salamat, merci, cam on, danke, arigato, thank you

"It is sad when people you know, become people you knew...It is one of life's tragedies when you meet someone that you know is meant to be but due to unexpected circumstances and misunderstandings becomes someone you knew. Or when you can walk right past someone that at one time in your life was a big part of your life...and how you used to be able to talk to them for hours about the little nothings in life...and now you can barely look at them and they at you...and all you have left is that aching feeling in your soul..."

After reading this, I felt as if this person picked my brain and articulated how I felt in the most perfect words. It's weird! I don't even know this person! But it made me realize how universal this feeling is. It's sad, isn't it? How easily a person can walk right into your life then walk out. Before you know it, you're left to wonder, "What the heck was that all about?!"

Whenever this does happen, I have this ritual. I know, so weird haha but it helps! First, I eat a lot, go out a lot, talk - A LOT, and watch tons and tons of movies. I also read The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I don't know. That book just always reminds me that there are reasons for things. I guess that may be a lazy way of facing a sad situation; to just forget about what happened and just say, "eh, it was supposed to happen so let's just leave it." I guess you could say that. But to me, it helps. I like to think that that person came into your life to teach you something. Imagine how your life would've been if you hadn't met that person. Even if this person was someone you had known for only 5 minutes while waiting for a bus.

Last Sunday during my shift, a man came in and sat there studying for about 2 hours. He loved to talk. He talked to everyone that came in, asking them where they were from, where they were going, just anything and everything. He kind of reminded me of Mr. Bohnen. When he first came in, he asked me what my nationality was. Just from that answer he knew I had gone to St. Pat's. Sounds creepy, but he knew that 90% of Filipinos go there haha. He then started talking about religion. I could not believe how refreshing it was to me to finally talk about it. I hadn't realized how much I missed being able to talk about my faith. He talked to me about all the places he had travelled to, the languages he was learning, how he had wanted to become a priest. He talked, and talked, and talked, and I loved it. I loved how welcoming he was (I really hope this doesn't sound creepy haha) But gosh, we need more people like that. I felt as if I was talking to someone I had known my whole life. He showed me how much I love people and their stories. How just welcoming someone, learning about who they are, and what they have to say can really make a person feel good. There are so many amazing people out there with so many amazing stories.

I learned all this from a person whose name I don't know. See what I mean? Any person you meet, no matter how long the "relationship" lasted, has made an impact on who you are. I know this is true for me. So I just want to use this post to say thank you to everyone I have come to know, or have met. I credit who I am to many of you. Now I'm no longer frustrated or angry when a person walks out of my life. I know I'm a better person because of it. I am sad that that person couldn't stick around for a longer time, but I am thankful for the time they spent with me.