RomantiCurious

For Holy Week, I went on a trip with some friends. It was a road trip with some work tasks in between for a project we all are passionate about. In the middle of the trip, we found ourselves in a town where the houses all had their own gardens. It got my attention immediately because we do not see this in the city that often unless you go to a park.

We were in front of someone’s gate trying to get some shade from the heat of the peak summer sun. The shade was minimal because we weren’t under a tree but a bougainvillea bush. I had already noticed the abundance of plants and flowers when we entered the area and I wanted to take some photos to appreciate them more. But first, we needed to take a breather before our task at hand.

While waiting, I took some pictures-which is kind of difficult when the sun feels like it is glaring straight down at us. I had to squint and reposition myself several times but I did get a few shots I was satisfied with before we got called off to our task.

I guess this is that moment where I fulfill the quote: “Stop and smell the roses” but with a different flower. I am trying to romanticize my life after all. I think this quote is more applicable to my situation now:

“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” ~ Walter Hagen

After last year, things have been a bit scary for a while; it is still now but I am in that state of mind where I know that I just need to focus on what I can control and do my best with what I have and leave the rest for the Universe to take care of.

One of the things I can control is where I put my focus on, what I pay attention to. I find that one of the best things to calm down my anxieties and worries is to focus on feeling good by doing things that I enjoy; or things that are a bit scary but bring me a thrill that I know will be satisfying if I lean into the experience. This trip is that type of experience.

I had not taken an out-of-town trip for a while and with the state of my health, I was not sure I would enjoy it. Fortunately, this trip was prescheduled and we had the itinerary already planned out. So I had time to prepare myself mentally and physically. I guess emotionally too and energetically as well since we had to mingle with a lot of people doing their Holy Week pilgrimage and devotions and meet and converse with some of them for our task at hand.

This sounds like I am such an introvert and I must say that naturally I am. I do become quite talkative when I am with people I am comfortable with and we are discussing topics that I am really interested in. But I also like listening to other people tell their stories-especially stories where they overcome challenges; and we did just that on this trip.

For me, such stories are like lessons on how to make dreams come true; how to overcome challenges to create miracles. They are always inspiring and motivating, serving as fuel to power my own dreams and manifest my own miracles. I really think we need more of these kinds of stories in the news.

But let’s go back to the flowers. Seeing them always reminds me of a fond childhood memory where all of us neighborhood kids would gather-or should I say raid-their families’ backyard gardens to pluck flowers and put in their woven baskets. We would take our basket of flowers to church with us and offer them to the Virgin Mary as part of the church’s daily rosary schedule for Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May).

At the end of the month-long rosary and flower offerings at church; we were going to be participants in the Santacruzan parade. We got dressed as angels and walked alongside the colorful pageant floats with the pretty ladies in gowns and their escorts while we threw flower petals in the air as the parade proceeded.

Of course, everyone in town went out to watch the parade and show support for their relatives and friends who were part of the entourage. It was also a chance to appreciate the pretty floats, always decorated with flowers and the whole entourage.

I remember several parents complained that we basically didn’t spare any of the flowers, but we did know not to touch the ones which were expensive or for sale-like orchids. We weren’t scolded too much though. Everyone in the neighborhood knew what we were doing and what for. So every kid got away with ‘robbing flowers’ and had fun with the month-long ritual and everyone enjoyed the parade.

I’ve never seen such a parade in the city but maybe I’m just not aware. But I don’t see much flowers either so maybe that’s the reason this doesn’t happen in the city.

As kids, we didn’t mind the heat of summer. We just laughed through the sweat and grime as we competed to pluck the best-looking flowers. Sometimes, we got scared by bees and ran away laughing. Or we got distracted by dragonflies and chased after them. We also got fascinated by ladybugs and collected them. Then we gathered them together and we watched them together as they made their way through the leaves and flowers. That was how we took a break as we counted how many flowers we had in our baskets.

We had fun, we satisfied our curiosity, we were scared sometimes with the summer insects but we thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of discovering and exploring and having the time to just watch things unfold without set expectations. And at the end of the month, everyone showed support for our efforts. As adults, we need more fun and leisurely experiences like these. Just to pursue things because they bring joy and not necessarily to accomplish a goal. But that is easier said than done.

So, I’m just counting my blessings day-by-day. I am grateful for this trip which not only gave me fond memories but also inspired me and gave me new learnings. I take comfort that I can live life like the flowers too-still bloom even in the worst heat just because it’s what they do. So I will continue striving through this summer heat, nurture my inner child and heal from within, because spring will come for sure and everything will be much better then.