A Short Story Of Kindness; Five Kindness Quotes That Will Encourage Us To Be Kind

In life, I have learned that kindness can be lifesaving.

I have been at the post office early morning today. I was in the jeep going back home when my eyes were caught by the sight of one of the passengers, an old poor man on crutches. After a while, he shyly talked to me... It was difficult for me to hear him, it was noisy on the road, but what I understand on his gesture is that he needs something. He needs 5 pesos because he does not have enough money for his fare. All the jeepney passengers looked up at me and they're awaiting my response. I asked the old man where he will stop and just don't be bothered because I will just pay for him. When the jeep stopped and for me to go, the old man hold my hand, his hand was cold but his grip means so much: a sincere thank you. The look of his eyes registered in my mind! I think of how many times, people who are totally strangers, extend their help and kindness to me, and I want to do the same. We do not need to go into heaven to experience being touched by an angel... It feels so good to feel that even on earth, there are still people who act on our behalf as if they are heaven-sent! If we feel we have a kind heart inside, even the smallest act of kindness can prove and show that we have a kind heart outside.

For many people, kind words are all they need.

kindness makes us truly beautiful regardless of how we look like :)

kindhearted people are usually had good sleep at night.

the echo of kindness is endless.

As I was cleaning my files this morning, I found this note, note that I have written down five years ago. I was still in the Philippines and working. Every day I took a jeepney ride, a common transport service in the Philippines. I read and reread this note.  Kindness is the quality of being warmhearted and considerate, and humane and sympathetic... No, not just sypmpathetic but empathetic. I look for some kindness quotes that I can share. Do you also believe in the power of kindness? I do.

Kind people are my favorite people.

Mama

mama with her two daughter.

MAMA... My mother is a spinner of dreams, but sometimes killer of possibilities. Hard-hearted but for many a real good woman. She overprotected me to the point that I thought I wasn't capable of simply living in the world. She made me feel like there was nothing I could do myself without her. She never let me go barefoot, never let me play with most of the children in the street. I couldn't stay after school to play, I couldn't date boys, I couldn't walk to the movies or stay out after 6 o'clock. It was always: 'Don't do that, you'll get hurt.' 'You can't do that yourself, let me do it for you.' 'Wait till I help you with that.' And there was a time that I can't stand to all of these and I tried to run away from home. There were times that I do things I shouldn't do or not do things I should, just to feel safe or to be---for mama: 'respectable'. For mama, she gave me upbringing that matters in this world that makes me appreciate the finer things in life.

a month before I got married.

mama with my son. Our son's first visit in the Philippines.

Looking back, I come to think: where would I be now If I totally ran away from her strict upbringing and gone wild with the wild side of this world? I had long realized that she was no longer my most powerful amulet against danger. I can do things on my own now with her smile of approval. I am forever grateful that mama instill in my heart the belief that "mother knows best". I did, and I do, love my mother.

Ways How I Cope Homesickness

Homesickness is not necessarily about home. And neither is it exactly an illness. Instead, it stems from our extensive need for love, protection, and security-feelings and qualities usually associated with home. -CNN

There was nothing but excitement for many people who went abroad, either to work or to stay for good. It was like, everything is wow! New surroundings, new people to meet, a new kind of dishes to eat, and looking how bright is the future ahead. Things at first normal, you might be enjoying almost everything but most of the times by the third week or more, the novelty of the new surroundings worn off. I came here to the Netherlands for good. My husband is a Dutchman. Even so, I am not exempted to the word "homesick." There were times that I found myself lying in bed, with the lights turn off, and gazing out the window into the sky. I see the faces of my family and my former close friends. I am half of the world away from them. It is nice here in The Netherlands, I have my family here, but forgive me if there are times that I really wish I have wings to fly, so I can go to the arms of my parents anytime.

I cherish those times.

even a photo like this is a piece of happy news from home.

Very few emotions stay with us all the times. In my experience, they all come and go, or it depends which emotion would you like to harbor for a long time.
I have my husband and my son who are both happy seeing me happy so I am trying to not get caught off guard when homesickness strikes me even at times I think there is something with me that is terribly wrong.

How I cope my homesickness:
I am an expat but remains as a tourist. It helps me a great deal in coping boredom, loneliness, and homesickness. Even just here in our city, I love to explore its sights and attractions. I am trying so hard not to have many dull moments to remember those things that I left back home.

An expat but always a tourist :)

touring around our city with my Filipina tourist friend, Maggie.

Create a routine. It helps me to plan ahead what I am going to do as a daily and weekly routine. It excites me when I have something to look forward to,  be it shopping for a new recipe ingredient, meeting in school with other moms, or a new blog. Things that keep me going.

a happy routine: bringing my son to school everyday.

learning to cook helps me a lot to cope homesickness

Expose yet protect yourself. Being an immigrant means that I come to a country where I was not born in order to settle. It is like going back to scratch. In this world that is full of imperfection, it is easy for us to feel alone, or sometimes even a victim of prejudice and discrimination. Protect yourself. Simply choose to be with people who will treat you fair and without any discrimination. And learn that it is also okay to be alone.

I choose to be with people who treat me well.

It is always a joyful occasion to be with my spiritual sisters.

Try the local food. Even there is a Filipino store just in the next city where I live, I manage to learn to eat the local way. Yes, I eat Dutch foods now and I can even cook some Dutch foods. I can cook boerenkol and  andijvie, and it helps me to adapt in my new home. I don't like it that I have a separate food from my husband. I eat what he likes to eat and I am also happy that he eats rice now more often.

I also love the Dutch cooking of my husband.

Adopting to a new country includes try to eat their foods.

Taking a break from Yahoo Messenger or Skype. Even I always miss my family in the Philippines, I don't like it that I am being too tied with technology. The Netherlands is now my home, it would fair that I spend most of my time to my dealings here. Being too much connected by talking to our family back home almost everyday will not help with the adjustment. As long as I know that all is well with them, I am happy.

My internet life mostly because of my writing and photos.

3/4 of my time devoted to this boy.

Hide behind a camera. This is one of my most favorite. I don't notice how days and years passed by when I am busy making photos. My free time for myself, I usually spend it in making photos, appreciating beautiful things and documenting them through photos. This is a very effective strategy to divert my thoughts, instead of getting lost in my own thoughts and feeling homesick, I pay attention now to the world around me.

No dull moments when I am with my camera.

paying attention to the world around me.

Learning new things to cope boredom, loneliness, and homesickness.

Making new home a home. We cannot bring our entire room or cabinet abroad. If you are working abroad, the time would come that you will go home soon. It is different if you are an immigrant. There are a lot of big changes in our life.
Home will always be where your heart is. I decorate some in our home that reflects on what I am and what I love. My husband and I, repainted our bedroom of the color that I like. It made me feel that here where I belong and it is my home.

A dear friend gave it to me as an appreciation to my role as a plain housewife.

They are my home.

The people I once relied on are no longer a short jeepney ride or a short walk away. I am trying to re-create the same support network from my Dutch family and from a few friends. I am getting "adopted." I am learning new things and doing things that I love. I am counting just a few months and I will see my loved ones again in the Philippines. Homesickness is a very real anxiety issue. I am getting through the feeling, but I am not rushing it. I am surviving.

Motherhood Is Fulfillment

Singleness is freedom, marriage is bliss, motherhood is fulfillment.

My husband had just left for work a few minutes ago. As early as 5:30 in a very cold morning. My son is still in his room, wrapped in his blanket and still having a good sleep. I am wide awake now, the day as a housewife has begun, any moment from now, the day as a mother will soon up and about. I am still in bed while I take my time to write. It is now one of my most favorite subjects: motherhood.

I have so many great times now, having Burt in our lives. He is growing beautifully and always a happy child. August last year when he was born and our life is never the same again. Our home became baby-scented, our floor a mess of scattered toys, and laughter fill the air. I love motherhood.

Burt at three months in my womb.

Prayer is a start for a miracle to happen. Burt was not just a bundle of joy when I first saw him, but a miracle because I did not expect that I can also become a mother. I felt like God's loving arms wrapped around me. I am so blessed.

For nearly four years, I have all of Eric's attention alone. I always hear Eric says: Mahal, let's buy this for you; Mahal, I have something for you; all for me. Until I got pregnant and I start to share Eric's love and attention to that beloved small creation inside my womb. For nine months, I carried him and taught me not too accustomed to being selfish. And now his existence made me and Eric not just a happy but also a beautiful family, this beloved boy makes me bone tired, and most of the times limp as old-day pasta, but it's worth it.

A holiday that ends up in the hospital.

 I have a difficult pregnancy. I was always in the hospital. There were days that the hospital discharged me in the morning, then I am admitted again in the afternoon. Not only once that the nurses injected me pain killers so I can sleep. My husband spent many sleepless nights with me, either at home or in the hospital. It caused stress when we got the advice that I need to go through a test to determine if the baby have down syndrome. If the test is positive, it is legal here that I can stop my pregnancy. I strongly refused that test. Me and my husband are ready regardless of the outcome. From the day that we found out that I am carrying our baby, we hold it so precious. With my heart that full of faith, I am very assured that God will give me and my husband a beautiful kid.

Burt today.

Hubby preparing the room for our baby.

My husband became a busy father to our "still in my womb" son at the same time a busy husband to his very pregnant wife. Even though my pregnancy was difficult, I have so many happy memories with my husband while we are waiting for the arrival of our son. We eat ice cream together in the sunshine, we drive to the beach,  stroll and watch the calming Dutch sunset. My husband even bought me a big portable swimming pool so I can relax when I am alone. Marriage bind our love but it was my pregnancy that fortify it even more.

I don't have everything in life but in my heart I feel I already have everything. Sometimes, I am asking myself: where would I be now if I don't have Eric? What would I be now if I don't have Burt? I am so glad I have them both.