Lost in a Paradise

If there's one profound lesson that this Pandemic has taught us, it is the invaluable art of embracing stillness and being fully present in the moment. This realization can inspire us to live more intentionally and appreciate the beauty of each passing moment.

Life teaches us about what is essential versus what is luxury or leisure.

Life teaches us to embrace individual uniqueness and societal differences.

Life's journey often leads us to moments of solitude, where we may feel lost and disconnected. However, these periods of isolation are not a sign of weakness, but an opportunity to rediscover ourselves and emerge stronger. They teach us resilience and the power of self-discovery.

What would happen if you got stuck on an Island. How would you imagine living?

There are no convenience stores, cellular phone signals, or internet.

You only have basic survival needs and equipment; tents, hammocks, cooking utensils, and just enough food good for two days.

I dared! In 2015, I trekked a muddy road less traveled to the Island Province of Guimaras in the Philippines. It was a journey of self-discovery, a chance to step out of my comfort zone and experience life in a new way.

In just two days, I enjoyed the serenity of the place away from the people. The water was clear, and I jumped off a cliff. That was a safe jump rather than a risky dive I never dared. And I survived!

Now, I'm living in the present. I am thinking about the time in our lives when we go on an adventure of a lifetime. There's no attachment to things and people. And the absence of one of the most essential things today -- getting online and social media.

Today, during this Pandemic and social isolation, our connection to the online world is our most important survival tool. We go online for news updates, which sometimes can be toxic and cause sadness, loneliness, and grief. If there were no internet and social media, how would we live everyday life?

Our survival tool in the new best normal is connecting to the online world. For most of us, being offline is not alive since, nowadays, everybody seems to go digital, going online to communicate with coworkers, families, friends, and special loved ones.

I learned to be detached and offline, even for a short while, to go on a social media detox. Honestly, I have lived in that present moment, living in stillness. That adventure taught me a lesson about basic survival skills and survival when the most essential thing is out of reach, even for a while.

The current Pandemic has underscored the importance of preparedness. As we navigate through these challenging times, it's crucial to equip ourselves for the future. The next crisis may be just around the corner, and our readiness will be the key to survival.

Being stuck in an Island Paradise is just one learning experience that I have benefited from in the present and the next crisis. It taught me the value of adaptability, the importance of basic survival skills, and the beauty of simplicity. It also showed me that the most challenging situations can sometimes lead to the most profound personal growth.

And today, we can always learn not to just survive. But, just be alive.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Now Rowing Forward

We can't wait to move on. We've been stuck for some time, and we want to move forward and be able to live our life's next chapter—a life where mystery meets uncertainty, a life of ups and downs—our current reality.

Today, I've seen how we go a few steps backward. When the Pandemic struck, we froze, could hardly move, and went on to reminisce about our past life. We remember the good old times and learn from the bad times. We have time-traveled, and it just feels so good.

Rowing on a small boat from last year's retreat on a beach was one of the most solemn and soulful experiences ever. It gave me a profound realization about how I lived my life. It was a preview of how to live and survive in silence, without a crowd, and just a moment of detachment and social isolation. This self-discovery was empowering, showing me that I can thrive even in solitude.

As I looked at the horizon from afar, where the blue skies meet the sea, I realized that the sky is the limit regarding our life's desires and realizations. Many opportunities and foresight await us to be discovered in total silence.

As I walked closer to the shore, the horizon seemed endless, even when I reached the deepest sea. When a big wave is coming to hit me, I may either swim as fast as I can back near the shore or just go with the flow as calmly as I can.

Life's like that. When something big hits us, like an overwhelming challenge or adversity, we can choose how to react: we can panic or stay calm and focused on taking the best action and not getting drowned. This choice is ours, and it empowers us to face any situation with resilience and determination.

Fast-forward to today, a year after the Pandemic. I remember how I enjoyed the silence and solemnity of a place where I said I could survive in that environment for a long time.

How many of us could live without a noisy and distracted world? How many of us can enjoy being detached from worldly possessions and relationships? How many of us can survive alone, having just enough and with no luxuries but only a natural world of purity and simplicity?

Today, as people and communities have started to mobilize again after isolation, we have learned a harsh lesson and a deeper awareness of our being. We can indeed live alone for some time and depend on ourselves for our own happiness. This realization of self-reliance has made us more independent and self-sufficient, showing that we are responsible and in control of our lives—our destiny.

Life has brought us to a different era and future we never imagined-a world where remote work is the norm, where health and safety are paramount, and where resilience and adaptability are key. This time, we are not only moving on or moving forward. We are now rowing along in the direction of our will, our life purpose. We are the captain and in control of our destiny. The director of our own reality.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Living Our Best Normal

We want to live our best lives. That is not just an aspiration but a realization of our life purpose. Our goals and dreams fuel our being toward not just success but also fulfillment—our heart's desire.

In these times, we are now one world and one humanity, a beautiful tapestry of diversity that used to be divided by the color of our skin, the amount of money in our wallet or bank, and religious affiliation and social status. Our differences now unite us in a shared experience.

Today, we feel the oneness of humanity, that we are united through a shared experience. We are all vulnerable to the global threat to human health; either we survive or continue to suffer—we're all in this together.

We are slowly adapting to a 'new normal,' which is an initiation of how much we have learned about survival skills and the test of our life's top priorities.

In the 'new normal,' people may realize that money may sometimes not save a life, that it isn't our ultimate purpose, and that the health we sacrifice for cash will be gone when we lose the battle. 

Living in the city would start to lose appeal, and people would see the value of life in the rural area-- in the countryside.

The pandemic has been a profound teacher, revealing to us the beauty of the natural world that was once distant. The surrounding mountains, the chirping of the birds, and the clear blue skies, once the privilege of rural areas, have now become a part of our urban lives in isolation.

Now, more than ever, we realize the value of health and wellness over material wealth. Choosing a sustainable life in a safe and peaceful rural area can give us the peace of mind we crave. This shift in mindset will lead to healthier and more vibrant lives.

Between life in the city and in a rural area, the 'new normal' would point the arrow to the less crowded place where one can breathe fresher air and enjoy a fantastic view of the natural environment free from pollution.

And hearing from someone I highly respect, Master Del Pe, a Modern Sage, and an International Life Mentor, inspired people about living not just the 'new normal' but living our 'new best normal'-a life where we prioritize health and wellness, strive to live with our best self, and adapt to the challenges and threats that will arise in the future.

To live our most extraordinary life and our 'new best normal' is to go beyond a safe and secure life to a sustainable one we all deserve. Sustainable living promotes a healthier environment and enhances our well-being, allowing us to live our best lives. 

© 2020 Del Cusay