When Letting Go of Expectations Comes at a Cost There’s a common message in today’s world: “Lower your expectations, and you won’t be disappointed.” On the surface, it sounds wise. Peaceful, even. But beneath that advice lies a quiet truth we don’t talk about enough. In relationships—whether romantic, familial, or friendships—expectations often come from a…
Tag: being real
A Letter To My Younger Self
Dear younger me, You were always the quiet one — the girl who preferred books over parties, cozy corners over loud rooms. You felt safer in your own world, where your thoughts could wander freely and your heart didn’t have to perform. And that’s okay. That was never a flaw. That was your beginning. I…
The Ugly Side of Boundaries
No one really talks about the awkward, uncomfortable, slightly soul-crushing part of setting boundaries — especially with the people you love. It’s supposed to be this healthy, empowering thing. And it is. But sometimes, it also feels like breaking your own heart a little. Because the moment you stop saying “yes” to everything, the people…
When Hope Tiptoes Back In
Hope doesn’t always come with fanfare. It doesn’t always announce itself with bright lights or bold declarations. Sometimes, it enters softly—barefoot, quiet, almost unnoticeable. It may show up in a moment of stillness, in the gentle rhythm of a favorite song playing unexpectedly. In the first deep breath that doesn’t feel heavy. In the tiny…
Elephant In The Room
We often think it’s the big issues that weigh the heaviest in our lives—those thunderclaps of betrayal, failure, loss, or disappointment. But what if it’s not the loud, crashing moments that define us—but the soft, subtle ones? The ones we barely speak of? The little things? The truth is, little things are often the elephant…
Who Am I Becoming?
Life Is Not What We Make It, But Who We Are We’re taught from a young age to chase after dreams, set goals, and create the life we want. “Life is what you make it,” they say — and in many ways, there’s truth in that. Our choices matter. Our effort counts. But if we…
Dear Me,
Wow! Happy Birthday! Can you believe you’re fifty-five? Where do I start? Today marks a new beginning for you. Only time will tell how it’ll move forward, but it’s a step that you have to take. You deserve it. When you first moved here with no family around, you stepped courageously into the unknown. How…
Drained
I find myself looking for “drained” quotes to somehow find answers to how I am feeling the past several weeks. As I scroll through some famous quotes, I realized that none can define how I am feeling right now. Which proves that our situations vary and our feelings are our own. Perhaps, I have been…
She.Writes.
When I first discovered my love of writing, I was unstoppable. In spite of my full schedule, full time work and taking care of the home. I found myself writing in the wee hours of the morning, during breaks at work, or in between doing chores. Writing helps me process my feelings. This is how…
Shikata Ga Nai
Shikata Ga Nai which translates to “it cannot be helped” and represents the concept of accepting situations beyond your control and letting go of the need to change them; essentially, embracing the idea of “letting go.” As you can see, I have a very strong fascination with Japanese words and how it provides deeper meaning…
Charina.Writes 