<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:openSearch="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/" xmlns:blogger="http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 08:20:54 +0000</lastBuildDate><category>La Mariposa</category><category>Life</category><category>Yummy</category><category>Reflections</category><category>Wordless Wednesday</category><category>My Corporate World</category><category>Oblivion</category><category>Fun Monday</category><category>Relationships</category><category>Photography</category><category>Hearts of the Matter</category><category>WTF Moments</category><category>Blogosphere</category><category>Online Shopping</category><category>Travel</category><category>Online 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Wednesday</category><category>Warsaw</category><category>Wellness</category><category>World Cup</category><category>iBlog</category><category>quote</category><title>Mariposa&#39;s Tales</title><description></description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>973</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-709371408515360755</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 08:18:24 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-28T16:18:24.583+08:00</atom:updated><title>The Prayer I Never Say Out Loud</title><description>&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;There are days when I need some extra love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Yes, you read that right. Those are the days I&#39;m not at my best. And I am not the strongest. Today, my prayer is simple — to have just enough strength to keep going.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Not to conquer the day. Not to have all the answers. Just enough.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Everybody looks at me like I&#39;ve figured it out, like I always have the strength, like showing up is easy for me. Like I wake up already whole. But that&#39;s not the truth of it. The truth is quieter, and heavier, than what people see.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Because strength isn&#39;t the absence of struggling. It&#39;s choosing to stand again after you&#39;ve already fallen once that day, in ways no one noticed. It&#39;s the space between what people assume about you and what you actually carry.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;So you need to know — every single day, that is my prayer. Not for greatness. Not for certainty. Just enough strength to keep going. That&#39;s all I ask for. That&#39;s all I&#39;ve ever really needed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;And some days, that strength doesn&#39;t come from within me at all. It comes from someone else — a word, a gesture, a presence that shows up exactly when I needed it, without even knowing how much I needed it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Today, it came. And to that someone who gave me that extra love today — thank you. You may never know what it meant, but it was the answer to a prayer I didn&#39;t say out loud.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/the-prayer-i-never-say-out-loud.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-1520032389991434847</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:30:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-28T16:20:54.718+08:00</atom:updated><title>Scale Down, But Make It Muscle</title><description>&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;I want to take a moment to celebrate something that doesn&#39;t always get the spotlight: the little wins. Not the dramatic before-and-after photos, not the &quot;I lost 50 pounds in 2 months&quot; headlines—just the small, steady progress that happens when you show up for yourself, day after day.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Lately, I&#39;ve noticed something exciting happening. I&#39;m not just losing weight anymore. I&#39;m getting leaner.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;There&#39;s a difference, and it took me a while to understand it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Losing Weight vs. Getting Lean&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;When I first started this journey, my only goal was to see the number on the scale go down. And it did. But here&#39;s something nobody really warned me about:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Weight loss without strength training can eat away at muscle- Your body doesn&#39;t just burn fat when you&#39;re in a calorie deficit; it can burn muscle too, especially if you&#39;re not giving it a reason to hold onto that muscle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;The scale doesn&#39;t tell the whole story- You can weigh less and still not feel strong, toned, or &quot;lean.&quot; Weight loss and body composition are two very different things.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;Muscle loss slows your progress- Less muscle means a slower metabolism, which makes it harder to keep the results you worked so hard for.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;That&#39;s when it hit me: I needed to lift.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;So how did lifting change the game for me? I&#39;ll get into that on my next post—stay tuned!&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/scale-down-but-make-it-muscle.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-8687456040285304833</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:03:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-24T03:03:00.190+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Life</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Movie Reviews</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">movies</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Reflections</category><title>3 A.M. Thoughts on Upgraded (Because Sleep Got Downgraded)</title><description>&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRgRdrmpJm5_TzCjmm8dLY52eJ5RflrO6bOx6e-1jC5nZiC3PGnKip7Zb6aKOiRejqy5AUmvTrDxjw3g_e7hTV4dWHtyMD8fJi3me9TETtHUzd-sCrs8ASzL-60SWlix9pJgOjYCN54OKLDV9djOslIFA3Xcr_K0RdyGaxI3De5b228uIETVL/s640/images.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;480&quot; data-original-width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;240&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRgRdrmpJm5_TzCjmm8dLY52eJ5RflrO6bOx6e-1jC5nZiC3PGnKip7Zb6aKOiRejqy5AUmvTrDxjw3g_e7hTV4dWHtyMD8fJi3me9TETtHUzd-sCrs8ASzL-60SWlix9pJgOjYCN54OKLDV9djOslIFA3Xcr_K0RdyGaxI3De5b228uIETVL/s320/images.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I know I just did a movie review, and well, that tells you what I do when I can&#39;t sleep. Haha. But here I am again, laptop glow at some ungodly hour, because Upgraded deserves to be written about while it&#39;s still sitting warm in my chest.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p3&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Let me start with the obvious pun, because the movie basically begs for it: this is a film about upgrades — a seat, a lifestyle, a persona — but really, it&#39;s about the upgrade nobody puts on a boarding pass. The upgrade of the self. Ana fakes her way into a first-class life she can&#39;t afford, and I&#39;ll admit, I will never have the guts to actually live a lie for a week the way she does. I do it however many times in my head though. Haha. Isn&#39;t that the quiet fantasy so many of us carry — to slip into a different skin for just seven days and see if the world treats us differently, if we feel different? Art has always let us borrow that courage secondhand, and cinema might be the most generous lender of all.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p3&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Speaking of art — I have to mention Catherine DelaRoche&#39;s collection in the film. I&#39;m a lover of art, and something about the way the movie treats those pieces, not as set dressing but as characters with their own gravity, felt like a wink to anyone who&#39;s ever stood in a gallery and let a painting undo them a little. Luxury, in Upgraded, isn&#39;t really the penthouse or the wardrobe. It&#39;s proximity to beauty. It&#39;s being close enough to something exquisite that it rearranges you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p3&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;And then there&#39;s Will.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p3&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I have this indescribable feeling about him — how firm he is, how buttoned-up and proper, a man built like a closed door. And yet he bends. Not breaks, bends — for Ana, specifically, in ways that feel earned rather than convenient. There&#39;s a lesson tucked in there that I keep turning over: the people worth loving aren&#39;t the ones who have no structure, they&#39;re the ones whose structure has just enough give in it for you to fit inside. Firmness and flexibility aren&#39;t opposites. They can live in the same person, the same chest.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p3&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The movie itself was easy — light, glossy, the kind of rom-com you can watch half-distracted. But the ending got me. I don&#39;t fully know why I cried. Maybe because these past weeks I&#39;ve been quietly making peace with the idea of an unhappy ending in my own life, rehearsing it, steeling myself for it — and then this film just handed me a happy one instead, unearned and undeserved and wonderful anyway. Sometimes you don&#39;t cry because a story is sad. You cry because it&#39;s kind to you when you weren&#39;t expecting kindness.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p3&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;If you&#39;ve followed my last few posts, you&#39;ll know I&#39;ve been sitting in this in-between season — grief-adjacent, hope-adjacent, not fully either. Upgraded fits right into that thread. It&#39;s not a masterpiece. It&#39;s not trying to be. But it understands something true: that we are all faking our way through some version of a life we&#39;re not sure we deserve, hoping someone firm enough to hold us and soft enough to bend for us walks through the door before the week runs out.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p3&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s2&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Rating: 7.5/10 — not for the plot, but for the ache it left behind, and for reminding me that art, even the easy kind, can upgrade the way we feel about our own unfinished stories.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/3-am-thoughts-on-upgraded-because-sleep.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRgRdrmpJm5_TzCjmm8dLY52eJ5RflrO6bOx6e-1jC5nZiC3PGnKip7Zb6aKOiRejqy5AUmvTrDxjw3g_e7hTV4dWHtyMD8fJi3me9TETtHUzd-sCrs8ASzL-60SWlix9pJgOjYCN54OKLDV9djOslIFA3Xcr_K0RdyGaxI3De5b228uIETVL/s72-c/images.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-1322100348807718227</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:04:06 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-24T00:48:37.617+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Life</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Movie</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Movie Reviews</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Reflections</category><title>The Hours We Weren&#39;t Allowed to Keep — On 5 to 7 and the Weight of Borrowed Love</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_T9aBhkgRkeYdaSAOZjeFkJzw2pSTRmOAlgfYW7V_tmGtQgSj5lItrYz6rtlZ8yyQLUQaeFYEkP1qb5jPalf0grcnxNlIW6OQbkI_nx0DiXIpBwgVH1Ouc_A_fYTI_-E0Vtj1Q5yzscZRSgetyxbOJmsHD8XuIU-1cfeGTWlEUBq7wrY3O13/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;720&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1280&quot; height=&quot;180&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_T9aBhkgRkeYdaSAOZjeFkJzw2pSTRmOAlgfYW7V_tmGtQgSj5lItrYz6rtlZ8yyQLUQaeFYEkP1qb5jPalf0grcnxNlIW6OQbkI_nx0DiXIpBwgVH1Ouc_A_fYTI_-E0Vtj1Q5yzscZRSgetyxbOJmsHD8XuIU-1cfeGTWlEUBq7wrY3O13/s320/maxresdefault.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;There&#39;s something quietly devastating about 5 to 7, a film that doesn&#39;t shout its heartbreak but lets it linger in the in-between hours the title refers to. Brian, a young writer, falls into an affair with Arielle, a married Frenchwoman, but only between the hours of five and seven in the evening — a boundary set by her open marriage. What starts as a romantic fantasy slowly reveals itself as something more melancholic: a love that was never meant to be whole.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Watching this, I couldn&#39;t help but connect it to the threads we&#39;ve pulled on in past posts about unrequited love. Except here, the &quot;unrequited&quot; isn&#39;t about someone loving without being loved back — it&#39;s about loving fully, being loved back fully, and still not being able to have it. Brian gets Arielle&#39;s heart, just never her life. That distinction hit harder than I expected.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;It reminded me of what we wrote about a few days ago — how unrequited love isn&#39;t always about rejection. Sometimes it&#39;s about timing, circumstance, or boundaries neither person chose but both have to live with. 5 to 7 frames longing not as absence, but as limitation — you can have someone completely, and still lose them to the shape of their life. That feels like the quieter, more grown-up cousin of unrequited love: not &quot;you don&#39;t want me,&quot; but &quot;the world won&#39;t let this be more than what it is.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Maybe that&#39;s the real thread connecting all these reflections — love doesn&#39;t always fail because it isn&#39;t returned. Sometimes it fails simply because it can&#39;t hold the weight of everything two people wish it could be.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/the-hours-we-werent-allowed-to-keep-on.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_T9aBhkgRkeYdaSAOZjeFkJzw2pSTRmOAlgfYW7V_tmGtQgSj5lItrYz6rtlZ8yyQLUQaeFYEkP1qb5jPalf0grcnxNlIW6OQbkI_nx0DiXIpBwgVH1Ouc_A_fYTI_-E0Vtj1Q5yzscZRSgetyxbOJmsHD8XuIU-1cfeGTWlEUBq7wrY3O13/s72-c/maxresdefault.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-3894428473706219103</guid><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 06:04:54 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-23T01:02:29.510+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Beach</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Weekends with Friends</category><title>The Reset I Didn&#39;t Know I Needed</title><description>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTFnmsxnEQw6nLgLRXAcpcoc7s1gIP4mek9rH2lTQJHkAfH9dKsQ3uPVOcjvwFf44qncZlC-vEWyiiASaCMi0YC9tt_FiGqvxkH1WU6IUFzG6Wdy2q8Yx7kERg2X5m-WGw8lmvne-flhOLUIjFoaJ8Lo8psY6F3ZDAm-ZMdpPsqjuHifXEWZG/s2048/753169351_3462350877256996_8961924271126238436_n.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;2048&quot; data-original-width=&quot;2048&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTFnmsxnEQw6nLgLRXAcpcoc7s1gIP4mek9rH2lTQJHkAfH9dKsQ3uPVOcjvwFf44qncZlC-vEWyiiASaCMi0YC9tt_FiGqvxkH1WU6IUFzG6Wdy2q8Yx7kERg2X5m-WGw8lmvne-flhOLUIjFoaJ8Lo8psY6F3ZDAm-ZMdpPsqjuHifXEWZG/w200-h200/753169351_3462350877256996_8961924271126238436_n.jpg&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;There&#39;s a difference between exhaustion that drains you and exhaustion that heals you. I learned that this week at Boracay.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It wasn&#39;t a special trip, no big occasion, no milestone to mark. Just me, some friends, and my husband, deciding we needed sand under our feet and salt in the air. Sometimes the best resets happen exactly like that — unplanned, unpressured, just showing up for yourself when you realize you&#39;ve been running on empty.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I went in thinking I needed to come back energized, buzzing, ready to conquer the world. Instead, I came back tired. But it&#39;s the kind of tired that sleep can fix — not the kind that lingers in your bones for weeks. And honestly? That&#39;s exactly what I needed.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Sometimes the body has to admit it needs rest before it can actually receive it. My practice — the meditation, the yoga, the energy work I do — has taught me that healing isn&#39;t always about feeling instantly lighter. Sometimes it&#39;s about letting the fatigue finally settle in, because that&#39;s the body&#39;s way of saying I trust you enough to stop now.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The sea water did its part. The breeze did its part. Walking barefoot in that famous white sand grounded me in a way that no amount of sitting still indoors ever could — it was its own quiet meditation, one foot in front of the other, present in every step, laughter with friends drifting somewhere in the background.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I didn&#39;t leave the beach glowing. I left present. Grounded. Aligned in the way that matters most — not performative energy, but a quiet knowing that I&#39;m going to be okay.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rest is not the opposite of growth. It&#39;s part of it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Good night, my loves.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/the-reset-i-didnt-know-i-needed.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTFnmsxnEQw6nLgLRXAcpcoc7s1gIP4mek9rH2lTQJHkAfH9dKsQ3uPVOcjvwFf44qncZlC-vEWyiiASaCMi0YC9tt_FiGqvxkH1WU6IUFzG6Wdy2q8Yx7kERg2X5m-WGw8lmvne-flhOLUIjFoaJ8Lo8psY6F3ZDAm-ZMdpPsqjuHifXEWZG/s72-w200-h200-c/753169351_3462350877256996_8961924271126238436_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-2465516366316581911</guid><pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 17:08:36 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-23T01:01:49.259+08:00</atom:updated><title>The Hardest Kind of Love: Learning to Hold Space From Afar</title><description>&lt;div&gt;There is a particular ache that comes with watching someone you love struggle from a distance. Not the distance of the heart — that has never wavered — but the distance of miles, of time zones, of a life that has taken them somewhere your hands cannot reach.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A friend of mine is going through something right now. Something heavy. And every fiber of my being wants to &lt;i&gt;do&lt;/i&gt; something. That&#39;s who I am. My love language has always been service — showing up, cooking a meal, sitting beside someone in silence, fixing what can be fixed, and carrying what can be carried. Love, to me, has always had hands and feet.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But this time, love asks something different of me. This time, the only things I can offer are space and time.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And honestly? It hurts.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;When Doing Nothing Is the Doing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For someone wired to serve, stillness feels like abandonment. It feels like failure. But I&#39;m slowly learning that presence doesn&#39;t always require proximity, and love doesn&#39;t always need to be visible to be real.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is where faith comes into play — not passive faith, but the muscular kind. Faith in him, that he carries within himself everything he needs to walk through this. Faith in the Universe, that what is meant to be will unfold exactly as it should, in its own time, in its own way.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I cannot fight his battles. But I can believe in him louder than his doubts. Even from here.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;Praying for More Than Relief&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;When I pray for him, I&#39;ve noticed my prayers have changed. I don&#39;t just pray for his struggles to end. I pray for him to &lt;i&gt;learn&lt;/i&gt; — to extract from this season everything it came to teach him.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Because here is a core belief I hold close: &lt;b&gt;life repeats what we refuse to learn.&lt;/b&gt; Karma is not punishment. It is a patient teacher. The same lesson will keep returning, wearing different faces, arriving in different circumstances, until we finally understand it. So my deepest prayer is not just &quot;let this pass,&quot; but &quot;let this &lt;i&gt;transform&lt;/i&gt; him.&quot; Let him come out of this not just relieved, but wiser. Not just healed, but changed.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;That, to me, is the difference between surviving something and growing through it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;Meditation: The Bridge Across the Distance&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In my meditation practice, I&#39;ve found the one form of service still available to me. When I sit in stillness, I hold him there — not with worry, which is just fear dressed up as love, but with intention. I breathe in his struggle, and I breathe out peace toward him. I send him strength, clarity, and light.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Some may say that changes nothing. I believe it changes everything. Energy travels where attention goes. And if nothing else, it changes &lt;i&gt;me&lt;/i&gt; — it transmutes my helplessness into something sacred instead of letting it curdle into anxiety.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Meditation reminds me that we are never as separate as geography suggests.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Lesson That Was Also Meant for Me&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And here is the twist I didn&#39;t see coming: this season is not only his classroom. It is mine, too.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Because if I truly believe that lessons repeat until they are learned, then I must ask — what is this moment teaching me?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The answer is uncomfortable and beautiful: &lt;b&gt;To let go. To trust. To be patient.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To love without controlling. To care without fixing. To accept that my role in someone&#39;s story is not always the rescuer — sometimes it is the quiet believer standing at the edge of their journey, holding the light, trusting they will find their way to it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Universe, in its wisdom, gave us intertwined lessons. His is to overcome. Mine is to release.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;What Is Meant to Be, Will Be&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So this is where I am today — hands open instead of clenched, prayers rising instead of plans forming. It still pains me. I won&#39;t pretend it doesn&#39;t. Love that cannot act feels like love in a cage.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But maybe that&#39;s not true. Maybe love that waits, trusts, and believes is the freest love of all.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To my friend, wherever this finds you: I am not beside you, but I am with you. I believe in your strength even on the days you can&#39;t feel it. I trust the Universe with you. And I am learning, slowly, that sometimes the greatest act of service is simply this —&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To let go. To have faith. And to just be.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;What is meant to be, will be. 🤍&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/the-hardest-kind-of-love-learning-to.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-8516389723206718738</guid><pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 03:40:40 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-18T11:40:40.538+08:00</atom:updated><title>Every Draft Of Me</title><description>&lt;div&gt;Thank you for loving me through every version I&#39;ve ever been.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Not just the version who shows up steady and put-together for the rest of the world — the one who has her answers ready, who laughs easily, who seems like she has it figured out. That version is easy to love. Anyone could love that one.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I mean the other versions too. The ones I don&#39;t hand out freely. The one who wakes up at 3 a.m. with a fear she can&#39;t name and needs someone to just be there, not fix it, not explain it away — just be there. You&#39;ve been there. Every time.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The version of me that&#39;s tired in a way sleep doesn&#39;t touch. The one who snaps when she doesn&#39;t mean to, who goes quiet instead of asking for help, who sometimes needs to fall apart a little before she can put herself back together. You&#39;ve seen that version, and you didn&#39;t flinch. You didn&#39;t make me feel like I owed you an apology for being human in front of you.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There&#39;s a version of me I only show you — the unfinished one. The one still figuring out what she believes, what she wants, who she&#39;s becoming. The one who says half-formed thoughts out loud because she trusts you&#39;ll listen for the shape of what she means, not just the words. That version is fragile in a way I don&#39;t let most people see. You hold it like it&#39;s not fragile at all. Like it&#39;s just... me.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And then there&#39;s the version who loves you back — loudly, quietly, in the small ways and the big ones — and somehow you&#39;ve loved that one too, without asking her to earn it first.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I think what I&#39;m trying to say is: thank you for never waiting for the best version of me to show up before deciding I was worth staying for. Thank you for treating my becoming like something sacred instead of something inconvenient. Thank you for the versions of me only you have met — the ones I couldn&#39;t have survived showing to just anyone.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I don&#39;t know who I&#39;ll be next month, next year, in the versions of myself I haven&#39;t grown into yet. But I know this: whoever she is, I hope she gets to keep loving you the way every version before her has.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Thank you for loving all of me — especially the parts I only ever gave to you.&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/every-draft-of-me.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-5420926125051768786</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:16:42 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-18T01:16:42.556+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Coffee</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Friends</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Life Is a Series of Deja Brews</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">My Life In Coffee</category><title>The Foam Before The Storm (of Caramel Macchiatos)</title><description>&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ft_NoPANpwShcfnrH-UmJQ6i3QdBAeH3nRUYp0mexxkVfTwkYQN0h0m6Q-CEZ3bAo5IR8VuB7vJtl-PH02v0DhxQ5DDHPthTVhqleIy7iZgzw2QOZWCazDLidV7nzMkWot52RW51wT5WIQGAX4n0npZ_G7t9d_Jqn0ftcxOOtpt2hqn3sHAe/s1760/749767203_1536356088233570_2086411620353690607_n.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1760&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1320&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ft_NoPANpwShcfnrH-UmJQ6i3QdBAeH3nRUYp0mexxkVfTwkYQN0h0m6Q-CEZ3bAo5IR8VuB7vJtl-PH02v0DhxQ5DDHPthTVhqleIy7iZgzw2QOZWCazDLidV7nzMkWot52RW51wT5WIQGAX4n0npZ_G7t9d_Jqn0ftcxOOtpt2hqn3sHAe/s320/749767203_1536356088233570_2086411620353690607_n.jpg&quot; width=&quot;240&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;There&#39;s a particular kind of magic in the way caramel sinks to the bottom of a macchiato, refusing to blend too quickly, holding its shape until that first stir sends it swirling upward like a secret finally being told. I used to think I loved this drink for obvious reasons — the espresso&#39;s boldness softened by milk, the vanilla whispering underneath, the caramel drizzle that always looks more generous than it tastes. Simple pleasures, I called them. Nothing complicated.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Then complexity found me anyway, the way it often does, disguised as something ordinary.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;It was an unremarkable morning, the kind that blurs into every other morning in memory, except this one didn&#39;t. We had just met — properly met, for the first time — and yet there was no awkwardness in it, no careful tiptoeing around unfamiliar territory. It felt, oddly, like something already worn in, comfortable in a way first meetings rarely are.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;You mentioned you weren&#39;t much into coffee, unsure what to order, and asked what I&#39;d suggest. I&#39;m someone who takes my coffee black, no sugar, no cream, nothing to soften its bitterness — that&#39;s simply how I&#39;ve always liked it, honest and unadorned. But something about you made me want to suggest otherwise for yourself. Without hesitation, I told you: caramel macchiato. Something easy on the palate, sweet enough to welcome you in rather than test you the way I test myself every morning. It felt natural to offer it, almost instinctive, the way you&#39;d share something personal with someone you&#39;d known for years rather than minutes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Looking back, it was such an unusual thing for me to do — I, who prefers things unfiltered and straightforward, choosing the softer, sweeter option for you instead of simply for myself. But maybe that was the first quiet sign of what we would become: two contrasting tastes, comfortable enough to meet in the middle. I stayed with my bitterness; you were introduced to something gentle. And somehow, in that small exchange, our whole dynamic revealed itself — how I could be blunt and unembellished, while you brought an ease that made even ordinary moments feel lighter, sweeter, worth savoring.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;You took the suggestion, and the first sip must have agreed with you, because what followed wasn&#39;t small talk anymore — it became conversation, easy and unforced, the kind that doesn&#39;t need permission to deepen. By the time our cups were empty, something else had filled the space between two people who, just an hour before, had been strangers: the quiet, unmistakable beginning of a friendship.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I don&#39;t remember every word exchanged that day. But I remember the warmth of it — not just the drink cooling in my hands, but the feeling of having stumbled into something worth keeping, effortlessly, as though it had simply been waiting for the right moment to begin.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Now, every caramel macchiato carries that memory folded into its layers. The foam becomes a reminder of first impressions — light, unassuming, yet somehow immediately familiar. The espresso is the honesty that followed, the real conversations that came easily even from the start. And the caramel, always the caramel, is the sweetness that lingers longer than expected, coating a memory that could have simply been ordinary but became indelible instead.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I&#39;ll admit, I smile a little foolishly now when I order one. There&#39;s a private joke in it, a small nostalgia tucked into cardboard sleeves and coffee-shop noise. It&#39;s become less about the drink and more about what the drink insists on remembering for me — that life&#39;s sweetest moments rarely arrive with fanfare. They slip in quietly, disguised as small talk, disguised as caramel and foam, and somehow, they stay.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;So here&#39;s to caramel macchiatos, and to the people who turn ordinary encounters into anchors we didn&#39;t know we needed. Here&#39;s to gratitude wearing the shape of a coffee cup, to friendships that begin over something as simple as a shared table and a shared drink, and to how life, in its quiet wisdom, knows exactly how to sweeten the moments that matter — even for someone like me, who never thought she needed sweetness until you came along.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/the-alchemy-of-caramel-and-coincidence.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ft_NoPANpwShcfnrH-UmJQ6i3QdBAeH3nRUYp0mexxkVfTwkYQN0h0m6Q-CEZ3bAo5IR8VuB7vJtl-PH02v0DhxQ5DDHPthTVhqleIy7iZgzw2QOZWCazDLidV7nzMkWot52RW51wT5WIQGAX4n0npZ_G7t9d_Jqn0ftcxOOtpt2hqn3sHAe/s72-c/749767203_1536356088233570_2086411620353690607_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-7947807924629572527</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:26:26 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-28T07:48:17.681+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Broken Wings</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Life</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Mariposa Learns To Fly</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Poem</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Poetry</category><title>What I Remain</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeVlLHgJ2EOLwXs7rvbo6S6YPsECnp4i27a5DSw2foxuTCkxCH_uUhJwmlOufRGqrk0BFEzf0sdz6OSb4IuO5uKfyQCUPaUOaqrA1ZXnO314ZGRdAYNmxr8uk9Z0AZ6mi9uETla9o-sVLeGwKqdyikpgrHlpqy9I_nU7h2q3LS3g7pOExEc76/s1320/744657734_1716084299514140_412672590707128117_n.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1320&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1320&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeVlLHgJ2EOLwXs7rvbo6S6YPsECnp4i27a5DSw2foxuTCkxCH_uUhJwmlOufRGqrk0BFEzf0sdz6OSb4IuO5uKfyQCUPaUOaqrA1ZXnO314ZGRdAYNmxr8uk9Z0AZ6mi9uETla9o-sVLeGwKqdyikpgrHlpqy9I_nU7h2q3LS3g7pOExEc76/s320/744657734_1716084299514140_412672590707128117_n.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;My love for you knows no far edge,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;no border where it stops or bends —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;it grew past wanting, past the need&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;to be repaid for what it spends.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;If strength is what these days demand,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I&#39;ll be the one who carries weight.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I&#39;ll stand with you against the odds,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;unmoved by distance, doubt, or fate.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;But if my staying costs you peace,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;if my shadow dims your light —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;then let me be the one who leaves,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;so you can walk back into bright.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Both roads take something out of me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Only one should cost you still.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I&#39;d rather empty my own hands&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;than watch you break against your will.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;All I have ever wanted, love,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;is for the weight to lift from you —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;the worry, and the quiet ache,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;the burdens I may have walked you through.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I meant it once, I mean it now:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I&#39;ll bear what people bear for love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;When you are walking through the fire,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;don&#39;t stop — there&#39;s nothing waiting of&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;value in the flame itself.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Keep moving till you&#39;re through the worst.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I&#39;m sorry for the parts of this&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;that trace back to me, or came in first.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Whatever door you choose to take,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I won&#39;t pretend it&#39;s owed to me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;This love was never built on terms —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;it simply is. It lets you be.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;So here&#39;s my hand, if you should need it,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;and here&#39;s the space, if that serves best.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I remain — however this reads —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;still yours, in motion or at rest.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/what-i-remain.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeVlLHgJ2EOLwXs7rvbo6S6YPsECnp4i27a5DSw2foxuTCkxCH_uUhJwmlOufRGqrk0BFEzf0sdz6OSb4IuO5uKfyQCUPaUOaqrA1ZXnO314ZGRdAYNmxr8uk9Z0AZ6mi9uETla9o-sVLeGwKqdyikpgrHlpqy9I_nU7h2q3LS3g7pOExEc76/s72-c/744657734_1716084299514140_412672590707128117_n.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-537276753054018070</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-17T05:24:59.487+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Broken Wings</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">I Love Me</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Live Life Out Loud</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Relationships</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Unconscious Mutterings</category><title>Unconditionally, Unbothered</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;There&#39;s a particular kind of ache that comes from receiving something beautiful right before you have to walk away from it. Someone hands you three words wrapped in months of honesty, distance, sleepless nights, and quiet hope — and you&#39;re supposed to feel comforted. Reassured. Like it&#39;s a gift meant to soften the goodbye.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;But here&#39;s the thing I&#39;ve been sitting with: I never needed that reassurance in the first place.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Love, at least the way I understand it, was never a transaction. It was never something I offered with an invoice attached, waiting for a return on investment. I didn&#39;t confide in someone, laugh with them at 2 a.m., or think of them first thing in the morning because I was building toward a moment where they&#39;d finally say the words back. I did it because the moments themselves were enough. The conversation was the point. The laughter was the point. The late nights weren&#39;t a down payment on some future declaration — they were already whole, already complete, in the second they happened.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;So, when the words finally come — I love you — spoken not to comfort me, but perhaps to comfort themselves before we part ways, I find myself strangely unmoved by the timing of it. Not because the feeling isn&#39;t real. Not because I doubt the months of genuine connection that led here. But because I never needed permission to know what I already gave freely.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;There&#39;s a difference between loving someone and needing them to confirm it before you can let go. My love was never contingent on reciprocity. It didn&#39;t ask &quot;do you feel the same?&quot; as a prerequisite for continuing to feel it. It simply existed — steady, unclaiming, wanting nothing from the other person except the chance to keep showing up.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Maybe that&#39;s the quiet strength in loving without conditions: you&#39;re never left empty-handed when the ending comes, because you never needed anything handed back to you in the first place.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;So, if these three words were meant as closure, as a bow tied neatly around everything before we go our separate ways — I understand the intention, and I appreciate the honesty it took. But I don&#39;t need it to feel complete. I already was.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Some love doesn&#39;t ask to be matched. It just asks to be allowed to exist, for as long as it&#39;s allowed to exist. And when it&#39;s time to let go, it doesn&#39;t need reassurance to do so gracefully.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;It already gave everything it meant to give.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/unconditionally-unbothered.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-7474723141758354292</guid><pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:51:17 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-12T06:58:50.583+08:00</atom:updated><title>Beyond the Bar: A Reflection on Love, Law, and Imperfect Endings </title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Just finished Beyond the Bar, and I&#39;m sitting here in that quiet, post-finale haze where you&#39;re not quite ready to leave the world of a show yet. This one snuck up on me in the best way.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW29kPnQicGYP4CYQNQKNGYi-fatPDP0lz3MAdYkVevVsHpbY9w5j2S3NR_k-MOhXOJEiC8MwhPPivPLm4xBIv-ZL1BUeRHZ6xv6k2qeByt0oJBSdFu_OjTOGJGAYZWDnvXA0-g7J_P7eyXG-2XBsGENMZfkdx57zCdrbOenG8D08OYz7TEQn/s900/beyond%20the%20bar.webp&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;600&quot; data-original-width=&quot;900&quot; height=&quot;213&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW29kPnQicGYP4CYQNQKNGYi-fatPDP0lz3MAdYkVevVsHpbY9w5j2S3NR_k-MOhXOJEiC8MwhPPivPLm4xBIv-ZL1BUeRHZ6xv6k2qeByt0oJBSdFu_OjTOGJGAYZWDnvXA0-g7J_P7eyXG-2XBsGENMZfkdx57zCdrbOenG8D08OYz7TEQn/s320/beyond%20the%20bar.webp&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;What Made This Drama Hit Different&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The case-to-life parallel structure - Every case Atty. Kang took on wasn&#39;t just legal drama filler. Each one mirrored a different shade of love: love that heals, love that fails, love that shows up too late, love that shows up in the most unexpected forms. By the end, you realize the show was never really about winning cases. It was about winning back pieces of humanity, one messy, imperfect situation at a time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The corporate cases exposed love in its most transactional, broken form&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The smaller, personal cases revealed love in its rawest, most unpolished honesty&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Atty. Kang&#39;s own journey threaded through all of it, showing growth isn&#39;t linear — it&#39;s case by case, lesson by lesson&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The ending (no spoilers, but you know) - This is the part I need to talk about. No neat romantic bow. No grand confession under fireworks. Just... reflection. Life, continuing on, imperfect and open-ended.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;And honestly? I loved that.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;We&#39;re so conditioned by K-dramas (myself very much included) to crave that satisfying romantic payoff — the airport run, the confession in the rain, the wedding montage. So when a show has the guts to just let the story breathe and end on introspection instead of resolution, it feels almost rebellious.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;It mirrors real life more than any romance ever could&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Not every story needs a bow — some just need a breath&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The &quot;imperfect ending&quot; becomes the whole point of the show&#39;s philosophy: love and life don&#39;t need to be perfect to be meaningful&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Random Jest &amp;amp; Extra Thoughts&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Atty. Kang&#39;s wardrobe alone deserves an award — legal drama chic done right&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The courtroom scenes had that perfect blend of tension and dry humor that Korean legal dramas do so well (looking at you, similar energy to Extraordinary Attorney Woo but with its own identity)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I lowkey wanted at least ONE case to go completely off the rails just for chaos, but the show&#39;s restraint honestly worked in its favor&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The OST deserves its own post — some of those tracks hit exactly when the emotional gut-punch landed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;At the end of the day, Beyond the Bar reminded me that closure doesn&#39;t always look like a happy ending — sometimes it just looks like acceptance. And honestly, that might be the most &quot;adult&quot; thing a K-drama has said to me in a while.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Rewatch value: high.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Emotional damage: moderate but earned.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;A10/10 and would let it ruin my sleep schedule again.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/beyond-bar-reflection-on-love-law-and.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW29kPnQicGYP4CYQNQKNGYi-fatPDP0lz3MAdYkVevVsHpbY9w5j2S3NR_k-MOhXOJEiC8MwhPPivPLm4xBIv-ZL1BUeRHZ6xv6k2qeByt0oJBSdFu_OjTOGJGAYZWDnvXA0-g7J_P7eyXG-2XBsGENMZfkdx57zCdrbOenG8D08OYz7TEQn/s72-c/beyond%20the%20bar.webp" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-37759443037788325</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:56:25 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-07-01T01:56:25.753+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Broken Wings</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Poem</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Poetry</category><title>One Last Time</title><description>&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Promise me this one thing…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;When the end is close, and there is barely enough of me left to hold on,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;find your way back to me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Not to stay —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;just long enough for my heart to remember&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;what it felt like to be whole,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;before it finally says goodbye.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/07/one-last-time.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-9083230801336226788</guid><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:09:28 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-06-30T02:17:39.275+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Live Life Out Loud</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Reflections</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Sacred Life Sunday</category><title>Reflecting Forward</title><description>&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCQyJacJZIlSUhv-iEg4NTFHgUhr9ZNioR81LD8m8SLmYvQipwiEALjpiZuj2EdbLwbSeQk7USR9BR4LqbQ4_YlV7mhNQm_YOhqg-dhnukMijtSqLu0ummx2SBkzztCuIJ9pZY7-byx5O7FuhC65S1gi5s2fIS2nMD9BeJAVzSvdlHGitqZPZ/s3072/IMG_1093.jpeg&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;3072&quot; data-original-width=&quot;3072&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCQyJacJZIlSUhv-iEg4NTFHgUhr9ZNioR81LD8m8SLmYvQipwiEALjpiZuj2EdbLwbSeQk7USR9BR4LqbQ4_YlV7mhNQm_YOhqg-dhnukMijtSqLu0ummx2SBkzztCuIJ9pZY7-byx5O7FuhC65S1gi5s2fIS2nMD9BeJAVzSvdlHGitqZPZ/s320/IMG_1093.jpeg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;This midyear moment feels like a deliberate turning point rather than a distant milestone. If January was a reset—an invitation to set intentions and lay a clear groundwork—then today is the moment to assess, recalibrate, and continue with renewed clarity. It’s a reminder that resolutions aren’t confined to the start of the year; they are living commitments that evolve as we do.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I am continuing to enter my era of self-love and empowerment, a season where confidence settles in as a dependable rhythm rather than a spotlight. I glow from the inside out, listening to the quiet voice that says, “you are enough,” and translating that assurance into actions that honor boundaries, growth, and joy. Self-confidence becomes a steady current I can rely on, one that allows me to show up with warmth and steadiness for myself and for others.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;In this ongoing shift, my intention remains to radiate love—toward myself and toward the people I encounter. When gentleness for our own flaws and triumphs becomes habitual, it expands into compassion, patience, and an eagerness to lift others as we rise. I aim to be a lighthouse of calm in busy rooms, a reminder that success is a shared ascent rather than a solitary peak. If confidence is a beacon, love is the fuel that keeps it bright and reliable.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;We are navigating very interesting times, times that test our resilience while inviting us to imagine new possibilities. Hope becomes a daily practice—a conscious choice to see potential where fear might lurk, to acknowledge difficulty without being defined by it, and to move forward with perseverance. Trusting the Universe in this context is an active alignment: a stance that connects our efforts with a larger sense of direction. When we trust the flow, we become magnets for abundance and positivity, drawing opportunities, relationships, and moments that reflect the best in us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;In this spirit, I invite a simple, human warmth into the workplace and the world: may we lead with love, act with confidence, and stay curious about what’s possible. May we ground our ambitions in gratitude, serve with confidence, and believe that our best days are still ahead, unfolding as we show up with authenticity and care. If this midyear period feels like this is your year, then let it be a year of bold, generous leadership—where courage, warmth, and a clear sense of purpose illuminate the path for ourselves and for those we touch.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;As I continue this journey, I carry a gentle promise: to nurture self-love as the foundation, to radiate empowerment as the method, and to share abundance as the natural outcome. May the energy we cultivate become a force for good—grounded, expansive, and ever hopeful. And may we move forward with the certainty that we can shape our reality by choosing love, leaning into resilience, and trusting that the universe honors the brave who dare to align intention with action.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/06/reflecting-forward.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCQyJacJZIlSUhv-iEg4NTFHgUhr9ZNioR81LD8m8SLmYvQipwiEALjpiZuj2EdbLwbSeQk7USR9BR4LqbQ4_YlV7mhNQm_YOhqg-dhnukMijtSqLu0ummx2SBkzztCuIJ9pZY7-byx5O7FuhC65S1gi5s2fIS2nMD9BeJAVzSvdlHGitqZPZ/s72-c/IMG_1093.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-2867647699052430763</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:30:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-06-20T00:30:00.183+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Beauty and Wellness</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Fitness</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Fitness Partner</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Wellness</category><title>Finding Your Perfect Fitness Partner: The Secret Weapon You Didn&#39;t Know You Needed</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;We all know the feeling. You start strong in January, crushing every workout, meal prepping like a pro — and then somewhere around week three, the couch starts whispering your name a little louder than your gym shoes do. Motivation fades, life gets busy, and before you know it, your fitness goals are quietly collecting dust in the corner.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;But what if the missing piece wasn&#39;t a better workout plan, a fancier gym, or a stricter diet? What if it was simply another person?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;The Power of Having Someone in Your Corner&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;A fitness partner isn&#39;t just someone to spot you on the bench press. At its core, it&#39;s a relationship built on mutual accountability, honest communication, and shared purpose. When you have the right person by your side — or even on the other side of a screen — everything shifts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;You stop working out for a number on the scale and start working out with someone who genuinely wants to see you win.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;What Makes a Great Fitness Partner?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Not everyone qualifies. A true fitness partner is more than just a cheerleader. Here&#39;s what to look for:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Someone who celebrates your small wins without making them feel insignificant — because every little victory counts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Someone who shares their own progress openly, making the journey feel less lonely and more collaborative.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Someone whose constructive criticism you genuinely welcome — not because it&#39;s always easy to hear, but because you trust it comes from a good place.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Someone who keeps you grounded and reminds you that sustainable progress beats shortcuts every single time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Someone who inspires you not by being perfect, but by showing up consistently, just like you&#39;re trying to do.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;You Don&#39;t Have to Work Out Together to Work Together&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Here&#39;s something that might surprise you — your fitness partner doesn&#39;t have to live in the same city, go to the same gym, or even follow the same program as you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Take this as a personal example. My fitness accountability buddy is someone I originally met online through gaming. We bonded over strategies and competition, and somewhere along the way, we started talking about fitness goals too. Now we share workout tips, swap progress updates, and keep each other inspired across the miles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;What makes it work isn&#39;t proximity — it&#39;s consistency and genuine care. He checks in. I check in. We celebrate the good days and talk through the hard ones. And when I start eyeing a suspicious &quot;7-day transformation&quot; shortcut on the internet, he&#39;s the first one to pull me back to reality with a laugh and a dose of truth.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That&#39;s the kind of partnership that actually moves the needle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Beauty of Shared Progress&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;There&#39;s something uniquely powerful about having someone who tracks the journey with you. Not someone who only shows up for the highlight reel, but someone who knows where you started, remembers your struggles, and appreciates how far you&#39;ve come — even when the progress feels invisible to you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Sharing small wins — a new personal best, finally nailing a recipe, choosing the stairs — keeps the momentum alive between the big milestone moments. These little celebrations matter more than people realize. They remind you that progress is happening, even when it feels slow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Constructive Criticism: The Gift We Often Resist&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Let&#39;s be honest — nobody loves being told they could do better. But there&#39;s a massive difference between harsh judgment and constructive, caring feedback.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;A great fitness partner isn&#39;t afraid to say &quot;Hey, are you sure that&#39;s a realistic goal for next week?&quot; or &quot;I think you might be pushing too hard without enough rest.&quot; That kind of honesty, delivered with respect and care, is worth more than a hundred empty compliments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The key is trust. When you genuinely trust that your partner has your best interests at heart, criticism stops feeling like an attack and starts feeling like a gift.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;How to Find Your Fitness Partner&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;You might be closer to finding yours than you think:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Look in unexpected places** - gaming communities, online forums, hobby groups, and social platforms are full of people on similar wellness journeys.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Be open and vulnerable first** - share your own goals and struggles, and you&#39;ll often find others who mirror them back.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Prioritize alignment over similarity** - you don&#39;t need identical goals, just compatible values around health and accountability.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Start small** - commit to checking in once a week before building a bigger routine around each other.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Be the partner you want to have** - show up, be honest, celebrate their wins, and give feedback when it&#39;s asked for.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Final Thoughts&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Fitness doesn&#39;t have to be a solo pursuit. In fact, some of the most powerful transformations happen not in isolation, but in connection. Whether your fitness partner is your neighbor, a coworker, or someone you met while raiding dungeons online — what matters is that they push you, ground you, and remind you why you started.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Find your person. Stay accountable. And remember — the journey is always better when someone&#39;s running it alongside you. 💪&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/06/finding-your-perfect-fitness-partner.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-7804428932977402610</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-06-19T00:00:00.184+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Destiny</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Fate</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Karma</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Life</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Love</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Meditation</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Reflections</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Soul Contracts</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Soulmates</category><title>Right People, Wrong Time — Or Is It Just Wrong Timing?</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;i style=&quot;font-family: inherit; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;A reflection on fate, soulmates, soul contracts, and the lessons we were always meant to learn.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;There&#39;s a particular kind of heartache that doesn&#39;t come from falling for the wrong person. It comes from falling for what feels like exactly the right person — and watching the world refuse to cooperate. The timing is off. The circumstances are impossible. The love is real, but the moment isn&#39;t ready.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;And yet we ask ourselves — if they were truly right, how could the time ever be wrong?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Maybe the question itself is the lesson.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;font-family: inherit; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;The Myth of &quot;Wrong Time&quot;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;We throw the phrase around so easily. Right person, wrong time. But what does wrong time actually mean? It means one of you isn&#39;t ready. It means life is pulling in different directions. It means the version of you standing there isn&#39;t yet the version capable of holding that love properly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;So perhaps wrong time doesn&#39;t mean the universe made a mistake. Perhaps it means the universe made a plan.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Because if time is wrong, it isn&#39;t random. Time is a teacher. And every teacher shows up exactly when the lesson is due.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;Fate: The Author You Can&#39;t Argue With&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Fate is not a rigid script where every detail is pre-written. Think of it more like a river. The destination is set, but how you navigate the current — that part is yours. Fate draws certain people into your life with an almost magnetic precision. You meet someone in the most unlikely of circumstances, and something deep inside you recognizes them before your mind can explain why.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That recognition isn&#39;t coincidence. That&#39;s fate doing its job.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;But fate is also honest in a way humans struggle to be. It doesn&#39;t promise that every meaningful connection will end in forever. Sometimes fate delivers someone to your door not to stay, but to wake you up — to shake loose something in you that needed to be moved.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Wrong time, in the language of fate, simply means: not yet complete. Not yet ready. Not yet whole enough to receive this.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;Soulmates: The Beautiful Misunderstanding&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;We&#39;ve romanticized soulmates into a single, perfect, eternal partner. Someone who completes us, stays with us, and never leaves. But that is perhaps the most limiting definition of one of the most expansive spiritual concepts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;A soulmate is a soul that resonates with yours at a frequency so deep, it bypasses logic entirely. And here&#39;s the truth that breaks hearts and builds them back stronger — you can have more than one. And not all of them are meant to stay.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Some soulmates arrive to love you. Some arrive to challenge you. Some arrive to leave you in exactly the right way, at exactly the right moment, so that the breaking of that connection forces you to finally become who you were supposed to be all along.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The person who felt like the right one at the wrong time? They may have been a soulmate perfectly fulfilling their role — not by staying, but by going, and leaving behind a version of you that the next chapter desperately needed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;Soul Contracts: Agreements Made Before You Were Born&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;This is where spirituality gets beautifully complex. The concept of soul contracts suggests that before this lifetime, our souls — in whatever form they exist between lives — made agreements with other souls. Agreements about who would show up in whose life, when, and why.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Not all contracts are love stories in the conventional sense.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Some contracts are written for comfort — to give you a safe place to land.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Some are written for disruption — to pull the rug out from under a life that had grown too comfortable.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Some are written for heartbreak — because heartbreak, as devastating as it is, often carries the most transformative lessons.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That person who came into your life and turned everything upside down before leaving just as suddenly? There&#39;s a possibility their soul agreed to do exactly that for yours. Not out of cruelty, but out of a kind of deep, pre-incarnate love — the willingness to play the difficult role so your soul could grow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Wrong time, in the context of soul contracts, becomes almost a contradiction. Because if the contract was fulfilled, the timing was never wrong. It was precise.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Karma: The Classroom You Keep Returning To&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Karma is widely misunderstood as punishment — what goes around, comes around, delivered as cosmic justice. But karma at its truest is simply this: unlearned lessons that follow you until you learn them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;When the same kind of person keeps entering your life, when the same kind of heartbreak repeats with different faces, when you find yourself standing in a familiar emotional place you swore you&#39;d left behind — that is karma knocking. Not to punish you. To teach you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The lessons we are meant to learn in this lifetime aren&#39;t random. They are deeply personal, carefully crafted by the accumulation of every life, every choice, every unresolved wound that came before this one. And people — especially the ones who feel like home but somehow never quite work out — are often the primary instruments of those lessons.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The right person at the wrong time might be teaching you:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That you are worthy of love even when love doesn&#39;t stay.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That your identity cannot depend on another person&#39;s choice to remain.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That loving deeply and losing fully does not make you broken — it makes you expanded.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That you have patterns rooted in fear, and love is merely the mirror that reveals them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;That some doors need to close completely before the right one can open.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;When you learn the lesson, the karma completes. The pattern stops repeating. And suddenly, the timing in your life begins to shift.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;So Does Wrong Time Make Everything Wrong?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;No. Absolutely not.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Wrong time makes everything meaningful.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;If love arrived only when everything was perfectly aligned, it would never teach us anything. It&#39;s precisely in the gap between right person and right time that the most profound work of the soul happens. That gap is where you discover who you are without them. Where you confront what you&#39;ve been avoiding. Where you choose — sometimes painfully — to keep growing anyway.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;The right person at the wrong time is not a tragedy. They are a gift wrapped in grief. A lesson dressed as a love story. A soul contract being honored in the most human, messy, beautiful way possible.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;Closing Thoughts: Trust the Timing of Your Life&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Fate is not careless. Soulmates are not mistakes. Soul contracts are not accidents. And karma does not loop endlessly without purpose.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Every person who walked into your life and walked back out again left fingerprints on your soul. They changed the shape of who you are. And that reshaping — however painful — was always moving you closer to the version of yourself capable of receiving the love, the peace, and the alignment that is genuinely meant for you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;So if you&#39;re carrying someone in your heart right now, someone who felt so right but arrived at what felt like the worst possible time — don&#39;t dismiss what you had as a mistake.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Trust that your soul knew what it was doing when it agreed to that meeting.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Trust that the lesson was worth the ache.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;And trust that the right time, for the right things, is always becoming.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;Some people are chapters. Some are catalysts. And some are mirrors. But none of them — not a single one — ever arrive without a reason.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/06/right-people-wrong-time-or-is-it-just.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-5550601022363057866</guid><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:35:16 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-06-18T00:37:44.001+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Ramblings</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Wordful Wednesday</category><title>Midweek Echoes</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;It’s still the middle of the week, yet somehow it feels like a hundred Wednesdays have folded into one. Nothing grand, nothing earth-shattering—just the quiet ache of time slipping through the cracks of a coffee-stained desk. I’m alone in my office, staring into the murky depths of my cup, where thoughts crowd like a gazillion fireflies that refuse to settle. All the good feelings are there—the ones I want to bottle and carry with me—and the ones I’d rather pretend don’t exist. Ah, the delicate art of balancing buoyancy and gravity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;I’m not sad. Not exactly. Just numb enough to notice the punctuation between feelings—the commas and semicolons that hold the sentence of today together. It’s a strange buzz: a cocktail of clarity and fuzz, a silvering of the ordinary that refuses to dull, yet won’t quite light up the room either. It’s the midweek marathon you didn’t train for, where every mile is a thought you didn’t invite.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;And yet: there is wit in the quiet. A sly grin at the realization that numbness can be a kind of superpower. If emotions are weather, today’s forecast reads: partly contemplative with a chance of epiphany, sprinkled with stubborn optimism. I’ve learned to trust that even the numb spots can hum a tune of meaning if you listen closely enough.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Here’s the thing about prose on days like this: it doesn’t ask to be heroic. It asks to be honest. To admit that a coffee cup can be a compass, that a blinking cursor can be a lighthouse, that a body’s stillness can be a stage for the mind’s improvisation. I’m not chasing grand gestures; I’m listening for the small, stubborn truths—the way a single idea can rise like steam from the surface of something more substantial beneath.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;So I write. Not to conquer the day, but to befriend it. To remind myself (and perhaps you) that being numb doesn’t preclude meaning; sometimes it invites a sharper sensitivity to the ordinary miracles we walk past in routine. The office hums with fluorescent wit, the pencil on the desk taps out a rhythm, and the coffee cools with a patience that would put most philosophers to shame.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;If you’re reading this while the week lumbers on, know you’re not alone in the quiet midst of the grind. We’re a chorus of imperfect feelings: hopeful, uncertain, amused, and sometimes empty enough to notice the weight of a single breath. And if the numbness lasts a moment longer, let it be a doorway rather than a wall—an invitation to unearth a nuance you hadn’t expected, a truth that slips in between the ordinary and the profound.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Because in the end, maybe that’s what midweek is really for: to remind us that ordinary is extraordinary in disguise, and that even numbness can spark a spark if we tilt our heads just so and listen for the tremor under the surface.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: inherit;&quot;&gt;Until next post, may your coffee stay warm, your thoughts stay honest, and your wit stay stubborn enough to sparkle through the fog.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/06/midweek-echoes.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-8582748304690551102</guid><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:29:41 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-06-17T22:46:33.569+08:00</atom:updated><title>The Words I Keep</title><description>&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;For every &lt;i&gt;good morning&lt;/i&gt; that slips past my lips,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;there&#39;s a war in my chest where the real sentence dips —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;three words like a tide that I swallow back down,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;they rise, and I drown them, and still they don&#39;t drown.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;For every &lt;i&gt;how are you&lt;/i&gt; I answer with fine,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;I&#39;m tracing the outline of what could be mine —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;eight letters I&#39;m holding like glass in my hands,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;too afraid of the breaking to make my demands.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;For every &lt;i&gt;take care&lt;/i&gt; that I send you at night,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;I&#39;m stitching it into the hem of what&#39;s right —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;a careful translation, a love in disguise,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;the truest of truths wearing practical lies.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;For every &lt;i&gt;I miss you&lt;/i&gt;, just know what I mean —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;it&#39;s not just the absence, it&#39;s all the unseen,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;the version of us that I carry alone,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;the home that I built from a word I won&#39;t own.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;And maybe one morning, or one quiet night,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;the war will grow tired of putting up fight —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;and instead of good morning, instead of take care,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;I&#39;ll finally say it —&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;the three words that were always already there.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/06/the-words-i-keep.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-4802712821338462408</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:37:34 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-06-17T22:47:05.523+08:00</atom:updated><title>In The Pocket of My Day</title><description>&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;I carry you in a pocket of thoughts, where the fabric is soft with mornings and the stitched edges know my every worry without ever judging. I tell myself that you are good—that you are simply busy in the grand, stubborn business of living—yet the ache arrives anyway, a patient, stubborn visitor who refuses to be turned away with a cheerful smile alone. So I pull you closer in my mind, where no one can interrupt our quiet arithmetic: the hours you fill, the conversations you listen to, the small stubborn mysteries you chase. In that pocket, you are always near, even when the door stays closed and the hallway light flickers with the memory of an unread message or a missed call.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;Caring in secret feels like carrying a lamp through a labyrinth at dawn. The lamp is tiny and brave, a stubborn glimmer against the long corridor of “what ifs.” I keep the flame low, not to boast its warmth, but to honor the quiet risk of letting someone else’s sun shape my day. It isn’t loud; it doesn’t demand a chorus. It simply glows, and the glow makes the room feel larger, kinder, more possible. I know the secret is a buoy I paddle with silently, a joke you’d appreciate if you ever knew, a wink you’d give if the world pressed pause long enough for one shared breath.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;There is joy in this care, a sly, unspoken humor that keeps me afloat. I tease the universe with a smile that says, “I’m here, infinitely patient, and I still believe the best things arrive on the schedule of a heartbeat.” I remind myself that love—this quiet, unlabelled love—is not a banner or a declaration but a tender insistence: you exist, you matter, and some things are too precious to crowd into daylight. So I guard our small, radiant truth with the gentleness of a rumor that refuses to die, because a rumor can be kinder than certainty sometimes, and certainty can be heavy enough to slow a storm.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;When worry visits, I meet it with curiosity and mischief. I ask it to wait a moment while I polish the edges of my care until they glitter just enough to remind you how I see you: not as fragile or in need of saving, but as a remarkable constellation whose light travels across distances that cannot steal its shape from the sky. I remind myself that your life is full of color I have not earned access to, and that is not an insult but a blessing—an allowance of space for you to grow, to laugh, to stumble, to rise again, and to surprise yourself with the liberty of being wonderfully, unabashedly you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;And so I send you all good hopes like notes tucked into the pocket of the day: may your tasks unfold with grace, may luck meet you where you stand, may your laughter find you even when your steps are tired, may your heart beat with the stubborn bravery that first drew us to trust in the small, unspoken truths we share. No demands, no labels—only this unguarded, unhurried, unashamed care that travels in parallel with your life, a soft insistence that you are cherished beyond the calculation of time or distance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;Tonight, I choose to believe in the quiet magic of presence—the kind that cannot loudly announce itself but can echo through a message left unsent, a hush that settles in when the world hums too loudly, a warmth that lingers after the room has cooled. I am here, in the same language you taught me to speak with the heart’s own weather: a mixture of tenderness, mischief, and unwavering hope. Let the days be busy; let the nights be long; let the pang of worry be tempered by the joy of knowing that someone somewhere is rooting for you with a patience that never tires, even in the most secret moments of our shared longing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;If you ever feel the weight of the miles, remember this: you are not a destination to be reached, but a wonder to be carried lightly, a proof that care can be radiant even when it moves in shadows. And until we can laugh and tease and comfort without the hush between us, I will keep you close in the only way I know—in a heart that is generous, a voice that remains gentle, and a hope that refuses to be anything but loud in spirit, quiet in form, and eternally yours in the most sincere, unspoken way.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p2&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;p1&quot; style=&quot;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;s1&quot; style=&quot;font-family: arial;&quot;&gt;With all the care I hold, unspoken and true.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/06/in-pocket-of-my-day.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-1640633468932860310</guid><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:03:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-04-01T03:18:01.749+08:00</atom:updated><title>In Our Bubble: Saturday Night and the Rest of Our Lives</title><description>We’re two friends who exist in a shimmering little bubble of our own making—the kind of night where streetlights blink like punctuation marks above a city that quietly agrees to slow down. It’s not that we’ve found a secret world; we’ve simply decided to orbit each other with zero gravity, comfortable as our favorite coffee and hoodie and twice as loyal.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The ritual begins with a grin that travels faster than small talk. We don’t need a grand plan to feel alive; a song found on YouTube, a snack that tastes like a memory, and a shared joke that ages like fine wine—these are our constellations. When the city outside hums, we dive into different arena: an online game where we plot wars, marshal resources and outmaneuver rivals with the same calm and confidence we bring to our real conversations. It&#39;s competitive without ego, thoughtful without pressure, and somehow our teamwork makes the imaginary battles feel almost intimate. Time shows, not because we&#39;re pausing, but because we&#39;re choosing to savor this moment together. We breathe in sync, as if our breaths could write the next line of a poem only we can recite.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Witty banter is our fuel and romance is the quiet glow beneath it all. We tease with care, knowing each other’s boundaries as well as our own. We challenge each other’s stubborn optimism with playful bets and gentle skepticism, then collapse into laughter that sounds like a secret we’re both in on. The comfort here isn’t lazy—it’s deliberate, a practiced ease that says: you belong here, as you are, with your quirks and your better-than-you-think moments.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In this space, “forever” feels kissable, not loud or loudish. It’s the way a plan evolves because we both decided to want the moment more than the agenda. It’s the realization that the rest of life—work, errands, the future—can wait a little while longer, so we can linger on the present with a shared toast to imperfect perfection. If love is a map, our Saturday night is the city square where every route bends back to us.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We carry little rituals like talismans: a plan for coffee at sunrise or sunset, a gym session, a walk that pauses when the city exhales a sigh, a chorus we belt out at the top of our lungs even when we&#39;re off-key. None of these are dramatic grand gestures; they’re subtle vows whispered through ordinary moments: I’m here. You’re enough. Let’s stay.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The rest of our lives, for now, hides in the margins of our Saturday. A future built not on grand declarations but on late-night conversations, spontaneous adventures, and a stubborn, affectionate loyalty. If a long playlist is life, Saturday night is the opening track—the promise that the next songs will feel just as right, played at the same intimate tempo.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So, here’s to the bubble that holds us: two friends who choose each other over and over, who make space for longing and laughter in equal measure, who know that romance isn’t just about a moment of magic but the quiet, persistent warmth of being seen. We don’t pretend life isn’t big. We just refuse to let it shrink our laughter or dull our tenderness.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/04/in-our-bubble-saturday-night-and-rest.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-2617849439223320829</guid><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:15:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-03-31T01:15:55.119+08:00</atom:updated><title>A Toast to Plot Twist and Joyful Currents</title><description>&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none;&quot;&gt;Cheers to every plot twist that&#39;s waltzed into my life like
a surprise guest with great taste in entrances. Here’s to the moments that
gut-punch us into laughter, the twists that flip the script and leave us
asking, “What’s next?” and then grin because we already know the answer: more
joy, more wonder, more delicious chaos.&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;I’m trying to stay grounded- brick by brick, breath by
breath, a steady compass pointed toward what truly matters. Yet I won’t deny
the highs. Life has a brilliant habit of surprise edits, and I’m here for the
reruns, the bloopers, and the director’s cut that somehow makes everything feel
brighter.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;What I’m choosing today:&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst&quot; style=&quot;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;&quot;&gt;·&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;- Embrace the joy that finds me, even if it
arrives in a glittering, irregular package.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle&quot; style=&quot;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;&quot;&gt;·&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;- Stay fair to the people I love, the promises
I’ve kept, and the boundaries that keep my sparkle sustainable.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoListParagraphCxSpLast&quot; style=&quot;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;&quot;&gt;·&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;- Let bliss lead the way when it taps on my
shoulder with a cheeky grin and says, “Hey, you’ve earned a little extra
magic.”&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Because bliss isn’t reckless; it’s a mindful dare. A wink to
the universe that says, “Yes, I’ll ride this wave, and yes, I’ll surf with
integrity.” Surprises may shake the map, but they don’t redefine my north star.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;So, here’s to life’s delightful derailments, to the curves
that keep us from yawning through the ordinary, and to the joy that seems
almost too big to hold—yet somehow fits perfectly in the hands that choose to
embrace it. Stay grounded. chase the spark. and savor the wild, wonderful ride.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvmuRzjQ4gpYwY5ayToyMTdtLeyOP1PbOCnkjK3OUyGcQO8qG4XkyOSKu1Jw6RrJaHAQtnEIjjeLuzczvYvVWLKlSOcfQlWySqvTahQ08MPhXwH1fdQ5FI2MK75t-hWPl4PaLq4FjPqfvJoXzlGdpB4lXcrbecduOjjwIc_ujw1dcKkj78HzF/s3072/image0.jpeg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;3072&quot; data-original-width=&quot;3072&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvmuRzjQ4gpYwY5ayToyMTdtLeyOP1PbOCnkjK3OUyGcQO8qG4XkyOSKu1Jw6RrJaHAQtnEIjjeLuzczvYvVWLKlSOcfQlWySqvTahQ08MPhXwH1fdQ5FI2MK75t-hWPl4PaLq4FjPqfvJoXzlGdpB4lXcrbecduOjjwIc_ujw1dcKkj78HzF/s320/image0.jpeg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/03/a-toast-to-plot-twist-and-joyful_31.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvmuRzjQ4gpYwY5ayToyMTdtLeyOP1PbOCnkjK3OUyGcQO8qG4XkyOSKu1Jw6RrJaHAQtnEIjjeLuzczvYvVWLKlSOcfQlWySqvTahQ08MPhXwH1fdQ5FI2MK75t-hWPl4PaLq4FjPqfvJoXzlGdpB4lXcrbecduOjjwIc_ujw1dcKkj78HzF/s72-c/image0.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-8141794286539854453</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:01:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-02-12T05:01:34.386+08:00</atom:updated><title>This Week, The Ground Beneath My Wings</title><description>&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;This week promises a horizon full of busy, a tempo that climbs and hums like a chorus you didn’t quite audition for. The days ahead feel wired with tasks, meetings, and small decisions that push at the edges of my energy. And the days past? They’ve left me teetering between “I’m coming” and “I’m going,” a push-pull that makes the heart widen with gratitude even as it trembles with uncertainty.&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;Gratitude is the ballast I carry. In the churn of schedules and to-dos, I still wake to a truth that feels almost stubborn in its clarity: this busyness grounds me. It asks me to show up, to honor commitments, to navigate each moment with intention. When the world feels loud, my heartbeat becomes a metronome—steady, present, here. I know that grounding is not about resisting pressure, but about letting it refine me, shape me, and remind me of what genuinely matters.&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;In the quiet between the loud parts, I realize something essential: I need to pull myself back to center. To return to the place where reality sits firmly on the ground, not fluttering in the speculative breeze of “what if.” Life is not always a bed of roses; it’s a garden of seasons—some bloom early, some bloom late, and some days require we water, prune, and wait. Yet even in the thorns, there is a resilience I can trust. The same hand I’m holding today is the one I’d choose to hold tomorrow and the next day after that, regardless of weather or whim. This is the truth of companionship: a shared center, a shared steadiness.&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;There’s a familiar ache in the notion that the grass might look greener on the other side. It’s a classic illusion—an optimism that dances out of reach while the current meadow holds its own quiet abundance. Here, on this side, I am comfortable, happy, and in control not because life is flawless, but because I have learned to tend to it with care. I’ve learned to notice the small, imperfect beauty—the way sunlight threads through the window at dusk, the texture of a to-do list crossed off, the moment of genuine connection in a brief conversation. Here, I am home in my own weather, and that home is enough to guide me through the bustle.&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;As I walk through this week’s busyness, I carry a simple realization: control isn’t about mastery over every outcome; it’s about mastery over my presence. I choose to show up, to breathe, to align my actions with my values, and to let the rest unfold with grace. The hands I want to hold for the rest of my life are not just the ones that stand by me in calm; they are the ones that stand by me in flux, in doubt, in loud weeks and quiet ones too. That companionship is my anchor.&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;If your week feels like a sprint, I invite you to take a measured breath and ask yourself:&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;Where can I ground myself today?&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;Which tasks align with my core values, and which can wait?&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;What small act of self-care can restore my center this afternoon?&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;May we all find the rhythm that keeps us present, grateful, and wonderfully human—holding onto what matters most, even when the grass looks greener elsewhere. After all, this side of the fence is where we plant, tend, and ultimately harvest our strength.&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;Until next time, may your busyness be a doorway to clarity, not chaos. And may your chosen hand be the one you never wish to let go.&lt;br style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;outline: none !important;&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: &amp;quot;Helvetica Neue&amp;quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none !important;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/02/this-week-ground-beneath-my-wings.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-4238504016868601325</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:44:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2026-02-10T04:44:26.928+08:00</atom:updated><title>Untitled, For Us</title><description>&lt;div&gt;For every moment I missed you, a tremor of fear grew,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the ache of clinging to a shoreline I’m not sure is there.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You drift, I think—an elegant, stubborn planet&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;in its quiet orbit around what we called “us.”&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In the ledger of us, I spy a deficit of gravity.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You wear the language of distance like a tailored coat,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;poised, polite, almost philosophical—&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;as if the universe handed you a map and said: proceed with care.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And I? I measure time by the thrum of your breath.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;When it falters, so does my scaffolding of us,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;not for want of effort but for want of staying power&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;against the weather of growing apart.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today, right here, I confess: I am drifting away from our concept of us,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;not out of malice, but because honesty insists on its own orbit.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The anchor you seek—faint, perhaps—needs a harbor,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and I’ve learned that sailors must sometimes name the tide.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If we are to continue, let us speak plainly:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;not in the rhetoric of “always” or “forever,”&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;but in terms of now—what we can give, what we can endure,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and what we must release to keep one another honest.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I love you with the candor of a theorem:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;precise, vulnerable, and unapologetically true.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If our equations align again, we will rewrite the proof together:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;not as a relic of what we were,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;but as a hypothesis of what we might become.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Until then, I will hold the memory of us lightly,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;like a bookmark in a book I still want to finish—&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;not to halt the story, but to let the next chapter arrive unforced.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And if you need to go, go with the dignity of a question answered aloud:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the courage to choose what keeps your heart awake.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Love, in its best, stubborn form, remains:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;an experiment with variables named Y and I,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;a pursuit of meaning in a world that refuses to promise.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;May we be honest enough to call it what it is—&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and brave enough to let it be what it might become.&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2026/02/untitled-for-us_10.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-3040654388870687377</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 19:59:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2024-05-07T03:59:19.907+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Broken Wings</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Intuition</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Life</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Relationships</category><title>Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Heart and Mind, A Journey of Confusion and Discovery</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;In the intricate tapestry of our existence, the heart and mind often find themselves engaged in a delicate dance, each striving to lead us down divergent paths. For a wife standing at the crossroads of her emotions and thoughts, this internal conflict can be a tumultuous storm threatening to engulf her in a sea of uncertainty and doubt.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;When the wisdom of her heart whispers softly, urging her towards a direction that seems to defy the rationality of her mind, the wife is faced with a profound dilemma. In the quiet moments of introspection, she grapples with the unsettling feeling that something is amiss, that a dissonance exists between what she knows and what she feels.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;As she navigates the murky waters of her inner world, she is plagued by questions that echo in the chambers of her soul. Should she heed the call of her heart, despite the protests of her mind? Is it wise to turn a blind eye to her intuition, that silent guardian of truth that speaks in whispers only she can hear?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;The wife finds herself caught in a web of conflicting emotions, torn between the desire for harmony and the fear of upheaval. She wonders if she should suppress the nagging doubts that gnaw at her spirit, plastering a smile on her face while the chasm within her widens with each passing day.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;But perhaps, in the midst of her confusion and loss, there lies an opportunity for profound discovery. Maybe the discord between heart and mind is not a battle to be won or lost, but a journey to be embraced. Perhaps the key to unlocking the mystery lies not in silencing one voice in favor of the other, but in listening to both with an open heart and a discerning mind.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;In the face of uncertainty, the wife may find solace in the realization that her inner turmoil is a testament to her humanity, a reminder that she is a complex being capable of profound growth and understanding. By embracing the discomfort of ambiguity, she may uncover hidden truths and unearth the strength to chart a new course, guided by the wisdom that resides in the depths of her being.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;So, to the wife who stands on the threshold of her own inner landscape, I offer this gentle reminder: trust in the wisdom of your heart, even when it leads you down unfamiliar paths. Embrace the contradictions that dwell within you, for in their midst lies the potential for transformation and renewal. And remember, in the dance of heart and mind, the most profound revelations often emerge from the spaces in between.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2024/05/navigating-turbulent-waters-of-heart.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><thr:total>1</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-2968689315562871496</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 21:36:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2024-05-03T19:45:52.686+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Life</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Live Life Out Loud</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Mariposa Learns To Fly</category><title>Happy Fun Friday! </title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;🌟🌈🚀 Happy Fun Friday, everyone! 🚀🌈🌟&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fox5gl7Cz8D8IJ0CG8GpuK7ojt0XDb6nxqMDGsA_UtIDQrD_NFSGNnn8GoULJzJDftilcm5W-cK3AJ9E3zTbfsI08PiXmpTtSBeJtJkhovNjsMhmvlPZRcFGCjmaT5Gy8zOf5u1IPuSFKq7QbfE-GRo7gg3Bp4OQ5L7L89rYQZXIPEM0kOQK/s3072/IMG_5267.jpeg&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;3072&quot; data-original-width=&quot;3072&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fox5gl7Cz8D8IJ0CG8GpuK7ojt0XDb6nxqMDGsA_UtIDQrD_NFSGNnn8GoULJzJDftilcm5W-cK3AJ9E3zTbfsI08PiXmpTtSBeJtJkhovNjsMhmvlPZRcFGCjmaT5Gy8zOf5u1IPuSFKq7QbfE-GRo7gg3Bp4OQ5L7L89rYQZXIPEM0kOQK/s320/IMG_5267.jpeg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;Let&#39;s talk about living life out loud and staying hydrated when the going gets tough, because remember, when the going gets tough, the tough get going! 💪💦&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;Life is like a rollercoaster ride – full of ups, downs, twists, and turns. Sometimes, we find ourselves facing challenges that seem insurmountable. But just like how a plant needs water to thrive, we need to stay hydrated with positivity, determination, and a dash of courage to conquer those tough times.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;Imagine yourself as a superhero, ready to take on any obstacle that comes your way. Remember, you have the power within you to push through, to rise above, and to shine brighter than ever before!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;So, when life throws lemons at you, squeeze them into a glass of refreshing lemonade, take a deep breath, and keep marching forward with a smile on your face and a sparkle in your eyes. Stay hydrated, both literally and metaphorically, and let your light shine so bright that it dazzles even the darkest of days.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;Here&#39;s to living life out loud, to staying hydrated in body, mind, and spirit, and to embracing every challenge as an opportunity for growth and greatness! 🌟💧🌈&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;Have a fantastic Fun Friday, everyone! Stay awesome, stay hydrated, and keep rocking your unique journey! 🎉🌟💦&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2024/05/happy-fun-friday.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fox5gl7Cz8D8IJ0CG8GpuK7ojt0XDb6nxqMDGsA_UtIDQrD_NFSGNnn8GoULJzJDftilcm5W-cK3AJ9E3zTbfsI08PiXmpTtSBeJtJkhovNjsMhmvlPZRcFGCjmaT5Gy8zOf5u1IPuSFKq7QbfE-GRo7gg3Bp4OQ5L7L89rYQZXIPEM0kOQK/s72-c/IMG_5267.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19227384.post-5337560120514622909</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 08:17:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2024-05-01T19:27:49.739+08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Labor Day</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">My Corporate World</category><title>Fulfilling Our Calling with Purpose</title><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzhe0N6xP8HLmjInDTN1FpU0MEImGswIQf68kT0Z60jLCoYEt6kaza5YcSLacRPlfRpemaU7_pdCpmiyl_LJ-itJEIt_ejekOfrzVAJ6zpe7DxrBmYsz3xu9leQcdiu2UIq8_KI_XHaO94nOysdU4tOoGsMO8eO0Ie3Y809nC01WmtMXBBUF0/s3072/IMG_5201.jpeg&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;3072&quot; data-original-width=&quot;3072&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzhe0N6xP8HLmjInDTN1FpU0MEImGswIQf68kT0Z60jLCoYEt6kaza5YcSLacRPlfRpemaU7_pdCpmiyl_LJ-itJEIt_ejekOfrzVAJ6zpe7DxrBmYsz3xu9leQcdiu2UIq8_KI_XHaO94nOysdU4tOoGsMO8eO0Ie3Y809nC01WmtMXBBUF0/s320/IMG_5201.jpeg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;On this Labor Day, let us celebrate not just the contributions of workers to society but also reflect on the deeper significance of labor in our lives. Work is more than just a means of earning a living; it is a fundamental aspect of our human experience that can bring fulfillment and purpose to our existence.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;As we honor the efforts of workers around the world, let us also consider how our work can be a reflection of our calling, a way to express our unique talents and contribute meaningfully to the world. Whether we are teachers, doctors, artists, or engineers, our work can be a source of self-fulfillment and a means to make a positive impact on the lives of others.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;May this Labor Day serve as a reminder that the work we do is not just a necessity but a privilege, an opportunity to grow, learn, and create. Let us strive to find meaning and joy in our labor, recognizing that through our work, we can truly fulfill our potential and enrich the world around us.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;Happy Labor Day to all!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.mariposatells.com/2024/05/fulfiling-our-calling-with-purpose.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Mariposa)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzhe0N6xP8HLmjInDTN1FpU0MEImGswIQf68kT0Z60jLCoYEt6kaza5YcSLacRPlfRpemaU7_pdCpmiyl_LJ-itJEIt_ejekOfrzVAJ6zpe7DxrBmYsz3xu9leQcdiu2UIq8_KI_XHaO94nOysdU4tOoGsMO8eO0Ie3Y809nC01WmtMXBBUF0/s72-c/IMG_5201.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item></channel></rss>