Some Days Quietly Change the Way We See the World

"Some days don't change your life all at once; they gently change the way you see it."

Every once in a while, an ordinary day quietly becomes unforgettable, not because something extraordinary happens, but because it leaves people seeing the world a little differently than before.

On July 13, 2026, the JIA Foundation, in collaboration with the Women in Support and Education (WISE) Feminist Club, hosted the Self-Love Workshop in Montréal (WISE Feminist Club, 2026). The event brought together students and community members for an afternoon that beautifully blended conversations about self-love with an inspiring exploration of Montréal's Chinatown history. Through meaningful discussions, reflective activities, and cultural storytelling, participants were encouraged to reconnect with themselves while appreciating the resilience of the communities around them.

Rather than treating self-love as another trending concept, the workshop explored it as a lifelong practice of compassion, resilience, and personal growth.

Note. Photograph taken by the author

The morning began with conversations about self-love, not the polished version often associated with positive affirmations, but the quieter and more meaningful practice of choosing yourself every single day.

Through open discussions and thoughtful activities, participants reflected on unlearning self-doubt, replacing self-criticism with self-compassion, and becoming their own source of encouragement before seeking validation from others.

“One of the workshop's most memorable moments came when Shubhangi Bhardwaj invited everyone to imagine standing in front of their five-year-old selves and reflect on how they would speak to that child" (WISE Feminist Club, 2026)

She asked us to reflect:

"If you were standing in front of your five-year-old self, how would you speak to that child?"

Would you respond with kindness, patience, encouragement, and unconditional love, or would you speak to that child the same way we often speak to ourselves as adults?

That simple question transformed the atmosphere in the room.

It reminded us that we often become our own harshest critics while instinctively offering compassion to everyone else. If we would never speak harshly to a child, why do we so often speak that way to ourselves?

Shubhangi also shared another powerful message that in today's world, positive affirmations alone are not enough (WISE Feminist Club, 2026). While affirmations can be helpful, genuine healing begins when we truly learn to love ourselves, accept ourselves, and believe that we are worthy exactly as we are.

One of the workshop's most meaningful activities invited participants to write a heartfelt letter to themselves (WISE Feminist Club, 2026). Instead of writing about future achievements or ambitions, everyone was encouraged to write words that many of us rarely hear from ourselves:

"I love you for who you are."

For many, this became one of the most emotional moments of the afternoon. Taking a few quiet minutes to express kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, and unconditional love toward ourselves reminded us that self-love is not something we earn; it is something we deserve.

Throughout the session, one message quietly echoed through every conversation:

Self-love is not about becoming someone new; it is about remembering who you were before the world convinced you otherwise (WISE Feminist Club, 2026). As the afternoon unfolded, the workshop gently shifted its focus from personal growth to the remarkable story of Wing's Noodles, one of Montréal Chinatown's oldest family-run noodle manufacturers (JIA Foundation, 2026).

What initially appeared to be the history of a noodle-making factory gradually unfolded into something far greater, a story of immigration, family separation, resilience, perseverance, and hope. Walking through preserved photographs, handwritten records, newspaper clippings, archival videos, and stories behind both noodle and fortune-cookie production felt like travelling through generations of history (JIA Foundation, 2026). Every photograph reflected not only the evolution of a family business but also the determination of individuals who transformed hardship into opportunity.

Despite years of separation across borders and countless obstacles, the family built much more than a successful manufacturing business. They created employment, strengthened community ties, preserved cultural traditions, and fostered a lasting sense of belonging within Montréal's Chinatown (JIA Foundation, 2026). Although the factory eventually ceased operations, its legacy continues through a beautifully preserved community space that celebrates Chinatown's rich history while creating opportunities for education, storytelling, connection, and belonging (JIA Foundation, 2026).

Note. Photograph taken by the author

The afternoon naturally inspired thoughts of the generations who came before us, be it our parents, grandparents, mentors, and communities whose sacrifices created opportunities that many of us enjoy today. Like the roots of a tree, their strength often remains unseen, yet it is the very foundation that allows future generations to grow. True legacy often lives not in what we accumulate but in what continues because we were here.

More than a discussion about self-love or a lesson in history, the Self-Love Workshop demonstrated how personal well-being, community, and cultural preservation are deeply interconnected. When we learn to care for ourselves with compassion, we become better equipped to care for others. When we preserve stories of resilience, we pass forward hope, belonging, and strength to future generations.

The collaboration between the JIA Foundation and the WISE Feminist Club created more than just an afternoon of learning; it created a space where people could slow down, reflect, connect with one another, and appreciate both their own journeys and the journeys of those who came before them.

The day concluded with more than memories. It left behind a renewed appreciation for community, a deeper respect for those whose sacrifices shaped the present, and a gentle reminder that some of life's most meaningful moments are not the loud ones.

Some days don't change our lives all at once; “they simply, quietly change the way we see ourselves, the people around us, and the world we share.”

References

JIA Foundation (2026). Wing Noodles: The Heart of Chinatown.https://jiafoundationmtl.org/wing-noodles-the-heart-of-chinatown/

WISE Feminist Club [@wisefeministclub] (July 13, 2026). WISE and JIA Foundation: An insightful interaction [Photograph collection]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DawR2KdkRBt/?igsh=MXF1eWllbXJmd3Ftbw%3D%3D