The struggle is real!

This phrase has been used, misused and abused. What I'm going to share with you in this piece may be far-fetched, but this is the best way I can think of to illustrate the true essence of that phrase that has somehow become a trend these days.

On the personal side of me, all I can say is that I have been very lucky to be born with a silver spoon, thanks to my dear parents Alex and Doris, and to my grandparents Robert Sr. and Elizabeth. All of them work so hard to give us, the 'third generation' of our lineage, some breathing room to live life comfortably.

To each of his own, we have our own struggles in life. I myself had my own battle, the battle to fight obesity. Eight years ago, I was overweight and lived a very unhealthy lifestyle. I owe everything to that reality television show that changed my life forever. And with the support of my family, my wife and children, I was able to nurture a healthy lifestyle.

Motherhood is one of the biggest challenges or struggles one can go through. Motherhood is the greatest thing, and the same time its the hardest thing. The process of getting pregnant might be very fullfiling and exciting for both sexes, but the nine months one has to go through carrying the child is something. I could not possibly imagine the changes in one's body, the mood swings, hormones, vomiting, and then finally deliver the gift of life, which is greatest miracle itself. After giving birth, this

is where the bigger challenge or struggle begins when you have to norture, take care of raising a child yourself unless you can afford a bunch of nannies like affluent families do.

But what if you're just an ordinary working class person who works eight hours a day and survives through hand to mouth on a daily basis then at the same time you have to squeeze time to exercise and get back into shape.

Although I myself have not gone through this actual experience, I can say that I have experienced maybe a small part of it, as a hands-on, full time dad. Just driving them to school back and forth plus all those extra curricular activities among other things. That is why I am so lucky to have Caroline, my loving wife. The patience and all the sacrifices she had gone through like giving up her banking career just to take care of our children sweep me off my feet.

So before using the phrase “the struggle is real,” put yourselves on their shoes and there you'll find its real meaning. As Kintoy Acuña, our very own triathlete and working mother, aptly said it:“Motherhood is and never will be easy. Sometimes you'll lose yourself in the process but when you look back, you know it is all worth it.”