by: JC Aquino

Written near a window overlooking the Church of St. Francis, where the whirring sound of diesel generators are in stark contrast to the pitch-black night. Where the children are playing downstairs, guided by the faint light from their mobile phones. Where the pandemic is an unwelcome guest in a place where chaos is already a part of life. But still, life goes on, with varying shades and varying hopes.

 This year has been a very complicated one in the world of travel. Whether we travel for a living or travel is our means of temporary escape from the woes and stress of your daily commitments, the pandemic has affected all of us as individuals to a certain extent. COVID-19 imprisoned our spirits and sedated our wanderlust. The effect has been so pervasive that everyone seems to have been placed on trial and sentenced to a bleak existence. Some might have been a little luckier because it only disrupted a few transient plans,  but others are literally fighting for their livelihood, or worse, their very own survival.

The world has stood still, yet at the same time, it gave us room to reflect. In such moments of self-reflection, we have been given the gift of realizing which things matter to us the most. In our isolation, we have been prepared by fate for the next chapter, because this whirlwind – which tested us mentally, physically, and emotionally – would likely never be truly over but would hover over us like shadows in a life that will never revert back to the way it used to be.

Sojourns will have more significance; hugs and kisses will imprint a deeper sense of emotional connection. The scent of the sea, the sensation of sand between our toes, the fog that blankets the mountains, and the whisper of the wind will comprise an experience that will permeate every fiber of our being more than they ever did previously. The places we will visit after the skies have cleared will never be the same – either for better or for worse.

However, it is certain that all our succeeding life chapters will carry a more profound sense of meaning. Life will not be an automatic shift to fields of spring blooms or calm seas with undulating waves, as the scars we’ve individually and collectively earned from this pandemic may or may not lead to better mornings. However, despite all this, we have nevertheless received the greatest gift not everyone has been privileged to receive – we are still alive, and we are still bound to accomplish amazing things.

I’m telling you, your first post-pandemic trip, wherever it may be and regardless of how near or far it is from your origin, will have a different meaning and vibe to it. The scenery will be different, and the experience will have a bittersweet tone to it. You will be able to appreciate the little things more – those you seem to miss because you are too busy taking everything in. You will find yourself immersed in that moment, in that space and time – a moment that the pandemic can only delay but can never take away.

In this situation, life is a massive airport carousel. There will be lots of baggage, but it is only you who can pick one up and unpack it. Finding someone who can help you will always be an option, but always remember that you and everyone around you has his or her own baggage to carry around on a daily basis. May this situation remind you of a common phrase for travelers: I want you to pack light in this adventure called life. Accept what you cannot change, move on, and take a bit more time to see the beauty of the world beyond its imperfections.

As I end this brief reflection, I want to share with you one of the most polarizing quotes I’ve found in relation to the hope that each of us is holding on to during these really trying times:

“Do not allow your life to be just fine. Or okay. Or even good. Make it brilliant, spectacular, wild, extraordinary. Fill it with excitement and adventure, be passionate and fearless, search for freedom and opportunity. You only get one life, so make it count. Make it mean something. Make it yours.” – Unknown

Stay alive; you have a new chapter to make in life.