For something obvious to mention, I would honorably say everything written by Mary Oliver, but one of them is, “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate,” from Swan: Poems and Prose Poems and, “Let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”

Reading her words always makes me feel happy and affectionate. Her works are so brain-chemistry-altering because she shows you that love is everywhere. There are so many simple things in life that can make you realize how beautiful life still is, despite the misery and everything in between. Crumbs of human connection and nature—or yourself. The relationship with yourself, in how you still manage to wake up every day and survive this far! As she said, it’s a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.

Another heartwarming question! It’s always interesting whenever someone asks me about my love languages. I think, I feel loved when someone can express their feelings to me through affectionate gestures—physical touch is what they call it, perhaps. But when it comes to expressing my love for others, I might fall into the category of Words of Affirmation and sharing food as a love language.

What I’m trying to say here is I would never mind splitting my apple in half for someone I cherish. I would slip a tangerine slice into their mouth if they were too tired to do so themselves. I would remind my loved ones to eat and cook for them, even. I would feed them my mother’s cooking (because my mother is the best cook). I would cut up mangoes into cubes for them. I would constantly ask, “Have you eaten yet?” because to eat is to survive. I love you, and I want you to eat well. Let’s sit together and eat with me. It doesn’t matter that I’ve already eaten. I will eat again if it means sharing the meal with you and making you feel loved.

I love consuming media that leaves me with a fluttering feeling and gives my heart too many blows of warmth and solace. Romance will always be my pick, especially if it includes a slice-of-life element. I love The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, my all-time favorite. I would also honorably mention Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Sometimes, I believe I could write an entire book on the reasons why this one is my pick—although not necessarily a nice and easy-to-comprehend review. But if I were to sum it up succinctly, as someone who loves to cling to her emotions, both joy and pain, I feel this book does an excellent job of evoking your senses. There are four sections in this book, and three of them have a bittersweet quality with both warmth and sadness. I found them magically wonderful and emotional, something that could bring a sense of comfort even amidst the melancholy that came alongside them.