How 2019 Changed the Way I See Freedom
Hello, friends. It has been a long time, hasn’t it? To be honest, I almost forgot how it felt to sit down and let the words flow. I’ve missed this space dearly, but for a while, I just didn’t know how to start again.
In the last few months of 2019, I stepped away. I went quiet on social media and stopped blogging because, truthfully, I was suffocating. I was buried under a mountain of my own goals and deadlines. My “to-do” list was growing longer than my “to-live” list, and it became overwhelming.
During that break, I traded my laptop screen for family time and tried learning things just for the fun of it. It was a breath of fresh air. Now, as we stand at the start of a new decade, I want to look back at the moments that redefined “freedom” for me before we dive into new adventures.
Taking the Leap into Freelancing
This was probably the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. I left a steady 8-hour job to pursue graphic design—a hobby I barely knew how to turn into a career back then. It wasn’t easy. There were days of doubt, but watching it grow over the year was so rewarding.
I even started MK Studio (@misskstudio on Instagram), my own one-woman creative team. Learning to manage my own time was a challenge, but I found myself addicted to the growth.
Finding my Breath in Negros Occidental
I went to Negros Occidental just to pick up my nephew, but I ended up finding a piece of myself there. I had been so focused on work that I’d forgotten how freeing the salt air feels. Standing by the sea reminded me that the world is so much bigger than my office desk. It was the “breather” I didn’t even know I needed.
Falling for Siargao
How can anyone ever forget Siargao Island? I fell in love with its raw nature and that slow, “local” way of life. They say the island takes a part of you, but it doesn’t make you feel incomplete—it makes you feel like you belong. Leaving a piece of my heart there was one of the most freeing things I did all year.
The Dark Days: Battling Chickenpox
Not everything in 2019 was a postcard-perfect moment. I went through a severe bout of chickenpox that left me struggling with post-illness anxiety and depression. There were days when things felt truly unbearable. I tried to stay positive, but it was a battle.
Overcoming that—and the scars it left behind—taught me that freedom is also about mental peace and being kind to your body when it’s hurting.
Salty Hair in Siquijor
We don’t travel as a family often, so our quick trip to Siquijor was a major highlight. It was exhausting—only one night and one day!
We rushed through the sights so fast it felt like a dream, but I’ll never forget waking up in my own bed afterward with lingering salty hair. I even filmed my first vlog there! I was too shy to speak to the camera, so it’s mostly just me walking around looking awkward, but it was a start.
What Freedom Means to Me Now
Looking back, 2019 taught me that freedom isn’t just about travel; it’s a privilege. Having the option to quit a job you no longer want is a privilege. Having a family reunion and watching my Papa enter his senior years with grace is a different kind of freedom—the freedom to appreciate the people we love while they are here.
Freedom is having options. It’s the peace of mind to choose your own path.
Happy New Year to all of you! Please, give yourself a pat on the back for getting through another year (and another decade). Chase that inner peace and keep fighting for the life you want.
Now, I want to hear from you: How are you doing, and what changed the way you see freedom last year?
Amielle
Aww, to more success for your business!! ?
Btw, will it be fine to ask how much the scar treatment was per session?
Misskhae
Heyyy thank youuu, Amielle! 🙂 Yes of course, umm, i don’t know sa other clinic but from where I’ve had it treated, it’s 1,500 per session.
SavingSupergirl
We are so back in blogging this 2020! Nawala rin ako for a couple of months late last year. So glad I’m seeing a new post from you na! 🙂
Misskhae
HIIII OMGGG! YES WE ARE! Idk why I got so excited to see you here again 😀 HAHA I miss youu and I miss writing and syempre reading your blog. Nagcheck ako sa blog mo agad eh and omg I am so happy that you are posting a lot na again :)) parehas talaga tayong nawala that’s why I follow you narin on IG. Alam mo, I feel like I’d be writing more this year (kung hindi tamadin) Sobrang malaking tulong yung internet break sakin talaga eh 😀
SavingSupergirl
Oohh!! Have to check my IG. Hahaha. Push natin ‘tong pagsusulat ulit this year. It inspires me knowing people who somehow feels the same and yet keeps on moving!