Growing up, I always know that I don’t want to be somebody else but my own. Some knows me by my name but there are only few who knows me well. I have always been different- when some of my childhood friends played paper dolls I was out with the boys hunting for some wild fruits in the forest, not wanting to be with the ordinary and always exploring. The wild is my haven- it’s my comfort zone. Being a Probinsyana, I am always in thirst of running away to discover new things and always looking forward for new adventures and thrill. And I will always be grateful to have been friends with people whom I share the same passion with.
For the past years, when most of my old friends are succeeding in their life, I am here struggling and always in trouble choosing of what City will I be visiting next. You see, I have a different meaning of “success”. Being able to travel to at least one city per year is what success to me. I can always imagine myself filling my eyes and heart with the beauty that comes from the new scenery- and days full of lost in directions and trying out new foods in either a restaurant or in the street. The joy of talking to strangers and helping them the same- it’s like I just found a new purpose in life. It seems like I am already devoting myself to travel as far and as many as I can for as long as I live. Travelling for me means knowing more about myself, it is about learning and exploring cultures and cuisines and me realizing that there is more to life than what I already know. When my colleagues prioritize savings and extra income, I ended up laughing within myself knowing that I don’t even have a buck left in my wallet for “future use”. But yes I save money, of course! for my next 3 days and 2 nights trip- where else?
My friends may find travelling for like a leisure time- moments filled with happy memories. But for me, it’s more than that. I have so many self-realization and discoveries whenever I was out and victorious from that unplanned trip. To realized that I am capable of doing things I thought are impossible because I trust myself too little. I have learned to master my courage on trusting strangers and think of them negatively; and I have been more understanding and patient whenever things don’t turn my way. Traveling is an art of self-discovery and the best life teacher. And then I will write poems out from those experiences- putting them into words so memories will not only be captured by lens but also with words.
I may have different priorities in life unlike the others, I don’t need no further validation for no one will ever live my life but me. Once I was told to go and pursue for a more paying job so you’ll have a comfortable life. But what comfort really means to me? Yes, it’s different form them. But what I really want to pursue in life is to live with contentment and to always find joy in every little thing. As much as I love the idea of having plenty of money (for travel funds) in my pocket but having only enough teaches you humility and contentment. I will just give it to others to dream and aim big in life and while everyone else are busy making their “perfect” life all together, I’ll just be here idling waiting for this Pandemic to end so I can finally climb that Ugis Peak in Sultan Kudarat.
I will be sharing more of my personal thoughts and learnings throughout my journey hoping some will also learn from me. The world is vast and life is short, so let’s start exploring what’s out there and start normalizing that success is not only about what you can see.
---gracie
