(Last of two parts)

As we usher in the new year, I remember Mang Sandro, whom we met while vacationing in Boracay more than 10 years ago. He was nearly 90 years old when we met him but he looked easily 10 years younger. He still had the spring in his step as he walked from one end of the beach to the other, selling knickknacks and cheap trinkets, neatly arranged in a small box-like container strapped to his shoulders.

He looked very healthy for his age, but obviously he was not materially blessed. What was clear, though, was that he was full of joy and zest for life. He regaled the small crowd of people who gathered around him with tales of his small victories in life. We ended up buying some of the stuff he was selling.

His wife had long passed away, but he was enjoying a wonderful relationship with his children and grandchildren, and tried to contribute his share to buy food and pay for their house rental and utilities.

Profusely grateful

Mang Sandro was healthy physically, mentally and spiritually. He was profusely grateful for these and whatever blessings he had. He said he spent the first several minutes after waking up each day thanking God for blessing him with another day to live. He made no long-term plans. He just planned what to do each day, trusting that God would provide for all his needs, and those of his family. He took time and made an effort to thank God for each small blessing that he received.

That epiphany is the same as what a foreign octogenarian had when he was shown the bill for his monthslong hospital stay after being treated successfully for critical COVID-19 complications. He was on high-flow oxygen therapy, and the oxygen alone amounted to tens of thousands of dollars. He cried profusely, and when asked if it was due to his huge hospital bill, he replied, “No, it’s definitely not that. The hospital deserves to be paid that amount of money for the life-saving air and oxygen it provided me. But what I just realized was that God has been providing me with free air and oxygen for more than 80 years, and I never thanked him for it.”

Truly blessed are the grateful even for small things, because they will likely get much bigger blessings.

Although Mang Sandro barely finished elementary education, many lettered and accomplished professionals could learn from his grateful and positive mindset. Despite his scarce means, he could be considered more blessed than many people of much greater affluence and material possessions. He had not, and would never, beg for alms. He didn’t even accept the tips his delighted customers would give him.

He only got what he deserved to get for the goods he sold. He frowned at corrupt politicians who had no qualms about stealing people’s money.

He plied his trade wherever his feet would take him, and his earnings were enough to provide for his food and shelter. He could not ask for more. With the little he had, he still had spare coins to share with the little boys and girls who made sandcastles along the beach, so they could buy supplies for their schooling.

That was a sterling example of stewardship—sharing what we have with others. It’s not that Mang Sandro could freely spare the money, as he actually needed every peso he could save, but he felt others needed the loose change more than he did. It’s humbling that men like Mang Sandro could teach us such lessons.

Mang Sandro was happy with what he had, and his happiness and contentment brought him priceless dividends. He had never been sick, or had a need to see a doctor. He never had a sleepless night, and never had to worry about enemies after his neck, or robbers after his possessions.

A positive mindset

The importance of a positive mindset, as happy and healthy people like Mang Sandro would teach us, could not be exaggerated. If we fill our minds with negative thoughts day in and day out, the outcomes would likely be negative. We get sickness, failure, broken relationships and financial ruin. Negative thoughts can only attract negative things; they’re not capable of attracting positive outcomes.

The middle-aged nurse daughter of a patient of ours working in Europe just died recently from COVID-19 complications. Her mother would tell us that she was a health buff, and extremely careful about catching the virus. The precautionary measures she took were bordering on paranoia, such that she would not allow anyone to be within a meter of her at home or at work. Her fear of COVID-19 dominated her thoughts, and that probably attracted the infection more.

The reverse happens if we constantly fill our minds with positive thoughts and feelings like good health, abundance, love, compassion, gratefulness, and a desire to help and share. We’ll likely get more of these in return.

I know it’s easier said than done, but the truth is, our thoughts ultimately determine what kind of health, relationships and state of life we have from hereon. And if we badly need some changes in the life we have, we just have to make an effort to change our mindset.

Around five years ago, when we vacationed again in Boracay, the familiar figure of Mang Sandro with his box of trinkets was no longer there. We were told that he died a couple of years ago, probably due to old age. We wished he was still there to regale us with his stories, and tell us more of his secrets to a happy and meaningful life.

May the spirit of Mang Sandro’s cheerful and grateful heart fill our hearts, too, as we usher in the new year.