The power of starting within and outside yourself
Last Sunday, I entered the Manila Pen [The Peninsula Manila] ballroom, filled with men and women donning gray jackets bearing the One Marie France logo. On every table sat pink tumblers, pink notebooks, red pens, and a cute bowl of candies waiting for note-takers. It felt like the first day of school for Elle Woods in the movie Legally Blonde—but the classroom setup was prettier.
Imagine a huge ballroom covered in a wave of pink. The nerd in me was exhilarated. I promised myself I would stay only until lunch because it was a Sunday. With two media friends beside me, I was so engrossed that I remained until the very end.
Hosted by Issa Litton and graced by celebrity ambassadors—Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, Bernadette Allyson, Gela Laurel, Polo Ravales, Brent Javier, Mikaela Lagdameo, Amanda Griffin, Gary Estrada, and more—the day belonged to the Marie France team.
What moved me most was seeing the founders and executives present and attentive, taking notes and listening closely as doctors and medical experts took the stage. From marketing team members to frontline therapists, the company message was consistent—we want you equipped, inside and out.
The program was unveiled in four learning clusters. Lifestyle and Nutrition opened the morning with gentle, doable tweaks—nourish before you restrict, hydrate like it matters, and plan your meals so your energy doesn’t crash when your calendar spikes. Movement and Fitness followed, championing consistency over intensity. Micro-movements count, they reminded us—walks between meetings, desk stretches, and taking the stairs when you can.
After lunch came Hormones, a helpful session that translated lab talk into everyday choices and symptoms we can actually track. Finally, Stress and Mental Health tied everything together, naming what so many in caregiving roles experience: emotional labor and the burnout it can create.
That last part hit home. Emotional labor—managing our feelings so others can feel safe and supported—is noble, but it’s still work. The speakers named the warning signs: difficulty sleeping, irritability or detachment, persistent fatigue even after rest, and the most telling of all—loss of empathy. They offered coping mechanisms that sound simple but feel revolutionary when practiced: plan ahead to lessen decision fatigue, pause to breathe and meditate, enjoy small moments at work, and stay intentionally positive without pretending everything is perfect.
We were also given five self‑care habits to anchor our days. First, mindfulness—be where your feet are, taste your food, notice your breath, and feel the sun. Second, sleep hygiene—dim the lights, step away from screens, cool the room, and let your brain power down. Third, social connection—find a friend at work to check in with; no one should carry care alone. Fourth, microbreaks—short, regular pauses from screens to reset focus and mood. Fifth, nature exposure—seek natural light, stretch by a window, take a quick walk outside, and your nervous system will thank you.
One of the most important points of the day was about boundaries. Now in 2025, there’s no room for people‑pleasing that empties the helper. Boundaries are not selfish—we need them. They are protective.
We need to take a real lunch break. Ask for a few minutes between back-to-back work meetings or sessions. Pause after emotionally heavy interactions. Prioritizing yourself doesn’t cancel good service—it sustains it.
From my outsider’s vantage point, it was heartwarming to witness a company care for its people with this level of intention. Marie France wasn’t just showcasing expertise; it was building a caring community where beauty isn’t only visible on the outside. The brand is promoting beauty inside—the kind that supports therapists, consultants, and staff so they can, in turn, support clients. That is holistic beauty.
As the day ended, the core message was clear: self‑care is essential for sustaining empathy and effectiveness at work. If your own cup is empty, how can you pour into others?
Start small. Check in with yourself as often as you check in with others. Choose one restorative habit—any habit—and commit to it. Small daily actions create ripples of positive change. And as one speaker reminded us, when we care for the carers, everybody wins.
For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.
