I didn’t post anything on Teacher’s Day.
Not because I don’t have people to thank (I really do), but because I had this very strong internal reaction that went:
“Please… not another ‘thank you to everyone who’s taught me something in life 🥺’ post.”
It felt like something straight out of 2015 Tumblr, complete with a sad Alec Benjamin track and a dimly lit montage.
But then I paused.
And thought, wait, what if that’s not cringe? What if it’s just honest?
Because honestly, my whole life has been one very long school day. Just without the uniforms, the bells, and the terrifying PT teacher energy.
And my teachers? They showed up in the weirdest, most unexpected ways.
The heartbreak that taught me how to hold myself
You think you know pain until you’re crying over someone who doesn’t even have the emotional range to process what they did. And somehow, between all the silences, the blocked messages, and pretending I was “so over it,” I learned how to choose myself.
My first heartbreak? 9th grade. My biggest one? Right after the 12th boards, in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdowns. (Picture me trying not to cry at home while my parents were literally in the next room. Brutal.)
And here’s the thing, I don’t learn lessons just once. I’m a quick learner but a terrible follower, so chances are I’m still repeating some of the same silly mistakes. Maybe the guy I like right now isn’t the lush green forest I thought he was, and I’m just delulu. Or maybe I’ve actually learned something. Who knows.
(Also, heartbreak taught me that sad playlists are a rite of passage. Side note: I handle heartbreak so much better now that I’m convinced my next book should be “How To Move On in 10 Days.” Don’t steal the idea.)
The failure that taught me redirection
There’s something humbling about putting your whole heart into something and watching it fall flat. Like, zero. Nothing. Crickets.
But then you pivot. You adjust. And suddenly you land in a place you didn’t even know you were meant to be.
Rejection? Sometimes it’s just redirection.
Side note, there are still things worth giving your all to. Like this blog. I know hardly anyone sits through my ramblings, but I still pour my heart into it every time. Because maybe one day someone will stumble across this and it’ll help them. Even a little. That’s enough.
The random stranger who said something that stuck
A rickshaw driver once told me, “The thing about rain is, it’ll come when it wants. All you can do is carry an umbrella and keep going.”
I don’t know what my face looked like in that moment, but my soul? Standing ovation.
That man will never know he handed me a life metaphor for free.
The fight that taught me what not to say
You know, when you replay an argument like it’s a courtroom drama and suddenly realize: “Wow. I really didn’t have to say that.”
Yeah.
Sometimes the biggest lessons come from the ugliest words.
And sometimes, growth is just… texting “I’m sorry” first.
I’ve been a terrible girlfriend, friend, sister, daughter (add the rest of the list) more times than I can count because my mouth runs faster than my brain. Am I trying to work on it? Yes. Am I succeeding? Not really. Am I giving up? Never.
So here’s my belated Teacher’s Day thank-you list:
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To the ex who made me hate myself. YES. IT WAS YEARS AGO. AND YES, I WILL ALWAYS HATE YOU.
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To the job I didn’t get. Thank you for pushing me somewhere better. Like Kelly Clarkson says, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
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To my anxiety. You’re exhausting, but you weirdly taught me mindfulness. I wish I could process my thoughts without spiraling, but fine, I’ve made peace with you.
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To the friend I grew apart from. Thank you for the season we had. We don’t talk anymore, and that sucks, but please give Honey (your dog, aka the cutest creature alive) a kiss from me.
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To the stranger who smiled at me when I needed it. You proved that kindness doesn’t need context.
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