Weatherproof

The human body is weatherproof. We can withstand the snow, the rain, the heat, and the sun simply by being us. This not only holds true for waking up at 6:30am to run steps and hills with beautiful strangers, but also for waking up to shovel gravel, dig trenches, pour concrete slabs, and carry bags of sand. We are beastly creatures, and a little rain or snow cannot stop us. We are determined, unwavering, unstoppable, fierce, and a little bit crazy, but this is what makes us human. Yes, I stole the title from the November Project, but this is important.

Since I’ve started volunteering on a rebuilding project with All Hands Philippines, I’ve seen people carry three bags of gravel on their backs during heavy rainfall. I’ve seen men carry 40kg bags of concrete mix on their heads. I’ve women run through thick mud with wheelbarrows full of gravel. I’ve seen local day volunteers come to help out doing hard, physical labor during a day off from work or school. I’ve seen a man with serious burns on his arms unbending and bending rebar in the pouring rain. I’ve seen two women dig a hole deeper than themselves in that same rain, and then stand on shovels in order to get out. They can’t stop, won’t stop, and don’t stop.

These are people who are pushing themselves to their limits and coming out harder, better, faster, stronger (Thanks Kanye/Daft Punk). These are people who work through both the unrelenting sun beating down on their backs and the downpour of rain that we get about three times each day. They come from all different countries, from all different walks of life. These are people who wake up each morning with new cuts, bruises, burns, and sore muscles, but also the same determination to push forward. These are people who know that the weather cannot stop us from doing something that matters. They are building homes, shelters, hospitals, schools, and public spaces for a community hit by unavoidable and destructive natural disaster. These are people who are making a difference.

The human body is weatherproof. What will you do with it?