harlii.ol.day

Before you break your own heart thinking people aren’t there for you… Ask yourself, do you give them the opportunity to be there for you? Do you communicate and tell them when you’re having a hard time?  Do you ask for support when you need it? If they ask if you’re okay, do you tell them “no” or do you say “yes, I’m fine”? While the idea of someone being able to magically know our needs and meet them can be super appealing, it isn’t realistic. People aren’t mind readers and have their own stresses and feelings to deal with. But I think you’ll often find your loved ones are happy to be there for you if they know how to be. We often carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, feeling alone even when we’re surrounded by people who love us. It’s easy to slip into a mindset where we believe others have failed us because they didn’t show up in the ways we needed them to. We start to question the support of our friends and family, replaying moments in our heads where we felt abandone...

How Jeff Led Me to My Best Friend and More Friendships have a funny way of shaping our lives, leaving lasting impressions even when we drift apart. I want to take a moment to talk about a friend who played a pivotal role in bringing some amazing people into my life. His name is Jeff. He was the kind of friend you’d call one of your "homies"—cool, funny, and always down for a good time. Though we haven't spoken in years and have clearly grown apart, I’ll always be grateful for the role he played in my journey. Jeff was a connector, whether he knew it or not. Through him, I met people who would go on to become lifelong friends. Most importantly, Jeff was the reason I met my best friend, Brandie. Our bond grew out of that initial introduction, and I can't imagine life without her now. We’ve weathered the highs and lows of life together, and she’s become a sister to me in every way that matters. Jeff's impact didn't stop there—he also opened the door to other long...

 I grew up in a family where deception, cheating, and lies were almost second nature, even though I was always taught to be kind, truthful, and honest. It seemed like every side—my mom’s, my dad’s, and even their extended families—had their own share of blame. This constant cycle of broken trust became so normalized that I didn’t realize it wasn’t how things were supposed to be. At around 17, I had my first official relationship. We met through Clans, which was a popular way of connecting back then. I’m not sure if it's still a thing, but it was our little world. At the time, I was living in Baguio, but my mom decided to send me away to another school because I had too many friends, and I often skipped classes. I needed space, a fresh start. And that’s where he came in. We texted non-stop, day and night, always on the phone. I knew about his reputation, the red flags were there, but when you’re young, naïve, and caught up in that whirlwind of excitement, red flags don’t seem to mat...