Outlook and Plans 2009: Doing MORE than What I Think I Can Do

In the homily of Fr. Raymond Arre, parish priest of the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, in a
mass during the Feast of the Holy Family last December 28, he said that The Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph urges us to do more than what we think we can do in our life everyday - love a little more, forgive a little more, give a little more than what we did the previous day.

Using that message as an inspiration, I now start laying the groundwork for my personal
plans and outlook in the coming year 2009.

Admittedly, this is the the most disastrous year I have ever experienced in my entire life since the suffering I had in the first half of 2000. I lost a job (and had difficulty getting one), I exhausted all my savings, I had debts here and there, I'm undecided in almost everthing I want to do, and I'm not that confident in my future. I'm almost in the verge of a break down....

But now, after thinking things over, I decided to leave those things behind and start to create my plan for next year and in the years to come.

As a framework for my plans for 2009, my ultimate focus points for the next year will be:

(1) Find a secure job. This may not be necessary a teaching job, but may be somewhat related. An office job may do - I just REALLY need a job. I need to have one before the end of January 2009.

(2) Settle all debts. This might take a while but I plan to pay my creditors by installment
- even little by little (Well, sorry for two of my personal creditors - I just need to adjust my finances first). My goal is to be debt-free by April or June 2009.

(3) Maintain or find additional sources of income. I currently have two "side lines" and a possible one coming in by January, but I need to find at least one more before March 2009. A Multiply contact might help me through his "system".

(4) Save, save, save - and maintain the savings! As if I didn't do this before - it's just that I just didn't do it PROPERLY then. Based on the principle of "doing a little bit more", I need to save money and maintain MORE than enough just in case another financial crisis strikes me again.

(5) Take the Career Service Examination. Yes, if I decide to take a shot at a decent paying, REGULAR, and PERMANENT government position even without a Master's degree (as
opposed to a TEMPORARY Instructor 7 with a Master's degree), I need to take and pass the Career Service Examination administered by the Civil Service Commission. I need to take it by February 2009 to be eligible for a government job by March or April (just in case I don't have a job by the end of January).

(6) Take at least 12 units of Education subjects out of the required 18 units for the LET. This will lay the groundwork for taking the LET in 2010 to be able to teach in high school. The last 6 units will be taken in the summer or the first semester of 2010. Note: this may be optional, depending on the job that I'll have in 2009.

(7) Continue to serve the Lord through the LCG. Yes, whatever happens to my plans in 2009, I will continue my service to the Lord as a lector/commentator in the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. This will act as my thanksgiving to the Lord for letting me live through the hardships in 2008. To God be the glory!

Unfortunately, the crucial decisions I will make next year entail many sacrifices. They may not be easy for me but I have to do them to ensure my security of tenure next year and
lay the groundwork for a future teaching career. Some of the possibilities are:

(1) Leaving a place I used to stay because - as I and my colleagues in the church see it - it might be the one weighing me down and hampering my well-being and career growth
(goodbye, "excellence" in math?)

(2) Related to number (1): Setting aside something I may not immediately use and concentrate first in earning money, paying debts, saving for the future, and getting Educ
units (Graduate studies, perhaps?). This might entail going to another college or institution (UP Educ or PNU, here I come?)

While the above plans may be plausible enough on my part, things may not be that easy
because of different factors such as the looming effect of the global financial crisis. However, I just have to up the ante a little and do a little bit more than what I did in the previous year. And I really need a lot of GUTS to implement them - this is now the the time to avoid procrastination and catch up after being sidelined for more than half a year. And of course, I will be needing a lot of faith and leaving everything in God's power to guide me through my plans and dreams. HIS will be done!

I hope that all my friends and colleagues (past and present) support me in my Herculean endeavor next year. Things may not be easy, but I'll get by through God's guidance and everyone's prayers and encouragement. Wish me luck... ^__^

And with this I wish everyone a blessed and fruitful year 2009!