The Thoughts We Keep to Ourselves

The Pressure to Be “Desirable” (And Why I Worry About It)

watercolor portrait of a stylish 1950s woman

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?

Why We Keep Chasing What Doesn’t Fit

Watercolor of a Golden Retriever looking up a tree at something out of reach.

Have you ever caught yourself aiming for something that doesn’t truly resonate? I once watched myself pass interviews for a job I didn’t really want, to get a more prestigious position I really didn’t need. Why do we trap ourselves in these patterns?