A little reminder to myself

Not everyone was raised the same way I was.

People carry different values, different manners, and different levels of self-awareness. That's simply part of life—and not something I can control.

What I can control is how I respond.

I'll choose patience whenever I can. I'll choose kindness where it's deserved. But kindness should never be mistaken for weakness, and patience should never be seen as permission to disrespect me.

Protecting my peace doesn't mean I've become cold. It means I've learned that healthy boundaries are a form of self-respect.

Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do—for yourself and for others—is to know where those boundaries begin.

Maybe the lesson isn't to expect better from everyone. Maybe it's to stop expecting everyone to be like us.

May we all have the wisdom to choose kindness, the courage to set boundaries, and the peace to walk away when they're not respected.

May xx

Still Here. Just Been Living.

It's been almost two months since I last wrote here.

No dramatic reason. Life just got full — the kind of full that's difficult to capture in a blog post but easy to feel. There was travel, a trip that meant a lot to me, a few things that got pushed aside, and a body that's been slowly finding its way back to movement again.

I didn't plan to be quiet this long. But somehow, it's already July. 😅

Over the past couple of months, I've been travelling quite a bit. Looking back, I probably have enough stories for a few overdue posts, and I'll get around to sharing them soon.

For now, I'm just trying to recover from the jet lag, unpack both my suitcase and my thoughts, and slowly get back into my routine.

I've been collecting experiences rather than writing about them. Some of them are still settling in my mind.

May xx

What It’s Like Being Chosen as a Child Sponsor

I started sponsoring simply hoping to make a small difference in someone’s life 🧡

I’ve been a sponsor for some time now… and somehow it quietly became part of my life.

When I first started, I chose to sponsor girls. It just felt like a place where I could show up and make a small difference.

I didn’t expect that certain moments along the way would also leave such a lasting impact on me.

One of those moments came through Chosen® — a programme by World Vision where children choose their own sponsors.

And honestly, it really shifted my perspective.

There’s something powerful about a child being given that chance — to make a choice for themselves, to have a voice, and to feel like their decision matters. It gives them confidence and reminds them that they are seen and valued.

I still remember attending a Chosen event in person last year. The boy who chose me didn’t know I was there, and I didn’t know it was him until he walked out holding my photo. The surprise, the smile… It’s hard to explain, but it stayed with me.

I remember wanting to go and say hello right away, but the moment was meant to happen later — so I just watched quietly from a distance.

I later found out he chose me because I looked strong and sporty, and because he likes sports too. (The photo I submitted was from one of my running events.)

The next Chosen® will be in Bohol, Philippines, with the choosing party happening on 4–5 June 2026. This will be my fifth time signing up for Chosen®, and that feeling of not knowing who will choose me is still something I look forward to.

More than anything, I look forward to being part of their journey — supporting them as they grow, and walking alongside them in whatever small ways I can.

It has quietly become one of the most meaningful parts of my sponsorship journey.

I’m always happy to share more about my experience if anyone wants to know what it’s really like.

May xx

A View From Above the Clouds

A random thought I had while flying from Tampa to Phoenix this morning…

There’s a whole world beneath us, filled with stories we may never fully know.

Looking out from above the clouds always gives me perspective. From an airplane window, everything feels quieter, smaller, almost still — but down there, life is constantly moving. People are going about their days, carrying responsibilities, chasing goals, and navigating things we may never see or understand.

It’s easy to forget that while we’re focused on our own routines, so much life is unfolding everywhere else at the same time.

Sometimes travel just puts that into perspective in a very quiet way, not in a dramatic or life-changing sense, but just enough to make me pause and think a little differently.

And maybe that’s all it is — a reminder that there’s so much happening beyond my own little world, and I don’t always need to see it to acknowledge it exists.

Just a small thought, really. A reminder to stay a little more aware, a little more grounded, and a little less caught up only in my own bubble. 🤍

May xx

When Running Stops Looking the Same

I haven’t really been sharing much about my runs lately. Not because I stopped moving… just because things have been a bit all over the place.

Running has always been a big part of my routine. But since December 2025, things started to change.

At first, it was manageable. I was still able to push through and even complete two full marathons during that period. Running didn’t feel perfect, but it was still possible.

After January, things started to shift. My plantar issue became more persistent, and my shin began to flare up, too.

There were days it felt like my body just wasn’t cooperating the way it used to.

Over time, my shin improved, which was a relief. But the plantar issue still comes and goes whenever it wants to.

So I made a decision I didn’t take lightly — I stopped forcing my runs.

Instead, I started showing up in different ways.

Walking.

Swimming.

Slowing down.

It wasn’t what I planned, but it became what I needed.

Life also continued in between all of this.

There was travel, long walks in new places, and a slower way of exploring the world. At first, it felt like I was “less active” than before.

But slowly, I started to realise something important — I was still moving. Just differently.

And surprisingly, I started to enjoy this slower pace more than I expected.

Seven days into May, I realised I’ve already walked almost 35km.

It’s not the same as logging running miles. It doesn’t look like marathon training.

But it still counts.

It still matters.

I’m still showing up.

I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back to running at full capacity.

But I do know I will return to it.

For now, I’m learning that consistency doesn’t always look like running.

Sometimes it looks like walking.

Sometimes it looks like resting.

Sometimes it looks like trusting the process, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Oh well,

This season has taught me that movement is not just about pace or distance.

It’s about showing up in whatever form your body allows you to.

One step at a time. Literally.

May xx