The truth of building stronger relationships
Ring, ring! “Guys, when I give instructions you guys need to obey me. Let’s go, enter the class,” said my teacher.
“Kids, I’m going to bring the costume but don’t move, do understand me? Entendido?” “Si, miss.” “Hey, Carla did you know that…” “Shhh!”
That was me telling my class to be silent. And suddenly, the teacher comes back.
“Miss we already put on our costume!” my class from Kindergarten yelled. “Follow me,” said my teacher. We silently entered the stage and the teacher was putting us in our specific places.
Pum, pum, pum! The music started playing. “Andrea, em, I don’t remember the choreography,” said Carla with her sweet voice. “Me either, but, just copy our friend’s moves.” The girls were wearing an opaque knee-length skirt with a red blouse still smooth and unwrinkled. The other girls wore a yellow loose blouse. The boys wore showy ponchos, and to look cuter; they wore a reddish scarf. This is how my classmates experienced dance. I experienced it kind of differently. Let me explain.
As a toddler, I questioned myself a lot: Why are we dressed like people who live in the Andes? It is because our song and dance needed to match with our costume since that is what we are trying to represent? But, why do parents like to see us dance if we dance horribly? When I got on stage I had my answer. Our parent’s cheeks blushed just by seeing us.
Fast Forward 10 years. “Valentina, breakfast is ready,” said my mom. “I am coming.”
“Dad are you okay?” Qrcc! The sound of his chair was scraping the floor. I followed him. In his hands there was a tissue; he was wiping his tears that were streaming down his cheek. I hugged him and told my dad, “I know you are probably not going to tell me why you are you feeling this way but just know I love you so much.”
With a crying voice, he answered, “Grandma Haydeé got infected by COVID-19.” I really didn’t know what to tell him, but, on those occasions, I just followed my heart. “Dad, if life is hard it’s because it wants you to learn something. Everything happens for a reason and you are strong.”
As I was writing this blog, I noticed something I’d never noticed before. Because I pay attention to the things and people that are surrounding me, I’m able to build stronger relationships. Back in my father’s situation; he gets up from his chair and leaves. I followed him because I know he is not alright. I was there when my father needed someone, there is where you build stronger relationships. Did you ever see this from that perspective?