Catherine Chea is a Toronto-based creative with a passion for storytelling and music. She spent her formative years pursuing piano, enrolling in music programs throughout high school and university. After studying philosophy at McGill in Montreal, Catherine discovered her calling in writing and continues to explore her creative side through short stories and fiction. To learn more about Catherine and her work, visit www.CatherineChea.com.
A young man lives pay check to paycheck as a fortune cookie ghostwriter. He harbors guilt from his deceased parents who often blames him for his career choice for their predicament. … More The Fortune Cookie Writer
Many people, especially young adults such as myself, are inundated with messages about pursuing our dreams and quitting our day jobs to run our own business. After all, life is too short to waste time doing something you’re not passionate about. However, I’ve come to realize that maybe it’s OK to be not passionate about … More I’m choosing not to be passionate about my job—and here’s why
I escaped winter’s last hurrah (an ice storm in Toronto in the middle of April) when I left for my Mediterranean trip last week. The trip—which started in Rome, Italy and ended in Barcelona, Spain—was brief and lasted less than seven days. Despite the short period, it was packed with adventure, memories, and warmth. There … More A Mediterranean love affair
It’s unlike me to write a wellness blog. Normally, my blogs are about my musings on relationships, life, and my perpetual existential crisis. But I can now see how wellness, spirituality, and self-discovery are interrelated. Because the kinds of food I consume and the amount of exercise I’m getting affect the quality of my thoughts. In … More I never understood the avocado and yoga craze until I moved to downtown Toronto
Comparing our lives to others can make us feel miserable—yet we do it anyways. Not only does this make us feel inadequate, doing so can also stunt our personal growth. Below are some thoughts that can help you stop comparing yourself to others. While some of these points sound cliché, I try to put them … More 10 Reminders to help you stop comparing yourself to others
The soulmate quest can occupy a large amount of your time and energy. You may devote a lot of time worrying about finding your ideal match. In doing so, you forget to stop and smell the roses and just let life flow. … More 5 Reasons why I stopped believing in soulmates
I remember Jean-Paul Sartre described freedom as “anguish” from my existentialism class when I was at university. The freedom to make choices with nothing to restrict us is an incredible burden of responsibility—and is what relegates us to constant anguish. Similarly, Kierkegaard explains anxiety as the “dizzying effect of freedom” where we become paralyzed by … More Freedom isn’t anguish, it’s art
Interpersonal intelligence, otherwise known as people skills, is key to success in our careers, relationships, and life in general. It helps us set healthy boundaries, connect with others, and resolve conflict. Without them, life would be grim. In an earlier blog post, I wrote about how books, such as memoirs and fiction, can help us develop … More People skills are about putting our needs first
I feel like I’m having a weird eureka moment as if I solved a math equation. It’s difficult for me to admit how much emotional validation I seek, and this is likely the underlying reason for my desires to enter a relationship. I also realize, based on my experiences and talking to other people, that people … More The relationship paradox
Read my original article on Introvert, Dear. Rejection is one of those unpleasant experiences that most human beings and other social animals would rather not endure. Whether it’s being dumped, ignored, or turned down for an opportunity, rejection stings. In some severe cases, it can even paralyze you, making you never want to leave the … More 5 tips to make rejection sting a little less
Catherine Chea 