Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner

Province Mornings & Childhood Comforts

Good morning. Today is Wednesday, February 4th, 2026—and it’s another beautiful day to be gorgeous.

We’re here in the Philippines, sitting outside, soaking in the cool morning air. I’m honestly surprised by the temperature this time of year. It’s comfortable, calm, and refreshing—so much so that I haven’t even needed the AC.

This morning feels especially nostalgic. We’re outside with my mom, waiting for the familiar sounds of taho and pandesal vendors—simple things I grew up with, things that instantly bring me back home. This is province life at its finest: quiet, slow, and deeply grounding.

Rest as Part of Healing

Lately, I’ve been sleeping a lot—and for once, I’m letting myself enjoy it.

I’ve been unwinding, catching up on rest, and adjusting to the jet lag without guilt. My body clearly needed this pause, and I’m learning to listen instead of pushing through exhaustion like I used to. Rest isn’t laziness. It’s care.

The Power of Self-Talk

Being in this quiet space has given me time to reflect—especially on my mental health.

One thing I’m learning is how powerful self-talk truly is. The way I speak to myself can pull me into anxiety and sadness, but it can also be the very thing that brings me back out. I’m realizing that the same voice that once fueled my spirals can be reshaped into a voice of reassurance, grounding, and compassion.

That shift doesn’t happen overnight—but it starts with awareness.

I’m 37.
I’m a Filipina Nurse Practitioner in the United States.
I survived two manic depressive episodes.
I lost friendships I thought would last forever.
And now—I’m rebuilding myself with intention.

Here’s what I’m learning about softness, self-love, and choosing myself:

✨ I’m learning that I don’t have to be hard on myself to grow. Softness isn’t weakness—it’s how I stay connected to who I am beneath the roles, expectations, and survival mode.

✨ I’m choosing to speak to myself with kindness. My inner voice no longer exists to punish or pressure me—it’s becoming the place I return to when things feel heavy, uncertain, or tender.

✨ I no longer use self-talk as the force that keeps me in darkness. I’m learning how to use it to soothe my nervous system, ground my thoughts, and gently guide myself forward.

✨ Choosing myself looks like slowing down without guilt. Resting without justification. Letting my body lead instead of overriding it in the name of productivity.

✨ I still love medicine deeply. And I’m learning that loving my work doesn’t mean abandoning myself for it. I’m allowed to be whole—not just capable, not just resilient.

✨ Confidence comes and goes—and that’s human. On the days it fades, I meet myself with compassion instead of criticism.

✨ I’ve stopped believing I need to earn rest or softness. Caring for myself isn’t a reward—it’s a requirement for staying well.

✨ Imposter syndrome still whispers sometimes. The difference now is my response is gentle: I belong here, even when I’m unsure.

✨ I’m choosing growth that feels aligned, not forced. Healing doesn’t have to be loud, dramatic, or rushed—it can be quiet and still life-changing.

✨ Exhaustion isn’t a flaw. It’s my body asking for care. And I’m finally answering without shame.

✨ Some moments still stay with me—patients, memories, relationships. Softness has taught me how to hold them without letting them harden me.

✨ I’m learning how to be driven without being cruel to myself. How to care deeply without self-abandonment.

I’m sharing this not for sympathy, but as a reminder:
✨ Softness can be powerful.
✨ Choosing yourself is healing.

None of this ever meant I was falling behind.
✨ It meant I was listening to myself.
✨ It meant I was learning to love myself.
✨ It meant I was choosing me.

Thank you for being here 🤍
For more, follow my journey through softness, self-love, healing, and becoming 👩🏻‍⚕️✨

Rethinking Love

I’ve also been thinking a lot about love.

For so long, I looked for love outside of myself—hoping someone else could fill the gaps, understand me fully, or make me feel whole. And when that didn’t happen, it left me feeling empty and discouraged.

But lately, something has changed.

I’m noticing that love already exists around me—in quiet mornings, in family, in stillness. And more importantly, I’m learning that love exists within me. I’m learning to be comfortable with who I am and gentle with who I’m becoming.

Rebuilding My Identity

This trip truly feels like a healing journey.

I’m intentionally taking things slow—sleeping in, watching shows that invite reflection, allowing silence instead of rushing to fill it. I’m giving myself permission to face my mental health head-on, instead of avoiding it or minimizing it.

I’m realizing that parts of my identity were built around people who were once present in my life. And when those relationships changed or ended, I felt like I lost pieces of myself too.

So now, I’m rebuilding.

I’m learning who I am without external guidance, without validation, without depending on others to define me. I’m taking agency over my life—my healing, my future, my decisions. I’m learning how I process emotions, how I move forward, and how I talk myself through uncertainty instead of letting it consume me.

Choosing Myself, Again and Again

This is me choosing to pivot.
Choosing growth.
Choosing myself.

I don’t need anyone else to tell me my worth—because I’m learning to see it on my own. My opinion of myself matters most. And when I truly believe that, everything else begins to align.

That’s why I’m sharing this journey.
That’s why I’m building this platform.

To remind myself that I believed in me—and I’m making it happen.

This isn’t narcissism.
This is self-love.
This is healing.

I am enough.
I am kind.
I am becoming.

Thank you for being here 🤍