Lessons From Kitty Bunag, Interior Stylist
How To Design A Good Life & Surround Yourself with Beauty
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Kitty Bunag is a lover of beauty. She is passionate about design, art, and photography. No matter what crisis life throws at her, she makes sure art is in her life.
When you hear what she’s been through in our episode, you’ll understand what it takes to design a good life and how you really can make something out of nothing.
On pivotal moments — turn them into opportunity for healing.
My pivotal moments are not because of the actual work that I do. It's because I thrive when I go through crisis. I turn to something for healing. It was only at that time when my mom passed away that I quit art school or design school... my dad also passed away and guys, my parents are my best friends in the whole wide world. We're super close. They had me at a young age also….When my dad died, I took up photography. How do I say this? I thrive when there's crisis. Another was when I had a miscarriage. I started another business.
On her career — Go with the tide. But stand strong and work the tide.
First of all, I quit design school. And if I didn't ever get to this point, I wished for it. Wherever the tide brings me I just go with it. Why I took interior design was because I wanted to do visual merchandising... You just really have to work hard at it. It doesn't have to be related to your dreams. But it's going to take you there eventually.
On ideas — act on them before someone else does.
If you have these ideas, whether it's big or small or simple. If you don't act on them, they're gonna go to someone else.
On being an instrument — we all have value.
We all have something. We're all blessed with something that we're good at, whether we admit it. It may be a skill. It may be a trait. It may be a value. And it's meant for us. It's not meant for us to be. It's meant for us to share. It's meant for us to give away.
On social media — there’s so much more going on beyond the four corners of Instagram.
You know what, you'll never be 100% certain about where you want to be at. To be honest, hindi pa ako kontento (I’m not content yet). I want more out of life. I feel like I haven’t done enough. I feel like I’m not where I’m supposed to be. And I still cry a lot. Madami akong drama (I have a lot of drama) but that shouldn't stop you from just moving forward. Just do what you do even if you don't feel like it. That's what I want to tell people. I have a beautiful feed. Yes, it's part of my job. But let's not forget, these are just fractions of moments and beyond those squares…. So much going on beyond the four corners of Instagram.
On romantic love — sustain that mad and passionate love until you are old.
It should be lustful. It should be mad and passionate. It should be like that until you're old. Okay, it changes when your years down the road in the relationship. It does. But I feel like it shouldn’t. To have that kind of love that you're into each other for a long, long time , till death do you part. But back to love in general, it's hard...It's the kind of hard that you want to go through.
On living in the moment - be present always.
I can’t see the future to be honest. It's uncertain, very uncertain. I am hopeful, but it helps me. Ngayon ha (Now), It helps me to look back than to look forward. Sometimes it gives me more anxiety to look forward. I'm just such a present person. I live in the moment.
Foot Notes:
What To Read: When Breath Becomes Air, A 36-year old neurosurgeon is diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. And he starts to ask a fundamental question — what makes a life worth living?
What To Watch: The Power of Vulnerability or The Call To Courage by Dr. Brené Brown. Learn how to make better human connections by being more honest and open.
What To Listen To: Things Fall Apart by The Roots - When you want to unwind on a Friday night. (Yes, our minds are already on the weekend!)
& Things To Try
Virtual date tip of the week: Visit a virtual museum together. Or drink & draw. Inspired by Kitty’s love of art, we thought you and your virtual romance could get into the arts.
Are you working from home and fed up being at home? Take a few hours to clean up your room and make it beautiful.
This Week’s Episode — Episode 25 Dating After Kids
Being a single parent is tough. There's so much unnecessary judgment that comes from society. We chat with Denise Campos, a mom and talented chef, about her experiences. She shares her past, her present, and her hope for the future. This episode is a reminder that even if there are dark times, time will always heal wounds.
“The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.” - Esther Perel