I'm Just Like You

I have a day job. As much as I want to travel full time, I don't. Not that I haven't contemplated it - many times, in fact. But when it comes down to it, I actually like having roots and a regimented schedule. I like the responsibilities of a mortgage. I like the security of building up a pension.

I wasn't born into wealth and I am happy that I didn't grow up with entitlements. I remember working in Manila where work days were 12 hours long. For a year prior to moving to the States, I also attended grad school which meant evening classes and taking the bus home.

Now let me tell you about the Manila bus system. There's no system. They are crowded and they smell. Many times, I would get out of school the same time the malls close in the evenings so I would be right there, negotiating a spot in the bus, with this thick mass of mall workers trying to get home. I wouldn't always find a seat of course. So I would stand. Yes, stand. And out of sheer exhaustion sometimes, I would doze off standing.

I'm sharing all of this because I want to underline the fact that I'm just like you. No silver spoon. No particular athletic training growing up (I had asthma and the air quality in Manila is never touted the best in the world). And yet, here I am, trying to redirect the course of my life. Trying to challenge myself to do things I've never done before - off and on the mountain. Trying to live fuller and healthier.

And I refuse to believe that living my normal existence is less meaningful. My choices are these: I could look at my job as restricting me to do the things that I want, or I could look at my job as enabling me to do the things that I want and live the lifestyle of my choosing.

I choose the latter.

And so after a day at the J-O-B (and sometimes on my lunch hour), it is of personal importance that I carve time out for the things I'm passionate for - mountain biking, hiking, the outdoors, cooking, writing, taking photos, gardening. I don't succumb to the million possible excuses available to me even though many times, that is the path of least resistance.

I say that one of existential reasons for this blog is to empower and inspire. It's a tall order, I know. But I consider myself not particularly having extraordinary talents, yet I refuse to submit to having a life of mediocrity. And if there's one thing I hope you get from reading my rambles about my own pursuit of giddiness, I hope you too realize that happiness and life are not going to wait for you.

Photos were taken on a Thursday evening of steep climbs on dirt on a mountain bike after a day in the office. We made semi-homemade pizza afterwards.

#adventure #renotahoe #cycling