What Truly Makes You Happy?
“There are three wants which never can be satisfied: that of the rich, who wants something more; that of the sick, who wants something different; and that of the traveler, who says, Anywhere but here.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
This wonderful quote I got from a new blog I just read, 37 Days by Patti Digh who reminded me of my most favorite teacher, Ms. Wasilewski. The quote reminded me of my frustration of not traveling. When I was in college, I dreamed of traveling the world. Impossible! How can someone like me, who doesn't even have enough for her allowance possibly travel the world? I remember buying a cork board and a world map and a bunch of push pins. I was a junior in university. I was ready to start marking the countries I visit. I fell asleep dreaming about the world map populated with so many push pins you can't even read the names of the places.
Fast forward to today. I don't have that world map now. The push pins remain untouched. If I have it right now, I would only have three measly push pins up.
Where did my dream of traveling the world go? It's still here. The yearning to see beautiful, strange sights is still inside me. The promise of adventure still makes my heart beat faster.
Then I remember, spending New Year's Eve on the rooftop of an apartment building in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. I was with friends, and I was filming the magnificent fireworks for my three-year-old daughter to view back in the Philippines. Then an ache swept over me and I felt myself wishing that my husband and my daughter could see this spectacle with me. That same ache haunted me while I was marveling at a New York City brownstone, watching the Shamu Believe show at SeaWorld in San Diego. That's when I realized that I cannot travel, I will not travel if I have to leave my family behind.
Now, I spend my days lamenting how tied down I am in this dusty place with no way out. Tuition fees to think of, bills to pay. How can I even dream of traveling?
The only time I travel now is on a motorcycle with my husband driving. Last week, I was on the motorcycle with my husband and my two kids. We went on a joy ride. Then my youngest screamed "Jo-beee!" when she saw a Jollibee poster on the road, so of course, we had to stop for a snack in Jollibee, a fast food restaurant known for its mascot of a fat bee that children adored the way devout Catholics adored their saints.
I was waiting in line, quietly chuckling as I watched my husband struggle to keep hold of a wriggling one-year-old who was joyously cavorting with her eight-year-old sister. Then I realized, this is what truly makes me happy.
That's when I realized, I don't have to board a plane to be happy. I have happiness right here.
6 comments:
That's true, traveling means a lot more when you're with your loved ones. 2 years ago, I was wandering Singapore on my own, heartbroken, and nothing seems nice! I visited it again this year with a loved one, and everything is magnificent. Happiness is in our innerselves. =) Thanks for the wonderful post!
I felt a wonderful whoosh of happiness while reading this post. It's not everyday that I meet (physical or virtually) who are truly happy. I am so glad to know you albeit through your blog because you are one happy person and you share your thoughts so well!
Just like you, I dream of traveling around the world. I too, have a corkboard! :)
Sweet :) Life really gives us what is best, no? I'm happy for you and I can really see that you are happy and content with your family. I wish I can be like you when I do settle down :)
:)
Thank you for reminding me about this, I do have the same dream now, to go travelling all around the world, I won't know what will happen, but honestly, thinking about how me and my friends are planning this together is the thing that makes me happy.
We first planned to go touring around the world, but that sounds about too much so we made it an eurasia trip, still too much (because we plan on doing it by car) in the end, it's around Indonesia... the excitement is still the same, be it the whole world or the whole country, because yes, it'll be with my friends :D
now thinking about it, sitting on my campus cafetaria chatting with them, it gives me the same happiness already ;)
*crosses finger*
Oh, I'm so thankful for all those who commented. I have this warm feeling inside my heart and I wish you all happiness in extreme doses, too.
@Tiara, you're right! It doesn't matter where you travel. You always have the same feeling of adventure.
@Krissy, choose to be happy, dearie.I think you will be happy; you're the kind who brings sunshine in people's lives.
@Teeyah, it's great to know you as well and read about your fabulous life. You're down-to-earth and glamorous. I didn't even know one can be both. =)
@Neurochiq, you're right. Traveling needs to be done with the people you love...
Did you know that your response just made my day? Thank you so much, Marj! I really hope to meet you one day. I bet we are going to gab a lot! :)
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