Being feminine again isn’t about makeup or dresses. It’s about not having to brace yourself every morning. So many of us were taught that femininity meant how we looked—lipstick, polished nails, soft dresses, gentle smiles. We were told to “act like a lady” while carrying the weight of the world on our backs. But the…
Read moreCategory: Notes from Life
A place for the everyday, the unexpected, and the things that don’t fit anywhere else. Honest reflections, small observations, and quiet moments — all the bits of life that whisper their meaning if we pay attention.
You Didn’t Fail at Strength
You didn’t fail at strength. You simply outgrew the version of you that only knew how to fight. That version of you—the one who hustled, pushed, braced, fought through every storm with clenched fists and tired eyes—she didn’t fail. She did exactly what she needed to do to get you here. She protected you. She…
Read moreWanting to Be Held
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be held. To want rest. To want to be cared for. I think somewhere along the way, we were taught that needing these things made us weak—or worse, needy. That to be strong meant to always stand on our own. To want softness made us childish. To crave rest…
Read moreYou Were Never Too Much
You’ve probably been called too intense. Too emotional. Too loud. Too sensitive. Too ambitious. Too honest. Too complicated. Too… much. And for a long time, you believed it. You believed that you needed to shrink, to filter yourself, to water down your magic just to be tolerated. You learned to speak softer, feel less, dream…
Read moreReturning to Softness
There’s a version of you from long ago—before the heartbreaks, before the pressure, before you had to toughen up just to survive. A version that laughed freely, cried without shame, trusted without fear, and loved without needing proof first. That softness wasn’t weakness. It was your truest self, before the world told you to be…
Read moreYou Don’t Owe Anyone an Explanation for Wanting Peace
Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught to earn our rest. To justify our softness. To explain why we’re tired, why we need space, why we can’t keep holding it all anymore. We learned to shrink our needs or dress them up in apology, because just wanting peace felt selfish, lazy, or too…
Read moreLetting My Body Breathe Again
After years of armour, I didn’t realise how tense I had become. Not just in my shoulders or jaw or back—but in my whole being. I was holding everything. Holding myself together. Holding back tears. Holding in anger. Holding my breath through life like I was waiting for permission to finally exhale. I had lived…
Read moreSafety Changes Everything
When you feel safe, your heart stops shaking. There’s a version of me that existed only in survival. She knew how to anticipate everyone’s needs. She knew how to smile through discomfort. She knew how to keep the peace, even when everything inside her was screaming. That version of me was sharp, careful, tired. But…
Read moreLetting Softness Lead the Way
Softness isn’t weakness—it’s the quiet strength that comes from knowing who you are beyond the fight for survival. After years of pushing hard, being soft again feels like coming home. Choosing softness means giving yourself permission to feel deeply, to rest, and to open your heart even if it’s scary. It’s about embracing vulnerability as…
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