We often bear the weight of others’ expectations and needs, stretching ourselves thin in the pursuit of their happiness. But there is a fundamental truth we must embrace: our wholeness should not come at the cost of our own disintegration. To love and support others is noble, yet it should not demand our own undoing. The strength to uplift those around us comes from a place of self-respect and self-care. We must preserve our own integrity, nurturing our own souls, so that we can truly and sustainably give to others. It’s a delicate balance, knowing when to offer support and … Continue reading You should not have to rip yourself into pieces to keep others whole…

I am made of water, distance, dreams, mother’s tears, father’s pain, broken tongue, forced language, colonized eyes, bastardized religions… In this limited existence of mine, I find myself woven from threads both ancient and enduring. Water flows through my veins, carrying the essence of life and memory, bridging the gaps of distance that separate me from my origins. Dreams fuel my spirit, lifting me above the confines of reality and guiding me toward visions of a world where pain and tears dissolve into hope and joy. My mother’s tears are the waters that baptized my soul, each drop a testament … Continue reading I am made …

She is a year ago. She is the ache in the empty, the first time you changed your mind, and the last time you were sorry about it. She is a city sleeping beside you, warm and vast and familiar, streetlights yawning and stretching, and you have never. You have never. You have never loved someone like this. She is your first stomach ache, your first panic attack, and your favorite cold shower. A mountain is moving somewhere inside of you, and her handprints are all over it. Here. Here. Here, you love her. In the fractured morning, full of … Continue reading She

Those who dismiss the unemployed and dependent as ‘parasites’ fail to comprehend the intricate dynamics of economics and parasitism. They fail to recognize that a successful parasite is one that operates unnoticed by its host, one that can manipulate its host into working for it without appearing burdensome. In a capitalist society, the ruling class embodies this concept, subtly extracting wealth and labor from the masses while avoiding the label of being a burden. Neoliberalism, with its emphasis on deregulation, privatization, and free market capitalism, can be likened to a new form of fascism. It perpetuates a system where the … Continue reading Neoliberalism as a new fascism

They told me to pour my heart into everything I do, so I poured and poured and poured. I gave of myself, my passion, my soul, until I was emptied of all but echoes of my former self. Now they ask me why I’m so empty, and I say I want a little sugar, kindness in my bowl. I gave my all, my love, my fervor, until I was a vessel drained of its essence. I poured my heart into the world, into the dreams, the hopes, the endeavors, until I was left hollow, yearning for the sweetness of compassion, … Continue reading Let me fill my bowl with the sweetness …

I remember all the battles that I have fought and all the scars that show I had lost. And losing wasn’t the problem; it was that I cared too much. I would try to act like I could walk out the door and there would be rainbows and a garden full of butterflies and flowers sitting right in front of me. But it was all just a fantasy. These battles that so many of us face—depression, starvation, self-harm, discrimination, addiction—keep knocking at our doors. We dread getting up to open the door for them, knowing full well what they’ll do … Continue reading ‘Cause every little thing is going to be all right…

O que nos difere de outros seres humanos? Talvez seja a capacidade de transformar a vida em alegria, mesmo diante das maiores dificuldades. Antônio, o nosso Toninho, era assim: feliz por natureza, de bem com a vida, sem medo da luta. Perdeu a mãe cedo, assumiu responsabilidades antes do tempo, mas nunca deixou de olhar para o céu com esperança. Sua força estava em pequenos gestos, em cada sorriso, em cada prato preparado com amor. Cozinhar para a família e amigos era sua forma de dizer: vocês são importantes para mim. E nós sentíamos isso, porque Toninho nos recebia como … Continue reading Homenagem ao tio Toninho

Today, as the sun rises high in the sky, may my eyes hold no malice, no bitterness, no lie. May they shine with a clarity, a purity of heart, Reflecting the love that I wish to impart. May thoughtfulness guide my voice, as I speak with intention and choice. May my words be a balm, a salve to the soul, bringing comfort and peace, making others feel whole. And as I reach out to touch those around me, may my hands be gentle, loving, and kind, A symbol of the love that I carry inside, a reminder that we are … Continue reading Prayer for peace …

Não, eu não escolhi lutar sempre. Alguns dias, simplesmente viro o travesseiro para o outro lado e deixo o dia fluir, em anonimato, cinza e indolor. E então, num momento de pausa, eu me lembro de quem sou (ou, melhor, de quem acredito ser). Lembro-me dos compromissos, das faces amadas que iluminam minha vida… e digo a mim mesmo: tudo bem, até hoje, eles ainda estão aqui. E é por essa razão que me sinto como um guerreiro. Porque, dia após dia, como um mantra, sou capaz de repetir esta frase, e é a mais pura verdade: até hoje, ainda … Continue reading Meu Mantra

Fate, the fickle trickster, plays with our hearts like a puppeteer pulling the strings of destiny. It dangles the promise of happiness before our eager eyes, only to snatch it away at the last moment, leaving us feeling like foolish dreamers chasing after an elusive mirage. We are told that fate is a cruel jester, offering us empty hands while whispering sweet promises in our ears. It teases us with the possibility of joy and fulfillment, only to laugh as we stumble and fall in our pursuit of it. We are left feeling like hapless fools, duped by fate’s cruel … Continue reading Fate …