January 28, 2026
Good morning. 🌞
Today is January 28th, 2026, and we are officially three days away from going to the Philippines. It’s another beautiful day to be gorgeous, stunning, beautiful, amazing, positive, and happy.
I’m on my way to work, doing what I always do — my morning routine, my quiet reflections before the day fully takes over. Lately, these moments have meant everything to me.
Momentum, Visibility, and Choosing Myself
This morning I found myself reflecting on something that’s been quietly driving me lately: momentum.
I’ve been posting a lot on Instagram — more than usual. Five, sometimes ten reels a day. And yes, there’s a very tangible goal attached to that: one million views. Right now, I’m hovering around the mid-700Ks, and while the number itself isn’t the whole point, it represents reach, resonance, and visibility.
I didn’t set a hard deadline for myself, but I hope that by the time I leave for the Philippines, that million-view milestone will happen. Not because it validates me — but because it means these reflections, these stories, these moments are landing somewhere beyond me.
As I prepare to go home, I want to share more than travel content. I want to share a healing journey — one rooted in identity, self-discovery, and choosing yourself even when it feels uncomfortable.
This trip is my way of choosing me.
Choosing Yourself Isn’t Always a Clean Break
I want to be honest: I haven’t completely stepped out of my comfort zone yet.
I still have a good career. I still have stability. I haven’t fully let go of the life I’ve built — and that’s okay. Growth doesn’t always look like a dramatic leap. Sometimes it looks like running toward yourself, little by little.
And lately, I’ve been running.
Loneliness, Loss, and the Gift of Space
One of the recurring themes in my reflections this week has been loneliness.
Losing people — friendships, romantic connections — used to feel like failure. I used to take it personally, heavily, painfully. But something has shifted.
Now, I see it differently.
Losing people has given me something I didn’t realize I needed: time back to myself.
I’ve always invested deeply in relationships. I care hard. I show up fully. I believe in people — sometimes more than they believe in themselves. And yes, sometimes that means I believe in the wrong people.
But I don’t regret it.
At least I showed someone what it feels like to be loved. At least I showed up as my full, authentic self. At least I didn’t shrink myself just to keep someone in my life.
That matters to me.
When Someone Leaves, Let Them
I’ve realized something important: when someone doesn’t value me the way I value them, I don’t need to chase, convince, or diminish myself.
In the past, I stayed. I waited. I held on — sometimes until the other person eventually left. And while that pattern taught me a lot, I’m learning now that choosing myself sometimes means walking away sooner.
Still, I honor who I am.
I’m thoughtful. I give gifts. I remember birthdays. I care deeply, even early on. That’s not something to be embarrassed about. That’s not something to apologize for.
That’s me.
Loneliness Isn’t Emptiness — It’s Peace
What I’m experiencing now isn’t isolation.
It’s peace.
It’s reflection. It’s healing. It’s productivity. It’s clarity. It’s finally having the space to hear myself think.
I’ve spent so much of my life prioritizing others — making space for people, silencing my own desires so others could stay comfortable. And now, with fewer distractions, I’m finally prioritizing me.
And no, that doesn’t make me selfish.
It makes me aligned.
Healing, Anxiety, and Listening to My Body
I also want to acknowledge the reality of where I am physically and emotionally.
My anxiety has been louder lately. My body has been sending signals — hair shedding, coughing, overeating, restlessness. I feel it in my chest. I recognize it. And I know what I need to do next.
This is part of the healing too: listening, making informed decisions, and choosing health — not just survival.
I want to optimize my life. I want to build a future that feels expansive, intentional, and nourishing.
Lunchtime Diaries: Grounded and Grateful
By lunchtime, I could feel how much I needed rest. I was tired. A little scattered. Ready for a break.
And yet, even in that tiredness, I felt grounded.
I’m becoming more confident in who I am and where I’m going. I’m choosing relationships that accept me fully. I’m choosing time with my mom. I’m choosing healing old versions of myself — especially the ones that ran away when all they needed was connection.
This trip to the Philippines is about so much more than travel.
It’s about coming home.
Living Authentically, Even When It Feels Cringe
Sometimes I worry that sharing my life is “too much.” Too vulnerable. Too open.
But if even one person feels less alone because of these words — if someone feels more confident being themselves — then this journey has purpose.
I want to live in a world where people feel welcomed, valued, and safe being who they are.
I want to live — and create — with kindness.
So here I am. Choosing myself. Healing out loud. And stepping into the next chapter with hope.
Thank you for being here. 🤍
Let’s keep creating a world where authenticity is celebrated, not hidden.
Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner 
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