Different People, Same Reminder

A few days ago, I had a conversation with Ma'am Gasit.

One thing she said immediately stuck with me.

That hit me.

Sometimes we wait until we feel ready before joining an organization, applying for a job, or trying something new.

But maybe confidence isn't the requirement.

Maybe it's the reward for showing up.

She also shared a story about becoming a teacher.

Before applying for a teaching position at our national high school, she asked God for a sign.

She told herself,

Eventually, it did.

And she pursued it.

I also asked her why she continues teaching dance sports even though it overworks her and doesn't really pay enough for the value she gives.

Her answer was simple.

No long explanation.

Just that.

I was amazed by her passion.

Some people don't measure success by salary.

They measure it by the lives they've touched.

That conversation stayed with me.

Coincidentally, my Claude Code credits were completely exhausted for the week.

I got bored.

It was raining.

So instead of staying at home, I drove about fifteen minutes with my sister and cousin to a café.

There, I found myself doing what I always do.

Trying to influence someone.

Not force them.

Just encourage them to think deeper about life.

My cousin doesn't really spend much time asking questions about purpose or direction.

That's okay.

It's her life.

Her decisions.

But I can't help wanting the people around me to think a little more deeply about why they do what they do.

Maybe that's just who I am.

I want to be surrounded by people who are searching too.

It's probably a difficult wish.

But it's still a wish.

Then, two days later, on the afternoon of July 25, after playing basketball with some kids, I went to our barangay hall just to have random conversations with friends.

Eventually, I had a long conversation with Trisha.

At that moment, I chose to portray a hopeless character to extract motivation from other people.

We started talking about my love life.

Somehow, as most conversations do, it slowly shifted into talking about life itself.

She admitted that even though she's excited about the future, she also doubts it sometimes.

Then she told me something simple.

Again.

Another reminder.

Sometimes I wonder what goes through these people's minds before they say things like that.

Maybe they've repeated those same words to themselves during difficult times.

Maybe they believe them because they've lived through them.

Maybe those words helped them when they were uncertain.

Whatever the reason, those conversations keep finding me.

Different people.

Different places.

Different situations.

Yet somehow they all point toward the same lesson.

Keep believing.

Stay true to your values.

Help people.

Don't wait until you're confident.

Build confidence along the way.

I don't know if these are coincidences.

Or maybe they're reminders.

But lately, it feels like God keeps sending different people to tell me the same thing in different words.

Maybe that's exactly what I need right now.

To keep going.

To stay faithful to what I believe.

And to trust that, whatever it takes, there is still happiness and fulfillment waiting at the end of the road.