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| The beach near my father's childhood home |
I want to personally thank everyone who has reached out to me about my family in the Philippines. I am thankful and blessed to report that they are safe because my family lives on the northern island of Luzon (where Manila is located).
As a UNICEF supporter AND a very blessed person, I ask you to consider joining me in donating funds to UNICEF's emergency response efforts. http://bit.ly/1cneY7A
And, if you haven't read my story about the Philippines. I encourage you to read my sweet, little story about my time in the Motherland. The Philippines is a beautiful place filled with beautiful, hard-working, and resourceful people. Many prayers and thoughts go out to those suffering through this tragedy.
xoxo-Nicole
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One summer I had the opportunity to go to the Philippines with my family. Getting to physically be where my parents came from & see the places my grandparents lived and walked was an eye-opening experience. I felt connected and grounded and most of all humbled. Everywhere we went I saw joy and happiness exhibited in so many profound ways.
It actually blew my mind... because being in the Philippines challenged my joy & happiness. At the time, I thought joy & happiness meant comfort. As an American, I want to be comfortable. I don't want to face challenges. I happen to like air conditioning.
Oh, so the shower has run out of hot water? Again??
So, we are going to be on a bus for 20 hours? Really people?!!!
And, there's no bathroom on this bus? Oh, so you want me to pee on the side of the road?!?!
Oh hell to the no!
At some point on this epic adventure, the lack of comfort got to me. There was a minor accident involving our bus, and I learned that the 20 hour bus ride will be much longer than anticipated. And, the turning point for me was that I had to pee on the side of the road while I am pretty sure my brother was on the bus trying to take my photo. The situation broke me. The experience made me cry and I hated my life. I wanted to know why the hell we were riding a bus without a bathroom for 20 plus effing hours.
When I got back on the bus, I swear people were smiling at me. I'm sure it was amusing for some of them to see a foreigner freak out about something so simple as public urination. Public urination is a normal everyday thing for them, and it's pretty laughable that I made a big scene about it.
No matter the resources or the situation Filipinos are resilient and resourceful. I'm not just talking about their ability to freely pee wherever they need to go pee. I'm talking about the way they live and approach life. Filipinos are some of the happiest people I know.
One evening in Manila, I was trying to sleep. I was in a room that was pretty humid and a mosquito kept buzzing around my head. Again, I was in a situation that was NOT COMFORTABLE. Then, I realized that I could hear music coming from the house next door. I could hear the family next door singing Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" on karaoke. It was 2 am. It was hot. I was tired. And there are people out there laughing and enjoying their life. What kind of freakin' parallel universe am I in?
Then, I felt this burning pang of jealousy. It's not fair! I'm so unhappy and uncomfortable and sweaty. And, there are people right next to me who are so happy. Why? Why can't I be a Filipino and be happy too?
Then, BOOOOOM! I had the realization that I am a Filipino, too. Deep down inside me to the very core of my DNA, I am a Filipino. If my parents are from this parallel universe, then I am genetically wired to be a Filipino, too. At first I tried to convince myself that the genetic expression of that was impossible since I actually lived in America. But, I can't deny who I truly am. If I am a Filipino, then I have the same ninja-like power to be resilient, resourceful AND happy.
Despite any circumstance I am given, I have the option to choose joy and happiness because I was created by God to be this way.
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