This morning began quietly — the kind of quiet that sits softly in the bones. I stepped out with a simple reminder from home: wear a mask, many people are sick. So I carried that small care with me onto the buses, watching the day slowly unfold through moving windows.
Along the way, the world felt a little sharp. People bumped into me, laughed near me, kept their distance. Some moments were just clumsy accidents, others were strange and confusing. I reminded myself that not every sound belongs to me, not every glance means something. Still, my heart felt tender with each little bruise.
I went for a haircut today and told the hairdresser honestly that my emotions weren’t doing well. She didn’t judge. She simply said, “Don’t care too much about others.” Her voice was calm, almost like she was brushing away the heaviness sitting on my shoulders. Maybe I needed that reminder more than I realised.
Later, memories of my Primary 4 teacher surfaced. She was strict, but kind in all the right ways. She encouraged me and gave me stickers when I tried my best. She passed away long ago, yet today, she felt close — like a quiet guide reminding me to stay steady.
The day carried on with a mix of errands and moments: visiting family, buying lunch and dinner, running into strangers who bumped past me or laughed at the wrong times. It wasn’t a smooth day, but it was real, and I kept moving through it.
In the middle of everything, I made a brave decision.
I submitted one of my books to a professional award.
The payment failed three times before it finally went through — each attempt stressing me out more than the last. But eventually, it succeeded. And in that small win, I heard a gentle whisper: “Your work matters.” Today, I believed it.
Life’s realities also returned — pending bills, a tooth appointment coming, and mum reminding me to save money. Somewhere between it all, the monk’s words echoed softly in my mind:
“δΈθ¦ζ§η — don’t cling too tightly.
Everywhere is good.”
Maybe that’s the heart of today.
Not that everything was easy,
not that everyone was kind,
not that I felt strong every moment…
But that I kept walking anyway.
I kept breathing.
I kept choosing softness.
I kept choosing myself.
Tonight, I am ending with this truth:
Even when the world feels noisy,
I still have the courage to keep walking.
And that is enough.
π✨
