What’s in a Courtesy?

The Courtesy We Owe Each Other… In the legal world, there’s a word — Esquire. It’s not just a job title. It’s a courtesy. A way of placing respect right alongside someone’s name. The world doesn’t run on Esquire, but it does run on something like it. Because every day, whether we notice or not,…

Resilience

My daughter and I landed in the Philippines a few years ago to visit and spend time with my family. As always, with any trip we take, I made sure to bring my camera. Four weeks into our six-week vacation, I realized I’d only taken a handful of photos. It’s not that there isn’t beauty…

A Love Like Spring

I’ve always believe that my parents love for each other was one in a million. I never doubt that.  “To me, your mom means the world.” – Yang Gwan Sik If I am fascinated with Japanese words, I am as much fascinated with Korean Dramas. Somehow they have a way of letting the audience immerse…

Born to Be You

Do you know anything about nests or nest building? Surely I don’t. Where does this came from, you may ask? On my way back to the building I work at, there’s a beautifully crafted nest that caught my eyes. I’m guessing it fell off the tree and someone picked it up and put it down…

Happy?

I’ve been in a deep rut as far as to my writing is concerned. Somehow, I created this invisible wall that is preventing me to express myself. Writing to me is showing my vulnerable side. And I truly miss that side of me. To help me get out of this rut, I bought the Ice…

Who Am I?

This is who I am. ⁣⁣I can be open and yet guarded.⁣⁣Can be silly but shy.⁣⁣Is playful and yet serious most times.⁣⁣I’m very much into alone times.⁣⁣Quiet moments.⁣⁣Genuine people.⁣⁣Blue skies.⁣⁣Finding the perfect dandelions.⁣⁣Crying over a movie.⁣⁣Road trips.⁣⁣Family.⁣⁣Have I mentioned alone times?

What’s Your Story?

When all is said and done. And it’s time for us to go. These writings will be a beautiful reminder of who we are, A life beautifully expressed and lived…. In writing. charina.writes If you are a writer, chances are – you know what I’ll be talking about (be sure to read the underlined, I…

I See You!

I’m telling you, I’ve been trying to find Mrs. Positive for the last four days and nowhere can I find her. I’ve been trying my best to be this upbeat, happy and always eager human and nope – she’s not cooperating. But then again, since when talking about real-honest-raw feelings, negative? Just like this… I…

Just A David Amongst The Goliaths

While looking at my Instagram feed last night, I was slapped with the truth. I’m just a David finding my way in a field full of Goliaths. This is how I find myself amongst a group of known and published authors. My inner self, asked me. Charina, are you sure about this? An unknown writer,…

Going Nowhere…

“Enlightenment is eliminating mental confusion, eliminating hatred, jealousy, mental toxins, cravings. That’s very simple and straightforward. Whether you can do it or not is another matter.” Matthieu Ricard I think today was a day of realization, truth, admittance, acceptance or perhaps a much better term would be…birth. On our way to the grocery store, my…