Is it just me, or has the Philippine summer turned into a full-blown sauna?
With temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius, even doing the laundry feels like an extreme sport. Just last week, I hung some clothes outside to dry, and before I could even sit down with a cold drink, my sinampay—the clothes—were almost crispy. It’s that hot!
As I sat there wiping off sweat, I thought to myself, life can feel exactly the same. The pressures, the problems, the endless to-do lists—they pile up so fast that before you know it, you feel like you’re stuck in the middle of a heatwave.
Maybe you’re feeling that heat now too. Maybe you’re handling family worries, work stress, financial struggles, health scares. All these are making you wonder, How much more can I take?
If that’s you, I want to share some simple reminders that have helped me (and many others) survive both the literal heat and life’s emotional summers:
Find Your Shade.
When it’s 40 degrees outside, what’s the first thing we look for? Shade! In life, finding “shade” means creating small moments to rest and breathe.
When I was juggling a job and school, I used to sneak ten minutes to just sit in a garden every morning. That little habit kept me sane.
Have a five-minute coffee break in peace. It’s not laziness—it’s survival.
Hydrate Your Mind.
Just like your body needs water, your mind needs refreshing, positive input. Feed your mind the good stuff every single day. Maybe try listening to inspiring podcasts while stuck in traffic. Positive words act like water for a thirsty soul.
Dress Lightly, Emotionally.
In this weather, we ditch heavy jackets, right? In life, it’s time to let go of heavy emotional baggage too.
There was a time I carried resentment from a professional betrayal. It ate me up inside until I realized the anger was only hurting me.
Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting. It means choosing peace over poison. When you drop the extra emotional weight, you’ll feel lighter, freer, cooler.
Protect Your Energy Like Sunscreen.
You wouldn’t step into this summer heat without sunscreen. Your skin would scream! In the same way, we need to protect our hearts from constant negativity.
Once, I had a colleague who loved to gossip and complain. After every conversation, I felt drained. I learned to gently distance myself. Guard your peace, because not every battle is yours to fight.
Trust That Seasons Change.
No matter how endless the summer feels, cooler days always come. There are times when we feel like we would never survive failure or our life will always be rock bottom. But little by little, new doors will open. Seasons change. They always do. Hang on. Your new season is already on its way.
I know some days feel heavier than others. Some seasons burn hotter and break us down in ways we don’t even have words for. I’ve been there too—standing in the middle of my own storms, wondering if the pain would ever pass, wondering if I was still strong enough to keep going.
If you’re feeling that today, please hear me. You are not alone. You are not forgotten, and you are not fighting for nothing. Every tear you’ve cried, every small step you’ve taken, they all matter more than you know.
Even when you can’t see it yet, you are moving forward. Even in the hardest moments, you are becoming someone braver, stronger, and more beautiful than you realize. So please, don’t give up. Not now. Not when the breakthrough might be just a little further down the road.
I’m right here, quietly cheering you on, believing with all my heart that you have everything it takes to get through this, and to rise even higher after the fire.
