What 2016 has taught me

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe it's 2017, it feels like it was only yesterday when I celebrated my 17th birthday with my friends and family. I'm turning 18 in less than five months, and I can definitely tell you it's scaring me. Anyway, forget about me turning 18 let's talk about the year 2016. 2016 was undoubtedly a roller coaster with a lot of uphill battles. However, I could still count 2016 to be one of the best years so far. No matter how much tears I might have shed last year, the beautiful memories with my wonderful friends and family would still top the sad memories. I feel like I've grown so much as a person, and 2016 also made me open my eyes to see the world for what it is.

1.) 'Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest .. It's about who came, and never left your side.'

I have been friends with this girl for almost four years, but we decided to end our friendship last year. In my view, it was for the best. I may have lost someone I've known for years, but I became closer to other people and I met a lot of amazing people too during the summer of 2016. Ever since I met them they've been there for me, and always ready to listen. They made me realize the definition of genuine friends.  

2.) The greatest love of all

You might be familiar with the song 'Greatest Love of All' by Whitney Houston. 2016 definitely taught me the greatest love of all. And yes, it is to love yourself. Though, according to the song it's easy to achieve. But from my experience, it's not easy it's tough....and painful. I have to go through so much battles with my own self and other people to finally say I love myself. Loving yourself and being proud of it is not always a bad thing. It is important to always remind yourself that you love you. 

3.) Not everyone is going to love you

No matter how nice and kind you are towards other people, it does not always mean that they will like you. But this should not stop you from being nice and doing good deeds for other people. Always be kind. Remember, Kill em with kindness!

4.) It's better to let go and move on

Sometimes, it's better if we just let go of the rope that is only hurting us. If we keep holding on it will hurt us more and more. I know some of you thinks that holding on and hoping for things to change is the best way, but we all need to accept the fact that some things can't just go back to the way they were. Letting go can unquestionable put a genuine smile on our face, it will hurt but it will be worth it.

5.) Pause and be thankful

Even if you are busy with a lot of things like school or work, it is always important to take a break or a pause and realize that we are very blessed.

À bientôt,

Dark and Sleepless Nights

This is the very first article that I've written about my personal life. I am not gonna lie and say 'Oh yeah, I've always wanted to do this', because it took me so long to come to the conclusion that it is okay to share my experience with my readers. I fell in love for the first time this year, he was not my first boyfriend, but he was definitely my first love. We had a very silent breakup. There was no fighting, no yelling and definitely no pointing fingers but that doesn't mean that there was no heartbreak, because I can one hundred percent assure you that there was, on my part at least.

I did not want to give up on my relationship with him. Ever since school started, there was this palpable space that kept getting bigger and bigger between us. I tried to stop it, but the only way to close that space was for us two to work together and put the same amount of effort in our relationship. In my view, I had put so much effort already but he wasn't doing the same. But of course, during that time, I was too blind to see it. Well.. probably not. Maybe I just tried to ignore it. I just kept telling myself that he probably just wanted to spend more time with his friends and family, because we pretty much spent the whole summer together. But a week would pass without us talking. Before that, it would usually be him who would start the conversation with his good morning messages, but it all stopped. We were not able to stop the space, it only got bigger and before we became aware of it, there was already a wall that kept getting higher and higher, thicker and thicker.

I sent him a message one night confronting him about the space and the lack of communication between us. I told him maybe we should take a break. I never wanted to break up with him, I honestly thought he would fight for me and tell me 'no'. I waited and waited, but I never got that.

The very first week of the breakup was the hardest. There was so many tears shed in the dark and sleepless nights. I could not focus on anything even in school, because I kept waiting for him to text me and tell me he still wanted to be with me. Every morning, I would wake up, and the very first thing I would do was check my phone to see if he changed his mind. I feel like there are still a lot of unanswered questions, but the questions are still unknown and hidden in the back of my mind not wanting to be asked.

I am very lucky that I have friends who made sure I was okay every day during those dark times, who would listen to me, who would just let me cry when I needed to and who were willing to sacrifice their time to hang out with me because I was feeling lonely. They never got tired of the same questions I always asked them, ''When will I be okay?'' ''When will I move on?'' ''When will I be able to let go?'' They would always give me the answers I needed to hear.

Letting go is definitely the hardest part of any breakup. It does not matter if you were the one who broke up with the other person, or you were the one who got dumped, it's still a change in your life. You are so used to talking to him every single day and every single second but that all suddenly stops. Every morning you wake up and check your phone but you instantly realise that you will not find any messages from him because it's over between you two. It might be hard in the first few weeks or months, but I can promise you that it will get better soon.

1.) Surround Yourself with True Friends

My friends definitely helped me get over the break up and be my true self again. They were always there for me, I could just call them whenever I'm feeling down and they would always cheer me up.

2.) Be Sad

If you're sad be sad, if you want to cry, then cry. Listen to Adele's songs, because that was definitely one of the things I did. Sometimes all you really need is a good cry and to let it all out.  Maybe a good movie and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream will make you feel better.

3.) Stay Away

I know I said 'if you're sad be sad', but after a week of that make sure you stop and start to focus on positive things. And yes, take a break from listening to Adele's songs. I'm pretty sure Adele will understand!

4.) Be Busy

You've probably heard this already, but it is true. You might find it hard at the beginning because focusing is just not your thing at the moment, but once you're really, really busy and there are things that need to be done, you will just find yourself thinking and realising that you have not thought about them.

5.) Be YOURSELF

No matter how much the person you love hurts you, never ever lose who you are. LOVE YOURSELF. It's not selfish to take care and love yourself. Choose happiness, be happy with yourself. Before looking for another person, make sure you are truly happy. Happiness comes from within, not from someone else. 

À bientôt,

Get To Know Me Tag

Bonjour wonderful people!

I love watching Get to Know Me Tag videos on YouTube, and I've always wanted to do it but I don't have a YouTube channel and I don't think I will have one any time soon. So, I told my friend about it then he suggested 'Why not post it on your blog?' then I was like 'OMG YES!' but I remembered that I already have an About Me page. The idea did not leave my mind even after realizing that I do have an About Me page. I decided to search Get to Know Me Tag questions, after reading them I went to my about me page, and I noticed that not everything I want my readers to know about me is written there. So, I collected some questions, and I'm going to answer them all now!

1. My celebrity crushes

Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Pattinson and Justin Bieber 

2. Zodiac Sign

Gemini 

3. What three movies could you not live without? 

The Great Gatsby, Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany's 

4. Favourite subject in school 

Business Studies

5. If you can do anything you want for a living, what would it be?

Fashion Designer or Fashion Stylist

6. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I am very dramatic, so maybe I would change that.

But that's who I am!

7.  What is the one song you could listen to nonstop?

Moon River

8. Would you rather have a house in the beach, city or country?

Beach! I love the show Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and I remember myself wanting 

to live there when I first started watching it.

9. If you got an extra hour a day, what would you do with it? 

Netflix (I'm not even sorry!)

10. Where do you see yourself in five years?

University and hopefully studying something I am very passionate about.

11. What book are you currently reading?

The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

12. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

Saint-Tropez

13. Where would you like to live in the future?

New York or Paris

14. What is your favourite song of the week?

Let Me Love You - DJ Snake

15. Do you sing in the shower?

YESSSS!!

16. Tea or Coffee?

Coffee ;) I live in Starbucks hahaha!

17. Do you want to get married?

yes, definitely

18. How many siblings do you have?

I have one younger brother

19. Favourite foods?

Pizza and French Macarons

20. Where were you born?

Philippines

À bientôt,