My Life Thus Far: From Linear to Spiral

I used to joke that if my life were ever turned into a movie, nobody would watch it. It just seemed too predictable, like one of those films where you already know the ending halfway through. I did everything by the book: go to school, graduate, get a job, get married, have kids. Straightforward. Linear.

But lately, my life’s taken a few turns—more like a spiral, actually. Still moving forward, but with loops, twists, and lessons along the way. And you know what? I think that makes the story way more interesting.

Anyway, hi! I’m Karen Anne. I’m 41, a freelancer, and a mom of three awesome kids. We live in a modest two-story duplex in Bulacan. I was born in Manila to hardworking parents—a supermarket manager and a car salesman. We didn’t have a lot, but we always had enough. I’m the youngest and the only girl in the family, which meant lots of alone time since my brothers got to play outside while I stayed in. Looking back, maybe that’s where I learned to be creative and independent.

As a student, I loved learning (and winning quiz bees). Spelling, Science—you name it, I joined it. I wasn’t just chasing medals; I genuinely loved discovering new things.

Then life threw its first curveball. During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, both my parents lost their jobs. My mom opened a sari-sari store, my dad moved to Sorsogon to start a business, and eventually, we sold our house. My siblings and I stayed with our maternal aunt. Those were tough times, but they taught me resilience early on.

Fast forward to 2004—I graduated from UST and became a high school English teacher. Teaching was my passion. For nineteen years, the classroom was my second home. It’s where I built friendships, found purpose, and lived that teacher’s motto: teaching minds, touching hearts, transforming lives.
In 2014, I married my boyfriend of two years—a police officer. We made quite the duo: a teacher and a cop. We worked hard to give our kids a good life. I even juggled side hustles—writing workbooks, editing manuscripts, crocheting and selling dolls—whatever could help with the family budget.

Then the pandemic hit, and like for so many others, everything changed. Money was tight, and life in the city got harder. In 2023, I decided to move to Sorsogon to help my dad run his grocery store. It was scary leaving the classroom, but I figured, why not give it a try?

But life, being the plot-twister it is, had more surprises in store. My husband got diagnosed with renal cancer. He stayed up north in Isabela with his family for treatment, while I was down south in Sorsogon managing the grocery store and taking care of the kids. The distance was heartbreaking. When he passed away, it felt like the world stopped spinning.

Two days after his burial, I had a big argument with my dad which made me decide to leave the grocery business. So, there I was again—starting over. I took my kids to Bulacan, where we were able to buy a house through my husband’s insurance.

Those months were rough. I’d lost my husband, my job, and my sense of stability—all at once. I sent out countless applications, got rejection after rejection, and questioned everything. But slowly, doors started opening. I landed a remote admin job, then started teaching ESL online. Bit by bit, things began to make sense again.

This is also why I took to blogging again. It is one of my favorite things to do back in my younger days. Blogging helps me be connected to who I am and the things that go on around me. I am thankful to have met ma’am @Antonette who introduced me to PeakD and how Hive works. I’m positive that this will help me in my journey.

I’m still figuring life out, and maybe I always will be. But I’ve learned that even when things spiral, it doesn’t mean you’re lost—it just means you’re evolving.

My life may not be the blockbuster kind, but it’s full of heart, lessons, and hope. And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly the kind of story worth watching.