the news, at first I was denial. I couldn't believe it. I kept saying to myself that it wasn't his time yet, that two weeks from now he would again conquer London and the world. There was no time, the clock was ticking. Full of doubt I went ahead to the washroom to take a shower. As I felt the sharp cold touch of water on my face, I felt tears falling down my cheeks. I just gave in. From that day, what followed was a barrage of CNN/BBC michael sessions, music channels' countless tributes, the media splashed with MJ news. I followed each and every one of them, as I mourned with millions of his fans all over the globe. I can just imagine Janet's and the whole Jackson family's pain over the loss of their son.

Along with his sister, I felt specially attached to Michael Jackson. He inspired me to sing, to dig deep and pursue my passion for music. There was something special about this man, his talent touched so many lives, and his music gave so much joy to people all over the world. No one moved like him, and his countless hits had that undeniable appeal to everyone. Everyone knew about him but no one really knew him. 

He was ahead of his time, and towards the end of his years, this world judged him. I wish that his next world will be kinder.