Oh My Janey

Today, I woke up early and spent the first hour of my day scrolling through Instagram and Tiktok, in no hurry to make any productive movement. After awhile, I decided to call home to catch up with my family through a low-res video call.

When hunger kicked in, I finally rolled out of bed to make myself coffee. I put on the laundry while I wait for the water to boil. I carried my Kindle to the kitchen and vowed to finish a book I was struggling to read. Suddenly remembered that I had an IPL schedule and rushed to shower, only to have the appointment moved. Then I cooked myself lunch and soon after the afternoon breeze (it’s chilly today) lulled me to a nap when all I wanted to do was read. Was supposed to go for an evening run with friends, but it was raining so I found myself writing here instead.

Spending my Saturday in no hurry and in such leisurely manner made me realize that lately life has been good. Still far from perfect, but still so good.

On my way back to Singapore early this year, I had the pleasure of meeting a Filipino mom on her way to Indonesia for work.

She’s one of the many Filipinos leaving home to work abroad just so she can give her family a better life. My father was one, and I guess I am, too. In a way.

She asked how I found myself working in Singapore. I shared the long story, as the immigration queue at NAIA was even longer. After telling her how I did it, she nodded her head as acknowledgement and said, “Tough girl.”

The comment surprised me, as no one had called me tough before. Clumsy, all the time. Tough? First time in my life.

The comment got me thinking whether I can say the same about me. And after everything I had been through, I realized that I am, actually, a tough girl.