Finding Our Way Back

I still remember the silence. Not the quiet kind you can find in a library or on a still evening, but the silence that lives in a conversation that's lost its rhythm. It’s a quiet that tells you something is gone.

For a while, our relationship felt like two ships passing in the night, even though we were on the phone every day. We were thousands of miles apart, from London to Manila, and it felt like the distance wasn't just physical. A heavy shadow had fallen over things, and we were both struggling to find our way back to the easy, happy "us" we used to be. The laughter was less frequent, the conversations were heavier, and I felt like I was losing my own light while trying to find his.

I wanted to find a way to tell him what I needed, but words felt clumsy. It took a quiet moment of reflection to realize that the answer wasn't in one big solution, but in a series of gentle, daily choices. It was a gentle nudge, a reminder that the strongest bonds are not those that avoid the shadow, but those that can create their own light. A wise friend helped me put my feelings into words, and this is the advice that came from our conversation. It really made me think of us 

Greetings, Eddie.

Listen closely, for this is a friendly tip, whispered to you from the universe itself.

You are a soul of great light, though it has been dimmed by the deep space of trauma and the complex constellations of your mind. Ashley’s light is there to guide you, but she is also a star, and her light needs to be fed.

Remember these simple universal truths to keep your orbits aligned:

1. Create a Pocket of Sunlight.

The universe is not all darkness; it is filled with nebulae, galaxies, and the warmth of suns. Ashley knows you are navigating some dark spaces right now, but when all your energy is focused there, her light begins to fade.

The Tip: In your conversations, consciously create a pocket of sunlight. Dedicate a moment each day to something purely happy, something that has no shadow—a shared memory, a joke, or a simple dream for the future.

2. Tune into Her Frequency.

Ashley’s feelings are a unique frequency, a subtle hum in the cosmos. Your wiring may not always be attuned to it, but you have the power to listen.

The Tip: When you sense she is sad, pause and listen. A simple acknowledgment is a powerful cosmic signal. Say, "I hear your sadness," or "It's okay to feel that way." This is a language of pure love, and it tells her she is not alone in the vastness.

3. Align Your Worlds.

Your connection spans oceans and continents, but that makes your shared moments even more sacred. Don't let your calls be just a distant orbit.

The Tip: Be intentional with your time. Plan to watch the same movie, listen to the same song, or simply lie down and talk without any distractions. Create a constellation that is uniquely yours, even from far away.

4. Send Out Your Own Starlight.

Tiny sparks of starlight can travel across light-years. The small gestures are your most powerful energy.

The Tip: A simple "I love you" text, a photo of your smile, or a spontaneous message telling her you are thinking of her—these are the tiny sparks that remind her she is always a bright part of your universe.

5. Tend to Your Own Light.

It is difficult to share light when your own is dimming. Ashley worries that your focus on the darkness will consume you.

The Tip: Take a moment to step away from the stress. Your happiness is a light source for her. When you take care of yourself, you are loving her, too.

Remember, Eddie, the universe is built on connection. The strongest bonds are those that share both light and shadow, but they always remember to create their own brightness.

And then, it happened. The moment I knew we had found our way back to life. It didn't happen in a big dramatic way, but in a quiet, beautiful moment. He simply told me, “Come with me to the park.”

And so we went. He held his phone up on a video call, and as he walked, it felt like I was walking right beside him. We ventured down an eerie path toward a Tree Tower, past bursts of red, purple, and yellow flowers—each a small explosion of hope. We laughed about an imaginary double burger, complete with bacon and onion rings, and we found a tiny dwarf palm that felt like a secret just for us. It was in those moments, in the small details we were creating together across a screen, that the quiet from before was replaced by the familiar sound of our old rhythm.

The truth is, finding your way back isn't a single event. It's a choice you make every single day. It's the decision to create your own light, even when you're in the shadow. It's in the virtual walks, the silly jokes, and the conscious effort to find the beautiful things in a world that can sometimes feel heavy.

If you’re feeling like you’ve lost your groove, remember this: the light is always there. Sometimes, you just have to decide to create it yourself.

This video is my personal journey through the light and shadow of a long-distance relationship. I wrote the lyrics and created this video to explore how to navigate life's challenges and find a way back to happiness. The song is a tribute to the small, everyday choices that reconnect us, from an imaginary burger in a park to simply choosing to find the light again. It's for anyone who has struggled to keep their rhythm but never lost faith in love.

Ashley

#PersonalStory #Inspiration #Hope #Motivation #LifeJourney #FindingOurWayBack #SelfLove #HealingJourney #LoveAndLight#RelationshipGoals #LoveStory #CoupleGoals #LongDistanceRelationship #LDR #RelationshipBlog #LoveAcrossMiles #LoveAndSupport #MentalHealth #EmotionalHealing #FindingTheLight #LightAndShadow #TheUniverse #CosmicConnection #CreatingMyOwnLight #Soulmate#Blogger #NewBlogPost #BlogLife #Storytelling #BloggersOfInstagram #InstaBlog
#LondonToManila #VirtualWalk #WalkInThePark #VirtualDate #HappyEverAfter

Our Missing Light

I miss how things used to be, When we were a team, just you and me. I miss not being all alone, In a home that was once our own. I miss the sound of our easy laugh, Before your past became your path. I miss not feeling like I'm lost with you, And all the weight you're holding onto. I need you to find your way back to the light, To step out of the dark and into the bright. I've been using my light to help you see, And now it's gone from sight, just for me. Please find your own light, shiny and new, So I can find my way back, too.

Ashley

#poetry #poetsofinstagram #poem #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #instapoet #writersofig #micropoetry #OurMissingLight #brokenheart #sadpoems #relationship s#grief #loneliness #healing #loss #emotionalpoetry #codependency #mentalhealth #caregiverburnout ##anxiety #traumahealing #toxicrelationships #lettinggo #quotes #poetryisnotdead #darknessandlight #support #personaljourney

On Emptiness and Being a Partner

Sometimes I feel like I'm running on empty. I get so caught up in making sure he's okay, in navigating his pain, that I forget to check in with myself. The truth is, it’s a lot to hold. Trying to understand what he's going through with C-PTSD and autism can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with a thousand missing pieces.

I find myself constantly trying to anticipate his needs, to be a safe space for his triggers, to just be there. And I want to be. I love him. But lately, I feel this deep, quiet ache. It's the part of me that’s asking, "What about me? When is it my turn?"

The hard part is that I feel guilty even thinking it. How can I complain about feeling lost when he's the one dealing with so much? But that doesn't make my feelings any less real. Being his partner is a constant act of adapting. It’s a challenge I never knew I would have to face, and it changes me every single day.

I need him to understand that this is a change for me, too. It's a big, messy, beautiful, and sometimes very lonely change. It’s easy to get lost in his story and forget that I have my own.

I’m tired of feeling like I’m off-balance, constantly swaying from a place of support to a place of feeling completely unmoored. I need a moment to just be, to not be the rock, and to feel my own footing again. I need to be seen, too.

Ashley

"Lately, I've felt like I've been holding a lot in. The beautiful, the hard, the lonely. I needed a different way to let it out. So, I sat down and let the words and a melody find their way. This is what came out. These are the lyrics to a song about the parts of my heart I've been trying to find a voice for."

"I hope this finds a home in someone else’s heart who understands. You are not alone."

#PartnerSupport#CPTSD #Autism #MentalHealth #NeurodivergentPartner #EmotionalHealing #YouAreNotAlone #TiredAndOverwhelmed #Relationships #PartnerSupport #SelfCare #PersonalJourney #Songwriting #Lyrics

 

The Language of Embrace: Finding Solace in a Simple Hug

 Sometimes, in the midst of overwhelming emotions or unspoken pain, words can feel insufficient. They can fall short of capturing the depth of what we’re feeling or the comfort we long to offer. It’s in those moments that a simple, heartfelt embrace can speak volumes.

My latest creative project, a song titled "[I Feel Your Pain]", explores the complexities of connecting with someone who is hurting. While the music and lyrics aim to capture the internal struggles and the desire to offer support, it’s often the simplest of human gestures that carry the most profound meaning.

I recently came across a powerful black and white photograph: a man is being held in an embrace, his head resting as a woman holds him, her arms wrapped around his neck. The gesture is one of profound support and comfort. It's a hug that says, "I'm holding you; I've got you."

This image perfectly encapsulates the essence of my song. It speaks to the idea that sometimes, the most effective way to break through the walls someone has built around their heart is not through elaborate explanations or solutions, but through a genuine, non-verbal expression of care. This particular kind of embrace communicates a deep sense of safety—a powerful anchor in a sea of turmoil. It can remind someone that they are loved, that they are safe, and that they don’t have to carry their pain entirely on their own.

In the embrace captured in the photograph, there’s a sense of acceptance – a silent acknowledgment of pain without judgment. It suggests that the person being held is not alone in their struggle, that someone sees them and is willing to offer comfort without demanding anything in return.

When we think about supporting loved ones who are navigating difficult times, especially those dealing with invisible wounds or carrying heavy burdens, we might feel pressured to say the right thing or offer the perfect advice. But often, what’s needed most is simply our presence and a tangible expression of care.

And that tangible expression isn't always physical. Even when you're miles away, you can still offer a powerful sense of support. A "virtual hug"—a heartfelt message, a late-night phone call, a simple emoji—can be a lifeline. The true power lies not in the physical proximity, but in the emotional connection. It’s the consistent, unwavering presence that truly breaks through the walls and reminds someone they are loved.

This image, like my song, serves as a reminder of the fundamental human need for connection and the profound impact of simple acts of kindness. In a world that often prioritizes words and grand gestures, let’s not underestimate the power of an embrace—whether physical or virtual—a timeless language of comfort that speaks directly to the heart.

Ashley

#NewMusic #EmotionalSupport #LoveAndSupport #Embrace #HealingJourney #MentalHealth #YouAreNotAlone #LoveSong #LDR #CreativeProject #Relationships #Grief #Comfort

The Sweet Sound of Pages Across Miles

 Living in Manila while my boyfriend is in London created a distance that felt immense. Yet, every night, he would bridge those 8,000 miles by reading Paulo Coelho's "Eleven Minutes" to me online before I went to sleep.

His voice, a comforting melody through my headset, made the story of Maria our own. It was a ritual that transcended time zones and physical separation, turning a book about love and destiny into our personal love story. "Eleven Minutes" became more than a novel; it was our secret connection, a quiet promise that we were together, even when we were worlds apart.

That shared experience, born from a long-distance challenge, remains one of the most cherished memories of our journey. It's a powerful reminder that love isn't defined by proximity, but by the creative, intentional ways we choose to be present for each other.

Ashley

​#ElevenMinutes #PauloCoelho #Love #Passion #Destiny #SpiritualJourney #Bookworm #Bookstagram

Hello from Manila and London: Our Story Begins

Hello, and welcome!

This is the first page of our story, a place where we hope to share our journey with you. We are Ashley and Eddie—a couple connected across continents. I’m writing to you from the vibrant, bustling streets of Manila, and Eddie is living his life in the historic, ever-changing city of London. We are 6,600 miles apart, separated by time zones and an ocean, and yet we are building a life together, one day at a time.

Eddie is also autistic. We want to be open about that from the very beginning because it is an important part of who he is, and it has taught us so much about what it means to truly understand and love another person. This blog is our space to explore what a long-distance relationship looks like when you're navigating different cultures, communication styles, and ways of seeing the world.

How We Found Each Other

It wasn't a movie meet-cute or a chance encounter in a coffee shop. We met online, through a shared interest in a a specific online community, completely unaware that our first few messages would lead us here. Our conversations started simply, about our interests, our days, and our thoughts. We talked for hours, late into my Manila nights and early into his London mornings, quickly realizing that we had a connection that was anything but ordinary. The distance was a reality from day one, but it never felt like a barrier. It was just a fact of our relationship, something we knew we’d have to figure out together.

Building a Bridge

Our lives are different in so many ways. I can see the palm trees outside my window while he's looking out at brick buildings. My days are filled with the noisy, chaotic energy of my city, while his are often meticulously planned. We've had to learn how to communicate in a way that respects and celebrates those differences. For us, that means learning to be clear and direct, finding joy in routines, and understanding that sometimes, a comfortable silence on a video call is more meaningful than a thousand words.

Our blog is an invitation for you to join us on this journey. We’ll be sharing our triumphs, our challenges, the big moments, and the small ones. We hope that our story can offer a little bit of insight, a little bit of hope, and a lot of honesty about what it means to be in a long-distance relationship—and a love that’s as unique as we are.

I wrote the lyrics and created the video for my song, "The Start of Something Real," based on my own love story. It's for anyone who feels like they've given up on love or life. I met my boyfriend on a stormy night when I was feeling lost, and he gave me a "brand new line"—a new perspective and a reason to hope again. This is our story of finding a new beginning when we both thought our stories had already ended, and I hope it inspires you to believe that a new chapter is always possible.

Ashley

#LongDistanceRelationship #LDR #LoveStory #LondonToManila #AcrossContinents #Autism #Neurodiversity #AutismAwareness #RelationshipGoals #OurJourney #PersonalBlog #LoveAcrossMiles #GlobalLove #RelationshipBlog