WE are about to leave 2018 in a few days. It made me remember the Japanese film Departures. Gerard, my editor, recommended it to me. By the end of this month, we also commemorate our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. This reminded me of a recent office party I attended where the theme was “It’s Time To Be a Hero.” I feel that a great way to end the year would be to share my perennial gratitude for finding meaning in my work.
Departures is about the story of Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), who wanted to be a cellist all his life. Soon after buying an expensive cello, he learns that his orchestra is disbanding. Daigo and his wife have to move back to his hometown in northern Japan. In desperate search for a job, he answers an ad for what he thinks is a travel agency. It turns out the job is a mortuary service. He learns and carries out the rituals used in preparing the dead for their final rest.
Although Daigo initially finds it difficult to embrace this new work as a career, each job allows him to see the value in his craft. From Tomeo, a young man who committed suicide by charcoal because his parents couldn’t accept his choice of gender change, to a father kissed by his loved ones leaving multiple lip marks, Daigo begins to see how his new job allows him to bring solace to the loved ones of the departed in different ways. And although this job is initially not well-received by people around him, even by his wife, Daigo finds his true calling in life.
Since I was a child, I knew that I’d be in business to continue my father’s legacy. Somewhere in between, I wanted to be a human-rights lawyer to fight the good fight. When I became a mother, I was inspired by my childhood mentors’ passion and patience in teaching. Today, I’m grateful that my family, especially my father and my husband, allows me to unapologetically pursue meaningful work. Moreover, I’m truly lucky that not a few people in my work understand and share the vision of early parent and child education.
Our recent office Christmas party had the theme “It’s Time To Be a Hero.” Some excerpts from the opening remarks: “Lahat tayo ay may kanya-kanyang pananaw sa salitang ‘Hero’. Ano ba ang kahulugan ng pagiging ‘Hero’? Matapang ba parang si Ironman at Manny Pacquiao? Makabuluhan ba parang si Steve Jobs at Stan Lee? O may nais na mapabuti ang ating kapwa katulad ni Nelson Mandela at lalo na ang Diyos? Kung anuman ang hero sa inyo, ang pinakamahalaga ay makita at mapanindigan natin ang ‘Hero’ sa sarili natin.
[We all have our own views on the word ‘hero’. What does it really mean to be a ‘hero’? Is it to be brave like Ironman and Manny Pacquiao? Is it to be of substance like Steve Jobs and Stan Lee? Or is to bear the dream of wanting to make people’s lives around us better like Nelson Mandela and Jesus Christ? Whatever your view, what is most important is discovering and bearing witness to the hero inside us].
“On another note, like what Anese Cavanaugh, a certified coach and author, says, ‘We all need a hero sometimes.’ For me, marami akong itinuturing na heroes sa buhay ko. Bukod sa pamilya at mga kaibigan ko, ang mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho ay itinuturing kong mga heroes dahil sa dedikasyon at sipag na binibigay nila sa kompanya…. Parati ko itong sinasabi: Kayo ang dahilan why I happily go to work each day. Ninanais ko sana na hangarin rin natin maging heroes sa isa’t isa [For me, I have a lot of people in my life I consider heroes. Aside from my family and friends, I consider my colleagues at work as my heroes for their dedication and hard work for the company…. I always say this: You are the reason why I happily go to work each day. My hope is for us to aim to be heroes for each other, as well].”
I have always loved my work because of the people I get to work with. I started to learn the manual work of cutting fabric based on customer orders from older employees when I was 5 at my grandparents’ textile shop. I worked with supervisors and secretaries at my father’s place later on to learn administrative work and so on. In between I heard their stories. I never had to be nor got to be paid to want to work because there was an intangible reward of wanting to see where all this would lead in my life’s purpose.
Today, I feel very fortunate to have fostered learning relationships with my colleagues at work. Regardless of rank, I value our common purpose. Regardless of age, I value our love for kids. The list of people I learned from at work continues to grow. The learning experiences are too many to count. Therefore, the gratitude I carry with me up to today is endless.
As we catch the New Year ahead, may we “depart” 2018 with meaningful reflection. May we find that hero in us today and shine that heroism to others. And last but not the least, may we be grateful for the year that is about to pass and always bring that gratitude for all the days ahead.