It's funny how we all complained about how slow January was but I just sneezed and we are now in March. In 3 or 4 months (?) time, I'll be celebrating my first anniversary here in the UK. How time flies! I could say that I have adjusted very well to work, it's definitely not a walk in the park but I am okay. Weather-wise, the cold never bothered me. Oh who am I kidding, I miss sunny Manila but I am not mad at the cool UK breeze that doesn't melt my makeup easily. Hehe!

I am trying my best to be better with my communication skills. I want to prepare myself in case I would want to continue the corporate role that I left in the Philippines. Or whatever, I just really want to speak better English. Then I am thinking of also learning how to drive, not this year though maybe next? I don't know but it is definitely a life skill that I should learn. Aside from that, I'd also like to have a theme for my room. Blame it on all the reels that shows pretty clean and aesthetic rooms.

As for any specific life updates. I HAVE NONE, STILL. HAHA.

Maybe on my next entry, I might have something to talk about. Hahaha anyways, I'll leave you all for now. Talk to you all again on my next blog.

Xo,

Ria

In 2021, I wrote Que sera, sera on Twitter (now X). There are only a selected few who know what I went through in the last two years. I had a series of many highs then suddenly followed by even more lows. In 2023, I persevered and got to where I am right now.

To be honest, I still haven't gotten over many of my losses in the last couple of years. I am still sensitive about the topic and my real friends know to not open it up and ask me about it and I am very grateful for that. When 2023 entered, it all really started with a simple prayer: Please don't let me down this time.

By the start of 2023, I already know that I am moving to a different country. But that was also how I started my 2022, so when 2023 had the same beginning, I prayed really hard that it wouldn't be the same heartbreak over again. So when I talk to people who are helping me, I sound uninterested and unhappy. Maybe it was my way to prepare myself for whatever was coming. I just don't want to get my hopes up again and be heartbroken in the end.

FFW to today, I am now in the UK. Working in the healthcare industry, which I always wanted as a kid. As a child, I grew up wanting to be a doctor that's why I took up clinical psychology. Who knew fate had other plans for me. As I said in my year-ender post on Facebook: Started 2023 with a prayer, ending 2023 with the answer. God's answer this time was a yes.

So maybe, I will start 2024 with another prayer and let the Lord decide on what is best for me.

Happy new year, everyone! Cheers to new beginnings! 

We all wake up daily and promise to be better versions of ourselves. Often, we fail our own expectations and then become cruel to ourselves. I have been in that situation so many times that I lost count. Still, life has its own way of surprising us every day.

In a few weeks, I will be starting a new season in my life and I can't wait to share all the details with you. I just wanted to savor this triumph for a while, without anyone lurking in the background. I am at a point in my life where I just wanted to enjoy things quietly for a while before I share it with the world.

Please continue to pray with me as I work my way towards a new chapter of my life and when I'm ready, I will happily share all the details with you.

Xo,

Ria

Hey there! Just a quick check-in here. I'm sure you've all been doing great, but I'll let you know how I've been doing. ⏩I've been in a slump for the past few months and it feels like no one cares. Does anyone still read blog posts btw? 🤔 Hehe 

Anyhoooo, I'm not sure if you've heard, but I turned 31 a couple of weeks ago. But, do you ever feel like being your age? Sometimes or most of the time rather, I still feel like I just turned 21! Maybe because I watch too much Disney. 😅 I had a small celebration—I just went out to dinner with my family 👪, and it was really nice. Then a couple of weeks ago, I went to eat out with some of my college besties 👯. I missed them so much! 💜

Aside from catching up with some friends, I'm finally catching up on my reading! 😃 I've been enjoying some interesting books 📚 lately. I'm currently reading Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover. I've been a CoHo fan since I finished Ugly Love and even before Kathryn hyped It Ends With Us. Though I wouldn't want to be in those kinds of Toxic relationships, tbh! 😖 I am also currently reading Empathy in Action by our beloved CEO, Tony Bates. We got free hard copies! Yay, employee perks! 💛

It's almost July! 🤯 I can't believe it. 🤯 Where did the time go? 😃 I'm just going to blabber here for a minute: in the next few months, I have a couple of plans lined up that I hope will make me a better person and help me live my life more authentically. 👍

So, yeah—let's do this!! Self, I'm rooting for you! 👍👍👍

XO 💗

R

I can still remember the time when I started blogging, we always put our age in the "About Me" section. Lol. Well, I don't do that now. Which reminds me, I think I need to check mine if it is still stuck with the " A 20-Something *insert adjectives here*" intro because I am no longer 20 something. Yep, based on the photo, I recently turned 31. 👩

XO,

Ria

Dear Self,

You have been through so much in the last couple of months and I know it felt like every time you are this close to winning, you always end up losing so much more. But I admire you for still being here. I know how many times you thought that quitting is the last resort yet here you are -- smiling as if nothing bad has ever happened. Your strong willpower is one of the most beautiful things about you. Thank you for staying brave, thank you for being a fighter. 

You have always been an amazing listener to everyone that matters to you. During the tough times when you felt like you needed to face things on your own, you met the real people who will always have your back. And that is one of the wonderful things that came out of it, you were able to keep the real ones and discard those who are only there in the good times. You learned to let go of things that aren't meant to be. You learned that you can still lose despite playing the game right. I know it was hard to accept because you know how hard you've worked for it, how hard you prayed for it -- but, I am so proud that you're slowly letting it go. Lessons are learned and you still believe that one day you will get there.

Self, there are still more challenges that await you in the coming months or years but all these circumstances have prepared you to be strong. Remember to rest when you're exhausted. Remember to fight when needed. Keep the things that matter and let go of everything that makes you doubt your existence. You are never a waste of space. You are worth it.

And I hope that one day when everything starts to sail smoothly - remember all the battles you fought and be grateful that you made it to this day.

XO.

R

You know what, I have been up to so many different things towards the end of 2021 and early 2022. I feel so overwhelmed of what has been going on with my career and personal life. Many people knows only the bits and pieces of the process but not a lot of people knows the complications in between.

But I don’t want to give up just yet. I am writing this blog entry for me to have something to look back on regarding this experience. I honestly think everything is worth fighting for until the end, I can still feel my silver lining shining so I really need to pull myself back together. But, allowing myself to take a quick break is what my soul needs to heal and continue fighting. We’re almost there and we’re gonna make it.

This is a reminder that a lot of people has my back and is willing to take every risk with me for my dream. I’m not gonna be a victim of this shit-ass system, no not this time. Remember my name cause I am gonna bounce back. Remember what my mama Taylor says: “I come back stronger than a 90s trend”.

In time, you will know what this is all about and please please, if you’re reading this, please pray for me. 

Light and Love 💛

Riri

But I just really wanna thank God for still keeping me afloat despite everything and is still continuously showering my family with so much blessing right after every storm. I'm grateful that I have a job that sustains the needs of my family, I recently celebrated my second year anniversary with Genesys 💛 and I am looking forward to more. I am blessed to have a wonderful set of trusted friends who have been my support system through it all. It is important to count your blessings in every storm that you go through, this will serve as your reminder that you were never left and forsaken. 💚

I am also preparing for a huge leap, I am stoked to share the news with you but I am still waiting for the right time. The reason that I made sure that my blog is up is so that I could keep you updated with everything that I will go through in the next coming weeks. 😁 I have prayed long and hard for this and finally, God heard me! 😇 Please pray for me that everything will run smoothly till the day finally comes and I promise, I will share everything when the time is right. 💋

Also, I got www.theawkwardprobinsyana.com back! Yay! 👏 It took me awhile to realize that I need to create another account for me to renew the domain name. 😂 I don't know how to explain it but I am just glad that it is back. 😏

Hmm, what else? Oh, and I also started binge-watching Grey's Anatomy. It just happened. 😅 It has been trending for a while when it aired on Netflix but I didn't watch it until last month now I am hooked. I didn't even know Patrick Dempsey was Dr Shepherd lol, I just recognized the face from Enchanted HAHAHA 😓 I also participated in the Goodreads reading challenge and I can feel that I won't finish it as usual. 😅

Alright, enough talking. I've been talking a lot lately. I am practicing, I need to be fluent for my next adventure. 😉 Oops, is that a clue? ✌

Thanks for reading, be safe fairies.

Xo,

Ria