Naalala ko pa noon how I would be crazy over someone and see that person fly away without me even doing a thing, taking stolen glances and being happy with the way things are. I was contented being anonymous then, having secret crushes, I mean, having loads of secret crushes in school, dying out of kilig seeing that person and running away from them like they're a person with Ebola, the only difference is that this Ebola is like a piece of tasty lamb that I can devour anytime.

But things change, we grow up. Sabi ko kagabi, as a person matures, he tends to listen more, a person who reflects on the meaning of conversations and life, a person who chooses his words carefully knowing that any wrong word said might hurt someone. When someone told me before that wisdom comes with age, I wasn't in any way believing a piece of what he said. I thought then that older people can't really be more wiser than younger people, they just have more experiences, that's it. Kung baga, nauna lang sila ipinanganak.

But now I understand, I was wrong for doubting that wisdom comes with age, na lamang lang sila sa experiences. Because the real reason for this maturity is lessons from mistakes, mistakes committed from every experience, experience is wisdom, and wisdom is far from the erudition that we achieve from school. Wisdom is what older people emanate. And I think that's the reason why I was always attracted to older people. Because they understand, because they listen, because they choose their words carefully.

I won’t say that I am mature. You'll only be mature the moment you have admitted to yourself how immature you are. I am not mature enough, but I am getting there.

And it starts with listening and understanding.

_*blink