Let’s be real: Some of us make impulsive decisions influenced by the people around us.
Remember the time when you were asked to choose what course you would take up in college, and you felt so puzzled about it because you honestly didn’t know yet what you truly wanted? It’s easier to just obey what our parents told us to take up or go with friends to a certain university.
But then there are those brave souls, the ones who are driven enough to know what they’ve already wanted to do early on.
As a kid, I have always dreamt of being either a doctor or a lawyer, as I was brought up to have this kind of mindset. I was fascinated with anatomy and science, and because of that, everyone in my family expected me to become a doctor. I had no fear in watching gory surgical videos, and trips to the hospital were ironically a thrill for me.
However, the game changed when I was about nine years old and our family business was greatly affected by the global crisis. I saw the harsh realities of life and how hard it was for my parents to provide for our needs especially the cost of education. In my head, I kept on calculating the number of years I would have to spend if I pursued my law or medicine dreams. I realized that it wasn’t going to help us economically if I pushed for it.
I reverted to what was the second thing I loved doing so much — connecting to anyone and everyone — and eight years later, I found myself so in love with my career in the hospitality industry.
A lot of people never knew that I went through so much struggle just to get into the only five-star resort in Cebu. As petite as I am, I would run around carrying jumbo trays from the ground floor to the eighth floor. I would even lift enormous banquet tables to set up for events. Imagine winging 4-inch heels around a 13-hectare property with site inspections through a 250 meter beachfront.
Every time the skies went purple and pink, I promised myself that I would never want to let this go. Being a hotelier was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
If it weren’t for the pandemic, this promise would’ve never been broken. Long sleepless nights and troubled days came when I had to decide — to hold on or to let go and move forward. The verdict came: I chose to let go.
Moving forward broke my heart as I became attached to how I lived my “normal” life. I cherished every moment I had with the brand.
In spite of the bittersweet reality, I woke up to the fact that there is more to life than choosing to be sheltered.
Terrified, doubtful, scared — it was a decision I thought was going to be a nightmare given the pandemic. But each day of being #joBLESSED affirmed that I had made the right decision. It may feel like a loss to the eyes of some, but I know in my heart that I have prepared for this moment too. All the sleepless nights and challenges that came with the job were actually the preparation I needed to face life.
Quitting my job was the leap of faith I had to take to know my life purpose — to live a simple life serving my family and giving back to the community. Today, I wake up energized and inspired that I am so fortunate to have my own start-up businesses and tons of side hustles. It was never going to be an easy path to take, but like how I have reminded myself to be resilient, I am beyond grateful to all the people who push me to go beyond the norm.
With everything that has happened, I have figured that life is just passing. It’s up to us to choose to live again or to be content with where we are. I cannot put into words how complicated it was for me to just go for it, but God has always been there to remind me that we all have the chances to take — it’s up to us to seize them.
Sometimes, I still ask myself, “What have I done?” Yet I always just remind myself to trust in the process and hang in here.
Whatever you’re going through right now, manifest on a daily basis what you genuinely want to do. Be true to yourself and listen to your heart — the answers have always just been there.