Everything Happens for a Reason

At least, in my life it does

I just had the most amazing holiday and here’s part of the reason why. At the end of my first week in New Caledonia, I sprained my ankle quite badly. I then had to walk on it, through pouring rain, mud and bushland for 2 hours to get to the car. The shock meant that it didn’t hurt til later but three weeks later, I am still limping, having only just got off crutches. In fact, during my 3 week holiday I managed to injure myself 5 or so times. On the first day, I cut my knee open with a sharp knife as I excitedly hacked into my first French baguette in 4 years. Nice little scar left there. I was bitten on the foot by a jellyfish. I scraped my leg on some coral. And I was bitten by some massive insect or something, which left a huge hole, black in the centre and red and inflamed all around, which meant I had to go on antibiotics, avoid walking because it hurt and bandage it all up.

It doesn’t sound like the anecdotes of someone who had a great holiday, and yet I am so grateful for all these things.
One day I hobbled around the market on my crutches and decided to treat myself to a coconut to drink. I asked the man for one and he cut it open and poked in the straw. Because I spoke with an accent and was on crutches, he pulled up a chair for me and I drank and chatted with him. He was a lovely guy and through the next few hours during which we chatted, he gave me 3 more coconuts to drink and 3 bananas to eat with some grated coconut for my breakfast.

Every morning thereafter, I went back to the market to see my friend Gilbert and every morning, he insisted on feeding me my breakfast. We talked for hours every morning and when he packed up, he would drive me to wherever I wanted to go next. Every Wednesday he drives out to the other side of the island and buys a few hundred coconuts and yams from the Kanak tribes. He offered me to crash at his place and head out with him. So off we went that Wednesday and I met the most wonderfully welcoming people in the world. They fed us breakfast, we drank coconuts together, and we chatted away merrily. And I tell you it was the most beautiful scenery. These tribespeople live right on the sea. Coconut trees abound. Fish abound. Yams abound. Local spring water quenches their thirst. They have everything to sustain their lives and they live happily together because of the bond they have formed with each other.

I met a lot of Gilbert’s friends over the next 2 weeks. I was invited to eat at the houses of several of them and we ate French crepes and Tahitian salad and all sorts of wonderful dishes. And we laughed and chatted as always.

When I was bitten by the massive insect, Gilbert took me along to see his close friend, who happened to be a doctor. The doctor gave me free antibiotics, looked it over and explained to me the severity of what had happened. Not only that but his daughter is gorgeous and will be coming out to Australia in a few months to stay so we swapped addresses. I saw her first okay.
On my 2nd last day, Gilbert took me out to Ile aux Canards, which is a reserve for many beautiful fishes. (Before we headed out, Gilbert asked if he could take out his spears to catch a few. The man told him that the islands were protected. Gilbert told him “That’s fine, I don’t want to catch the islands, it’s the fish I want”). As I couldn’t kick, Gilbert took my hand and swam for the both of us as we went snorkelling. There were so many beautiful fishes you wouldn’t believe. For an hour and a half we swam around and I had an amazing time.

I also crashed a few nights at his place, which was cheaper than the youth hostel.

As well as all this, I had already made some friends who play volleyball every afternoon, and I played with them. However, I was always a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to do much else but play with them. I wanted to practise my French. Once I couldn’t play volleyball, I had no choice but to sit next to the court. And suddenly more and more of themn made an effort to come sit with me and chat. They discovered that I can sing and they would make me sing My Heart Will Go On several times a day with them. There were 2 girls there who couldn’t play any other pieces, but they harmonised with me beautifully. I would love to have recorded us together. I was also taught a song in Wallisian (Wallis is another island in Polynesia, from which many of them came). Basically I got to know them all a lot better over the next few weeks than I would have had I continued playing volleyball.

Now would all this have happened if it hadn’t have been for the injuries? I wouldn’t have been offered a chair at the market. I wouldn’t have met the doctor and his family, who were all wonderful and welcoming people. And none of the adventures that resulted from knowing Gilbert would have ever taken place.

So I thank the heavens for the injuries it inflicted upon me so that I could have the most wonderful holiday that ever happened. And I thank Gilbert and all his friends and all my friends at the Riviere Sallee for the amazing time they gave me.

philosophy

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You lucky bastard.

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that's such a cool attitude. you're a legend, champ.

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Everything Happens for a Reason

My father said this to me just about every day as I was growing up. It has had such a profound affect on the way I live my life. I wrote a song using this title, which has fast become a favourite among my friends and family. I hope you don't mind, but I've included the lyrics below.

Your holiday sounded truly splendid, despite the accidents. What a wonderful attitude to have and keep. Good on you.

Everything Happens For A Reason
We're on the right course to a higher source
It's a concept to get, to forget remorse
Accept who you are without having to divorce
Yourself from your ideals
Say what you truly feel
Everything happens for a reason

It is not like you see in Hollywood movies
We live this life in a true reality
Now here's a truth, maybe even a key
To who is in control
Of your mind, body, heart and soul
Everything happens for a reason

We're on the right course to a higher source
Lets leave behind the guilt, doubt and remorse
Accept who you are without having to divorce
Yourself from your ideals
Say what you truly feel
Say waht you truly feel
Everything happens for a reason

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