I remember being young and stupid. Making decisions that should have not been made in the first place. I reflect on a time when I embraced the freedom of being young and, yes, admittedly, a bit foolish. Those carefree days were marked by impulsive decisions and a belief in my own invincibility. I was navigating a world that seemed painted with endless possibilities.

There were weekends that I would drive my trusty Suzuki Vitara to go scuba diving in Batangas, Philippines. Learned how to sail a one-man topper boat in Taal Lake. Eventually, became one of the crew members of a couple of boats in Manila Yacht club. Also learned mountaineering, which I only did for a year. I also ran, both on the road and on a trail somewhere.

For the reasons mentioned above… I was almost always somewhere where my parents did not know exactly where I was, but they did know what I was up to. I would be gone for days. More often than not, they were against any of my outdoor activities. 

“Gigi, delikado yang mga gusto mo.” (Gigi, those activities are pretty dangerous)

And they were ABSOLUTELY-F*CKING RIGHT.

However, as the years unfolded, so did my understanding of life. The mistakes that I made in my youth served more as lessons – threads that stitched together a mature version of myself. It wasn’t an easy journey. There were dicey moments when I stumbled over my own misplaced confidence.

Yet, each misstep was a step towards growth. 

My fearlessness from outdoor activities disappeared when my son Sky came along. Suddenly, I was responsible for another human being. 

Today’s snowy and icy road made me think of my old self. The young version of Gigi would have just drove around and not think of the consequences of a possible accident. 

Now, as I navigate the world with a deeper understanding. I appreciate the beauty of growth. So, I stayed home and away from the slick roads that represented the me when I was younger.

I am still Fearless, but this time I have Wisdom in my back pocket.