gua caya sama lu
[i believe in you]
this phrase has been on my mind (& heart) often this past year. when it pops up, i pause, smile and giggle. i am thankful to whomever coined this phrase.
i haven’t heard it spoken out loud in a very long time and so, i decided to say it (well, type it) here today. i might even get a tshirt printed one day.
it brings up memories/remembrance of all the suave uncles from back in the day, with their fishnet sleeveless tops, cigarette pack as a shoulder pad, emo rock music and words of wisdom. thank you to the uncles who embodied this phrase, you cared and you showed up. i miss you pok teh, i hope you are resting well.
my young shy self, my teen minah self, my current penat [tired] warrior self continue to live by this phrase – i believe in you… this has actually been my core – not to give up on mother earth and humanity easily, cheer earth and earth beings on. i didn’t realize i didn’t really verbalize believing in myself. did i even believe (in) myself? as an adoption survivor, am i even real, am i even here?
through healing, this phrase has come to mean – i believe in you and in expansion: i believe in me, i believe in us!
as i prepare to launch this practice/org on socials, i have had pangs of fear. frozenness. understandably, my history reminds me of the fears and nature of being alive as a woman of the global majority… being seen means being judged, misunderstood, racist aggressions, the familiar pain of soul wounding but it also means i can stay true to myself, support myself and others. thankfully i have a few great people cheering me on, including you.
and i gotta remember – gua caya sama lu. i feel the power of liberatory elders & ancestors pushing me to be brave (to the grave? hahaha!) to fulfill this calling. i remember all the good here on mother earth, all the ones i have met that are striving for a just and better world for all of us. i must remain steadfast. i must put myself out there to be of service. here goes…
thank you for reading and being here. gua caya sama lu!
lu caya sama gua? if you do or wanna send some support, type YES or leave me some words of encouragement in the comments. terima kasih [thank you].
in caya/percaya [belief] and community,
sarah k
PS if you or someone you know needs extra support, i am here. please check out these pages and my offerings. my inner children and i and can’t wait to meet you.
our learning...
when you read the phrase “I believe in you”, what comes up for you?
please share in the comments.
Dear Sarah… ehemmm, it’s me, Indah. 🤍
This page feels so calm and comforting. Reading your posts about people whose voices often go unheard, and seeing how you remind them that someone is there for them, really touches my heart.
Just like what you did for me today, on 6 August, when you came to surprise me. I was genuinely moved by your thoughtfulness. To you, it may have seemed like a small gesture, but to me, it meant so much. It was something I never expected, and honestly, even my partner has never surprised me in the way you did. It made me feel seen, remembered, and cared for.
I also didn’t realise that you’ve been carrying so much yourself. Reading your words, I can see that you’ve been in survival mode too holding everything together quietly, carrying your own burdens in silence. Yet despite all of that, you still choose to care for others. You continue to show kindness, compassion, and love to people who need it, even when you may need it yourself.
That says so much about the kind of person you are.
Thank you for reminding me that there are still people in this world who lead with kindness, even when life hasn’t been kind to them. Thank you for making me feel less alone, even if it was just for a moment.
I truly hope you know that your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed. The love and care you pour into others have a way of reaching hearts, including mine.
Please continue being the beautiful soul that you are but also remember that you deserve the same love, care, and support that you so freely give to everyone else.
With love and gratitude,
Indah 🤍
Indah, truly indah…
thank you so much for sharing. thank you for your kind words. thank you for seeing me too. thank YOU for being you.
much love, big hug!
in community, sarah k