I just came from the Psychological Association of the Philippines annual convention in Palawan. There, my CORD staff and graduate students and I presented papers on learning styles, work values, counseling for OFWs and organization transformation. I felt like a proud mom, elated at seeing how they shone and stepped up to the challenge.
At the end of each session, people would come up to us and congratulate us or say how much they liked our work. One participant was even brought to tears as she was telling me how inspired she was by our session. How she was struggling with trying to initiate change in her company and how she felt more hopeful to hear that it is possible. I thanked and hugged her but at the same time walked away feeling as if i received a gift. After all, to be able to give people a sense of hope when they are despairing, to know that your work empowers them - what better reward is there?
Yet, strangely, I felt humbled by this encounter. Perhaps because I believe that our lives, our talents, our opportunities and even our challenges - these are all gifts. And we can choose to squander them or use them for a greater good. At the end of our lives - we take nothing with us except hopefully, the contentment that we were worthy.