theyellowbrickroad

Why Get out? travel more to know you more!

A year ago I was waiting at the same airport in Johannesburg heading to Sao Paul, Brazil today I’m going back to the Philippines ( I can’t use the word home because the world is my home)

Why Get Out?

My path tremendously changed because I decided to get out of my comfort zone, this is not the first time for those who know me really well they know that I have been always traveling since I was 15 yrs. old.

But every time you get out of your comfort zone I think you become better, you get to know yourself more and I think that’s the only thing we have to keep on chasing to be better, to do good and be good for our communities, societies and the world.

When I was 15 yrs old my belief system after traveling to the US changed a lot, I gained supporters, a father, and mentors. Now, that I am 25 yrs old I had the chance to get out again and live in Brazil for a year, I gained a community of changemakers, great friends, two beautiful sisters and another great mother.

I learned that going out and being always uncomfortable are the best way to know yourself more. It sucks to say goodbye at the airport for sure but when you look back you have memories and connections that will forever be part of who you are. You can tell great stories to people you will meet in your next adventure.

Getting out, I learned 5 things.

When you get out, you discover what you are capable of, you think you can’t do it but when you try to step out you will know that you are capable of anything, even dancing Forro or singing Adele’s song.
When you get out, you appreciate your roots, where you come from, your culture and you tell people about it.
When you get out, you see colors not just black and white.
When you get out, you become more responsible financially because you will appreciate every penny or work you do and you become creative too.
When you get out, you see how beautiful the world is!

So, get out and tick those #travelgoals on your list. I know it ain’t easy but its worth it. And don’t forget when you start ticking boxes on that list look back and appreciate every person in your journey.

Today, I want to say thank you to all the people I’ve met in my Brazilian journey. Muito Obrigada Gente!

Love,

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The World and the Bridge

We finished almost a pack of cigarette.

We were staring at a huge highway.

The city has its charm for that, you just sit and slip away watching cars go by. It is inevitable to not think about how things are in your life and where are you heading after.

Tonight, we were just walking around downtown checking coffee places and people watching. This is the best thing living in a huge city you can literally people watch and everyone looks so different and beautiful living interesting lives. The downtown Paulista is just like a big factory of people working and working and the cycle goes on but also there is this a bit of spirit in this city that let you think about life~ maybe it’s the weather or maybe I am just with a good company.

After walking several streets we found ourselves sitting on the stairs behind a modern museum, it is actually a famous place for smoking literally anything, cuddling, kissing and other things.

We sat there lit cigarettes and talked about why we do what we do.

She comes from a country where people think it’s a war zone. But it is not, talk to her and you will know. She has the love for technology and so she works with creating robots but at the same time has the dream to educate more and more students in creating a creative community. She lived in a boat for a year, she hitched hiked across different countries and now she would like to live in Antartica.

I couldn’t help but wonder and asked her, why does she keep on moving? chasing things?

because that is what you do when you meet someone who shares the love for traveling.

You share stories of great adventures, of lovers and of where to go next.

She looked at me after I shared some pieces of mine, she said, why are you so brave?

And I told her, I am not I just keep on smiling and shoving worries away but the truth is I’m fvcking scared of what this life has to offer.

When she shared her part, my eyes lit opened because among the two of us she is the bravest. She experienced a lot of things that I didn’t even or can’t fathom to visualize for myself.

I told her my dream of changing the world, she also shares the same goal.

And then I said, but you really think we can change the world?

She looked at me.

I told her that I worked almost most of my life understanding people and in this quest, I can conclude that changing the world is not the end game because at the end you are the one who will change. It’s not the world, it’s not the society but it’s your reality.

We are chasin, we are creating and we are changing. We are pushing our realities with others.

We are pushing our realities with others.

Maybe the world doesn’t need changing.

Maybe we have to change our own realities and not others.

Certainly, we can’t change the world but we can inspire others to dream and live a life that is worth living.

Traveling has taught me this.

Meeting people and sharing stories are the best thing that I could cherish for the rest of my journey.

Love,

P.S. Thanks Mariya!

Love Letters

This week my audiobooks are filled with Love letters. Every morning that I spent on the bus hearing great words from people who poured their love into a piece of paper to their loved ones makes me want to write my hearts out too. But then I don’t have that talent to express my sentiments using magical words, I can’t even fathom everything I feel.

My favorite one was written by Ludwig van Beethoven to his Immortal Beloved.

“Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, Be calm–love me–today–yesterday–what tearful longings for you–you–you–my life–my all–farewell. Oh continue to love me–never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.”

If you are a sucker for letters here are some letters that are a great read for inspiration.

Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera:

Diego:

Truth is, so great, that I wouldn’t like to speak, or sleep, or listen, or love. To feel myself trapped, with no fear of blood, outside time and magic, within your own fear, and your great anguish, and within the very beating of your heart. All this madness, if I asked it of you, I know, in your silence, there would be only confusion. I ask you for violence, in the nonsense, and you, you give me grace, your light and your warmth. I’d like to paint you, but there are no colors, because there are so many, in my confusion, the tangible form of my great love.

F.

Napoleon Bonaparte to Joséphine de Beauharnais:

I am going to bed with my heart full of your adorable image… I cannot wait to give you proofs of my ardent love… How happy I would be if I could assist you at your undressing, the little firm white breast, the adorable face, the hair tied up in a scarf a la creole. You know that I will never forget the little visits, you know, the little black forest… I kiss it a thousand times and wait impatiently for the moment I will be in it. To live within Josephine is to live in the Elysian fields. Kisses on your mouth, your eyes, your breast, everywhere, everywhere.

Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn:

TO MY MISTRESS.
Because the time seems very long since I heard concerning your health and you, the great affection I have for you has induced me to send you this bearer, to be better informed of your health and pleasure, and because, since my parting from you, I have been told that the opinion in which I left you is totally changed, and that you would not come to court either with your mother, if you could, or in any other manner; which report, if true, I cannot sufficiently marvel at, because I am sure that I have since never done any thing to offend you, and it seems a very poor return for the great love which I bear you to keep me at a distance both from the speech
and the person of the woman that I esteem most in the world: and if you love me with as much affection as I hope you do, I am sure that the distance of our two persons would be a little irksome to you, though this does not belong so much to the mistress as to the servant.

Consider well, my mistress, that absence from you grieves me sorely, hoping that it is not your will that it should be so; but if I knew for certain that you voluntarily desired it, I could do no other than mourn my ill-fortune, and by degrees abate my great folly. And so, for lack of time, I make an end of this rude letter, beseeching you to give credence to this bearer in all that he will tell you from me.

Written by the hand of your entire Servant,
H.R.

We did not order Cappuccino and Latte!

It’s a cuddling weather here in Sampa,

So after class, we went to a nearby Pandaria where you can find almost everything just like the city* it’s a lovely mess.

We ordered an espresso (no sugar) coz I hate it! p.s. in Brazil they love to put sugar in their espressos and a regular americano.

We sat down and excitedly waited for our order.

Instead of getting an espresso I got a foamy cappuccino and she got a latte. We both looked at each other and laughed.

Oh! sweet Sampa! I love you and what you have shown and let me experienced for the last months were incredible.

You are always unpredictable.

Over a cup of coffee, we shared dreams bout LOVE..

Just like getting the Latte.

Although it was not in her expectations yet you see her with a big smile!

She found Love!

Oh, great Sampa!

Across the table, you see how love transforms a person. She is scared what the future holds of course.

Yet you see that she is hopeful for the next days to come what this new relationship will bring.

Just like getting the “wrong order” yet we ended up laughing and sharing great stories.

So tonight,

I want to write a short Love Letter for you Arg,

To my friend Argie,

Don’t worry love things will be okay.

Don’t be scared.

Love can bring joy and sadness but it’s the greatest thing that a person can offer the other.

We continue to fall and break until you find the right fit.

Who knows across oceans someone so dear thinks of you.

I admire your courage and hope.

no matter what happens please don’t give up on Love.

When you told me about him

Your green eyes sparkled

Your cheeks glowed

Don’t think about tomorrow yet, for now, enjoy and feel the present.

Shove away the “what ifs”

I enjoyed everything we shared together and please don’t marry yet! You have to schedule your wedding day when I have the money to buy the ticket.

Love,

P.S. because you are an inspiration. #puravida

Element

A few weeks back I was on a routine.

two buses and a train

then suddenly there’s a break

I was rushing here and there

I wanted to go far away from the concrete jungle and smell the trees and stare at the ocean

but I ended up in a dark alley full of people

I know I am out of my element lately

but sometimes it feels good to dip your toe to the other side

I woke up

still in the concrete jungle.

Love,

Her name is Blue

While I was flying up high gleefully appreciating the view and my new developed wings I noticed something from below the ground.

I carefully watched it, I don’t know what it is but it’s something very interesting so I decided to descend and check it out.

I was shocked to see what it is.

She was struggling to open her wings, I was watching her from afar and she smiled at me.

and so I went closer and closer and closer she waved at me, saying hello!

Hey, there said Blue.

I responded back still stunned.

I asked her, why are you here on the ground? are you supposed to be up there like me?

You have your wings like mine so you shouldn’t be here.

And she said, oh no! I have been living here on the ground because my people say it’s dangerous up there. A sky is a huge place I might not be able to survive.

I said, how would you know if you never try?

She said, for so many years I wondered how is it to be up there but I am too scared to even open my wings.

end of story.

I met so many people who told me that I am too brave to travel alone and that I am lucky to experience different things, I hear admiration and jealousy too. But then I asked myself, traveling is a choice, experiencing new things is a choice and having new adventures too. Why are we too scared to push ourselves to the things that we want?

When will you take risks and say to the person you love, you love them? When will you be able to open to saying “no” when you really don’t want to do the things that are expected from you?

We are living in a generation that confirming to the norm is ain’t cool and so we are lucky to be in it. So I encourage you to live the life that you want, to live a day full of adventures, to experience for the first time the one thing you have been wanting to do.

Is it going to the gym? learning a new language? going to a new place? learning a new skill? getting a tattoo?

Take risks and love yourself more.

We only live once and so living it with a purpose is a great deal to start a chapter of a new adventure.

Open your wings! don’t just stay on the ground.

If I can, you can too.

Today, I was reminded by a good friend about this “Risk” and I admire her for taking a step.

Risk, as defined by the society, is something you do that entails danger, that entails failure but both of those two are hurdles that we must overcome to know our limits, to know our responsibilities and to know ourselves. Without it, we can never appreciate life.

Love,

P.S. This blog is dedicated to a good friend of mine Aysha, she is starting to write great reads you can follow her at First Flight.

Moving Elephants

I have been in this sector for quite a while. I took the challenge of moving abroad to understand the meaning of “change”. How to be more creative in solving today’s problem.

The world is so fvcked up! it is seriously horrible but then my heart says believe in people. I have a confidence in humanity and I have that dream that maybe someday we can live in a world where we can dance as one.

This journey has fucked me too, I want to change the world but the world is changing me and I hope that at the end of this journey things will make sense. I am writing this not to complain of course but the more I see reality the more I come to realize that choosing this life is not damn easy. This is not just a project that I can solve in a day! this is like pushing a huge elephant.

So what am I talking about?

Today, I was having my classes and these students are a little special to me. They were selected to go through an intensive learning so they can get a job and make a good living. They are privileged to be chosen, they are provided with great facilities and have good teachers with specialized attention. All of them are from communities that don’t have opportunities and so being in this program, I think is a huge window that they should take into account.

This is my second week of teaching and this has been the worst eye-opening for me. While I was doing the exercises, I saw the fucked up world. I saw hopelessness. And I don’t want to say this but it made my stomach flipped and I almost cried in front of them.

Most of them said I hate school!

Most of them are not interested.

I want to impart so much knowledge to them, I want to let them see what are the opportunities they are missing and that if they push themselves a little and be open fo new learning this will certainly help them to have a good future. I am a believer of Education too! Having a good education is a need for you to navigate this world.

But then I thought, this is what I want not them.

This is a great challenge for me, how might we change the motivation of these students? How might we?

This is a reflection of what is happening in the world as well, we have so many innovations, donations, and projects but yet the problems are still growing there are no changes at all. You see wars, you see poverty, you see hopelessness.

How can we paint the bigger picture here? How can we see the entire picture of the elephant? How can the rider navigate the giant animal to move for the better?

Love,
R

The Unstable One

6:00am

She woke up

She doesn’t know where she is, the only thing she remembered was she was talking to someone.

She looked around

Everything was hazy

She got up.

She was trying to figure out how to get home but home is nowhere.

She’s been moving places for three years now, she met great friends and lovers.

She loves the chasing, the adrenalin, the challenges.

When you see her she’ll talk to you about life and how you should live it to the fullest.

Some people see her as a hedonist, she doesn’t even know the meaning of it. In this generation, they call it YOLO! or have you heard Avicii song “The Nights”?

So she’s moving and chasing. She doesn’t care about possessions.

For once in her life, she made at peace of what she wants although people couldn’t understand it.

They asked her, what about marriage? what about settling?

She thought about that three years ago, she worked hard. She was climbing the ladder already for her age but something was bothering her. She was not happy.

Her world was boxed.

She opened the door and the sun was shining so bright.

She was greeted with smiles by people she barely knew, she is far away from the society that makes her stomach crumble.

She loves the crowd but she would rather be alone and listen to her thoughts unless someone would come and look at her inside, deep down.

She started walking towards a big rock.

She stared at a great blue sky, the weather was really nice and the sound of the ocean was soothing. She loves that! She loves to sit still and look at nature, appreciate life.

Her dream is to change the world, she would talk to people about poverty and how we should educate people so they will be better in life or how people should be more responsible with the environment, she pushes them to pursue their dreams.

She would smile at you, give you 100% energy when you are with her and you will never see her doubt herself. She is seen as the strongest.

The sun is setting down,

she started walking and thinking

where to go next.

P.S. I am trying to learn how to write short stories, so if you have any suggestions do let me know. This entry is dedicated to A, a person who I know is a dreamer and a travel bug.

Would you still love me even if I can’t cook?

All women are expected to do domestic work.

and what does that mean?

it means that if you are a woman you must know how to cook!

that for the past centuries but now we have so many things to do.

We work and think of things too.

Would you still love me even if I can’t cook?

I am a 21st-century woman. I am always rushing from one project to another.

Talking to people, scrolling social media, fixing stuff but

you will never find me in the kitchen.

Would you still love me?

And you said yes

but one day you went home and found me in my laptop writing and on my phone talking to a friend.

You sat down looking disappointed

you called me lazy

You complained that I don’t know how to cook, but what can I do?

Doing kitchen work isn’t for me.

I can learn one dish or two but I could never do it without you.

It hurts to see you like that

but what can I do?

Love,

P.S. this is a reflection of me not being able to cook for other people, I tried my best but I don’t find it fun in the kitchen. So next time when I stay with you please know that this girl can’t cook.

Conditional Love and Happiness

She said if only I will meet the right partner then I’ll have my forever.

She stared through the darkness, she waited for the perfect moment.

After five long years

She sits still and wondered

If only the perfect person comes then I’ll be happy.

She died with no forever, no perfect partner and no happiness.

It’s such a shame that we put rules in loving or showing affection to people not necessarily your significant other but people in general.

It’s a great time to reflect on the concept of love today well because we celebrate Valentine’s day, a day to celebrate love.

My facebook and my ig feeds are full of flowers and roses and kisses and cuddling couples.

And I think it’s an amazing feeling to feel love and to be loved. Who doesn’t want it right?

But then we have break ups, divorces, abused women, depressed men etc. just because they are never good enough for the partner or it was not right.

As what Carrie said in one of the Sex and City’s episodes when two people break up where does the love go?

It’s human nature that we have to set standards and rules for our happiness we have that “what ifs” all the time.

What is love anyway? Here’s a great passage that St Paul wrote to the corinthians about love.

and he said:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

So if you feel blue coz you are single today look around your family and friends they show love to you unconditionally, they will never have rules and expectations for you because they truly love you.

Try to open your heart to possibilities there are so many things in the world that we could show love and of course, don’t forget to show it to yourself first.

Love yourself to the fullest and happier you will be.

So pick up yourself honey

Say I love you to your parents and show them how much you love them because they are the living proof of unconditional love.

Love,