I feel your message speaks to a deep longing I’ve carried for a long time.
I’ve kept my diaries since I was young, from school days to the ones I wrote just for myself. Every now and then, I return to them to feel who I was back then. How pain shaped me, and how love and real connection were always what I longed for the most.
It makes me proud of myself, of the journey I chose, of all the extremes I walked through: feeling disappointed and angry with the world, and still knowing deep inside that something bigger was waiting for me… for us… somewhere along the way.
Thank you for reminding me of that girl I used to be embarrassed by and how I’ve come to realize she was wiser than I ever imagined.
I write to remember where I came from. I write to guide myself toward where I’m going.
That’s what true connection is — between me and myself.
And that’s how I know I can experience true connection with anyone I choose to.
Your words stirred something in me. A desire to keep writing about this connection I have with myself.
Thank you for sharing, and for inspiring my soul Ariel.
Oh Nollage, thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and heartfelt reply. I felt every word.
That line “That’s what true connection is, between me and myself,” really landed. I’m still learning how to return to that place too… to stay with myself, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Your reflection about your diaries moved me deeply. There’s something so powerful about looking back with tenderness instead of judgment. I’ve been doing that too: revisiting old words, seeing how far I’ve come, and remembering what I’ve always longed for underneath it all.
It means a lot to know my piece stirred something in you. That’s why I write, hoping someone out there feels less alone when they read it.
Please keep writing. You clearly have a rare, soulful way of seeing. And if you ever share those reflections more publicly, I’d love to read them 🌿
"Please keep writing. You clearly have a rare, soulful way of seeing. And if you ever share those reflections more publicly, I’d love to read them."
Thank you so much for this. I write a lot, but here I share just bit by bit. This is my pace now, I guess, for many reasons. But you know what? I’ve never been able to share so much, so deeply (on other platforms, sure) at this pace. And for the first time, not in my first language. Here, I feel myself all the time. The space here is held with such tenderness and acceptance that it’s breathtaking. So thank you for the encouragement. My wish is to share even more of myself here. And I’d be honored if you read my latest post.
Your writing brings me back home like a straight arrow to my heart. That’s why I told you sometimes it feels like too much for me to hold, but I’m doing it because I feel you help me find pieces of myself quicker and with so much care. Namaste.
Nollage, I just want to say how deeply I felt this. The way you’re showing up here — in a new language, in your own rhythm, is honestly so beautiful. I know how tender it can feel to share pieces of yourself, and I’m really honored that anything I wrote helped you meet more of you.
I’ll be reading your latest soon. And truly, take your time. The way you move through your voice feels so intentional and real. I think that’s what makes it land with such heart. 🌿
I’m smiling, thank you. What a beautiful way to put it: a virtual eternal imprint. That made my whole day. So glad you’re here, and I’d love to keep connecting through the words we leave behind for each other. 🌿
That means so much—thank you. That part came from a very real place. I’ve been thinking a lot about how much we’re asked to flatten our lives into content, and how deeply I want something slower, more human. So grateful it landed with you. 💛
Totally! What you said leads me to think about the urgency that's built into so much of what we do. I feel myself wanting to slow down, connect, foster deep presence while at the same time realizing that I perhaps don’t have the time (or at least in the moments I want it). It can be a challenge and when this happens I often don’t like that I’m not able to show up the way I want to. Thank you for sharing! <3
I wrote this note for one simple reason in response to your note, Ariel ... this is how we communicate those days through letters between continents! But I am humbled and honoured to hear all of your kind words;it truly means the world to me 🙏Thank you.
Your post resonated deeply with me Ariel. The age difference between me & my younger brother is only 2 year. He was studying in a local university while I was in Scotland. We used to communicate through letters only & it takes weeks to reach him. That's how we got connected with each other in a true sense! Sharing about family issues, varsity life, food, careers & other activities. I am talking about in the late 70s & early 80s.
Thank you so much for sharing this, ER. It honestly gave me goosebumps reading about the letters between you and your brother. There’s something so moving about how even across continents and without instant messaging you found a way to truly connect.
I love imagining those slow-traveling letters holding pieces of your lives… family stories, dreams, the dailiness of food and studies, all folded into envelopes and sent with care. That’s the kind of connection I believe we’re all still longing for, deep down.
Your story makes me feel like we’re not alone in remembering how good it felt to be seen that way.
Thank you for being here and for letting me glimpse that part of your life. It means more than I can say.
Love this! Knowing someone’s handwriting feels so intimate now that it’s rare for us to write to each other. Writing letters is my greatest love language and wish we did this more with each other!
Hey, I really appreciate you stopping by and showing support, it means a lot. Just sent some love your way too. Always happy to uplift fellow writers on here. Grateful our paths crossed. 💛
Hey beautiful soul,
I feel your message speaks to a deep longing I’ve carried for a long time.
I’ve kept my diaries since I was young, from school days to the ones I wrote just for myself. Every now and then, I return to them to feel who I was back then. How pain shaped me, and how love and real connection were always what I longed for the most.
It makes me proud of myself, of the journey I chose, of all the extremes I walked through: feeling disappointed and angry with the world, and still knowing deep inside that something bigger was waiting for me… for us… somewhere along the way.
Thank you for reminding me of that girl I used to be embarrassed by and how I’ve come to realize she was wiser than I ever imagined.
I write to remember where I came from. I write to guide myself toward where I’m going.
That’s what true connection is — between me and myself.
And that’s how I know I can experience true connection with anyone I choose to.
Your words stirred something in me. A desire to keep writing about this connection I have with myself.
Thank you for sharing, and for inspiring my soul Ariel.
Oh Nollage, thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and heartfelt reply. I felt every word.
That line “That’s what true connection is, between me and myself,” really landed. I’m still learning how to return to that place too… to stay with myself, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Your reflection about your diaries moved me deeply. There’s something so powerful about looking back with tenderness instead of judgment. I’ve been doing that too: revisiting old words, seeing how far I’ve come, and remembering what I’ve always longed for underneath it all.
It means a lot to know my piece stirred something in you. That’s why I write, hoping someone out there feels less alone when they read it.
Please keep writing. You clearly have a rare, soulful way of seeing. And if you ever share those reflections more publicly, I’d love to read them 🌿
"Please keep writing. You clearly have a rare, soulful way of seeing. And if you ever share those reflections more publicly, I’d love to read them."
Thank you so much for this. I write a lot, but here I share just bit by bit. This is my pace now, I guess, for many reasons. But you know what? I’ve never been able to share so much, so deeply (on other platforms, sure) at this pace. And for the first time, not in my first language. Here, I feel myself all the time. The space here is held with such tenderness and acceptance that it’s breathtaking. So thank you for the encouragement. My wish is to share even more of myself here. And I’d be honored if you read my latest post.
Your writing brings me back home like a straight arrow to my heart. That’s why I told you sometimes it feels like too much for me to hold, but I’m doing it because I feel you help me find pieces of myself quicker and with so much care. Namaste.
Nollage, I just want to say how deeply I felt this. The way you’re showing up here — in a new language, in your own rhythm, is honestly so beautiful. I know how tender it can feel to share pieces of yourself, and I’m really honored that anything I wrote helped you meet more of you.
I’ll be reading your latest soon. And truly, take your time. The way you move through your voice feels so intentional and real. I think that’s what makes it land with such heart. 🌿
I like your name.
Am I not supposed to heart this when I like this?
I want to read more of you to get to know the virtual eternal imprint
🖤
I’m smiling, thank you. What a beautiful way to put it: a virtual eternal imprint. That made my whole day. So glad you’re here, and I’d love to keep connecting through the words we leave behind for each other. 🌿
I loved and felt ever bit of this part:
I don’t want my relationships to live in the comments section.
I don’t want my memories to live in reels—
clipped, cropped, looped, and forgotten.
That means so much—thank you. That part came from a very real place. I’ve been thinking a lot about how much we’re asked to flatten our lives into content, and how deeply I want something slower, more human. So grateful it landed with you. 💛
Totally! What you said leads me to think about the urgency that's built into so much of what we do. I feel myself wanting to slow down, connect, foster deep presence while at the same time realizing that I perhaps don’t have the time (or at least in the moments I want it). It can be a challenge and when this happens I often don’t like that I’m not able to show up the way I want to. Thank you for sharing! <3
I wrote this note for one simple reason in response to your note, Ariel ... this is how we communicate those days through letters between continents! But I am humbled and honoured to hear all of your kind words;it truly means the world to me 🙏Thank you.
Your post resonated deeply with me Ariel. The age difference between me & my younger brother is only 2 year. He was studying in a local university while I was in Scotland. We used to communicate through letters only & it takes weeks to reach him. That's how we got connected with each other in a true sense! Sharing about family issues, varsity life, food, careers & other activities. I am talking about in the late 70s & early 80s.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for sharing this, ER. It honestly gave me goosebumps reading about the letters between you and your brother. There’s something so moving about how even across continents and without instant messaging you found a way to truly connect.
I love imagining those slow-traveling letters holding pieces of your lives… family stories, dreams, the dailiness of food and studies, all folded into envelopes and sent with care. That’s the kind of connection I believe we’re all still longing for, deep down.
Your story makes me feel like we’re not alone in remembering how good it felt to be seen that way.
Thank you for being here and for letting me glimpse that part of your life. It means more than I can say.
Love this! Knowing someone’s handwriting feels so intimate now that it’s rare for us to write to each other. Writing letters is my greatest love language and wish we did this more with each other!
Hey, I really appreciate you stopping by and showing support, it means a lot. Just sent some love your way too. Always happy to uplift fellow writers on here. Grateful our paths crossed. 💛