fact or fiction
Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about our family dynamics, traditions, and if there's such thing as a 'perfect family.'
Things I Wish I Told My Mom Before I Moved Out
The morning I moved out, my mom made pancakes. She never said, “I’ll miss you.” She just slid the plate toward me with a quiet, practiced grace and asked if I wanted syrup. I nodded, heart thumping, trying not to cry. My car was already packed. The keys were in my pocket. The rest of my life waited in a two-bedroom apartment across town.
By Muhammad Sabeelabout a year ago in Families
The Power of Being Unavailable: How Boundaries Became My Superpower
For the longest time, I thought being available made me valuable. If someone called, I answered—even if I was in the middle of something. If a friend needed a favor, I said yes—even when I was exhausted. I responded to texts at midnight, checked emails before I even got out of bed, and said “of course” far too often when I should’ve said “not right now.”
By Aiman Shahidabout a year ago in Families
Why So Many People Are Quietly Cutting Off Their Families in 2025
The Silent Exodus No One Talks About They don’t make announcements. There are no dramatic goodbye speeches or viral social media posts. Instead, it happens in quiet unfollows, unreturned calls, unanswered texts, and the slow fading out of Sunday visits and holiday traditions. Across the globe, thousands—maybe millions—of adults are quietly, and often painfully, distancing themselves from their families.
By Muhammad Sabeelabout a year ago in Families
I Blocked My Parents for a Month—And Found Peace I Didn’t Know I Needed
The first time I hovered my finger over the "Block Contact" option on my mother’s name, I felt a tightness in my chest that reminded me of every Sunday lunch I had forced myself to sit through with a fake smile and a churning stomach. My parents weren’t monsters. They didn’t scream or curse. They didn’t hit or throw things. But they did something more invisible—they made me doubt myself, my worth, and the validity of my own feelings.
By Muhammad Sabeelabout a year ago in Families
The Letter in the Teacup
Sometimes the smallest rituals hide the biggest secrets. It was the third Thursday of July, and the rain in Lahore was heavier than usual. Streets were slick with water, umbrellas bloomed like black flowers, and rickshaw horns sounded like distant echoes in a half-forgotten dream.
By Farooq shahabout a year ago in Families
Unlearning People-Pleasing: Becoming Who I Am, Not Who You Want
For most of my life, I wore the invisible badge of a people-pleaser. I smiled when I wanted to scream, agreed when I disagreed, and sacrificed my own comfort to earn someone else’s approval. I became a master of morphing into what others wanted me to be. But beneath the polished surface, I was exhausted. I didn’t know who I truly was—I only knew who I was supposed to be for everyone else.
By Aiman Shahidabout a year ago in Families
3 Signs You’re An ‘Overgiver’ In Your Relationship, By A Psychologist
Being an “overgiver” means your default setting is to give more than what’s healthy, sustainable or reciprocated. And it’s not just your time or help; you likely offer others emotional energy, presence, concern, forgiveness and endless second chances, often at the cost of your own boundaries.
By Muhammad Sabeelabout a year ago in Families
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, affects the large intestine (colon or rectum) and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The most alarming fact about this disease is that it often begins with mild or almost invisible symptoms, which is why early detection is crucial. When caught early, colon cancer is highly treatable. Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness or delayed diagnosis, many cases are detected at later stages, when the disease has already progressed.
By Ahmad shahabout a year ago in Families
Understanding Food Poisoning
Food is an essential part of our lives, but when contaminated, it can become a serious health hazard. Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, occurs when people consume food or drinks contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances. While most cases are mild, some can be severe or even life-threatening, especially for young children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
By Ahmad shahabout a year ago in Families
Why African Parents Say ‘No’ When They Mean ‘Yes’ — A Cultural Decode
If you grew up in an African household, you’ve probably experienced this confusing moment: you ask your parent for permission or a favor, and their immediate answer is “No.” But if you listen closely, read the tone, or wait a moment, you realize that “No” often means “Maybe,” or even “Yes.”
By Abdushakur Mrishoabout a year ago in Families
Family Dynamics and Sibling Relationships
Emma still remembers the day her parents brought her baby brother home from the hospital. At four years old, she had been the center of her universe for what felt like forever, basking in the undivided attention of two doting parents. Suddenly, this tiny, wrinkled stranger commanded everyone's focus, leaving Emma feeling displaced and confused. Twenty-five years later, Emma and her brother share an unbreakable bond, but the echoes of that early displacement still influence how they interact—and how Emma approaches relationships in general.
By Muhammad Sabeelabout a year ago in Families
