– Mandy Hale
Greetings, Hive community! It’s me Nine😊. I come from a captivating country, the Philippines, specifically in the northern region of Cebu. I’m already 22 years old. I'm the elder of two siblings and have been leading an independent life since 2022. I'd like to share a sneak peek into how I've embraced the solo lifestyle as my introduction here on Hive. Certainly, we all reach a point in our lives where we must take steps on our own. When I was younger, I used to wonder what it would feel like to have my privacy and manage my life independently – something they call freedom. You'll get to know more about me as I share my life and experiences through my blog posts, including how I ended up living alone.
My mother used to be a single mom from the time I was born until 2014🤰. She worked in Korea, where she met the person, she eventually married and had a child with, who is now 7 years old. Since she started working in Korea, I have been living in my uncle’s house. In 2017, my mother managed to purchase a house and lot near my uncle's place. Just last year, all the construction was completed, and I decided to move there so that I could take care of it, as my family is currently residing in Korea. So, that's the reason I find myself living alone in our humble abode.
I recently graduated from college with a Bachelor of Secondary Education majoring in English earlier this year👩🎓. I'm getting ready to start my review to get my teaching license and I'm excited to share my experiences here on Hive. Unlike the culture in some other countries, Filipinos are not inclined to move out and have their place once they reach the age of 18 or older. We typically stay with our families until we start our own families or when it becomes necessary for work purposes, although this doesn't apply to everyone. That's why I find it a bit challenging to face life all alone.
Living alone is not as fun and easy as I initially thought. I've had to improve my budgeting skills since I have a fixed budget from my mother, and I can't request additional funds because they also have their expenses to cover. I must ensure that the groceries I buy are enough for me for a month, manage bills (such as electricity, water, tax, etc.), and, of course, have emergency funds for any unforeseen expenses. Other than that, I can still see the brighter side of it, as it molds me into a better manager and captain of my decisions in life.
But we can't ignore the fact that living alone in the four corners of a room can sometimes be draining. That's why visiting churches and spending time with friends and relatives have helped me manage my mental and social well-being. I love visiting sacred places, where I can express my worries and seek guidance during times when I feel lost and unsure about how to navigate my life. I seldom wonder what it feels like to have a mother and father who guide me on what to do and what's best for me, just like other families out there. It's a feeling I longed for a long time ago, and being alone sometimes brings back that same feeling, even though I understand that I am old enough and that my mother has to work hard to provide for our needs. However, it comes naturally to me, and that's why I need that place to clear my mind and put my thoughts and plans in order once again.
Indeed, living alone is not easy. You might see others who live alone and can genuinely smile, but there are moments in their lives when they need someone to lean on and share their stories and worries with. However, life is full of surprises and excitement, and no matter how challenging it may be, unexpected events, individuals, and inspirations come along the way. You just have to embrace and acknowledge them. We might find it challenging and confusing at first, but as long as we believe in our Creator seek His guidance, and learn to enjoy the journey of life, we'll eventually reach a point where we'll realize how far we've come and how we've overcome unexpected obstacles. You see, life is not easy at all, even the richest person has experienced the toughest journey of their life. We just have to pursue our goals in life, there's no such thing as instant success. One day, everything will be paid off through God's mercy and love for us. If others can do it, then there's no reason why we can't. We just have to fasten our seatbelt and ride through life, learning at every step along the way. It's okay to take a break when we feel the need, it's okay to cry if that's our way of expressing ourselves, and it's okay to slow down when we're tired. What's not okay is surrendering and doing nothing to live our lives. We're not alone on this journey; there are many people around us, and there are many things that can inspire us to do more. We just need to open our eyes wide and embrace their presence.
HOBBIES AND LIKES
My hobbies became my comfort zone. They are my way of escaping the hardships of life, expressing myself, and finding some comfort. They help me think more positively and come up with solutions. Mental, physical, emotional, and social health is very important, which is why I'm giving myself a break by indulging in hobbies that I love the most such as dancing, watching love and comedy movies on Netflix, listening to soothing instrumental music, scrolling through my social media accounts and applications, playing volleyball, and visiting the beach.
Dancing truly allows me to express the emotions I've kept inside. Any genre will do, depending on my mood or the emotions I currently feel. It helps me intensify those emotions and release them until they're no more. It's quite therapeutic, especially for handling moody emotions💃.
I also enjoy watching love and comedy movies on Netflix. They entertain my eyes and emotions, especially Korean dramas, which somehow teach me common casual words that are very helpful in conversations. I don't watch horror, thriller, or mystery movies. As someone living alone, I try to avoid them because they give me creeps and make me feel uneasy in our house. Of course, I also spend time scrolling through my social media accounts and using applications like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to stay updated and connected with the online world👩💻.
Listening to soothing instrumental music truly helps me relax and think calmly, providing a way for me to escape from the outside noise that I sometimes want to ignore. I prefer instrumental music because it helps me focus, unlike music with lyrics, which can be distracting, especially when I'm deep in thought, figuring things out, working on academic papers, or simply trying to relax and find calm moments.
I also find therapy for my social life through playing volleyball, a sport that I truly love. It's where I can collaborate with a team, develop social skills, and strengthen connections, even through non-verbal communication.
But what truly brings me joy is visiting the beach, where I can naturally listen to the soothing sound of the waves. In addition to listening to instrumental music, I genuinely love the sound of the waves. It helps me appreciate nature even more, and it's a place I would never get tired of looking at🌊.
WHY I JOINED HIVE
I did mention that I love adventures and that I enjoy reminiscing about the feelings I've experienced during those special moments. I am so glad that this Hive community was introduced to me by @naymhapz and oriented by these two individuals @indayclara and sir @intoy.bugoy which encouraged me to delve into this kind of platform, with Hive, I can create a documentary of my adventures, and specific moments, food, and other aspects of my life to share with my Hive community. Through Hive, I can share many of my experiences and, in the long run, have something to look back on to remind myself of the feelings I had during those times. I don't have a close circle of friends to share much with. However, I strongly believe that with you all, I can share all my experiences, whether they are moments of joy, sadness, challenges, or other circumstances. This can finally provide me with a community to freely share the moments in my life. Additionally, this community can serve as a guide for you, and your experiences can also guide me. Through this community, we can share our life journeys on a global scale and appreciate the beauty of life.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MY BLOG
My blogs are quite random, usually about how I navigate life while living alone, my journey updates, spontaneous moments, foods, challenges, and travels especially during my long break, I would like to explore places, specifically here in Cebu. Now that I no longer go to school and don't have a full schedule for classes, I have more time for such adventures. I enjoy sharing these with you and discussing finding solutions, including my problems and eventually upcoming problems that many of us are currently facing or might face shortly. These moments are so unpredictable, and I would love to share them with you to let you see the beauty in life's challenges. It's been a bumpy ride with many rough roads along the way. So, let's fasten our seatbelts tightly and enjoy the journey, no matter what it brings. Bittersweet experiences are the key ingredients that are most important for learning in life. Let's learn from and embrace each of them, as every aspect of our lives plays an important role and imparts valuable lessons not just to us but to others as well. Let's strive to be good teachers to one another👩🏫.
It is a great honor to be a part of the Hive community, and I am delighted to share my journey with all of you. I humbly pray for each other's well-being and success. Thank you for reading, and I eagerly anticipate not only my future blogs but also yours. Have a great day😇!