To be human is to be cringe.

To be human is to be happy.

To be human is to be sad.

To be human is to be excited.

To be human is to be emotional.

To be human is to be kind.

To be human is to be funny.

To be human is to be weird.

To be human is to be different.

To laugh, to cry, to want, to feel, to go through all of this is the exact definition of being human. I mean, we’re definitely not robots, yet society has found a way to sum up every expression of very human feelings as being cringe or embarrassing. Showing our true selves, or displaying certain characteristics and behaviours, is often seen as weird.

I personally feel that there should not be a strict definition of what it means to be human, and we shouldn’t be judged for the way we choose to express ourselves and our emotions.

The Glow Chronicles,

– ScriptedGlow.

Nobody said changing could be this exhausting.

A foot on the brake because it’s been making me carsick.

How could you blame me? Growing up is chaotic…”

These lyrics really resonated with me because I’m at that point where I’m beginning to transition into early adulthood. Nobody ever fully explains what to expect as you grow up—you’re just left to figure it out on your own. It’s difficult, and honestly, exhausting. Sometimes it even makes you want to pause everything and go back to childhood.

Adulthood comes with more responsibility and accountability. You make mistakes, and instead of being corrected, people just sneer and judge. Everyone is so consumed by their own problems that they barely notice you. One of the most ironic things anyone can say is “I can’t wait to grow up,” because once you do, it turns into “I miss my childhood.”

And the hardest part is that you can’t pause it or slow it down. Life comes at you full speed—no brakes, no instruction manual, no guide. You’re just left to DIY the whole thing.

Maybe this is what growing up really is—not having it figured out, but still showing up anyway. Learning to sit with the chaos, to forgive myself for moving slowly, and to accept that uncertainty isn’t a failure but a phase. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m learning that becoming takes time, and exhaustion doesn’t mean I’m doing it wrong.

The Glow Chronicles,

–ScriptedGlow

Again and again

Over and over,

My thoughts moving.

From one to another.

It's never still

Before one lands,

Another takes flight.

That's fine,

It really is.

I don't know what to do,

But it's okay.

I'll try,

Gather as many as I can

Before they flutter away

And capture their beauty

With my pen and scroll.

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I’m sure that a lot of people have, at some point in their lives, had others tell them, “You’re so mature for your age,” “You’re so independent at such a young age,” or “You act so much older than your mates.” At the time, you might have even said “Thank you” with a smile because you genuinely thought it was a compliment, a good thing. I mean, even the person who said it meant it as a compliment.

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Here’s the simple truth:

If and when you take a moment to really think about that “compliment”, you’ll realise that it’s not actually a good thing for someone who is still meant to be dependent to be so independent. There’s usually an underlying condition that pushed such people to grow up far too fast.

For example, in households where the first child (especially if it’s a girl) is tasked with the responsibility of parenting her younger siblings, as though she’s the one who birthed them or begged for them to be born. She bathes them, cooks for them, gets them ready for school, and basically acts as their parent simply because she was unfortunate enough to be born first. In such a scenario, this child is forced to “grow up,” become independent, and act far more mature than she’s supposed to, because she has been given a role that’s far too old for her to play.

Fast forward to when she becomes a young adult; she’ll keep her emotions bottled up because, while growing up, no one had time for her and she always had children to take care of. She’ll keep everything inside. She’ll gaslight herself into thinking she’s got it (that she can handle it) just the way she has handled every other thing life has pushed her way. She’ll believe it’s pointless to tell people about her problems because she knows they’ll do nothing about it. Why? Because that’s how it’s been since she was young. She’ll secretly crave external love because she had no one to truly love her when she was growing up.

But here’s the thing: if you do find yourself in this scenario, that’s okay. One thing you should know is that if you keep everything bottled up inside, one day those emotions will become too much, and that bottle will break. So know that sometimes, it’s okay to not be okay. You’re human, after all. Even though you’ve been wired to act like a robot (trust me), you’re not. So give yourself a break. Break free from those chains of forced independence and premature maturity, and act your age—maybe even a little childish sometimes. That’s just your inner child, coming back and begging to be free.

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In light of that, here's a poem I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the unending love of God the Father:

“…while I strayed, you stayed…”

I was lost,

Lost in the jungle of life,

Tangled in the web of sin.

“Let me just live life.”

“How do I know He’s real anyway?”

But you didn’t leave me.

You stayed right there in the darkness,

Providing warm light;

Waiting, healing, comforting.

And even while I wandered, you remained,

Quietly hoping I’d realise

That there’s no life outside you.

With tears in my eyes,

Regret in my thoughts,

And apology on my lips,

I came back to you,

Just like the prodigal child I was.

“I’m sorry, Father.”

“Take me back.”

And because of your endless love,

You wrapped me in your arms,

And we were together again—

Father and child.

Because even when I wen

t astray,

You stayed.

Here's my first post of the year🎊

Would you hear me more if I whispered in your ear?

Made all my inner thoughts sound like, "Ah, ah"

Would you hear me more if I touch you right here?

Made everything I want sound like, "Ah, ah"

—Tate McRae

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Yelling. Shouting. Screaming.

You can't hear me, can you?

Or do you just choose not to listen?

Over me, without me, for me.

Decisions are made.

“That won't work!", " Do this instead"

Invalidate my opinions,

Override my voice.

All I hear is a cluster of thoughts,

Whispers that aren't mine.

I'm losing it, losing my mind.

“Hear Me!", “I have opinions too!"

Feels like screaming into a void.

Shut up. Shut off. Shut down.

My emotions, my thoughts, my desires.

“Hear Me!"

With the last of my will,

I whisper into the void.

"When will you hear me?“

Silence answers back.

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Note: This piece was inspired by a post that stayed with me. I’ve made genuine efforts to find and credit the original writer, but unfortunately, I couldn’t trace them.

I’ve come to realise that many people feel unseen or overshadowed. They long for company, yet push it away. It’s as though they’re saying, “I want you to see me, but I don’t know if I’m ready to be seen.”

We hide a lot from others, and sometimes from ourselves. The parts we refuse to show often become the parts we struggle to accept. Being seen goes beyond surface-level recognition; it’s more than someone knowing our favourite food, the sound of our voice, or witnessing our strongest emotions. It’s about having our inner world acknowledged: the unspoken fears, the hidden struggles, the unshared dreams, the ideas others might dismiss or ridicule.

We crave intimacy, yet fear vulnerability. So we resist being truly known, even while yearning for it. I understand that contradiction deeply. It’s ironic that those who ask to see you are often the first to judge when you reveal your truth. I only wish we could all allow ourselves to be seen—freely, and without fear.

“...deck the halls with boughs of holly,

fa la la la la, la la la la.

’Tis the season to be jolly…

fa la la la la, la la la la..."

Merry Substack Christmas🎄✨

I don’t really have much to say, but I do hope you’re having a lovely, lovely Christmas—spent around people who love you. And if, unfortunately, you’re far from home, remember your Substack family, which I’m proudly a part of. I’m sending you tons of warm hugs and lots of gifts—telepathically—to celebrate the holidays and heighten the Christmas cheer.

Also, remember to get yourself a little something as a reward for making it this far. It doesn’t have to be much—a scented candle, a necklace, a bracelet… you know, that thing you’ve been eyeing.

For those who are booed up, have a little kiss under the mistletoe (I’m definitely not jealous). And more importantly, to my fellow singles: give yourself a big, warm hug. You can even spend some quality time alone under the mistletoe—away from the couples, of course—enjoying these quiet moments before your future soulmate arrives.

To all of us—eat, drink, laugh, have fun, and bask in that holiday goodness.

Merry Christmas.

Ho! Ho!! Ho!!! 🎄✨”

Like I always say, it’s normal to have these thoughts; what matters is how we choose to deal with them. For some people, once these thoughts appear, they start to believe them. They amplify the tiny voices in their heads telling them all sorts of negative things and eventually abandon their pursuits out of fear of the unknown. Others, however, choose to take a deep breath, maybe even take a break, restore stability in their minds, and carry on with their visions. That’s how things get done.

So the next time you start to see yourself as incapable, remember that there are others out there doing great things. And if they can do it, who says you can’t do even better?

The Glow Chronicles,

—ScriptedGlow

Sight is to see with your eyes.

Vision is to see with your mind.

At first, I paused. I wondered what it truly meant. But after a moment of deep thought, I realised the depth behind those words and internally applauded whoever came up with such a simple yet genius statement.

Personally, I’ve come to realise that many people can see, yet very few truly have vision. Vision is not something that comes from the eyes alone; it is born in the mind. It isn’t just about noticing what’s in front of you, and it goes beyond simply understanding what you see. Vision is the ability to interpret, to imagine possibilities beyond the present, and—most importantly—to make meaningful use of what you perceive.

When people say someone “has vision,” they are rarely referring to physical sight. They are talking about the person’s ability to use their mind’s eye—to analyse situations, foresee outcomes, and proffer solutions that create value not just for themselves, but for others as well. Vision is what separates seeing problems from solving them, and observing life from shaping it.

So perhaps we should stop relying solely on our eyes to see. Let’s learn to involve our minds as well, because true sight begins long before the eyes ever do.

The Glow Chronicles,

– ScriptedGlow

The Mistreatment Of Women.

Personally, I sometimes like to think I’m a feminist, or even a misandrist. I don’t think men should be the “upper” gender. It’s not fair. Men move through life with far fewer consequences, while women—goddesses that they are—carry everything. We cater to everyone, work jobs, endure hormonal changes at every stage of our lives, and give birth. We’re more susceptible to STIs, sex is often painful for us, we’re more likely to be raped, more likely to be stigmatised for infertility, and burdened with expectations that never end. Women are angels, and men don’t even come close in comparison.

Having said all this, I hate my gender. I hate that I’m female. I hate that I’m a girl. I hate that society always has something to say about girls. Women are used and discarded like objects, and everything we do is somehow linked to marriage and submission to a man. It’s as if girls are being bred for marriage and childbirth, like that’s our only purpose.

Someone once said, “You’d have to stop your corporate job to make time to care for your kids.” Excuse me? Who told you I want kids? And even if I did, why can’t a man stop his job to care for his children? Why is that sacrifice automatically assigned to women? Someone else said, “You can’t continue this behaviour in your husband’s house.” *Flabbergasted*. Who told you I want a husband? Who decided that a woman’s worth is measured by marriage or motherhood?

Let’s talk about labour. Some men are too scared to be in the delivery room with their wives, even though they’re the reason she’s there. Others resent their wives because of the gender of their children, as if she controls which sperm fertilises the egg. Women are treated terribly in our society, and it’s become so normalised that people barely question it.

And then there’s rape. People always say, “But men get raped too.” Statistics exist for a reason, and the disparity is not even close. Yet somehow, blame still finds its way back to the woman—what she wore, how she dressed. Fuck No! It’s her body. Even if she were walking naked down the street, that is not an invitation to touch her or violate her.

And what about children? Was it what they wore—the onesies? The gowns? The pyjamas? What about Muslim women in hijabs? In burqas? In chadors? In niqabs? Christian nuns? Was it also what they wore? No. It never was. It was because some men chose to take by force what was never offered to them.

Am I saying all men are bad? Not exactly. But the pattern is loud. It repeats itself across homes, streets, relationships, and institutions.

And violence doesn’t always look like rape. It’s the girls you dated and called “easy” because they liked you. The ones you emotionally blackmailed. The ones you violated with your eyes and your heart. A girl can’t even walk freely on the street without fear. She notices a man lingering nearby and her heartbeat skyrockets. That fear is instinctive. That fear is learned. And it isn’t fair.

We’ve developed defence mechanisms no one ever taught us. Hold your keys like a weapon. Scratch your attacker to collect their DNA. Carry pepper spray. Keep a small knife close. It’s not okay just because it’s normalised.

Girls don’t even know their own bodies. Many don’t understand their menstrual cycles because patriarchy has turned something natural into something shameful. A girl stains her uniform at school and feels humiliated. A girl is condemned for losing her virginity, as if it defines her worth, while a boy is praised for the number of girls he’s been with.

This system cannot continue.

Girls are tired.

Women are done.

The world needs to change.

The Burn Books,

—ScriptedGlow

PS: This post isn't intended to throw shade at the male population. It's just me trying to speak up for women.

They call it body dysmorphia or body dissatisfaction—neat little names for quiet wars. Pretty words to soften the wound, to make the ache sound poetic. But the truth is, no label makes it any easier to bear.

We chase perfection in circles with lip fillers, botox, and BBLs, yet the mirror still frowns back. We fix what we think is broken, only to find another flaw hiding beneath the surface. Beauty doesn't live in the curve of your waist, the fullness of your hips, or the symmetry of your face.

It breathes in confidence, in poise and posture, in the warmth of your heart and the strength in your voice. It’s in how you carry yourself when no one’s watching.

So maybe it’s time to stop fighting your reflection and start nurturing your soul instead. Because the grass isn’t greener on the other side; it’s greener where you choose to water it.

The Glow Chronicles,

—ScriptedGlow

The Glow Chronicles

— ScriptedGlow

It’s another Sunday, and we’re gradually getting closer to the end of the year. It’s a great time to reflect on the things you’ve done this year—your achievements, your failures, your wins, your successes, your losses, the things you’d like to either redo or remove from your life and most importantly, your relationship with the Father. It’s a moment to ask yourself what no longer serves you: the habits and routines that drain you, the excuses you hide behind, and the standards you’ve lowered. It’s also a time to shift your mindset—letting go of fear and comparison—and to reassess how you prioritise rest, growth, and peace.

This is a good time to review your relationships as well: your support systems, your friendships, and the people you give constant access to your energy. Reflect on the boundaries you’ve failed to enforce and the ones you need to strengthen.

Take time for “me-time” too. Focus on your mental health, reset your mind, and prepare for the coming year by changing how you speak to yourself, how you respond to what you can’t control, and by choosing intentionality, discipline, and self-respect over fear and procrastination.

Have a great week, y’all. Jesus loves you.

That post made me realise that so many people carry silent wounds. They go through things so deep you can’t imagine, yet they push everything down just to appear okay on the surface. It’s okay to struggle, but what truly matters is how you choose to face and heal from those struggles.

Personally, I’m not the type who likes to talk about what I’m going through, and I know that’s not a good habit because everyone should have at least one person they trust and can confide in. This post is a reminder to myself too. Let’s stop suffering in silence and start building strong support systems around ourselves for our growth.

The Glow Chronicles,

—ScriptedGlow

I’m coming to understand that I’m slowly becoming the young, elegant lady I’ve always envisioned. This growth might not be obvious to everyone, but deep within, it’s crystal clear. I’m truly glad to be at this point in my life, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

The Glow Chronicles,

—ScriptedGlow.