A Glimpse of my Life

Many stories are better untold but I will divulge mine through the art and power of words. I believe I was born empty, like a clean slate, on which even a single mark of experience or knowledge cannot be found. In those moments, I carry nothing — only a raw potential to become. Like the blank canvas waiting for its first stroke of brushes or an empty paper to be filled with belles-lettres, I was also waiting to be shaped by the world around me.

Hi! I am Beb,19 years old and I was born in Bogo City, Cebu, which is a gentle heartbeat in the North of Cebu. I am proud to say that I am a "Bogohanon," and I want to share how it feels to live in this place. Bogo City is not just a mere place, it is where the hills and sea give you peace, a place where you can soak in the fresh air, and it is a place where the sun's warmth emulates the warmth of its people. To live here means living in tranquility. You can witness how the sun rises from the darkness, hear the birds warbling, and enjoy the scenery of how the wind blows the branches of trees. Neighbors will never fail to greet you with sweet smiles and give you friendly waves, which explains why Bogohanons are known for their hospitality and strong community spirit. Bogo is a place that embraces you with gentleness and gives you a sense of belonging.

I am such a bashful person — some might tell me I am not, because I have an outgoing personality. Honestly, I am only outgoing to the ones I feel comfortable around. However, I can attest that I still have a bashful personality even with my trusted people. Maybe being shy is rooted in my earlier life experiences. I was a kid who was afraid to get along with the other kids at the park or even at school. I am the quietest among the kids in our class. I only spoke when the teacher asked me, but I never dared to initiate speaking in our classroom or during outdoor activities. It explains why I had limited friends during elementary because I often distanced myself; afraid of building connections.

In our home, I am still a quiet kid who never spoke or communicated with my immediate family. I did not talk about my feelings or needs, and I never learned to utter a word to build a strong connection with them. Silence is a whisper of peace and more comforting when I am alone. Perhaps I never really wanted to be seen or found. During those times, I heard their complaints about me giving them an introverted core energy, which gradually propelled me to practice healthy communication. Later in life, I realized that communication and building connections are important.

Now, I strongly believe in the phrase "no man is an island" because connection is indeed one of the means for survival. I have learned it the hard way and even now, I sometimes experience having a hard time when it comes to communication. However, I can say that my communication skills are very different from how I communicated back then. I learned to connect with people, and now, I have healthy relationships with my family and friends.

I am an upcoming third-year college student taking the BS-Psychology program. I had been a quiet observer for a very long time, and as I grew older, I became more confused and fascinated at the same time by an invisible chain that connects thoughts, emotions, and feelings. I wanted to dive more into its complexity, not just to learn about others, but I also seek to understand myself as well. Moreover, I have a strong passion for helping others, and Psychology is my tool to help others grow and heal. Choosing this path gives me a sense of purpose.

Since I have mentioned that I was once a quiet thinker, it has not only offered me comfort. Solitude also propelled me to discover more about myself. Little did I know that being a distant child would lead me to discover my love for writing. Since I did not know how to communicate, I turned my untold thoughts into masterpieces. That was the beginning of my journey as a writer — maybe I was only 10 years old when I began writing, but it was just simple stories with sketches like Stickman. I even sold my work to my classmates when I started learning to communicate. Reminiscing about those moments made me realize that words are powerful; they're used to tell a happy story and take the saddest or scariest thoughts away from my mind. I am a self-proclaimed writer and even created writing accounts on various platforms. Writing is also the one that shields me from life's cruel blows and it gives me never-ending comfort.

Moreover, since I love writing, I also love reading which helps me gain more ideas about writing. I started reading on Wattpad and even wrote a novel during the pandemic. Since I was too young back then and did not have enough ideas about writing, such as using the right grammar or punctuation, when I re-read it now that I have gained knowledge about writing, I cringe at my writing style. So, I decided to unpublish it instead. Now, I have stopped writing novels on Wattpad, but I am still reading Wattpad stories because I found it enjoyable, especially the romance genre. Aside from Wattpad, I also read self-help books like "Atomic Habits" by James Clear which is truly an amazing book. It is one of my favorite self-help books that helped me as I journeyed to living my best life. Perhaps reading and writing are why my introverted side often kicks in since those interests or hobbies are the ones that I enjoy doing when I am having my "me time."

When I discovered Hive and became a member, I felt overwhelming happiness. Honestly speaking, I rarely write since I got into college because of other priorities. However, when @Whosee introduced me to this platform, it ignited my passion for writing again. It reminded me that I still have a lot of stories to tell and millions of words to share. I never had a second thought to join Hive because, for me, it is a great stepping stone to get back to being an active writer again. When @whosee introduced me to Hive, I immediately participated in the orientation, and that was the time I encountered @jeannmazing, since she was the speaker during the orientation. I learned a lot from her, she discussed what Hive is all about. While participating in the orientation with the other members, I realized I would meet more people who have the same passion and interest as me. By joining Hive, I will not only be able to connect with my fellow writers but it will also provide me a safe environment where I can hone my writing skills.

I joined many writing communities and I bumped into different writers as well. I cannot say that I have a lot to offer, but one thing is for sure: I will contribute empathy, diligence, and endless support to the community and my fellow hivers. I have a strong passion for writing; hence I am certain that I will be consistent in sharing my stories, and I believe every story deserves to be heard. I share my stories not for personal gain but to use them as a voice of inspiration. I value the stories behind the words, which is why I am here to make the environment more inspiring and hold a space for vulnerability and quiet creativity. We all have a story to share, therefore, voices must be amplified. Our stories tell more than experiences, they deserve to be heard. We need more inspiring and fascinating stories to share and read with no judgments which are the things that I can contribute to Hive.

That’s all I can share for now, but stay tuned! More interesting stories are coming. I hope you will continue to be with me in this journey of discovery. See you in the next chapters!