Every morning when I wake up, the first thing that greets me is the view of the surmise over the rice fields. The soft golden light slowly spread across the rice fields and for me these moments feel like a quiet blessing. It reminds me to pause, breathe and appreciate another day. Living close to nature has a deep impact on my personal life and health. The fresh air, the peaceful surrounding and the slow pace of far, life help calm my mind and body especially when life feel overwhelming.
That morning, when the sun rises up and my husband and my daughter were taking a bath using the water pump outside. It has been extremely hot lately and there has been no rain for a long time. Seeing them cool off with the cold water made me smile. Even in the heat, there was laughter and happiness. Moments like these remind me that joy does not always come from comfort but from togetherness.
While they were bathing, I started preparing our merienda, bihon. I enjoy cooking this simple life. Sometimes life on the far is hard. The heat can be exhausting, the work never really ends, and resources are limited. But I believed that if you are hardworking, farm life can still be happy and abundant.
I cooked the bihon outside of our farm house, which made the experience even more special. I prepared the ingredients, sliced the onion and garlic, heated the pan and slowly cooked everything with care. There is a certain peace in cooking outdoors, surrounded by nature, with no rush. Just the sound of the wind and the quiet of the morning.
So I waited for the bihon to finish cooking; I couldn’t help but think that January feels like such a long month. But just like cooking, everything takes time. You cannot rush the process if your wat good results.
This simple morning, watching the sunrise, hearing my family laugh, and cooking a humble meal, reminded me that a meaningful life does not have to be complicated. In the simplicity of farm living, I find gratitude, balance and a deeper appreciation for health, family and everyday moments.
Thank you for reading my story, this is my own picture. The lead photo was edited in Canva. 😍