Because of the majestic experience I had during my morning walk along the beach, I decided to do more morning walks for this day. Upon arrival, I already looked around the vicinity (with the help of the ever reliable Google Maps) and so I already had assessed the area if it is pedestrian-friendly. I was very pleased when I saw that wide lane in the middle of the highway which we were able to walk on last night. This was why I was so driven to have my morning walk that day.

It's evident to me that this area is well kept. Looking at the picture, I would think I'm abroad because of how nice (and clean) the pavement was. This city is gorgeous.

And so I spent several minutes walking in this area. It was a calm morning, with just a few joggers and bikers around. There was also none of those busy rush of vehicles along the road. It was the perfect scenery for me to slow down and do some meditative walk.

Upon noticing that the sunrise was getting brighter, I decided to do a U-turn and start my walk back to the hotel.

Slightly sweaty after that walk, I went back to our room to prepare for the official start of our activities. Well, hey, that was indeed a walk to remember. ✨

As a child who has grown up reading the Harry Potter books and watching the films, I have daydreamed more than a hundred times of being a student myself at Hogwarts. I imagined receiving my letter by owl post, being sorted to a house, and participating in classes by learning potions and spells. And now, finally (after a few years of delay from the original launch date), Hogwarts Legacy is finally here to play! Is it worth all the hype? Well, it's a solid YES for me. ✨✨✨

To say that I am hooked on this game is an understatement. 🫥 I'm not proud of this, but I'm borderline being a games addict at this point. 🥲 I would spend hours and hours in front of my computer just playing away. And I suffered some unfortunate consequences, physically and mentally (don't worry, as of this writing, I am already recovering 😉).

As a long-time Potterhead, I'm just so happy that this game finally came out, and that it was actually accessible to me. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical with the game at first. I loved the game trailers, but I took them with a grain of salt because we can't really judge a game based on a few minutes of footage from the trailer, right? Also, there was so much hype about the game, because it is the first of its kind for the franchise. However, I prepared myself to be disappointed. But, oh boy oh boy, I was too quick to judge everything. Where did my faith in humanity go? 😅 As the title says, I have played a full 24 hours on the game (I think even more as of this writing), and I was very much enjoying every moment of the game. I was physically, mentally, and emotionally invested in this game. Well thankfully, I can say now that the honeymoon phase for me for this game is over, and I can get back to being a more responsible adult. 😂 But before that, I want to reminisce how awesome that journey was. Hold onto your brooms, or hippogriffs (or thestrals!), as this is gonna be a hella kind of ride. 😎

Like most peeps, I was looking forward to the game's release. As a Potterhead, this game sure did capture my attention, but I was still undecided if I would purchase the game. I'm not really much of a gamer (I have a handful on my Steam library) and I think Hogwarts Legacy is the most expensive one that I will buy, in case. Well, I don't know what came to me, but at a whim, I checked Steam a few weeks before release date and saw that the game was already available for pre-order. I felt the urge, thought about it (for a few minutes? LOL) and went ahead and bought the Deluxe Edition. 😉After this point, the game became "real" to me, and that was the time that I realized what was about to happen.

The Potterhead in me came alive and I slowly went into fangirl mode. I bought HP-themed highlighters, switched my phone wallpaper to the Hogwarts Legacy promotional poster, and bought a Hufflepuff house poster, thinking I would choose that house for my character in the game (plot twist: I did not get sorted to the badger house). I coincidentally also dug up some of my college stuff and found out that I actually had an HP folder before. I legit forgot about that, and discovering that was just so timely.

Part of the perks of buying the Deluxe edition is the 72-hour early access, which just meant that we Deluxe players would be able to access the game earlier than the general public release date. This didn't really mean much for me (but I bet this is a huge deal for content creators who want to feature the game). For me, I just didn't want to read spoilers online and yeah I admit it... couldn't wait for 3 more days for the release date. 😅

This was also the time that I joined the Hogwarts Legacy subreddit, and that's where I experienced all the buzz and excitement of all the fans all over the world who were highly anticipating the game. Expectedly, I got into their energy flow and just bounced back with the hype, all of us now passionately looking forward to the game.

Lurking on that subreddit, I learned that PC users won't have the pre-download option, so I saw several comments that expressed their frustration on this. I also got a bit disappointed because I knew this would be a huge game, so downloading the game would take some time.  Well, we were in for a surprise. A day before the launch, guess what we found out on the Steam page of the game -- the pre-download button! ✨ Immediately after discovering it on Steam, I went straight to the subreddit and as expected, everyone was in a frenzy about it. 😁PC users were so happy about it. Of course, I went ahead and triggered the pre-download, which completed after a few hours.

And so the day finally came. I wasn't sure what hour the game exactly unlocked for my timezone. I just got up earlier than usual to check if the game was already playable. Well, yes, it finally was. 😍

Still groggy (and I wasn't even wearing my glasses LOL), I went through the first few minutes of the game. It's so surprising how quickly time passed by. Next thing I knew, my work shift was already starting. Yeah, I made the mistake of not taking a vacation leave on this day. 😅 What was my point of having early game access? Oh well, so I reluctantly dropped my controller and went on my day to work. I stayed off Reddit for that time because I didn't want to read spoilers or be distracted from my tasks. 

Finally, the end of my work shift came, and I immediately shifted to gamer mode. I continued where I left off, and... ladies and gentlemen, this was the moment I fell in love with the game. 💖

⚠️ Spoilers alert! You've been warned. 😉

First and foremost, that intro was AMAZING. It was like I was in a movie. There was already a major battle scene, I loved how it played out as the tutorial of the game controls. This was such a creative move from the makers of the game. We are so used to having Harry Potter games that start with receiving your letter (well this game did start on this one) and then going to Diagon Alley to get your wand and other supplies, jumping the Hogwarts train, yada yada yada, we all know the drill, right? But for this one, our main character got to encounter dragons (and see death just a few minutes into the game, that's why we immediately get to see Thestrals), goblins, and huge sentinels of a treasure in Gringotts Bank. The game has such amazing storytelling, I could already tell at this point.

I did not get a "normal" sorting ceremony because I linked my Wizarding World profile and I was automatically sorted to Ravenclaw house. That's when I remembered that Ravenclaw was the latest house I got sorted into. I thought I was in Hufflepuff. Hmm well yes I was under the badger house in my Pottermore account. However that platform was already defunct, and so I just chose to stay under Ravenclaw. One factor that made me stay also is the fact that my Patronus is a black-and-white cat, which I think perfectly suited my current "spirit animal" preferences.

After the sorting scene, things began to feel wacky on the game, because apparently my PC only meets the minimum specs  requirements of the game. I cracked up laughing when the characters began looking like the infamous Hagrid meme.

It took me some time to get the perfect settings to have the smoothest gameplay possible. There were times that I needed to sacrifice performance versus quality of the images rendered to have the best gaming experience. Whenever I was not in battle and was just leisurely strolling around Hogwarts, I will put Texture Settings to Ultra level and I just appreciate how Hogwarts Legacy is such a visually-striking game, and you will be able to appreciate the game as it is, even if you are a newcomer to the Harry Potter Universe.

And this is where the fan in me felt so ecstatic -- going through every corner of the Hogwarts castle felt like I'm a kid and it's my first time in Disneyland. My heart leapt with joy whenever I discovered familiar areas that I saw in the movies. Avalanche Software, the team behind the game, did a fantastic job recreating every detail of the castle. 🏰

Yes, you read that right, we have the feature to fly on a broom (and more ✨). It's very useful especially in traveling to far places in the map beyond Hogwarts castle. First time riding the broom around Hogwarts was magical 🥰, and the music during that part tugged at my heartstrings. As someone who had this unrealistic dream of learning how to fly, discovering this open-world on a broomstick is already a dream come true. 

Our beloved room is present in Hogwarts, and this will play a huge part in the game. The RoR will feel like your headquarters, and you will be spending more time here than sleeping in your room (well our character doesn't sleep anyway). Here, you'll brew potions, grow plants, and take care of magical creatures inside vivariums.

If you've reached this part, and have thoroughly read this post through, you already know at this point how much I'm in love with this game. However, there's something else I discovered that made this game just super special in my heart. My "safe place", the scenery that I have envisioned during my meditation moments, came to life in this game. One of the vivariums was very strikingly similar to the environment that I created in my mind, so I really admired this little coincidence in the game. ✨

What were you busy with when you were 16? Probably school, right? Typical teenage stuff? Maybe. I can't really remember much about my teenage years (maybe because it's so long ago already 🤣), but for sure, I did not have the set of problems the heroine of this movie was experiencing. I was the typical nerd in class, and so I was preoccupied with studies. However, we all know that being a teenager means having raging hormones all over the place, especially for the opposite sex (or whichever your sexual preference maybe, if you already know it at that time). So for a teenage girl, how should she deal with the realization that she is pregnant?

This is the scenario of the plot staged for this film entitled Juno, starring Elliot Page. I first heard about this film in Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, wherein it was included as one of the titles in that episode's Review of Related Literature (RRL). I heard the two hosts gush about the story, and narrated how they adored that one dialogue scene with the father. I didn't really think much about it, but upon searching on Netflix on what movie I could watch on that Friday night, I somehow landed on this film and added it on My List. 

The film opens with Juno, finding out that she's very positively pregnant. She decides to continue having the baby. Very much aware that she's young and not ready to be a mother, she chooses to have the baby adopted by a couple. With this kind of plot, I think it's so easy for the story to have lots of drama. But actually I was pleasantly surprised, to realize in retrospect, that the movie was such an easy watch. There was a lot to absorb, especially going into that situation from the perspective of a teenage girl. But hey, Juno is not your typical gal. She's quirky, but blatantly honest. And through her point of view, I was able to absorb these three main takeaways: 

 

It's helpful to have options, supported by law. I realized how beneficial these laws are. Juno had the liberty to go to the Women Now office or take that other route of giving up the baby for adoption. I know this is a controversial topic if we talk in terms of religion and women rights, but through this movie, I saw how the availability of these services can be beneficial. Also, I recognized how important sex education really is. 

In processing tough decisions, it's invaluable to have people around to support you. In that scene where Juno admits she's pregnant to her family, I was bracing for the explosion of emotions from the dad and the stepmom. But wow I was amazed that no voices were raised during the conversation -- no blame game happened, and they just went straight to discussing the next steps that they needed to do. It was such a healthy discussion. Also, having that best friend who's there with you all the time is a great treasure. Juno is lucky to have that kind of support system around her. 

Age is just a number, and it does not necessarily correspond to a person's maturity level. Exhibit A: Mark Loring, the prospective adoptive father of Juno's child. I viewed him as one immature and irresponsible adult. 🤮Paulie Bleeker had bigger balls than him. 

The story circled around heavy issues, but it was fulfilling to see how things worked out for everyone. Also on a lighter note, it's always a treat to watch old movies because it brings back waves of nostalgia (those CDs and VHS, and that hamburger phone). Also, did I just spot a young Candice King in that classroom? 😆 

I really loved Juno's character. She's just 16, but she proved to have handled this stuff even if it's beyond her maturity level. The film showed how the decisions she made allowed her to continue her life as a normal high school student, in love, kissing her boyfriend after a guitar jamming session. 🎸

👩‍💼 Career - gain sponsorship

✅ review for the program
✅ research and present the plan
➡️ prepare the requirements
➡️ monitor announcements

💰 Financial - buy assets
✅ subscribe to the community
➡️ read the book
➡️ educate and research
➡️ plan next steps

💡 Personal Development 
➡️ dtl prompts + podcasts
➡️ clear the backlog

🧘‍♀️ Spiritual
➡️ plan for the journey

🎓 Educational
➡️  한국 refresher (📽️+ 📚)
➡️ online courses

❤️ Relationship
➡️ 🧘‍♀️+ ✨
➡️ journal

🏋️‍♀️ Physical and Health
➡️ 🚴‍♀️+ 🧘‍♀️

I think I'm shifting for a bit in terms of this. #babysteps

🏆 Financial - plan managing the cards

I have now established a process to do things. Yay!

I was able to launch the first episode! 🎙️

🏃‍♀️Spiritual - journal and reflect on the dtl kit

This is an ongoing task as I slowly complete the workbook and prompt cards throughout the year.

🏃‍♀️ Educational - - finish a training

I still need to finish the Level 1 course, but I'm super proud that I got approved for the financial aid. Thank you Universe. ✨

I'm continuing to utilize the items included in the kit. The tumbler was unusable now though (because I accidentally poured hot water 😢).

I came out with a plan, of which I will carry out for the next few months to come. Of course it is a flexible plan, and I will do checkpoints periodically to check if the method is working or I need to tweak it a bit.

 ~o~

Legend:
🏆 Finished
🏃‍♀️ Still in Progress
🛑 Aborted

It's kind of strange to look at 2022 and just try to look back at all the things that happened, because looking back now, I feel like everything happened in a rush and now my memories are a blur of how the year went by. However, as I crammed (😅) to write the remaining year's life logs during the last days of the year, I felt the memories rushing in, and then I realized how transformative the year was.

Here are some important lessons the year has taught me.

I'm still unaware of my full potential. Winning in the Toastmasters Table Topics three times (all first place!) was a huge pleasant surprise for me. It was a great boost of confidence for me, because I have always been intimidated by public speaking. I felt relieved somehow because, hey I still have something to offer to the world. I'm just still navigating on how I could further utilize this capability in a bigger arena. Let's see, life's full of endless possibilities!

Time heals. I know it's cliché, but it's true (in most situations). It took me ~6 years to go back to where things were, and I'm happy to have finally arrived in this place. Looking back, I recognize now that I needed to go through that journey to find myself. It took some time, but I'm so glad to be finally here. ✨

Trust the process. I have always been skeptical of a lot of things. I think it's just correct to lay out some precautions, but once they have proved themselves, it's okay to give them some trust, because they earned it. 

Respect boundaries. This applies for myself and for others. I specifically learned to adhere to my own bonds, especially if I feel that it would do more harm than good.

Integrity is next to godliness. I was reminded of a key element that made it possible for me to get where I am today. I need to remember which methods worked for me in the past, and live by it.

The world is your oyster. Think of endless possibilities. ✨

There is magic in stillness. There are so many distractions in life now (phone being the main culprit), and it's just so refreshing to be able to sit down and listen to the wind and the chirping of the birds, and hear the random rumble of the crowd from the distance. During those moments, time seems to slow down, and it relaxes me. I need more moments like that.

Tune out from the noise. That's how you will filter and see clearly what the most important things are.

Impromptu adventures are stressful, but memorable. As someone who loves control and writes to-do lists everyday, moving without a plan is something I approach with animosity. However, I do realize that those moments are the most memorable. I had a number of those this year, and I learned a lot from those experiences.

Be kind to yourself. I would benefit more from a compassionate inner voice.

Every day is a new beginning. Yesterday's woes are gone and lost, so it's really useless to wallow in them. Take the chance each morning to start with a clean slate.

I'm still at a new-year high and up until now processing the year that has passed. Since the evaluation that I did in 2021 for my expenses, I realized the improvements that I have done in terms of handling money. I have been applying these new methods for two years now, and I just want to explicitly lay out here the techniques that I have learned that worked for me.

I realized that it's really helpful to not just have a budget plan, but also a way to track your expenses. For the two years that I have been doing this (and will be planning to do this as long as I can), I had a good bird's eye view of how I was doing with my budget. 

I have mentioned this in my life logs and I'm mentioning it here again. One great game changer that I have done that monumentally changed how I navigate my lifestyle is using the You Need A Budget (YNAB) software. I continued to use this for a year, and just look at these beautiful visualization of where my budget was at in any given time of the year:

I really liked YNAB, because it felt like it gave me a lot of help on how I managed my budget and expenses. The only thing that I wasn't a fan of was the subscription fee. I thought that it was too expensive. And so when I learned that they were increasing their prices in 2022, I made the difficult decision of finding an alternative. Thankfully I found one -- Buxfer, which is almost 50% cheaper compared to YNAB. It also uses the envelope method of budgeting so the transition from YNAB to Buxfer had minimal mental pain.

This one is a bit challenging, but this is really the key in making the plan effective. What's the use of having the budgeting app if the values are not accurate? 😅 Fortunately for me, this has really been incorporated in my system. Before spending something, I check if I still have funds for that. It really helped me control my online shopping spree to stay within my budget.

At the end of the year 2022, I now have data of my expenses and I now have the capability to evaluate where my money went in that year. Looking at that list now, I see that some of my major expenses went to:

This is the most intimidating step for me, and it's something that I'm still learning to integrate into my system. I kind of did some practice already when I purchased my car and did all the research and calculating for autoloans, and I'm just so thankful that there is a lot of information available out there to help me make informed decisions.

I have always wanted to buy real estate property, so I'm doing my research to know which one is a great deal by calculating and comparing each agent's offer.

Aside from investments, I truly believe everyone should also have a retirement fund. We won't be corporate slaves forever, right. There will be a point in our lives wherein we will stop working. At that point, we should be ready with our finances. And so, the younger we start thinking of retirement, the easier things will be. However, as always, the best time to start is NOW. Again, there's tons of resources online that will help you with your retirement plans so it's easier to visualize and to quantify how much money we need to sustain this kind of lifestyle in the future. I feel some form of anxiety now that I'm typing this (😅) because I'm the type who really doesn't plan that long in the future. But I know, my logical mind knows that I need to think about this as early as now so that I would have some level of financial security in the future.