harlii.ol.day

  A Journey of Self-Discovery and Finding Peace Inspired by the song “Growing Sideways” by Noah Kahan Sometimes, life doesn’t move forward the way we expect it to. Instead of climbing higher, we find ourselves wandering in circles, questioning if we’re stuck in the same place. It’s easy to feel like we're failing, like we're falling behind or missing the mark. But what if moving sideways, instead of upwards, is exactly what we need to do to find our true selves? Noah Kahan's song Growing Sideways is a reflection of this experience—of feeling lost, disconnected, and uncertain, but also of the quiet beauty in accepting where we are. The lyrics, raw and real, remind us that the journey to self-discovery isn’t linear. Sometimes we grow in ways we don’t immediately see. Sometimes we have to stumble and falter before we can make sense of who we are. When Moving Forward Feels Impossible We’ve all been there—those moments when it feels like we’re stuck in a rut. The dreams we had ...

 Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we can ever do. It asks us to let go of pain, to release the hurt inflicted by someone we trusted. For me, the road to forgiveness wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t a quick process. It was messy, uncomfortable, and at times, it felt impossible. But eventually, I learned that forgiveness wasn’t about excusing the behavior of others—it was about freeing myself from the weight of what they had done. And in the end, it was about growth and character development, both theirs and mine. I’ve faced my fair share of betrayals, but what makes these wounds cut deeper is that they came not from enemies, but from those I considered friends, and in some cases, family. It’s one thing to be hurt by someone distant, but when the pain comes from people you trusted—people you let into your life—it leaves a mark that’s hard to heal. One experience that still stands out is the time I hired some people to work as my assistants. I trusted them, taught them everything I ...

Reflecting on 2023: A Year of Broken Pieces and New Beginnings This year has been nothing short of a whirlwind—a blend of good, bad, and everything in between. It’s been a journey full of unexpected lessons and unplanned moments, each leaving a mark that I carry with me, for better or worse. Some days, I barely felt like I was holding it all together, wondering if the struggle would ever let up. Yet somehow, a flicker of light always found me, guiding me just enough to keep pushing forward. There’s something surreal about how a single year can break you down and rebuild you all at once. 2023 brought me face-to-face with parts of myself I didn’t even know existed. I discovered strength and resilience in moments that demanded more than I thought I could give. And yes, I saw other parts of myself that I’m still learning to understand, maybe even accept. It’s strange, the way life peels back layers, exposing bits of who we are that we didn’t know or perhaps didn’t want to know. But here I ...

Life has a funny way of guiding us down unexpected roads, sometimes ones we never thought we’d travel. Maybe you've taken a path that no longer feels right or spent years chasing a dream that no longer sparks joy. Perhaps there are moments you look back on, wondering what could have been if you'd chosen differently. But here's the truth that adulthood has taught me: you can always start again. No matter how far you've gone down a particular road or how deeply you've invested in something, it's never too late to change direction. Life isn't a straight line; it's a winding path with endless forks and possibilities. It’s a realization that comes with self-awareness—the understanding that every day is a chance to hit reset and begin anew. Embracing the Power of Self-Awareness Self-awareness is the key to recognizing when it's time for a fresh start. It's the ability to step back, assess where you are, and acknowledge whether the life you're livin...

 In many of my previous posts, I’ve shared glimpses of my relationship with my dad, often painting him as the absent, grumpy, and sometimes distant figure in my life. But there’s so much more to the story, and as I write this, I feel tears welling up. It's hard to acknowledge that I’ve portrayed him in a one-dimensional way because, truthfully, there were things I didn’t understand back then that have become clearer with time. My dad is the eldest in his family, and while our relationship has been complicated, there are parts of him I’ve come to appreciate deeply. One of those is his love for music, something I’ve definitely inherited. I’m now a music and lyrics enthusiast, and I know that’s a piece of him living in me. He also has a deep love for books and perfumes (  something I’ve definitely inherited too)—he always had shelves full of books at his house, and he always smelled amazing. He knew how to cook, and he was great at it. His friends respected him, and he had a...

There was a time when I found myself bending over backward, trying to fit into molds that others had crafted for me. Back then, my days revolved around seeking approval, striving to make others happy, and trying not to rock the boat. It was a phase where I slowly lost pieces of myself in the pursuit of acceptance, sacrificing my own happiness to please everyone else. But that era is long gone. I reached a turning point—a moment of clarity when I realized that in trying to make everyone else happy, I was only making myself miserable. I was losing sight of who I was and what I stood for. So, I did the hardest thing I’ve ever done: I let go. I stopped worrying about what others thought and started focusing on what I needed. I disappeared from that era of self-sacrifice and embraced a new chapter, one where I follow my own rules and live my life authentically. I no longer let the opinions of others dictate my choices. I choose my battles and invest my time in what truly matters to me. And ...

  A Blurry Situationship That Became a Friendship Snapback to 2010  It all started with an innocent invite—a typical night out with friends, a little drinking, and the usual banter. My friend, Jeff, casually mentioned there would be a small get-together at his friends place, and, oh, by the way, my ex would be there too— with his new girlfriend . I couldn't show up alone, not with my ex flaunting his new relationship. I wasn't about to be the single one in the room while they played happy couple. I confided in Jeff, and he came up with a wild idea. "Why don’t my friend RM pretend to be your boyfriend for the night?" It sounded a bit over the top, but honestly, I was desperate enough to say yes. RM, who I’d only met in passing before, agreed to the plan without hesitation. He seemed to find the whole thing fun—a chance to play pretend, to turn the tables for a night. We laid out the details, kept it playful, and decided to lean into the act just enough to make it belie...