Reconciling with the past: The stranger in the graduation photo

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

Some time ago, almost on a whim, I uploaded my high school graduation photo to Nano-Banana, an AI image generator. There was no big goal behind it. I was curious, that’s all. I wondered if a machine could somehow connect the sixty-eight-year-old woman I am now with the sixteen-year-old girl I used to be, or at least the version of her I still remember.

The result stopped me for a moment. I didn’t expect it to. It felt quietly unsettling. Familiar, yet not quite. Like running into someone you recognize but can’t immediately name. In the image, my past and present selves seemed locked in an awkward digital hug.

Read More →

The glow of memory: Christmas lights and my daddy’s quiet love

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

Christmas doesn’t start for me when December hits. It doesn’t begin with shopping or wrapping paper either. It starts the moment someone switches on the lights and the room changes.

That soft glow. That’s it.

I’ve always loved Christmas lights. It sounds ordinary, but it isn’t. Not for me.

They’re not just there to look nice. They carry memories. They settle me. They pull me back to a time when things felt simpler and more secure. When I think of Christmas, this is what I see first.

Read More →

Ephemeral Serenity

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

“Ephemeral Serenity” visualizes inner peace through a carefully chosen palette of soft blues, purples, gentle pinks, and creamy whites. These hues blend seamlessly, fostering a tranquil and harmonious atmosphere that resonates with tranquility. The absence of harsh contrasts and the prevalence of muted tones contribute to a feeling of serenity and emotional stillness, inviting contemplation. The artwork suggests that inner peace is not a singular shade but rather a delicate symphony of colors working together to evoke a sense of calm and equilibrium within the viewer.

Grace at 85: A loving reminder

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

This letter is a promise to my 85-year-old self. Choose safety over pride. Say yes to help. Don’t make life difficult for the kids or caregivers.

Dearest me, at 85,

Hello from an earlier chapter—less experienced, still full of plans. I can see you now with that playful twinkle, a little glam as always, baby bangs and all.

A small request from your younger self: when the kids offer advice, really listen. They love us fiercely. Sometimes their ideas feel inconvenient or a bit pushy toward our independence, but they come from care. They notice things we might miss. That perspective is gold.

Same with our doctors. We spent years building a strong body and a steady mind; this is when we honor that work. Take their guidance on medicine, food, movement, and daily habits. Treat them like partners in our health. Listening is a form of self-love. Read More →

Dear 16-Year-Old Me: A letter from the future

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

Dear 16-year-old me,

You’re probably rolling your eyes, thinking, “What could my old self possibly tell me?” Fair enough. I am you, only 52 years older, and there are certain matters you truly need to hear.

First, the tough part: the word “negra” your uncles sometimes use. I know how it feels every time they say it. It makes your morena skin and thick, beautiful hair seem like flaws. It makes you feel ugly.

Stop right there. They’re wrong. You are not ugly. Read More →

After loss, choosing life within

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

I have been thinking about death lately, and then I stumbled on an old post of mine on “Death and Dying” with this line from Norman Cousins: “Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live.”

What dies inside me is not always the big stuff. It is often the quiet things: curiosity, courage, tenderness, and the habit of noticing small joys. Sometimes faith. Sometimes trust. Sometimes just the willingness to try again.

Grief can do that to me. So can my chronic ailments or a long season of stress. I keep moving, do the errands, show up. But the inner lights dim. Numb helps for a while. Stay there too long, and parts of me forget the way back.

Read More →

Grief is the price we pay for love

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

I’ve heard it said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.” People say Queen Elizabeth II said it. Maybe. I don’t know. What I do know is the words are true.

When I first heard it, I thought, that sounds harsh. Like love is some cruel deal, happiness traded for pain. But it’s not that. It’s just the truth no one wants to face.

Because when we love, we don’t think about the end. We laugh, we sit at the table together, we hold our kids close. We don’t stop and say, one day this will be gone. We can’t. We just live. And then, when loss comes, that’s when we realize. This is the cost.

Read More →

A Family’s echo

by ⋅ Leave a Comment

Just so we’re clear—the story below is fictional. All the characters and events in the story are purely imaginary. But the themes—those came from something personal. I’d just finished reading the first draft of my sister’s novel, and it floored me. Beautiful, heartbreaking. She wrote about the quiet weight of intergenerational trauma, about how families carry wounds forward, and about what it takes to heal.

This piece is my way of wrestling with those same ideas. I’ve long wondered how the past holds on to us and how a little compassion can sometimes ease its grip. For me, it isn’t really about pointing fingers. It’s about noticing the patterns and slowly finding a different rhythm, one that opens the door to a new kind of future.

Email me at noemidado @ gmail.com for the password.