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Free Posts Life Wellness

You Need to Cry

For days now, I’ve been ignoring my pelvic pain—maybe even weeks, I’m not sure. My constant pelvic pain is a reminder that I have endometriosis, something that probably won’t ever go away. Ten years of having this condition (going through two palliative surgeries and tons of hormone-altering pills and injections), medical science still doesn’t have much to show for it. The most I could do is get regular ultrasounds just to make sure those pesky cysts remain manageable in size (I hate that they’re also called ‘chocolate cysts’ because I love chocolates).

I try to ignore this pain as much as I can because it stirs up feelings of hopelessness and sadness. And when I feel those things, they only add more stress to my body, which in turn brings more harm since stress worsen the symptoms of endometriosis. So I ignore away. When the pain is sudden and intense, that’s the only time I unwillingly acknowledge the pain because ignoring it is impossible. But as soon as it dies down, I go right back to ignoring it, thinking what I’m doing is for the best.

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Free Posts Life

February Recap

Sobrang distracted ko panonood ng Crybaby unboxing videos nung mga nakaraang araw na andami kong na-postpone na little tasks, like this monthly recap. Ngayon medyo nag-settle down na yung obsession ko sa Crybabies, but it got replaced by a live feed of bald eagle parents feeding their eaglets. Sooo cute! And I really can’t believe it! Nagugulat na lang si Kenneth pag napapasigaw ako ng malakas.

“AHHHH! OOOMMMMGGGG!!”

“Bakit?”

“NAG-HATCH NA RIN YUNG PANGATLONG EGG!!!”

“Sabi na nga ba eh.”

Cute!!!

The first year I tuned in, bugok yung eggs. None of the three eggs hatched. It was quite heartbreaking. The following year, the same thing happened. Then this year, I was barely tuning in (to avoid another heartbreak) when I saw on my feed that the eggs were starting to hatch! Agghhh! I’m just so happy—that I can’t help writing about it in Ramblings #52. The feeling was just too intense. What an amazing thing to witness. I love watching the feeding sessions and wanting to make sure that all three eaglets are being fed equally (as dominant eaglets tend to get the majority of the food). Okay, I’ll stop with the eagle talks now and get on with last month’s recap.

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Free Posts Ramblings

Ramblings #52 | Egg-citing!

As a follower of this eagle nest since 2023, this makes me SOOOOO happy!🥹

And the 3rd egg is in the process of hatching as well! AGGHHH!!
Categories
Hobbies Journaling Secrets

Journal Pages | 2025 Planner Tour

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We’re two months into the year, and I think I’ve found a planner system that works for my personality. It’s not overwhelming, it’s simple, but not boring (well, at least for me). Also, I say planner, but it’s really an all-in-one notebook. There’s the planning side of things in there, but it’s also my journal, my commonplace book, and more. Again, I’m using the Hobonichi Day-Free in A6 size, housed in a cover that’s also from Hobonichi. On their website, they described this cover design as cats of different breeds and sizes chatting happily with each other and saying, “Listen, listen!”

My planner’s home on its second year
The very first page

With the yearly view, it pretty much remained the same as last year. I have my color key and my Zebra Mildliners to mark the dates.

Also marked last year’s travels on the right page

I used to make and sell my own stickers. I no longer operate that small sticker shop, that’s why I have plenty of inventory left—some of them I use so they won’t go to waste. One design is this sticker sheet with pastel-colored mini round stickers that are transparent. Those are what I used here to mark the beginning of each new month:

These stickers have barely visible defects, glad I didn’t throw them out.
I don‘t know what the gray for is yet. Last year, I think I used them to mark my sick days.

The next page is my ‘call log’ spread. Speaking of making my own stickers, maybe 2 years ago, I had this idea of creating stickers of my family members for this spread. Thankfully, I printed plenty of extras so I can still use them for this year. But now that we no longer have a printer and I gave away my Cricut machine, I have no idea what to do when I ran out of these. The idea of buying a Cricut machine and a printer just for this seems illogical. But I really like looking at their faces whenever I flip to this spread! 😍

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French Hobbies Secrets

Life Updates | What’s the Point of Learning French + TikTok Talks + Meal Schedules

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1.

After learning French on and off for almost 3 years, ramdam ko na talaga yung improvement ko. Ramdam kong tumaas ng ilang levels yung confidence ko na magsalita in French (yung confidence level lang yung tumaas, not my actual speaking skills). But accompanying this sense of pride is doubt. Napatanong ako sa sarili ko, and a few moments later, kay ChatGPT:

Ano bang point ng pagaaral ko ng French kung hindi ko naman sya ginagamit in real life?

Wala akong French-speaking person na kilala, hindi ko sya kelangan sa trabaho, hindi naman ako magta-travel sa France anytime soon. Ginagawa ko lang ‘to for mere pleasure and fun. I’m learning this language for the sake of learning this language. What is the point??

ChatGPT says:

  • Fun is actually a great reason to learn. If you enjoy the challenge, that’s reason enough.
  • You’ll never know when it might come in handy—travel, meeting new people, unexpected career opportunities.
  • Even if you never need it, you’re training your brain, developing patience, and gaining a new way to see the world, which is cool on its own.
  • Not everything needs a practical purpose (this!)

And with that, I shall continue on.

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Free Posts Happy Things Life TV

Happy Things #25 | Healthy Cats + Anime Binge + Nokia 3310

Walnut’s okay!

Walnut’s health scare is over! Feeling ko hindi naman talaga sya na-poison nung lily kasi naisuka nya naman agad, pero sabi pa rin nung vet, kelangan syang i-monitor for 72 hours to make sure hindi tinamaan yung kidney. Thankfully, normal yung apat nyang blood tests and she’s in the clear. Ang nakakaasar lang ay yung pilay nya caused by the nurses nung tina-try nilang i-restrain si Walnut para kunan ng dugo. Ka-badtrip. Accountable naman sila ang they will cover all expenses related to her limp (dapat lang!), pero nakakainis pa din. I think nag-iimprove naman yung pilay nya and aside from that, she’s healthy and well and back to her old self.

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Family Insights Secrets

Thursday Letter #6 | Pain vs Suffering

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(a low energy) Hello,

Nung nakita ko yung suka ni Walnut na may pink and light yellow green material, tumingin ako dun sa bulaklak na bigay ni Kenneth nung Valentine’s Day at nakita kong may punit yung isang petal nung lily. Dun ko lang naisip i-search kung toxic ba ang lilies sa mga pusa.

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Free Posts Hobbies Insights

Why I Like to Write

Among the many reasons why I like to write, I think one of them is the desire to be understood. As someone with a resting bothered face, I’ve been misunderstood countless times. Sobrang puzzled ko pag sinasabihan ako ng mga tao—including my relatives, my own mother even—“Bakit ka nakasimangot?” “Itsura mo para kang galit.” When in reality, I’m not mad whatsoever. I’m just existing. I am neutral. I’m a hundred percent sure that my facial muscles are completely relaxed. But to them, I seem to be exuding some kind of negative aura. Nung highschool days napapaaway pa ko. Ang sama ko raw makatingin.

Muka namang angel ah 😆
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Family Free Posts Hobbies Life Today's Log

Today’s Log #22 | Days Lately

February 13, 2025

6:00 AM

Woke up, shat, wrote on my digital journal about yesterday’s happenings, read a newsletter, saw vomit (probably Walnut’s) and cleaned that up, fed the kitties, and scooped their litter. This is my morning routine nowadays.

8:00 AM

I decided I’ll have the pork ribs from Costco. I can air-fry them from frozen, so it’s a quick prep. I still have some roasted veggies from yesterday that I can pair it with. Kaso ang dry. Wala akong sauce or dip. So I asked ChatGPT for suggestions and settled on an easy sauce using ingredients I already have: garlic butter soy sauce. I can pour it over the crispy ribs to give them a little bit of moisture.

I’m half-listening to Trevor Noah’s podcast while making the sauce. I think they’re talking about the loneliness epidemic.

9:00 AM

K lang.
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Free Posts Insights Life Money Diaries

2025 Game Plan

Another year, another game plan. I’m so happy I don’t feel rushed to finish this post. I think dati meron akong nafi-feel na, “Dapat ma-finalize ko na ‘to bago matapos ang January.” But not this year. Bago ako pumunta sa theme at sa mga gusto kong ma-achieve this year, I will check first kung anong success rate ng 2024 game plan ko…

Okay, out of the 12 goals I set, I was able to achieve 7! I’m not aiming for perfect. Basta more than half okay na ko dun.

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