Live Love Life Leisure

Morning Habit - Photo by Aphiwat chuangchoem: https://www.pexels.com This happened some time last month. On that day, I remembered waking up way too early. Unlike my usual sluggish mornings, I instinctively went straight to the bathroom, washed up, and did my morning prayer. Then, I returned to bed, snuggled under my duvet, and planned to steal another hour of rest before heading out for my morning walk. As I lay there, a realization hit me: something had changed in me. The way I started my mornings felt different. At first, I was confused. Why did I rush off to the bathroom the moment I woke up? That wasn’t how I normally did things. I usually spent a few minutes (still on my bed) greeting good morning to God and thank Him for the great night sleep, then did the same thing to my body. But that morning? What happened to me? While thinking about that, suddenly, like a floodgate opening, memories from my past came rushing back. They were memories of my 9-to-5 life that I had left nearly...

Happy Eating - Photo by KoolShooters : https://www.pexels.com Have you ever caught yourself dancing when eating something amazing? That first bite that sets off a party in your mouth and makes your body move involuntarily like a head nod here, a little shoulder shake there, as if your soul is responding to an unsung tune. If you’re smiling right now, chances are you’ve been there. If not, stick around. By the end of this, you just might be inspired to groove your way through your next meal. Let’s be real. Not everyone dances when they eat, but my sister, cousin, and I? We’re full-on performers when the food hits just right. Sometimes, it’s just one of us moving subtly to the rhythm; other times, the three of us together create what I like to call a “movement of gratitude,” exclusive only to us. It’s hilarious, heartwarming, and deeply satisfying all at once. What’s funny is that this wasn’t always my thing. It’s only recently that I’ve found myself doing the “food dance.” And now that...

  Perform Your Self-Care -  Photo by Madison Inouye: https://www.pexels.com Sometimes, the smallest shifts in our routine can lead to the biggest transformations. And yesterday, I experienced one of those magical moments that inspired me to share this story with you. The day started like any other, but I woke up with a surprising urge: I wanted to look polished. With nowhere to go and no plans to step outside, I slipped into a cute dress, added a touch of light makeup to brighten my face, tied my hair in a ponytail, and topped it off with a playful bow. Instantly, my mood soared, as if a little sprinkle of magic had touched my day. Isn't it amazing how looking good for ourselves can lift our spirits? Have you tried that? While I usually love the comfort of lounging at home in simple clothes and a messy bun, there’s something undeniably exciting about breaking that routine. Sure, my comfy loungewear has its charm, but dressing up (even just for me) felt like a celebration of se...

  Slow Morning -  Photo by Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com Back then, I used to equate productivity with constant busyness. My days revolved around ticking items off an endless to-do list, multitasking my way through tasks to accomplish as much as possible in a short amount of time. Slow mornings? To me, those were synonymous with laziness, reserved only for weekends or luxurious holidays at a serene hotel. And even during those rare moments, I’d often feel restless, plagued by guilt for “wasting” time. The habit of staying perpetually busy had become second nature—an autopilot mode that left me feeling disconnected from the concept of unwinding. I tried, on occasion, to indulge in a slow morning, but my mind would always wander back to what I could be doing instead. Productivity had become my identity, and the thought of slowing down felt foreign, almost wrong. Then came the pandemic, and the whole world hit the brakes. Suddenly, my packed schedule was wiped clean. Work was...

  New Year's Resolutions -  Photo by freestocks.org: https://www.pexels.com Do you like making New Year’s resolutions? But do you sometimes find yourself get stuck even before mid year? If you do, I got you. Well, I used to love crafting mine, imagining a fresh start filled with all the positive energy. Yet, over the years, I started to acknowledge the same pattern repeated: m y resolutions often turned into little more than beautifully penned aspirations in my journal, forgotten weeks later as life swept me away. Funny, though... how each year I’d tell myself, “This time will be different.” But it never was. I don’t know how you see it, but I found myself amusing knowing that I still didn’t give up doing it. I wanted to improve myself, and I knew that I shouldn't play the broken old record. I mean... wouldn't I just be a fool: doing the same thing but expecting different results? I turned to every piece of advice I could find. I attended seminars hosted by inspiring speak...

  One atomic habit Do you practice self-reflection at the end of the year? I do, and it’s something I really enjoy. For the past four years, I’ve been religiously making time to look back on everything that happened in that year—the highs, the lows, and the small wins worth celebrating. It’s my way of appreciating myself and the journey I’ve been on. As I was going through my journal this year, I noticed something interesting. There was one thing I never wrote about. Maybe because it wasn’t something that bothered me a lot to the point where I needed to complain in my journal. However, while trying to look and think back about my small win this year, I realize that it’s worth recognizing as a valuable part of my life journey. It was a small habit—an “atomic habit” to borrow James Clear ’s term—that worked wonders for me. A small win that deserves appreciation: my writing practice. How It Started For the longest time, I always wanted to write a blog. And I sort of did—except I never...