Maybe in the seasons of life where your heart aches, or loss has built a home within you, happiness chang-es. Maybe it becomes your morning cup of coffee — sitting and drinking it as the sun rises and the world wakes up around you. Maybe happiness becomes the way the light plays with the trees in your favorite park; maybe it is the way the sky looks at your favor-ite time of night, the way the moon fills the air with an energy you can feel in your bones when you really sit with yourself and let your solitude wash over you. Maybe in the messiest moments of life, happiness is your mother’s voice. Maybe it is the beauty you feel when you see your friends’ faces, when you hug them for twenty minutes straight, when you sit with them in silence and feel so understood, and so seen, in all that you are.

I’m Maika Tanaka, and I’m in my 20s. While I spend much of my time helping others stay organized and achieve their goals, I also find myself grappling with loneliness and anxiety. It’s something I’ve learned to live with, and on my own journey, I’m discovering how to balance my work and emotions, while finding ways to feel more connected and at peace. It can be tough at times, but I know that growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line—it’s a process.

Despite the fact that you handle all the things that weigh you down so admirably, they are not yours to keep. Pass on and let go. 💙

“Do not seek familiarity, do not keep searching for your past in your future. Trust what comes.” — #agentlereminder @rainbowsalt • #mycurrentview #peaceful #serene #inspiring #reading (at Allentown, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiU87k-ua5m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It is okay to take your time. We live in a generation that romanticizes moving forward as quickly as pos- sible when it comes to careers and our futures and our success within them. But there is no point in rushing quickly towards a life that will not inspire you or fulfill you. It is okay to slow down. It is okay to take the time you need. You are in no rush to figure out your own soul. It’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to change your mind, it’s never too late to redirect your- self, to replace the dreams you thought you wanted for the ones that genuinely excite and challenge you - A Gentle Reminder - Bianca Sparacino #agentlereminder #quoteoftheday #nightphotography #photooftheday #august #rainymonday #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg__vlZpguu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=