The Oxford dictionary named “brain rot” the term of the year for 2024, and I’m not surprised. In fact, it was around this time last year that I truly became concerned with my reliance on my phone. I felt like a zombie, addicted to quick hits of dopamine without the ability to do anything productive. So, I decided to make a change.
I know how messed up it is. I use filters because I don’t like how my skin looks, and then I dislike my skin more because I’m constantly comparing it to the filtered version. It’s a version of me that doesn’t exist but somehow feels more real than my reflection.
We measure our worth in grades we receive and the deadlines we meet, but never in the amount of time we take for ourselves. Our hard work comes with the price of neglecting our emotional needs.
What I wrote in my journal abroad didn’t seem worth sharing since many entries were half-formed thoughts. But there’s more there than I initially realized. I wrote for the hell of it — which, I think, is the best type of writing. Now, I'm diving into my unfiltered journal entries from abroad — they’re raw, real and vulnerable.
We often find ourselves waiting for others, whether it is a partner, a parent or a friend, to give us the love we desire. These expectations can lead to unhealthy relationships, in which we depend on others...
The constant need for validation became an addiction, leaving me perpetually unsatisfied and always wanting more. I found myself seeking approval from men to the extent of it affecting my emotional well-being. Putting their needs above my own became my new normal, and I naively believed it was how things were supposed to be. Breaking free from this cycle required a conscious effort to reconnect with the things that once brought me joy.
As I began this new semester, I spent some time reflecting on how I launched my column in October with a piece titled: "Obsessions of the week," which, as you can clearly tell by the name, dove into the things that enthralled me at the time. It only seems natural to me that in this first piece of the semester, I share my fixations of the month.
Welcome to this extra-special edition of “Maia’s Inner Monologue” — rules for the week. Buckle up, because we’re about to take a journey into self-growth and love!
For those of you who will experience the spring break we witnessed in movies — have fun, explore a new place and dance the night away. For those who choose to go home or not travel, here is what you can do during spring break to recharge.
At times, it can be exceedingly difficult to rip free from the icy grip of stress — a force that can easily consume our minds and dictate our behaviors.
