The Bridge of Life

Note: A halo-halo is shown in the photo since I don't have actual photos of the building.

In order to see a friend, my mother and I had to climb flights of stairs one day in the year 2020 in order to reach the rooftop of a building, which was on Building A's 50th or 51st floor. The security guards of the entire residential establishment who were on duty that day let my mother and me know that the only way to get to Building B, where the friend was located at that time, was to walk across a relatively thin improvised bridge formed out of leftover construction materials. The elevators were not working correctly on that particular day, and Building B had no direct entrance at that time.

We may have only climbed a few levels, and yet we already became weary from climbing upwards from the basement to the upper floors of Building A. We soon arrived at Building A's roof, or the 50th or 51st level, and from there we were about to cross the bridge. Since there were holes in the bridge, one could already see the entirety of the sprawling city if one were to peer down from the bridge.

When my mother smiled at me, she urged me not to worry and not to look down, for she would be by my side the whole time. She then crossed the bridge while still holding my hand to lead me to Building B. Imagining myself before God in the afterlife and being questioned about my actions on earth in regards to whether or not I was sincere in my desire to reach Paradise in a well-deserved fashion gave me the strength to cross the bridge and not look down. This exact thought process still gives me strength today, whether I am facing ordinary or extraordinary situations.

Soon, my mother and I arrived at the other building and the friend's house safely. Every time we discussed this topic, we laughed heartily countless times, and I'm grateful for these experiences for bringing my mother and me closer together. And for the rest of my life, I will always hold dear these memories.

Someone could gain so many valuable lessons and knowledge from this journey. Yet the lesson I wish people to remember is that because life is so brief, one shouldn't look back on a life that was spent in regret. Instead, they should focus on a life that was inspired by laughter, joy, hope, gratitude, compassion, and so much more. While crossing the bridge, these were the key lessons I learned.

There are a lot of other similar adventures that my mother and I have experienced together, and I am thankful for every single one of them. My mother has always been the most important person in my life.