Set the World on Fire

This long weekend in the Philippines, I had no work, and guess what? I spent the entire time bed-rotting at home. Yes, you heard that right—I dedicated this weekend to healing and spirituality, and honestly, I needed it.

I haven’t been feeling well since last Monday. My asthma has been flaring up, especially after I eat anything made from chicken or seafood. It’s been a rollercoaster of breathlessness and moments of feeling okay. But in between the wheezes and gasps, I had some time to really think about how I’ve been doing emotionally.

Truth be told, I’ve been battling depression for a while now, and it’s been a quiet storm brewing inside me. At first, it’s easy to dismiss it, chalking it up to stress or just a bad day. But when those bad days start to string together and turn into weeks, months—even years—you realize you’re in deeper than you thought.

For me, a lot of this sadness has been rooted in not fully moving on from my dad’s death. Losing someone close to you isn’t just about the moment they’re gone; it’s about the void they leave behind and the way it changes you. For a long time, I felt like I was living in the shadow of that loss, unable to break free from the grief. I tried to carry on, but it was like dragging a weight that just wouldn’t let go.

But here’s the thing: this weekend, something clicked. I realized that I’ve been stuck in this sadness because, on some level, I’ve allowed myself to be. I wasn’t just mourning my dad; I was allowing that grief to define me, to hold me back from living fully. And I think that’s what depression does—it convinces you that this heavy, dark feeling is all there is. But it’s not.

I thought about my dad a lot over these past few days. He was the kind of person who lived life with purpose and passion, and I know he wouldn’t want me to be stuck like this—lost and struggling. He’d want me to be at my 100%, in mind, body, and soul. He’d want me to find joy, to live with intention, and to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it might be.

So, today marks a new beginning. I’ve made some plans, and now it’s time to put them into action. It won’t be easy—I know that. Moving on isn’t about forgetting; it’s about finding a way to carry the memories with you while still making space for new experiences, new joys, and new growth. It’s about giving yourself permission to be happy again, to dream again, and to believe that you deserve to live fully.

I’m ready to set this world on fire, like I always say. I’m stepping out of the shadows and reclaiming my life, one day at a time. World, get ready for me, because I am back.