Love – Tien-Jen

Falling In Love With Yourself

We are the author of our own journey, the painter of our own beautiful artwork and the composer of our own symphony. The internal voices that tell us we’re unlovable often begin in childhood. We can change the narrative and not let those words and voices deeply internalised within define us. Deeply loving oneself isn’t a selfish act, but a necessary human behaviour that we all need to survive. Loving yourself is the same as breathing. You need it to stay alive. When we don’t love ourselves, life often becomes sad, painful and full of torment.

Letting go of self-criticism. Those voices come and go like waves in the ocean or passing clouds in the sky. They are fleeting, yet in those moments when they’re there, they can feel real. The biggest demon is the one within. If we believed there was always a storm outside, we might forever stay inside the house and never step outside to feel the warmth of the sun. Self-criticism is like poison in our hearts, making us feel down and hopeless. Those voices aren’t true, and your feelings aren’t facts. You are a radiant soul who deserves to be spoken with words of love, compassion and kindness, the same way a mother gently speaks to her baby.

Changing the narrative. We can adjust and change the beliefs we have and the wiring of our brains. Those patterns don’t need to dictate our lives, and just because something happened in the past doesn’t mean it needs to exist in the present. You can rewrite your story, you can choose to do things differently, and shift the mindset that may have been restricting and limiting you. We can all speak to ourselves more the way we’d speak to a good friend, with encouragement, positivity, confidence, and faith.

Self-soothing your body. Trauma often shows up in the body. Moments of tension, shaking, crying, and fear can erupt in the body, even if you’re in no danger. It can take time for the body to feel safe. Our body needs love, comfort and self-soothing. You can give yourself a warm hug, massage your arms, lie down in a comfortable position, or practice self-havening, butterfly hugs, gentle tapping, taking a warm bath, listening to calming music, dancing freely or anything that allows your body to feel safe, relaxed and calm.

A true friend is a rare diamond. My sweet friend inspired me to write this article, as through the hard chapters of life (as we all have them), they have been encouraging and reminding me that what truly matters is to love ourselves, and remember that we deserve happiness. A true friend will be honest, loving, compassionate, caring and thoughtful. They genuinely want to understand you. The people we surround ourselves with are incredibly important. Surrounding ourselves with loving friends is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.

Embracing your heart. We are imperfect humans. We cry, we laugh, we feel everything from the moon to the sun. You are a worthy human being, just as you are. Forgive yourself and others, whatever it might be. You’re exactly who you’re meant to be and where you’re meant to be in this moment in time. Everything that has led to this moment has happened for a reason, and there are many lessons for us to learn from. These moments help us grow wiser, stronger, more resilient, kinder and more loving and accepting.

Practising self-compassion. Every morning when you look in the mirror, remind yourself how beautiful you are. It can be hard at the start, but the more you do it, the more that feeling of lightness and confidence injects into your spirit, and you start to believe it more and more each day. The voices we have in our minds can become increasingly replaced with loving affirmations and words of truth.

You deserve to be happy. Do more of what you enjoy. Do the things that give you joy. Do the things that make you laugh. Life is unpredictable, and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. We only have so much time in this life, and the moments spent crying in despair will keep us trapped in hell. Notice the small things, embrace the little moments, and have gratitude for everything. You deserve to feel peace, you deserve to be happy, you deserve to feel calm, you deserve to feel safe, you deserve it all.

Art by Monica Barengo

January 25, 2026

Daily Thoughts, Life, Love, self love, self-care
Making Friends As An Adult

Friendships have been something I’ve struggled with since I was a child. In kindergarten, I often found it easier to play alone. It felt easier to play with the guinea pigs and rabbits. People seemed unpredictable and, at times, untrustworthy. There was a deep pain in feeling left out, and it can feel safer being alone. It’s the desire to have deep, meaningful connections with people and to feel comfort and ease with who you’re interacting with.

While these feelings started young, there are still moments in adulthood where that fear of rejection, self-doubt, or being misunderstood quietly creeps in. Feeling misunderstood or feeling left out hurts, and can make us feel like there’s something wrong with us, when there never was. But part of growing is learning to stay true to who we are, even in the face of discomfort. It means becoming our own close companion, having an inner confidence that doesn’t rely on constant validation, but on self-respect, patience, and trust in ourselves.

True friendship is having the ability to feel that you can be yourself with no judgment and to feel comfortable in the silence as much as the conversations. As with many things in life, you don’t know until you give it a try. You don’t know if you’ll be good friends with someone unless you give it a chance. It takes time to build relationships. You spend time chatting, asking questions, learning about one another and having shared experiences.

It’s so easy to think of the world but it’s important to look within. Set healthy boundaries, stay true to your own values, be honest with yourself and know what it is that you’re looking for in a friend and the qualities you admire and cherish. Anyone can make dozens of friends and spend much time socialising, but it’s rare to have one truly good friend.

Making friends as an adult can feel especially challenging. Most people already have established social circles, and life gets busier with work, family, and commitments. Everyone has their own schedules and routines. In high school or university, frequent, convenient interactions make friendships easier to form. Whereas in adulthood, friendships require more intention and effort.

It’s important to be content in one’s own company. We spend much of our lives alone. Learning to enjoy that solitude, rather than fear it, can be incredibly freeing. When we feel whole on our own, we’re more likely to attract people who respect and reflect that wholeness. Thinking about friendships, we have to face our own insecurities and be our biggest inner cheerleader, and in turn we can show up and attract more positive friendships.

When we sit with silence, accept our flaws, and focus on our own growth, friendship becomes less about seeking but more about two people being there to support one another. Friendship takes intention, self-awareness, patience and a dash of humour. And while not every connection will last (such is life) each one helps shape how we love and listen. The more we accept ourselves, the more we attract friendships that are loving, supportive and uplifting.

Art by Kate Pugsley

July 13, 2025

adult, adult friendships, Daily Thoughts, friends, Friendship, friendships, Love, Relationships
What Really Matters In Life

As young adults, we spend much of our time working. Money is a tool we need to survive, live comfortably and perhaps set aside for enjoyment or fleeting materialistic pleasures. But sometimes I wonder, what really matters in life? There are moments where I contemplate how superficial our society can be. Society tells us to value money, career, status, image, and materials, while character, education, culture, compassion and stillness often take a back seat.

Spending time in nature. After a day in the hustle and bustle of the city, the blaring sounds of traffic, the crowds of people, and the lingering smell of smoke, retreating into nature feels like the natural thing to do. Listening to birdsong and the wind blowing wildly through the trees brings an instant sense of peace. The kind of peace people often chase through things that ultimately don’t matter.

Spending time with loved ones. The people who make us laugh, who we can be unfiltered and weird are good for the soul. These close relationships offer a kind of freedom that can’t be replicated. Notice that warm, positive and loving feeling when you spend time with a good friend or family member. In the end, it’s the connection we have with others and ourselves that give life its deepest meaning.

The little joys in life. Listening to a song that makes us feel like dancing, sipping a cup of tea while reading or going for a walk in the sun have the power to shift our whole day. A baby’s laughter, a funny conversation or a moment of people watching can suddenly make everything feel a little brighter and lighter.

Having a healthy body and mind. Without our health, even the simplest things become difficult. Think of the last time you had a flu, and how hard it was to just get out of bed. Our body, mind, and spirit are so precious, and it’s worth remembering how blessed we are when we are well. Health is something we should never take for granted.

Good character and lifelong learning. Nobody is perfect, no matter what it seems. We can never judge a book by its cover just as we never truly know someone’s story from looking at the surface. Striving to build good character and nurturing a curious, active mind through lifelong learning is important for our personal growth and inner fulfillment.

Practicing gratitude and compassion. It’s easy to fall into the trap of complaining, but there’s freedom in practicing gratitude. When we focus on what we have rather than what we lack, we begin to notice the abundance already present in our lives. Gratitude opens the door to compassion for ourselves and for others.

Inner peace. We often try to present ourselves as normal, even when life feels turbulent beneath the surface. But true peace comes when our inner world is calm — like the ocean after a storm. When we cultivate that stillness within, we’re better able to face whatever’s happening around us.

The things that bring true joy are often simple: spending time with loved ones, feeling completely at peace, being fully present, and enjoying the little things. Nothing in this world is permanent. So remember what truly matters, what sparks something in your heart and embrace those quiet, fleeting moments. We’re all just here for the ride.

Art by Liekeland

July 10, 2025

blog, Daily Thoughts, Important, kindness, Life, Love, matter, mindset
Time Is How You Spend Your Love

We can spend periods of our lives in a cycle that repeats itself if we don’t seek the desire to change. Nature is always changing and evolving. That is the beautiful part of nature, as it takes its time to achieve great change. How we spend our time is precious. When we break apart everything, time is really all that we have. Our lives are unpredictable, and no one can be completely sure of how long they are on this earth for.

Every moment counts. The moments we stand at the traffic lights, the moments we sit on the plane flying home and the moments we are there for a loved one. The beautiful words are from Zadie Smith. It also makes me acknowledge the sad reality that there is so much time spent on the things that we don’t truly love. We live in a world where people are deeply hurting or they are tied to a life where they are helpless.

Thoughts and Feelings. What you focus on is how you will feel. The thoughts we feed ourselves and the feelings we have ultimately affect how we view the world, how we view ourselves, how we treat other people and how we spend our days. Our thoughts and feelings impact how we experience the world around us and the world within.

Precious time. How do you spend your time? What we spend our time builds us into the person we are. If we spend time doing more of what we love, it can only benefit us in the long run. It can enable us to have a healthy relationship with people and it can make us a whole lot happier.

Leisure. The Art of doing nothing. There is praise for always being switched on in a fast-paced digital age. Being productive and busy is seen as the definition of success, when in actuality good things take time, and our focus is heightened when we give ourselves conscious rest.

People. Who do you spend most of your time with? They say that the 5 people you spend the majority of time with can impact you as a person, from your world view, character, interests and behaviour. The environment we are in and the people we spend our time with can have a huge impact on our wellbeing.

Memories. What are the good memories you can think of? Remembering memories that make you smile can bring them alive. When we focus on a bad memory, it can evoke a strong negative emotional reaction. The time that we spend to create memories that are good are often built around the foundation of love.

Gratitude. What are you grateful for in your life? Gratitude is a practice that we can actively do each day. The moment we forget all the things we have in our lives is the moment we can feel empty and unhappy. Where we put our focus and intention is everything. Our wellbeing depends on it. Remember to cherish all that you have.

Change. In what ways have you changed over time? We are always changing every day. In everyday we are learning something new. Change is inevitable and people will change, but the important thing is to know your values. What is it that you want in life? What’s important to you?

Choices. The choices we make over time influence the person we are today. What you choose to do is your responsibility. How you treat others, the conversations you have, the products you buy, the food you consume and the activities that you do all impact who you are as a person. The choices we make and how we spend our time impacts who we are as a person.

Creativity. What do you spend your time consuming and creating. We spend a lot of time consuming content from online articles to social media. We spend more time more than ever consuming digital content and buying materials. The time we spend creating is quite possibly one of the most precious moments.

The time we spend to practice something, create something or write something is valuable. When we do the things that we love and spend time with the people we love, then we must be doing something right. Our lives are meant to be enjoyed and the purpose of being here is more than we can understand. All that one can really know is that the existence of every being is precious.

No one is better than the other person. There is a false belief that by feeling superior to someone we can feel accomplished. Whether that is through materials, status or wealth. However, it is the biggest lie that we are sold in society. External things don’t add true value into our lives. It makes me think of The Little Prince quote that reads “What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye” all that is truly important in life can only be felt with the heart “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly”.

Art by Monica Barengo

August 1, 2021

Daily Thoughts, Love, spend, Time
Why Being Nice Is Not Always So Nice
The word nice is often said as a compliment to say that someone is lovely, sweet and friendly. “You are such a nice person!” was a very common phrase I heard growing up. As time passes by, it has been a blessing and a curse that has taught me many lessons. Being nice is different to being kind. However, from my own experience, it is difficult because my personality is naturally very caring and friendly. It often takes energy to be nice, and there are moments where I really do want to listen and help someone. However, it is important to be careful where you put your energy, otherwise you will experience emotional burnout.

The word nice has connotations of being modest, likable and well-mannered, but it also has negative underlying meanings of being weak, unaware and naïve. As an introvert, I prefer to spend more time having no activities in my calendar. Therefore, learning the art of saying no is very important. There’s nothing wrong with being friendly, but it’s important to know that there is a distinction between being kind and being nice and to set your boundaries with people. Don’t let people walk over you, and take control of who you are.

The pressure to be nice all the time. The words we are told throughout our childhood have impact on our identity. The repetitive nature of being told something can make us believe those words. We begin to associate who we are as a person with those descriptions. The truth is no one can define who you are except for yourself. However, breaking a life time of believing what someone might say is good or bad can take time. It’s not realistic to be positive all the time and this expectation can create added stress and pressure.

The ability to be kind and assertive. The moments I have been assertive are the moments I’ve felt the stress and worry decline. There is a misconception that being assertive means being loud and outgoing. You can be assertive and direct, but still be gracious and kind. Learning to communicate assertively in a fair and kind manner can be a relief to express yourself calmly and directly, yet still stay true to who you are without having to pretend to be anyone else.

Being taken advantage of. A common experience I had growing up was being bossed around or being told what to do. I want to highlight that there is a difference between being asked for a favour, or designated work in a kind and direct manner. As opposed to someone who is taking advantage of you out of dominance and narcissism. There are many kind people in the world, but it’s important to know that there are people who will only engage with you when they need something or want something from you.

Stop caring what other people think. Being caring and compassionate is being human. We have to remember that that is one of the greatest strengths we have as individuals. However, it is also important to stop caring too much what others think of you. The moments I care too much what someone might think, the more I want to try avoid situations that might upset anyone. No matter what we’re doing in our lives, people will always judge no matter if you succeed or fail. When you start to care less, you begin to live for yourself.

Self respect and self assurance. Clearly stating your needs and being fair and open minded shows that you respect yourself. When you are sure about your choices and decisions, then you can communicate these more directly. When you know who you are, when you accept yourself and when you love yourself, that energy shines out into the world. Our self-esteem is lifted when we have a positive self-image of who we are and our identity.

Healthy disagreements are okay. We can’t escape disagreements with people, and having wisdom to not be involved in unhealthy conflict is a good skill to have. However, it’s okay and very normal to have conflict, because we are all human and we can’t agree on everything. There will be problems and situations we get into that may bring discomfort, and learning to face the discomfort and find the best solution is important.

Avoid passive aggressiveness and emotional outbursts. I can say very clearly from personal experience that one of the worst things for your mental health is bottling your emotions up. Learning to regulate your emotions and finding methods to feel calm and communicate clearly to others will save a lot of distress. The periods of my life where I felt deep depression was after a period of bottling everything up without sharing with anyone.

Pain of perfectionism and self-criticism. The strive for perfection is impossible. The more we create an unreachable standard for ourselves, the more stress and pressure we create for ourselves. It can be debilitating and increase feelings of anxiety. I remember thinking if I upset someone, if I spoke up about a certain topic or said something that might cause negative feelings, then it would mean that I’m not a ‘nice’ person. The self-criticism is very intense in my mind.

Speaking your mind and being honest. When we stay silent in the moments where it counts to speak up, we lose our voice. When we are honest in an authentic and well-intended way, we stay true to who we are but we still have the ability to be assertive. Knowing when to stay silent and when to speak up takes wisdom. Being kind means thinking before we speak and considering how our words may impact on the other person. It means seeing things from someone else’s perspective, and then expressing your views. Being nice is often associated with potentially hiding your true feelings, however, you can always be kind and express how you feel.

The power of saying no. When you say no to things that you can’t commit to, you aren’t interested in or you don’t have the desire to engage with, you are setting your boundaries. The choices we make each day will impact on the life we live. If we say yes to everything, we don’t create space for ourselves and we make ourselves too available for others. It will become a set expectations from others that you are always readily available which can make you end up being taken for granted or attracting only those who will get in touch when they need you, not because they want to.

Set clear boundaries for yourself. As a nice person, it’s easy to want to help others and invest yourself into doing more. The more you set boundaries for yourself, the more that other’s can’t take advantage of you, and the more you are clear about where you stand. Our boundaries keep us safe and conserve where we place our energy. It shows the respect that you have for yourself. Boundaries help to keep your emotions in check, avoid social pressure, be clear about what you don’t tolerate, and stay true to who you are as a person.

Avoid burnout by prioritising yourself. When you prioritise yourself, you prioritise your mental health and wellbeing. This is a hard one, because if you are naturally caring and sensitive then you tend to put others needs before your own. It makes me think of when you’re on the plane, and the safety video tells you to put your own oxygen mask on before helping someone else. You have to take care of yourself first. This doesn’t mean that you are being selfish, it means that you are practicing self-care.

Unrealistic expectations of others. We can’t control how other’s react or what they say, we can only be in control of how we react to a situation. When we’re too nice to others, it builds unrealistic expectations that others should do the same. When they do not meet these expectations, you may feel upset or resentful. I’ve noticed this in situations such as in work or friendships. The truth is we shouldn’t waste our energy towards people who don’t care or who only come to you when they need something.

Being kind is the care and compassion we show through our actions. We can be outwardly nice and polite to those around us. We can smile and be friendly with strangers. When we are kind from our heart, it shows genuine care and empathy. Someone can have a serious demeanour, yet they may show their care through their actions. Someone can be outwardly nice all the time, yet in the moments where it really counts, they aren’t present. This is why it’s important to strive to be kind and assertive, and work at it everyday.

Being assertive means that you stand up for your own rights and set your boundaries clearly. There are many situations in my life where I let things slide by, when all it takes is a moment to speak up. This created a lot of unnecessary pain and hurt. I really hope someone reading this can know how important it is to practice and learn to be assertive, and know that being kind and assertive go hand in hand.

Michelle writes that:
- Being nice takes energy, tons of it. Being kind gives energy – you feel enlivened by it.
- Being nice makes at best a small difference to someone’s day. Being kind can make a huge difference to someone’s day.
- Being nice can feel fake. Being kind always feels genuine.
- Being nice may be superficial. Being kind goes deep.
Art by Marialaura Fedi
March 24, 2021

assertive, Daily Thoughts, kind, kindness, Life, Love, nice
What I Love About Taiwan

Taiwan was once known as Formosa, which means beautiful island. If you ever have the chance to travel and explore the island, you will see its beauty in nature, culture, and people. It is really somewhere you need to come to see and experience for yourself. When I was younger, when I said my family is from Taiwan, there was often a response of you’re from Thailand? When I was in Taiwan as a child, some people weren’t sure where NZ was on the map or would think New Zealand is a place in Australia or part of Australia.

New Zealand is definitely far more well known now among tourists. I really really hope Taiwan can be more and more well known among tourist destinations in Asia. There is definitely a significant lack of knowledge about the country, compared to say Korea or Japan. It is a hidden treasure for many, as I really feel that it’s not quite so well known globally as it could be. This has been the longest period of time I’ve stayed in Taiwan, and I would definitely love to live here someday.

1) Friendly people. Taiwanese are some of the most friendliest, helpful and polite people in the world.

2. Convenience. It is one of the most convenient places to live, especially if you are living in one of the cities.

3. Transport. Similarly, the transport is incredibly convenient and efficient. For example, in Taipei, you can use the MRT, Bus, Bike, Taxi or Drive.

4. Recycling. The sorting of rubbish here is taken seriously, as the rubbish is sorted into food, plastic, paper, etc.

5. Food. You haven’t had the full experience in Taiwan if you haven’t tasted the food.

6. Busy but also not. Taiwan is pretty slow paced in many places, and even in the larger cities such as Taipei and Kaohsiung, it is more slow-paced compared to cities like Shanghai and Beijing.

7. Biking. It is a wonderful place to bike, and you can actually travel the whole island by bike!

8. Efficiency. Food is usually delivered quickly to your table and even when I got my wisdom teeth removed, I made a last minute booking on the day and got it pulled out.

9. Safety. I never feel unsafe in Taipei if I ever happen to walk on the streets after 11pm.

10. Nightlife. From night markets, cafes, bars, parties, arcade, movies, events, exhibitions and so on, there’s always something happening.

11. Mountains. It doesn’t take too long to travel to beautiful mountains and go hiking. The nature in Taiwan is breathtaking.

12. Fruits and Vegetables. It is one of the best places to be vegetarian or vegan. There is a plethora of options.

13. Cafes. Most cafes have their own personality and vibe. There is usually a certain feeling or theme.

14. Cute things. There is definitely a lot of Japanese influence. But, if you love cute things, Taiwan has a lot of cute things!

15. Cinemas. If you love watching movies, there are different kinds of cinemas in Taiwan. You can also go to ones where you can watch several films in one day.

16. Tea Culture. If you love tea, there is no shortage of tea in Taiwan.

17. Bookstores. I feel like you can spend hours sitting in a bookstore in Taiwan, just reading.

18. Random things. I was biking to the grocery store today and biked past a park where an owner was walking her cat on a leash.

19. Insects. I love creepy crawlies, and when I go hiking up the mountains, if I look around there are caterpillars, butterflies, dragonflies, and other beautiful insects.

20. Chinese Culture and Taiwanese Culture. The Aboriginal Taiwanese culture and Chinese culture.

21. Hotsprings. Winter is my favourite season, and it’s the perfect time to go to the hot springs.

22. Walking. As someone who walks most of the time in Auckland, for me, anywhere that’s walking distance within 30 minutes is very close.

23. Creativity and arts. There are so many activities in Taiwan to do from crafts and workshops.

24. Natural beauty. It’s truly one of the most beautiful places. I think it’s always good to go out of a city to really see a countries natural beauty.

25. Internet. There are many areas with Free wifi and the internet is fast.

26. Umbrella. This is something I really like because I like to use an umbrella in NZ when it’s sunny which still gets a few stares, but in Taiwan, it is a norm.

27. 7/11. You can do so much at 7/11 from buying food, paying your bills, ATM machine or sending parcels. Plus It’s opened 24/7.

There is definitely more than 100 things I love about Taiwan, but there are also areas I hope that will improve. Every country has its pros and cons. Some areas I hope will improve include the economy, politics, architecture, traffic, driving, pollution, education system, tourism, the number of scooters, low paid jobs and the number of stray dogs.

January 25, 2019

Love, taipei, Taiwan, taiwanese, Travel, travel diary
The Ability To Judge Less And Love More

It’s interesting to think that no one really knows what we’re like. Only a very few that are close to us will see us through our ups and downs, but no one can live the journey of another. I had a conversation with a friend recently about how people will view you the way they see you. They will create a perception and an idea of you, but not many people will truly know you. It sort of makes me think of famous people, and how incredibly judgmental people are towards them, without knowing them at all. I’m guilty of doing it too, and felt the need to write about it, because when we judge it repeats the cycle of talking about things we don’t know as if we do know.

On a conversation with a new friend about forgiveness, we talked about how when we don’t forgive others and hold a bad feeling against them, it’s not so much hurting them, but hurting ourselves. If we let go and learn to forgive it will free us. There is difficulty in this in times where we feel something is very important to us or we don’t understand why people do things a certain way. There are many things we truly only see the surface of, and only in the times where we have peace, love and acceptance, do we catch a glimpse of seeing one another as we are. Most strangers that are unkind to others are often letting out how they are feeling within.

Everyone has different opinions and thoughts. The thing is we seem to be more hard on ourselves more often than we are on others. At least I know this for myself. At the same time, I notice there are many people who focus on the bad things about other people, but don’t focus on self improving and changing themselves. When we fear judgment, it restricts us from doing the things we want, being the true person we are and embracing life completely.

Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, goes through tough times and experiences life in a different way. Remember to raise yourself up, because the more you love yourself and be kinder to yourself and know that you deserve all the happiness and joy, then you will do the same to those around you. The moment we feel down is when we put our focus on things that drain our energy. It’s difficult to not judge when we feel something is unfair, but the thing to also remember and remind ourselves is how we often only see the surface of the water. The ability to judge less and love more is the homework we should strive to do each day.

Photography by Helena Moore

September 18, 2017

Daily Thoughts, forgive, judgment, Love
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

I believe the title is originally a book from 1981 by American writer Raymond Carver. There are different types of love. Affectionate love, friendship love, romantic love and spiritual love. Affectionate love expresses the fondness and natural love a parent has for their child. The love we may feel towards our family. Friendship love is the love that is freely chosen through connecting in our similarities and admiring one another’s differences. Romantic love is the appreciation for pleasure and the feeling of being deeply in love. Finally, spiritual love is the kind that is felt greatly, for it is felt within ourselves.

When we talk about the word ‘love’ what exactly do we talk about? What images, feeling, colours, memories does such a simple yet powerful word evoke? Perhaps for some it may conjure up the face of a past love and for others it may be the time they spent with their family. It may allow our senses to be heightened. I think that instead of thinking high and mighty, we must start small and simple to begin to make a difference. The simple act of kindness, that goes hand in hand with values of making a difference, creating unity and helping people. We are all capable of it.

Love makes us think of equality. A world where there is acceptance for all individuals. From the way they look, the colour of their skin, their sexuality, the clothes they wear, their beliefs and the way they may speak. If I ask you to pause for a moment, and asked you: what does love make you think and feel? Listen to the words that come inside of your mind. Whatever you hear, we are all connected in the sense that each human being wants to be loved. We want to feel connected with one another. Learning to love gives a greater appreciation towards nature and beauty without judging it, especially in a world that judges greatly.

Growing up we are taught to hide our feelings as adults. This causes us to become more inward, rather than outward in showing emotions. The strong resistance in trying to fight looking ‘weak’ and appear strong, means that we hide our greatest strength. It sounds ironic, but I deeply believe this to be true, when many of us have the capabilities of creating huge differences in how we are feeling and the energy we give into the world. Even I could not deny, how much I may limit my ability to spread simple acts of love each day. The action can be spread through words of kindness, giving a helping hand towards someone or contacting an old friend.

There are many voices everyday from the media and from those around us, that convince us to be divided in many ways. Even divided in ourselves. They say that our bodies are not beautiful enough, that our features are flawed and the colour of our skin makes us a target. Even the physical elements of how we should love are taken into tearing it down. For what benefit and gain? Acceptance is key for great change to take place. When we talk about love, we must first talk about the love that comes from within. For without it, we cannot be able to go about our day and expect to get along with everyone, if we cannot learn to be selfless and accept ourselves.

Let’s return to the four kinds of love. Affectionate love: It is the most humble of all four loves. It is the enjoyment of ones company and the fondness through familiarity, especially among family. Friendship love: It is a strong bond between people who share common interests. Romantic love: The state of ‘being in love’. It is most felt and only seeks one person. Spiritual love: This is the most selfless and unconditional love. One that causes us to spread love to those who are undeserving of love, because it comes from the decision, rather than emotions. It gives freely and asks for nothing in return. However, the emotions are boosted from the other three loves. Spiritual love strengthens the soul and fosters emotional health and self-confidence.

When we open our eyes to the realisation of how much love is within this world, we also open up to how much is within ourselves, and vice versa. Anyone is capable of selfless love. But, everyone craves the four kinds of love because it is what connects us with people. Love is to feel connected, never divided. It’s important to remember this because when we talk about love, we often mention the issues surrounding the lack of positive change. However, there is far greater change we are making and can continue to do so through mindful actions and positive feeling. Every individual has the power to create acts of kindness.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Art from Kiki’s Delivery Service

January 2, 2017

Daily Thoughts, Love, Relationships
You Are Such A Beautiful Person

We see the world differently through our own eyes everyday. I feel like there is this part of myself, that wishes I could tell anyone who has ever felt alone, left out, worthless, ugly, hurt or question what their purpose in life is, I wish I could tell them how beautiful they are as a person. Not in the superficial way. Not in the surface leveled way, but the kind of goodness that goes far far deeper. I truly believe every person is born with goodness in their heart, and every person has the ability to be kind to others. There is a certain beauty we all have that is so different, and that’s what makes us who we are. You are capable of so much more than you know. We all share the same thing in that we were all born into this world, and we will all die on this Earth. I hope this can speak to anyone, on their best days and on their worst days.

You are beautiful through your kindness and heart. It radiates warmth and light into others life and brings a smile to their face.

You are beautiful the way you smile and the way you cry. Your honesty in expressing your emotions, and feeling the raw feelings straight from your heart is beautiful.

You are beautiful the way you respect your body and feed your soul with good words. Your mind and body is thankful for the kind words and good food.

You are beautiful for sharing love in this world. For helping other people and praying for those in need. For not judging but opening your heart to try understand.

You are beautiful with your bare face in the morning. Your inner self shines through and your personality surpasses any physical beauty.

You are beautiful for treating those as your friend. You do not feel better or higher than the person beside you, but you treat them as your neighbour.

You are beautiful because even when you face failure, you keep trying. Life is not perfect, but you always keep trying and you pick up your feet even when you fall down. You learn from the mistakes to keep improving.

You are beautiful in your honesty and faith. Self belief and truth are two beautiful characteristics. When you believe in yourself, you can do anything you set your mind to. You don’t build the walls in your mind that stop you in life.

You are beautiful when you help others without expecting anything in return. You help because you truly care from the bottom of your heart. You have good intentions.

You are beautiful because you are compassionate. Compassion makes us human. You have empathy and sensitivity towards others.

You are beautiful because of your abilities and intelligence. You are amazing in your own ways, with more potential than you give yourself credit for. You are so beautiful through your intelligence and wisdom.

If you are the sort of person who tells yourself that you are not beautiful, I really pray that you could try tell yourself once a day in the mirror, and say “I’m a beautiful person.” because you really are. Everyone is going through their own struggles in life and living their daily challenges. We are all walking on the Earth on our own journey. When I tell you you are a beautiful person, I hope you can understand that your beauty comes straight from your heart. Your experiences make you stronger, and the strive to live a positive life and bring light into the world makes you such a beautiful person!

photo via

October 19, 2016

Beautiful, beautiful person, Beauty, Daily Thoughts, heart, Love, natural beauty