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During the first six months of my time in Taiwan, the world was shiny and new. I remember–quite vividly–walking into any store (even a 7/11) and being over the top excited about everything that I saw. The snack packs of seaweed, sushi, soy milk, Coca-Cola, tissue, toiletries, disposable underwear, literally everything I saw, because everything was new. And for a long time, that’s what life was like in Taiwan: a mix of terrifyingly brand new and exciting. There is, however, that time when your everyday life becomes the norm.
That’s not to say that life didn’t get exciting after that, but I got used to life in Taiwan. I adjusted and learned to take care of myself, with a few bumps and hiccups in the road. There have been trying times. Like the one time I bought a scooter for cheap until it actually died and I had to scrap it. Or the time that I spent twenty minutes on the bus with a lady feeling my arm, telling me repeatedly in Chinese that I was so white and so beautiful. Or perhaps, there was even the time I found myself lost and heartbroken, but even then in the darkest of times, I discovered even the worst emotional blows are temporary. No matter how terrible you feel at times, life works in ebbs and flows. When you’re in the trenches, you’re bound to reach the surface at some point in the future.
Of course, there were plenty of ups: learning how to drive a scooter, hiking and admiring the view down below of Taichung, exploring the Mazu Islands, seeing the ball drop in Taipei for New Years, every sort of complete conversation I had with someone in Chinese, and receiving an award for teaching last year. In terms of balance, my time in Taiwan is filled in totality with moments I don’t want to forget. Now, you may be wondering, why on earth would anyone want to remember having their heart broken? Or a traumatizing experience on the bus with an old woman? Or having to deal with a busted motorcycle?
I believe that there are no failures or successes in life, but successes and lessons. Every seemingly bad situation I ended up in has taught me something. When my scooter busted, I learned not to trust cheap prices and easy deals. The time the lady felt up my arm and scared me nearly to death, I was reminded to be understanding and also weary of some people in this world. And as I was mending my broken heart for that short time, I finally understood just whom is deserving of my time and affection, and that you don’t need someone to love you to have love in your life.
When life gets you down and you lose sight of the horizon, I hope you remember that everything, and I mean everything, in this world is temporary. We choose what to hold onto, whom to remain connected with, and what experiences we partake in. We can control our emotions, our thoughts, and the outcome of situations in which we are in the driver’s seat. No matter where you are in the world, everyone falls, but you must remember to stand up, stand tall, and get back in the game.
Keep your head high and your spirits higher,
Simply beautiful ❤️