The Age of Likes, Love & Literary Longing

'Adolescence' Netflix Miniseries (written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, Directed by Philip Barantini)

The Age of Likes, Love & Literary Longing
(Candid Confession)

Between 2006 and 2016, I found a sanctuary on the internet, Facebook. My words had wings. I was young, published, and totally in love with Poetry. There was something sacred in how people responded, not to my face, but to my voice. Each poem felt like a conversation. Each post, a heartbeat. I felt seen, understood and validated. But as time passed, something shifted. The words, the ones forged from my marrow, began to lose their weight under the glare of curated beauty. And when the echo of admiration becomes more about how you look than what you say… it leaves a hollow space behind the applause. So, I stepped back.

I sought newer spaces. Quieter corners. Where the point was to connect, not perform. And yes, I found kindred spirits, souls who opened their hearts, and sometimes even their homes, reminding me that love, truth, and art still matter. That being still matters. But alongside the grace, came a growing ache. I saw the mimicry, the replication of style without soul. I saw people string together borrowed profundities, not from a place of feeling, but for the sake of impact.

I am, and have always been, a people person. A giver. A believer in the quiet, healing magic of friendships. I speak with emojis, not as embellishments, but as the language of the feeling heart. I love loud. I hurt deep. I write because I must, not to impress, but to express.

Lately, as I watched the miniseries 'Adolescence', something stirred. It wasn't just a story of youth, it was a mirror. A raw, honest reflection of the masks we wear, even as adults. The longing to belong. The need to be seen. The fear of irrelevance. And how, in that desperate search for validation, we sometimes lose the most precious part of ourselves, our authenticity. And I’m not just speaking of social media. I’m speaking of society. Of those who deliver grand speeches but falter in basic human decency. Of those who measure success through noise, and failure through silence. Of those who judge what makes a good teacher, a good parent, a good human, based on checklists they never question.

Even professional platforms aren’t immune. Places once meant for sharing knowledge are slowly becoming theatres of self-congratulation, curated perfection, and hollow applause.

So I ask, where are we headed?
What are we truly chasing?
And at what cost?

At the end of the day, we are not here to impress algorithms. We are here to connect, with humans. And humans deserve grace. Politeness is not passé. Kindness is not a hashtag. Courtesy is not dead. These are not soft virtues. They are the bones of a decent world.

Robin Williams asked in 'Dead Poets Society', “So what will your verse be?”
Mine? It will always rise from the quiet places, rooted in truth, humility, and soul.

And if you're still here, reading this, thank you. This is my hand on my heart. I honour you.