Where Stillness Meets a New Start

After finishing my two-year programs in downtown Toronto, I made a decision that felt both brave and unknown: I chose to leave the buzz of the city and move to North Bay. My reasons were simple yet profound—first, to start anew, and second, to find a peaceful place where I could practice meditation and reconnect with myself.

I fondly call North Bay “WelCalm”—a blend of “welcome” and “calm.” From the very moment I arrived, this city embraced me with open arms and a deep, comforting stillness. It felt as if North Bay gently whispered, “Take a breath—you’ve made it through the noise.” Surrounded by endless skies, serene lakes, and quiet mornings, I’ve begun to rediscover pieces of myself I had lost in the rush of urban life. Each sunrise feels like a slow, healing breath. Every walk through the trees is a quiet meditation.North Bay may not be loud or grand, but its peace speaks volumes. In its silence, I’m learning how to listen again—to my thoughts, to my spirit, and to life’s gentle rhythm. I am exactly where I need to be.

Long before I ever set foot here, I already felt a strange pull to this place. I remember the year 2016, when I was traveling from Toronto Pearson Airport to Gravenhurst in the Muskoka Region. Each time, I’d take the Ontario Northland bus heading to North Bay. I used to sit by the window and imagine what North Bay might look like. I wondered: How many lakes does it have? How cold does winter get? What kind of peace might I find there?

Nine years later, I have my answer. North Bay is now my home.

I haven’t explored much yet, but in the three weeks I’ve been here, I’ve noticed something powerful—the silence. Not the empty kind, but the kind that fills you up. The kind that makes you sit still and realize you’ve been rushing for far too long. Here, I’ve found space to breathe, to reflect, and to simply be.

Yet, with every new beginning comes a wave of uncertainty. There are moments when anxiety creeps in—reminding me of 2007, when I first left the comfort of my hometown to move to a different city in the Philippines. Back then, I felt a similar heaviness in my chest as I tried to navigate a new life on my own. And now, here I am again—unpacking luggage and emotions in equal measure.

Relocation has a way of stripping you bare. You suddenly realize how much you relied on the presence of loved ones, on the predictable patterns of daily life, on the warmth of familiarity. Here, I don’t yet have my community, my routines, or the comfort of “regular.” But what I do have is this quiet conviction that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Faith plays a big role in that. I believe that God is walking with me through every step of this journey. Whenever doubts settle in, I gently hand them over to HIM and remind myself that this transition—no matter how uncertain—is part of a greater plan.

Canada, as a whole, has been an incredible life adventure. It’s tested me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. There have been thrilling highs and discouraging lows. But every challenge has brought a lesson, and every lesson has carried purpose.

And now, in this peaceful corner of the world, I’m entering a new chapter. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have hope. I’m ready to build, to grow, to explore, and to simply listen to what life wants to teach me next.

I’m not just starting over. I’m starting deeper—with more clarity, more gratitude, and a spirit that's finally ready for stillness.