I admit, I thought I was going to die. As I was making my list of things to do for these 12 days, it felt like making a bucket list in its true sense. It became even more apparent as the days went on because of all the good experiences I was collecting along the way.

Today, the 12th day, I decided not to leave the house. It has been raining for two days now, and there are reports of damaging flash floods all over Luzon — including my hometown and the one that we visited yesterday. Reality is creeping in as I watch the news about fatalities caused by the storm. I’m already dreading what I will see the moment I open my work email when I report back to the office. To ease myself into this reality, I did what I usually do when I’m at home: clean the house, do the laundry, read, watch TV, sleep. Now is a good time to also look back at what just happened during the past 12 days.

The best things about these past 12 days are that not only am I feeling more alive than ever, but that I have reconnected with people I have not seen in years, as well as people I promised to see. I have also rediscovered the things I love, bonded with my family, and learned lessons along the way. I would have wanted to reconnect with more people who have come into my life, but 12 days would not be enough. I understand why it had to be this way. It was all worth it.

How often do we get 12 free days to reconnect with life?