28 May 2026

I just registered for a tree-planting activity scheduled for next month, and I can’t wait! The organizer is one of my latest IG finds. (I hate social media, but it’s been a blessing for this new hyperfixation.) They’re pretty new, so I’m a little anxious, but they seem promising. I love that they’re not just about hiking but also about overall environmental awareness and appreciation.

It’s not like it’s a spur-of-the-moment decision—I’ve had days to think it over, after all. More importantly, I’ve been meaning to join a tree-planting activity for ages, and now that the opportunity has presented itself, it would be silly to ignore it. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get on the universe’s bad side.

I’m doing it solo, and I’m both scared and excited. This time, my brothers or their friends won’t be here to do the socializing for me. It’s terrifying, but I won’t let my introversion stop me. I’m pretty used to going on solo dates and adventures, so it shouldn’t be too hard, right?

Fingers crossed.

Life has been hectic lately—a blur of endless coughing fits, antibiotics, sleeping, and blazing through crime and mystery novels to stay sane. I mostly use Instagram to chat with friends, but in one way or another, my feed has now transformed into a treasure trove of hiking and outdoor-related posts, and I welcome it. In fact, I discovered the NGO I mentioned yesterday through an IG ad.

I scroll until I get my fill, and then I save reels of mountains I’d like to conquer one day, or hiking schedules from various organizers. (Soon, I’ll be in a rabbit hole to figure out which ones are reliable.) Occasionally, I’d also watch detailed hiking videos on YouTube, because why not?

I just recovered from an illness that’s partly due to the Pulag hike (emphasis on partly because I was already half sick days before the hike), but I’m already thinking about which trail to visit next. Or which outdoor activity to do.

I’ve always loved nature, sure, but I’ve only ever admired it from afar. On the outskirts, nestled in my home, gazing at Mt. Makiling and its hazy outline from our iron-clad windows. Inside a vehicle, zooming past towering trees or catching a glimpse of the Sierra Madre mountain range while we traverse the city’s polluted highways.

I’ve always been a homebody, but now, there’s an itch inside me, an intense yearning for the great outdoors. Most people entering their 30s transition to a “calmer” lifestyle, choosing the comforts of home over adventure. But the reverse is happening to me.

Sometimes, I don’t even recognize myself anymore.

And instead of feeling alarmed, I feel liberated.

Here’s to growth and stepping outside of your comfort zone.