Year of the Tiger

 Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! Wishing all good health, good fortune, happiness, and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger. May you have the strength and the intelligence of a tiger. Year 2022, here us roar!  

Present AND Purpose?

Someone once mentioned to me that your purpose is something you embody for all aspects of your life. I thought so too, or at least that’s what I learned and thought so. It’s not. My purpose for my career should not be the same as the purpose in my personal life. They may have some relations, some connections, but they should not be the same. Each role you play in the world, from an employee to a child, there is a different purpose. I thought it’s a purpose that bleeds into each area, but there needs to be lines not to be crossed. But most importantly, purpose will change as we change. Instead of finding a purpose, we should focus more on enjoying and living in the moment. During the pandemic, I felt lost at sea, stranded on an island, trying to rewrite my purpose for my career, which in turn was the purpose I was chasing after for my personal life. I was focused on that for a while because that purpose, I took to heart, embodying my life’s purpose, when it’s simply just my career’s purpose. Growing up, we are asked what we want to be, who we want to be, what do we want to do, always about the occupation. Because of that, it turns into this item on our list, our life’s purpose to fulfill. Maybe instead of drilling that into kids’ heads at a young age, we should be drilling how to just be happy, in the here and now. Future is important, but the present is equally important, if not, more. Choose to be present AND create different purposes for different slices of the life pie. BUT focus on being present, as that at the end of the day, the purpose of life is to just to simply be, be human. Aim for being present, and the purpose(s) will follow.

REbeloom

 

I’ve always heard the saying along the lines of we need to get back up where we fell down. But it’s not really always the case. Going back to where we started (failed), we try to find that "us" again so we can rewrite that story. Yes, in some cases, it works. But others, we can’t because we aren’t trying to rewrite the narrative but we are trying to find that feeling, that emotion again. I was tough on myself on the writing I’ve done lately, on my blog, for myself, you name it. But it’s because I’m trying to find that version of me again, in the me now. I can’t. I can’t find that feeling I had when I was writing in the before time because in the before time, there was no pandemic. There wasn’t that cloud over our heads, that gloomed its vengeance everyday. It’s different and because it’s different, it will never be the same when we keep trying to look for the same feeling from that moment again. That euphoria I had writing on my blog in the past isn’t the same euphoria I have now writing. The meaning there is different. Instead of trying to find that emotion, that moment back, sometimes, all we can do is replant ourselves in this new fertilizer and see what blooms. (:

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays, everyone! Hope these few weeks have been filled with joy with family and friends. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2022 filled with lots of love, laughter, and happiness. Stay safe and cozy! 

 

Thankful

 

Happy November! This month is all about gratitude. Time to be thankful for all the things we have in the present, in the now, from the little things to the big things. Sometimes we focus so much on chasing after what we don't have that we forget what we have is equally, if not, more important. Open our eyes, count our blessings, and see all the small and big gems we have all along. It's a month to slow down, reflect, and feel the good waves that rushed and are rushing into our hearts. 

For me, I am thankful for family, friends, health, job, music, progress, little moments, and so much more. One of the things I really like to highlight is creativity. For a while, I felt out of tune with myself. I felt my creativity has been lacking since the pandemic began. It took me a while to get back, find my creative side again, both the old and new. Very grateful to have that piece of me back again. Truly missed the spark, the fire I once had. There's always going to be some bumps in the road and some bumps may last a marathon to reach the other side. I am thankful I road this wave and reached land again. Also, I am grateful for all you readers who continue to follow my blogging journey and I hope this new creative journey of mine may inspire you or help you in some way in your own path. Feeling lots of love and gratitude today and want to send positive vibes your way! 

Fall is in the Air

FALL into this Autumn season with style. It is the season for starting something new and letting go. Close one chapter and enter a new chapter. You may find exactly what you need if you take one step into a pile of autumn leaves like the little ha gaos above. (:

Safe Haven

My definition of a safe haven is a place to call my own. A place to drown out the noise, escape, embrace, and enjoy, all at the same time. 

Music has become my safe haven. During mid-July, I wanted to do something that was just for myself. Find something that would spark a fire in me. I thought about different creative ventures I have done in the past and in the present I like to explore. One was playing an instrument. I always wanted to play an instrument and thought, maybe a ukulele. I did some research on what instruments are easy to play and ukuleles made the list! After some thinking and pondering, I decided to buy a left-handed ukulele and been learning ever since! 

I found my safe haven in playing and listening to music, giving me all the feels, but mainly happiness. A place that sparks fire and joy in me. Plus, music improves mental health, such as anxiety and stress. Seems like music is what I needed all along! (:

What's your safe haven? 

Moving Forward

August 15, 2021

Dear Old Melina,

It’s been a while since I wrote anything on my blog. It’s been a mix bag of feelings: lost, confusion, frustration, sadness, grief, joy… the list goes on. 

Through this pandemic and losing a loved one along the way, I found myself losing myself. I felt confused, detached, sad. Yes, there was joy in between, making the most of things. But I didn’t know exactly who I was anymore. I felt stripped of who I am, as if all the things I knew were gone, vanished. What was left in me was a half empty glass of tea to quench my life on now. 

I found myself feeling less in-tune with words, having difficulty to express how I feel or when I do, I forget the words. It’s an intrinsic thing in me, trying to find who I am again and creating this new version of me, a better version of me, of who I want to be. Melina 2.0. 

If there’s one thing that is so truly needed during this time is compassion. Everyone is different, experiencing the same thing but differently. Nature and nurture are involved, but circumstances add to the mix. Yes, there’s the pandemic going on, but some people, like myself, lost a loved one. Others may have lost a job, needed to move, found love, experienced multiple life changing events, the list goes on. Not everyone will wear their heart on their sleeve. People may not be so open to share what’s been happening or simply not ready to share. Sharing their intimate thoughts and feelings is bringing in another person into their world, adding another person to the list of people they care and love. It’s a scary thought, especially during this time, as there’s so much uncertainty. There is so much to take in at once. So we should be compassionate towards others. 

And... be compassionate towards oneself. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. There is so, so much ugly, but there is beauty in the midst of all the chaos. Whatever anyone is going through, remember it’s not about moving on, whether it’s a death of a loved one or the end of an important chapter in life. It’s about moving forward. Carry what you need with you, in your heart, and keep going. Life keeps going and we need to too.

As I navigate this season in my life, I know I need to show myself the same compassion and care towards others, towards myself for a change. Be okay with not having the right words to express how I’m feeling. For the first time, in a long time, I feel I got 90% of what I wanted to say in writing here. That’s so much progress for me. 

Thank you Old Melina for all that you given me over these years. This year, it's time for me to spread my wings and learn to fly in a different direction with your guidance along the way to discover and create who I need to be now.

I’ll leave a note for myself and anyone out there who reads this who needs to hear it: Growth in oneself is a mixtape on shuffle and repeat: past, healing, progress, setbacks, and joy. There will be tons of highs and lows. Remember to smile and know you are exactly where you need to be. The world is constantly teaching you what you need to learn. Life prepares you for living. 

Love,

An in-progress Melina 2.0

(a special edition)

Baking Adventures

 

Rome Places Part 3

Rome Places Part 2

 

Rome Places Part 1

Rome Foods Part 2

 

Rome Foods Part 1

 

Paris Places Part 2