This Milestone Year Taught Me How to Pause—And Why That Matters

This was a milestone year for me, and it also marked my first big trip of the year. My last big trip was back in January of last year. I had actually made plans over the holidays to go on a self-guided tour of the Christmas markets of Europe, but I messed up on my passport renewal and couldn’t make it. I basically didn’t travel the entire year before, and I had pinned all my hopes on that trip to relax and decompress. So when it didn’t happen, I was completely shattered.

Travel isn’t just something I enjoy—it helps me learn and connect with what I have studied or read about. My love for history, architecture, art and food feels so much more alive when I see it or taste it in its natural environment. It’s not just that it feels real—it’s that I’m reminded real people actually lived it and created it.

Life feels like a patchwork of small, vivid moment-- each one stitched with care, some wild and colorful, others quiet and soft. It's that feeling of sunlight caught in your hair on a breezy afternoon, the weight of a sleepy pup in your arms, or the quiet satisfaction of doing something just for you. Living is a balance of bold moves and gentle stillness, of messy uncertainty and rare moments of clarity.

How the Pandemic Brought Me to Baking

When the pandemic hit, I thought I’d go stir-crazy. I was sure I’d miss traveling, but to my surprise, I didn’t—because I discovered baking. Like so many others, baking kept me busy and grounded. I found so much satisfaction in it, and realized what a wonderful creative outlet it was for me.

The first bake I made from scratch—madeleines—actually came out better than I expected, and that jumpstarted everything for me. During months of lockdown, I dug in and kept learning about baking, new techniques, and different types of desserts. It was frustrating when ingredients were hard to find, but I kept going. Toward the end of the pandemic, I finally built up the courage to attend my first real baking class—and it felt magical!

From Baking at Home to Owning a Bake Shop

I kept practicing and gave away my bakes to friends and family in exchange for honest feedback. As I grew more confident and bold, about a year and a half ago, I decided to open my online bake shop. I started with a few cookies and Filipino desserts, because that was my comfort zone.

But the more I took baking classes, the more I realized I didn’t want to keep piecing it all together. I wanted to dive into the technical side and become a trainbed baker—not just a graduate of the School of YouTube. That’s when I decided to pursue a pastry arts degree at the local college.

Life got hectic fast—with a full-time job, school, the bake shop, and pop-up events. Travel wasn’t in the cards, both for time and financial reasons. I knew I had to put that part of my life on hold to support all these other dreams.

When Travel Plans Fall Through

So when I missed out on my holiday travel plans, it hit hard. I realized I hadn’t let myself breathe between all my goals. I was so focused on hitting the next milestone that I pushed the stress, frustration, and anxiety deep down—believing I’d get a chance to decompress on that trip.

When that didn’t happen, I had to face the truth: I needed mental health balance. But I also need to find a cost-effective way to support my bake shop, pop-up events, school, and still make room to travel. That’s why this birthday celebration on a milestone year was so important to me.

Leading up to the trip, I was a ball of stress and anxiety. I didn’t want anything to go wrong—even just trying to leave the country felt overwhelming, especially with the current state of things. I just wanted to leave and come back without any issues.

The Trip That Reminded Me What I Needed

Even though the trip had its hiccups—it was fantastic overall. I didn’t always know how to react in the moment, but looking back, there were definitely more highs than lows. I really feel like it was a lovely birthday celebration.

Blogging and Vlogging: My Digital Diary

One of my travel goals is to keep up with this blog and website, and honestly, it’s turns out to be really therapeutic. I’ve always said I started vlogging as a personal diary—to literally see my memories, capture the moments and how I felt.

As I edit, all the sights, sounds, and feelings come back. They make me laugh, they make me cry, but they always make me feel grateful. I wanted to supplement my vlogs, and now these blogs do exactly that.

I’d love to keep this website going as long as I can. Maybe I’ll move it to a more cost-effective platform in the future, but I want everything I’ve documented so far to have longevity.

Looking Ahead, Slowly

I have more travel plans lined up this year, but I’m pacing myself based on what I can realistically afford. My instinct is to hit the gas when I’m passionate about something—and forget the brakes. But I want to act with more intention.

What I really want is longevity in baking, vlogging, and career—not just flashes of momentum, but something lasting. I don’t yet know what that’s going to look like, and maybe that’s the part I need to learn how to deal with. What I do know is that I want to manage it all purposefully, with clarity and care, and without regret.

I still want to grow and succeed in everything I take on. Slowing down sometimes feels like falling behind, like maybe I’ll miss my window—but I’m reminding myself that it’s okay to go slow. I’ll try to get as far as I can, and that will have to be enough—because some things are just beyond my control, and maybe that’s where the longevity begins: in trusting the process, not just the pace.

Here’s to moving forward. Here’s to travel, life balance, and creating space for what matters. Happy exploring!