End of an era

And we're back pouring thoughts on this blank screen, reminiscent of everything that's been. But not for long, though.

Love & heartaches: A semi-deep dive

The universe has been kind enough lately to allow me to spend more time with friends and you know I am not taking that for granted, girl. I know I may seem like a mean, tough person on the outside with my RBF but I will always adore my friends and treasure our usually short but deep conversations and unplanned therapy sessions, like so:

2023, so far

Well, would you look at that. We literally just blinked and I'm done with my Q4 forecasts, Barbenheimer is finally out (I assume you've seen both), and the weather and traffic just keep on getting worse... although there's really nothing new about that last statement now, is there?

Anyway, soon we'll be celebrating the holidays so let me just pause for a bit and mull over some recent events—reunions, milestones, rejections, and the mundane.

Misconceptions: Success vs Reality

Maybe I'm just old or maybe it's the world but I'm not built for that hustle culture/girl-boss type of lifestyle anymore that's so often glamorized on media by celebrity entrepreneurs and hypebeasts. Not that I ever attained that level but I used to equate that stature to ~*success*~ when I was younger and who doesn't want to succeed in life, right? However, as cliché as it may sound, success is subjective and incredibly overrated anyway. Do you want to chase society's definition of it or would you rather work towards your own definition instead?

In her blogger era

After over a year, I think I already forgot how to write and talk to you so please bear with me.

Better days—A farewell of sorts

Here's the thing: To say that this year has been challenging is a massive understatement.

The "Good" Place

Let's set aside the chaos and crisis for a bit. I just wanted to take a moment and appreciate my current  headspace. Honestly, I don't think I've ever attained this level of clarity before so I can't help but wonder if this is what being mentally healthy feels like because it's kind of too good to be true.

And just to be clear, that's no thanks to crushed dolomites, okay? 🙄

Ruminating: World issues and personal opinions

I will start this off assuming that you are aware of what's been going on with the world lately. If you're not or if you feel like you just don't know enough yet, I implore you to educate yourself now:

• Junk Terror Bill (which is already a law, btw - that's how long this post has been sitting in my drafts!)
• Hija Ako
• Atin Ang Pinas
• Black Lives Matter
• Stand with Hong Kong

... among a lot of other things. All this while we're still paralyzed by a common enemy that has killed over half a million people worldwide as of this writing.

See, it doesn't take an expert to point out that there's something's seriously wrong with society. While these are movements happening on different parts of the world (some even way before I was born), if you look at it closely they basically tell the same story: That the people have grown tired of the abuse of power, the incompetence/inaction, and the inequality that they have every right to be angry. Going through this global pandemic may have made things worse for most of us but it has certainly opened the eyes of a lot of us too, especially those who've been raised in the digital age.

(READ: The People Are Revolting - the history of protest, from BBC)

Lockdown Life Lately

(via GIPHY)

Dear reader, how are you doing?

ELYU, ily

Started from a random conversation in our Grab ride, now we're here.

I've always admired experiencing new places and spending quality time with friends, and this trip has been the breather I didn't realize I needed. With only less than a month of planning (my overthinking brain was shookt), my friend Elainne was able to book a room and bus tickets seamlessly for 8 people. I was actually holding off dealing with it since I didn't wanna plan too far ahead and worry about asking permissions LOL but summer in October it is!

Confessions, Part II

Wow, two months into 2020 and I'm already breaking my Personal Goals list by not updating this site at least once a month! I surprise myself sometimes (n o t) but I hope you've had a lovely introduction this first quarter, reader. I know, January was heavy and lasted for probably 10 years LOL but I guess we're back to regular programming now - it's freaking March already! Possibly the reason why I'm being more anxious than usual. My brain seems to like wandering all over the place lately which temporarily sends me to this black hole where I keep on getting lost... you know what I mean? No?

Anyway, so I decided to jot it down in my mental notebook. Doodle it on the first scratch paper I can find on my desk or something. 

Virgo Season: Why I love it & what I learned from it

Over a month ago today, I got my first tattoo and chopped my hair as short as I could.

Since then I've revamped my blog, saw IT 2 twice (been looking forward to this!), launched our own line of accessories with my team, saw Ben&Ben for the fourth time at the LSS premiere night (still awesome), pub-crawled at Pob with some new friends, got funeral plans for me and my family, booked an Airbnb with the boyf, started with MEEB (more on this soon), and volunteered on cleaning the beach.

Flashback Friday: Concerts, relationships, investments

If there's anything good about the exhausting and time-consuming commute to and from work, it's going to be sharing life stories and lessons with my company. It's always a pleasure having meaningful conversations with substantial people. ✨

Pause it, play it, pause it ~

Fact: Never will I ever be able to fathom the rate at which time passes.

And it's still blowing my mind how it's weekend AGAIN (nope, not complaining!) when it seems like yesterday I was just dreading Monday. It just zoomed past me leaving me sweaty and confused. What have I even fulfilled this week aside from the routine of work and chores and errands? Ahh, everything's just too fast and it's getting harder to breathe sometimes.

New Year, New Who

Many say new year's resolutions are nothing but a cliché -- a routine, a habit most won't even see through for the rest of the year. Some claim it to be merely an illusion people turn to to make themselves believe that they're capable of change. There's probably some truth to that. Yet I say, so what? At least they tried to do something about their current situation, right? Isn't it more unforgivable to just stand by and watch as your life unfolds in front of you, accepting things as they are? But of course it shouldn't stop with just the desire to change and improve because you still haven't done and proven anything yet.

Life lately ch. 02

 
This soul-searching trip is soon coming to an end. So before I finally bid goodbye, let's do a quick recap of what's life been about lately.

• Group chats. It is nice to be reunited with your closest friends from back home and everywhere else in just a click, having deep conversations ranging from our future life decisions up to what shades of lipstick to buy. Homies 4ever.
• Bonding with my lil sis/best friend for 10 days before she goes back to work again! The packing/unpacking/trip scheduling part was a bit annoying but surprisingly fun to finalize. Getting the hang of this routine is somewhat fulfilling if I may so myself. Seeing her again on the holidays, hopefully.
• Getting addicted to mobile games like, why am I just starting this now?! The "Episode" app in particular is too. freaking. good. Too good that I spent actual money for the first time for an app.
• Family recipes. Spending time with my grandma gave me the chance to learn a few recipes that we could add on our menu in the future. Ideas, ideas, ideas.
• Job applications (u g h)
• Freelance work on the side. I'm not complaining, but some clients can be hella irritating sometimes.
• Scheduling personal and business errands for when I get back home. This is going to be exciting!

Life lately ch. 01

Hell-o, universe!

Assuming anybody is still reading this, the last five months have been quite an adventure which includes:

• Making new plans which is going to involve major life changes, hopefully for the better (this is too vague but will elaborate once final)
• Meeting really cool new friends at work, which happened before...
• ...I finally quit my *first* job after a year
• Preparing for upcoming holiday travels with the family
• Turning another year older (ughh)
• Going back to the freelance life, and
• My favorite: Immersing myself in more books and series and hobbies