It’s about recognizing your talents and having the audacity to share it
By Vanette Colmenares
New York - In a few days, I will be going back home. Where is home? Home is where the heart is, and I have the best of both. Home is Cebu the land of my birth, cradled my beginnings, embraced my kin, and witnessed my youth. The place where I forged bonds, exchanged vows, and bore my children.
But I too have another home, America, my adopted homeland, whose allegiance I pledge. Here, I glimpsed the world’s other face—a place where anonymity overshadowed my existence. Yet, within its borders, lessons outweighed mere experiences.
Audrey Hepburn-inspired 25th college class reunion with the theme ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’.
Following my college years, I assumed roles befitting the upper echelon. I wore many hats: nursery teacher for a relative who owned a school, entrepreneur, investment consultant, commodity trader, bakery owner, caterer, handicraft exporter, and furniture manufacturer.
Over two decades of married life, I waltzed along diverse paths, juggling roles like a circus performer, but then in a moment of epiphany, I declared: “Enough is Enough”. I packed my bags and set sail to the land of milk and honey. Oh, the irony! The cow’s milk leads to lactose-intolerant belching, and to harvest honey, one must buzz around like a caffeinated bee. Life, my friend, has a wicked sense of humor.
With daughter Sarrita, an influencer and chef-restauranteur of Cafe Sarree in Cebu.
In the grand tapestry of American employment, I played myriad roles, some seemingly mundane, others profound. I landed a job in the medical billing industry, assisted in elderly facilities, did personal chef jobs, housekeeping, companion and even did ‘task rabbit’ as a sort of “handyman.”
Yet, the most transformative act was when I became a nanny to the sons of an investment banker on Wall Street and his wife, a role that spanned eight years. Equally impactful was my tenure as a caregiver to a billionaire until his passing. These seemingly transactional jobs were, in truth, acts of nurturing life itself. Remarkable to this day, they call upon me when they need assistance. Forged ties endure; they don’t break.
When my son’s company required support, I stepped into a part time-role with full time pay. This unexpected opportunity allowed me to descend the next rung on life’s ladder—to become a student.
I pursued a master’s degree in Religious Studies, which broadened my understanding and gave me a fresh perspective on humanity. I graduated with honors, received a distinguished service award, and became a permanent member of Theta Alpha Kappa, the honor society for religious studies and theology.
Initially, I didn’t plan to continue my education, but due to the pandemic and with nothing else to do, I pursued a doctorate. Last May, I successfully completed my Doctor of Ministry and had the honor of delivering a speech on behalf of my fellow DMIN graduates.
I appreciate my adopted homeland, where dreams don’t just come in dollars and cents, but in the currency of knowledge, experience and a dash of audacity. It is within the realms of such, that one comes to realize the purpose of life, and it lies in recognizing one’s unique talents and the meaning is to share it.
As I decipher my role at this pivotal juncture in life, I recognize its profound significance for the next chapter. The logical step? Boarding that trip to the Motherland, where I will embrace a more meaningful existence by sharing life’s essence.
My journey akin to “trip to Jerusalem,” transcends mere destinations. It is not solely about reaching the goal. Rather, it’s the dance between chairs, the fluid movement from one seat to the next, that defines the path.
It’s about twirling around those chairs , laughing when we stumble, cheering when we find a seat, and gracefully accepting when we’re left standing. Because Life, my friend is an eclectic playlist, sometimes a waltz, other times a rock anthem. And when the final note plays, may we never have regrets –- whether seated or standing –- because we played the game well with all our hearts. As they say, Home is where the heart is.
Cebuana Vanette Colmenares has lived in New York City for more than two decades. She writes for OSM! online magazine and is a member of the Fil-Am Press Club. This essay first appeared in TheFilAm.net on July 16, 2024.
