When Life Gives You Lemons
Life is a battle in an everyday basis. You breathe to survive or else the monsters out there will consume you. Life, however, is not just about the hardships and fights. It is about flowers blooming, warm smiles, blue skies, meaningful eyes, and so much more.
Looking back, I realized how life molded me into the woman I am now. Yes, full of flaws but nope, I didn't stop changing and growing into the person I want to be.
To say that life is a roller coaster ride is an understatement. I've been down low and euphoric high. I've been doubtful but more trusting. I've experienced heartbreaks in a seemingly like unending cycle but I've felt love in so many forms. The ups exceed the downs. And even if the saddest and darkest days swallow all my happy little pills, it is a great news that I'm still kicking and breathing. I am still existing.
On that note, in 23 years and 3 months of residing in planet Earth, I've witnessed incredible things. From when I was a child to this moment of my adulthood life, I mentally took down notes of things and stories that made my heart flinched in sad and happy ways.
One time, I was riding in a bus to Guadalupe from Quezon City. When the bus was travelling slowly along EDSA (near JAM Liner), a man in his 30s or 40s hopped in. He stood near the door, firmly holding the handle while asking the driver, "Boss, magkano hanggang Pasay?" (Boss, how much is the fare going to Pasay?) The driver answered but I forgot how much.
All I remembered is how sad and tired the man looked as he hopped out the bus. It was just a few peso but maybe he couldn't afford it.
My heart silently cried. I should've offered to pay for his fare but my thoughts halted as I still saw him walking fast, determined, almost reaching the speed of the vehicles in the congested traffic in Edsa.
People were murmuring. They noticed, too. After two stops and after he walked for quite some time under the scorching heat of the sun, he hopped in again and asked about the fare. When the driver answered, we thought he's going to come down again. I was readying myself to handout my money but this time, he walked to a vacant seat. I can hear gasps from the old ladies at my back.
We know in our hearts that he is a good man. I don't know him but I felt proud and teary-eyed. This is the kind of person our country and government needs to have. He could have sat in the farthest part of the bus and pretended to pay the fare. He didn't. He could've robbed someone. He could've did some things but he didn't. I admired his effort and his attitude.
I know in that instant that paying for your fare would mean that you could've felt down or small when you are working hard to pay right for the drivers who are working as hard as you.
I salute everyone who works hard even there are temptations calling out loudly. I salute the people selling candies and cigarettes even for a few pesos of income. I salute those who sell refreshments, nuts, finger foods, in the middle of the the roads and under the heat. I salute those who live an honest life that despite the overwhelming struggles, you strive to live fair and square.
I would like to end this post by sharing a video I took of an old man singing in the cold streets of Baguio.
These amazing random people that passed by my life had contributed to how I perceive life today. It is really a wonder how you can affect someone in so many ways even without you knowing it.
Let's live life and let's do it right in our own little ways.