A story about joy, happiness (and public urination)

The beach near my father's childhood home

UPDATE (11/13/13): Over the weekend, Typhoon Haiyan made landfall to central Philippines. http://bbc.in/17cgEOm

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.

As you say goodbye to summer, what are you thankful for?

A Trip to CHI-Town

Discovering the  magical wonders of The BEAN

Cardamon and Caramel Gelato

Playing with trucks

Jumping into creativity

Making my first pair of earrings

Biking adventures on the island

Running SeaWheeze and Being Outside

Traveling with YuShawnda

Yoga with a million people at Stanley Park

Goofing around

Reading lots of books

Adventures with my best friend

February and March Highlights

February and March Highlights
It's been an adventurous ride into the early months of 2013. With my New Year's resolutions & dreams
on my mind, I've really delved into some interesting projects this year.

:: creativity - much needed time in my art journal, time at Mad Potter, and signed up for the Sketchbook project
:: yoga -hooray for the 40 days of yoga even practicing in French!
::running - completed a few more races the Chocolate 15K in Dallas, the Race Against Violence for HAWC,
and the Law Week 8K this past weekend, started venturing out on the trails, too!
:: stronger meditation and contemplative practices - this has been a bigger priority for me
especially during Lent::
::cooking - delicious meals with Jacob and with friends yum!
:: community & relationships - now that work has lessened up a bit, it's been nice
re-connecting with others at tea tastings, pottery paintings, yoga class and meals
:: and travel - we've taken a trip up to Dallas to visit JT's family and friends and I indulged in a long
weekend to Montreal and Quebec City::

My heart is full. Thankful for the opportunities to grow. And, I dream for an adventurous spring
for everyone. May you have the space to clear away what no longer serves you
and have the courage to take a big leap.
XOXO...

Creative community with a great group of ladies! Thanks Kate, Elizabeth, and Robin for
a fun way to get together, catch up, sip good wine and paint.

Carving out time with the boyfriend... Enjoying some delicious gelato after we
got reflexology massages on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Thankful for my trip to Canada with a dear old friend. Taking a fun photo right before
we entered La Carnavale d'Hiver in beautiful Quebec City.

Canada's best warm weather staple, poutine! French fries drenched in
brown gravy and cheese curds.

Exploring and creating in Quebec City with a salvador dali lens on my camera. Very trippy, non?

There is something very contemplative about trains. Here I'm riding the train from
Montreal to Quebec City!

Enjoying the beautiful blanket of snow at the winter carnival.

Warmth and goodness in cup. J'adore le chocolat chaud.

Did a three day fruit cleanse for my 40 Days of Yoga challenge... And, I survived.

Had a lovely two day Valentine's adventure. The night before Valentine's I kidnapped JT and took
him to Podicheri. On Valentine's, we celebrated love with our joint love of St. Arnold's and
Dairy Maids cheese. (Our team won the poetry competition!)

In spite of some crazy hours with work, I have been able to cook and
hang out with friends at our weekly supper club. Good things happen when people come
together and enjoy a good meal.

Paid off my balance for my summer trip to Paris. I just need to pull the trigger and buy my airfare.
I can't wait to go to Paris. I'm so giddy.

Sometimes we just need to dress up and add a little shine to our day!

Enjoying the After Party with some really good friends. So many long days finally
came to an end this day. Thanks so everyone who came out to rock the night away.

Celebrated at the big hot mess party at Big Yoga!

Learned how strong, powerful and disciplined I truly could be. Thanks Big Yoga!

January 2013: New Year and New Chances

Enjoying morning contemplation with a cup of Earl Gray and snazzy socks

Celebrating 40 years of love, struggles, and joy. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

Stepped out of my comfort zone and watched a play with a good friend

Adventures in the park

Taking advantage of the mild weather and sunny skies.

My 2013 vision board

Full of ideas. Full of activity. And full of contemplation. It's been a pretty fast paced month - especially when it's a new year and you want to try new things.

-- The biggest challenge for me has been contemplation and shifting my thoughts. If contemplation and mindfulness is more valued than actions, why does the world pressure us to think differently. Each day, I wish to meditate, go to yoga, and pray. But, each day is also challenged to think quickly, speak faster and do more in shorter amounts of time. It can be overwhelming. But honestly, that is where I am. I am choosing to think more and to approach activities with more intention. I choose space over the crazy mindlessness....

-- Diving into taking care of my physical body. I am now tracking and working towards health. When you train for races and choose to practice yoga 6 times a week, your body shifts and your mind follows happily. I now wonder and think about the things I am eating, I can sleep better, And, I feel more energetic and happy.

-- Delving into relationships. I've been learning about relating to others, the different love languages, and the responsibility of taking care of myself in order to have enough courage and strength to love others in a courageous way. I have a feeling love and connectedness will be a constant theme in the coming months. There is so much to learn and I am allowing my foolishness and ignorance to humble me.

-- I honor my need for adventures, play, and creativity. I have enjoyed the Prado and War photography exhibits. I had the opportunity to see The Mountaintop. And, I am continuing to delve into reading more and journaling more. The morning pages have been very powerful lately.

-- I'm letting my need for spiritual connectedness lead me to view my life -- all the stressful, ugly, and beautiful parts -- as just one big lovely and courageous life.

-- I will continue to search for ways to serve. Where does my joy need to be? Where can I share and be generous and kind? What situations can I choose to let go of control and just exist in very plain and natural ways?

Cheers to an ambitious and dreamy start to 2013....

What does Gratitude look like?

Jones-ing for some music...

Sangria + Handsome Mathematician = Date Night

I dream of travel.

Afternoon in Lome.

 

Sun setting in Vieux Montreal

Road trip to Shiner, TX

An artist date to Path of Tea

A friendly reminder for myself

Mon petit copain

Je t'aime mon Dior scarf.

Carving out some time for creativity and Mod Podge (best invention ever!)

Being a planner of events

Stations

Reflection

I don't have a lot of female mentors. It's tough sometimes finding women I can look up to... I often just have to remember what my mother taught me or just simply be inspired by cool women like Oprah and Gala Darling. Winfrey and Darling both advocate the use of a gratitude journal. I used to think they were cheesy and lame. I envisioned desperate women in chenille bathrobes sipping chamomile tea with flowery journals.... Yeah.... I had no idea.


I thought wrong.  A while back, I got really sick. I got so sick it affected many aspects of my life.  I just couldn't understand why I was so unhappy and miserable when I thought I was making the right choices. I didn't know how to face the anxious and often traumatizing and depressing thoughts I faced. I had to face many truths and re-learn what happiness, joy, and hope were....

I advocate gratitude now. Taking the time to think about the blessings and the beauty in your life is a nice thing - at least for myself. It's the reason why this blog is here. It's about God's limitless grace in my life and in this world. The other reason why this blog is here is because I also know there are people out there who need to be inspired. Perhaps... there is at least one person out there who will actually read this and I hope this blog resonates with that person.

I live in a world that is always on the go, oftentimes very messy and pretty stressful. If I don't even see the good in my life and I am always distracted by other people and other things and another to-do list, how can I truly be happy? If I continued to pursue another goal, another raise, another accolade... what is the point - if I don't reflect on the joy and beauty happening around me?

So... what am I grateful for this year?

The 12 for 2012 

1) being in a place where I can be creative and work for a place that provides art and culture to our community

 2) travel:  in Dec '11, I had the opportunity to visit Lome, Togo. It's a place that is rich in warmth and hospitality. I also enjoyed a couple of trips out to the Bay Area and to Chi Town along with a handful of weekend getaways to the Hill Country.

3) practicing my French - I've returned to classes and I will have the chance to practice my language skills in Canada and France this year.

4) physical pursuits - I love running and I love yoga. It's as simple as that. I completed my 5th half marathon and my 5th triathlon this year.

5) self care and artist's dates: hot baths, painting my nails, time for vacations, roaming and thinking at the Menil Collection and the DeYoung, going to Mass, time for gelato and afternoons at Kuhl Linscomb and Path of Tea

6) creativity:  I continue to work on my writing and my love for decoupage and mixed media. My art is important and I will continue to find ways to work on it.

7) good people: I had to walk away from people who no longer supported me and my dreams in order for me to pursue authentic relationships that were good, supportive and nourishing.

8) Letting go: One of the hardest lessons that I am grateful for is letting go and leaving space. Taking a break and providing myself some slack in order to be rested, restored and renewed.

9) Volunteer work: I love serving others and I am so happy I'm supporting the Houston Area Women's Center.

10) good books: 168 Hours, Water for Elephants, The Artist's Way, The Bible, The Help, Tranquilista

11) having a sense of humor while I'm facing life's challenges

12) reconnecting with my faith