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This 2026, my fiancé and I decided to do long morning walks during weekends and holidays. We have tried walking and jogging before every morning that we’re able to, but we were not consistent, and it felt like a chore. The difference with our walks now is my perspective in doing it. I am no longer thinking about losing weight or getting fit, although yes, it will be a huge bonus since I have been a bit overweight for a year now. But the main thing that’s been on my mind lately is appreciating our life as it is right now, removing all the noise around me, and enjoying what’s available and accessible in my life.

I love our morning walks because of all the things I can see outside. We’re not living in a picturesque neighborhood, but I enjoy seeing new little things to admire. I know this may sound cheesy, but I was able to determine this feeling because I bought a walking pad last year, and I couldn’t enjoy it. Using it felt like torture, and trying to watch something while doing so made me feel numb. All that I could think about while walking was getting to the end.

Though now, I have started using it again from time to time whenever I have the courage to do so, to stay active since we cannot always do our walks outside, especially on weekdays because of our different work schedules. Now, it is getting easier and easier to use, as I am motivated to get stronger to do longer walks outside.

When we started walking on different routes around our neighborhood, I started loving the idea of just walking anywhere, and maybe someday being able to trek and hike. Walking helped me declutter my mind, stay off social media, love the idea of being physically active, love my neighborhood, and finally, truly love my life.

It reminded me that I actually don’t mind the pain and tiredness I feel from being physically active, because whenever we are on vacation, I actually enjoy walking around and doing demanding physical activities. It reminded me that everything I actually need is already around me, and it helped me appreciate everything I have right now. It reminded me how big this world is and how many more adventures there are in life. And finally, it reminded me to breathe and slow down, that I am not stuck, that I am not in a rush, and that I can do whatever I want in life without feeling pressured to do so.

This journey has brought me closer to my fiancé, to my neighborhood, and to myself. I feel more connected to myself and to our environment. I am now looking forward to doing more outdoor physical activities. Maybe we’ll try tennis or badminton again, maybe also swimming, or whatever else we can try. All that I can feel right now is excitement for life, and I am truly grateful to be able to stay active. I promise myself that I will always take care of my health and appreciate my body for being able to do the things I love to do.

I kept seeing clips of PEN15 on Instagram reels, like all the time. It just kept popping off my feed. I didn’t really watch it at first because I already had too many pending TV shows that I still haven’t finished (don’t judge me). I was deep in my usual cycle of starting new shows and not finishing them, and honestly, I was kind of getting bored. Nothing was hitting anymore. Nothing was keeping me invested.

One day, out of pure boredom and frustration, I thought okay, fine, let’s see what the hype is about. But even then, I hesitated hard. I usually crochet when I watch stuff, so I tend to save shows that seem like they deserve my full attention. You know, stuff I need to really watch instead of just listening in the background while I’m counting stitches. Most of the time, I just rewatch comfort shows while crocheting for that exact reason, it doesn’t matter if I miss scenes.

But then came this one weekend where my fiancé and I just couldn’t find anything to watch. Like anything. We were both scrolling, sighing, suggesting random stuff we’ve already seen. So I said, "Let’s just try PEN15?" And OMG, best decision ever.

It did not disappoint. The first episode got me hooked already. Like, hooked. These two 30 something year olds acting like they’re 13 is so absurd but at the same time, it makes so much sense? And the way they portray middle school awkwardness, puberty, bullies, cultural identity issues, friendship struggles, all of it just felt so real. It hit something in me that I didn’t even realize needed to be hit.

From elementary to high school, I kept switching best friends. I never had that consistent ride or die friendship like they had. I was always a bit too in my own head, in my own world. But don’t get me wrong, I had and still have good friends from high school, like 2 to 3 of them, and we’re still in touch and all. That kind of friendship where you go through all the cringe phases of growing up together? That kind of soul sister thing? I didn’t get to experience that. So I felt a little envious seeing Maya and Ana’s friendship, but it was mostly heartwarming. I still related though, because the feelings they went through, the awkwardness, insecurity, trying to fit in, those were all too familiar.

There’s this weird comfort in watching PEN15. Maybe it’s because it’s so unapologetically awkward. Maybe it’s because it shows the stuff that a lot of us felt but never got to talk about out loud. It makes you laugh and cringe and go “OH MY GOD SAME” all at once. And even if you didn’t have the exact same experience, you’ll find something in there that resonates. Something weirdly healing.

So yeah, PEN15 is officially one of those rare shows that caught me off guard in the best way possible. If you’ve been on the fence like I was, just go ahead and watch it already. Preferably with someone you love who can laugh and cringe with you through all the awkward moments. And if you love unhinged TV characters, you won't regret it!

The First Sitcoms: A Teenage Blur

Okay, let’s talk about sitcoms.

So the first “mature” sitcom that I watched was HIMYM, but I was like 14 years old at that time, and I didn’t really get the jokes or the humor. I did not understand Barney at all. I was even questioning why they were still friends with him if everything he did was annoying to them. I think I wasn’t able to get past season 3. I guess I was still hung up on watching sitcoms like Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place.

College Era: When I Fell in Love with Sitcoms

I think I started getting into sitcoms when I entered college. I started watching FRIENDS. That’s when I fell in love with sitcoms! Then I remembered that I watched the Anaconda Don’t bit of Jennifer and David when I was in high school, and I did find it funny back then and until now. It’s a classic scene.

So yessss, my first real SITCOM was FRIENDS. Then I thought, why not rewatch HIMYM with a brand new set of “eyes”/view? Then bam! Finished watching it in like a week or so? I love it!!! LOVE! LOVE! IT! Finally, I understood the sandwich reference, I didn’t really get it back in high school. And yes, Cristin Milioti’s screen time was definitely abrupt, but it was worth the wait. I fell in love with her the moment she turned up on the screen, and honestly, I didn’t hate the ending. For me, it was still good writing, not that I know anything about writing, but still, I enjoyed it! It was a good wrap-up of every story told, everything connected.

I do hate it when characters are on and off and getting into relationships while they’re really still in love with their best/ex-friend, but in TV shows and movies, I can tolerate it (as a Pinoy who grew up in kabitan teledramas). But going back to the “Mother,” I don’t think Ted still loved Robin when the Mother was alive, she’s just really on another level. Or maybe this is just me, putting her on a pedestal.

Moving Forward: Same Formula, New Flavors

Anywayyyyyy, the next sitcom I watched was TBBT, and honestly, I enjoyed it too! I know people love to compare these three, but for me, all three of them are unique in their own way. Even though they do have the same formula, the roommates-friends-to-lovers trope, I still like them all, separately.

The next sitcom that I watched with the same formula was New Girl! I love it! I LOVE ZOOEY DESCHANEL, but what really made me stay and finish this series was Schmidt! I love his comedic timing. I think New Girl feels a little different from the first three sitcoms I’ve discussed, maybe because it doesn’t have a laugh track and it’s more modern, I think, and obviously because it’s much more recent than the previous three. But watching it feels like watching a rom-com movie (IDK if you get this, but it has a different “vibe”), maybe because Nick and Jess have the most satisfying first kiss in the history of sitcoms! Ghaddddd. I love me some Nick Miller! I remember the first time I was watching New Girl, and I was obsessed with Nick Miller, even with his disgusting dirty feet.

Enter The Office: New Humor, New Obsession

So nexxxtttt, I watched THE OFFICE! I was surprised a bit? I liked the first season, but it also felt like, wow, this is a different humor, so different from the first three that I watched. Then, as I continued, oh god, did I love it so much. I am no longer invested in the romance plot of a sitcom, I am just really invested in it as a whole! And Michael, Dwight, and Kevin, what diabolical characters they are! And oh, Jan and Ryan!!! I think this is the first time that I loved seeing a character spiral down and finding humor in the character’s downfall. The Office has opened me up to a brand new set of humor to appreciate. And I think The Office will always have a special place in my heart.

Chasing That Dry Humor

After watching The Office, I was looking for another sitcom similar to it, so I watched Parks and Recreation. I liked it, but not as much as I loved The Office. But thanks to this sitcom, I got to know about Aubrey Plaza! And the “straight to jail” bit.

I think after these two, I also watched other shows of the same creator, which were Community and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. They are good shows too (I love Troy and Abed and Amy and Jake), but I’m still craving that The Office cringe/dry humor. I also watched their other shows later on, The Good Place and Superstore, but I’ll talk about them a little bit later at the end.

A Show About Nothing

That’s when I found Seinfeld! I love it, a show about nothing, just some random moments in life that you’ll find humor in! And Georggeee fucking Costanza! He’s so angry all the time, it’s hilarious. I also love angry Elaine, and god, is she so beautiful!

Going Dark: Enter It’s Always Sunny

Then, as I was looking for another cringe/dry/dark humor, I found IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA! If you’re looking for dark, then. THIS. Watch. This! They are so chaotic, but I don’t think this sitcom is for everyone. A lot of scenes are sometimes too extreme? But absolutely funny! And c’mon, they got Danny Devito! They also have the greatest side characters like Cricket, the McPoyles, and the Ponderosas! This show is still ongoing, and you guys should watch it!

Top Tier: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Next show I watched, which for me, topped all the sitcoms, this is just really great comedy, and it’s IMPROV!!! (As far as I know, they do have like an outline for the plot but they don’t have scripts for their dialogue.) HOW ABOUT THAT! That show is CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. YESSS! IT’S CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. Fucking Larry David! Man, that guy is a comedy genius. The scenes are chef’s kiss. The way Larry David gets angry over things that, let’s be honest, we’d be enraged about too, but we’re not Larry David enough to rage over them, is so hysterical! There are also a bunch of times that Larry is being a jerk because apparently he just wants some rules to be followed if it favors him, which makes it more funny. And I don’t know what to tell you guys anymore to convince you to watch it, this show is pretty, pretty, pretty good!

Quick Thoughts on The Good Place and Superstore

Just a short discussion about The Good Place and Superstore. I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t enjoy Superstore as much as I did with the other shows from the same creator. It was still funny, but I didn’t got invested as much as I did with their earlier shows. The Good Place, on the other hand, really stood out to me. The storyline was clever, and the moment I finished it, I immediately rewatched the whole thing just to catch everything I missed the first time. It had plenty of hilarious moments, but what really pulled me in was its philosophical depth and the unexpected twists.

A Few More Sitcom Gems

Some of the other shows I love that I haven’t mention yet are:

Golden Girls (A classic!!!)

Modern Family (My favorite family sitcom)

Pen15 (Coming of age sitcom that is definitely should be on your watchlist, didn’t include it in my earlier ramble because I think it deserves a whole separate one 🤣)

Arrested Development (Currently watching this and really enjoying it)

Young Sheldon (I love meemaw 🥹)

Animated Sitcoms I Love:

Bojack Horseman (I think this is actually more of a drama than a sitcom, still love it, definitely got hang up on it for a while)

Rick and Morty

Family Guy (haven’t really watched it all, but I did watched season 1 to 2, 5 to 15)

Final Thoughts