Yes, I did so! You know, why? The world is full of bad news and all of us are very easy to be influenced by "negative people" in our surroundings. Yes, also among us expatriates... .
Sometimes I really get tired, because even I can feel how these people fritter away my energy, strengths and good mood while chatting away my time.
Okay, let's swing ourselves into the saddle and let's explore the positive flanks and directions in our daily (expat-)life. A couple of days ago a good friend of mine from a Western country texted me: "Write with an open mind about what you see and hear, smell and touch. It could be an inspiration. Life is so beautiful for us to keep on going - also here in the Philippines!"
Honestly, this guy is true. There is no paradise on earth. Each nation in the world has its positive and negative sites. But, I decided to stay here in the Philippines with my family, and, I decided to be happy, to be glad, to be content, to be fortunate, to be fitting... . One thing, I learned here is this: "If we like to be happy,we must open our eyes and find people in our surroundings, which have the special talent for listening. We have to find people who will walk the first miles with us then steadfastly believe that we can walk alone after a while. I found such people here. Many, many!!! don't get me wrong: I Never forgot my home country. But now, I am living here in the Philippines.
Being happy means also to find the courage, that we can have it. Ask yourself, what's your emotional dependence. When we are emotionally dependent, we look to others for happiness, our "self"-concept, and our emotional well-being. We give up what we want and need out of fear of rejection, abandonment or confrontation.
No, also in the Philippines isn't everything right and correct. I observe that our expectations can kill us emotionally because we suffer under the tyranny of them. We are losing our happiness. Culture Shock, here, there and every where!
But I decided to overcome the shock. I am glad, I was able to do so. I am happy now. A happy expatriate - living in the Philippines for good!
