My mom and I used to bring 2 boxes each, weighing 70 lbs, when visiting relatives in the Philippines. On top of that we’d send 4 boxes one month before our departure via sea cargo so that at the time of our arrival, our family would be ripping open 10 boxes full of gifts ranging from yellow cans of Nesquik to tennis rackets.
Today, im by myself and the weight limit is now down to 50 lbs. I wish I could bring back more but unfortunately im still broke. As long as the following life-giving necessities have been purchased for my mom and her immediate family, im in the clear:
1) Sheseido lipstick, color code P23
2) Oil of Olay lotion with SPF 15 for sensitive skin
3) Cavity-inducing Twizzler’s and bubble gum.
4) Jack Daniels and Bulleit Whiskey.
5) The books Twilight and Sisterhood of the Graveling Pants or some shit for my nieces.
6) T-shirts, toy guns, and my old sneakers for my nephews.
Ideally, if I was a bit more affluent, I would have brought my cousins the hottest basketball shoes, authentic Gucci bags, and real guns, but that’ll have to wait until next year’s trip. And since when did Oil of Olay come in sensitive skin AND SPF 15?? That’s like having your cake and eating it too!!!!
A few months ago I contemplated my life’s purpose. When I finally figured it out, I began to make decisions accordlingly and very quickly. I called my aunt to help sell my house and found a children’s clinic from my mom’s home province of Bohol to help out. The next phase of my “plan” is to do more freelance work and work on my own, but that part of my plan hasn’t occurred yet. Despite that, a few months later the seeds of some of those decisions are coming into fruition. At which point I finally decided to document my quest.
Today my real estate agent and good friend of my aunt had called me to congratulate me on the final recording that took place this afternoon (the house is officially sold). I don’t even remember when I called my aunt to sell my house, but I remember hearing from her and Yahoo! that selling a house would be quite difficult. After all, it was a short sell, meaning that I wouldn’t even be making money. Despite all that, getting rid of it would give me more time and money to do more important things. Lastly, im going to the Philippines this Monday to help schedule surgeries for 3 children from Bohol. It feels good to finally be of use again. So 2 of the 3 initial plans I made a few months before is pretty much knocked out of the way.
So I feel good, but im still bracing myself for any hitch in the road. The next big step is moving out of my beloved Uncle’s house and actually fending for myself and cultivating my freelance career. Now that things are coming into play, i’ve also decided to document my trek in pursuing my life’s purpose and trying to ensure that my plans and goals are met.
I kinda sorta feel like im Froto from The Lord of the Rings. Im pretty short and I only have a few close friends and family who are quite hairy but hilarious. But despite the “adventure” I am about to partake, it is a lonely road. And if all goes according to plan, I might die in a volcano. Which sucks. Yet im reminded of a quote everytime I think of such things… damn I forgot what it was. It was something like, “Life makes you, or you make life.” Na that wasn’t it. T minus 4 days ’til departure!
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
People really need help but may attack if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be
shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind.
Think big anyway.
What you spend years building may
be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
Im going back to the Philippines on Sept 1st to visit my mom and help out my aunt with her nonprofit. Im broke and might lose my job leaving for a month. Am I crazy for doing it anyway? Well i’d be crazy if I didn’t! (Partial text above from Kent M. Keith).
