Last night, I was able to watch the latest edition of the series which British film maker Michael Apsted began in 1963.  Watching it left me thinking how fast and fleeting life is and how one's future really depends on one's own hands.  Its production was begun to make people predict how each child was going to turn out based on the child's class and background. 

While there were some children who were groomed to be upper class and stayed upper class, there was a boy who was born economically disadvantaged in the East End of London and was able to move up the social ladder and become middle class. This child's story was one of my favorites from the series.

To be honest, the program left me rather sad.   It was difficult for me to see people grow old and look back on their life and reflect.  "Why is there so much inequality?  Why does life go so quickly?  Why do people have to suffer before they die?  Why can't life just be full of joy?" I asked.  I once read the book, Passages, which described each decade of one's life.  It is very interesting.  If I were asked how my life has been, I can only thank God for how it has turned out thus far.  I vividly remember my mother complaining to my second sister once when I was a teenager and telling her how overly ambitious I was.  Growing up middle class in Manila, I so wanted what the rich had.  I dreamed of a beautiful house, the best education, and world travel.   

That was decades ago.  To date, I have a beautiful and luxurious home, I studied in excellent schools around the world, and I have traveled to over 100 countries.  I have achieved all I hoped for except one.  What that dream is, I'd rather keep a secret.  Even then, I am happy with my life now.  I feel very blessed.