Although it’s a cliche, I might just say it all again, “There’s light at the end of the tunnel.” Tunnels symbolize the darkness and perhaps the darkest days of our lives. Imagine staying in an underground tunnel for 40 days with no light at all! I know we would be saying our most fervent prayers by then.
Have you gone spelunking in Sagada, wondering why you have helmets with headlamps? I hope you did have a headlamp on your spelunking journey though. The ones that give the light to see the beauty that there is even in the dark. Yes, there is beauty even in darkness, as long as you have a headlamp on!
I also took hold of a helmet with a headlamp on one occasion – during a Puerto Princesa trip along the Underground River. It supposedly showed the rock formations. But the brief encounter with it and the fact of not opening your mouth because infested bat poop may enter your half-open mouth, takes the thrill out of it. If the poop gets to you, then poor you! But for your safety, it’s just a shut up your mouth moment. So when you are in awe, don’t say wow. You just shut up!
Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb for all we know. He tried multiple times to get it done. How about the headlamps, who invented them? Beats me!
Headlamps for spelunking were invented by “Ninong (because it’s almost Christmas) Paul Petzl” that almost sounds like Pretzel. Maybe the Petzl company does have Pretzels to give for a Christmassy mood! Funny? I know, not so!
The first headlamps were made when Petzl attached battery packs to a navy blue garter. They looked like headbands without the helmet. Helmets weren’t still known by then.
You may have gone through the darkest days, months, years or more in your life. The light may often evade you and everyone but with headlamps – there is a peeping light.
In the Philippines right now and perhaps the world, we’re hearing bad news and ushering the darkest saga. But do you realize that there is a flicker of light from within? Remember when you used to think that COVID-19 was indeed the darkest days that hovered and covered you but you were able to survive it. You deserve an audience impact big clap or a pat on the back, warrior!
In life, even without physical headlamps, there are symbolic headlamps igniting within us. Some of these are found in gratitude, love and happiness. Perhaps a smile or a wave or a feel-good joke or a “how are you question” can pave the way for headlamps. The fact of being there for each other in silence, giving a warm hug and being kind makes the world a better place.
I hope you find headlamps along your way and may you become headlamps too for people in your intersectional journeys! May you find the light at the end of the tunnel or maybe a flicker of light in a long tunnel with a headlamp (or a headlight) known as the light from within.