“The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden” – Goethe. With the sentiments expressed in this quote, we celebrate our 3 year anniversary on this International Day of Happiness to bring to you some stories of human connection and everyday doses of inspiration from 3 of our team members (aka Humans of PBB).  

These personal stories remind us of how interconnected each of us truly is. Such that, we can see other people as equals, as part of ourselves, and to see ourselves as part of other people. It’s in heartfelt moments like these that we realize how important deep listening is, to get close to the problems and the people we are serving, trying to navigate structures that get in people’s way and how they might be holding themselves back. This kind of listening comes from a place of inquiry, not certainty. And within that, we need to be able to hold contradictions, opposing values and belief systems, in tension, without rejecting either. And to make principled decisions that acknowledge the validity of the dichotomies and pluralities around us. 

We hope these real-life stories of courage, love, trust and authenticity inspire you to listen to, think and feel with those around you today and everyday. Remember that we are all intertwined and woven with magical visible and invisible threads of connection. As we celebrate these 3 stories, in turn we are celebrating each of your stories also!

Clementine

It is a story of divine timing, occurring at a time that did not seem so divine at all. A story of a mother and her son, who I met at the same time, in the same place. It was an important transition in my life, personally and spiritually. I was going through a break-up and had started to unpack and transform emotional trauma, both consciously and unconsciously. I was moving in and out of different places in search of what  would really feel like home. After a long haul, I found the right fit. And that is when I met this mother-son duo. It was back in 2020 in Costa Rica. A beautiful house built by the landlady and her husband themselves, in the middle of expansive nature. The people, however, made the home feel like home. It was an immediate feeling. Their warmth and friendliness made me feel safe, valued, and loved. I had never seen such generosity and kindness before. More importantly, it was the first ever time that I got to sit and discuss spirituality and faith with such open-minded people. They narrated stories of courage, resilience, and faith. To magnify the significance of the time, it was also the pandemic. In the midst of it, those stories resonated deeper in my heart. My faith started growing. In what? Just life. I fell in love with life again. Cooking, cleaning, reading, walking. I was slowly regaining my self-esteem. Among trees, listening to the music of nature, contemplating the colors and shades of the sky, I understood what resilience and courage really meant. Amidst those realizations, I shared many conversations that would light up my face upon hearing them. Gender equality. Humanness. Togetherness. Community. Diversity. More than giving me strength and hope, this experience changed my life forever. Looking back, I can say, with certainty, that everything found me exactly at the right time, in the right circumstances.

Ali

It is true what they say… “you only realize the true value of something, when it is no longer with you.” When my father was diagnosed with ALS, I was completely devastated. It was hard to cope with because I was helpless. As much as I would have liked to, I was unable to physically help enough to make a difference. Not knowing of a better way to respond, I took a year off from university and returned to Lebanon from Moscow. The reunion was special. I made the decision to get closer to my dad and learn more about his illness in order to help him out. What an incredibly fulfilling experience it was, to be able to talk to him and get to know him better! I discovered a lot about him that I had not before. Perhaps, I had lost a sense of how I knew my father, but I gained a lot more. I loved spending every minute with him. He always had a positive attitude and began each day with a smile. I never really knew what it was like to feel helpless or afraid. But getting to know him and becoming closer to him, opened my eyes to all the amazing things he was capable of and made me more grateful for the time I have with him. He has given me a wonderful life and it is a reminder for me to be grateful for every moment of it. And that lesson is what I have always tried to hold on to. Even though my father was in so much pain, he reminds me that there are many reasons to go about life with a big smile and an upbeat attitude.

Apoorva

“Don’t worry about a thing…,” sing the Beatles through the speaker at the bar. I sit at a table, happenings of the day tucked away from me, within immaculate walls that present to me the ceasing of time. I sit with people who, otherwise in commotion, are motioning in a similar manner. Laughter and sighs over sips of tasteful drinks. Through the blur, I notice a young girl enjoying her drink, just like I am, in clothes all rugged, unlike mine. I find myself next to her, a few glimpses later, listening to the stories of this young local girl, Makeiah, navigating consecutive hurricanes, Irma and Maria, that destroyed everything her family could own. Yet she sat there with that smile on her face, as I offered some solace. I was curious to know if she planned to move. She was young, and could use all this time to grow, and learn, study, or seek the American dream they seemed to seek. I met many families as hers, throughout my days, along with a group of emergency responders I worked with. And there I was, unable to give to the land as much as the land was giving back to me. I wondered what was truly at loss here, as I passed time only sensing a strong sense of community, resilience, love, and contentment. So much joy. “Yes, we lost everything, but there is no way the family that is – my island, will not rebuild itself again. And even if not, I wouldn’t trade this home for anywhere or anything else,” said Makeiah. The freedom in the pleasant salty air. Shared potlucks. Hugs. Presence. Unity. The only visuals that come to mind when I think of the Virgin Islands. And we sing, “…’cause every little thing gonna be alright.”