Tag: Personal Reflection
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What Led Me to Islam: Trauma, Solitude, and a Turning Point
I came to Islam during one of the lowest points in my life. During the COVID lockdown, everything slowed down. I didn’t realize how much I had been distracting myself until I couldn’t anymore. Having more time on your hands can make you think about your past more than you want to. All the trauma…
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Sisters, Growing Pains, and Finding Our Own Homes
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about sisterhood, and how strange it feels when the people you once shared every corner of your life with suddenly aren’t under the same roof anymore. Three sisters, all creatives, all with the same slightly dramatic, slightly introverted, deeply imaginative personalities. Growing up in a home where our relationship…
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The Hidden Hierarchies of Workplace Favoritism
From the outside, Spectra Baby USA looked like a dream workplace. The owner was insanely wealthy and incredibly generous on paper, she handed out brand-new cars for “Employee of the Year,” hosted holiday parties in and outside of work, gave out free VIP concert tickets, and sponsored fun runs and social events. To anyone looking…
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Why I Find Japan’s Mask Culture Really Beautiful
One thing I’ve always quietly admired about Japan is how normal wearing a mask is. Not because of fear.Not because of rules.Not because someone told them to. But because it’s considerate. If you have a cold, you wear a mask.If your allergies are acting up, you wear a mask.If you’re packed into a train with…
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Why I Avoid Superficial People
When your self-worth is tied to superficial metrics like your appearance, job title, possessions, it is constantly vulnerable. A bad photo, a loss of a job or a home, or aging can really trigger an identity crisis, leading to anxiety, depression, stress, and insecurity. Substance builds resilience. When your self-worth comes from your character, integrity,…
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The Hardest Truth Therapy Made Me Face Today
I just walked out of therapy and I feel very unsettled right now. The entire session came down to one thing I really didn’t want to accept. Some people will hurt you and they genuinely do not care. They don’t sit with it. They don’t feel the weight. They don’t lose sleep. They don’t replay the…
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Why I Can’t Connect With Christianity
I grew up technically Catholic. I was baptized, did communion, all of that, but my parents were pretty secular. We were Catholic by name, not really by practice. That was just the environment I grew up in. Around 25, I started dating a Christian guy I’d known for a very long time. He was really…
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When a “Best Friend” Doesn’t Feel Safe
I’ve had a lot of girlfriends and best friends in my lifetime, but none of them fit into this category, except her. I recently cut off one of my longtime best friends, and even though it had to be done, I still feel terrible because we had known each other for a long time, long…
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Honestly, Vanessa 