Ja Comia

“Di ko alam kung paano ie-explain, pero, para sa akin, ang bag ng babae ay simbolo ng kanyang daigdig. The mere fact na nag-decide ang babae na yun ang laman at bigat ng bag niya, 'yun ang personal nyang mundo. Kaya niya dinala yun kasi yun ang kaya nyang dalhin. Anytime, anywhere. Nadadala niya yun from point A to point B. Pero kapag nakakita na ng lalake, dapat lalake na ang magpatuloy ng pagdadala from point B to point C? Kapag umalis ba ang babae mula sa kanyang bahay, aware siya na may lalakeng magbibitbit ng bag niya? I don't think so. Even without the guy, dadalhin pa rin naman ng babae yun kahit saan siya magpunta. Kaya ako, hinahayaan ko lang bitbitin ng babae ang kanyang bag. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya na with or without me, or each other, tuloy lang ang pagbibitbit ng mundo, ng kani-kaniyang daigdig.”
― Eros S. Atalia, It's Not That Complicated: Bakit Hindi pa Sasakupin ng mga Alien ang Daigdig sa 2012

“to do list (after the breakup)
1. take refuge in your bed
2. cry. till the tears stop (this will take a few days).
3. don’t listen to slow songs.
4. delete their number from your phone even though it is memorized on your fingertips.
5. don’t look at old photos.
6. find the closest ice cream shop and treat yourself to two scoops of mint chocolate chip. the mint will calm your heart. you deserve the chocolate.
7. buy new bed sheets.
8. collect all the gifts, t-shirts, and everything with their smell on it and drop it off at a donation center.
9. plan a trip.
10. perfect the art of smiling and nodding when someone brings their name up in conversation.
11. start a new project.
12. whatever you do. do not call.
13. do not beg for what does not want to stay.
14. stop crying at some point.
15. allow yourself to feel foolish for believing you could’ve built the rest of your life in someone else’s stomach.
16. breathe.”
― Rupi Kaur, Milk and honey