This is the gospel I didn’t know I needed today—Joan Didion meets Monica Geller in a parable about sacred forks and strawberry sacraments.
You’re right, Liv: We hoard joy like it’s a fragile heirloom, instead of the daily bread it was always meant to be. We preserve our beauty like museum curators when we were born to be walking, laughing exhibitions—cracked, used, shimmering with soul-patina.
Everything breaks, eventually? Amen. But what holy things we become in the breaking. That dress, that plate, that perfume—they don’t want safety. They want stories.
So tonight, I’ll eat ramen by candlelight. In silk. With a chipped chalice.
I’ve started to feel that way—like today is enough of an occasion.
Most of the clothes in my closet remain untouched, waiting for the “right” moment. I remember when I left home for college, I packed all the best designs of traditional outfits. I thought there would be plenty of occasions to wear them. But during those four years, those moments rarely came. I told myself, If the right places don’t come, I’ll start wearing them to class.
Still, they stayed folded, traveling thousands of miles from Nepal only to sit in my closet, untouched—suffocating. At one point, I even packed them away in a box.
It’s not just about those clothes. It’s a mindset. Growing up, new clothes were tied to rare occasions. Once a year, we’d get one new outfit: a top, a bottom, and a pair of shoes. That was the “fit” for every non-school celebration. School had uniforms—one look for the whole year. So when you picked that one special outfit, you really thought it through. Otherwise, you waited a whole year to make a better choice.
In Nepal, everyone wears their new clothes during the festivals. I cherished that. It felt meaningful. Then I was introduced to fast fashion and started buying things with hope—maybe there would be an occasion. Most of those pieces, too, stayed locked in my closet, still waiting.
But lately, something has shifted.
If we believe that non-living things come to life when they’re loved, then we set them free when we use them. I’ve started creating occasions, rather than waiting for them. I’ve started dressing up just because I feel like myself. That feeling is the occasion.
I dress up for concerts. I dress up to hang out with friends. I dress up for games. For lab. For solo walks. For nothing special. For everything.
Every outfit gets to breathe now. Every piece gets to live.
omg I have read 10-15publiction since I download substack but THIS is literaly the best I have read yet, maybe because I need it. (Sorry for the mistack,english isn’t my first language !)
I love the two big ideas in this so much!!!! Honouring that everyday is unique and worthwhile by bringing pleasure and beauty and using nice things. And also about not saving things with memories or associations for yourself, but using them or wearing them brings that around with you (I thought of when I finally decided to start wearing my late grandmother’s rabbit fur coat years after she passed, long scared it would lose her smell, and people asked where it was from and I got to share my memory of her when I wore it).
Aww Liv! This is so so beautiful, my second favourite piece you’ve written so far! (My fav is ‘you never really know anyone’)
Thank you for this reminder! Going to use the fancy candle I’ve saved for two years waiting for the perfect occasion (embarrassing)
You write so beautifully, I love being here!
this is such a beautiful read! also my sign to finally stick all the stickers I’ve been saving for the “right spot”
stickers is a wonderful example haha i tend to save the too! now got stick them somewhere!!
aw thank you so much, angie 🥰🥹 i’m so happy to have you here!! now go light that candle!
This is the gospel I didn’t know I needed today—Joan Didion meets Monica Geller in a parable about sacred forks and strawberry sacraments.
You’re right, Liv: We hoard joy like it’s a fragile heirloom, instead of the daily bread it was always meant to be. We preserve our beauty like museum curators when we were born to be walking, laughing exhibitions—cracked, used, shimmering with soul-patina.
Everything breaks, eventually? Amen. But what holy things we become in the breaking. That dress, that plate, that perfume—they don’t want safety. They want stories.
So tonight, I’ll eat ramen by candlelight. In silk. With a chipped chalice.
Because I’m still here.
And that’s enough.
I have never once not LOVED anything you’ve written
You’re honestly one of my favorite writers on Substack!!
you are so sweet 🥹 thank you so much, hadiyah! that means the world 🫶🏼💕
my 8 year old self who saved stickers for years needed to hear this
yesss go stick those stickers on their new home!!
Everyday Is All There Is
I’ve started to feel that way—like today is enough of an occasion.
Most of the clothes in my closet remain untouched, waiting for the “right” moment. I remember when I left home for college, I packed all the best designs of traditional outfits. I thought there would be plenty of occasions to wear them. But during those four years, those moments rarely came. I told myself, If the right places don’t come, I’ll start wearing them to class.
Still, they stayed folded, traveling thousands of miles from Nepal only to sit in my closet, untouched—suffocating. At one point, I even packed them away in a box.
It’s not just about those clothes. It’s a mindset. Growing up, new clothes were tied to rare occasions. Once a year, we’d get one new outfit: a top, a bottom, and a pair of shoes. That was the “fit” for every non-school celebration. School had uniforms—one look for the whole year. So when you picked that one special outfit, you really thought it through. Otherwise, you waited a whole year to make a better choice.
In Nepal, everyone wears their new clothes during the festivals. I cherished that. It felt meaningful. Then I was introduced to fast fashion and started buying things with hope—maybe there would be an occasion. Most of those pieces, too, stayed locked in my closet, still waiting.
But lately, something has shifted.
If we believe that non-living things come to life when they’re loved, then we set them free when we use them. I’ve started creating occasions, rather than waiting for them. I’ve started dressing up just because I feel like myself. That feeling is the occasion.
I dress up for concerts. I dress up to hang out with friends. I dress up for games. For lab. For solo walks. For nothing special. For everything.
Every outfit gets to breathe now. Every piece gets to live.
I set them all free.
amazing 💕🫶🏼 thank you so much for sharing!
Please never stop writing, this is sooo so beautiful. Thank you for sharing!!
thank you so much 🥹💕
Love this. Thank you
thank you for reading! 💕
loved reading this!!
thank you so much 🥰
❤️
I didn’t know I needed to hear this. Wow. Thank you so much. This article really got me thinking 🥹
thank YOU for reading 💕🫶🏼 so glad you enjoyed it and that it found its way to you 🥰
🥹🫶🏽✨
omg I have read 10-15publiction since I download substack but THIS is literaly the best I have read yet, maybe because I need it. (Sorry for the mistack,english isn’t my first language !)
thank you so much, flore 🥹 so glad this resonated with you 💕🫶🏼
thank you for the reminder! 💕
💕🫶🏼
God this is stunning
I love the two big ideas in this so much!!!! Honouring that everyday is unique and worthwhile by bringing pleasure and beauty and using nice things. And also about not saving things with memories or associations for yourself, but using them or wearing them brings that around with you (I thought of when I finally decided to start wearing my late grandmother’s rabbit fur coat years after she passed, long scared it would lose her smell, and people asked where it was from and I got to share my memory of her when I wore it).
Wow! This is beautifully written.
You have served again ✨ this was so therapeutic- reading this on my way to office and mentally making a note - that this day is all that there is ☀️