Uncertainty in the middle of a Pandemic

"Hope is like the sun, when its behind the clouds it's not gone, you just have to find it."

          The past few weeks have been tough for all of us.  Each day we wake up to a world that's quite different from  the one we were used to.  Covid19 changed the lives of so many people all over the world.  Social distancing.  Enhanced community quarantine. Curfews.  Stay at home.  This is something new for everyone and it's scary because there is an air of uncertainty about this change.  But somehow I would tell myself that to be able to move forward we must embrace the fear and uncertainty and strive to live each day the best way we know how for nothing in this world is permanent.

          Tell yourself not to dwell on thoughts that would lead to negative feelings and emotions.  Use this time to slow down and be grateful for the gift of life. Keep connected with family and friends while maintaining social distancing.  Show kindness whenever possible.  Have faith that this will all be over soon.

     May hope never leave you during this difficult and trying times.

     

The Story Behind A Smile...

Behind every smile is a story of strength...

A smile to hide the struggle and overcome the different challenges that one has to face.

When you learn to smile behind the pain, you accept that life will never be perfect,

and that once in a while you will get hurt, 

but that won't stop you from living your life to the fullest.

When you share your smile, you let people feel that no matter how hard life gets, 

they are NEVER alone.

That is why I CHOOSE to SMILE.

Because despite the hurts and disappointments that I have experienced in the past,

 life has given me more than enough reasons to smile every single day.

I smile because I am grateful.
I smile because I am at peace with myself

Psychiatric Resident Signing Off...

If I am asked to describe what it’s like to be a psychiatric resident in Sotto, I would definitely describe it as “Life Changing”...

Residency training taught me a lot of things not just in the field of psychiatry, but life in general.  It gave me the chance to help and reach out to patients with mental illness and give hope to their families. It gave me an advocacy to promote mental health and awareness.
It was during residency training that I get to meet and work with different types of people, most of whom I now consider as my friends.

What kept me going for the past four years, aside from my commitment to the training program, was because of the love and support of my family and friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart..

Life as a psychiatric resident was like being in a roller coaster ride, it had its ups and downs... but it was definitely worth it. There was a time during my residency when I was faced with a lot of personal challenges, I remember my training officer telling me that if I would be able to overcome all the problems and difficulties I was facing at the moment, it would help me become a good psychiatrist in the future, and that is what I hope to be...

Graduating from residency is not the end, but it’s just the beginning of a whole new adventure waiting for me...

My sincere thanks to VSMMC and the Department of Psychiatry for allowing me to continue my service with the institution.  I may be signing off as a psychiatric resident, but I know that bigger and better things are yet to come...
 

Courage, Dear Heart

Dear Heart,

     We have gone through so much over the past couple of years.

     You know my deepest secrets, and you're good at keeping them.

     You flutter with excitement whenever something good happens in my life.  You have been bruised and broken, and shared with my pain, you helped me hang on when I was on the verge of giving up. 

     You have kept me grounded during the times when I wanted to forget who I am.   You reminded me that hurting is not an excuse for me to make a fool of myself, and so I chose the high road.  

     Thank you for helping me weather the storms in my life.  A few years back, I thought I could never get out of the sadness, the emptiness, and the anger that consumed me.  I was shattered and broken, but somehow you've helped me pick up the pieces of my life again. 

     Even as I was silently hurting, you still beat for me every single day.  You reminded me of the things that matters most in my life.  

     Thank you for allowing me to feel how it is to be happy, to be sad, to be afraid, to be angry, to love, to hate and to forgive.  These emotions and more is part of what makes me human.

     Our journey is far from over.  There would still be battles to be fought, and we still have so many things ahead of us.  And as what Aslan whispered to Lucy in the book, I say to you my friend, "Courage, dear heart..." 

     There is nothing in this world that we can't face together...