ripple effect

Magandang umaga!

Life has been eventful. On Wednesday, my friend Mary Beth modeled my new merch for “my new favorite color” album and it’s now out for pre-sale! The pictures are so cutie and we ran into a little girl and her grandmother. They were getting a boba but the shop didn’t accept Amex so they couldn’t get it. I offered to buy it and they were very resistant. I said “It’s just a drink, right? Don’t worry about it.” and turned to the cashier to order my tea. Later after the drinks came out, her grandmother came over to me saying she was new to the country from Bulgaria and didn’t have many forms of payment yet. I said it was all good and it was just a little drink. I was happy to do it for the little girl. Her grandma explained that she promised her granddaughter a boba after her gymnastics class and didn’t want to disappoint her. The little girl was so sweet and thanked me.

I just think that timing works out in such unique ways that there could only be a singular explanation. Like how could I not think God planned this encounter? If we had finished our dinner any sooner or done the photoshoot before getting tea, how could I have happened upon this grandma and granddaughter exactly when I was needed?

Very often, we happen upon these instances of pure light. Where we are faced with opportunity. The chance to make a decision and better ourselves and the world around us. A lot of us aren’t paying attention. Glued to our mind control devices, worried about other things, we glance right past these people, these moments. A small second can change the trajectory of an entire day. A small movement can catapult you into a whole new existence. Events aren’t just giant occurrences. Events can be teeny tiny. Like someone you just met turning around, only for you to spot a ladybug on their back, and for it to fly away right as you notice it. These things can only have one explanation.

I believe everything happens for a reason. Nothing we encounter, nothing we do, nothing that happens to us happens for no reason. This is the ripple effect. A small step into a body of water or a tiny shift of dirt can cause a small ripple in movement. This ripple can become larger and larger until it’s a wave or even a tsunami. The more you ripple, the bigger the effect.

After our shirt photoshoot, I went over to Ground & Pound in Alpharetta to perform at the open mic. I took a deep breath, put my guitar on my back and grabbed my ukulele, and headed inside. The last time I was at this open mic, I was attending to support a friend of mine who was performing at a lot of these. Now, I was here for myself. By myself. It was a little daunting. Every part of my body was telling me to go, to leave, that I didn’t have to do this. I could do anything else. I didn’t have to follow through. No one would care. I could be comfortable.

But I don’t want to be comfortable.

I want to grow.

I want to ripple.

I want the effects.

So, I opened the door, walked in and the man hosting the event, James, was on the microphone already and said “Here’s another one! Sophia was starting to worry it would be a dead night”. I waved hello and went to sit in the corner I had been in before. I walked over to put my name on the list and right after me, one more person came in to sign up. James announced the line-up was full.

I patiently waited for my turn, drinking a turmeric ginger tea with honey made by Sophia, a former stuntwoman for the Pink Power Ranger and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I went up and sang my new song “Shades of Pink” on my guitar and “ice cream” on my ukulele.

It went well! I think! I didn’t die. So, that’s good.

Afterwards, I got to meet some of the other musicians and talked to a couple people there. Overall, it was fun and I’m proud of myself for doing it.

I had been invited by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce of Georgia to paint live at their gala and then asked if I wanted to perform. I wanted to sing a song in Tagalog so I was practicing all day Thursday and Friday for it. I was so nervous.

My friend bought me a strap and some pics before the event and it made me feel a lot better. Performance anxiety is a wild thing. I pulled up to the gala to set up all my painting supplies and after set up, did sound check. I got to play a bunch of my songs. I started with the Tagalog one “Hawak Kamay” and into my originals: LA Skies, Shades of Pink, and an untitled one I’m having trouble thinking of a name for. I felt way more confident.

The event began and I got up to sing my untitled song. The mic fell down halfway through and it was kinda wild. I started over my second verse and finished my song without any other hiccups.

I could feel the endorphins from performing bubble up inside me. I’ve always performed dance and felt that rush of energy but performing my own song was another level of that. The event coordinator texted me halfway through saying they had to cut the program short because of time and I wouldn’t be able to sing another song. I told her it was fine and things happen. I was a little disappointed because I did want to perform the Tagalog song but I can’t lie and say I wasn’t relieved. I thought, again, everything happens for a reason. I was just happy I got to perform at all.

Gerry Palon, the Founding President of the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC), gave a speech and it was very inspiring. He said “Filipinos are not just employees”. I’m compelled to agree with him. We aren’t just nurses. We aren’t just artists. We are a league of our own, paving our own way, and we need to own that.

I’m taking a little break today to relax and enjoy life. No playing guitar or worrying too much about the working part of my music. I’m just grateful to be alive and able to create. Playing is just as important as working. I pray you get to play today! Even for just a moment.

Peace and Love,
Perlizbeth