So..I just came back from my 3-week long trip and I have to admit…I’m DEPRESSED. This trip was amazing and I did not want to come back home! It changed the way I view life. This trip made me realize that for once I should be able to be selfish. To do what I want on my own time, on my own terms and all in order to fulfill my happiness.
On this trip, I passed the yellow caution tape and did spontaneous things. I traveled to places that I have never been to before and decided to do them on short notices. I’ve learned that friendships can appear in the most oddest places and have fallen in love..over and over with things. I’ve learned that you should always follow your hunch feeling and I’ve learned that what you believe should never be compromised.
The people that I have met along this trip have inspired me to follow my dreams, even if it means risking all that I have here at home. Every single person breezes through your life for some sort of purpose and I believe that the people on my trip were a sense of encouragement. The thing that I see by living at home is comfort. I have it good here in Hawaii. I have family, friends, a job that I love, a good network and a degree to finish. This trip has truly pushed my determination to go and chase after that dream..even if it means starting from the very bottom with no one to depend.
I did a lot of thinking during this 3-week journey and I’m really glad that this trip help put things into perspective. Before I went on this trip, I thought to myself, "this trip should be with purpose." My best friend (of more than 17 years) helped me appreciate our close knit love. This woman would do anything for me and I would do the same without a doubt but our trip to the bay area gave us a chance to get away. A chance to take couple of days out of our familiar scene to explore onto new territory, to venture out. One thing that I have learned from her during this trip is that no matter where you grew up, what people say about you, and what you have at the moment...when you have a dream, go for it. She has made me realize that you have to make things happen and to always think high and above of what your full potential could be...That anything is possible and the love of your family/friends will always be there to guide you through the stormiest weather.
I can't even put into the words when describing the friendships that I had made throughout this trip. I met the most amazing people and it rings true.."it don't matter where you are, its the people that you roll with" that makes the event more enjoyable. I was fortunate to have met the most down to earth, real, and fun people on this trip. I got to reconnect with some old ones and boy did the good times keep flowing. I spent a crap load of money in California but like a good friend told me, "you can always make the money back but you can't make up for loss times," which is so true. As I think back at all of the random trips that I have taken, all the risks that I needed to take in order to make those trips, situations where we ran into the law, the body bruises, sleepless nights, late night food binges...I would not trade any of those good memories for anything.
I've been away from the east coast for 6 years and being there has made me realize that without the sense of family, there is no self-identity. There were so many late-night talks that consisted of laughs, tears, beers, shots and ono food. I've always known my daddy's side as the family that is laid back, adaptable and full of heartache. My daddy's side has experienced so much hardship (what family doesn't) but what I've realized that makes my family so unique is that no matter what, we have always pulled it back together and have supported each other every step of the way. From domestics, bad habits, failed marriages and lives that have been cut short...each individual could have not made it through if it weren't for the love. We talked about the past, the present, what could've been and what could be. It made me conceptualize the meaning of time and how its so valuable. I mean I've always known the value of time but I've been in the constant hustle and grind, leaving my family on the sidelines. I'm glad that I got to reconnect with my aunties and my cousins. My aunties made me realize how strong my back bone is and has made me appreciate the experiences that has made me into who I'am. My cousins on the other hand made me realize my values/morals and how to use them in order to be what to I want to eventually become.
As you can see, I did a lot of thinking in order to justify what should be done in order to live a happy life. I may not know a lot of things but I really don't care about the fame, money, materialistic things or the looks because who needs recognition, financial status can be taken away, the value of material things whether out over time and looks can only get you so far. Since I've been back home, I've promised myself to start living to my own standards, to my own beat, and to start living it with a purpose.
