Once Upon a Chai

Wake me up when September ends

By: Chriselle Correia 3 October 201810 April 2019

Honesty Hour, Writing & ExpressionDear Diary, Existential Crisis, Note To Self, Quarter Life Crisis, Self and Relationships, Self Care, Self Love, Self-discovery, Thoughts, Truth, Twenty Something, WritingLeave a Comment

To be in an existential crisis can feel very daunting and confronting. Recently, I found myself questioning the hope for tomorrow. What if we never reach the future? What if our future and everything it entails is the present and that is all that will ever exist? My boyfriend often talks about the life he envisions for our 80s. It’s adorable to think that someone would do everything they could today to promise you a beautiful tomorrow. What about our terrible twenties and terrific thirties and frightful forties or the fantastic fifties?

What is self-care?

By: Chriselle Correia 26 September 201817 December 2018

Honesty Hour, Writing & ExpressionAcceptance, Home, Life, Ramblings, Relationships, Self Care, Self Love, Thoughts, WritingLeave a Comment

Sometimes self-care is writing or drawing. Sometimes it is fighting for what is right for you. Sometimes it is saying no. It could also be travelling to a new city alone. Sometimes it is doing absolutely nothing. Self-care is also telling yourself it’s okay to make mistakes; it’s okay to not know. Sometimes it is letting people see you for who you are. It is also not being ashamed of being weak. It is also accepting that you are strong.

Why do we go looking for pain?

By: Chriselle Correia 26 September 201817 December 2018

Honesty Hour, Writing & ExpressionAcceptance, Anxiety, Blogging, Feelings, Gratitude, Grief, Life, Love, Mental Health, Musings, Sadness, Self Love, Thoughts, WritingLeave a Comment

Food for thought from one of my favourite humans, “Why does figuring and coming up with what’s wrong in our lives or even creating situations that make our lives seem bad come more easily to humans?” I don’t know. It just does. Lately, I have become more cynical about everything and everyone around me. My…

Spring cleaning

By: Chriselle Correia 3 September 201817 December 2018

Honesty Hour, Writing & ExpressionExistential Crisis, Life, Life Lessons, Moving Out, Spring Cleaning, Thoughts, Twenty Something, Writing, Writing & ExpressionLeave a Comment

Moving has been an experience of self-learning and discovery, with its own challenges. For the most part, it goes by in a blur. You make checklists and strike off to-dos. You’re so busy and focused on downsizing, you forget you’re also expanding. You’re expanding your life, again.

To grow in grief

By: Chriselle Correia 22 June 201831 December 2018

Honesty Hour, Writing & ExpressionAcceptance, Adulthood, Daily Thoughts, Death, Family, Grief, Inspire, Life, Life Lessons, Love, Relationships, Thought Catalog, Thoughts, WritingLeave a Comment

When you lose someone you love, you don’t simply grieve their loss. With them, you lose yourself and parts of those around you. With them, you lose friends and family and partners you thought would continually stand by you. With them, you lose light. With them, you lose love. With them, you lose a piece of kindness from your whole. With them, you lose faith in the Almighty. With them, you lose a version of life you were prepared for. With them, you lose a piece of life too.

Love isn’t perfection

By: Chriselle Correia 4 June 201817 December 2018

LettersEmotions, Finding Love, Love, Note To Self, Relationships, Thoughts, Writing & Expression1 Comment

Love is a myriad of moments and emotions and stolen smiles. It is text messages and the kisses he leaves on your forehead, it is fears enveloped in laughter and kisses mixed with alcohol. It is holding a new pair of hands and walking in the rain. It is sharing a box of nuggets in the park and studying together by candlelight. It makes you live and helps you forgive. What it isn’t is perfection. In fact, it is anything but. Often, it can be flawed but most other times it is beautiful, just like this moment—covered in light, content, committed, warm, delicious and cuddly.

Gigs & Guitars

By: Chriselle Correia 31 May 201817 December 2018

Letters, Writing & ExpressionAcceptance, Am Writing, Best Friends, Friendship, Letter to a loved one, Life, Love, Love Letter, Relationships, Thoughts, Twenty Something, Writing, Writing & ExpressionLeave a Comment

I can’t remember the last time it was as easy to feel at home with someone you hadn’t ever met before. In between Pancake Parlour, the Coldplay concert and the 229 patio, I found two of my best friends. It’s one of the best stories to share as far as serendipitous friendships go – from attending concerts as strangers to living together as soul-friends.

Note to self: Greet your stranger

By: Chriselle Correia 3 May 201817 December 2018

Note To Self, Writing & ExpressionAcceptance, Am Writing, Blogger, Blogging, Gratitude, Inspire, Kindness, Life, Love, Mindfulness, Note To Self, Thoughts, Writing, Writing & ExpressionLeave a Comment

How are you, human? How are your heart and mind doing? Are we feeling okay? Was it easy to get out of bed this morning? What are your dreams made of? Bare your soul to me. Tell me beautiful, tell me.

Solitude

By: Chriselle Correia 28 April 201817 December 2018

Writing & ExpressionBlogging, Existential Crisis, Gratitude, Mental Health, Thoughts, TruthLeave a Comment

Today, I am grateful for knowing I am comfortable in my own company again. Six months ago, I hit rock bottom and felt very alone to the extent that I feared my own company. It was easy to blame it on the gloomy weather, old carpets and ceiling falling apart over my head. In hindsight,…

Note to self: It’s okay for relationships to fade

By: Chriselle Correia 15 April 201817 December 2018

Note To Self, Writing & ExpressionAcceptance, Friendship, Inspire, Life Lessons, Love, Love Lost, Memories, Note To Self, Relationships, Thoughts, Writing, Writing & ExpressionLeave a Comment

Every person we meet has a role to play in our lives. Some to teach us who we are, and some to teach us who we aren’t. This one is to all those friends whose lives crossed paths with mine. We may not still be friends but you’ve made a difference in mine, and I hope I did the same for you.