Juan Reyes
The Perfect Day
-Is it possible have a perfect day?
– I ask this question every day.
- Yes, it is!!
The perfect day is every single day, because I´m here, I´m alive, I´m healthy and more. But what is the real significance of this question?
Everyone has a different answer for this question, because everyone doesn’t have the same opportunity in this life, but it is possible to change or make a first step for this change.
I´ll never forget the day when I talked to my father.
- Father! I´m going to the USA in March 05 for two weeks, ok?
- What? Why? – he said to me – I´m surprised by this news, tomorrow is March 05!
- Yes, I know. But my friends gave me the opportunity for traveling together. And this opportunity is not every day.
- Yes, it is true. Perfect son, enjoy your trip and return at home soon.
- Yes, father, see you soon. – But I
The big day is here. In this moment every decision is important to make a perfect day. Because in every moment I have opportunities for new knowledge.
In this moment I prepare a simple bag because my trip is for two weeks.
I need one hour in the car for the trip to the airport. In the airport everything is going well. I wait at the gate for the plane to arrive and I receive one upgrade for first class (incredible!). The trip is quiet and relaxing, I see through the window a perfect cloud, the ocean in the distance, the sun makes a beautiful color in the sky and the shadows in the sea are perfect.
Then, I need to speak to the immigration agent at customs. My heart travels really fast. The panic runs through my body. My mind travels one hundred miles in this moment, but the man in the customs makes his best face and asks me two simple questions. I´m excited in his moment. I walk to the hall to find my friends.
-Hi!!!! – I feel a big hug from behind and a friendly voice.
-Yes, I´m here!!!! – I turn around, and return the hug.
-Tell me about your trip? I need to know everything ha ha ha. - he said to me.
In this moment I think this is a perfect day, everything goes in the perfect way, everything is beautiful. But this is not true.
He turns on the car, I speak with him on the way, asking every single question. The street is beautiful, the company is comforting. This happens for the next two weeks, everything is perfect. Every day I think this is a perfect day.
Two weeks is nothing, when everything is beautiful.
I see the tickets to return to my country, the panic returns to my body. I think in every moment, why do I need to return? I don´t want to. It is dangerous for me to return, I don’t want to!
In this moment I thought, the dreams and the perfects day are not possible for me, because when you return to the same place everything will return to the same reality…
-Hey! Why you crying? What happened?
- I´m crying because my travel finishes in two days. – I say.
- You don´t need to return. What do you want?
- I want to stay here, but my father waits for me, my brothers, I have everything in my country.
- Hey! You´re a young person, for you it is possible to start again, you need to think of you, not the past. You need to remember your father has a life, he lived, you need to live too, this is your moment to change your destiny, please think of you because you need to live, your life is not the life of the others. -Said Kabir with a beautiful smile on his face.
In this moment I don´t know what changed in my mind, but everything in my life changed.
Four years after this conversation, I make a perfect day every single day in this new chapter.
Thanks, Kabir for helping me to make my perfect day!
Only today when I started to write I remembered the day of my trip was March 5, exactly four years ago.
-Is it possible have a perfect day?
– I ask this question every day.
- Yes, it is!!
The perfect day is every single day, because I´m here, I´m alive, I´m healthy and more. But what is the real significance of this question?
Everyone has a different answer for this question, because everyone doesn’t have the same opportunity in this life, but it is possible to change or make a first step for this change.
I´ll never forget the day when I talked to my father.
- Father! I´m going to the USA in March 05 for two weeks, ok?
- What? Why? – he said to me – I´m surprised by this news, tomorrow is March 05!
- Yes, I know. But my friends gave me the opportunity for traveling together. And this opportunity is not every day.
- Yes, it is true. Perfect son, enjoy your trip and return at home soon.
- Yes, father, see you soon. – But I
The big day is here. In this moment every decision is important to make a perfect day. Because in every moment I have opportunities for new knowledge.
In this moment I prepare a simple bag because my trip is for two weeks.
I need one hour in the car for the trip to the airport. In the airport everything is going well. I wait at the gate for the plane to arrive and I receive one upgrade for first class (incredible!). The trip is quiet and relaxing, I see through the window a perfect cloud, the ocean in the distance, the sun makes a beautiful color in the sky and the shadows in the sea are perfect.
Then, I need to speak to the immigration agent at customs. My heart travels really fast. The panic runs through my body. My mind travels one hundred miles in this moment, but the man in the customs makes his best face and asks me two simple questions. I´m excited in his moment. I walk to the hall to find my friends.
-Hi!!!! – I feel a big hug from behind and a friendly voice.
-Yes, I´m here!!!! – I turn around, and return the hug.
-Tell me about your trip? I need to know everything ha ha ha. - he said to me.
In this moment I think this is a perfect day, everything goes in the perfect way, everything is beautiful. But this is not true.
He turns on the car, I speak with him on the way, asking every single question. The street is beautiful, the company is comforting. This happens for the next two weeks, everything is perfect. Every day I think this is a perfect day.
Two weeks is nothing, when everything is beautiful.
I see the tickets to return to my country, the panic returns to my body. I think in every moment, why do I need to return? I don´t want to. It is dangerous for me to return, I don’t want to!
In this moment I thought, the dreams and the perfects day are not possible for me, because when you return to the same place everything will return to the same reality…
-Hey! Why you crying? What happened?
- I´m crying because my travel finishes in two days. – I say.
- You don´t need to return. What do you want?
- I want to stay here, but my father waits for me, my brothers, I have everything in my country.
- Hey! You´re a young person, for you it is possible to start again, you need to think of you, not the past. You need to remember your father has a life, he lived, you need to live too, this is your moment to change your destiny, please think of you because you need to live, your life is not the life of the others. -Said Kabir with a beautiful smile on his face.
In this moment I don´t know what changed in my mind, but everything in my life changed.
Four years after this conversation, I make a perfect day every single day in this new chapter.
Thanks, Kabir for helping me to make my perfect day!
Only today when I started to write I remembered the day of my trip was March 5, exactly four years ago.
Kyaw Myint Aung
I have a lot of best days in my life. I was born into a Buddhist family so I’m a Buddhist and the day of donation is the best day for me. When I was a child my parents always told me to have kindness, politeness, compassion, sympathy to others. I always believe if I do good things for other people I will get good things from other people. If I see a poor or needy person, I want to give something for food, clothes or money. I enjoy preparing before donating and while donating and then I’m always happy when I think about what I have donated.
A meaningful donation for me was my donation to a monk for an operation on his both eyes because he could not see very well. The monk is over 90 years old. Now he can see very well with both eyes. I‘m always happy every time I think about it. I always think about what to donate. Sometimes the whole family gathers and donates. Sometimes I donate with a group of friends. I always pray to Buddha that I will be able to donate and I wish everyone good health and their whole life.
A meaningful donation for me was my donation to a monk for an operation on his both eyes because he could not see very well. The monk is over 90 years old. Now he can see very well with both eyes. I‘m always happy every time I think about it. I always think about what to donate. Sometimes the whole family gathers and donates. Sometimes I donate with a group of friends. I always pray to Buddha that I will be able to donate and I wish everyone good health and their whole life.
Zarchi Win
I have had many memorable events throughout my life. The memorable times are different, some are the worst times and some are the best in my life. The best day I will remember forever was the day that my father came to the United States. I hadn’t seen him for six years because he could not get a visa to come to the United States no matter how hard he tried. When I came to the United States, I had to leave my father alone. All my family members are in the United States except for him. We will finally have a family gathering after all these six years. I can bring him to Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and all around New York City which he was waiting so long to visit. Moreover, I can take care of him and monitor him closely as he has diabetes. And also, I can sit and relax because medical care is so advanced in the United States, so I do not have to worry for him as I did when he was in my country. I remember the day we went to the airport to pick my father up. It was a sunny day! When I woke up, I was very happy and I felt that it was different from a normal day. When we went to the airport, we used the big car because all my family members wanted to see him. As I can remember, me, my mum, my sister’s family all of us went to the airport. I think the happiest person at that time was my mom. I felt how happy she was. We all are happy and so excited to meet my father. We talked a lot about my father on the way to the airport. When we reached the airport, we did not wait for him for very long. When he came out, I saw a smile on his face that I will never forget. I will remember his smile forever because of the feelings that I had on that day.
Ngn Awbartha
For me The Best Day of My life is when my mind is at peace, pure and happy due to something. Therefore the day is The Best Day for me. There are so many things to make my mind at peace, pure and happy;
1-Practicing meditation
2-Gaining a achievement
3-Helping the poor people or Animals
4-Gathering with my family or be-loved one and
5-Rainy days
Meditation
There are two types of meditation methods in Myanmar;
1-Tranquillize Meditation
3-Insight Meditation. I practice both methods. These two are totally difference, but they rely on each other. Tranquillize meditation means putting your mind upon single object (the air breath in and out) by closing your eyes as long as you can in a quiet place. First of all I cannot put my mind on the object, my mind is going away over here and there. I have a lot of thinking. I cannot concentrate on it, but I keep practicing. After someday I can focus on it at one sitting around 15 minutes or half hour and more. I get little bit concentration power in my mind, and I can memorize anything better than previously. And my mind also becomes pure and at peace little by little. When my mind becomes pure and at peace, my body also feels light, comfortable, active and no pain. The day is one of the best days of my life. In this way I practice tranquillize meditation to make my mind pure and at peace.
Insight Meditation;
Insight meditation is difference from tranquillize meditation because it means that, it notes various objects clear in your body. That is why it’s little bit hard and it feels pain at first of all because of rushing your mind on the various objects. To avoid this situation you need to practice tranquillize meditation first. When you have a lot of concentration you can practice Insight meditation. Then you’ll know the nature of your body and mind clearly, and you feel light and happy. Your mind will be pure, clear and at peace more than before. You do not be massive with sorrow, annoyance and hatred. Everything you feel is good. That’s why, the Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, used to practice meditation. He came twice to practice meditation in Myanmar.
Gaining a achievement
When I gained a something that I’m eager to do in my life is one of the best days of my life. Because I’m willing to gain something seriously. Therefore I used Mental, Physical and Wisdom power as much as I can. That’s a sacrifice of my energy to gain a goal. Though I use these power upmost, I do not know exactly how it’ll fail or win and how long it’ll be taking the time.
During the process, it may lose my mental, physical or wisdom power or anything. It’s a struggling and exciting period. That’s why when I gain the achievement I’m very happy. Just like giving and taking, I use my mental, physical and wisdom power, and take the achievement or happiness. The day, I gained achievement something that I’m willing to do, is very happy. Therefore, it’s one of the best days of my life.
Helping the poor people or animals
When I see poor people and animals on the way, around me or on video clips, I’m heartfelt sympathy. I want to help them because I can feel their hearts. Sometime I couldn’t help them due to many reasons. At the time I feel frustrated by myself. But I believe by myself, one day I can fulfill my wish helping others throughout my life without worrying for anything. Helping others is the best gift for everyone, “You lived, but you left nothing good for others, is fruitless on earth”. Some people because some reasons they feel hurt, cry and suffer for anything, at the time if I can give a hand, their suffering will be released and they would be happy or at the least they would get the consolations. When I can do that, I feel very happy. That’s why, the day I can do to help others, the day I’m very happy is one of the best days of my life.
Gathering with my family or be-loved one
Gathering with family or beloved one is the best reward of living, because it’s not easy to gather with family. People fight for living, they fight for foods, luxury, wealth, and debt, they are not satisfied with what they own, they are going endless journey until death. but they forget to gather with family, they forget to be happy. They have reason to say that making money is to spend the time with their family or be loved one happily, actually it does not work as they hope. The real situation is that they spend most of the time by working and pressures. Spending with family or beloved one is very little throughout our lives. That’s why It’s a just like treasure , why treasure is worthy? because it makes you happy, in the same way family or beloved one makes you happy. That’s why we should value while we gather with our families or beloved one. For me while I’m with my family, I’m very happy, I value that. Therefore gathering with my family is one of the best days of my life.
Rainy Days
I love rainy season. Even though I feel sorry due to something, when the rain comes out, my sorrow is released. When the rain comes, I love to stay in my bed or play in the rain with my friends. Especially I love heavy rain, the sound of falling rain or lightning they make my heart dissolve. That’s why rainy days are one of the best days of my life.
1-Practicing meditation
2-Gaining a achievement
3-Helping the poor people or Animals
4-Gathering with my family or be-loved one and
5-Rainy days
Meditation
There are two types of meditation methods in Myanmar;
1-Tranquillize Meditation
3-Insight Meditation. I practice both methods. These two are totally difference, but they rely on each other. Tranquillize meditation means putting your mind upon single object (the air breath in and out) by closing your eyes as long as you can in a quiet place. First of all I cannot put my mind on the object, my mind is going away over here and there. I have a lot of thinking. I cannot concentrate on it, but I keep practicing. After someday I can focus on it at one sitting around 15 minutes or half hour and more. I get little bit concentration power in my mind, and I can memorize anything better than previously. And my mind also becomes pure and at peace little by little. When my mind becomes pure and at peace, my body also feels light, comfortable, active and no pain. The day is one of the best days of my life. In this way I practice tranquillize meditation to make my mind pure and at peace.
Insight Meditation;
Insight meditation is difference from tranquillize meditation because it means that, it notes various objects clear in your body. That is why it’s little bit hard and it feels pain at first of all because of rushing your mind on the various objects. To avoid this situation you need to practice tranquillize meditation first. When you have a lot of concentration you can practice Insight meditation. Then you’ll know the nature of your body and mind clearly, and you feel light and happy. Your mind will be pure, clear and at peace more than before. You do not be massive with sorrow, annoyance and hatred. Everything you feel is good. That’s why, the Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, used to practice meditation. He came twice to practice meditation in Myanmar.
Gaining a achievement
When I gained a something that I’m eager to do in my life is one of the best days of my life. Because I’m willing to gain something seriously. Therefore I used Mental, Physical and Wisdom power as much as I can. That’s a sacrifice of my energy to gain a goal. Though I use these power upmost, I do not know exactly how it’ll fail or win and how long it’ll be taking the time.
During the process, it may lose my mental, physical or wisdom power or anything. It’s a struggling and exciting period. That’s why when I gain the achievement I’m very happy. Just like giving and taking, I use my mental, physical and wisdom power, and take the achievement or happiness. The day, I gained achievement something that I’m willing to do, is very happy. Therefore, it’s one of the best days of my life.
Helping the poor people or animals
When I see poor people and animals on the way, around me or on video clips, I’m heartfelt sympathy. I want to help them because I can feel their hearts. Sometime I couldn’t help them due to many reasons. At the time I feel frustrated by myself. But I believe by myself, one day I can fulfill my wish helping others throughout my life without worrying for anything. Helping others is the best gift for everyone, “You lived, but you left nothing good for others, is fruitless on earth”. Some people because some reasons they feel hurt, cry and suffer for anything, at the time if I can give a hand, their suffering will be released and they would be happy or at the least they would get the consolations. When I can do that, I feel very happy. That’s why, the day I can do to help others, the day I’m very happy is one of the best days of my life.
Gathering with my family or be-loved one
Gathering with family or beloved one is the best reward of living, because it’s not easy to gather with family. People fight for living, they fight for foods, luxury, wealth, and debt, they are not satisfied with what they own, they are going endless journey until death. but they forget to gather with family, they forget to be happy. They have reason to say that making money is to spend the time with their family or be loved one happily, actually it does not work as they hope. The real situation is that they spend most of the time by working and pressures. Spending with family or beloved one is very little throughout our lives. That’s why It’s a just like treasure , why treasure is worthy? because it makes you happy, in the same way family or beloved one makes you happy. That’s why we should value while we gather with our families or beloved one. For me while I’m with my family, I’m very happy, I value that. Therefore gathering with my family is one of the best days of my life.
Rainy Days
I love rainy season. Even though I feel sorry due to something, when the rain comes out, my sorrow is released. When the rain comes, I love to stay in my bed or play in the rain with my friends. Especially I love heavy rain, the sound of falling rain or lightning they make my heart dissolve. That’s why rainy days are one of the best days of my life.
Beatriz Mejia Valdez
I had been living in NYC for seven years. Since I came here, I had dreams of walking on the beach while it was snowing. I always wanted to go to the beach on such a day, but for reasons I don’t know, I always put off my plans. Something always come up like I had to work, or some other stuff. And I forgot about that dream.
Six years ago, I was looking for some hobbies to do, since I didn’t have many friends to go out with and my only routine was to go from home to work and back again. I had that routine for a year, then I decided to do something else. I remember that day… I was walking from Avenue of the America, starting at 59th street. I stopped by Bryant Park. Suddenly, a memory came to me, that my friend’s boyfriend took guitar lesson in a Mexican association that was close to Bryant Park. I decided to check on that place. It was on 38th street between Fifth avenue and Sixth avenue. Once I got there, I asked for information about the guitar lesson, and the kid who was volunteering told that the tutor wasn’t there at the moment. Then he offered me to study GED. do you mean: He suggested that I study for the GED?. I didn’t know what that was. He explained it to me and gave me information. I said, Why not? I could do it.
Then the director provided me information about an opportunity. he said probably would change my life. I said to myself, let’s hear what this is about.
He said that there was a chance for me to perhaps get my USA residency. Well, that was an excellent opportunity for me, I said. We will start next week with your application, he said. He instructed me to step by step and I start with my request...
Five years later...
On a normal day, a friend called me on the phone, a friend whom I had known in those 5 years, to whom I had told about one of my dreams of walking on the beach while it is snowing or with the snow on the shore.
That day he had called me and he said, “Let’s go walk around.” He was driving when I realized that he was taking us to a different place from where we always went. I didn't say anything. Once we got to the place that I did not know, I asked him where we were, and he told me, “just walk.”
Once I saw where we were heading, my heart started racing. I felt the most amazing feeling, watching the beautiful weather, the beautiful scenery of snow, sand and sea...
While we were enjoying our walk, I received a call, a call from the lawyer telling me that my green card was released. That second, all I could think about was how much I did to get there, how I lost hope when the former president said to stop all applicants. And finally there was that call I was expecting for so long. once I hung up the phone, I told my friend about it. He was happy for me and so was l.
Maybe that moment, that exact minute that exact second I was experiencing... HAPPINESS!!!
Six years ago, I was looking for some hobbies to do, since I didn’t have many friends to go out with and my only routine was to go from home to work and back again. I had that routine for a year, then I decided to do something else. I remember that day… I was walking from Avenue of the America, starting at 59th street. I stopped by Bryant Park. Suddenly, a memory came to me, that my friend’s boyfriend took guitar lesson in a Mexican association that was close to Bryant Park. I decided to check on that place. It was on 38th street between Fifth avenue and Sixth avenue. Once I got there, I asked for information about the guitar lesson, and the kid who was volunteering told that the tutor wasn’t there at the moment. Then he offered me to study GED. do you mean: He suggested that I study for the GED?. I didn’t know what that was. He explained it to me and gave me information. I said, Why not? I could do it.
Then the director provided me information about an opportunity. he said probably would change my life. I said to myself, let’s hear what this is about.
He said that there was a chance for me to perhaps get my USA residency. Well, that was an excellent opportunity for me, I said. We will start next week with your application, he said. He instructed me to step by step and I start with my request...
Five years later...
On a normal day, a friend called me on the phone, a friend whom I had known in those 5 years, to whom I had told about one of my dreams of walking on the beach while it is snowing or with the snow on the shore.
That day he had called me and he said, “Let’s go walk around.” He was driving when I realized that he was taking us to a different place from where we always went. I didn't say anything. Once we got to the place that I did not know, I asked him where we were, and he told me, “just walk.”
Once I saw where we were heading, my heart started racing. I felt the most amazing feeling, watching the beautiful weather, the beautiful scenery of snow, sand and sea...
While we were enjoying our walk, I received a call, a call from the lawyer telling me that my green card was released. That second, all I could think about was how much I did to get there, how I lost hope when the former president said to stop all applicants. And finally there was that call I was expecting for so long. once I hung up the phone, I told my friend about it. He was happy for me and so was l.
Maybe that moment, that exact minute that exact second I was experiencing... HAPPINESS!!!
Julio Benites
In 2008 I had the opportunity to participate and win The Literacy Review. It is an annual journal of writing by adults in Basic Education, GED, and ESOL classes throughout New York City, directed by New York University (NYU). My participation was representing Mid-Manhattan Adult Learning Center ESOL Level 2, mentored by professor Ms. Jung Sin Lee.
My Second Day in New York
At 9:30 a.m. in August 2000, I finally arrived in New York after a long and exhausting trip of 10 hours from Trujillo, Peru. I was happy to be with my family again. On my second day in the city, my mother, before leaving for her job, asked me if I wanted to go around the city alone.
Emphatically, I replied, “Yes!” She gave me three tokens, a subway map, a 20-dollar bill, and her phone number. “Be sure to call me if you are lost.” with that; she sends me off on a day trip I would never forget. I took the 1 train to the World Trade Center. I had always wanted to see the Twin Towers. I had seen pictures of them in newspapers, magazines, and also on the internet. I felt I finally got the opportunity I wanted.
I walked many hours from morning to afternoon, West Side and East Side. After the three first hours, I felt thirsty and had to eat something. I looked for a store that carried some cookies and drinks. K-mart, there it was. I bought two small packages of cookies and one small bottle of orange juice. I chose the blue package cookies, because any package was familiar to me; the cookies that I chose were light brown, slightly deformed. I devoured several of them even before paying. The cashier looked at me very surprised at the checkout and made some strange gestures on her face, but I did not know why. When I threw the empty package into the garbage can, I noticed a small black terrier on the package looking at me. At that moment, I understood why the cookies had a slight meat flavor.
Now my life has changed. I know the city. I do not need a subway map. The Twin Towers are gone, and I learned English. I can read every word on cookie packages. I do not need the help of pictures to tell which cookies are for animal or human consumption.
After obtaining my GED and Associate Degree at the end of 2020, I got my Bachelor's Degree in International Criminal Justice / Minor in Human Services at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Although the graduation ceremony will be held in May 2021, I don't know if I will be in that group since I have not yet completed my tuition payment for my last semester (Fall 2020). The problem of COVID-19 affected the jobs that I did cleaning apartments, offices, and walking dogs. My last semester was complicated since it was the first time that I took six classes online; with a lot of effort, perseverance, and several nights without sleep, I obtained excellent grades. At the end of the day, I can testify that I could achieve my American Dream.
My Second Day in New York
At 9:30 a.m. in August 2000, I finally arrived in New York after a long and exhausting trip of 10 hours from Trujillo, Peru. I was happy to be with my family again. On my second day in the city, my mother, before leaving for her job, asked me if I wanted to go around the city alone.
Emphatically, I replied, “Yes!” She gave me three tokens, a subway map, a 20-dollar bill, and her phone number. “Be sure to call me if you are lost.” with that; she sends me off on a day trip I would never forget. I took the 1 train to the World Trade Center. I had always wanted to see the Twin Towers. I had seen pictures of them in newspapers, magazines, and also on the internet. I felt I finally got the opportunity I wanted.
I walked many hours from morning to afternoon, West Side and East Side. After the three first hours, I felt thirsty and had to eat something. I looked for a store that carried some cookies and drinks. K-mart, there it was. I bought two small packages of cookies and one small bottle of orange juice. I chose the blue package cookies, because any package was familiar to me; the cookies that I chose were light brown, slightly deformed. I devoured several of them even before paying. The cashier looked at me very surprised at the checkout and made some strange gestures on her face, but I did not know why. When I threw the empty package into the garbage can, I noticed a small black terrier on the package looking at me. At that moment, I understood why the cookies had a slight meat flavor.
Now my life has changed. I know the city. I do not need a subway map. The Twin Towers are gone, and I learned English. I can read every word on cookie packages. I do not need the help of pictures to tell which cookies are for animal or human consumption.
After obtaining my GED and Associate Degree at the end of 2020, I got my Bachelor's Degree in International Criminal Justice / Minor in Human Services at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Although the graduation ceremony will be held in May 2021, I don't know if I will be in that group since I have not yet completed my tuition payment for my last semester (Fall 2020). The problem of COVID-19 affected the jobs that I did cleaning apartments, offices, and walking dogs. My last semester was complicated since it was the first time that I took six classes online; with a lot of effort, perseverance, and several nights without sleep, I obtained excellent grades. At the end of the day, I can testify that I could achieve my American Dream.