True Hospitality

I spent all week trying to write another essay.

But I showed it to my wife - it didn’t really land. As always, I trust her opinion more than anyone, so I decided to start from scratch, and share a story that still moves me to this day.

True Hospitality

It was 2017. Jeff (my childhood bestie), Yaya and I had landed in the Philippines to shoot a documentary about her impact on my life. Something I was anticipating for 9 months.

Our first stop was near Nueva Vizcaya where we had dinner that night in her daughter’s village/farm. 

I was feeling self conscious. What would they think of these 2 privileged kids coming to the Philippines to film a documentary?

Would they resent me? Or think I was trying to make some show out of her life?

But once we sat down for dinner, all I could feel was warmth. The overwhelming kind that makes you want to cry.

I’ve stayed at some nice hotels in my life, but nothing compared to the kind of hospitality that I felt in that moment. I remember I had to look down at my food so they wouldn’t see my tears welling up.

Im not sure why it’s stuck with me after all these years. 

It’s one thing when someone who has a public company treats you to dinner. But it feels completely different when people who live on less than a few hundred dollars per month roll out the red carpet for you, and make dinner for you in their own home.

That feeling sits with me to this day, and I am teary eyed thinking about it.

A reminder, that there are very good people in the world.

Best,
Justin

www.j-ace.co

PS: I wrote this on my phone, at the gym. If you are thinking of writing, or creating, just go for it. TE ❤️