TOPAZ HORIZON: Happy New Year! !

Friday, January 02, 2026

Happy New Year! !

Happy 2026, dear Loyal Readers!

The photos here aren't from today. They're from my new year, my 49th birthday a few weeks ago. I'm sick with a really bad cold in these photos. And we didn't know it yet, but my youngest, my eldest, and then my husband - in that order - will get dengue one after the other in the following weeks. So if I thought I was feeling poorly here, I ain't seen nothing yet!

But, as with all things that happened in my 49 years, we survived dengue. I will say that I have never been more terrified in my life. Yung napaluhod sa dasal ba sa sobrang takot. And sunud-sunod pa talaga silang nagkasakit. Hindi talaga ako natulog ng isang buwan, mamas. No joke. And all this while I had work and one more healthy son to care for.

I developed a consistent muscle spasm by the side of my head and, even when they were already well, I still couldn't sleep. I finally went to the doctor and I was diagnosed with fatigue. Meron pa lang ganung diagnosis?! He said even though the danger was past, my body was still on hyper-vigilance mode. So, for the first time ever, I was prescribed a sleep aid. Three tablets lang naman para raw makatulog ako. But stubborn me, I didn't take one until the weekend, which was days after, because I had so much to do, I couldn't afford to sleep.

So that was how my new year started, and that was also why I resolved that for this 2026, I am going to prioritize sleep and healthy living.

I had so many plans last 2025. But, grabe, lagi akong may sakit. Or kung hindi ako, yung pamilya ko. Dengue aside, we were all just sick enough so that I didn't have time for my plans of world domination!

But I am still proud to say na kahit sakitin ako at exhausted last year, I was still able to get writing gigs. My articles came out in MEGA, Vogue, Smart Parenting, and The Beauty Edit. It is soooo nice to see my byline again! I also wrote stories and poems. And started books! Yeah, hindi pa nga tapos yung mga werewolf romances ko, nag-pivot ako to devotionals / memoir.

So we'll see what happens next!

"We'll see" kasi I think I will slow down na muna. Masyado akong ambisyosa last year, napagod tuloy ako. Aalagaan ko muna sarili ko, devote more time and energy to nourish this middle-aged body so I can be strong enough to make my big dreams come true. Kasi, imagine niyo ha, I was operating on near empty last year pero may mga significant accomplishments pa rin ako. I think I was also still a great wife and mother. And I was still showing up at the office and hitting targets left and right. Paano na lang kung I am at my 100% best and healthiest??? I would be unstoppable!

And when you're 49, to even still have goals and dreams and be excited for more of what life has to offer, that sure is something.

In fact, for 2026, I have something up my sleeve. A few somethings actually. I am so excited to tell you all about the first one! Soon, soon. I know you'll love this big project!

So, if you're wondering what happened to my last year, that was it. Lots of highs and lows. But I am still here! With more to give than ever before. I thought life would get more boring as I get older. Hindi pala. Papunta pa lang tayo sa exciting part, mamas. So if magkasing-edad tayo at feeling mo nalampasan ka na ng life, at panahon na ng mga bata naman, no. Every day is a new opportunity to do something new!

And, despite all my excitement, my something new will be, funnily enough, slow down na muna. Magpapalakas muna ako kasi marami akong pangarap pa, and God willing, you'll see them all come true.

So please pray for me as I diet and exercise and sleep early (it's 1 AM as I type haha). Once I feel strong enough, let's run this new race together!

It's such a happy new year! God bless you all. Mwah!