mental-health
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Tips on How to Enjoy the Holiday Season This Year
The holidays can be magical, but let’s be honest- they can also be overwhelming, expensive, and emotionally draining if we’re not careful. Somewhere between the gift lists, the travel plans, the cooking, and the family expectations, it’s easy to lose… Continue reading
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Color Therapy for Winter Blues
Winter settles in quietly, not with drama but with a slow dimming, as if someone keeps lowering the brightness on the world each day. The sky hangs heavy. The wind loses its warmth. Even the streets begin to feel unfamiliar,… Continue reading
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Orchid Lovers’ Escape at the United States Botanic Garden
Coming from a tropical place, I’ve seen plenty of flowers in my hometown and in other provinces. When I worked in Thailand, I lived near the Chatuchak Plant Market, where a wide variety of floral species were sold and displayed.… Continue reading
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Is This Really Me? Meeting the Real Self
Have you ever once stopped midair while you’re about to do something and suddenly asked yourself the question- “Is this really me?”That pause, which came without warning, made you rethink the decision you desperately wanted to carry out just seconds… Continue reading
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Between Two Rivers: The Timeless Beauty of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
The government furlough has undoubtedly made many tourists and federal employees reconsider their plans, with museums and historic sites around Washington, D.C., temporarily closing. It’s frustrating to keep refreshing your browser, clinging to the hope that you might still get… Continue reading
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A Peaceful Stay at Ayothaya Riverside House
In 2023, I took a solo trip to Ayutthaya, Thailand-a decision that turned out to be one of the most peaceful and memorable travel experiences I’ve had. I booked a stay at Ayothaya Riverside House, and it became more than… Continue reading
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Do Something Your Older Self Will Be Proud Of
There will come a day when you’ll look back at the version of you reading this right now – the younger you – and you’ll either smile with gratitude or sigh with regret. The choice, believe it or not, is… Continue reading
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Climbing Mount Finaratan: Maducayan’s Hidden Treasure
Dried leaves carpeted the forest floor, vibrant orchids bloomed as they hung delicately from moss-draped branches, and thick, emerald moss blanketed ancient tree trunks. Birds flitted through the canopy, their cheerful chirping echoing through the trees, while the faint murmur… Continue reading
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When Literature Becomes Real: My Visit to Edgar Allan Poe’s House
I was looking at our backyard when I saw a bird. Not ebony black, but dark enough to be called black, with a grayish tint on its chest. I asked my husband what kind of bird it was, and he… Continue reading
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How to Pull Off a Chic Layered Look While Living in Baguio
If you’re living in or visiting Baguio during the cold season, you know the weather calls for thoughtful layering that keeps you warm without feeling bulky. Pulling off a chic layered outfit here means balancing function and style – light… Continue reading