Reality Check

REALITY CHECK : You can fly

There's always this time when the world was just so mad at you that whatever you do, it just wouldn't let you have even one sincere moment to smile. And yourself would let you down, and you're left ever so alone... regretting in a corner, contemplating in the shadows, feeling sorry for yourself.

Well, let me have the honor to slap you, darling.

The world was never against you. Even hell was just sitting prettily watching you decide on what you have to do with your life. Fate and destiny weren't the ones putting you down. Yourself wasn't the one who let you down.

You just always have this confidence that you can do it, but all of a sudden, everything fell apart. Everything was just messed up. You are messed up. Because let us face it. You are just a human. You are an imperfect creation. You make mistakes and kiss temptations more than so often.

It was you. Everything was your fault. You let yourself down. You didn't fell off the cliff because you slipped. You jumped off.

You jumped off because you thought that flying would feel good or hoping that maybe somewhere in the middle you would miraculously float on the air and soar back to the top of the cliff.

You could fly, they said. And you believed them. So you jumped and fell and now, look at you. So mad at the world for raising your hopes, not even considering the fact that it was your choice. It was so funny, right? Funny how you were so brave to do what felt so right yet so coward to accept that you were wrong. But then again, nobody was ever proud of his weaknesses.

I'm not trying to say that you are stupid for believing you could fly. Because, darling, you can. But there are processes that you needed to learn first. And there was never a short cut in learning, in knowledge.

You couldn't just jump off and expect to float. You could fly, yes. But you have to remember that you don't have wings... yet. Well, you could make one, you know. Or maybe a cape like the superheroes. But I prefer wings. Wings are cool and beautiful.

What, haven't you imagined yourself proudly spreading your own-made extravagant wings? How do you think would your wings look like? Would they be made of golden feathers with diamond accents? Or would they be titanium blades with roaring engines?

You see, you have to dream first. To have a goal. And of course, a plan on how you'll be able to achieve this goal. It isn't just about believing you could do the impossible. Darling, there is a reason why it was branded 'impossible'. But let me tell you a secret. It was called impossible not because it could never be done but because they think it could not be. They think it could not be done not because they didn't have the hope and the courage to do it but because they failed to achieve it. Because they also just jumped off the cliff and hoped that the gravity would reverse itself to save them.

The process doesn't stop in dreaming, in planning, in designing. And believe me, the next phase would be harder. It is to actually build the wings. There were so many things to consider: the gravity, the algorithms, the mechanisms, and whatsoever you think that might affect your wings' function.

In the process of making it, there would be short circuits and engine failures. Your hands would be calloused and wounded, your patience would be tested, your whole being would be tired. And when you thought it's done, you needed to test the wings for flight. And you would crush over and over because something in the circuit wasn't right.

You'll probably end up giving up. But believe me. In those times, all you needed would be a refreshing bath and a good sleep to restore your strength and faith. But you would not give up. You would never afford to give up. Becuase during those times when you're almost done yet everything just feels so wrong, something inside you would tell you it's gonna be alright and you could do it. Just a little more patience. Just a little more wounds and back aches. That voice, darling, wouldn't be me. That voice would be your yet-done wings.

They would be the one who'll slap you when you're too tired to fight, too helpless to hope. Because with all the hardships and tears that you invested with them. I bet they would not let you just give up. They wouldn't let you jump off the cliff having only the hope to miraculously float. No, your almost-built wings would never let you fly without them.

And so you would continue the process and give whatever was still left in you just to finally finish building your wings. How do you think would it feel to finally see it done? How do you think would it feel to see your dreams turn into reality?

When your wings were finally done, stare at them. They were your thoughts and actions. They were your life. Feel them. Feel how every material you incorporated with them sooth the callouses on your hands. Wear them. Wear them and jump off the cliff. Soar. Soar with the wind and feel how your wings proudly flap. And smile. Because, darling, you can fly.

What, you're afraid that it would let you down and you would again crash? Oh, please, you believed the world when it told you that you could fly. If you'll crash this time, at least you jumped off with a hope that the wings that you built would work and not with just a random hope that you would magically float.

Because the process doesn't end there. There are still so much to learn. Because learning is endless. Your wings might work one day and the next, it might malfunction. But by that time. I know you wouldn't need a slap to bring you back to your senses and stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Now, now if I may, how do you think would your wings look like?

***

REALITY CHECK

BY NATHALIE REGACHO

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.