And just like that, the final episode of No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger has wrapped, concluding the 50-year-plus broadcast run of the Super Sentai franchise. 👋🏻😌
But we'll still be getting one more offering in the upcoming annual V-Cinema Versus movie. No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger vs. Boonboomger will have a limited theatrical release on March 20, 2026, with home video versions arriving on July 29, 2026. So, Super Sentai has not completely closed its chapter just yet! ✋🏻😌
(Source: Toei Video)
(Source: Bruna Bastos)
In the meantime, here are some creative fan tributes to keep us company:
(Warning! They contain SPOILERS and, in a way, can be pretty emotional.)
October 31, 2025, might be Halloween for many. It's a day when people dress up in crafty, colorful costumes from the corners of their fandoms. The ones that represent mastery and heroism in ways known only to the wearer. Parties and nightmare-themed events are available, held, and organized to be a celebratory experience that only happens once a year. ☠️👻
But for me, the nightmare didn't require any fake haunted houses. They landed on the comfort of my home. First came news from my brother that shocked me to the core, concerning an almost lifelong part of our lives. The next day, before the sun even peeked on the cloudy horizon, an eerie comment haunted me with dazed confusion, only to become a confirmation a few hours later. It shattered my reality, prompting me to retreat into a suspension of disbelief. "How could this even happen?" I lamented. 😫😭
Okay, yes, I admit that sounds cheesy and exaggerated. Isn't that a common reaction on social media nowadays, though? To resort to a hyperbolic response mode, as if one's rights and feelings are being attacked, assaulted, or violated by a cruel party without warning? 👺🙄
Hahaha, wait, that paragraph felt outlandish too, eh? Unnecessary social criticism aside, no, my reaction was far tamer than that description. My mouth did let out an instant yelp of "You're kidding, right?" And although my emotions weren't as vividly intense as described, I was indeed taken aback by both pieces of news. 😟
What news? Let's rewind to what they are, starting with the latter. Because it will be the first to chronologically transpire. And very soon. ⏱️⏳
(Source: Pokémon Masters)
"Our paths they did cross."
I have been using my Fool's Errands section to write about my experience in re-experiencing two Pokémon mobile games so far. Out of the slew of titles I am still playing, however, there's one I've never considered for this exploratory experiment (or pointless project, to some people hahaha 😅). The video featured above probably already spoiled any mystery. It is none other than Pokémon Masters EX. PokéMas, for short, in its country of origin. 🙋🏻♂️
Why haven't I tried replaying the game from scratch? The idea alone felt daunting and logistically challenging. The app doesn't allow switching accounts easily like Pokémon GO. While Pokémon Café ReMix shares the same limitation, at least it's available to install on Nintendo Switch, which naturally works as a separate medium from my main gameplay on my phone. Besides, Café ReMix's data size is somewhat small. PokéMas warrants a far bigger space—hence, the need for a separate phone—to pull off. 🤷🏻♂️📱
In all fairness, I somewhat regret not looking for a workaround to make it happen. After all, in just two days from now, PokéMas will bow out, making its grand curtain call. In my country, that is. Emphasis on that, so please don't freak out if you've been playing it, too. 🖐🏻😲
As long as your country hasn't received the END OF SERVICE announcement, you're safe to keep playing. Good for you! Please keep playing and supporting it! After all, there's always a risk of it happening elsewhere, too. My country isn't even the first, and it's just joining other countries that already prohibited access to the app (some from day one). 😔🤷🏻♂️
(Note: You can probably pinpoint which country I'm residing in from that info alone. Not that I mind, as it's not a scandalous secret anyway. 😜)
The brainchild of Ken Sugimori, the renowned designer who has created numerous characters and Pokémon species in the franchise, PokéMas shifts the focus onto the colorful cast of protagonists, Gym leaders, Champions, and even antagonists by bringing them all to one island. Canonical question notwithstanding (it's practically a multiversal meet-and-greet), that's the primary, and personally, thrilling appeal compared to the catch & collect-oriented Pokémon GO. 😊🙌🏻
Hey, at some point, I proudly declared PokéMas to be the best Pokémon mobile spin-off. Come to think of it, it's still kind of IS? I mean, where else can we see characters from different regions cross paths, interact, and form an unexpected bond? 🤔🌐
For example, the Team Galactic leader, the big baddie Cyrus from Sinnoh. He could exchange tech intellect with Sophocles, a nerdy boy from Alola who has zero interest in creating a perfect universe. How about Johto's resident Ghost guy, Morty, setting up an after-school occult club with Galar's Dark protege Marnie among the students? And don't forget the sweet, found friendship between Paldea-native Arven and Unova-based N, which, mind you, didn't happen so smoothly just because they had similar parental problems. 🤭💛
PokéMas has given these existing characters, along with future ones, the space to thrive and grow beyond the confines of their base games. In those games, their participation pretty much ends once the ending credits roll in, and maybe even earlier in the gameplay. Here, Kalos' renowned Sycamore could reunite (and arguably speaking, mend the bridge) with his former friend turned misanthropic eco-terrorist Lysandre. Steven and Wallace might have hinted there's something more between them beyond passing the baton of the Hoenn Champion title. Meanwhile, Red, Blue, and Leaf proved their battle bond by forming a formidable Kanto Legends trio together! 🥇🥈🥉
With that said, it would be a blatant lie if I claimed that my interest in PokéMas has stayed high. Following a mindful memory analysis, I realized that my enthusiasm started its downward trend around the game's 4th anniversary. At the time, I somehow encountered a difficulty in updating the app, and the customer support, who was usually very reliable, couldn't even assist me. Guess what? It's mindblowing what almost two weeks of absence can do in altering one's attachment to an app. 🤯👍🏻
Another major ongoing issue for me was the pattern of putting the spotlight on the same character repeatedly. Red and Cynthia, the Sinnoh fearsome Champion, are iconic fan favorites, yes. Even so, giving them various new alternate Sync Pair combinations with new Pokémon did NOT work for or impress me. The biggest offender, however, was the introduction of the obviously monetization-aimed Arc Suits (which, again, debuted with Cynthia's other new alt). 🙄🤦🏻♂️
Last year, PokéMas added the Terastal gimmick from Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. I enjoyed the Terastalization in my Paldean adventure. So, I assumed that would renew my interest in the app. Sad to say, it has been the complete opposite. Maybe because, once again, the app chose to assign the gimmick to the same faces. I have zero knowledge behind the scenes. However, I wonder if DeNA, the developer, had already shifted focus to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, which has since become a global hit, arguably more than PokéMas. 🃏💎
To prevent this from rambling into a more detailed rant, allow me to move forward with the other goodbye. Besides, the second one has a more profound impact. 🙁
"And so it goes, on and on."
My first official entry in this (new) blog explored the wonders of nostalgia that, in many ways, served as the start of facing a long-buried grief. The piece centered around a long-running entertainment franchise that has been, in many ways, influential on my growing up journey. It was already on TV before I was born, and has remained on air when this post goes up. Those multicolored heroes have come a long way, huh? 🤔🌈
That's why the irony hit somewhat hard. My brother's startling news a few months ago was, "SUPER SENTAI IS ENDING!" The initial reaction was a giggling, "You're kidding, right?" Even though I'm fully aware the opposite party isn't one for joking. Seeing his firm confirmation, the line turned into a higher tone, "YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT?" riddled with a wave of disbelief. 😮💨
I mean, I'm pretty sure ANY Super Sentai, or even Power Rangers, fans would react similarly. TOEI is currently airing No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger as the 50th anniversary season. They've been doing this for that long. Why would they suddenly stop a staple show that's been a part of generations of children's Sunday mornings? Have they gone mad? 😱👿
What was first blowing across the globe (from Asia to Europe and beyond) as a rowdy rumor soon burst like a balloon as an official statement. That it wasn't made up, and it was more or less REAL. Hollywood has been flaunting the phrase "Superhero Fatigue" for years. So, is that actually happening to Japan's entertainment industry? Not quite. ✋🏻😅
Although not explicitly confirmed, Kyodo News Agency and The Sankei Shimbun noted that the recent Super Sentai seasons, such as Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger and Gozyuger, have not been selling much. And by selling, that means toys and action figures. Despite the action scenes, compelling characters, and storylines in some titles, the most prominent aspect of the franchise is, no doubt, the live events and merchandise. The sales from those consumer-based practices fund the production costs, thus allowing the franchise to continue running. 🤖💰
(Source: Wotafa)
Regrettably, the country's declining birthrate only means a gradual decrease in viewership numbers. Consequently, that spells less overall profit. Many no longer buy Super Sentai merchandise for their kids. Though, let's be real: who still does that anyway? With the rising cost of daily necessities, healthcare, and education, only super-loaded parents can even afford to buy those expensive action figures. Moreover, the customer market has already switched to adults in general, no longer serving the younger demographics. Why else would The Pokémon Company and LEGO market their recently unveiled collaboration for older enthusiasts? 💵🙆🏼♂️
Shinichiro Shirakura, a senior executive at TOEI, has since explained (via Asahi Shimbun) their creative reason. It's a massive Marvel Cinematic Universe-inspired decision, it turns out. A franchise that goes on and on needs to reinvent itself to avoid being run-of-the-mill. The fascinating thing was that he didn't confirm the financial difficulties explored above. Or the fact that the Super Sentai franchise has come to a definitive END. Shirakura called it a HIATUS. 🛌🏼⛔️
Admittedly, I could smell corporate sweet-talk right away, considering the explanation came a month later. Then again, Shirakura wasn't kidding either. In the same week, TOEI revealed the replacement show, which will be called PROJECT R.E.D. 🧧🏮
Cut to the present day, the official trailer and cast names for the project's first title, Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, have been released. A week ago, on January 18, to be precise. BandaiJP channel has even released a video showcasing the (what else?) toys and merchandise. The new show, which will take over the Super Sentai timeslot, is set to start airing on February 15, 2026. 📅👀
(Source: TOEI Tokusatsu World Official)
"Your voice will still remember our melody."
In the end, an exaggerated response is not really necessary, eh? 😛🙅🏻♂️
PokéMas may soon become an empty, inaccessible husk in my country. Still, assuming DeNA doesn't wipe out our regional save data from their servers like a super villain, I can always continue playing when I visit or, who knows, move permanently to another country. 🛫📲
While Super Sentai is officially gone two weeks from now, the sci-fi replacement will introduce a team of three, not five, heroes. Kamen Rider Zeztz has already introduced two Riders with different color schemes, with three more debuting starting next week. Eventually, TOEI will merge Gavan Infinity and Zeztz to follow their Hollywood entertainment-inspired goal. Speaking of which, Disney has taken the baton and is currently developing a new Power Rangers series from scratch. Therefore, if we stop and think about it clearly, Super Sentai isn't really closing for good. Its multicolored spirit continues, albeit with a new name and title. 📕📽
My lingering qualm, if anything, is how I'm bidding farewell to PokéMas and Super Sentai with such an underwhelming emotion. I've never sensed the urge to try PokéMas's new Pasio Towers mode. The Pasio Academy feature, though fascinating at first, is yet another attempt to reuse the same characters again, this time in school-related attire. Apart from several episodes (Yuichi Nakamura's Gaia was a terrific guest star), Gozyuger has always felt like a chore to watch due to its unclear direction and lackluster quality (for my subjective standards, that is). Plus, there's that unsavory cast shake-up happening close to the finish line. Had the Super Sentai franchise concluded with the neatly written and passionately produced Kaizoku Sentai Go-kaiger, I'd probably be crying nonstop. But with Gozyuger? I'm not even sure what to say. Truly, this waning interest of mine has robbed me of the joy of enjoying both their final run. 🙄🤦🏻♂️
Nevertheless, do I feel sad about not being able to see more characters appearing in PokéMas or welcome more colorful themes in future Sentai teams? In a way, yes. Do I also feel I've wasted time, energy, and attention on something that in the end ends so abruptly? Yes, I do, and annoyed by it, I suppose. But do I regret playing each battle stage or watching the weekly episodes? That's a big N to the O. So, perhaps the best word to describe it is bittersweet? 🤔😅
Even if those were times that I could never rewind or take back, they weren't nothing or pointless either. One might only accompanied me for the past six-plus years, and the other was all my life. Yet, there was fun, joy, laughter, occasional tears, and genuine excitement just the same. Despite the ups and downs, I enjoyed and appreciated each moment. 🤩😢
PokéMas' delightful personalized musical arrangement will always remain an earworm in my earphones. I'll gladly listen and anticipate new melodies, even if I cannot experience the stories in person. I've grown up with Super Sentai as my heroes, my friends, my family, for every phase of my mortal voyage. Even if a Sunday without it will feel weird, there are five decades of library to rewatch and revisit. Heck, I can still sing the melodies of Dai Sentai Google V opening intro or dance to Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger's catchy ending anytime my heart desires. 🎤🕺
Really, that's just the thing about life, right?
"We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye."
Change is an inevitable part of the cycle. Good things don't last forever. There's a time limit for everything we encounter. But when one door closes, another opens to offer a new, unknown pathway that could lead to more good things. 🚪🛣️🤍
More importantly, let's not forget that the fond memories we've had or shared with them will silently but softly stay inside us. Over time, they may return to greet us with a familiar warmth. Maybe in a new form, maybe as a different shape, but they feel as if a long-lost friend. 💞⌛️
With that, I wrap this piece and whisper this melody:
I'd argue the line applies to everything, though. Anything with a beginning would likely have an ending. 😅
By the way, this isn't me closing down this blog. It's about the year, naturally. Today, the progression of seconds to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to a day, days to weeks, weeks to a month, and months to a year reaches its grand finale. As this post goes up, it should be December 31 in most time zones of the world, and specifically midday in mine. That's halfway through the last lap, eh? 😲📅
Like tearing or flipping the final sheet of a calendar, which younger people may not know the feeling, due to digital options, this piece is meant to complete or close the cycle. It's my moment to look back so I can look forward... ⏳🔭
Source: For as Far as the Eye Can See
Old Stories to Share
When I started this blog many moons ago in January, the goal was to reclaim and renew one personal habit. An old one, to be precise, considering casual writing has always been a part of my days since childhood. I can't even remember when I started jotting down my ideas. 🤔📝
To reiterate, this spot isn't my first rodeo at blogging! Admittedly speaking, I had written many posts on various platforms before. In poor, laughable quality, that is. Some incorrigible, many incoherent, hahaha! However, this is my first time actually doing it with a better thematic approach, actual planning, and proper research. And does it work? 😮👀
Well, readers should be the judge of that. Then again, a growing audience isn't exactly the primary plan. So I guess that's a bit hard to tell. What is the purpose of all these efforts, then? 😅
As teased above, I've always enjoyed sharing opinions in written format. Abundantly so! Sad to say, due to my previous work, which funnily enough involved writing for and about other people, I actually had no time to do it for myself. It felt like losing an identity, if I'm being fair. That odd feeling of "something is missing" only grew stronger over the years. Yep! YEARS! 😓🤦🏻♂️
So yeah, this blog has been a return to form, or at least, a bumpy attempt at that. It's not smoothsailing, no doubt. My ambitious aim was to post every ten days. Eventually, writer's block and the demands of daily duties started delaying the posts. Some months ended in absent silence, considering health issues. And during the second half of the year, work once again took hold of my focus, turning into quite a juggle of jobs. It's a humbling lesson that speed isn't a luxury as we grow older. 👶🏻🧑🏻🧓🏻
Source: For as Far as the Eye Can See
Nevertheless, as I've realized and embraced, imperfection is not a bad thing. Hey, it's the art of life, after all. That means, in many ways, my purpose is still very much accomplished. 😌💁🏻♂️
After all, this is me following my inner voice, a desire I set out to do in my premiere post. As such, I'm voicing my voice again, even if there might be no response on the other end. Really, though, unlike posting on social media, at least this doesn't feel like shouting to a wall or an echo chamber. This is a space where I can pour my perspectives, audience or not. A long-form lounging through bundles of brainstorm instead of a descent to doomscrolling! Posting 23 pieces (counting this one) isn't so bad. Right? Hahaha 😜🙆🏻♂️
Moreover, as my Amigo Pinguino repeatedly said, this blog has equally functions as a cathartic release. He's philosophically spot on, as always. By writing, I could finally process my emotions and understand them better, especially the guilt and grief that had taken permanent residency. Through written words, I could share the lessons learned that have guided me to keep going. Here's hoping they have helped, are helping, or will help others who may also need some form of closure. 🙂🙏🏻
Source: Personal Photo Collection, December 31, 2025
New Seasons to Start
Aaaaah, closure is a curious word. Is it not? 😐🙅🏻♂️
Sometimes, we want or need closure on something or two. That helps us find clarity and move forward. Alas, such a conclusive case does not or, worse, will never come, no matter how long we wait. When that happens, we're left wondering and wandering lost in the woods of uncertainty. 😩🤦🏻♂️
The bittersweet thing is: maybe that's already the closure all along. Silence and absence, the fading connection and care? The nonspoken goodbye or the nonexistent farewell. Those have always been the closures that, unfortunately, we don't realize yet. 😨🙄
Similar to TV shows and movies, an open ending isn't necessarily a BAD thing. Often, the ways plot points are left unsolved can be annoying, I know. That said, we can still reframe our lens and view that from a different angle. If done right, an open ending leaves the door, well, open to revisit in the future. A renewal or a surprising new season/sequel is still possible. Assuming there are strong and valid reasons for that to happen, of course. 👀😲
I mean, the early 2000s sitcom Malcom in the Middle will return, with all returning cast, in April next year. Toy Story 5 is out just two months after! Heck, a new The Hunger Games movie awaits, too, and it's welcoming back two main characters who, as far as YouTube has spoiled, already had a calm conclusion back in 2015. And to think I haven't even fully seen every previous title! 😬🤷🏻♂️
The same applies to human connection. As I've experienced through my life, including this year, people come and go. Some leave loudly with a weary warning, but others seep away ever so silently like the wavering wind. At times, they may bring a clear closure. But often, there's nothing but wistful wondering. That's the inevitable nature of our fleeting life. Spring turned to Summer, and Autumn heralded Winter. 🍃🍂
On the other hand, life also has a funny way of bringing people back together. A relation might seem like it had reached an end at some point. Yet, the dance of back and forth may restart after a month, a year, or even a decade of nothing. Just like that, things pick up and continue again. 👯♀️🕺🏃♂️
Perhaps when the parties involved have finally moved on with the struggles in their lives? Maybe once their previous priorities are finally fulfilled, and suddenly, somehow, the bond with us becomes the "new" one. They've matured, met, and said farewells with an array of new people before life directs them to that one strayed soulmate from the past. It's not impossible and has been done before. ☺️🔄😱
Don't obsess on it, though! That's the key to not turning that open-ended possibility into a romanticized reason to hold on to what's gone. Accept that some people never come back, for good. 👋🏻😢
Instead, we owe it to ourselves to focus on the ones who are around us. Particularly, that honor goes to the loyal, patient, and trustworthy dear ones who are still there for us through our ups and downs. Some bonds don't need a drawn-out detour to a distant land to continue. It doesn't require a roundabout reunion. As Rob & Dianne Parsons would attest about their late friend-turned-irreplaceable family, Ronnie Lockwood, theirs lasted a lifetime. 🤝⌛️
The new year means new seasons of stories. Will that be a fun or frowning one? Oh, maybe there's an enlightening, energetic episode down the line! How about the characters? Will there be new faces to meet or unexpected developments with the old ones? A blast from the past, as I described above, could even be in the scenario. Fresh opportunities and potentials, interpersonal or otherwise, may be in store to explore. 😃🙆🏻♂️
A change will happen, whether we like it or not.
No, let me rephrase. CHANGES, in plural, may be the better form. They will tease us, tempt us, or tire us. Nonetheless, some changes undeniably teach, transform, and transcend us to grow. 🌱🌻🌳
Let's wait and welcome those troves towards thriving together, shall we? Best of all, let's try not to be too hard on ourselves while doing so. To be real and reasonable with our resolutions. Because we are and will always be human with flaws and failures. 🤗💁🏻♀️🙋🏻♂️
***
Source: Personal Photo Collection, January 01, 2025
Calling 2025 a spectacular year may be an overstatement. Great? Hmm. Can't say for sure. Good, then? Not always. If I'm being frank, last year ended on a stabler, stronger note in more ways. But has it been meh? Nah! That's also definitely not the case. ✋🏻😐
There's this odd, calming feeling of gratitude and acceptance that's oddly hard to put into words. I guess I'm glad that, in general, my family is safe and sound. Even if there was a final farewell last month (ugh, we need to stop seeing each other only at funerals). And I'm honored to have loyal friends, from far-off continents to neighboring countries. Even if we haven't seen each other in person. 😌💫🌏
Ultimately, I suppose acknowledging that "it's okay to not be okay" helps, one day at a time. Or should I say, one post at a time? 😉📧
If you've reached this point, YOU'RE AMAZING! 🤩🌟
I thank you tremendously for reading through my ramblings throughout the year. The journey hasn't been smooth, yes. But there's no regret! And while the chapter of 2025 concludes today, the next one awaits just around the corner. An ending always marks another, hopefully hopeful, beginning. May 2026 bring a peaceful, pleasant surprise to us all. 😄🙏🏻
Till then, out with the old and nestle in the new.
The fascinating thing? In the days prior, I had two pen pals apologizing for not reaching out as quickly as they used to. Naturally, I reminded them that they did nothing wrong, and brought up the fact that some others have been "AWOL" for far longer (months if not years) than them. So, their ridiculously short absence paled in comparison. 😅
Hence, reading that article felt so much like a weird coincidence. While I never gave it much thought before, the content made me ponder:
"This does happen, huh?" 😐
Alarmingly so, the piece rhymed well with an opinion I shared previously about "Being Busy." That HackSpirit article, however, expands it by touching on reasons beyond the hectic demands of one's routine. Drifting apart can happen unconsciously. 😨
Once again, Jesse Eisenberg's Dave in A Real Pain might be a good example of this. Without spoiling the movie (seriously, watch the Academy Award-winning comedy already! 😅), the obvious gap between the character and his cousin Benji was not intentional. It was Dave's shifting priorities (one key point in the article) that inevitably caused him to drift apart. 😔
The same week, Pokémon GO was running a Timed Research event called Beloved Buddies. One NPC, Candela, who was the focus of the storyline, stated this:
(Source: Pokémon GO, developed by Niantic and The Pokémon Company)
The fictional character pretty much spoke about friends thriving separately. Her line was not even implied but captured the idea precisely. 🙂
"I gotta trust that my friends have the strength to make it out OK, whether they're on their own or at my side."
True to Candela's (stereotyped) optimism, instead of feeling uneasy about it, she ended the "talk" on a high note. 😅
"I wanna be there to help --if and when you need me."
Naturally, I resonate deeply with that last line. Probably due to my zodiac or my MBTI, I agree with that sentiment. I wish to be there for others equally. But, of course, the real world doesn't work like fiction. More often than not, a line like Candela's will be appreciated, only to be NOT taken seriously. The emphasis is on the "if and when you need me" part. Because in most cases, in real life, that may NEVER happen. 🙄
Frankly, that kind of response disappoints me. And sometimes, I even take offense by such a disregard. 😩
I mean, I meant my words to the tee. I've experienced numerous occasions of being in need, only to have the people who promised to be there for me NEVER come and vanish instead. So, I understand that unpleasant feeling. And I will try my best NOT to have people, especially if it's a family member, close friend, or someone I care about, feel the same way. 😟
(By the way, that point of view doesn't count as people-pleasing. Right? 😶)
Yet, somehow, it felt like I had somehow become forgettable if and when they were down in the dumps. It wasn't that I craved for validation or anything. It's just that, oddly enough, me and my wide-open helping hands, who were always there, became invisible from their line of sight! Or as someone once lamented to me, "Just like that, we're only an afterthought." 🤦🏻♂️👻
Of course, the more that happened, I slowly realized one thing. Such a situation was a prelude to something bigger. The dismissive attitude silently and softly segued into a worse outcome. And it was none other than the one I mentioned in the opening paragraph of this writing. Those people did not only disregard my sincere offer. They cut off other people, too! 😱
We live in a weird time. The rise of social media makes it easy to connect with people who live far away. But, in a way, it also makes it easier for that connection to fade away. There is one fact that feels antithetical or maybe ironic to that, though. 😐
Honestly, people nowadays have FAR EASIER access to knowledge about or how to navigate themselves through connections or relationships. One good example? I am a genuine fan of the Tech Support series by WIRED. The free online videos bring experts on wide-ranging but specific topics, giving them space to answer real-life questions submitted by the audience. More often than not, the answers become an entertaining learning experience that broadens my horizon. 😳
Feel free to call it a weird habit, but I'm fascinated by videos that divulge around connections. Even when it seems to be not intentional about the general varieties. Like the one featuring the renowned Dr. Orna Guralnik. It discusses couples therapy.
But I mean, apart from the romantic or sexual parts, many of the issues included DO apply to any relationship in general, right? One part that fascinates me is how Dr. Guralnik keeps mentioning the word curious, as in a sense of curiosity about one's partner. That is a component that keeps a relationship alive. Come to think of it, that applies the same to friendship and other connections, too. 🤔
Another thrilling video features licensed family therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile. Likewise, this focuses predominantly on romantic couples. The fun difference is some of the questions actually touch upon how forming a relationship with someone may affect the other relationships that a person has, in this case, family or friends. So, it has also been an eye-opening watch. 👀
From my experience, what Ms. Yates-Anyabwile explains is very relatable, considering many faded connections I had or witnessed usually happened when that friend or family member met someone (new, either in a romantic setting or not). The presence of that "intruder" disrupts the nature or balance that was once there. 😒👫😟
One good case is a close school friend of my brother. For simplicity purposes, let's say that person is named Average Joe. Suddenly, Joe's whole world revolved around someone new, say, his new lover. Joe began to push others, including my brother, away and away, albeit unconsciously. 💑
As the Tech Support video elaborated, in line with the HackSpirit article, there was an obvious shift of priorities in Joe's mind. Not that it was bad, of course. The people who used to be Joe's inner circle? They all felt happy for him. Yet, before my brother knew it, Joe had grown so distant that my brother barely recognized him anymore. 🤷🏻♂️🙅🏻♂️
Hypothetically, IF Joe's relationship went well and headed to the next stages? Then most likely, that awkward distance continued, as the sense of aloofness with his friends grew further. It might even turn Joe into a complete stranger, exclusively bound or chained to his couple only. "The bird has left the nest," one often says. 💒🦢🕊
But the problem is that a relationship does NOT always have a surefire warranty. "Happily ever after" only exists in fairytales. What happened when Joe's relationship went sideways? Suddenly once more, Joe started crawling back into my brother's life, trying to reconnect. 💔
Alas, the world around Joe, including his previous inner circle, had already adjusted to his notable absence, too. In short, the change happened on both sides. The relationship already transformed Joe for better or worse. In Joe's case, even I, an outsider, can attest to how the previously polite and positive-spirited Joe has eerily turned into a jaded and just a jerk-of-a person. From someone full of life, Joe became full of himself and, regrettably if not irritably, unpleasant to be around. ✋🏻🤡
Simply put, the damage was already done on Joe. Despite the long friendship my brother used to have with Joe, my brother and the other friends openly admit they now try their best to keep their arms at length from him. Why? Because the air no longer feels right whenever Joe is around. 😫
On the one hand, I feel bad for Joe, especially recalling how he was a good person before (and maybe still is deep down?). But on the other hand, I also feel bad for my brother and his friends if they must "force themselves" to, in a phrase my pen pal (one I mentioned earlier, actually) likes to use, "put up with" Joe's new annoying antics. 🙄
Speaking of pen pals, some of my pen pals have also shared similar situations with the Joe(s) in their lives. I admit I have my share, too. Heck, upon further thinking and retrospect, I might have been a Joe to the people I used to know! That might have happened when I pulled back to focus on myself and prioritize self-care. With that in mind, this issue is undeniably a common thing, huh? 😲
I don't recall in which video (I watch a lot, guilty of any charges). But I saw a comment about friendship and/or connection in that video that sounded fascinating. It easily stayed on my mind ever since. After a quick search (just now), it turns out to be a line written by Ziad K. Abdelnour.
"You have three types of friends in life: Friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for a lifetime."
I brought that line into a discussion with some of my pen pals. To my surprise, they more or less agreed to the notion. One even compared "the season" part somewhat literally, connecting it to the natural life cycle. 🌐
He said that sometimes, we meet cheerful and vibrant people who feellike Spring. Others are sunny like Summer. But as time goes on, the season starts to shift into Autumn. Their presence is replaced by the mellow and moody variety. By the time Winter arrives? The warmth that once was there has turned into sheer cold. In a sense, his analogy encapsulates the entire idea of why connections glow and fade, or how even the sweetest and magical mutual bonds can grow and wilt. Would you agree? 🌺☀️🍂❄️
I admit that experiencing a fading connection is far from delightful. Experts have revealed that, any good connection, when/if it has run its course, leaves behind a painful feeling. There is even a renowned song in my country that says something along the lines of "It is better to have a toothache, instead of heartache." 😅
That may explain why, despite my Mirror Armor tendency, I do my best, or try to, at least, not let one connection go awry as easily. In that pursuit, I have strived to be more understanding of their situation or the possible reasons for their decline. After all, we all have our reasons for disappearing from the spotlight. Nevertheless, there is so much that I can do. Any relationship is all about balance. Even if I have done my part, it does not work if the other side does not reciprocate, right? 😞🤷🏻♂️
At the end of the day, people come and people go. Life runs that way. There are cases when walking away may be the sole solution, no matter how uneasy it may be. Upon further analysis, giving up on people does not need to be a bad thing, either, particularly if such "Goodbye" will impact our mental state or peace of mind for the better. As hard and painful as it is, giving up on people is still very much an option. 😓😕😌👍🏻
