Testing The Water (Buntot-Palos Day Hike)

The thing with falling is that there is no going back. Once you jump, you just let go, and let it be. You lose all control.

Buntot-palos falls

And that scares me a lot. It is the reason I have so much reservations when it comes to doing anything that involves falling (cliff diving, sky diving, bungee jumping, etc.)

Yesterday, I had the chance to jump off Buntot-palos falls but chickened out. I had the chance to swim towards the falls, but backed out. Those were my regrets of the day. Anyone who believes that they can do something should just do so. Otherwise, the heart won’t be at peace.

Isn’t it easier to smile at failed attempts than at what ifs? After all, we are not here to just test the water. We are here to jump and take that leap of faith.

Anywaaaaaaay…

The trail was easy, but muddy and smelly. The mud was mixed with horse poop. Unfortunately, you’ll sometimes have no choice but to touch the ground for support and balance. Eeep.

The trail

It was not a preferable hike for me, but the destination was worth it. The towering, rushing falls breaking down into 3 little falls was magnificent. It makes one wonder where all the water is coming from, and where they are going, and why they are in such a hurry.

The water was cold, but from time to time the sun shines and warm you up a bit. Then the wind blows, and you’re back to chilling. It was a funny feeling – like nature is playing with you – not in a hurtful way, but in a teasing and caring manner.

(c) Henry Bolinto

Well, it was generally a beautiful day! Plus, I was able to make 2 new friends – one talented artist and one highly analytical introvert (she noticed a mannerism of mine that I wasn’t even aware of!)

(c) Robert Sarmiento

Hooray for today!

Arlet

My Demotion in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Around same time last year, I flipped the table and called it quits with my previous employer. I packed my bag and stuck my tongue out to the world.

More than half a year later, I had difficulties sustaining my lifestyle. I wasn’t that resolved and successful yet in my freelancing stint. And so I ended up becoming broke and anxious that I decided to just accept a job in a headhunting firm.

There was much resistance in my coming back to the corporate world. There were the little things like having a hard time adjusting my body clock to normal working hours, or having no appropriate wardrobe fit for the job. But the bigger issue for me was being back in itself. I escaped the corporate world for a reason.

In fact, I still entertain thoughts of escapes and wander albeit to a significantly lowered extent. But since moving out, I learned the value of things better – literally and figuratively. Did you know that a small Colgate toothpaste is almost as expensive as a big Hapee toothpaste? Or that Spam is actually very expensive compared with its local counterparts? But most of all, do you know that pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold?

Time flies by so fast. There’s no slowing it down or stopping it. Last year I was having this quarter life crisis. Now, I’m having this -what to eat for dinner - do I have clothes for the next days to come – when is the next payday – did I pay my bills – oh my gosh I didn’t kind of crisis. Every day is a struggle to the next, but the questions are now easier to answer.

I must have dropped a few levels off from Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, but this is kind of enjoyable. Hustle.


Arlet