A lot happened when I sort of stopped sharing something personal in this blog. Mostly work, but mostly life. Life happened and it's still an ongoing show. Nothing grand happened though, I'm not getting married or expecting a baby, but I thought it would be proper for me to run you through what's been going on in my life if I were to sort of 'come back into my usual blogging caliber. Not that I ever stopped, which you'd find out later. 

     I would like to say that one of the biggest reasons why I haven't blogged here as much as I did is the drastic shift in going digital with every aspect of our lives. For sure, most of us worked in front of our computers more than we used to prior to the pandemic. This is especially true for me ever since I worked full-time as a content writer last year, and briefly as a curriculum developer. This means that I spend more or less ten hours working on my computer, and I would really love to lessen it to protect my eye health. 

     Going back, what's new? There might be a lot of new things or ventures happening in my life now. Most of which aren't even part of my "goals", but I'm grateful for the good ones. Like every other person's life, I also had some bumpy parts. Some of which I'm still coping with as they are emotionally traumatic, and it's not something everyone can understand so I just tend to be quiet about it. 

What's Up?

Yeah, so what's up? Here are some major updates in my life. Feel free to read or not. lol  :)

I've started making fashion earrings.

      A part of me always wanted to create something with my hands, and I find it so liberating to come up with something that I initially just had in mind. If you know me or if we personally often meet, you'll know how much I love wearing earrings. I remember collecting fashion accessories before particularly rings which I have actually blogged countless summers ago. haha Now, I'm conceptualizing and making earrings. This is more of a side hustle or a hobby for now though, but I am happy how this makes me and other ladies happy. I'm not producing or selling my creations in massive quantities as I do this by myself with whichever materials I have. This is also not something I would consider a full-blown business since I have to have a full-time job that would allow me to pay the bills aka Netflix monthly subscriptions. lmao 

      Nevertheless, this makes me so happy and free, and even though I'm aware that this isn't something that would make me rich AF, I'm grateful for the smiles this has given me. Also, this has given me the chance to reconnect with some of my college and high school friends whenever they want to buy a pair from me. This is because I'm only posting my creations using my Facebook account, which is fine with me as I get to know and see that people I personally connected with are wearing my creations. 

just a couple of photos I took for local brands in Cebu :)

     We feel pain when something hurts us that causes discomfort. Often, pain could be a symptom of an underlying disease. While some pain could be easily remediated, there are some that last longer than six months. This is chronic pain that continues even after one has healed from an injury or illness. Basically, it is a type of pain that continues when it should not. 

     There are other people who have suffered from chronic pain without experiencing physical injuries in the past. This is why chronic pain is associated with certain health concerns such as arthritis. Due to its long-term characteristic, chronic pain causes emotional and mental stress including anxiety and trauma of re-injury that could hinder someone from doing an activity they once loved. 

    If you are experiencing chronic pain, know that you are not alone. Globally, chronic pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability. In the United States alone, one in three adults suffers from chronic pain. 

    As chronic pain can bring major stress to your body’s hormones, it can also affect the neurochemicals in your general nervous system including how your brain works. Thus, the intense pain that you feel can affect your daily mood, behavior, and overall outlook on life. This is the reason why many of those who suffer from chronic pain experience depression. In fact, a study published in 2006 stated that more than 70 percent of those who suffer from chronic pain testified to having depression. In a similar study, more than 80 percent reported that they have sleeping issues. 

     Social isolation from feeling depressed and anxious also causes behavioral changes in chronic pain patients. These changes can cause tension in the patients’ personal and professional relationships. All of these can result in the deterioration of social networks that could provide emotional and mental support. 

     The challenges in finding treatments for chronic pain management and mental health issues also contribute to a higher risk of substance abuse and suicide for its sufferers. Certain pain killers such as opioids can obstruct normal cognitive function and regular pain impulse communication. When not taken properly as prescribed by a physician, these drugs can heighten mental health issues. 

    Controlling chronic pain and treating mental health issues can result in pain relief. In addition, these will also improve the patients’ living conditions. It is essential for those in the medical field to understand chronic pain deeply and look for more ways in helping those who suffer from it. 

      Struggling with chronic pain and mental health issues? Doing these might help provide relief to your condition along with prescribed medicines. First, seek help from mental health professionals. Psychotherapy and cognitive training can limit the severity of stress that can make your pain worse. Second, exercise. Physical exercises are not only proven to release “happy” hormones that enhance one’s mood but also act as natural pain relievers. Doing so will both improve your physical and mental health. Lastly, modify your lifestyle. This includes practicing mindfulness and eliminating harmful toxins from your body. This includes choosing healthier food options and maintaining control over your mind and body. 

     Suffering from chronic pain? Whenever possible, take yourself out and enjoy life outside. Do your best not to isolate yourself and surround yourself with people who genuinely support you with your struggles. It is totally normal to feel tired, so do not feel guilty if you need to recharge and rest. Helping those who are going through the same concerns as you do will also widen your perspective in understanding your pain deeply.

Pair it with your favorite jeans and white sneakers

     This must be the classic and the most common way of styling a tee. I mean, some would even call this basic but I'd like to call this clean. No unnecessary fabrics just you and your tee and white sneakers. What I love most about this look is that I could literally sport this almost everywhere and can easily pull this look together especially if I'm running out of time. Plus, I could easily spice up this look by throwing on some minimalist accessories or my simple black bowler hat. 

     My foot is now fully-healed and my experience taught me how important it is to wear appropriate and comfortable footwear. Having this in mind, I have here three of the recommended footwear for ladies which have proven to be comfortable. This includes the ones I've found at shelivo, an online shop that sells various clothing and footwear online. 

1. Sandals with Cushion and Arch Support

    First on my list is comfortable wedge sandals. This is because I find sandals easy to wear, and also sensible in most places. Even most workplaces these days allow the use of sandals for their employees. This includes the office where I am currently working for. Sandals are also easy to maintain and could last longer depending on how you care for the footwear. 

     I recently went shopping for a comfortable sandal, and the sales lady gladly walked me through the best ones I could find. I noticed that the ones she recommended have cushion lining in them and durable arch support. Looking into these things, I found that those refer to a corrective device worn in the shoe and so molded as to provide support for the natural arch of the foot. Not all footwear is created equal so if you want to have the most comfortable shoes there is, best consider those that have such support. 

2. Sneakers

      Anybody who doesn't have a pair of sneakers should have one. I believe this is something we can all agree. Sneakers are one of the most versatile and comfortable footwear there s that we could wear almost everywhere. Plus, sneakers are easy to style and its classic look makes them instantly elevated even when you're just sporting your regular shirt and jeans combo. If you're not a fan of heels, sneakers are better choices for you compared to wedge sandals.

3. Combat Boots

     I know there are a lot of comfortable shoes out there that we can consider, however, I'll stop at these three for now. The third and the last comfortable footwear on my list are combat boots. It's no wonder why it's the choice of footwear for military men. While it may take you longer to wear them, as long as you got one that's in your size, you could literally do anything while wearing your combat boots without leaving them behind. P.S just a quick trivia though, the most expensive shoes I have to date was a pair of combat boots from Dr. Martens. It was quite pricey but boy, how I felt invisible while wearing them! My imaginative mind also tells me that those would be my footwear of choice if I'd be running away from zombies. lol