Imagine waking up to the sound of howling winds and the sight of floodwaters rising outside your window.
This was our reality when Supertyphoon Carina hit our city, challenging us and changing our view of what really matters.
Though our apartment is located on the second floor of our building and we were not directly flooded, the apartments below us were completely submerged. What affected us all was the loss of power for almost five days . Both my husband and I are freelancers who work from home, so this situation severely impacted us . It was also difficult to see our kids unable to sleep well during the first night because it was dark and very hot. As a result, we decided to stay at a hotel on the second day, thinking the electricity would come back soon. However, by the third day, we still didn’t have electricity in our area, so I looked for a cheaper Airbnb to stay at until the power was restored. This experience led me to reflect on the resilience of Filipinos . We faced flooding and tough conditions, but even in these challenging times, there are always positives to find .
During our weekly catch-ups at The Change Business, we make it a point to share our “Good and New” moments. This week, I shared our recent experience and the silver linings we found amidst the storm. Here’s what I’m particularly thankful for:
- WE ARE ALL SAFE: Despite the floods and the chaos, I’m incredibly relieved and grateful that my family is safe. This was the greatest blessing amidst the uncertainty. Thank you, Lord, for always protecting us .
- Support from Loved Ones: The outpouring of concern and assistance from family and friends has been heartwarming . Their offers of help and words of encouragement reminded me of the strength of our community and the Filipino value of “Bayanihan” . Bayanihan is a cherished Filipino tradition that embodies communal unity, cooperation, and mutual assistance.
- Life Lessons: The experience pushed us out of our comfort zones, leading to invaluable realizations about ourselves and our lives . Moments like these help us grow and gain perspective . From the basic learnings of the importance of preparing for emergencies by keeping essential supplies on hand to thinking about living outside our comfort zones. And this is something NEW to me—imagining myself living in another place where life could be different. I briefly considered that even if we work hard here, all our hard-earned money just goes to meeting basic needs because everything is an expense, especially depending on the city we live in, where the cost of living is high. ????
I read somewhere, and I somewhat agree, that if you are living and working in the Philippines, savings and emergency funds are a PRIVILEGE. This is true on many levels. ???? I found myself wondering about the “WHAT IFs” in life and comparing the benefits of living abroad in terms of quality education and their health/medical benefits. It has been an eye-opener for me, discovering the value of flexibility and adaptability. ✨
These challenging times leads us to finding the good in every situation. It’s a powerful reminder that even in adversity, there’s always something to be grateful for .
