Contemporary American poet Nayyirah Waheed is known for her minimalist, emotionally resonant style. Her evocative quote captures the profound strength found in self-love, not as a loud declaration, but as a quiet and transformative act of inner revolution. In a world that often teaches us to seek validation externally, to conform, or to be self-critical, truly loving oneself becomes a radical, healing, and empowering act. 

Calling it a revolution suggests that self-love defies the norms and systems that profit from our self-doubt. When someone embraces their worth unapologetically, they shift their entire relationship with the world, from how they speak to themselves to how they set boundaries and pursue joy. And what makes it even more powerful is its simplicity and stillness: it doesn’t shout; it transforms from within.

Waheed’s intentional use of lowercase letters and fragmented structure reflects the quiet, poetic rhythm of introspection. The quote is a reminder that the most profound changes often begin in the most intimate and internal spaces. Loving yourself is not ego, it is a revolution of acceptance, healing, and truth.

At the end of June, I am about 1000 km away from home, somewhere in the Surat Thani province of Thailand. It should take me the rest of this year to finish this long journey of about 15,000 km which I started walking and documenting in January 2021. Now that the end is near, I am wondering where next should I set my sights on? If you have any ideas, let me know? I have some initial thoughts, but will take the rest of the time it takes me to reach home in Singapore. 

The children are doing well at work and GG’s internship will end by early August after which she will start her third year of school. BB will end national service in October and be ORD or Operationally Ready and then he has to figure out what he wants to do – work or apply to school. 

As for me, I have made a decision on what I want to do. I have decided that while I will still apply for open positions, I will make an effort to reach out and do more freelance work, be it writing or the other skills I have. I have this niggling feeling that maybe this is the way to move forward and that it is the universe giving me a nudge by not making me successful in any interviews all this time. So if a fantastic opportunity comes my way, I will give it a shot, otherwise, i will work on my freelance business and see where that takes me.

That’s all from me this week. Stay positive and please send positive vibes my way. I feel i am at the cusp of something, whether that is jumping off a cliff to the unknown or having a gust of wind to send me soaring, I don’t know, but I have hope and positivity, and that the most important thing of all!