Kumbatia San

About eleven years ago, I made a decision: no Twitter (now X), no TikTok, barely any Instagram, and Facebook? Only for memes and the occasional hilarious auntie post.

It wasn’t some “holier than thou” moment. I was just tired.

Tired of the way everything online seemed to revolve around being seen. Not seen in the soulful, you-actually-know-mekind of way. Seen like: “Look at me. Am I enough yet?”

I started noticing how easy it was to slip into this weird headspace where I was competing with women I didn’t even know. Women who were stunning, curated, seemingly flawless. It made me want to change everything about myself, like it was a sport and I was losing. I wasn’t even aware I was doing it half the time.

No one told me to sexualize myself. No one pressured me to perform. I did that all on my own—because that’s what the internet rewards.

And don’t even get me started on the trolls. The “jokes” that were just cruelty wrapped in sarcasm. The way people speak with zero kindness and call it honesty. It’s exhausting.

I’ve always believed that joy begins inside. That when you feel good internally, it shows up in the little things—the way you make your coffee, walk to your car, fold your laundry. So I tried to protect that part of me by unplugging.

But truth? Even after all this time, I still struggle.

Now I find myself navigating a world where Gen Z has redefined what beauty looks like, and somehow I’m supposed to keep up—like I’m still 18 when I’m closer to 30. It’s not realistic. It’s not healthy.

Whenever I get that “maybe I need a tweak here or there” itch, I remind myself: a 29-year-old woman shouldn’t be trying to reverse-age herself into a teenager.

And I owe that mindset to my mom.

When I was 16, I begged her for new breasts. I was obsessed with the idea of fixing my body. One day she looked at me and said:

“My child, you look like me. Which means if you go get plastic surgery, you’re giving me a direct slap in the face and calling me ugly.”

I had never thought of it like that. It stuck.

Sure, it sounds cliché to say your mom changed your life, but she did. She saw the wound and poured love into it. That moment didn’t make all my insecurities disappear—but it gave me something solid to come back to. Something to ground me when the noise gets loud.

We all have insecurities. We all want to feel seen, valued, loved. But maybe the answer isn’t in reshaping ourselves to fit the feed. Maybe it’s in tending to the parts of us that are already enough.

“Stepping back from the digital world didn’t just change how I saw myself—it changed how I treated myself.”

“My Morning Reset in a Glass”

This smoothie has been part of my morning routine for years. It helps with low iron (common in childbearing women), keeps me energized for my run, and actually makes me want to wake up early. Plus, it’s gentle on the stomach before a full meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baby spinach (rich in iron)
• ½ cup pineapple (adds acidity + vitamin C to help absorb iron)
• ¼ avocado (healthy fat + creamy texture)
• ½ cup soy yogurt (plant-based protein + gut support)
• ½ cup frozen berries (natural sweetness + antioxidants)
• ½ cup cold water (adjust for desired consistency)
• Handful of ice (optional but refreshing)
• 3–4 fresh mint leaves (for a cool, uplifting finish)

Optional add-ins:

• 1 tsp chia seeds (iron + omega-3s)
• 1 scoop unflavored collagen or plant protein
• A squeeze of lime (for extra brightness)

Instructions:

• Toss everything into a blender.
• Blend until smooth.
• Sip slowly and feel like the main character of your own life.

And Remember, Smoothie is not a meal replacement it is merely a light snack that is followed by a complete meal!

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