a showcase of my love affair with the written word…
Some people swear by this phrase: Fake it till you make it. They say it like it’s a universal solution.Like confidence is something you can borrow.Like healing is something you can pretend your way through. Not good enough for the job?Fake it till you make it. Not accepted in certain circles?Fake it till you make… Continue reading Don’t fake it. faith it.
I travel for one simple reason—to stay sane.It’s my way of recharging and rebooting when life starts feeling too routine. Every trip gives me that dopamine rush—you know, that thrill of seeing a new place, meeting new people, and discovering new food that makes you forget your diet ever existed. But more than the pretty… Continue reading Wander Often, Worry Less: My Realistic Travel Tips for Solo and Family Trips
Change is never easy, especially when it’s not the kind you choose. For me, one of the hardest transitions I had to face was separation. Here in the Philippines, where divorce doesn’t legally exist, “moving on” isn’t as simple as walking away. On paper, you’re still bound. In reality, you’re barely surviving. personal story of… Continue reading Embracing change: my guide to thriving through transitions
Life isn’t meant to be taken seriously. I mean, honestly—whoever comes out of it alive, right? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: humor makes all of our crosses bearable and our worries lighter. Without it, I’d probably look ten years older with stress lines as deep as the Grand Canyon. why humor matters… Continue reading Laugh lines and punchlines: finding joy in the mundane
I used to be that writer.The one who couldn’t hit “send” until I’d edited a draft for the 27th time.The one who’d stare at a sentence, convinced it could be tighter, funnier, smarter—until I killed the entire flow. Grammatical errors? Typos? Even a misplaced comma could send me spiraling.(Spoiler alert: sometimes, I’d edit so much… Continue reading Progress over perfection: why I finally gave myself a break
When I first landed in Seoul, I thought this city never slept. Everywhere I looked—crowded streets, flashing signs, people moving as if life was on fast-forward. My instinct? These Seoul-ites probably eat stress for breakfast. I was dazzled by technicolor skyscrapers and sleek subway stations. The city felt ultra-modern, ultra-efficient, ultra eternal caffeine. I wondered:… Continue reading Seoul beyond the hustle: how I found culture, calm, and local charm in a fast-paced city
I don’t know about you, but when life starts throwing punches left and right, I tend to… emotionally freeze. You know that feeling? When your heart feels like it's doing the cha-cha while being squeezed by anxiety? That was me, on loop. Back then, I didn’t have a therapist or a support group. What I… Continue reading Pen, Paper, Peace: Writing Through the Chaos
There was a time when I wouldn’t hit “publish” unless everything was flawless—like, even my bullet points had to be in perfect alignment, and don’t get me started on fonts. Helvetica or bust. And then I became a copywriter. Turns out, when you write for a living, especially under deadlines, perfectionism is a luxury you… Continue reading Progress over perfection: why I finally gave myself a break
I used to be my own harshest critic. Failure? That was me. Failed career. Failed marriage. Failed at being a decent person, too — or so I thought. Every mistake from my past would replay like a broken record in my head. I couldn’t seem to escape the feeling that my life was one big… Continue reading Thank you, next: how gratitude helped me bounce back from life’s plot twists
Let’s get this out of the way first:My writing depends heavily on one thing.... my mood. When I’m writing for a client, I put on my pro hat.I do my research. I ask questions. I stick to briefs.The goal is clear: deliver results. But when I write for myself—especially my personal blogs—it’s a completely different… Continue reading what sparks my creativity: a peek into my process
Ettenyl Writes 