dinnybels

[dinnybels]

Want to live a life like this? Check out my list of top 5 self-improvement books and start making progress towards your goals! https://ift.tt/E6WuHTq

[dinnybels]

Want to live a life like this? Check out my list of top 5 self-improvement books and start making progress towards your goals! https://ift.tt/E6WuHTq

[dinnybels]

[dinnybels]

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[dinnybels]

You cracked the codes and guessed all the From The Vault titles. 👏👏👏

Here’s the full track list, my friends. I’m really honored that Keith Urban is a part of this project, duetting on That’s When and singing harmonies on We Were Happy. I was his opening act during the Fearless album era and his music has inspired me endlessly. I’m counting down the minutes til we can all jump into this brave world together, filled with equal parts nostalgia and brand newness. 

Head first, Fearless 💛

[dinnybels]

It’s Monday again. A new start for some, a dread for most.

I’d like to admire those who see Mondays as a beautiful bright new beginning, a starting point for those habits and projects that you wanted to work on for yourself, another day to hustle and be productive at work.

I want to promote seeing Monday as another beginning, a recharged version of yourself, fully packed with love and kindness to spread all throughout the week to your colleagues, friends, families, acquaintances, neighbors, strangers, etc.. because we may be all on the same storm, but never on the same boat. I hope your yacht has a room for those who are drowning today. 🤗

(Photo credits to the owner)

[dinnybels]

Protect Your Peace

Don't be afraid to speak up if it protects your peace. The greatest power that you can own in this world is when you have faced your fear, your power-tripper, your disrespectful invader, and finally protected what's left in your inner peace. You can be the one who protects someone who can't protect themselves from their predator. You can be their voice, their strength, their spirit animal, their prowess. You can be someone whom people look up to because you stood up for yourself. Adults hate the truth so much that they see standing up for yourself as disrespect even when you have spoken up politely. But these perpetrators demand total submission and surrender which you will no longer tolerate. The violator of your mental health will try and take away those things that are priceless to you, ruin things that mean the most to you--whether it's your relationship with a family member, your passion, or your dreams. The scenes they make will project pity and everyone will be won over because you'll be the bad guy for standing up. But those who can actually see and know the story will not be shaken. You do not owe an explanation of anything to anyone. These monsters may even use money and gifts to win your allies over. But one day, their green beady eyes will show in the brightest of day and you'll no longer suffer in the darkest of night.

[dinnybels]

Me in 2020: life is chill, writing songs based in fiction to avoid drama, feeling pretty grown up

My 2008 music from the vault, in a goblin voice: “REELEEEEEEASE MR PERFECTLY FIIIIIIINE”

[dinnybels]

True Home

“Every photo taken speaks a thousand words. You sit on the corner of your room, browsing at photos after photos of your seemingly never-ending adventures. You notice the twinkle in your eye on the photo of your first trip to Guam. It is identical to the photo your uncle had taken for your seventh birthday. Around you were some of the people whom are the reason for who you are today. The dancing flames on the wicks of the candles before you stood frozen in your eyes. The windows to your soul opened and expressed your fear and hunger for the world’s challenges and adventures. A few weeks and the spark withers. The glow of your soul dimmed and once again, it is on the search for the light to fill your inner home.

You set sail to Maldives just because it seems to be on everyone’s bucket list. You ask for a fellow foreigner to take your photo. You receive various positive reactions and comments on your photo from Facebook friends whom you do not know whether they are genuinely happy for you or are insecure and envious. They are oblivious to your inner dilemma: your continuous and seemingly unending search for the answer to your question.

You continued on your journey to Paris. Maybe a lover could fill the void in your heart. You reminisce on the nostalgic shivers crawling up your spine into your heart when you remember how it feels to stare into someone’s eyes and watch their souls open up to you. You take a stroll on its renaissance pavement, letting the streetlights shower you with their orange glow. You look up to a bustling crowd of tourists in a distance.  You were beguiled by the sight of Paris’ timeless tourist icon. It is even more remarkable than how you remember it on pictures and paintings. You pull out your mobile from your jean’s pocket and scan the crowd for a potential photographer. You zero in on a tall, blonde, bespectacled Frenchman who is about to pass by. You strode forward and tapped his camouflage jacket-covered shoulder. Your limited French vocabulary included a lopsided smile and a tiny shaking gesture to your phone as you jutted your thumb to the Eiffel Tower. The Frenchman responded with a grin as he happily agreed to do you a favor. You made a couple of shifts for a decent photo. He hands you back your gadget, and you gave your thanks. You smile back at the photo on the tiny screen, satisfied.

You jump from Italy to Dubai, Japan to Taiwan, and finally to Indonesia. You sense a hint of familiarity, but remains the essence of curiosity, like a baby deer finding its sanctuary. You made an impulsive choice of itineraries hopping from Banyan Tree’s infinity pools to Nirwana Gardens, Senggarang Chinese Settlement to 500 Lohan Temple, Bintan Ecofarm to Club Med Bintan. You find the infinity pool all to yourself by sunset. You rested your arms over the edge and released a heavy breath of relief.

Every traveler has a story to tell, a reason for their voyage. Some people search the world like a migrating specie, looking for a place to belong to, a nest of their own. Sometimes where you came from is not where you were meant to stay. And hopefully, you find your true home in Bintan, Indonesia.”

Finally sharing my Champion entry for the Travel Feature Writing category in the 6th National LTSP Skills Olympics Competition 2017 in Baguio. It was my last competition representing FEU and my biggest win--I considered this as a graduation gift to myself during that time. The topic was presented in a manner of a video clip of Bintan, Indonesia’s promotional video. There was no voice-over, it was just all music, videos, and photos. I had no idea what to write. I was blank. I let my imagination and love for writing flow through the pen and paper which was all I had and was allowed in the room during that time. I just wanted it to be over and at the very least have something to submit. After this event, graduation and adulting followed through and I felt that my passion for writing has become a lost cause. My writing abilities became limited and I could only express this through proper guest communication and email responses during the course of my hotelier years. After being invited to judge the TOURISMOLYMPICS 2021 Travel Feature Writing category hosted by the PATA Philippines FEU Student Chapter, I was inspired by these students to revive my love for the art of writing. I had so much nostalgia re-typing this and was afraid that my old photo of the entry was long gone. Hopefully, by putting this up on my Tumblr wall I would be able to eternalize this memory and be someone’s source of inspiration and a little escape from the cruel world we are currently in. I know that we all miss seeing the world beyond the nearest grocery store that we have been strolling to and from pretending that we are at the very least “traveling” away from our home. I look forward to write more escapist entries in my blog that you can read from the comfort of your sanctuary wherein either you are keeping safe from the pandemic or healing from an illness.

[dinnybels]

I guess leaving is never the answer to happiness. Not always.

[dinnybels]

Talikodgenic. (at Boracay Island, The Philippines)

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Layag. (at NAIA Terminal 3 Departure Area)

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I think I did great on this. Lols. (at Boracay Island, The Philippines)