It’s been a while since familiarity embraced me again under the summer heat. I just came back from my annual trip, and it felt both exciting and peaceful. But strangely, only after being away did I realize how beautiful my everyday life actually is.

I can’t believe I’ve already been living in this tropical city for almost 10 years, and yet every time I land back here, I still feel taken in by it.

Last week, it rained constantly, and I moved into my new apartment on a rainy morning. Life went back to routine almost immediately.

As tradition, I want to share one high note and one low note of the week.

High Note — Moving Into My New Place

The high note was moving into my new apartment, and everything went surprisingly smoothly. That first night, lying in my own bed, I felt something almost overwhelming—comfort, safety, relief.

When I was travelling, I realized how much I missed the smell of my sheets, my pillow, and my doll. I fell asleep instantly, completely immersed in a feeling of home.

For me, home is not a house I own, but a feeling of safety and peace. I love this new apartment, and I think a part of me will always love it.

Of course, I know I might take it for granted someday, but right now I want to remember this feeling clearly.

Choosing a Life I Can Live In

For the past few years, I’ve been moving between apartments and roommates, always under pressure to support myself while trying to save some money. This year, I decided I just wanted a place I truly like, so I stretched my budget and rented this apartment for myself.

The moment I stepped into the room, I knew my worries wouldn’t disappear, but they would become easier to carry. I will always have concerns in life, but from now on, I want to live in the present, not in fear of an uncertain future.

For the first time in years, I feel at home in a rented space, and I’ve realized I don’t need my name on a house to own it. As long as I can afford the rent, I can give myself a life that feels like mine.

Yes, it is more expensive, but it is not stopping me from living the life I want. I can adjust—cut coffee, reduce spending, make choices.

I started my own marketing studio in 2024 under pressure, and I learned that pressure can also turn into possibility. I believe people can get what they truly want, as long as they are willing to work for it.

I don’t want to wait for retirement or homeownership to live my ideal life. I am living it now.

Low Note — My Brother

The low note is about my brother. That morning when I hugged him goodbye, I saw him cry.

He has a beautiful family, a wonderful life, and an adorable son, but he doesn’t seem happy. His work is stressful, and it consumes most of his time, and to support his family, he has no choice but to stay in it. I’m not in his shoes, and I can’t simply tell him to be happy. You can’t reason with an exhausted soul, and I know I can’t always be there for him.

He has a wife and a son who love him deeply, he owns a house, and he is even a shareholder in a small business, but somehow he feels lost.

All I can remember is the little boy he once was—carefree, only worried about playing and food. What does growing up mean for a man?

When I saw his tearful eyes trying to look away, I broke down too. I felt helpless, so I cried. And I felt I had to leave him to his own life, because in the end, no one can fully rescue another person from their suffering. But he is my brother. It hurts to see him lose his passion for life, his brightness slowly fading.

We only meet once a year. I used to write him letters, but lately I don’t even know what to say. We live far apart, with very different lives, and I feel like I am slowly losing him to the world.

And even if I could save him, I wonder if he would still be the same person afterwards. At that moment, I realized growing up can be painful. All I can do is wish him good luck and continue living my own life as fully as I can. I used to believe that love means staying together no matter what, but life doesn’t always allow that. Sometimes, all we can do is wish each other well from different paths. I am becoming more mature, and that is good.

But my dear brother, please don’t give up your fight with life. You can still be happy as an adult.

Pressure and anxiety can feel overwhelming, I know, I’ve been there too. I’ve lain in the deepest sorrow and somehow made it through. I hope he can feel that same possibility. In the end, everyone is fighting a battle that only they can face. I wish him strength, I wish him luck, and I still hope deeply that he finds his way back to light.

Because we all just want a place called home—not a house, not money, but hope that never disappears.

Closing

I hope you find peace in your own day, wherever you are. Peace!