Learning something new about yourself never ceases.

I feel that I'm finally on my own-well, sort of. I'm currently living in a nice suburban house with my friend and his brother. We each have our chores to do-my friend drives the car, his brother takes out the trash on monday nights, and I cook from time to time. We all do the groceries and our own laundry, and I have yet to clean the house. I pay rent so each and every purchase I make is carefully budgeted-well, at least I try to. It may all seem so ordinary, but I'm having fun. It's a totally different environment and it's very quiet. It feels like a break from the busy, intoxicating makati life I used to have.

Like most suburban neighborhoods, it's quiet. When I wake up every morning, I go out to soak up the morning sun and smoke a cigarette with my butt freezing cold. I watch as the seagulls fly by and the cat trying to sneak past me. And when we get home and go in each of our rooms, I look around the room which will be my sanctuary at least for the coming months-still in disbelief that I'm here. I am beginning a new adventure and continuing the journey of my life. I wonder what could be next.

Apart from the guys shouting while they play Final Fantasy 11 and the bit of noise from the TV in my room, I'm surrounded by a different form of silence. I always enjoy being lost in my thoughts wherever I am and I love how the environment can influence their flow. My current environment is helping me relax and set my goals straight. For a very long time, I've been ambitious and imagined a high powered corporate life for myself-highly materialistic and vanity driven. But now I just want to make enough money to be able to live comfortably and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

Am I getting old? I don't think so. Perhaps, I've just had enough of living by the "work hard, party hard" motto and ending up broke 5 days before the next pay day. I'm tired of slaving the week and getting wasted on weekends. Though I don't regret all those fantastic and wonderful nights out with Cristina and Margie and friends at where else?-Capones! Am I growing up? I've been growing. I look around at the younger people around me and sometimes I wish I could turn back time and be at their age again. But then, I don't think I would like to trade learning for youth. I am where I am supposed to be. Situations and experiences have to vary to help us become who we want to be.