eJournal Post #3

eJOURNAL SEEDS FOR REFLECTION

1. Why am I who I am? 

I am who I am because of the circumstances surrounding my conception and the nurturing I received from birth onwards. I am the third child of parents who were highly educated and respected professionals. I was born at a time when the Philippines and the world as a whole were experiencing one of the most severe economic downturn in the history of planet Earth. I was also born under Martial Law when the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. had the Philippines under his thumb. So, I was born in a time of hardship for my family and for the entire country. This may explain why I have no baby pictures - my parents thought I was going to die because I was so malnourished and scrawny.

My development from birth onwards was in a family that loved me very much. We lived in a two-story apartment (my parents and all four of us kids lived in one bedroom while my 4 aunties lived in the other bedroom. My uncle and the maids slept downstairs in the living room.) So there was always someone older than me to ask about things and ideas. My parents didn't believe in sheltering us kids from the facts of life so our small apartment was quite noisy with conversations between people. We kids were allowed to play outside in the street provided we came home when it was time to eat or do our homework. I became very independent as a result of this.

My father was a Muslim while my mother is a Catholic. Yet my father allowed us to study in Catholic private schools and to attend Mass although none of us kids were baptized at birth (except my youngest brother who got special permission from Papa to be baptized shortly after birth). So this helped me to be open-minded about religion. It also taught me that there are some Muslims who are not fundamentalists but rather are liberal-minded.

My parents believed in the value of education and to be ambitious. But they were also very strict about morals and religion. So that is why I also value education and believe that the only limitations I have with regards to ambition are due to other people. I aspire to be the best I can possibly be.

As far as genetics is concerned, I am quite tall at 5'8" but very thin because my father was also tall and thin. I believe I am intelligent because both of my parents were quite intelligent too. The nurturing I got over the years shaped me into a compassionate person who wants to plant a million trees to combat global warming, adopt three kids because lots of kids are abandoned by their parents, and buy my own farm to retire in when I have enough funds.

2. How old am I? How should I describe my age according to the different dimensions— chronological, biological, psychological, and social?

Biologically, I am turning 48 in January 2022 so I'm past the age for child-bearing. That is my chronological age. My biological age is also 48  and I look it. However, I am also autistic so that seems to have affected my psychological and social development. I am also bipolar and schizophrenic which may also explain why I have these mood swings and tendencies to think too highly of myself in comparison with other people. Despite my issues, I like myself and believe I will achieve more in life in line with my goals.