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.
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 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
포기하기 전에: 절망에 빠진 사람에게 보내는 편지 (영어 버전 마지막에 번역이 있습니다) Trigger Warning: This post talks about suicide, depression, and mental health. If you're in crisis or know someone who is, please seek professional help. You are never alone. Today, I want to talk about something most people avoid—the elephant in the room that… Continue reading Before You Give Up: A Letter to the One Who Feels Hopeless
My (Very Personal) Relationship with Food I don’t know about you, but I turn into an unrecognizable version of myself when I’m hungry. You know those Snickers commercials? That’s me. Hungry? Cranky. Fed? A happy ray of sunshine. It’s like magic. So if you're planning to hang out with me for an entire day, here's… Continue reading Food for the Soul: How Eating Right Improves Your Mood
Let’s be real—change is hard. And I’m not just talking about the kind where you finally decide to reorganize your closet (which, for the record, I’ve been “about to do” for three years now). I mean the big, soul-shifting life transitions that knock the wind out of you and make you question your very existence… Continue reading Embracing Change: My Guide to Thriving Through Transitions
(Or at least helped me avoid yelling at my neighbor’s dog again) Why Journaling Matters to Me I never thought I’d say this, but journaling kind of saved me. Not in a dramatic, "this is a Nicholas Sparks novel" kind of way. But more like, journaling has become my sacred little escape hatch when life… Continue reading Pen to Paper: How Journaling Saved My Sanity
Ettenyl Writes 