Pagsa-surfing ni YASSI, malaking tulong para mabalanse ang kanyang mental health

DALAWANG taon ding hindi gumawa ng teleserye si Lauren Young dahil naging malaking issue sa kanya noon ay ang kanyang katawan.

Sa dalawang huling teleserye ni Lauren sa GMA na Hiram Na Anak at Contessa, kapansin-pansin ang paglaki ng katawan niya at nagdala raw iyon ng malaking insecurity sa kanya.

Pero ngayon ay na-overcome na niya ang kanyang insecurity sa kanyang katawan at natutunan na niyang i-embrace ito. Kaya tinanggap niya ang muling gumawa ng teleserye via Stories From The Heart: Never Say Goodbye.

      “Ako kasi I’ve been dealing with body image issues for a very long time. And I really like to use my platform to encourage people and to help people to boost their confidence.

“I was skinny or fit before. I had abs. I’ve been through that. I eat healthy. I exercise every day. And for what? To please other people?

      “And now, although I’m on the heavier side, the chubby side, I may not look picture perfect to the standard of other people but at the end of the day I’m most confident now in my current state and I’m so happy with where I am in my life.

      “I ike to thank GMA because they always give me opportunity regardless of my weight. I’ve proven that when it comes to acting I can deliver. Whatever do I look like, they always cast me because they know I deliver.

“And that’s what matters most, acting above all. Kasi hindi naman ito pasikatan, ’di ba…ang showbiz? Patagalan s’ya.”

      Ang im Portante raw kay Lauren ay masaya siya inside and out dahil tanggap niya ang sarili niya na sana’y maging motivation din sa ibang kababaihan.

“I don’t need people calling me sexy to make me feel beautiful about myself. And I think a lot of people need to hear that. You know, you don’t have to have the perfect vital statistics to be able to call yourself beautiful or hot or gorgeous. You just have to be happy with who you are, how you look like, and that what matters most.”

      “I just want to make sure that the people who are watching, when they see me onscreen masasabi nila na ‘If Lauren can do it, why can’t I?’ So, it shouldn’t stop you and you shouldn’t feel less confident about it.”

      ***

MALAKING tulong kay Yassi Pressman ang bagong sport niya na surfing para mabalanse ang kanyang mental health.

Kasalukuyang nasa Siargao si Yassi at pinag-aralan niya talaga ang mag-surfing na na-enjoy niya kahit na ilang beses siyang na-wipeout. Kailangan daw ng mahabang pasensya kung gusto mong matutuo sa naturang water sport.

Post ni Yassi: “To find some of the best surf spots in Siargao a boat has to drop you off in the middle of the ocean, then you got to paddle to get to the waves, and on some days you got to paddle really FAAAAAAR. It was hard because I wasn’t used to using so much of my upper body, and going against the current just to get to the starting point, wasn’t easy at all.

      “Then, when I got to the line, kailangan patient ka, kasi madami pang ibang nakaabang. The actual wait for the wave makes me nervous….there is a lot of suspense and build up.

      “When I finally did it, the next thing I thought about was trying to balance in the rush of it all and stand up steady on my board. Or else I’ll fall… Before I actually got to ride a wave to the end, there were many moments like this.

      “When you actually fall, you must think fast, don’t panic (which was hard considering you are actually being pulled by the waves under the water, right?) anyway, STAY RELAXED. You have to get some air then paddle for your life so that the next couple of waves do not come at you hard, and you won’t get in the way of any other person possibly surfing your way.”

      May time daw na napu-frustrate si Yassi sa bagong kinahihiligan niyang sport. Kinukumpara niya ang surfing sa naging trabaho niya sa showbiz. Kapag natumba ka, kailangan mong tumayo at magsimula ulit.

      “I kept telling myself ‘ugh. So much work… palpak naman… Sayang… sayang… but it’s okay, it’s okay Yass, just breathe… paddle out of the chaos.

      “Take a couple of breaths in a spot where the waves are calmer, and when you are ready…. Start paddling back… Get back to the beginning, no matter how well you do, take the risk.

      “Hope this story also encourages others to keep believing in themselves, Don’t give up! Take care of yourself, your mental health, your peace, find people and places that make you happy.”

      ***

PINASALAMATAN ng Olympian na si Simone Biles ang singer na si Taylor Swift dahil sa inspirasyon na binigay nito sa kanyang noong nakaraang Tokyo Olympics.

Sa naganap na virtual presentation ng 46th Gracie Grand Awards ng Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, si Biles ang nag-present ng award para kay Taylor.

Heto ang kanyang video message para kay Taylor: “I can’t tell you how much I love Taylor and her music. But ‘Folklore’ is not the only incredible thing she did during this ongoing pandemic. She has shown immense grace and generosity to many of her fans in need, including me. During the 2020 Olympics she reached out but she also dedicated something so special to me that I’ll never forget.”

      During the Olympics, nag-withdrew si Biles mula sa women’s team gymnastics final at sa tatlong individual finals due to a breakdown sa kanyang mental health.

Noong mabalitaan ito ni Taylor, nagpadala ito ng personal messages kay Biles para i-push siyang ituloy ang kanyang dapat na gawin bilang isang Olympian at bilang isang babae.

Dahil sa encouraging words ni Taylor, bumalik si Biles sa competition at sumabak siya sa balance beam kunsaan nakakuha pa siya ng broze medal.

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)