Pressure

Most of us have experienced being pressured even at least once in our lifetime. We can be pressured by someone, something or even by ourselves. Do you think that it is healthy to feel pressured over anybody or anything? Or should we be pressured?

When was the last time that you felt being pressured? What was it about? We all went through different kinds of pressure when growing up that even if we are already old enough, we are still being pressured. Work and time pressured are already a given. But there are those simple questions that will really make us feel being pressured. Questions like when are you going to get married, when are you going to have a child or a second child. Being pressured can either be positive or negative. Positive in the sense that it can motivate us to do even better. Negative because it leaves a negative impact on us that we would end up questioning or worst stressing ourselves.

When it comes to getting married, I was also asked that same question by some of my cousins. One of my cousins even told me that she would really go home if it was my "pamamanhikan". It is a Filipino tradition wherein a guy together with his parents and immediate family would visit his girlfriend's house to ask her parents that he would marry her. I do not know if this is still a thing but when my brother did the "pamamanhikan", we just brought food to my sister-in-law's place. My brother had already proposed to my sister-in-law prior to the lunch meeting. I did not even witness how a guy would ask for the hand of the girl from his parents. What I know is that nowadays some guys usually have a one-on-one talk with the girl's parents telling them that he has intentions of marrying their daughter and would ask for their blessing prior to the marriage proposal then the "pamamanhikan" or a simple lunch with both families. I am not sure but I think back in the days the pamamanhikan was already like a marriage proposal. Correct me if I am wrong as I have to ask my mom regarding this tomorrow. Or what do you know about the "pamamanhikan" then and now?

I slightly felt pressured when my relatives would always say that they would really prepare for my big day. Yet I always answer them that I need to have a boyfriend first before a husband. LOL. I am not getting any younger and I am not going to lie but even if I am not that into marriages, I also want to have that happily ever after. I also would want to have a child of my own. I would accept my fate if I were to be an old maid.

The other day when I was talking with Firenze and our topic was about life again. I forgot what specifically we were talking about but I know it has something to do with being pressured. We are at that point in our lives that as much as we do not want to feel pressured about something, we would somehow think about it over and over for a certain period of time. Because of our life talks, I cannot help but to feel slightly pressured over almost everything that is going on with my life.

The fact that I am already at an age where I should have a stable income, a loving family of my own and a comfortable yet challenging life, however everything is the exact opposite except for the last part. Most people would say "do not worry. You are still young". At what age does a person considered as still young? Should we pressure ourselves about our lives when we are already old? I know that there are some persons even celebrities who have been successful when they were at the adulting stage, aged 40+ above. They waited patiently for their time.

When I looked back with my goals, I cannot help but to feel pressured. When I realized that I am already at the last cycle of my menstruation pills, I cannot help but to feel pressured. We are already halfway through the year, yet here I am still making a lot of reasons. Yes I do felt stressed when I was under pressure but I know that I can make it through. Me pressuring myself makes me even more motivated in achieving my goals but on the other hand I would also pity myself whenever I did not get the job done. I know that I should turn my negative thoughts into positive ones so that it will not come in my way.

I am not sure if having ourselves being pressured can help us work more efficiently or can make or break a person. I am the type of person who likes to take time in doing things. My aunt even told me that I cannot survive a fast paced life because I move slow. LOL. She would always tell me to hurry up whenever we are going out because I paid too much attention on putting on makeups and choosing what clothes to wear. So instead of feeling pressured by her, I would ask her day/s before if we have plans so that I would tidy myself hours before we leave. I have already worked under pressure especially in restaurants and it was very challenging. However if I know that I have a lot of time, I really tend to slack off. Now that it's July, I cannot help but to feel pressured and stressed with my goals and with my menstruation. Should we really pressure a person or even ourselves? Or should we just take our time and go with the flow?

P.S. I have already used the lead image on my Time article. I chose this because of time pressured.