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I always wanted to say sorry to you because, most of the time, I fail to love and appreciate you. I always tend to forget that you are special too. I don't value you sometimes, and I even think that you are worthless. I want to say sorry to you for all the times that I've never been kind to you. I should've been more gentle with you. I should've reminded you every day that you were worthy. I should've made you believe that you were enough. I'm sorry— you didn't deserve all the pain that I've caused you.

I want you to know right now that you deserve to love yourself more each day. Speak kind words in front of the mirror and remind yourself that you are a beautiful soul. I want you to know that you should stop settling for less than what you deserve and start finding your worth. You are enough. You are worthy. And most importantly, your existence matters every day.

— Shiori X

You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.

Many of us spend our working days running from desk to desk, solving urgent but insignificant problems. Our managers are constantly searching for ways to get more out of us. We’re habitually living in the future, thinking about the next quota to make, the next meeting, the next car to buy, the weekend. We’re constantly trying to get somewhere instead of being where we are. We miss the only moment we ever have access to. The Now.

We spend more time at work than with our loved ones. And when we come home, we are busier connecting to our devices than to the people we love. We have become little more than zombies. Yet we wonder, ‘Why am I so tired?’ We figure it’s because we work too much.

I started dressing good so I'd look cool when I peek at my reflection in the stores' glass windows, I ate at restaurants alone and tried all new things on the menu. I traveled places with just a few friends I know I can count on.

Life just gets busier, I learned. And as we add years to our lives, we realize the importance of time and priorities. We find ourselves burning bridges here and ther, and that's okay. Most of them no longer have anyone waiting on the other side, anyway.

Welcome to growing up.

—Jun Mark Patilan