I found myself growing weary of waiting by the door,
Hoping for a burst of new happiness to sweep in.
As I glanced around to make space for this new joy,
It dawned on me that I had been blind to blessings all along.
The shiny wrapping may have faded away,
But the steady warmth of love had been right there.
It bloomed in those fragrant "just because" flowers,
In the comfort of warm hugs and soothing cuddles,
And in those little acts of kindness,
Expressed through everyday routines.
Like the dishes that magically clear away after dinner
Or the morning tea made just the way I like it.
Love isn't about grand gestures or poetic moments.
It thrives in the everyday details that truly matter.
Love says hello to stay, it sees you, and knows your worth
Without the need to chase or prove yourself.

If you've ever given in to temptation,  
Swayed with indulgence,  
Embraced the allure of the forbidden,  
Veered off the well-worn path,  
Or found yourself wandering through life's twists and turns,  
If life has, at times, cracked open your heart,  
Congratulations!  
You have truly delved into the depths of existence.  
To experience life so intimately is a rare gift.

"Did I really do that? What was I thinking? Was that really me?"
If you find yourself questioning an action you just took, and trying to make sense of it.
When you experience a moment that feels both exhilarating and out of character,
When something overpowers your logic, pride, and even ego, leaving you feeling stunned, happy, and confused all at once.
Don't beat yourself up over it; instead, say a prayer of gratitude. You have just experienced humility.
Humility serves as a reminder that we are complex beings with a shadow side, and it's essential to acknowledge all parts of ourselves.
Only then can we truly experience compassion, acceptance, and self-love.

You are precisely as my soul remembers you—familiar and unchanged,
Yet somehow distant from what my heart believes you could be. When our souls recognize someone but hesitate to connect,
We must pause or, better yet, swiftly exit through the nearest gate. Our souls carry the memory of past karmic connections,
Familiarity doesn't always mean safety or a genuine bond of love.

We must learn to identify past cycles that are not worth repeating.
Once we have mastered the art of avoiding a repeat of the old drama,
Only then can we move forward with clarity and heal our trauma.

Just as I was about to say my first word,  
my mother slipped a piece of bread into my mouth.  
As I leaned in to confess my love,  
He pressed his warm lips against mine.  
Did they intend to silence my truth?  
Or return affection in their love language?

The wounded CDC buildings, riddled with bullet holes, still stand tall,
More than bricks and glass, they symbolize well-being for us all.
They represent the gold standard—a fusion of science and art,
Safeguarding health and safety, even when resources are taken apart.
To grasp what it truly means to wear a CDC badge,
Serving and protecting, with honor, that's our pledge.
We stood firm, shouldering the increasing weight,
Guarding the safety and well-being of the nation's health.
If breaking the spirit of dedicated workers wasn't enough hurt,
Showering the daycare and workplace with bullets is a punch in the gut.
Our health and well-being represent the most excellent form of wealth,
Yet, the odds of survival are diminishing for the American public's health.
Will this harm everyday people, losing the best in health protection?
They will soon feel the impact, but it may be too late for redirection.

Like bubbles in a glass of untouched soda water, waiting for eager lips to bring them to life,
My passion shrank and sank with shame beneath the weight of your indifference, fizzling away into oblivion.
The bouquet of roses, I had carefully picked out to greet you,
Lost its fragrance as the aging petals crumbled into dark dust.
Every time I lit a candle, its flickering light became a constant reminder of the lingering question: Why wasn't my light enough?