What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
A good self care day
Nothing makes me happier than a full self care day. Hair treatments, a fresh blowdry, getting my nails done, a relaxing pedicure, and a massage just make me feel so refreshed, confident, and put together. I also love getting my hair colored twice a year, it feels like such a fun little transformation and makes me feel brand new. Itâs honestly the best reset ever.
A good shopping spree
Shopping is my happy place! Whether Iâm scrolling online or walking through the mall, I love it all. Sephora, Mango, Zara, Ulta⊠I could spend hours looking at makeup, clothes, and shoes. It just instantly lifts my mood.
Coffee with the right people
Coffee feels so much better when itâs with the right person. Sitting there, talking about everything and nothing, laughing, venting, and just being completely unfiltered is such a comforting feeling.
Driving
I absolutely love driving. Itâs just me, my music, and my thoughts. It feels so peaceful and freeing, like my own little escape where I can just be in the moment.
Quiet time to myself
As much as I love being around people, I really value my alone time. Just relaxing, unwinding, and enjoying a little peace makes me feel recharged and balanced again. Even sleeping peacefully without an alarm just makes it feel extra special.
Itâs a question that sounds simple, but the answers usually sit quietly in the corners of our lives, waiting for us to notice.
For me, the first answer is this: taking everything to heart. One harsh tone, one careless comment, one moment of rudenessâand suddenly thereâs a storm inside me. My chest tightens, my thoughts spiral, and I replay the moment again and again like Iâm responsible for everyone elseâs cruelty.
But Iâm learning something new, something difficult: I donât have to absorb everything. Someone recently told me that if I keep internalising every hurtful thing, Iâll end up trapped in a loop of my own pain. And they were right. Letting people and situations be what they are is not weaknessâitâs wisdom. This world tests us in quiet ways, and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is step back, breathe, and move on.
Maybe it hits harder because the one person who truly cared for my heartâthe one who saw me, understood me, prioritised meâis no longer here. And now my sensitivity feels louder, like thereâs no buffer between me and the world.
The second thing I could do less of?
Shopping my feelings away. One bad day and suddenly my cart looks like Iâm stocking an entire vanityâclothes, makeup, skincare, all of it. Retail therapy feels good in the momentâcomforting, distracting, almost like a friend. But eventually the packages arrive and half the things end up barely used, if at all. A temporary fix becomes permanent clutter.
Still, what can I say? Iâm just a girl trying to soothe a sensitive soul the only way she knows how.
So yes, maybe Iâm thin-skinned. Maybe I feel too much.
But recognising what I could do less of is the first step toward becoming someone strongerânot harder, just more at peace.
In a world that constantly nudges us to fit in, to blend, to soften our edges, itâs easy to forget the quiet miracle of simply being who we are. We spend years trying to match the rhythms of others, imitate their steps, echo their voices â all while overlooking the one thing no one else can offer: our unrepeatable selves.
Your story, with its uneven chapters and unexpected victories, is not a flaw in the design â it is the design. The way you think, the way you love, the way you rise after falling â these are fingerprints the universe gave uniquely to you. And when you show up as who you truly are, you give others permission to do the same.
The world doesnât need another version of someone else.It needs the depth, the texture, the truth of you.
You are a single spark Born to shine differently, A softness the world didnât know it needed.
I love experimenting with my hairâwhether itâs new colors or different cuts. Changing it up every year feels like therapy for me. Sure, it can get a little pricey, but itâs always worth it if you go to a good colorist who really knows what theyâre doing. Recently, I went for golden tones, and Iâm absolutely loving the look!
I enjoy taking care of myselfâhair care, skin care, makeup, you name it. I like investing in products that make me feel good. For example, I have four different shampoos and pick one depending on the scent or how I want my hair to feel that day. I also keep three hair masks and several serums because splurging on these things makes me happy. Honestly, as women, we need that extra aftercareâespecially after bleaching or coloring our hair.
This one feels super luxurious. Itâs creamy, nourishing, and really helps keep my color looking fresh and shiny. Plus, it smells like a high-end salonâsoft and a little floral.
Lightweight but does the job so well! It protects the color and gives my hair that glossy look. The scent is fruity and fresh, the scent instantly brightens my mood.
A total game-changer after coloring. It gets rid of all the build-up from metals in water that can make hair dull. My hair feels cleaner and stronger with this one. The scent is clean, a bit citrusy, and refreshing.
OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
This one is all about smoothing and shine. It leaves my hair soft and glossy, and the scent is warm, nutty, and a little tropicalâhonestly so addictive. Since it has sulfates, though, it can feel a bit more drying compared to the others, so I usually follow up with a good conditioner or mask.
Hair Masks
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask
This oneâs more of a treatment than a maskâit works on a deeper level to repair damage from coloring or heat. My hair always feels stronger and healthier after using it. The scent is clean and minimal, nothing heavy, which I like since it doesnât clash with other products. Definitely one of my top favoritesâit never fails me. I feel hair lengths get healthier and my grows so well whenever I use this mask.
Shiseido Fino Hair Mask
Such an affordable gem! It makes my hair super soft, smooth, and easy to manage. The scent is sweet and floral, very âJapanese beauty aisle.â I usually leave it on for a good amount of time, and the results are even betterâmy hair feels silky and light.
My go-to when my hair feels fragile or over-processed. It nourishes deeply, strengthens strands, and smells just like a high-end salonâfresh, slightly floral, and elegant. I also leave this one on longer than suggested, and it makes a huge difference in how healthy my hair feels.
Hair Serum
Label.m Age-Defying Hair Serum
A lightweight serum that targets signs of aging in hair, like thinning or dullness. It makes strands feel smoother, adds shine, and gives that âhealthy bounceâ back. The scent is light and fresh, and just grabs attention of anyone who blowdries my hair.
Affordable but really effective. It smooths down frizz and adds a silky finish without weighing hair down. The scent is subtle, a soft sweet-floral, which pairs well with the Fino mask. I usually use this when I donât really have to style my hair and just air dry them.
K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil
This is more than just a shine oilâit actually helps repair damage on a deeper level, just like the K18 mask. Super lightweight, non-greasy, and perfect for both styling and long-term strengthening. The scent is clean and understated. I prefer using this in nighttime hair care routine, add in a few drops on my stands before brushing them.
The Hair Care Basic
I also like to keep it simple sometimes with a good oil massage. I use Munawar Haq Coconut Hair Oil, which is lightweight, transparent, and doesnât have that strong smell some coconut oils do. The best part is that it doesnât affect my hair color, so I can still enjoy the benefits of oiling without worrying about fading. It leaves my hair soft, nourished, and just overall healthier. I would add 10-15 drops of rosemary essential hair oil to 5-6 tablespoons of my coconut oil.
I have been using kerastase products since over 10 years now. And people back then didnât even know this brand existed and only one salon in my city had signed up with kerastase for their treatments and selling their products. Itâs become more common now, still I stock up some products which are not available here from Dubai or US.
Disclaimer: There are a lot of pages in Pakistan selling fake k18 products at a lesser price (AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS). Safer option is always getting it yourself or asking someone you buy it from US preferably. US and UK prices have a huge difference when it comes to K18 market. Thank me later.
*When it comes to my cut and color, Iâm super particular. There are only three people in my city I trust to cut and color my hair, and about five who can style it exactly the way I like. I always go back to themâI just canât let someone new touch my hair. Very few people truly understand what I like and how I want my hair to look, so once I find the right ones, I stick with them. Itâs that final touch that ties everything together and makes me feel completely myself*
We live in a time where scrolling through social media often feels like flipping through a magazine of edited perfection. Celebrities and influencers have access to makeup artists, fillers, Photoshop, and filtersâand yet, we compare ourselves to them in our most natural state. No wonder so many people feel insecure.
But hereâs the truth: you donât need fake lashes, fake nails, or endless beauty treatments to be worthy of love and confidence. You are beautiful as you are. That doesnât mean you canât enjoy makeup, skincare, or even high-maintenance procedures if they make you feel goodâit just means your value doesnât depend on them.
Everyone has their own version of beauty. What makes you stand out isnât how much you look like an influencer, but how much you look like yourself. When you stop chasing the illusion of perfection, youâll find that your natural features, your quirks, and even the things you thought were âflawsâ are what make you unique.
So take a break from comparing. Put the phone down for a while. Look in the mirror without filters, and remind yourself: this is meâand I am enough.
âIf today feels heavy, carry it lightly. If it feels empty, fill it with the smallest comforts. A warm drink. An uplifting song. Soft clothes. A deep breath. You donât have to fix today. You just have to move through it.â
-Vex King
Some days feel heavier than othersâdays when the world presses in a little tighter, when motivation is hard to find, or when everything just feels⊠off. In those moments, itâs easy to think we need to fix everything right away: our mood, our circumstances, ourselves. But maybe the gentler path is simply to carry the day lightly. This quotation reminds us that we donât have to force solutions or breakthroughs; we just need to find our footing and keep going. A warm drink, a soft hoodie, a peaceful nap, a favorite songâthese tiny acts of comfort can anchor us more than we realize.
Life isnât always about monumental change or productivity. Sometimes itâs about being tender with ourselves when the weight gets too much. When the day feels empty, we can fill it with small, nourishing moments that ask nothing of us but presence. You donât need to solve every problem today. You just need to move through itâbreath by breath, step by step, with kindness in your hands and softness in your heart. That alone is enough. That alone is brave.
Even butterflies seek shelter when it rainsâto protect their delicate wings from being torn by the storm. They donât fight the weather; they rest and wait. In the same way, itâs okay to pause and protect your own softness. The rain doesnât last foreverâand thereâs always a rainbow waiting on the other side.
Whatâs meant for you will find its way. What isnât will quietly fall away. Trust the process, and keep moving.
The last time you hug a loved one without realizing it.
The last late-night drive with your best friend before life pulls you in different directions.
The last meal at your favorite spot before it closes.
The last time youâll set foot in a city youâll never be going back to.
The last time you laugh until you cry with people you won’t see again.
The last time you actually hear someone for who they truly are before life hits them with a serious crisis.
The last time youâll be playing your favourite sport.
The last time you wear your school uniform because youâre done with it.
The last time when youâll actually enjoy walking or playing in the rain.
The last time you let someoneâs behaviour impact you because youâll learn to stand up for yourself.
You won’t know it’s the last. It won’t feel special in the moment. It’ll feel like any other day. Until it isn’t. So be where your feet are. Look people in the eye. Say what you mean. Feel it fully. Because the ordinary moments? They’re only ordinary until they’re gone. We humans change. Our emotions and feelings towards people, places and things keep changing due to our experiences or the simple fact that we grow up. As the quote goes âYou cannot step in the same river twice, for itâs not the same river and heâs not the same man.â
Time is ever changing. And you can only go ahead in life when you accept the fact that you literally have to make things happen or else youâll run out of time. Accept what you want to and say no to what you know isnât right for you. I miss the simplicity of childhood and the pre technology era. When you never cared about what you wore or what you did, all you did was do what made you happy in that moment. Getting your favourite chocolate or cookie left in the box so you could enjoy it. Everything turns so complicated when you grow up, you literally have access to everything, you can buy anything but that happiness wonât last and it wonât give you butterflies as it did when you were a kid. It was the little things which mattered. Lifeâs weird now weâre just a bunch of anxious adults with happening and happy pictures on social media whereas the true essence of happiness isnât there anymore.
Appreciate what makes you happy at the moment before itâs too lateâš
