Hi folks!
I'm back in my own space. The past two months flew by in a whirlwind of activities and I finally am on a writing break this week!
Trip to the Philippines
When I was back home from the end of May to the beginning of July, I was overwhelmed by the love I received from my family and friends.
I missed having people I know around me, talking endlessly about how we all want to retire rich (lol), and making fun of the younger, wilder version of ourselves.
Most of us are at the tail-end of our 30s and approaching a new (gasp!) decade soon.
We touched upon topics of money, current events, places we've been, things that bring us sparks of delight, and where we see ourselves in the next few years.
I felt tremendously grateful for the time they spent with me, catching up on what has happened since we last saw each other.
The assurance from old friendships
A funny discovery I found upon seeing my friends and family is this:
Certain things in life stay unaffected by the passage of time.
Despite the changes that have taken place in our lives such as having kids, relocating, pursuing different careers, I couldn't help but notice how the soul of our interactions remained the same.
Through our conversations, I noticed that the familiar dynamics, conversations, and jokes we have about each other have stood the test of time.
That's comforting isn't it? Uncomplicated, reassuring, and steadfast.
The love tank
During my entire first year in Hanoi, there were many days that I felt incredibly isolated not having any of them around.
But seeing them again gave me a renewed sense of respect for the friendships we have built. Friendships that may not always be present, but hanging in the background to meet us when it's the right time.
I walked away getting my love tank refilled by seeing them, and I feel I have more to give away, more to fetch from my pocket when the tank is empty.