When life takes the wind out of your sails, it is to test you at the oars. ~ Robert Brault

Good morning my beautiful readers. I know it’s Monday so I am sending you all the positive vibes. I hope you all have a great week ahead.

Have you tried fishing? I did when I was young. We would go to the river with my childhood friends and do fishing. Now, I think it is good to share what I’ve learned from it. Everytime we catch fish we are very happy. There is a sense of fulfillment in it. But as you know the fish move a lot because he is not comfortable in his new place and if the fish manage to jump and escape the only tendency is to go back to water. That’s normal reaction right? The fish does not know what to do with his/her life in the land. The fish belongs to the water and he’s happy in that place. Why would we try to pull them out from their environment. For some reasons, we can do so as long we can provide them adequate environment that equates their former home.

Now, I can relate to this fish story. I have my life back in the Philippines. I have a good job not that it’s making me rich but just the right one where I’m happy and know my directions in life. When I moved here, like the fish, I’m stripped off of everything. I lost my degrees. I don’t know what to do. I hate it when people asked me what do you do or what do you want to do? Do they ever thought how hard it is for me to answer those questions. It’s not that I don’t have dreams in fact I am full of it especially now, but sometimes I just do things because the new environment dictates that I cannot do the things I love to do. The environment makes me feel that I don’t belong and therefore I cannot do the things that most in the environment does. There is always a reminder that hey! you don’t belong here. I can’t work in a law firm because I am not a citizen. I know also for a fact that if I want to become a lawyer here I still have to study the local law of France and eventually pass the bar exams. That’s tough man. My priority is to be a good mother and wife. I guess if you knew someone who have studied so long would understand me. I studied 4 years in the University to have my Bachelors degree in Political Science and another 4 years to have my Bachelors degree in law plus the bar exam reviews. I am not regretting my long studies. I consider myself blessed for having those degrees. Only few people will understand how tough life in law school. When I was entering college, I just wanted a simple 4 year degree course and be a flight attendant. I was young and obedient. I did not have the courage to fight for my heart’s desire. I was living in my parents home. I am a full time student. I am not earning. The money that financed me to the University are from the sweat of my parents. Like the fish, sometimes I found myself really wondering, what I want to do here? My answer would still be the same. I want to work in law firm. Helping clients. Making people happy. Sharing my love and passion. No, I’m not hoping to be a lawyer as I know for a fact that this is not my country. Just a law firm job will get me back on track. I just hate it when people mandate like you are good in this, you should do this. If you like it then do it. I know that sounds immature. Like the fish being pulled out from the water, do you think the fish is happy when you tell the fish to swim in the land. Of course not! Fish swim in the water not in the land. The fish will not be friendly at the moment because he is adapting. We should also consider that if the environment that the fish was caught wasn’t that good, the fish will have a hard time adapting even if we put the fish in the aquarium. The fish doesn’t speak the language. The fish doesn’t have friends. Don’t expect the fish to be adaptive that quick. Adapting is a process, it does not happen overnight. There are times that the fish will feel so alone. Eventually the fish will find some friends but still not the same friends as he has before in the water. Will the fish survive? Of course! aquarium is almost the same place as where the fish came from but it will never the same as his former environment that is big and he has extended family and friends. And because the fish wanted to survive and be successful he will try to swim in the land no matter tough it can be. He maybe wounded from swimming in the land but you will notice how the fish try to swim and move further. Little by little he is adapting. He will keep trying. The fish knows that life is more tough outside his comfort zone but at least the fish must be provided with encouragement while adapting to the new environment not totally changing the fish. Change should always for the better not for the worst and encouragement and support is different from forced and mandate.

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. -CONFUCIUS

My prayers that thy fish will go back on track very soon!

Stay beautiful and fabulous friends.

Love,

anne