So long, 2018 👋🏻

2018 was an awesome year - and not because everything was rainbows and flowers but because despite everything that happened, I was able to accomplish a lot and had great support along the way. Yes, there were truly ugly moments, but I'd like to think this year made me a better person 🙂

While waiting for 2019, I'd love to look back at what made my 2018 memorable:

1. My sisters went back home to MNL - we're finally complete ❤️ Had a blast celebrating the holidays with my loved ones 🙂

2. Finally learned how to drive and actually drove several times alone within the city. One dream off my checklist 👌🏻

3. Traveling to new places and had a lot of new experiences this year. Made my heart (and belly, lol) fuller ❤️

4. Trying out new stuff at work and discovering that I am able and I am capable when I push myself 💪🏻

5. Learned a lot about what I want in the future but still riding the tail-end of my midlife crisis.

6. Still lovin' my life with special thanks to family, friends and the boyfriend ❤️

7. Although I stopped and lost my will numerous times, I am still determined to finish my grad studies and achieve a healthier lifestyle 😄

2019, I pray you bring about courage and wisdom to face the tough challenges, a grateful spirit, an open mind and heart, and a never-say-die attitude. More smiles, laughter, hugs, kisses and quality time with loved ones won't hurt either 🙂

Leaving 25 Behind

A little over 5 minutes left before I turn 26 *cue birthday playlist*

My 25th year in this Earth brought about the toughest challenges I have yet to face in life. I took a leap of faith and flailed for a long time. I pretty much spent this year hoping and praying and crying but in the end, I landed on my feet.

Regardless of the challenges, I felt like I grew stronger and wiser over the last 12 months. I did not know how things would turn out and I had a lot of why-did-I-do-this-again moments but I'd like to think those moments made me feel more appreciative of what I have right now.

A lot of priceless moments also highlighted my 25th year - things that I didn't know I had the courage to actually go through because I was scared and anxious. But hey, if you don't jump with your eyes fully closed then you'd forever wonder what if, right? 

25 taught me that life moves forward whether you've caught on or not. And no, I'm not exactly invincible. I will fumble and fail miserably for a while but (cliche as it may sound) I'll be okay.

For my 26th, I wish for good health and safety (for me and my loved ones), a kick-ass year at work and the courage to boldly face whatever life throws at me. I acknowledge that life won't always be rainbows and flowers - I guess I'll just have to take it one day, one problem at a time.

A heaping serving of love, success, happiness and purpose, please 😊

Thoughts

I was never good with change. I used to feel anxious and panicky every single time I had to do something different or deal with a whole new set of people (I still do). I like my comfort. I like my routine. I like predictability. I kept telling myself whenever I settled into a cushy routine: "I wish this would last forever, these would be my constant for the rest of my life". 

Boy, was I really naive.

Circumstances changed. We did some growing up and explored different paths. People changed. My close-knit group of friends whom I used to talk to every single day were busy and I had to put in a lot of effort to keep in touch (even though this was not reciprocated - but hey, I didn't mind). Plans fell through and I learned that 99.9% of the time, I would get frustrated that people would bail out or worse, don't reply at all. Dealing with new people with their whole new different set of attitudes was draining. But, as all human beings do, I adapted. 

I guess I wanted to write this down because I felt like I'm constantly being slapped by reality. Your best friends don't stay your best friends for the rest of your life. You might like doing something now but who knows what you will want in 3 years? Problems evolve but so do you. Dealing with people can be exhausting - often times this takes the biggest effort.

Change is inevitable, they say. I feel like a huge part of me is still figuring things out and I'm unable to cope with unpleasant things. But I guess I will adapt. I always do.

Out of the blue and into the red

My, how time flies. This blog has been asleep for a while now. Or the owner may have been just a tad lazy. Will resurrect this as soon as time permits. For now, I write to make sense of something.

Do you ever have those days when you feel like everything's in order but somehow, something feels missing? And you can't quite put your finger on it - the world just doesn't make sense for some bizarre reason. You go through the motions of your routine and play the part of an active human being. Be it an employee, student, businessman or a homebody. And yet, that nagging feeling that you are missing out on something big is persistent. You can't concentrate and you question yourself: what am I missing?

Sadly, I cannot answer the questions much to my frustration. I've been literally drowning in a sea of insecurities and uncertainties lately that I can't keep up with all the thoughts zipping inside my head. What keeps me afloat these days is a breath of fresh air. For what it's worth, I hope what I'm focusing on yields something significant. Or can somehow help me make sense of this unsettling pit in my stomach.

I'm happy to stay blue but I'm yearning to go red. I hope the universe is pointing me in the right direction. Or giving me the right signals at least.

Mystery Manila Review

*This is a spoiler free post - it contains references to what's in the themed rooms but limited to what's already available in their website.

After Breakout Philippines, we sought to try out the second (or first, depends on who you ask really) of the latest fad centering around live escape-the-room games currently taking Metro Manila by storm.

Enter Mystery Manila.

There are two "mysteries" available to try - Justice for Jamila and the Chained Chamber. Coming off our victory (read: dumb luck) from Breakout Philippines, I was determined to squeeze this in my schedule during my one week break from work. I think I got carried away though 'cause I booked both rooms in a span of less than a week. Oops.

Last Tuesday, me and my sisters braved the grueling heat to try out the "Justice for Jamila" room. Since I had a case of "north-o-phobia", I kept my eyes peeled for the Mystery Manila logo in the Eastwood surroundings. Although our cab driver dropped us off at IBM Plaza, it was relatively easy to spot the JW Plaza Bldg because of its telltale landmarks. Upon spotting the Mystery Manila banner on the 2nd floor, my excitement grew.

The premise for the "Justice for Jamila" room was to help Mr. Castillo solve the murder of his hired detective, Jamila Torres. Upon signing the waiver and being briefed, we were escorted to the room to start our "investigation" accompanied by the gamekeeper (who was there to give us clues if we asked for it but if provided will add extra minutes to our finishing time).

Needless to say, the effect of entering the "crime scene" was a bit underwhelming since we weren't blindfolded (like in Breakout Philippines). The clues hidden in the room were very hard to find and you really needed to use your noggin to make sense of the connections. After struggling with numerous dead-ends and bickering about whether or not we should ask for a clue, we ran out of time. Looking back, I'd say that the material in this room was overwhelming and strategy + teamwork are key to solving the case.

Today, me and my high school friends went back to try the other room - the Chained Chamber. Eerily similar to the first Saw movie concept (minus the sawing your foot off part), we were told that this room was harder than the other one I tried last Tuesday.

Wait, what? We barely scraped by in Justice for Jamila. Are we going to die in this room? :O

Unlike the other room, we were blindfolded before we entered and were subsequently handcuffed to opposite sides of the room. Now, the effect of this was more terrifying than the previous 2 rooms I've tried out. There's something about being chained that tricks your mind into helplessness and the feeling of being paralyzed. We bucked under pressure 3/4 into the game and asked for a clue from the gamekeeper.

Surprisingly, we broke out just in the nick of time (58 minutes) and were whooping in delight when the gamekeeper reminded us that we asked for a clue and our finishing time was now 62 minutes.

Drat.

But we escaped! (Yay!) and we're super proud of it :) Escaped 2 out of 3 times. Hmmm. Not bad :)

After trying out both their rooms, I commend the Mystery Manila team for creating something like this. It was mind-blowing and exhilarating on our part. I just wish they'd come up with more themed rooms in the future (I can hear my wallet crying already) and more locations closer to the South.

Life will be full of mysteries indeed :)

Mystery Manila - www.mysterymanila.com
JW Plaza Bldg. E Rodriguez Ave. Quezon City