Hi everyone. Good morning.
Today is Sunday, January 11th, 2026, and it’s another beautiful day to be gorgeous.
Gorgeous. Gorgeous.
This morning felt a little heavier than usual. I woke up with emotions I didn’t invite, thoughts I didn’t expect, and a familiar darkness that I haven’t felt this strongly in a while. It reminded me of a version of myself from a couple of years ago—a version that felt lost, uncertain, and afraid of being stuck in the same place again.
I didn’t fully understand why it was coming up. Sometimes it doesn’t come with a clear explanation. It just arrives.
Revisiting the Darkness Without Judgment
I found myself questioning things—my current relationship, where it’s going, whether I’m giving more love than I receive, and whether I will ever be loved in the same way that I love others. Those questions can feel overwhelming when they surface all at once.
I’ve been hurt before. More than once. And if I’m being honest, a part of that pain comes from feeling misunderstood. From loving deeply and openly, even when the other person couldn’t fully see it. Even when it hurt. Even when I chose love anyway.
This morning, those memories came back unannounced. I don’t know why I was thinking about him today. I don’t know why January 11th stirred something old inside me. But instead of pushing it away, I sat with it. I let myself feel it.
Because sometimes healing doesn’t mean the darkness never returns.
Sometimes healing means recognizing it, acknowledging it, and realizing it no longer owns you.
Authenticity Over Perfection
I know I talk a lot about positivity. About gratitude. About choosing joy. But I also want to be real with you. This space has always been about authenticity, not perfection.
Healing isn’t linear. Growth isn’t pretty all the time. There are dips. There are moments when old wounds whisper, “Are you sure you’re healed?”
And maybe the truth is—I’m still healing that version of myself. She’s better than before, stronger than before, but she still needs compassion. She still needs reassurance. She still needs time.
Choosing Nature, Choosing Light
So we did what we always try to do when things feel heavy—we went outside.
We went hiking at Fort Funston, with our little dots running around, the sun warming our faces, and the Pacific Ocean stretching endlessly in front of us. The view was breathtaking. Grounding. Healing.
There is something incredibly powerful about nature. About standing under the sun and realizing how small your worries feel compared to the vastness of the ocean. About breathing fresh air and remembering that life continues to move, no matter how heavy your thoughts feel in the moment.
Step by step, my mood began to shift.
Not because everything suddenly made sense—but because my environment changed.
And sometimes, that’s enough.
Looking Ahead With Intention
Today also reminded me why I’m excited for February. A whole month dedicated to myself. To healing. To grounding. To reconnecting with the things that truly matter.
Spending time with my mom.
Gardening.
Traveling.
Travel has always been my way of rediscovering myself—placing myself in unfamiliar environments and proving that I can stand on my own. That I can adapt. That I can grow.
This time, I’m traveling to the Philippines, my motherland, and to Thailand, a place that once held me gently during a time when I needed it most. Thailand felt like a second home back then, and I’m grateful for how welcoming it was to me during that chapter of my life.
This journey feels less like an escape and more like a return—to myself.
Another Beautiful Day to Be Gorgeous
Today became a reflection day. A reminder that it’s okay to feel sad in the morning and lighter by the afternoon. That it’s okay to share the highs and the lows. And that sometimes, the simplest acts—going outside, moving your body, standing in the sun—can shift everything.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, lost, or not quite yourself, let this be your gentle reminder:
Change your environment. Step into nature. Let the sun find you.
Today is January 11th, 2026.
And it’s still another beautiful day to be gorgeous.
Gorgeous. Gorgeous.
Thank you for being here.
Have a beautiful day. 💛
Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner 
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