Trains

 “I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care of: for this moment I know where I am going.”
― Anna Funder, Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall

On Turning 23

I love taking pictures. It's a hobby that I truly treasure. But when my 23rd birthday came upon, I wasn't able to take any blog-post-worthy picture (except for my birthday cake above, which I almost finished before taking a picture). I don't know what happened. Maybe I was just too tired because I still had class the afternoon before the party. Maybe I was just too preoccupied on thinking how I'm going to finish all my requirements for the term. Or maybe, I was just to filled with happiness and contentment that I didn't bother documenting any of it. I was just too busy being in those moments.

Turning 23, honestly, doesn't seem to be big of a deal as any of my past birthdays. I didn't put any effort in planning for the party. Maybe because I have my mama, cousins, and friends to help me out. But it didn't felt stressful as it did last year. I was even more stressed with school than the party.  I don't know why but there were a sense of relaxation through out that night. I truly felt loved and cared for. I didn't ask much, but I got more. And for that, I am truly thankful, especially for the people who greeted and for the people who came and celebrated with me. If I had all the treasures in the world, I'd share them with you guys. But I'm broke and all I can give is my heartfelt 'Thank you'. Hope that's enough. :)

Be Kind to Yourself

As I've mentioned in my previous post, my new year's resolution every year is "Change". It has never failed me, and I feel like I'm in a better place in life than I was years ago. Sometimes, however, "Change" can be a bit of negative, as it can mean that something in me is wrong and that it needs to be changed, which is not usually the case. This is why I loved Verily Magazine's recently posted Style Resolution, which is "Be Kind to Yourself". In this resolution, you simply have to look in your mirror everyday and try to say one thing that you love about yourself, whether it be a freckle on the nose or your big wide smile. Janet, the writer of the blog post, said that "This isn’t about some “feel good mantra,” but a real exercise in learning about yourself, your worth, and your undeniable beauty."  So, to start this resolution, here's my first kindness to myself, which I would love to share with you:

How about you, dear reader? How can you be more kind to yourself? What do you love about yourself?