When I was younger, I often yearned for a fast-paced life. As a teenager, I rarely got to leave the house by myself. I coped by working on novels while locked away in my hot, stuffy bedroom. I loved writing in silence, but a greater part of me really wanted…
My husband, Jared, and I work to earn a living. We freelance for various clients and run a business — though due to the state of the economy here in the Philippines, business isn’t as profitable as it used to be. In between jobs, we dedicate a significant chunk of…
When I was younger, my family moved around a lot. I also spent a lot of time traveling all over the Philippines with my mom, due to her government job. I especially loved going to the beach, whether to swim or just listen to the soothing sound of the waves…
My husband, Jared, and I have maintained a small garden on our balcony ever since we moved into our new home. We started out with just a few potted herbs, and as time went by, we expanded our collection to include some ornamental plants and flowers. Jared is a wizard…
Recently, my husband, Jared, and I stumbled upon a local shoemakers’ trade bazaar at the city hall. We just moved to a new home in a brand-new city at the start of the year, and Marikina just so happens to be the “Shoe Capital of the Philippines”! One thing…
Climate change has been a hot topic in our circles lately. We feel it very much in the Philippines, where hot summers in the months of April and May have quickly turned into a season of strong typhoons and dangerous floods. Recently, a major typhoon hit the province of…
Managing money is an essential skill every couple must learn. From the moment they decide to live together, and especially after they decide to walk down the aisle, the health of their finances will always be a huge determinant of their happiness. This is true even if one (or…
“Demi-normal.” It’s a term I’ve coined to describe how my husband, Jared, and I both live with chronic illness. Most people are familiar with the prefix “demi-,” meaning “halfway,” “almost but not quite,” or “to an inferior degree.” For instance, a demigod‘s status is above man’s, but…
Last week, my husband, Jared, and I booked a visit to our trusted dentist. We hadn’t had our regular teeth cleaning for over a year because of pandemic restrictions. Alarmed by the amount of tartar on our teeth and frequent toothaches, we thought we’d better go in for dental…
Meaningful connections with other people are of incredible value to people with chronic illnesses. My husband, Jared, and I can both attest to this, as he lives with severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder, while I am newly diagnosed with both bipolar II disorder and the inattentive…
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