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Showing posts from 2021

A Stranger to All the Good Things Can Sometimes Be Ourselves

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  It's quite ironic how we crave other people's validation and yet we couldn't even give some for ourselves.  Imagine working so hard to make ends meet, being employed in a job that you only tolerate just so you can provide for your family, setting aside your own needs so that you can deliver what's expected of you - but then, at the end of a long, tiring day, what you've been dying to hear is a word of appreciation from your family and friends. It's that simple, yes? You don't require much to keep going. All you need is to hear that what you're sacrificing, what you're working hard for, is being appreciated by the people you're gifting it to.  But here lies the gap. A missing piece.  You seek the validation of others, forgetting that you must offer it to yourself first. You long to be seen, to be embraced, to be told that we're doing so well, and yet you scarcely even notice your own hard work. You hardly embrace yourself after a difficult d

The Clear Truth - What You Don't See In the Photos

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It is very easy to say we had a perfect wedding just by looking at the beautiful photos. But when you look a little more closely into it, you will begin to notice that our wedding day is composed of many tiny stories of imperfections, effort, hard work, and sacrifices - making it all the more memorable. On the outside, I felt ecstatic. But somewhere within me laid a deal of sadness. I felt sad because many of our beloved relatives and cherished friends could not join us in the celebration. I only realized recently that I had been repressing this sadness to make room for focus while we were preparing for our big day. Whenever I receive a decline, I would be very quick to say "I understand" without processing how I felt and this backfired pretty quickly. A night prior to the wedding, I broke down because I got overwhelmed with a surge of emotions. I honestly exploded because I had been bottling up my emotions - those that I deemed unproductive, unhelpful, and distracting - like

Looking Closer Into Our Wedding Details

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11 June 2021 - Alex and I are married!  Beyond the bliss that we both feel as a newly-wed couple, we are also filled with so much gratitude because our big day turned out to be a wonderful success. Many times during our wedding day, I was constantly asked: "Do you feel nervous?" and my reply was always the same: "No. I'm excited!".  Bridal robe designed by: Griffins Malazarte of GMO Collections Hair and Makeup by Girlie Loquete Photo and Video by Paopao Sanchez and Team Panda Films One of the most challenging poses to achieve! Truth be told, the emotions I felt that day were happiness, serenity, and peace. Contrary to what brides usually feel on their wedding day, no worries filled my mind and the jitters were nowhere to be found. I thank God for this great blessing. For providing us with the calmness and equanimity and confidence that all things will fall into their rightful places and they did. 11 June 2021 is also a memorable date because it is the Feast of t