Life's Different Hats

I was able to catch up with a cousin today thru the very reliable Yahoo! Messenger. After the usual Hi's, Hello's, How are you's, and What's Up, I learned that her mom (my mom's younger sister) has accompanied my mom to her check-up in Manila this week. {Mom is receiving chemotherapy treatments.}

I was happy to hear that because I know Mom needs all the support she can get to boost her faith in God and in finding reasons to continue to fight for life. I can imagine them talk non-stop about their childhood memories ... how they washed dishes together, swam in the river together, how they would avoid being hit/scolded by their very strict "tatang" ... they reminisce and even talk about who their childhood playmates married! I know this because I've heard them talk non-stop one time during our trip from Manila to the province (5 hours!).

They have obviously grown close together and I am thankful that my aunt has made herself available for mom even during this difficult time. She obviously has not thrown her "sister hat".

Not all of us today understand the different roles we play in our lives, the different "hats" we have to wear. Most of the time, we only play the role at hand and forget that we still have other roles in life waiting to be played.

Today, I'm reminding myself that I am not only a wife to my husband, but I am also a child to my parents, a sister to my siblings, a niece to my aunts/uncles, an aunt to my nieces/nephew, a cousin to my cousins, a friend to my friends. I should be more sensitive to their needs, know when to catch up and know better than tell them life's okay for "okay" does not say it all. Today, I'm reminding myself to give time for each of the hats, whether old or new, for they are there waiting to be picked up and worn again. Today, I'm reminding myself to be like my aunt, ready when my loved ones need me even before they ask.