February 27, 2026 — Pozorrubio, Pangasinan
Somewhere between the warmth of early morning coffee and a cup of taho worth 30 pesos, I realized that healing isn’t loud. It’s quiet, repetitive, and found in the smallest rituals — like learning how to let go.
Morning Rituals & the Beauty of Simple Living
Good morning, loves. Today is another beautiful day to be gorgeous, amazing, and alive here in the Philippines. It’s 7:13 AM, and the taho vendor passed by just minutes ago. Coffee in hand, sweet taho on the table, and the gentle rhythm of provincial life surrounding me — this is what simple living looks like.
I wasn’t able to record earlier because I’ve been working on a personal project that I’m excited to share once it’s ready. For now, I’m embracing slow mornings, intentional routines, and the healing power of presence.
There is something deeply grounding about starting the day this way. No rush. No noise. Just me, my thoughts, and a life I am learning to appreciate.
Daily Reflection Diaries: Learning Detachment
Last night, I wrote notes about a topic that has been heavy on my heart: detachment.
Detachment is not indifference. It is not forgetting. It is not pretending someone never mattered.
Detachment is learning to honor the role people played in your life while accepting that their chapter has ended.
I am currently grieving the loss of a close friend. With that grief comes a painful realization: parts of my identity were intertwined with this person. As I learn to detach, I am rediscovering who I am without them — and in that rediscovery, I am becoming more grounded.
Detachment has never been easy for me. I love deeply. I hold on tightly. And when people leave, I question my worth instead of accepting life’s natural transitions.
But I am learning.
When Love Becomes a Milestone
One of the reasons detachment is difficult for me is because I measure relationships through milestones.
I’ve had six serious partners in my life. Each one witnessed a version of me tied to significant moments — nursing school, the loss of my father, my first ICU job, becoming a nurse practitioner, moving to the Bay Area, and navigating the chaos of the pandemic.
These relationships were not just romances.
They were timelines.
They were witnesses to my becoming.
Letting go of someone who stood beside you during life-changing moments can feel like losing a part of your own history. But I am learning this truth:
Their presence shaped me, but it does not define me.
I can honor what we shared without carrying them into my future.
Healing Old Patterns in New Love
Today, I am with someone new — someone I am choosing to protect by keeping parts of our relationship private. And through this relationship, I am confronting a toxic trait of mine: comparison.
When triggered, I sometimes say, “My past partner did this,” or “This reminds me of what hurt me before.” But this is unfair. He is not them. This relationship is not my past.
Healing means recognizing that similar words or actions do not always carry the same intentions. It means giving someone the chance to be who they are — not who my trauma expects them to be.
I am learning to separate past wounds from present love.
And that is growth.
Speaking From the Future
Here’s something surreal: while recording my daily affirmations, I realized I am technically speaking from the future. It’s February 27 here in the Philippines, but still February 26 in California.
Hello from tomorrow.
It’s strange. It’s funny. It’s beautiful.
And in a way, that’s what healing feels like — becoming a future version of yourself before the world catches up.
A Leap of Faith & A Better Outlook
This healing journey has not made my life perfect. I am not 100% healed. But I am better.
I see life differently now.
I see beauty where I once saw emptiness.
I see possibility where I once saw endings.
I am proud of myself for taking this leap of faith — for choosing healing, choosing rest, choosing joy, and choosing me.
There were moments in the past when I almost gave up. Moments when living felt heavier than letting go. But today, I can say with honesty:
Life is beautiful. I want to be here.
Returning to San Francisco With Intention
In two days, I return to San Francisco. And while part of me longs to stay and live a simple life in the Philippines, I know there is still work to be done.
So I will return with intention:
- To prioritize my health
- To continue healing
- To live in the present
- To appreciate the life I’ve built
- To keep building the life I want
San Francisco is not forever. The Philippines may not be either. But wherever I am, I want to be present enough to live it fully.
Self-Affirmation: Choosing Myself Daily
Before I end today’s reflection, here is your reminder — and mine:
You are beautiful.
You are valued.
You are worthy exactly as you are.
The world may affirm you sometimes, but the most important voice is your own. Speak kindly to yourself. Celebrate yourself. Choose yourself — every single day.
Closing Thoughts
Healing is not linear. Detachment is not easy. Growth is not comfortable. But every morning ritual, every honest reflection, every moment of self-love brings me closer to the woman I am becoming.
And today, from the future, with coffee in one hand and taho in the other, I can say:
I am healing.
I am letting go.
I am becoming.
Thank you for being part of my journey.
— Jas 🤍
Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner 
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