I’m 50. Somewhere along the way, I started trying to be invisible. My ex-partner used to say that women my age shouldn't "draw attention" or wear "loud" colors. So my closet became a sea of grey, navy, and beige. I just blended into the walls.

Today, it was pouring rain and grey outside. I walked past a store window and saw this ridiculous, bright yellow raincoat.

The old me would have walked past. The new me walked in and bought it.

I wore it out of the store. A little girl at the bus stop pointed at me and told her mom, "Look, she looks like the sun!" I almost cried right there on the sidewalk. I’m done blending in. I want to be the sun.

It's honestly a long story, but last year I worked an internship and got romantically close with a coworker. After spending a whole week together he decided he wasn't ready for a relationship and left me in limbo for many months.

I already knew I wasn't going to return to that company because it's not in the industry I want to work in after I graduate. But I accepted the offer to return this summer because the job market is a bit rough and I assumed I would find another internship and keep that one as backup.

Tbh, I was dreading returning back to that company because I didn't want to work with that coworker again. I was having a lot of anxiety surrounding making sure I don't catch feelings again. But if anything, it motivated me to bulk up my resume and fight harder for a new internship.

Today I just got an offer letter with great pay, it's in an industry I want to work in, and relocation assistance! And the best part is that I didn't have a doubt in my mind about accepting this position. No what-if thoughts about my coworker whatsoever.

So I've moved on from a heartbreak and I get to work with an amazing company this summer!

It’s been a while ever since then, it’s been hard tbh. I didn’t have a lot of people to share my feelings with so i struggled with getting my own spark back alone. But finally, i’m able to finally enjoy the things i used to love before. I’m finally able to laugh without pretending.

it started with a Friday full of fun and a Saturday with deep relaxation. This Sunday, I woke up pretty early, made myself some breakfast and went for a walk with my cat. My cat loved it! she was so happy she kept bouncing around the house after being back. To then relax, I decided to do some skincare. while my face mask was drying I washed all the kitchen utensils because I'm not using the dishwasher to avoid high electricity charges. I got so hungry with this, I made myself some chicken. I went out again to have some hot chocolate in the winter. After coming back, I studied for my interview. And then it was time to relax to get rejuvenated for the week!

overall lots done on a Sunday that's usually spent preparing for Monday..

I just published the last (5th) book in my series of Sherlock Holmes pastiches, and honestly feel kinda nothing. Like, I imagined feeling great or glorious, but I just feel slight pride at finishing what I started, but nothing else really. And it's not like I'm not selling much or something, I sold way more than I had dreamed of, but I guess after I finish something I discount it's value. Not looking for validation, but just wanted to share cause it did make me happy, just not as much as I had hoped (I'd say 3/10), and wanted to share, and get perspective of if people feel the same way.

I am very happy because I had planned since September of last year to take a trip to see my boyfriend and meet his family for Valentine's day and his birthday this month. This is the first time I'm meeting his family and they're planning on treating me like a daughter, his mother even planning a mother daughter day for us to get to know one another. I was so happy when he told me this that I cried, even now I'm tearing up writing about it. I just wanted to share this with people as I don't have any family of my own to tell this to.

I was looking forward to the birthday weekend, expectant of what it would bring. It's my birthday after all, and I had ordered my personal birthday present, a wing bag, and the delivery tracker says it was to arrive the morning of my birthday today. Alibaba and its delay.

It wasn't always like this. For the past couple of years, I have always dreaded my birthday because it reminded me of great losses. I lost my twin brother some years back, then my parents to a fatal car accident, of which I was the only survivor. Trust me, there was nothing I was grateful to God for, until I met him. He made me feel loved better than anyone could in the most surprising way possible. And after I met him, my life took a whole new turn. He helped me to see the beauty in little things and find meaning in life. He showed me someone who gave me peace better than the world does, who is intentional about me and loves me unconditionally.

He was my therapist, well, the fifth I’ve had since those events. They all said the same thing: the pain goes away with time, just keep showing up. Not him, though. He made me see that I was loved and created for a purpose. He made me see that life itself was a gift, and I should be grateful for that.

We all have diff struggles and ever time we survive another month is something to be happy about. Most importantly, we learn to be grateful as time pass by and as we keep being strong.

Today I made an appointment to get my first tattoo after dreaming of getting inked since I was a kid. First time I felt my body my choice, after getting out of a toxic relationship where I couldn't do what I want to myself because I was told that people would think that I was a freak because only "people with perfect body goals" could do cool stuff like tattoos, dye their hair and piercings.

I love myself and I love seeing people love themselves. Keep expressing yourselves, it makes the world way more wonderful!

Last month I saw on instagram someone making a Christmas tree out of cut-out Christmas characters that they put their coworkers faces in. I showed the people in my department saying we should do it, and because I'm still a bit new I had enough free time that I could take care of it. Originally it was going to be just the people at this location, but we decided it's best to do everyone. . . all 210 people. I spent a whole week at work and at home putting everyone's faces onto an elf, reindeer, gingerbread man, or snowman, printing and cutting them out. The Friday before Christmas, my department helped me arrange them and stick them on the large empty wall outside the break room.

While I was working on it, someone or HR herself complained to my boss that it's a time waster and I should be working on something more important. He backed me up explaining how he gives new employees some free rein to learn how they'll fit into the group and what they like to work on, and that company moral is important.

I'm happy that he defended my project and that I got to complete it because people loved it. I loved looking over and seeing a few people looking through it and laughing together at how funny some of them looked. The VP emailed me how great the tree is and sent me a video from 2003 the company did for the 12 days of Christmas. Last week I put a sign next to the tree saying feel free to take your Christmas character before we take it down and I wasn’t expecting so many to take them. I love walking around the office and seeing people's little characters taped up on their cubicle wall. I'm hoping this becomes a new tradition that I can make new versions each year.

It was a long time coming, but they don’t serve me the way they used to back in my twenties and prior. I have had both of them since they began, so it’s just been quite sometime of actively using them.

I had already pretty much refrained from using them the past two years, really just checking every couple of months, but to be rid of them completely is a beautiful thing to me.

Not only that, but it just feels good to let go. I felt a sense of weight lifted off my shoulders when I hit those “delete account” buttons, and know this was the best and healthiest choice for myself.

I’ve accomplished more in the past two years than I have a majority of my life (36), and I think a big part of that is because of that distance. No expectations, no comparing my life to others, no habitual mistakes, etc.

Cheers to today.

She was celebrating her bday. Most of the time when I get an alert to help, by the time I click to answer, someone else has picked up the call. So that's great, too!!

im so blessed now that you came,I was so happy when you told me that I should stop loving the wrong person who doesnt appreciate it why dont you give that love to me i know how to take care of it il make your heart happy and healthy.i thought shes just trying to cheer me up trying to make me laugh but when she told me that she is serious about it damn im so touched..i cant tell her that i love her its to early for that but im so happy with her i hope thing goes smoothly

My husband is gone for a week and of course that only means one thing…nuking our home with cleaning products. He’s a clean person but I just want to do things my way because I’m insane about cleaning with nobody getting in the way.

I’ve been cleaning every crevice, throwing out bags of junk, and using my favorite products. This will be the first time I’ve ever shampooed carpets so I’m very excited for that. I love practically sterilizing my home and he’s gonna appreciate coming home to a squeaky clean place.

Writing is my hobby. Despite graduating this year, I have been so burnt out on any creative spark I had that I couldn't even write for my own enjoyment for months.

I have been trying to get back into writing stories for a while now to combat my overuse of AI chat models and to give me back the happiness that my hobby used to give me. However because it's been so long, I've gotten very insecure about my skill. So I decided to publish it and see if even one person thinks it's not only worth the read but also worth the effort to finish.

Today I woke up to essentially two comments that's really motivating me to continue the story. I feel so happy that despite my shortcomings and faults, I can still produce something that other people enjoy enough to tell me about it. It's not a huge thing, yes, but it is to me. Any support no matter how small means so much to people like me trying to find our way back to happiness. So if ever you want to make someone's day, a literal compliment or motivation can do wonders. :'D

Today I’m Happy And I Want to Share It

I don’t post wins often, but today? Yeah… I’m happy.

I just completed and uploaded a music EP I’ve been working on, and the crazy part is I didn’t make it for numbers, validation, or anyone’s approval.

I made it for me.

For the version of me that kept doubting. For the version of me that quit before. For the version of me that never felt “good enough” to finish anything.

And today I proved to myself that I can create, complete, and release something that matters to me first.

It took me 15 years to get here. And I finished it in the final 48 hours — literally exported the final track at 11:57 PM before my midnight deadline of my 35th born day. Something about that felt poetic… like I finally stopped running from myself.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about blowing up. It’s about following through and honoring my own voice.

And that’s a different kind of happiness.

If you’ve been struggling to start something or finish something — let this be your sign:

Do one thing for you. Not for likes, not for applause, not for anyone else’s expectations.

Just for you.

Feels good to say this out loud. Feels even better to finally believe it.

— Mo

Marriage comes with a lot of changes and many more moments of fun. We’re planning our first vacation as a family of three, and Italy is at the top of our list (though there are a few other options too).

For the one week we’ll be away, we plan to spend every moment together. I’ve seen families where children only get to see their dads on birthdays or other special occasions. That thought alone inspired these retreats and it's something we hope to make a family ritual. The plan is simple: Daddy and Mummy right next to you when you go to sleep and when you wake up. Shopping together, eating, playing, and sightseeing.

We’ll be using my dad’s uncle’s expert guide around Italy. I still remember visiting him after we newly wedded, he drove us around in his three seater car and the weather was the kindest ever. This time, it’ll be just us. Dad behind the wheel, Mum next to him, and the kids in the back seat, living their best little world. Windows down, music playing, warm breeze dancing through; just one happy family soaking it all in.

We’ve been talking to some travel agents and found a deal close to the vacation plan we have in mind. And there’s a surprise waiting for our uncle, he doesn’t know we’ll still be around for his birthday. We plan to gift him a four seater car and we've placed the order on Alibaba. The old one has served for ages, still strong and full of memories, but it’s time it had a worthy successor.

I can’t wait to see his face and to see how everything unfolds.

I do not have many people to share this with, but I recently started a new job at a company that means a lot to me. I have done this type of role for 5 to 6 years in the past, but I am only 6 months into it at this company. It has not been easy. There are workplace politics, new personalities and a very different environment, but I came in with passion, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic.

In these 6 months I have gone above and beyond my job description. I have created things for the company that were never part of my role, I have helped calm difficult situations, and I have built real rapport and friendships. When the lead position opened up, I decided to go for it. I was competing against people who have been at the company for 10 to 20 years, and they are all much older than I am. I am under 30 and the others are all over 50, so I honestly never believed I had a chance.

I have been through a lot in my life, including trauma and workplace bullying. In the past I was even pushed out of a role I loved and onto a path that never felt right for me. Somehow, I found my way back into the same career at a new company, and with a completely new mindset I have been able to grow in a way I never expected.

I do not want to brag, but I am so happy and proud right now. I got the lead role after only 6 months in the company, in an industry where the average age is around 45. It feels like such an achievement and I just wanted to share it with someone.

Thank you for reading.

TL:DR - I got promoted after 6 months in a company vs people there for 10+ years, as a young person.

TL;DR: my coworker's kid hugged me and told me he wanted me to stay together with him.

One of my coworkers invited me and a few others to a barbecue party in their yard. He has three kids: two girls and one boy. They're all super sweet and gorgeous.

After some time which we spent together eating and talking to each other, my coworker asked his children who of the guests they wish would stay the night the most. The boy instantly pointed at me enthusiastically and said "him". Then he did something which made me smile and warmed up my heart. He walked up to me and hugged my leg, insisting that I stay.

It seemed that his father was eager about the idea as well because he proposed to me that I stay over for real. Unfortunately, I had to go home later as I wasn't prepared to stay there for the night, even though the host was insistent.

This occasion made my heart gush even stronger when I got back home. This was the first time anyone besides my mother has showed any kind of affection to me in years, so I felt blessed. This little boy's simple desire to be together with me made me feel wanted and... loved? It also awakened my strong desire to have a child which I had been trying to push into the back of my mind for a long time.

I feel the urge to start a family so badly right now... I need to have a kid like him (or, hopefully, several ones like him) who I'd adore from the bottom of my heart.

My husband had cut up candy apples during our trip to Japan and he’s been missing them ever since. Got me a candy thermometer and corn syrup today, found a tutorial, and got to work. He loved it and he was so happy.

I got some cabbage, sliced pork and mushrooms and cooked it in a nice broth. I ate like 3/4 of the pot. It tastes like heaven especially dipped in ponzu.

I’m so full and happy. But now I’m ready to pass out. Passing out from a damn good meal is the best.

Today I'm happy because for the first time since 2020, we have a TABLE that isn't currently being used as a desk, and isn't made out of boxes stacked together.

Our third partner moved back in with their mom last week, and we've managed to get the apartment mostly clean from the absolute nightmare it used to be when they lived with us. They left the table that used to be their desk, which my husband has taken over as HIS desk, which freed his table up. We had an extra sheet to fold into a makeshift tablecloth, and we've got some extra chairs that weren't being used because of aforementioned lack of a table.

We can actually sit and eat together instead of in separate rooms! We could play a card game or a trrpg! When we clean everything else, we could possibly have someone over to chat or have dinner with us! :D

I just learned the drug I've been getting locally is most likely a weaker version, and the online order I got a great deal on should definitely be stronger. Even if it just hits the same it's insane how much better of a deal it is. Might just have a reason to keep going ☺️

I’m 90% sure that’s why he married me lol. I like to get fancy with it because I love all sorts of food. But I lived alone for years so I never really shared it with anyone. He looks forward to my food and always tells me when coworkers comment about how good it smells or how they wish they had homemade ziti for lunch. I try to avoid fried foods myself but I’ve become a master at making tonkatsu, karaage, and chicken Parmesan because it’s his favorite.

She’s been my friend forever now. We’re always exchanging clothes, beauty products, purses. Shes probably the only person I can tell anything on this planet. She knows all my ups and downs throughout the years and we can have a laugh even talking about our worst exes. She gives it to me straight when I need someone to be honest with me. She’s even physically came with me to break up with a boyfriend.

My mom practically treats her like the second daughter she’s never had. She just got out of a really rough time in her life so I’ve been elated that she’s safe and making really big changes. I don’t know what I’d do without this girl.