Live Love Life Leisure

Relax and unwind -  Photo by Viktoria Alipatova: https://www.pexels.com It’s finally raining again this morning. I turned my body away from my desk to face the door that I had opened, letting the cool, soothing breeze drift in. A wide smile stretched across my face as I whispered a heartfelt thank you to the rain for coming by to see us again. After the blazing heat of yesterday’s relentless sun, the rain felt like a balm for my soul, a welcome companion that seemed to wash away the lingering weight of all those jarring construction noises still replaying in my mind. I stared at my computer screen, a single sentence typed there, and then, without hesitation, I turned it off. Why would I let work keep me tethered indoors when such a rare and precious moment awaited outside? I felt a tinge of silliness at my earlier dedication but quickly let it go. This morning rain was a gift, an invitation to pause, to breathe, to simply be. In no time, I was in the kitchen, brewing myself a fresh...

Solo dining - Photo by Adrienn: https://www.pexels.com/photo Folks, what is your opinion about having meals in a restaurant or coffee in a cafe alone by yourself? Do you do that? Or do you think that’s weird, so you’d rather have a takeout? The reason I ask is because of something that happened a few weeks back. My cousin came to visit me for the second time since I moved to this place a couple of months ago. As we were catching up, she asked how I was settling in, and I told her how much I loved it here. One of the best things about my new home is that it’s so close to my favorite cafe that I can easily stop by for my fave hot cappuccino after my power walk. And when I feel like extending my morning relaxation, I enjoy dining in a cozy little restaurant nearby. The ambiance is comforting and refreshing, making my mornings even more enjoyable. But the moment I shared this, my cousin gave me a look, a weird one, like she couldn’t believe what I just said. Seeing her reaction, I asked wh...

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...

The Suffocating Feelings - Photo by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, haunted by thoughts that just wouldn’t let you rest? That was me a few nights ago. Something was bothering me, something that had been lingering in my heart for the past week. No matter how much I tried to shake it off, it kept resurfacing, demanding my attention. When I traced back to the root of my discomfort, I found the source. The memories played fresh in my mind, as if they had just happened yesterday (even though, in reality, they were from years ago). And the trigger? A recent conversation with a friend who saw me as misguided and attempted to “bring me back” to what she believed was the right path. I regretted engaging in that conversation. I could have stayed silent or changed the topic, but instead, I challenged her viewpoint. I wanted her to realize that we were no longer on the same journey, so she would respect me and let me walk my path. But just as I...

  Pleasant surprise - Photo by Alena Darmel: https://www.pexels.com A couple of weeks ago, I was suddenly in the mood to watch Emily in Paris again. The last time I had watched it was during Season 2, and since then, I had taken a long break from subscribing to Netflix and HBO Asia. As I scrolled through my options, it hit me. I hadn’t watched any TV shows for a year and a half. That realization made me reflect on my journey with television: how it evolved, how I let it go, and how I eventually found my way back to it, but this time, with a different mindset. The Decision to Unsubscribe Around 1.5 years ago, I decided to cancel my subscriptions. At the time, my life was packed between work and personal commitments that made me barely have time to sit down and watch anything else on TV. And even if I had time, I’d rather watch my favorite game, badminton, when there were tournaments. So, I guess…paying for something I rarely used definitely felt like a waste of money. But years bef...

  Trust the Unknown - Photo by Antoni Shkraba: https://www.pexels.com My morning today began with a simple thought, a desire to capture my feelings and share them in this blog. But as I powered on my laptop, the gentle sound of rain greeted me, an unexpected but joyful companion.  Like a child welcoming parents home from a long trip, I burst out the door, arms wide open, a smile stretched across my face. The excitement I felt was reminiscent of how I used to welcome my father back from a trip. That homecoming was always brimming with surprises; be it toys, books, or delicious treats; and the anticipation of his return filled our home with joy.  And in that same spirit, I whispered a heartfelt thank-you to the rain for visiting me again, right on cue, as though the universe had orchestrated it just for me. Before the rain, I had prepared a cup of coffee, not out of habit but because I was simply in the mood for it that morning. Alongside it was a pastry I’d saved from last...

Say Thanks -  Photo by Kelly: https://www.pexels.com/photo Have you ever wanted to say something to someone, but never did? Maybe it’s telling someone how much you appreciate them. Maybe it’s confessing your feelings to that one person who makes your heart race. Or maybe it’s something as simple as thanking a loved one for always being there. But for whatever reason, the words never leave your mouth.  And what if this is the time, the moment for you to let it out of your chest, even if it is only through a simple note or letter that you don’t even need to send it to them? I wasn’t actually thinking about it. But the other day, I found myself in one of those reflective moods, something I hadn’t really anticipated.  It all started when I decided to break from my usual habit of listening to podcasts while doing chores. Instead, I stumbled upon an app and tuned into the radio. The shift felt refreshing, exposing me to an entirely different experience that I hadn’t encountered...

I love you - Photo by alleksana: https://www.pexels.com Folks, what is Valentine’s Day to you? Is it something special, a day you eagerly anticipate? Or is it just another date on the calendar, something that holds little meaning in your daily life? Do you celebrate love in grand gestures, or do you find meaning in quieter, more personal ways? As for me, there’s something about February that carries a certain warmth, an almost tangible energy of love filling the air. Just as December is wrapped in the spirit of Christmas, bringing families together with joy and laughter, February has its own way of making hearts a little softer, gestures a little kinder, and love a little more intentional. I won’t pretend that I didn’t love the attention, the thoughtful gestures, and of course, the chocolates that came with Valentine’s Day. There was something special about receiving small tokens of appreciation, reminders that I was seen and loved. But in the spirit of the month of love, back at work ...