Ashes in the Light

I saw an Instagram story the other day and it stayed with me. It’s a video of an old man who flew all the way from the US to Taiwan to meet his sister for the last time. She had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and he wanted to be there before it was too late.

It made me think about how, as Asians, we don’t always say “I love you,” “I’m proud of you,” or “I miss you.” In fact, we often keep those words tucked deep inside, unspoken. We’re not always the type to express love through grand speeches or constant verbal reminders.

Instead, we show love through actions.
In the past, it might have been cooking for you—waking up early to make your favourite breakfast or saving the last piece of your favourite dish. It probably still is, for many families.

But as times change and technology becomes part of our daily lives, those gestures of love have taken on new forms. These days, sending a funny meme or a random reel can mean, “Hey, I thought of you.” Double-tapping someone’s post, reacting to their story with a heart—it’s subtle, but it’s a way of saying, “You matter to me.”

Love doesn’t always need to be loud. It’s in the quiet acts, the shared moments, the unspoken understanding. Because sometimes, action truly does speak louder than words.

So if someone sends you a random video or reacts to your story today, maybe take it as what it is—love, in their own way.

And if you ever feel like nobody loves you or that you don’t matter to them, pause and look closer. Sometimes, the smallest everyday gestures carry the heaviest weight—and the deepest meaning—we just need to notice them.