A poignant personal essay exploring the complexities of identity, faith, and love. Journey through my experience of unbelonging, resilience, and redemption.
Same! I vacillate between wanting to be seen, but also being afraid of being seen. It's taken a lot of toe-dipping over the years to be a little more comfortable with it. Here on this journey with you, Rebecca.
Thank you, for this Tiffany: 'For the first time, I learned how speaking truths into existence can heal.'
I can pin that to an exact moment in my journey as well—too personal to share out of context, so I'll await the future article, my inner muse decides to choose, to paint the picture.
You've woven a beautiful picture of love here of yourself, for M and for what you have. It's a soulful read.
This is so tender, intimate and so brave of you to share. Tiffany, I was the first one in my family to be born in the US and my dad wanted me to be American so badly that English was the only language I grew up with. Consequently, I don't speak native Filipino (Tagalog) which immediately sets me apart from other Filipinos and ironically, even though I was born and raised here, I was always seen as different (I grew up in the '60s and '70s) --pre-woke America. This wonderful portrait you've shared resonates with me so much. So happy that M sees you and hears you for who you are. Thank you so much for this.
I appreciate you sharing about your experience, Steve. It's such an odd space to be in, of being born here yet still being seen as foreign. It made me think of how no matter where I was born or how long my family has lived in the U.S., my children and grandchildren, etc. will still be seen as immigrants. That narrative really needs to change.
Thanks, Tiffany, it is odd isn't it. My daughters and their generation and the generations to come give me hope. Their color, gender and every other kind of blindness gives me hope that the narrative of exclusivity that we still experience will be replaced with genuine inclusivity.
I admire your courage to write with such vulnerability. I am so glad you found your home, and with M. I also always told my husband, then boyfriend, that he made me feel at home. I found my home with him.
What a gorgeous essay Tiffany- thank you. Your words were like being invited into a part of your life through a secret window. So tender and beautiful.
This is so beautifully written and easy to read. I love the self-reflection and honest inquiry. This is such a descriptive and relatable image for me as a writer,” When someone asks me to tell them about myself, my words stumble over one another like a series of ellipses and awkward pauses without an ending punctuation mark.”
I feel like for years I built up an easy answer to that unanswerable “Who are you” just to avoid those ellipses being audible in public. Substack has been an amazing space to explore what comes out if I’m not afraid to just let myself speak the truth of any given moment.
Thank you for speaking your truth here and carving space for others to do the same. 💜
“But I have lived a life of silence, restrained by a culture I did not choose, by a world I could not comprehend, by those who brought me into that world, who would not hear my voice.” Gosh, do I see you. 🤍
Thank you, Tiffany, for this vulnerable post. I enjoyed it very much. M sounds like a keeper.
He definitely is. Thank you so much for reading, Julie.
You are very welcome, Tiffany. Thank you for the response.
Much of what you share about yourself and your relationship with M feels familiar to me. I’m still afraid to be fully seen, but less than before.
Same! I vacillate between wanting to be seen, but also being afraid of being seen. It's taken a lot of toe-dipping over the years to be a little more comfortable with it. Here on this journey with you, Rebecca.
Beautiful description of what a great marriage can provide.
Thank you, David. I'm very lucky.
Thank you, for this Tiffany: 'For the first time, I learned how speaking truths into existence can heal.'
I can pin that to an exact moment in my journey as well—too personal to share out of context, so I'll await the future article, my inner muse decides to choose, to paint the picture.
You've woven a beautiful picture of love here of yourself, for M and for what you have. It's a soulful read.
Thank you so much, Victoria. I look forward to your future article.
This is so beautiful 🥹 and resonated so deeply in so many ways. Thank you so much for sharing ❤️
Thank you, Miriam! I'm so glad it resonated with you.
This is so tender, intimate and so brave of you to share. Tiffany, I was the first one in my family to be born in the US and my dad wanted me to be American so badly that English was the only language I grew up with. Consequently, I don't speak native Filipino (Tagalog) which immediately sets me apart from other Filipinos and ironically, even though I was born and raised here, I was always seen as different (I grew up in the '60s and '70s) --pre-woke America. This wonderful portrait you've shared resonates with me so much. So happy that M sees you and hears you for who you are. Thank you so much for this.
I appreciate you sharing about your experience, Steve. It's such an odd space to be in, of being born here yet still being seen as foreign. It made me think of how no matter where I was born or how long my family has lived in the U.S., my children and grandchildren, etc. will still be seen as immigrants. That narrative really needs to change.
Thanks, Tiffany, it is odd isn't it. My daughters and their generation and the generations to come give me hope. Their color, gender and every other kind of blindness gives me hope that the narrative of exclusivity that we still experience will be replaced with genuine inclusivity.
Oh, I really, really hope so! It would be wonderful.
nice
Thanks!
What a beautiful dedication to M.
Thank you, Sarah.
What beautiful writing! That almost made me emotional.
I've lived in both Taiwan and San Diego, too. They are worlds apart.
Wow, thank you, Leah. That's so cool that you lived in San Diego and Taiwan!
I love this piece so much—it is beautiful and makes my heart ache in the best ways. Thank you for writing it.
Faith, your comment made me so happy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, and I'm glad it connected with you.
Beautiful, vulnerable and relatable words for Asians feeling stuck between cultures. Thanks for sharing and “M” sounds amazing! 🥰
Thank you! M is the best. ^-^
I admire your courage to write with such vulnerability. I am so glad you found your home, and with M. I also always told my husband, then boyfriend, that he made me feel at home. I found my home with him.
And boy, you write so eloquently :)
We are so lucky, aren't we?? I love that you found home in your husband too. And thank you. 🩵
What a gorgeous essay Tiffany- thank you. Your words were like being invited into a part of your life through a secret window. So tender and beautiful.
Thank you, Jane. I'm really grateful you connected with them, and so, so glad you're here.
This touched me deeply ❤️
What a beautiful piece
I so appreciate you for reading this, Sarina.
This is so beautifully written and easy to read. I love the self-reflection and honest inquiry. This is such a descriptive and relatable image for me as a writer,” When someone asks me to tell them about myself, my words stumble over one another like a series of ellipses and awkward pauses without an ending punctuation mark.”
I feel like for years I built up an easy answer to that unanswerable “Who are you” just to avoid those ellipses being audible in public. Substack has been an amazing space to explore what comes out if I’m not afraid to just let myself speak the truth of any given moment.
Thank you for speaking your truth here and carving space for others to do the same. 💜
Thank you, Allysha. It's beautiful how you've found writing as a way to explore those parts of yourself and find your truth. I'm so glad you're here.
“But I have lived a life of silence, restrained by a culture I did not choose, by a world I could not comprehend, by those who brought me into that world, who would not hear my voice.” Gosh, do I see you. 🤍
Thank you for seeing me, Kaitlyn.