Hello, I’m here.

Hey, there. Journal, virtual space stamped with my mark—diwa.

How heartwarming yet melancholic this feeling of re-entering what was once an intimate and frequented space.

I’ve been silent, and have chosen silence, since Ama’s passing and the arrival of our two new furry family members.

Time, physical energy, mental strength were not on my side for the most part of 2021. The world became a blurry mess where nothing really mattered but keeping control over the house and family.

• Friends came and went
• Family members shared updates from their side of the world
• Society scrambled for their freedoms and incomes in the middle of lockdowns and restrictions.

But this blog remained in my mind and heart. I’ve not touched it for close to a year, but I’m assured that the memories I’ve documented in the past will see the next chapter.

Back to studies—dog training studies

First up, I think I’ve finally come to terms with what I want to do and what my legacy’s going to be.

Raising my diwa dogs (news coming soon!) and scratching the surface of positive reinforcement (R+) training has been such a joy and passion.

It’s what I think about and practice with these fur balls every sunrise and sunset. It’s what brings me joy at a time when things can feel lonely and isolating.

Beyond teaching our 1-year old pups how to navigate the world around them calmly and safely, studying R+ dog training, dog behavior, and behavior change empowered me to try and solve my long-standing issues with Sappho and Scarlet. I can finally learn how to address fear, anxiety, dog-to-dog aggression, and more, all of which I thought I’d never be able to solve except through strict management.

It feels serendipitous, knowing I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was a kid.

Circumstances didn’t lead me down this path, but sharing what I’ve learned and serving others as a certified dog trainer are definitely work I’d jump at the chance at doing. Helping people, working with dogs, and making a difference all overlap through this career path, so it feels right for me.

That said, I’m documenting my journey as a dog training student here on Diwa Daily.

I’ll share summaries of my studies, my training stories, and experiences till there’s plenty for other Filipinos to learn and follow.

If I can encourage other dog guardians and potential trainers to choose R+, fear-free, and science-based dog training over punishment and dog behavior myths as their methodology, I can rest easy knowing I’ve made a dent of a difference in this country.

Watch out for future posts in the Diwa Dogs chapter of the blog.

Home rebuild

That’s the project name I gave to our upcoming home renovations.?

J and I have been planning this project for years; this month, we finally started moving the pieces around so we can turn our home into a reality.

The costs are honestly still steep, but I’m praying hard that our dreams will come true and opportunities will open up, so we’d give the kids and dogs a home that’s spacious and cozy, a home they will want to return to in the years to come.

Stay tuned for more updates on our home renovations in the Stories chapter of the blog.

I’m leaving my job

The final piece of news to share is my leaving my current job at the end of the year.

The company I work for announced that they’ll no longer work with anyone outside of the countries they have legal entities in.

Although they gave me the option to immigrate, it just isn’t practical and realistic.

I mean, it’s an exciting adventure, but I’d be uprooting my entire life and the lives of my family for work. All our plans to renovate our home would go straight into the back burner and our lifestyle would change completely.

I’ve started applying for jobs, but there’s very little progress.

It’s scary, but I’m unusually hopeful that there’ll be an opportunity that will not only sustain myself, but provide me with the time and resources to pursue my dog training studies. ?

I’m experimenting with Patreon?to see if this will be my big and final break. I’m nervous and excited about sharing my page, so the journey will be on the blog soon!

More hellos

After a year of puppy training, socialization, doggy adolescence, and raising three kids, I’m confident to say I’m regaining some semblance of structure.

I’ve begun using my Mossery planner regularly, allowing more time for self-care, and taking advantage of the dogs’ downtime schedules. This may lead to more writing here on Diwa Daily. ?

But knowing how chaotic things can instantly be, I’m staying flexible as possible. It’s something my diwa dogs have taught me in the middle of the pandemic, and a skill that I’m forever grateful for.

Again, if you’ve stuck around, or are back because you saw a link to this post and have managed to read all the way here, thank you. ❤️ It means so much to this 30-something year old who’s still searching for her voice and purpose in life.