• Random

    My Journey to 40: Accomplished Goals

    August 24, 2024

    As I approach the milestone of turning 40, I made a promise to myself: this year will count. I created a “40 Before 40” list — not just a bucket list of things to do, but a personal map of goals, challenges, and dreams I wanted to chase before stepping into a new decade. It’s been a journey of courage, change, and celebration.

    Some goals are still in progress, some are beautifully completed, and others have brought me more growth than I ever expected. Here are the highlights — my proudest, happiest, and most reflective moments so far:

    Adventure and Exploration
    • Travel somewhere SOLO – Still on the to-do list. I haven’t taken this plunge yet, but I’m planting the seed.
    • Take a road trip (April 28, 2024) DONE! We hit the road and drove through the countryside as a family — scenic views, small-town charm, and that exhilarating road trip freedom. I felt truly alive.
    • Celebrate New Year in a different province – Still hoping for this one.
    • Visit a new country – Thinking of India next. I haven’t gone yet this year, but the dream is alive — and the passport is ready!
    • Visit my nephew in North Carolina – Stayed for six months! Bonding with him and living life in a different rhythm was a highlight. A gentle, joyful chapter I’ll always remember.
    • See the Northern Lights – Oohhh… I missed the timing. But next time — I’ll be ready.
    • Move to another place – Still deciding where my next “home” will be.
    Wellness and Self-Care
    • Do a 5K run – Yes! At my own pace, no pressure. And that made it all the more meaningful.
    • Get in shape (65kg + bikini confidence) – Still working on this. Health is a journey.
    • Develop an exercise routine – Almost there. Consistency is my next milestone.
    • Enjoy regular spa days– Spa-at-home sessions = self-love. Still luxurious, still worth it.
    • Keep my face acne-free – Consistent skincare has been life-changing. The glow-up is real!
    Personal Style and Confidence
    • Try a short haircut – DONE! — and loved it. It was more than a style shift; it was a statement.
    • Lighten my hair color – A bold move out of my comfort zone — and worth it. Fresh color, fresh energy.
    • Build a capsule wardrobe – Still fine-tuning my style, but feeling more “me” every day.
    Financial Freedom
    • Get rid of credit card debt – Almost there. Some family support delays, but progress is progress.
    • Have savings and insurance – Still building this up. One step at a time.
    • Complete a 30–120 day “No Spend” challenge –  DONE! Being in the U.S. helped — no Shopee, Lazada, or FoodPanda temptations!
    Career and Creativity
    • Launch a YouTube channel – Maybe road trip stories? Still thinking about it.
    • Write in my blog daily – DONE! I’ve stayed consistent — and proud of it! This habit has sharpened my voice, helped me reflect, and allowed me to connect with others in meaningful ways.
    • Learn coding (Python) – Planning to take an online course — and it’s opened up exciting new skills and possibilities.
    • Explore a new career path – Still exploring. What truly excites me is worth the wait.
    • Take another college course – Still in the planning phase.
    • Take the board exam – A big one on the horizon.
    • Get promoted or move on – Still figuring this one out. I’m open.
    • Start a side hustle – Thinking and dreaming. Still mapping it out.
    Lifestyle and Dreams
    • Decorate or paint my rented apartment – Not applicable anymore — no more apartment!
    • Move to a condo unit – Someday, when the time (and place) feels right.
    • Buy myself an amazing 40th birthday gift – My sister gifted me the Coach bag I had been eyeing. It felt so good to be seen and celebrated.
    • Plan a memorable 40th birthday – A simple, heartfelt celebration with family. Quiet but deeply special.
    • Ride and own a motorcycle – Got my license! Now just need the family’s blessing to actually own one.
    • Buy a car – Still on the wishlist. Four wheels of freedom, coming soon.
    Learning and Passion Projects
    • Prioritize hobbies – v/blogging, journaling Yes! Making space for what brings me joy has been healing and grounding.
    • Learn Japanese – Still learning, slowly but surely.
    • Take a swim class – I love the beach. Time to learn to swim in it, too.
    Matters of the Heart
    • Become a morning person – Forever a night owl. I’ve made peace with that.
    • Get hitched and got married– If the right person comes along.
    • Have a baby – If life leads me there.
    Big Dreams
    • Manage a coffee shop – Still a dream. One day, maybe with a view.

    Not everything went as planned — but honestly, that’s life. And I’m proud of every step, even the slow ones. This list helped me focus, take risks, be honest with myself, and chase joy unapologetically. I may not check every box by 40, but what I’ve gained is far more than a list can hold.

    Here’s to everything I’ve done, everything I’m still working on, and all the beautiful unknowns ahead.

    What about you? Have you ever made a “Before 30/40/50” list? What’s one thing you’ve done this year that made you proud? Share with me in the comments — I’d love to cheer you on.

    Reflecting on these accomplishments fills me with pride and excitement for what’s to come. Each goal I’ve ticked off has brought me closer to the person I want to be as I enter this new decade of life. Here’s to the remaining goals and the adventures they’ll bring!

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  • Random

    40 Before 40

    September 23, 2023

    I am not sure how it happened so fast. It has been a month since I turned 39. In less than a year, I will be FORTY. And not even far enough in life.

    See: How I Celebrated My Birthday

    Honestly speaking, I could not be more excited. It cannot be avoided. That is life.

    Life begins at 40, they say.

    But before I turn that age, I want to accomplish things that I felt I should have done in my twenties. I want to complete at least a handful of these before I reach it.

    I have been meaning to write this list for a while now, but I always got distracted. But I am determined to make it happen. I know it is going to be exciting.

    40 things in less than a year is a lot, but I will try my best ticking most before I am 40 or even 50. This is all about having fun chasing dreams.

    See: {Travel Bucket List} 80+ Challenges

    Here are my 40 goals before I turn 40.

    1. Travel somewhere SOLO – It scares and excites me in equal measure.
    2. Book a photoshoot session – Capture this moment in time.
    3. Take a road trip – I started driving this year; now I’m ready for an adventure.
    4. Celebrate New Year in a different province – Ring in the New Year somewhere new.
    5. Do a five-kilometer run – My first marathon attempt.
    6. Get in shape – Reach 65kg and feel confident in a bikini.
    7. Develop an exercise routine – Make fitness a habit.
    8. Enjoy a spa day every now and then – Regular self-care.
    9. Launch a YouTube Channel – Maybe about road trips? Let’s see.
    10. Try a short haircut – But not shorter than last year.
    11. Give my hair a lighter hue – Step out of my comfort zone.
    12. Get rid of credit card debt – Financial freedom by forty.
    13. Have savings and insurance – Start a side hustle if needed.
    14. Complete a 30 to 120-day “No Spend” challenge – No Shopee/Lazada, no FoodPanda.
    15. Build a capsule wardrobe – Find and stick to a style that works for me.
    16. Plan my 40th birthday with family – A celebration to remember.
    17. Buy/Get myself an amazing 40th birthday present – I deserve it.
    18. Write in my blog every single day – Consistency is key.
    19. Ride a motorcycle – Recently learned and planning to own one.
    20. Become a morning person – A lifelong challenge for this night owl.

    Continue reading, we are only half way there.

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  • Random

    {Travel Bucket List} 80+ Challenges

    February 1, 2011

    I am pretty much fed up with the metro life. My life mostly circled work and apartment, riding jeepneys and UV Express in most days. It is just too much. Life has so much more to it than traffic jams.

    For starters, I have come up with these travel bucket-list. To my amazement, I have made it to 80 (almost 100), mostly from travel bloggers/vloggers who experienced it first hand.

    The Philippines offers an endless array of bucket-list-worthy places with over 7,000 islands to choose from. Every corner is a hidden gem which awaits discovery.

    1. Amazed in Palaui Island, Cagayan
    2. Beachineering in Bantayan Island Cebu
    3. Camp Overnight in Mt. Pinatubo’s Crater
    4. Camping in Nagsasa Cove – April 2011
    5. Climb Mt. Pico De Loro’s Monolith
    6. Climb Osmeña Peak, Cebu
    7. Collect Seashells in Roxas City
    8. Cultural immersion in Banaue – February 2017
    9. Eat a hot bowl of Bulalo on a cold rainy day in Tagaytay
    10. Eat authentic Cebu lechon
    11. Eat bagnet and Vigan longganisa at Ilocos Sur
    12. Eat Coconut Crab in Batanes
    13. Eat Fresh Tamilok in Palawan
    14. Enjoy an awe-inspiring view of Chocolate Hills
    15. Experience Discovery Trail at Masungi Georeserve at Tanay, Rizal
    16. Experience Tagaytay Sky Ranch – December 2013
    17. Explore Banaue Rice Terraces – August 2013
    18. Find the Ghost Town in Sabtang, Batanes
    19. Fire Dancing in Puerto Galera – March 2011
    20. Frolic around Caramoan Islands
    21. Get a beer and watch the sunset along Corong-Corong, El Nido, Palawan – August 2016
    22. Get a Henna Tattoo in Boracay
    23. Get Sun-Kissed in Pagudpud
    24. Go canyoneering in Cebu
    25. Go wakeboarding at Nuvali
    26. Have a picture in Boulder Beach in Batanes
    27. Have a picture in Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Ilocos
    28. Have seafoods galore in Roxas City
    29. Helmet diving in Boracay
    30. Interact with Dolphins in Subic
    31. Island hopping in Coron, Palawan
    32. Island hopping in Caramoan, Camarines Sur
    33. Island hopping in Hundred Islands, Pangasinan – June 2017
    34. Join the street dancing at Sinulog in Cebu City
    35. Motor Bike in Sagada
    36. Munch on Ilocos’ Empanada
    37. Orange Picking in Sagada
    38. Paragliding in Boracay
    39. Parasail in Boracay
    40. Party Til Dawn in Boracay
    41. Relax in Boracay
    42. Relax in Kawa Hot Bath in Antique
    43. Revisit history at Intramuros, Manila
    44. Ride in Hot Air Balloon in San Fernando
    45. Ride the Edge Coaster in Cebu
    46. Ride the ferry in Pasig River Ferry Service.
    47. Sand Boarding Paoay’s Sand Dunes
    48. See a Tarsier in Bohol
    49. See the Bangui windmills first hand in Ilocos Norte
    50. See the wondrous Magellan’s Cross – August 2017
    51. Selfie with Tarsier in Bohol
    52. Sip Civet Coffee in Baguio – February 2012
    53. Sleep in Hammock in Anawangin Cove – May 2011
    54. Spelunking in Crystal Cave, Sagada – February 2017
    55. Spend a morning in Batad Rice Terraces – February 2017
    56. Spend Christmas and New Year at Baguio
    57. Star Gazing in Batanes
    58. Step on the PH’s Highest Highway in Cordillera – February 2017
    59. Strawberry Picking in La Trinidad
    60. Sunrise in Laiya, Batangas
    61. Sunset in The Ruins, Bacolod
    62. Surfing in Baler
    63. Swim in Enchanted River
    64. Swim with the Whale Sharks in Oslob – August 2017
    65. Take a picture of Mayon Volcano
    66. Take a selfie at the Patapat Viaduct in Pagudpud
    67. Taste Crocodile Sisig in Palawan
    68. Top Load in Sagada
    69. Tour the entire Batanes on a Bike
    70. Trek Mt. Taal’s Crater
    71. Try authentic La Paz Batchoy in Iloilo
    72. Try the trapeze at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
    73. Vacay in El Nido, Palawan – August 2016
    74. Visit La Presa Farm in Baguio
    75. Visit the BenCab Museum in Baguio
    76. Visit the Gigantic Clamps of Hundred Is., Pangasinan – June 2017
    77. Visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan
    78. Wake boarding in CamSur
    79. Watch sea of clouds in Sagada – February 2017
    80. Zipline in Ilocos Sur

    Updated as of January 2019.

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