Dear readers,

Friendships are some of the most cherished relationships we build. They often shape who we are, offering support, laughter, and memories that last a lifetime. But not all friendships are forever, and that’s okay. Sometimes, life takes us down separate paths, and those we once called friends become distant chapters in our story.

Tupac Shakur once said,

Standing Up for Yourself: Boundaries Are an Act of Self-Care

Dear readers,

I came across a TikTok recently that really made me reflect. In it, a woman calmly tried to stand her ground against a passenger who was kicking the back of her seat on a plane. Instead of the aggressor being called out, it was her who ended up being threatened with removal from the flight. She remained composed, but somehow, she still became the person who seemed to be punished for simply asserting herself.

It hit me hard because I’ve been in situations where I’ve stood up for myself, set boundaries, and yet ended up feeling like the bad guy. We’re often taught to be kind and patient, to let things slide. But when does that kindness turn into letting ourselves be walked over? When does our patience get taken for granted?

Setting boundaries shouldn’t feel like an offense. And yet, so many of us find ourselves punished for it, made to feel guilty for finally putting

Lost in Labels: The Endless Cycle of Classification

Dear readers,

Lately, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by how often people are divided into groups, classes, and labels. It seems like no matter where we look, there’s always a new box to put someone in. Even when you think you’re part of a unified group, like a political party or a religion, you realize that there are still divisions within. Whether it’s race, religion, or politics, it feels like we’re constantly sorting ourselves into categories: the haves and the have-nots, Republicans versus Democrats, or even deeper divisions within those categories.

It’s exhausting.

It seems like if you’re a Democrat, then you must be a minority. If you’re from Texas, they assume you’re a certain way. If you’re Black, White, Hispanic — the assumptions just pile on. If you’re from the South, people assume you’re conservative, maybe even backward in your thinking. If you’re from California, you’re automatically