It’s 3 AM and I’m awake again. Not because I’m anxious or worried—because my mind is buzzing with blog tasks. Is this devotion, or is this becoming something else? I’m thinking about whether I need to shower before going to 7-Eleven. When did that become a question?
“Shut up. Suit up. Show up.” The slogan on my fridge reminds me to keep functioning and stay focused. But this blog exists because honest talking matters too.
How do you actually balance dealing with challenges and getting on with life?
This is our first guest post from a woman, and Tomoko’s story embodies everything this community stands for—raw honesty on life’s challenges. At 58, she’s spent five years navigating breast cancer, from a diagnosis that came with no warning signs to learning that “survival” really…
After twenty years teaching English in Japan, I’ve watched brilliant women—nurses, office workers, mothers—lose focus during lessons, checking reflections in phone screens, fidgeting with clothing. When did the pressure to be constantly ‘desirable’ become so overwhelming?
Five hundred and forty-seven days. That’s how many mornings I’ve started with Duolingo, stumbling through Japanese vocabulary while my coffee cools. I didn’t expect this tiny routine to become my anchor after everything. What small, daily practice keeps you steady?
Sometimes the universe delivers exactly what we need: uninterrupted time with ourselves. Today my boss unexpectedly canceled work, leaving me alone with farming tasks and blessed silence. By day’s end, I’d completely forgotten which side of the bed I’d woken up on. How…
Today’s toilet paper run shouldn’t have been noteworthy. Yet between my apartment and the shop, I caught myself doing it again—that internal check-in that’s become familiar since 419 days ago. Am I dressed appropriately? Did I acknowledge neighbors properly? Do you…
I got back from my morning 7-Eleven walk and caught myself already calculating how much ‘productive’ time I had left. When did we all start treating rest like something to feel guilty about?
A student’s handshake after sharing his grief. A 562-day Duolingo streak. A teammate rescued in a game. Small wins aren’t settling for less—they’re evidence we’re still fully in the game of life.
No one wakes up thrilled to spot new gray hair, but here’s the deal: aging’s got some great parts. In my late 50s, I’m discovering freedoms my younger self never imagined—like not caring what others think while still feeling young inside. What unexpected gifts has aging brought you?