4 weeks on Substack and 73 subscribers!

I have published every week and shared a few notes on Substack. Hitting the publish button has been, and still is, terrifying, but finding a community here has been truly heartwarming. Thank you for being here, you are so appreciated.

Striving to be creatively consistent and publishing my work has shifted something in my brain. There's now an eagerness to keep practicing—to draw thoughts from deep within my mind, to let go of perfectionism, and to become more comfortable with errors and typos. Writing every day, even just a short two-sentence anecdote or idea, has built a level of discipline I never had. Whether I jot down musings on paper, in the Notes app, or in Substack drafts, this habit has been helping me gradually gain confidence and chip away at the mountain of self-doubt.

I can’t believe it’s been a month! The people I’ve talked to about my creative goals gave me one piece of advice: just start. It’s common advice from other authors too—start publishing, start writing, start creating videos, start networking, etc. It was terrifying, but I did it. I am still trying to co-exist with the anxiety of not being good enough and, at the same time, trusting the process. Because in the end, the only way to grow is to begin.

February round-up

Welcome to my first monthly recap! Here, I’ll share what brought me joy, provide recommendations, and share reflections. Join me in the comments and write what made you smile (or a little mad) this February.

Little joys and gratitude

• My Snowy days in Berlin ❄️ post has gained a lot of attention. I’ve never had anything I created get almost 800 likes. I’m glad you are all liking the view from our apartment. I realized how easy it is to take things for granted because I have been looking out the same window for the last 5 years and have gotten used to it. It doesn’t happen often, but indeed, Berlin looks magical covered in snow.

• Sunny days. Following the snow days, we got consecutive days of sunshine. It’s such a reprieve from the grayness of the city. Snow and sun are an underrated combination.

• Friendships that make me feel accountable. Back in November, I made a deal with a friend to publish on Substack at least once a month. We’re both doing it, with me trying a weekly cadence. It’s so important to find your people, you only need a few who believe in you and push you enough to move.

• Learning new skills. I have a level of delulu where I think I can do anything. I bought a camera, DJI Osmo Pocket 3, to make videos and am now only learning how to edit on Premier Pro. I’m also learning to create on Procreate. The expectations certainly do not match reality, but it’s fun. Be a little delusional.

• Travel planning. It’s always fun to plan trips for the year. Although we have not yet booked anything, a little spoiler is that my partner and I might find ourselves back in Asia this year. Maybe also some trips within Europe. Can’t wait!

• Wedding ring shopping. Finally found our precious rings after weeks of research and window shopping. We have no date yet, but the rings are ready! We might still get something custom-made, but for now, we bought something we love and can wear daily from Cartier.

• Indoor spin class. A friend invited me to join her indoor cycling class, and so I did. I could barely walk for 4 days after that. It awakened my competitive spirit, so now I’m hooked. I’ve been going for 2 weeks now. My favorite cycling studios are scattered around different neighborhoods in Berlin: Ride Bln, Rocycle, Beat81 Ride, and Becycle.

• Early spring cleaning. I went through my wardrobe and storage cabinets to pick out things that do not spark joy anymore. It was a full-day affair and so satisfying. I’ve already sold the items on second-hand market apps, Vinted and Ebay Kleinanzeigen, and earned money!

• Solo quiet days. My partner has been away for a week, and I had the apartment all to myself. The quiet nights gave me a chance to focus on writing and watch Youtube videos on how to use Adobe Premier Pro.

• HONNE Concert. The show was held at a club called Kesselhaus, around 15 minutes away from the apartment. Andy and James were great and I surprisingly knew more songs than I thought! The audience was vibing too, it was fun.

• Lollapalooza Berlin line-up is out. J-hope from BTS is headlining! I’m so excited and happy. Even before the announcement, I had a ticket to his concert in Los Angeles. Now, I don’t have to take a 14-hour flight anymore. Apart from him, the line-up is disappointing and not as exciting as last year.

• Filipino music and artists have me in a chokehold. It’s nostalgic. I created a YouTube playlist to play on days I feel homesick. It just transports me back home. Do you also ever listen to a song and suddenly get transported back to a place?

• My friend Leni on the road posted a new blog about her travel to Porto, Portugal. Check it out for travel tips!

• Hello, Love, Again. A film made in the Philippines and a sequel to Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019). Filipino films rarely make it to Germany, so I made sure to carve out time to watch it. It tells the story of Filipinos moving abroad—of resilience, hardships, love, and loss. Of fighting against the odds for a better life, not for themselves, but for the ones they leave behind. The story itself could have been better, there are gaps in the plot and the ending was underwhelming. But wow, it had me shedding tears within the first 10 minutes. It’s relatable and a mirror to the reality of many Filipinos overseas.

• Schitt’s Creek. My new favorite show! It was only released on Netflix Germany last December but has been around for 10 years. We binged all 6 seasons in just a few days. It’s hilarious and touching. David Rose is my spirit animal.

• Melo Movie. A Korean rom-com TV series and my current binge. I’m only halfway through and really loving it. I like the male actor, Choi Woo-shik, and his acting is on point as always. When he cries, I cry too. Lol.

• Much Ado About Nothing on London’s West End. Shakespeare’s comedic play is getting a revival in theatres! Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell star in the show. As a theatre kid at heart, I’m tempted to go to London just to catch the show.

Not-so-nice picks:

• Test scaries. I took the German citizenship test (Einbürgerungstest). It was an easy 33-question multiple-choice test but I have test anxiety. No matter how easy the test was, I was stressed out preparing for it. It didn’t help that the entire process to even get a test date was so bureaucratic and lengthy.

• Transport strikes. Remote work has its perk that I don’t have to commute to an office. Although I understand the reasons for the strikes, they were quite inconvenient.

Stay tuned for the next ones:

• How I planned my 3-month sabbatical to solo travel

• Sabbatical journey through Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines

• Favorite spring destinations

• Travel guides

If you have a moment to answer the poll, I’d love to hear from you!

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