Mikki Chan

Bucket List Ticked Off!

Thank you Ms. Polly Pascua Buted 🫶

BOTH SIDES NOW 🎞️

In the areas of film and music, few songs and characters capture the complexity of human experience as poignantly as Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," which is the theme song for the movie "CODA." The song and the film (which won Best Picture at the 2024 Academy Awards) reflect on the shifting understanding of love and life and how our experiences shape our views, ultimately defining who we are.

In my younger years, I used to view love from a different perspective, filled with butterflies and dreams of cloud nine. At that time, I thought, acted, and communicated as if I knew exactly what love looked like, believing I would recognize it at first glance. I had my standards and held both myself and others to them, but they often failed me, and I failed myself as well. Was I wrong in my perspective then? No. That was the world I was in; it was the only reality I knew.

As I navigated life, I came to understand that love is a complex concept. It serves as both my strength and weakness, encompassing my highs and lows. Love exists in shades of black and white, embodying both joy and pain. It can be present for a week, a month, or, if one is fortunate, a lifetime. I spent many years searching for love and experienced it in various forms and manifestations. Sometimes I found it in a song, a daughter, a lover, a friend, or even within myself. Sometimes it speaks in English, Tagalog, Afrikaans, or Bisaya. Mahirap ilarawan ang pag-ibig sa mga salita, ngunit ang pag-ibig at buhay ay hindi maihihiwalay. Kung aha naglungtad ang kinabuhi, naglihok usab ang gugma (where life exists, love operates as well).

I am now forty six years old and realized that there’s a lot that I need to know and learn about love and life. Realized that as I am entering the silver generation, I don’t know anything at all. Learned that love arrives when it is time and leaves when it should. Love often defies expectations; it unfolds in ways we cannot foresee. Sometimes it shows itself in a sunny bench while mending a hangover. Sometimes in the eyes of a dog. Sometimes in the smiles of leaves sprouting after yrs of growing a plant.
Sometimes in a different time zone or brain zone.
And life can wake you up in the wee hours of the night asking you if you have done enough or if you are good enough. Love, life and everything in between. It is older now, but just as beautiful and meaningful as I remember it.

This morning, as I drove my daughter to the airport after a long weekend together, I observed her waiting sleepily in the queue outside. From my car, I waved goodbye, watching her yawn widely while she returned the gesture. It was a moment that encapsulated both the warmth of our time together and the bittersweet nature of parting. Likewise, the movie "CODA" looks at family relationships and the balance between being connected and being independent. The characters in the film navigate their own farewells and transitions. It highlights how love can be both nurturing and challenging as they strive to understand one another's perspectives.

In the end, love is a continuous journey of growth and understanding. Bawat karanasan, whether a tender moment or a difficult farewell, nag-hulma sa atong relasyon sa uban ug sa atong kaugalingon (shapes our connection to others and ourselves). As we navigate these complexities, we find that the beauty of love lies in its ability to evolve with us.

🎶 both sides now - by emilia jones- coda scene

Hello, Love, Goodbye, Repeat 🫶❤️

A few days ago, my daughter’s “MU” asked for my permission to make their relationship official. With tears in my eyes, I said yes, offering my blessings along with gentle reminders about priorities and boundaries. It was a moment of profound inner conflict—one part of me was deeply touched by their respect in seeking my approval, while another part ached with an indescribable sadness. The little girl I brought into this world and raised on my own is now beginning to write her own story, a chapter that may become the closest and most meaningful relationship she’ll have since the day she was born.

I often used to quote Kahlil Gibran's words from *The Prophet*: “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.” I never truly grasped the depth of those words until now.

You see, life is a constant cycle of hellos and goodbyes. One day, we say hello to a new job, a new friendship, a new love. Years later, we might have to let go and bid farewell to what once felt essential to our lives. Sometimes, it’s a sweet goodbye; other times, a painful letting go.

Every day, we discover new facets of ourselves, welcoming newfound strength, wisdom, or passion. And perhaps each day, we also say goodbye to parts of ourselves that no longer serve us—old fears, self-doubt, or anger. These are the hardest goodbyes, the ones that demand courage and resilience. But they’re also the most necessary, because only by letting go of what weighs us down can we make room for the peace and joy we deserve.

Some goodbyes are bittersweet, others heart-wrenching. Some leave us with a longing that never truly fades. And no matter how much time passes, the ache remains. We learn to live with it, to carry it quietly in our hearts. And then there are those goodbyes—like the loss of a loved one—that we don’t choose. We hold on because to let go would feel like erasing them, like letting go of the last tangible piece of someone we cherished deeply.

And to you who can resonate to what I shared here, I pray that you find the strength to let go when you must and the courage to embrace what comes next. Because sometimes, the hardest goodbyes open doors to the most beautiful and unexpected hellos.

You are not alone on this journey. God is always supporting you. Always guiding you towards your highest good.

Even in the moments that you feel so alone and lost, God is there working behind the scenes- setting things up for you.

So, as you start your day, open yourself up to trust 🫶🙏

Every hand raised is a step toward your voice being heard and your presence being felt.

Happy Wednesday! Eyyy🤙

📸 Armand Ansaldo Photography

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Empowering leaders, one session at a time. Excited to collaborate and drive meaningful change together.

6/8 Series

I’ve never fully embraced the concept of work-life balance, knowing that focusing deeply on one priority can often mean compromising others.

Nevertheless, I believe flexibility is key—to adjust as needed and to make time for the roles that matter most. That’s why I’ve chosen a career that offers the flexibility to be a mother, a coach, and a leader all at once. In this role, I can manage my schedule to meet both my essential tasks and personal goals.

The best part is that I’m partnering with a leading global insurance brand, with offices in 44 countries and operations in 78 countries!

This career may not be for everyone, but if you’re bold enough to challenge the status quo, I want to hear from you!

Sign up here to learn more: bit.ly/4d6z6PT or use the QR code in the invitation.

Two Important Messages (from the image below):

1. There are many available paths at any given juncture if you just opne your eyes to the possibilities.

2. Rather than looking backward, regretting the paths you didn’t choose, look ahead to all the opportunities still to come.

TGIF 🫶

Your work can ablsolutely offer meaning to your life, but it should not be the meaning your life.

Don’t leave your identity in someone else’s hand 🫶