Times have been tough lately. I'm literally typing this in a hospital room looking after our sick loved one. On the road of life, it feels like I'm hitting the bumpy side of the road right now - bump after bump after bump. But you know what they say about tough times? They don't last. Tough people do.
Here's to looking back at one of the toughest storms that we had to face in our lives. Reading through these now reminds me that we overcame a literal super typhoon, what's a little hiccup compared to that?
@thegaillery/super-typhoon-rai-is-the-worst-to-hit-cebu-after-mike-in-1990
In this blog, I wrote about the situation during the storm, before it progressed, and the aftermath. Things could have been worse, but we remain grateful that we are still in one piece. I recall how my brother, the bravest in the family, felt a tinge of fear when he heard our roof getting detached because of the wind. It was one of the scariest times our family has ever experienced. Thankfully, we were able to get through it, one day at a time.
@thegaillery/lining-up-for-our-lives-6-days-after-super-typhoon-odette-super-typhoon-rai
Ridiculously long lines characterized our day-to-day battle after the storm - lines to the atm machines, banks, groceries, fuel stations, and electric charging outlets. What made us hold on to hope was the spirit of bayanihan among neighbors, coworkers, and family. Holding on to hope also meant being grateful for every good thing that has happened. Everyone helped in the best way they know how. The Hive community also helped us big time.
@thegaillery/i-dont-know-how-to-respond-to-merry-christmas-finding-hope-before-the-year-ends
The typhoon's aftermath lasted until the New Year. We celebrated the holidays with no electricity and the situation finally took a toll on our mental health. Needless to say, it was getting harder and harder to hold on to hope. In this blog, I wrote about how tired we were of being tired. I remember it was only until January 10, 2022, that the electricity in our area came back. I could not forget it because it was the day before my mom's birthday.
Odette changed the course of our lives but I chose to remember it in fragments of strength that we've gained. It shook our resilience to the core and we are stronger because of it. Apart from resilience, may we grow wiser because of it and learn from our mistakes.