family
Family can be our support system. Or they can be part of the problem. All about the complicated, loving, and difficult relationship with us and the ones who love us.
The Elephant and the Frog: A Story About Strength, Silence, and Speaking Up
I met them both on the same summer afternoon—one tall, slow, and heavy with silent wisdom, and the other small, loud, and never afraid to speak up. No, this isn't a story from a jungle or a children's fable. This is a true story from a quiet animal shelter just outside our city.
By Fazal Hadi8 months ago in Psyche
When I Finally Stood Up For Myself
For most of my life, I was the quiet one. The agreeable one. The one who said "yes" even when I meant "no." I wore my silence like armor—polite, helpful, easy to be around. I thought it made me lovable. And maybe it did, but only to people who benefited from my silence.
By Muhammad Sabeel8 months ago in Psyche
The Eldest Daughter Syndrome: I Was the Second Mom, Not the Sister
There’s something funny about being the eldest daughter in a brown household — you’re not just the firstborn. You’re the test run, the third parent, the role model, and somehow, the family’s unofficial emotional manager.
By Tavleen Kaur8 months ago in Psyche
The Illusion of the Snake: A Lesson on Mind, Perception, and Healing
It is said that a man once visited the great philosopher Rumi. The philosopher warmly welcomed him and invited him to join him for a meal. As they sat together, Rumi served soup to his guest. When the man began to drink the soup, he suddenly noticed something strange. In the bowl, he saw what appeared to be a small snake-like creature floating in the broth. Shocked and disturbed, he froze for a moment.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Psyche
Crying Is for Girls: How Brown Boys Are Taught to Shut Down Emotion
If you’re a brown kid, you’ve probably heard it. “Don’t cry. Be strong.” “Stop acting like a girl.” “Boys don’t cry.” It’s subtle, but constant. The message is clear: vulnerability is weakness, and weakness is not for men. Especially not brown men.
By Tavleen Kaur8 months ago in Psyche
When You Miss Someone, Do They Feel It Too?
When You Miss Someone, Do They Feel It Too? Have you ever sat alone, thinking about someone, and suddenly your heart feels heavy? Like a strange pull in your chest… and you wonder, "Are they thinking of me too?" You’re not alone in this feeling. So many people around the world feel the same at different moments. And you know what? Maybe right now, someone out there is missing you without even knowing why.
By Umar Khattak8 months ago in Psyche
Respect Your Elders (Even If They’re Toxic): Decoding the Unspoken Rules in Brown Families
"Don’t talk back." "Say sorry first, even if you didn’t start it." “Keep your head down." If you grew up in a brown household, you know these phrases like the back of your hand. You probably didn’t even need to hear them out loud — the look in your mom’s eyes, the slight shift in your dad’s tone, the awkward silence after a family argument — said it all.
By Tavleen Kaur8 months ago in Psyche
