Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate. I propose Boraday!Ā
Every year, we celebrate days dedicated to love, family, and friendship ā but what if there was a day that celebrated all three? A day for loving yourself, loving others, and remembering the power of connection.Ā
Thatās what Boraday is all about. š
Inspired by BTSās Kim Taehyung (V) and his iconic phrase ė³“ė¼ķ“ (Borahae), meaning āI Purple You,ā Boraday is a celebration of trust, love, and loyalty that endures ā just like the color purple, the last color of the rainbow.
When Taehyung first said āI Purple Youā during BTSās 3rd Muster fan meeting in 2016, he explained that purple means āI will trust and love you for a long time.ā Since then, the phrase has become a powerful symbol for BTS and ARMY ā representing an unbreakable bond built on sincerity, compassion, and hope.
š What Boraday Meansš
Borahae combines two Korean words:
ė³“ė¼ (bora) ā purple ķ“ (hae) ā from saranghae (I love you)
Together, they form Borahae ā āI Purple You.ā
Over time, this phrase has evolved into something much deeper than a fan slogan.
BTS have shown us resilience in the face of hardship ā from social pressures and mental health struggles to the challenges of being artists who stay true to themselves. Through their honesty, theyāve created a rare kind of connection between artist and fan ā one that feels real, human, and full of love.
šø What Happens on Boraday šø
Boraday would be celebrated worldwide as a day of love, reflection, kindness, and empowerment.
Hereās how:
š Morning: Love Yourself
Start the day with self-reflection. Take time to rest, journal, or do something that nourishes your soul. Pamper yourself ā not out of vanity, but out of gratitude for how far youāve come.
š Afternoon: Love Others
Do something kind for someone else. Send a message to a friend, help a neighbour, volunteer locally, or donate to a cause. Whether itās big or small, your act of kindness sends ripples through the world.
š Evening: Empower and Connect
Use your voice ā for yourself or for others. Speak up for someone who needs support. Share stories that inspire change. Visit someone who feels unseen ā young people, elders, or anyone whoās lost hope ā and remind them they matter.
š Why Everyone Should Celebrate
In a world that often feels divided or exhausting, Boraday reminds us to pause ā to see each other again. Itās a day that celebrates both individuality and unity. Itās about embracing who you are, while also reaching out to others with love and understanding.
Itās a day that says:
You are enough.
You are loved.
You are purpled. š
So letās make it official ā every November 13th, the day purple you was first spoken, letās celebrate Boraday, a global day of love, kindness, and hope.
Because as Taehyung said ā āI Purple Youā means weāll love and trust each other until the very end.
And then, when the day is done- lets celebrate by sharing all the wonderful things celebrated.
That’s the holiday I would create, but why make it ājust one dayā, why have Boraday when you can live your Bora life everyday! š
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?
When I first found these writing prompts, I promised myself Iād try to make each one – as far as possible – somehow BTS-related, because, well thatās what Iām and my blog is all about.
Now, if I had to choose one year of my life to relive, it would be 2019 without question.
From the very start, I decided it was going to be my āYes Year.ā I wanted to say yes to more adventures, yes to the things Iād been putting off, and yes to life in general. And honestly? It delivered.
Every year on my birthday, I wish for snow. And on the very first day of February 2019, just after midnight, I peeked out the window and ā unbelievably ā it was snowing. Actual, magical, real-life snow. I had to physically stop myself from waking the kids up there and then. Thankfully, school called a snow day, so we got to spend the whole day playing outside together.
It was also the day I learned never to take Louenās creative suggestions too seriously because when he told me to use my glasses as decorations for our snowman, I said yes (it was the Year of Yes, after all). Letās just say a heavy snowman head balancing on a wonky snowman bodyā¦ didnāt end well. Luckily, I was collecting new glasses that afternoon anyway, so no harm done.
The year started with magic but it ended with change. I was made redundant that winter, and at first, it stung. But in hindsight, it was exactly the push I needed. It forced me to take stock, to chase something that was mine, and to rediscover what I was capable of. The new path I found since then has opened doors, helped me grow, and reminded me of my own worth.
But the real heart of 2019 ā the reason itāll forever be purple ā was BTS at Wembley.
Two sold-out nights. I was there for both. And it was electric. The energy, the emotion, the love between the members and ARMY ā it was like nothing Iād ever experienced. Their performances were beyond incredible; every note, every smile, every heartbeat felt alive. Iād already fallen deep down the BTS rabbit hole by then, but those concerts? They carved BTS a permanent place in my heart.
The camaraderie amongst army, the funny stories and anecdotes we still tell today, honestly it was amazing and more than just the memories. The little freebies I got from Wembley are still displayed in my Wembley frame 6 years later l, treasurer memories that mean as much as any expensive gift. And yes I know I moans about the freebies at Jin and some behaviours but that was one experience, I wonāt let it affect my whole experience as all other times, that little experience of giving and receiving freebies amongst fans has been wonderful.
I also have a friendship that has gone beyond that initial first love for BTS. We are best friends, family and show up when needed. We chat shit, we talk families and children, get deep and take the piss as good friends do. Every day is fun and new and exciting and Iām thankful for the friendships Iāve made. It goes so much more than an online friend ship founded on BTS, we live and breathe the values they promote.
So yes, if I could relive any moment, it would be standing in that crowd again, singing, crying, laughing, and feeling completely seen.
But at the same timeā¦ as BTS told us āThe best is yet to come.ā And I believe that. With everything theyāve given us already ā and everything still ahead ā I wouldnāt trade the future for the past.
You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
I know the immediate go-to answers will probably be money, power, or successābut for me, itās about happiness and adventure. I want to explore more of the world, collect travel goals and bucket list inspiration, and maybe add a touch of a BTS dream along the way.
So, for my three wishes, I want to give myself and my family some chances to experience more. My BTS dream would be to see BTS up close and personal and Iād like to have a little bit of money to help em do these things but I donāt need to be a millionaire.
So these are my choices:
Barricade tickets for BTS all over the world ā the ultimate BTS concert experience! But for that BTS dream to come true, I need my other wishes too š
My second wish would be to overcome my fear of flyingānot just survive it, but actually enjoy it. Itās part of my self-growth journey and something that could open the door to so many travel goals and adventures. Currently Iām reading Flying with confidence, that my friend sent me to see if this help m me overcome my fear.
My final wish would be to have enough moneyānot millions, just a little breathing space. Enough to travel for concerts, take the kids on adventures, and give my mum that dream trip to Switzerland. Happiness doesnāt come from luxuryāit comes from shared experiences, laughter, and seeing the world together.
Sometimes wishes arenāt about changing who we areātheyāre about giving ourselves permission to live more fully.
āØ What would your three wishes be?
š This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend things I love or genuinely find inspiring ā thanks for supporting Hearts and Seoul! šø
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the person that comes to mind and why?
When I think of the word successful, the answer really depends on what you mean by it. what is success?Ā
For some people, success might mean wealth, running a thriving business, earning promotions, or building something from the ground up. For others, it might be about love and connection, having a family, being surrounded by people who care about you.
For someone else, success might be finally getting that high school qualification at eighty years old. Maybe they already had a family, ran a business, and even became rich, but that moment ā that personal milestone ā is what made them feel successful.
Success can look like living in a house rather than on the streets. Owning a car. Having some savings. Being happy. Being kind. Being recognised for something you love doing.
When I think of success, I think first of my parents. Neither of them were highly educated, but both were incredibly smart, hardworking, and full of love. They were working-class people living paycheque to paycheque, but they raised four children to be good, kind humans. We were always fed, always had a roof over our heads, and they never fell into debt. If it werenāt for my dadās health, theyād have grown old together in the same loving marriage they built from scratch and to me, thatās true success. Or for mum, it might even be getting to see Jin (at least one of the members of bts)!
But what success looks like for my mum isnāt necessarily what it looks like for me. Honestly, I donāt think you really know what success means to you until youāre older and can look back and reflect on what truly mattered.
One thing I know is that Iād love my kids to grow up to be kind, open, and inclusive adults. I wonāt know for a while if Iāve succeeded in that, but that doesnāt mean Iām not successful in other areas of my life.
My husband, for example, is successful in so many ways. Heās built an amazing career in the Navy, helped us buy our home, and supported me and the kids every step of the way. But does he think heās successful? Probably not yet, and maybe thatās part of it too. Success is always evolving.
Itās all subjective.
And nowā¦ onto my favourite subject.
When I think of successful people on a global scale, I canāt help but think of BTS.
Yes, theyāre world-famous, incredibly talented, and have achieved things most people only dream of: awards, records, influence, wealth. But thatās not why I consider them successful.
To me, BTS are successful because of the connection theyāve built. They share so much of themselves with fans – their thoughts, emotions, insecurities, and growth – through their music and message, theyāve helped people from all over the world feel seen, supported, and inspired.
One of my favourite vlogs about BTS and ARMYs kindness
Theyāve sparked kindness, self-love, and generosity in millions. You see it every day in the donations made in ARMYās name, in acts of compassion, and in the friendships formed through their music.
Their success isnāt just measured in numbers, itās in the lives theyāve touched and the hearts they continue to reach.
So yes, BTS are still evolving and growing, but to me, theyāre already successful because theyāve managed to capture something far rarer than fame or fortune: theyāve captured hearts and souls (especially mine š)
āWe have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to ‘speak yourself.ā Kim Namjoon, 24 September 2018, UN General Assembly
I never really thought about the principles I lived by. But I guess I wanted to be kind, open and honest as I could be. I wanted my parents to be proud and I wanted to live a happy fulfilled life and help people if I could. I guess I wanted to love myself for being me.
Then I had children, these little tiny people that depended on me for everything. And I realised they depended on me for learning too. How they should live their lives and what I wanted for them? So I still want all those things I wanted before but now I also want my children to see a good, kind person they can learn from, trust and be proud of. And more than anything I want them to be happy and to grow into kind, amazing people. I want them to learn to love themselves to. So I have to show them this every day. The scary part is I wonāt know until they grow, so itās just about us all doing our best.
Which takes me back to my love for BTS and all they stand for. We can only do our best, and we will make mistakes, I certainly have as a parent and I will continue to do so as we grow as parents, mothers, fathers, children, sons and daughters. We are all just trying our best to live kind, open and happy lives.
So, as I learn to love myself and grow as a person, as a parent, as a friend. I collect friends and memories and yeah, even principles. So I leave you with another wonderful and wise quote from that day that I still remember even now, and it still touches my heart:
āMaybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterdayās me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and thatās me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.ā Kim Namjoon, UN General Assembly
The last weekend in September and the first weekend in October felt like stepping back in time ā BTS Movie Weeks returned to cinemas, and for a few hours, we were all back together again. š
Theyāve been replaying concert films from different eras ā Epilogue: The Final (2016), Wings: The Final (2017), Love Yourself: Speak Yourself ā Wembley (2019), and Sowoozoo (2020) ā and it honestly felt like a mini FESTA celebration. Sitting in the cinema, hearing them sing together again, the cheers, the fan chantsā¦ it gave me that same familiar rush that makes my heart soar, lifts my spirit, and gives me the energy to keep on keeping on!
And I made little gifts for the people in the theatre, there was only about 17 of us so it was manageable and the best bitā¦ it was almost the same people each week so we really felt like we experienced it together and they got a couple of a little freebies š
Thereās something so comforting about reliving those moments on the big screen for BTS Movie weeks, though it also makes my heart ache a little ā itās been so long since Iāve seen them all together in real life. But I know I donāt have much longer to wait! My favourite part? Even though it was basically just me and two other ARMYs, hearing us break out into the fan chant during Mic Drop! I just know from outside the theatre it mustāve sounded a bit like a cult gatheringā¦ but Iām okay with that. š Hearing those seven names chanted in rhythm is almost therapeutic.
Rewatching their performances and seeing them in their happy place on stage is still so powerful. Even after all these years, the love and excitement feel brand new to me.
I know it was as much for marketing purposes but BTS movie weeks was inspired! Reliving old concerts whilst we wait with bated breath for new and exciting times – genius level inspiration.
It wasnāt just a theatre experience ā it was a reminder of how far Iāve come, and how far weāve all come together. š My heart still beats for BTS just as much as it did that very first day I discovered them.
I honestly donāt even know where to start ā this was so much more than a concert. RUN Seokjin was an experience!!!
Our T-shirts and army bombs! T-shirts from Etsy and I made the decorations for our army bombs š
Jin really outdid himself, transforming what is usually a wonderful night of songs into something truly unforgettable. Yes, he sang ā and he sang bloody beautifully ā but he also gave us a journey: chaotic, wonderful, emotional, hilarious, and moving.
I went in mostly spoiler-free (not easy when people love to post everything online!) and Iām so glad I did. Experiencing it all for the first time, in real-time, made it even more magical.
The Journey Begins – RUN Seokjin (ź±øė ¤ ģģ§)
Super early train and the cafe lady took our first pic š
Me and Mum caught the early Wednesday train to London, checked into our hotel, and then made our way to the O2 in the afternoon to meet up with Lisa and Sharyn. Even before stepping inside, you could feel the atmosphere ā ARMY everywhere, buzzing with excitement, trading freebies, chatting, and instantly bonding.
On the trainEscalator selfie
One of my favourite things about K-pop concerts is this community spirit ā the way fans come together to create something bigger than just the show. (Iāll save my little rant about one sour experience for later, but mostly it was beautiful!)
Bloody brilliant seeing Jin plastered everywhere
We collected our banners and ARMY-time bits ā everything so lovingly prepared by the fan organisers. Seeing Jin later acknowledge them during the concert made it all the more worth it. UK ARMY really showed up, and he seemed so happy with us!
A Note on Freebies š
A slight side quest/ interval before we get to the best part of the day.
One of my favourite things about K-pop concerts has always been the freebies. Fans spend time making little gifts ā stickers, bracelets, photocards, slogans ā and exchange them with others. Itās such a beautiful tradition, because it makes you feel part of something bigger, like youāre connected to strangers through kindness and creativity.
My little gifts with some stickers – a Wootteo keyring
But I do need to be honest ā this time, it left a sour taste in my mouth. My friend had warned me that some fans had been a bit pushy and entitled about freebies, but I thought maybe she was exaggerating. Sadly, she wasnāt.
Iād made around 50 small gifts, and I was being intentional about who I gave them to ā younger ARMY, men and boys, older fans, or people who looked like they might be on their own. It felt lovely to see their smiles, and it reminded me why I love this tradition.
But at one point, after I gave a gift to a lady in an amazing costume (who made both me and my mum laugh ā she even gave me one in return š), another girl asked for one. Of course, I said yes. Then, within seconds, I was swarmed. Hands were shoved in my face, people tried to grab into my bag, and fans started demanding gifts. It was overwhelming, and honestly, scary. I donāt usually get too anxious in crowds, but in that moment I froze ā and I ended up giving away the last of my gifts just to get out of the situation. Thankfully my friend noticed, pulled me away, and rescued me. But it meant I didnāt have any left to hand out inside the venue, which had been my plan.
I really hope this isnāt the future of freebies, because theyāve always been one of the most joyful, heartwarming parts of K-pop concerts for me. Freebies are gifts ā not rights, not obligations, not something to be demanded. They should be about kindness, not entitlement.
And yet, even after that low point, ARMY reminded me why I still love this community. A lovely girl approached me afterwards and said sheād seen what happened. She admitted it had happened to her too, but she was so strong and calm about it ā and then she gave me a little Jin āfake moneyā freebie. That small act of kindness meant the world, and reminded me that there are so many incredible, caring fans out there.
Pre-Concert Fun
Merch queue was not too bad in the arena! No guitar keyring for me though š„²
After some food, drinks, and a bit of merch-hunting (lots had sold out, but Mum got what she wanted, which was my priority š), we headed inside to the arena for RUN Seokjin. The build-up before a K-pop concert is an event in itself ā fans singing, dancing, chanting, waving lightsticks. Even the VCRs had us buzzing with anticipation.
Close up of our pretty army bombs
Then it happened. The lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and Jin appeared, pressing the big red button to kick things off ā such a perfectly him way to start.
Waiting to startSending our love to Jin (and Lisa and Sharyn down in the extra extra good seats but they didnāt see us)
Run Seokjin the concert experienceĀ
Iāll never forget looking over and seeing my 74-year-old mum standing for the entire show ā singing, cheering, shouting, even trying to join in the games in our very broken Korean š«£š. It was incredible.
Enjoying the pre show
Some highlights for me:
āSuper Tunaā ā chaos, joy, laughter. And Mum right there with us, loving it. Singing, dancing, shouting and just being in the moment! Pure immature fun!
āSpring Dayā ā a song that means so much to both of us. We hugged, we cried, and we sang our hearts out. Truly a moment Iāll treasure forever.
āEpiphanyā ā his voice was stunning, and when we all turned on our phone lights with the pink dot, it felt like we were all connected. A truly stunning show of pink love for our worldwide handsome. He completely owned the stage ā powerful yet vulnerable.
And then there was the fun chaos of the Run Seokjin games. Somehow my favourite song ended up being the one chosen for the singalong speed change game. I went full out with the choreo ā probably looked ridiculous, but I didnāt care. Pure joy.
More Than Memories
I tried to take more photos and videos this time (usually Iām too lost in the moment), because I wanted Mum to have something to look back on. But honestly, the best memories are the ones we carried in our hearts that night.
This concert wasnāt just Jin shining (though wow, he really did!) ā it was about connection, community, and joy. He gave us laughter, tears, energy, and beauty all wrapped up in one incredible night.
And sharing it with Mum, Lisa, and Sharyn made it even more special. Weāll be holding onto these memories for a very long time. š
What a brilliant day! RUN Seokjin the ep tour was everything and more!Ā
After a long long day, we watched an episode of murder she wrote with a cuppa in bed and chatted all about what an amazing experience it was! Bring on the BTS tour next!!!!! ššš
If you liked here about this you can check out my other concert experiences and if you want to go right back to the beginning and see my first BTS concert experience you can find it here
So very late with this post! I thought I had pressed publish š¤¦š¼āāļøš So I saw Stray Kids live at Tottenham ā and listen, I may not have walked away with crystal-clear videos or fan-cam-worthy photos, but I did walk away with a sore throat, aching legs, and a massive grin plastered across my face. Worth it? Absolutely.
Were my videos shaky? Yes.
This was pretty stable for me! Go me!
Were my photos blurry? Also yes.
Was I caught in the moment, vibing hard, and screaming āwe do not give a f**!ā* during Topline like my life depended on it? 1000% yes.
This is not a professional fan account. This is a chaotic, loud, joy-soaked real fan experience. Welcome to it.
š Why We Went: Friendship, Family, and Fangirls
Letās start with the most important thing: Iām not the biggest Stay in the world. Neither is my mate. We know some songs, we love a concert, and weāll always say yes to a night out ā but we were there for our best friend.
Sheās become like family. And she was there supporting her family ā you know how I feel about BTS and the strength and happiness they give for me, stray kids also do this for people through some really tough times. So when this show came up, we didnāt hesitate. Friends become family. And family shows up.
And honestly? Iād do it again in a heartbeat. Even with the echo. (Talk about that later)
šø What My Camera Captured vs. What My Heart Feltšø
Letās be real for a sec ā my camera roll from that night is an absolute disaster. Hereās the breakdown:
Blurry lightsticks? ā Unidentifiable limbs? ā 14 seconds of the back of someoneās head? ā A masterpiece shot of Felixsā chest (maybe)? ā
But none of that matters, because what I remember is the energy. The thunderous bass. The sea of glowing lights. The way the whole stadium screamed those chaotic lyrics back at the boys like our lives depended on it.
āWe do not give aā!!
– Every Stay in unison, living their best life
š Highlights: Bangers, Banter, and British Accents
š¶ Favourite Song of the Nightš¶
Hands down, Topline. That moment where the entire crowd shouted the chorus? Instant goosebumps. SKZ knew what they were doing! The whole arena lit up like a volcano.
Also, shoutout to Godās Menu and Chk Chk Boom for bringing the chaos. Iconic. Loud. Unapologetic. My kind of night.
š The 360 Fireworks:
We werenāt ready. Honestly, whoever planned the fireworks deserves a raise! They were non stop and all around us! It almost, almost distracted you from the main event! It felt like the entire universe was clapping back with light.
š The Harry Potter Skit:
There is nothing , nothing that brings me more joy than watching Korean idols doing fake British accents and pulling off wizard cosplay. Peak content. Iāll be laughing about that one until next year.
š¬ Only Complaint? The Sound
Okay, hereās the honest bit: something was off with the sound. There was this weird echo-y vibe that made it hard to hear the talking segments, which was a shame especially when youāve got some fans around you screaming during the talks like theyāre auditioning for a banshee role in a horror film.
Iām all for shouting during songs, trust me, but when the boys are trying to speak, maybe justā¦ respect the moment and let us hear them?
The sound mixing during the songs wasnāt always great either. The energy was still high, but I know we missed some vocals because of it.
Still. Even with the tech issues, it was wildly worth it.
š§¢ Final Thoughts from a Loud, Blurry, Happy Tina
I may not have the fanciest videos or the best photos, but Iāve got this snap of me in a Stray Kids cap, feeling cool as hell and riding the high of a night filled with fire, laughter, and big-stage chaos.
Thatās what concerts are supposed to be, right? Loud, imperfect, unforgettable.
Best video I have ever recorded! Facts!
So hereās to Stray Kids. Hereās to friends who become family. And hereās to shaky camera rolls full of joy. Would I go again?
I wrote this series leading up to Festa because The most beautiful moment in life era, the music videos, the WEBTOON, the notesā¦ is my jam!
But with all the members coming out right now (which I know I havenāt written about but Iām waiting, waiting for all 7 to talk about that!)
I wanted to do something special, to reflect on all the wonderful things that make BTS special, makes us fall in love with them, celebrate them and want to continue to listening to them and growing with them!
I hope you enjoyed my series and Iāll be back very soon! Come on Yoongi – not long now! (**also donāt talk to me about Hobiās new song, Iām not ok and Iām not ready to talk about it š that man is gonna kill us all! š« **)
A personal reflection on finding myself againāthrough BTS, stories, and love.
For a long time, I didnāt think I had any deep trauma. Sure, Iāve lost people I lovedāfamily and friends, some to death, some just to time. I lost my dad when I was young, but I was always the ākeep goingā type. Smile through it, be grateful for what you had, look for the good. Thatās just always been me.
But even if life feels āfine,ā you can still lose yourself a little along the way.
When I had my kids, everything became about themābeautifully, wholeheartedly. They were (and still are) my world. But somewhere in those early yearsāthrough the sleepless nights, postnatal anxiety, constant givingāI dimmed a little. Not in a tragic way. Just quietly. A soft fading of the parts of me that used to shine a bit louder: the loud laugh, the weird obsessions, the joyful chaos that used to feel like mine.
It wasnāt until my kids were older that I started feeling that tug to reconnect with myself. I even said to my best friends, āI feel like Iāve lost somethingābut I donāt know what.ā And they said theyād noticed it too. That I was still me, but like āTina Lightā (Diet Tina š).
And then I stumbled across BTS.
It was completely by accidentāBTS were performing at Wembley that week, which is why they were on The Graham Norton Show. I didnāt go to that concertāI went the year afterābut when I saw them on TV, something just clicked. They did this incredible version of Idol and when J-Hope smiled, I swear my heart lit up. That moment? I felt it. It was joy, energy, a spark I didnāt know Iād lost. That spark. That reminder of everything I loveāmusic, stories, passion, meaning, dancing in the kitchen, joy that doesnāt need permission.
At first, I was pulled in by the music, the dancing, andāletās be honestātheir stunning stage presence. But I stayed for something much deeper.
So I dove in. Carefully at first (because I knew what this fandom could do to a person and I am obsessive by nature). But then all at once.
The music, the messages, the madness. I consumed everything I could! From the very beginning right through to watching live clips of the Wembley arena performance. And stumbling into the bts universe.
And somewhere in between The Notes, the Save Me webtoon, and my 12th rewatch of the Run MVs, I realised: BTS didnāt āsaveā me in the dramatic sense. But they absolutely helped me find myself again.
They reminded me Iām allowed to love weird things. To be passionate. To dance in the supermarket. To talk too much about things I care about. To feel deeply. To fangirl and swoon and be absolutely ridiculous sometimesāand that doesnāt make me less of a grown-up. It makes me more me.
It wasnāt just the BTS Universe (though that mystery-filled world is very my thing). It was the way they make each other laugh, the way they care for one another, the little glimpses of their true selves we get through Run BTS and behind-the-scenes clips. Itās the messages they stand for: Love yourself. Speak yourself. Be who you are. Everyone matters. No matter your gender, background, struggles, or storyāBTS makes you feel like you belong.
I once saw someone write: āStan a group that stans you back.ā And thatās BTS. Theyāve shared so much of themselves with usānot just through performances, but through their values, their sincerity, and their love. Thatās why I stayed.
The Love Yourself message hit hard. And I know, I wasnāt the ātarget audienceāā33 at the time, a mum, working, tiredābut it didnāt matter. I saw myself in it. I remembered the version of me who was bright and bold and full of curiosity. And I wanted her back.
Even at BST Hyde Park for Stray Kids – I was able to show off my love for BTS.
So now? I live a little louder again. I share what I love. I let myself be moved by music. I still have worries and quieter days. But the sparkās back. And I credit a lot of that to BTS.
They taught me that self-love isnāt a goal you tick off, itās a journey you walk every dayāeven if some days you just shuffle along. That you can fall down and still be worthy. That healing can come in feathers, in fire, in friendship. And that youth isnāt about ageāitās about how you see the world.
My very dear friends are currently in Seoul and have taken a little mang with them to represent me and have been taking photos all over and including me. And ringing me and, I honestly couldnāt ask for better friends!
So yeah, maybe theyāre not literally saving lives (although sometimesā¦ maybe they are). But they are helping people remember who they are. And who they could be.
