The Softness of Coming Home

I used to think that growing up meant loss, compromise, and merely moving forward.

It wasn't until these past few years that I slowly realized that with every passing year, I am becoming someone closer to "myself."

I used to think forty was a long way off, but now, standing here and looking back, I just want to gently hug my anxious twenty-year-old self and tell her: "Don't be afraid; you'll like your future self more and more."

Age is not a constraint, but a gift.

It gives me the confidence to refuse and the courage to choose. The older I get, the more I understand how to spend my time on "things that truly matter": the peace of mind that comes with an early routine, the exhilaration of a hard workout, the satisfaction of finishing a book, and the tranquility of weekends in the mountains—feeling the breeze and letting my mind wander.

I no longer desperately try to prove myself to the world; instead, I’ve begun to gently tend to my own emotions and life. When I truly respect my own feelings, surprisingly, the world becomes softer.

Return your energy to yourself—to the morning coffee, the evening breeze, to worthwhile interests, and to mutually nourishing relationships. When you stop focusing on others' paths and concentrate on walking your own, the solid sense of growth you experience will bring an unprecedented freedom.

Perhaps we can never fully understand another person, but we can understand ourselves better and better. Wear your own shoes, walk your own path, and appreciate your own scenery.

In this new year, may you love yourself more, trust yourself more, and become yourself—walking toward ever-brighter seasons.

Thank you for reading!