Mondays at SEA Inc. don’t start with a bang. They start with a breath.

Three slow minutes of heart breathing—quiet, intentional, maybe even a little awkward for first-timers, but sacred nonetheless. Then a prayer, this time led by Atchmen, grounding us all with a simple truth: before we go out to fix the world, we must first return to the quiet center within us.

Then the real magic begins: we share.

Not deadlines. Not reports. But something more radical in this always-online world—a quote and a reflection. A glimpse of the storm we each just walked through.

Because behind every output is a person. And behind every person is a week full of stories.

Kurt reminded us, “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible.’” Last week, some tasks felt like mountains—but by Friday, they looked more like hills. He learned to trust the process, and that mindset made all the difference.

Warren faced literal storms. While Ilocos endured Signal No. 3 and DRT operations paused, he found something precious in the chaos: uninterrupted time with Sir Nick. “Once in a while, precious moments happen—and when they pass, they’re gone,” he said. Sometimes the storm gives more than it takes.

Atchmen, prepping for a challenging PRA session in Balibagan Oeste, whispered to himself, “One step at a time.” He didn’t pretend confidence. He practiced it—one small action at a time. “I’ll grow into the facilitator I dream to be,” he shared. No rush. Just rhythm.

Avha gently counted her blessings like beads on a rosary. “Lay them down one by one,” she said. The difficulties came—but the blessings were louder. You just have to pause long enough to hear them.

Mayang echoed that spirit of slowing down: “We don’t have to rush everything in life.” For her, rest wasn’t weakness—it was trust. Trust in God’s timing. In grace. In the unseen unfolding of things.

Leslie brought wisdom in whispers: “You don’t need noise to prove you’re great. Let your cue do the talking.” True excellence is often quiet. It doesn’t need applause—it just needs intention.

Jean’s insight came with a pigsa. “Don’t ignore the little problems in your life,” she laughed. What began as a minor irritation became a full-blown life lesson: sometimes self-care looks like medicine and alogbati. And most of all, community.

Trixie, under pressure to finish transcriptions, shared this: “Don’t watch the clock. Do what is done.” In a world obsessed with time, she chose progress over panic.

Jannah reminded us: “Don’t settle on the bad things. It’s just a day, not your whole life.” Storms pass. Stress visits. But we don’t have to give it a spare room in our minds.

Cheryl, speaking for all coffee-powered changemakers with wallets gasping at end-of-the-month blues, said it best: “Not all problems can be solved by money—but they can be solved by a cup of coffee.” Pause. Sip. Repeat. Especially on gray, rainy days.

Anne, with her usual grace, reminded us to surrender: “Give your burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you.” As fieldworkers, we carry stories—some heavy, some heartbreaking. But she believes what we carry is only one-eighth of what God gives in return. The rest? Fuel, faith, and forward motion.

Angela, our gentle warrior, offered this gem: “The wound is the way the light reaches you.” What if the hard days aren’t setbacks, but sacred invitations? What if pain isn’t a detour, but a doorway?

And then came Jacqueline, quietly reminding us of something we often forget:
Rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.

“Even with the bad weather,” she said, “I realized how important it is to slow down and recover. Rest helps us stay whole—it prevents burnout before it begins.” In a world where tiredness is a badge of honor, she chose something wiser: rest as resistance. Rest as healing. Rest as a way to come back stronger.

This is how SEA Inc. starts the week:
Not with a sprint, but with stillness.
Not with hustle, but with heart.

Because in an industry that demands productivity, we choose presence.

In a world that glorifies doing, we honor the art of being.
In a society that praises lone heroes, we hold space for collective grace.

So here’s to Mondays that begin with meaning.

To quotes that aren’t just said, but lived.
To stories that remind us we’re not alone.
To storms that pass—and the coffee that warms us while we wait.

To teams that breathe, believe, and begin again—together.

Because at SEA Inc., we don’t just show up to work.
We show up for each other.

And sometimes, that’s more than enough.