Being Grateful for a Poorly Wrapped Gift

Sunset calls. It's time to rest. (Initao, Misamis Oriental; December 2018)

I had imagined the last month of the year and in my duty station in Cotabato City to be a time to wind down and slowly wrap things up while savoring the learnings and blessings of the past year. As fate would have it, a last-minute decision to conduct another round of training workshops before the close of the calendar year, changed everything. I found myself rushing to prepare for the training and having to fly out a day after the last workshop was completed. I finished packing one year's worth of stuff 30 minutes before the arrival of the driver who would bring me to the airport. 

Goodbye savoring, goodbye reflection. 

Back to my home and old world, I would find myself tied up with one social activity after another. I could not even properly unpack the things from Cotabato City. I told my friend who was sleeping over in my place that I was grateful to her as I probably wouldn't even be able to get my things out of my luggage if it were not for us needing more space in my room for her to unfold the bed where she would sleep.  I had to squeeze in an unplanned business meeting and an unplanned overnight out-of-town trip between Christmas and new year. And there were other meet-ups and party to attend before the new year. In between the many things that needed to be done, I would find windows to catch up with friends in our group chat and would constantly mention my wish that we would all find some time to slow down during the holidays. Little did I know that it was a wish that would be granted to me, albeit by serendipity. 

It was the unplanned out-of-town trip that would turn out to be the game changer for me.  While walking on my way back to my hotel after being treated to dinner and wine and a bottle of beer by my friend, I accidentally tripped and sprained my ankle big time. I arrived in the city running like a marathoner; I left barely able to walk. I had to muster all the will to refrain from asking to be wheeled at the airport. 

Everyone reminded me that the remedy for a sprained ankle is RICE - rest, ice, compress, and elevate. Did I hear rest? Needless to say, I was forced to rest. My body made a decision for me. God laid out the opportunity. And so rest I did. 

While I didn't totally rest in bed, I was able to slow down - mainly by default.  This meant having to forego the rest of my social activities. But this also meant having room for the savoring and reflecting that I needed and wanted to do before the close of the year. As I found myself with extra time on my hands to clear my work table in my room, where all the Cotabato stuff were dumped, I felt my inner chaos slowly melting, giving me clarity of thought and allowing me to enjoy the present moment. 

As I sorted my stuff, I found a bag of paraphernalia that I had meant to bring to Cotabato on my second trip, my luggage being full on my first. I totally forgot about that bag of stuff, which included among other things, a portable bidet that would have been of great help while I was at the dorm in Cotabato.  I thought to myself, it takes slowing down to assess the resources that we have - both in the outer as well as in our inner worlds. My ankle is still giving me pain and I was told it would take a couple of weeks before I could go back to my normal stride, but to a certain extent I am grateful for the gift the accident brought me. 

Once again, I am reminded that everything is (or can be) gift.