Life unfolds in mysterious ways. We ask questions. We seek answers. We yearn for certainty in an uncertain world. I’ve spent countless nights wondering about tomorrow, about success, about happiness. Haven’t we all?
Mothers know something profound about life. They understand its ebb and flow, its cruel twists and unexpected gifts. When young hearts overflow with questions about the future, they often respond with ancient wisdom: whatever will be, will be.
These words seem simple. Almost too simple. Yet they carry the weight of generations who’ve grappled with life’s greatest mysteries. The future arrives at its own pace, bringing with it joys we never imagined and challenges we never expected.
I remember those nights on our worn but cherished banig, masterfully woven from tikog by the skilled hands of our town’s artisans. In our modest wooden house, where the pawid roof whispered stories of countless storms weathered, I would lie awake counting my dreams. Moonlight played hide and seek through the gaps of our hardwood floors, creating dancing patterns that merged with the intricate designs of our mat. The gentle evening breeze would carry the distant sound of waves from the bay, threading through our nipa walls like nature’s lullaby.
In those quiet moments, my fingers would trace the beautiful patterns of our banig, each carefully woven strand a testament to our community’s resilience and artistry. The mat beneath me held not just my body, but the legacy of generations of weavers from our hometown. The scent of tikog would rise softly in the humid air, mingling with the saltiness of sea breeze and the earthiness of hardwood.
Would I be successful? Would I find love? Would I matter? These questions kept me company during countless nights, as persistent as the rhythm of waves against our shores. The moonlight would shift, the shadows would dance, and my mind would wander through labyrinths of possibility. Now, years later, I understand something crucial about those sleepless nights: they taught me nothing about tomorrow.
Life doesn’t yield its secrets to worry. It reveals itself moment by moment, day by day. Our obsession with controlling outcomes only breeds anxiety. We chase happiness like children chasing shadows, never realizing that it exists in the acceptance of what is. The more we desperately pursue positive experiences, the more negative our lives become. The paradox stings, but it teaches.
The melody of existence plays in minor and major keys. Some days bring darkness, others light. Both are necessary. Both are valuable. The sweet isn’t as sweet without the bitter. Pain shapes us. Failure teaches us. Uncertainty makes us alive. Our problems don’t disappear – they evolve. The quality of our lives isn’t determined by the absence of problems but by the quality of problems we choose to solve.
Here’s a truth that burns: suffering is inevitable. The question isn’t how to avoid it, but what we’re willing to suffer for. Every choice, every commitment, every love comes with its own unique flavor of pain. The trick isn’t to run from this reality but to embrace it, to choose our struggles wisely.
Consider the paradox: the more desperately we grasp for certainty, the more it eludes us. The harder we push for happiness, the more miserable we become. Yet when we release our grip, when we embrace the mystery of tomorrow, something extraordinary happens. We find peace. Not the peace of perfect certainty, but the peace of knowing that uncertainty itself is part of the beauty.
This isn’t resignation. It’s liberation. Accepting uncertainty doesn’t mean abandoning dreams or settling for mediocrity. Instead, it means choosing our battles wisely. It means understanding that some doors will close while others open. It means focusing our energy on what truly matters rather than exhausting ourselves fighting against the tide of existence.
We must learn to say no. Not every opportunity deserves our attention. Not every path must be taken. Not every relationship must be maintained. By saying no to what doesn’t matter, we create space for what does. This selectivity isn’t selfishness – it’s survival.
Time flows like a river, carrying us forward. We can’t see around the bend. We can’t know what rapids or calm waters await us. But we can choose how we navigate the journey. We can choose what we value, what we fight for, what we let go. Our time here is finite. This truth doesn’t have to paralyze us – it can energize us, pushing us to live more authentically, to love more deeply, to choose more wisely.
The wisdom lies in discernment. Not every battle deserves our energy. Not every question needs an answer. Sometimes, the most profound growth comes from accepting what is rather than forcing what isn’t. Our worth isn’t measured by how special we are compared to others, but by how true we are to ourselves and our chosen values.
Failure isn’t our enemy – it’s our teacher. Each misstep, each wrong turn, each painful lesson shapes us. We grow not despite our failures but because of them. They are the chisel that sculpts our character, the fire that forges our resilience.
In the end, we all face the same truth: the future isn’t ours to see. This reality can paralyze or liberate. It can crush our spirit or set it free. The choice is ours. We can spend our days fighting against uncertainty, or we can dance with it, letting it teach us about resilience, adaptability, and grace.
Whatever will be, will be. These words echo through time, carrying ancient wisdom. They remind us to live fully in the present, to choose our struggles wisely, to find meaning in the journey rather than the destination. They invite us to embrace the beautiful mystery of existence, with all its imperfections and possibilities.
The future remains unknown. But perhaps that’s exactly as it should be. In this uncertainty lies the space for growth, for surprise, for wonder. And in accepting this truth, we might just find the peace we’ve been seeking all along. For in the end, it’s not about controlling what will be – it’s about being fully present for whatever comes, ready to dance with destiny, prepared to learn from every step of the journey.