Tag: blogs

Under the Queen’s Umbrella

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I personally love historical dramas. I love the imagery they evoke and the references they make to the history and culture they portray.

Under the Queen’s Umbrella follows the story of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, played by actress Kim Hye-soo. Side note before I continue: her portrayal of the role is phenomenal. Every expression conveys so much emotion — I simply love her performance.

Back to the series: the story centers on a queen who is truly the backbone of her family. It shows how a woman, even within the strict boundaries of earlier times, does everything in her power to protect her loved ones. She works quietly in the background, never demanding recognition, but finding joy in her family’s success.

After losing her firstborn son — the Crown Prince, played by Bae In-hyuk — under suspicious circumstances, the Queen quickly realizes how his death has placed her family in danger. Traditionally, the younger brothers of the Crown Prince were not educated to the same level, so they would not be considered rivals to the throne. This practice was meant to protect them from harm. However, after the Crown Prince’s death, rivalry erupts among his brothers and stepbrothers, each competing for the title. The Queen understands that her sons must adapt quickly and become worthy candidates.

She sets out on a mission to prepare them for the throne, all while learning the true challenges each prince faces and giving them courage and support to overcome those struggles. At the same time, she navigates the schemes of ministers, the other wives of the king, and the King’s mother. Unknown to her, hidden enemies with secret agendas are plotting against her in ways she never expected.

The series portrays the extent of a mother’s love and the lengths she will go to protect those she cherishes. With a strong plot and a wonderful cast who embody their roles and emotions perfectly, Under the Queen’s Umbrella is a drama I would wholeheartedly recommend. It offers a relaxing watch, distinct from the usual K-drama trope of romance. While there is a love story, the series keeps its focus firmly on the politics of the royal household.

Woman sitting at a small wooden desk by a rain-covered window, looking outside thoughtfully with a book and cup nearby

Too Many to Remember, A Few to Hold Close

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What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

I have often wondered why advice rarely stays with me. People offer words of guidance when I am in deep trouble, and in those moments I cling to them, using them as lifelines. Yet once the storm passes, the words fade. If asked later what was said, I can barely recall. Perhaps advice is not meant to be stored like a quote in memory, but to be lived in the moment it is needed.

Still, a few pieces of advice have managed to carve themselves into my thoughts. One of them is simple but profound: you are the only person who will truly fight for yourself. No one else can fully understand where I come from. Not because people are shallow, but because it is impossible. Even a mother, who is said to understand everything, struggles at times. Circumstances change, generations shift, and the battles I face are not the same as hers. This advice reminds me that self-advocacy is not selfishness — it is survival.

Another piece of advice I hold close is to keep trying. The point is not to win every time, but to keep the possibility of winning alive. Effort itself is a form of hope. Even if success comes later than I want, it is better to keep the horizon open than to declare defeat too soon. Trying is not about immediate triumph; it is about refusing to close the door on possibility.

Silhouette of person breaking glowing chains with light and sparks swirling

The Perfect Image

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What’s something you used to worry about but don’t anymore?

I have never been a very confident person, largely because I never fit the appearance that society calls “beautiful.” As I grew older, the world seemed to grow meaner. As a child, I did not fully understand the taunts hidden behind sweet smiles and caring words. But with time, I began to hear the malice between the lines. Eventually, the mockery was no longer disguised, and the words broke me. At eleven or twelve, I did not have the emotional strength to look beyond the bad days. I withdrew from everything — from family, from the things I loved, from my dreams and hopes.

Yet growing older brought a realization: I could be perfect in every way, and people would still judge, still comment, still find something to tear down. Many speak without understanding the impact their words can have. Others live with the sole intention of hurting. You can never truly know another person’s motives, but you can choose not to acknowledge them. It is easier said than done, but if you begin today, over time it becomes a habit. Slowly, peace replaces the noise.

Society’s expectations are ever-changing. Just when you think you have done everything right, something shifts, and suddenly you are wrong again. For years, I kept adapting myself, trying to meet those expectations. But the moment I stopped caring about what others thought, I found happiness.

Now I do what I want. If people think I am silly or foolish, I no longer mind. Their judgment is fleeting, but my joy in those moments is lasting. A silly memory can bring back a smile long after the moment has passed. And in this world, happiness is the most precious thing one can have. So I choose to cherish my silliness, to hold onto my happiness, and to live beyond the weight of other people’s opinions.

Happily Ever After

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Daily writing prompt
What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
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We grow up surrounded by Disney movies and teen rom-coms that promise us neat endings. The protagonist faces heartbreak, stumbles through challenges, and then almost magically everything falls into place. Success, love, and a perfect life all right on cue. But real life doesn’t roll the credits after the happy ending. It keeps going, with new struggles waiting just around the corner.

Life is rarely a straight path to happiness. Some days we fall and don’t get back up right away. We feel drained, exhausted, and overwhelmed, as if the world is crashing down. Yet, when we muster the courage to rise again, we taste fleeting victories — moments that remind us why we keep trying. But soon enough, another challenge appears, and the cycle begins again. Happiness isn’t permanent; it’s a series of short-lived sparks. The trick is to hold onto those sparks, to cherish them, and to share them with the people we love. When their days feel heavy, we can offer them moments of light, just as they do for us. These exchanges of joy are what make the struggle worthwhile.

If life were always happy, we’d stop appreciating it. It’s the contrast, the bitter alongside the sweet that gives happiness its meaning. The setbacks sharpen our gratitude for the good days. The heartbreaks make love more precious. The failures make success more satisfying. I may never get the “happily ever after” promised in the movies. But I’ve learned that life isn’t about one grand ending. It’s about finding happiness in the everyday — in laughter, in resilience, in love, and in the courage to keep trying.

Person sitting on a log near a campfire on a beach at sunset

No Unsolicited advice

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Daily writing prompt
What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?
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The one thing I have learned is never to give advice where it isn’t asked. When I was younger, I never understood the point of view of those who tried to advise me. Over time, I realized that experience is the only way you truly learn to accept advice.

Don’t say, “Stay away from the fire.” Instead, say, “I got burnt, but if you still want to touch the fire, it’s up to you.” Rather than offering advice, the one thing I would tell someone is: “I am here if you need me. I’ll help you get back up if you ever fall.” or “I don’t condone what you’re doing, but I’ve got your back.”

More than anything, what my younger self needed was support. And in today’s world, I believe that support is more important than ever. With all the criticism the world throws at you — often without considering the impact it can have — life can feel cruel.

If there’s one piece of advice I would give, with the hope that anyone would listen, it’s this: “Don’t judge. It hurts more than a knife ever could.”

In the end, we don’t always need someone to tell us what to do — we need someone to remind us that we are not alone. Support, kindness, and understanding are the bridges that carry us through the fire and back into the light.

Inspirations

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Daily writing prompt
Who are you most inspired by?
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As a child, I probably would have named a famous person as my inspiration — someone the world had already deemed successful. Ironically, I don’t even remember those childhood idols anymore.

Today, my inspirations are not people themselves, but rather their actions. You don’t have to achieve great things in life. You don’t have to be famous or popular. A person can be an inspiration simply by standing up for what is right. A child defending a friend against bullies, a parent protecting their child’s dignity when others condemn them for low grades, a job seeker walking into an interview after being laid off, a girl demanding her right to education, a survivor holding their head high despite society’s judgment — each of these moments carries a quiet, powerful courage.

In those moments, they become an inspiration because of their pure moral strength. Their courage to keep fighting, to keep moving forward, matters more than physical strength or accolades. And in that moment, they give someone else the courage to stand up too — to face the odds, to keep fighting, even if success doesn’t come right away.

We all have weaknesses. Some are born from the people around us who broke our tiny dreams. Others come from self-doubt and criticism that tie us down, clipping the wings we once had as children. But inspiration is not about perfection. It’s about persistence. It’s about refusing to let those wounds define us.

I draw inspiration from the great actions of ordinary people I see every day. Their courage reminds me that inspiration doesn’t live in fame or fortune — it lives in the quiet strength of those who keep moving forward, no matter the odds. Inspiration is not a pedestal. It’s a spark. And sometimes, the smallest acts of courage light the brightest flames.

Day 92: Two Down, Ten to go

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A new month has begun, and time feels like it’s racing past me. It seems like we just celebrated the New Year, yet here we are already in March. Everything feels like a haze sometimes—days blending into each other, moving faster than I can catch them.

Last night was rough. Pain kept me tossing and turning, and I woke up with the exhaustion that only disturbed sleep can bring. My body felt stiff, every joint creaking like old hinges. How much simpler life would be if, like in the cartoons I grew up watching, a little oil could fix the pain in my joints.

Even so, today was bearable. More than bearable, actually—I managed to do something I hadn’t done yesterday. I cooked dinner. Nothing fancy, of course—my mother had already done all the prep, and I just had to cook it. But it was more than I managed the day before, and that feels like a step in the right direction.

Today was about winding down, letting my body recover from the effort of yesterday. It felt like my system was in “recovery mode,” recharging after the stress of climbing those stairs. I hope that one day soon, I’ll have enough energy to enjoy a day out and still wake up the next morning ready to do more.

For now, I’ll take this as progress: two months down, ten more to go. One step closer to my goals than I was yesterday.

Day 83:Disconecting from Autopilot

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How do people find something to write about their everyday? I find my life totally uninteresting. I am what people call boring.

Is this what adulthood looks like? A day that start with work and ends with sleep? I am embarrassed about it. I never thought much of it. I have spent months together doing nothing more than just logging on to work and closing my laptop and going to sleep. I never gave it a second thought.

I was missing out on life. I do not get to spend time with my family or my friends. I do not spend time doing things i love – like creating art. Ironically, art became a stress reliever for me rather than something that I spent time with “just because”.

Do others also feel like this? Like their life is losing its purpose. Just going through the motions day after day without any thought to the “why”.

The truth is, everyone needs something to look forward to. A reason to wake up with anticipation instead of resignation. With all the ups and downs in my life I stopped hoping. I was mechanical. . I had no bigger goals or dreams behind it.

Time to reset that part of me. I am going to try making small goals. It is what is suggested you see. Given that I have a history of not staying on course it makes sense. The small wins will encourage me to make larger ones. Hopefully.

Day 35 to Day 47 – Breaking Free and Moving Forward

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New Year always brings with it resolutions. I am not the kind of person who can stick to a resolution. I always end up breaking it midway through the year. Just missing one day makes me think, “Oh no! The streak is broken. Ah well, next year then.” Over the years, I have given up on many such resolutions. So, this year I am not making any resolutions. I just want to do the things I have always wanted to do. I want to accomplish everything I have kept putting off for “when I get the time.” I want to live with no regrets.

I did stop updating my blog for some time. I think that was mostly on account of the stationery organization I mentioned before. It took me 12 days to get through all of it. Come to think of it, that is really slow, but I am glad I finally finished. Now, it’s time to get back to my blog, my art, and my bucket list.

The years I lost to my inner darkness are something I will never get back. However, going forward, I want to make the most of my life. I have let go of the toxic relationship, and I am choosing to move forward. I feel alive again. I no longer worry about expectations. I have realized that sometimes you need to take the road less travelled. It may be lonely, but it is not miserable.

By the grace of God, I have my family. They stand by me even when it is difficult for them. They don’t completely understand me, but they are still with me. I am blessed— not everyone has their family’s support, but I do. I want to live a better life, first for myself, but also for my family.

It is more challenging than it seems, but I believe I will make it. In fact, I have to make it. I will make it! I will do whatever it takes.

Day 22: Joy of Small Wins

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For the first time in a year I am finally sleeping in my room. I had to shift to my sister’s room. Her room has an attached bathroom. I could not walk across the hall every time I needed to use the washroom. I used to often cry because of it.

Today I slept in my own bed. Although there was a little pain, I still could make it across the hall without falling. It felt redeeming.

Other highlights of the day, I made lunch today. I once again took my time. It felt good. I also wanted to bake some bread but I was exhausted by the cooking. As such, I choose to stop for the day. Small successes are still a success, I remind myself and then everything feels like a blessing.

Other than that I did not do much else. The weather is so cold all I want to do is curl up under my blanket and sleep.