Querencia

Last week, our teacher made us read something entitled "Querencia" (it's pronounced Querenthia). Querencia, as the article explained, is a resting place or a home. Now, it could be anything. And a lot of people had different ideas as to what their Querencia was. Some said their room, some said the Church, even some said it was their friends, but deep inside, I knew what my Querencia was. My barkada especially that one person who never fails to make me smile. In you I find my rest amidst all the trouble surrounding me. It is in you that I can be myself and just blurt out anything crazy because I know you will understand. And it is in you that I can be quiet at times because I know it is in the silence that we learn about each other more. You don't even have to do anything. You can just stay and stand still and I'd be more than happy to be graced by your presence. You awe me, you wow me, you thunderstruck me. And I know my home is with you and all the people we're with all the time. Querencia is something all of us desperately need but don't look for. Everyone's too busy with life, making money, thinking of the bills, that nobody ever gets to sit down and rest. In my case, being with my barkada is my rest. It's such a comforting feeling that I can talk to people who won't judge me if I do something stupid. This is why I made a vow to myself to be someone they would be very proud of. And I'm getting there I think. Only a few chinks in the armor I might have to fix, and maybe I'll be a little bit better.