Age And Experience Can Really Mellow

December 31, 2007

Every time I revisit the 'eLf ideas' newslettersThat I used to make

and distribute in the lateNineties and reread what I had written in

those days,I can still smile at the ideas I was able toChurn out at

that age and with having no formalBackground in writing; however, I

now usuallyFind myself blushing in shame at the way IBrusquely

expressed many ideas and views--oftenArrogant, couldn't-care-less, lots

ofNeologisms, verbose rather than eloquent,Flamboyant rather than

precise.

I even remember declaring in one article: "ThisIs my literary world,

and you are just myPlatypi. I can do whatever I want; I can

writeWhatever I think of. You can't do anythingBut read."

That now triggers goose bumps on my nape.The arrogance of Youth.The "I

am an anarchist" stage of life!

But, age and experience canReally mellow people.

I'm glad I was given the chance to work in aPublishing company such as

Diwa Scholastic Press Inc.,Where I realized that--more than expressing

my viewsAnd "brilliant ideas" and writing with a bitIntent of

impressing--being able to communicateFeelings and concern and knowledge

in the mostSubtle and compromising way most oftenHits the goal.

I hope that I have indeed mellowed down and hadRather become calmer

and more patient: no longerShoving, instead suggesting; expressing,

notImpressing, contributing, not monopolizing;Clarifying, not

concluding; offering, notImposing; and accepting and considerate,

noLonger rejecting and indifferent.

I hope that the "I don't careWhat people say" rebel days have allBeen

really gone.

Wency Cornejo was right after all:"You can't be so radical...."

I remember myself back those carefreeDays--whenever a jeepney or

tricycle driverWouldn't give my fifty-centavo change, I wouldFlare up

and confront the

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