Astral Drop

            Hey there, the past few months hasn't been great for anyone so far, isn't it? From wildfires, volcanic eruption to the pandemic, everybody's had their fair share of struggles since the new year, and with that comes a great wave of emotions rushing towards us. I know we all want to go back to our normal lives and spend the days outside but behind that excitement stood fear. Fear of the unknown and of the aftermath of the global pandemic.

            I'm just here to say that I know it's a weird time adjusting to the "new normal" life after quarantine and that it'll take a bit of getting used to so it's completely fine to feel disoriented. It's alright to take things slow, feel out the situation in your community. I know that being able to take things slow before getting back to work is a privilege, especially since a lot of families' income were affected during the lockdowns, but what I mean is that it's imperative for us to process all that had happened in order to move forward and go back to the hussle. Some might be able to go back to their normal routines immediately but some of us would face the transitioning operations of public transport system. Students like me, would obviously need to adjust with the interrupted academic year schedule. All of us would deal with the inevitable change. The pandemic might've been under controlled now as you're reading this but there isn't a certainty it won't comeback. 

            Be careful but most importantly be hopeful. Leaving the season of being locked down at home carries a responsibility for us  not just to pick ourselves up but to help each other rise from the fall we've all been as well.  

        Continue life looking forward and looking back at the pandemic as a ginormous obstacle humanity had faced and conquered. Support local businesses and dine at the restaurants in your community. Don't stop looking after each other's back after the pandemic. It may have given us a hard blow at life but maybe it's also a reminder for humanity to be kinder to each other.

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                - John 15:5

In February, Taylor Swift's Miss Americana went live on Netflix. Whilst watching, I decided to write some notes on topics that were tackled or at least mentioned on the documentary and share them with you.

1. In this day and age, double standards is still extensive around the world. Inequality as we know it could be found at your workplace or even at home.  It is important for us to raise awareness about it using different platforms in order to fight it and to hopefully banish those standards in the future.

2. No matter how we try not to care about other people's opinion and criticism, the voices in our heads gets loud and deafening if we just avoid it. We must face and deal with it head on and eventually and turn those positively as lessons to better ourselves.

3. Thousands of praises and applauds from people won't matter if you hate yourself secretly. Seeking validation and letting it be the only thing that fuels your passion could end up negatively by impairing your self-image. At the end of the day, what's important is to truly love the reflection you see in the mirror every morning.

4. We need to speak up when it matters the most. Do not let yourself be held back in fear of being viewed as strong opinionated or being political. If you see something that could potentially affect your life, your belief system or your community; speak up and take a stand. Let them know when their stepping on your values because nobody would listen unless you speak.

5. It's alright to hit pause if you're tired and feel like world around you is a hot mess. Take all the time you need to regain the balance in your career, school or even in your  relationships. Don't be afraid of temporary setbacks when it benefits you in the long run. Taking a break and finishing strong is what matters.

"I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth."

                         - Job 19:25