If you could reflect on one thing, it’s this:

Are you going home for the holidays—or are you already home?

This letter is for anyone tired of being asked if they’re going home to their blood family and relatives for the holidays.

Through faith, conviction, and clarity, the writer shares why she’s choosing not to return to her family this year. She reflects on how familial and cultural expectations justified years of abuse, how she made an idol out of family, and what ‘going home’ means to her today.

If you’ve ever said, “But they’re family…” just to survive the holidays—this letter is for you.

Welcome to TFAW Letters — The Holiday Edition by the Filipino American Woman Project 🎁

I’m your host, Jen Amos.

Just like the FAHM edition, I will read fictionalized letters — my creative interpretation of real conversations with you!

These letters have been woven with heart, reflection, and truth to honor your stories while protecting your privacy.

It all begins with one line, “If I could say one thing.”

RSVP for the Upcoming Family Potluck — NOV 21st! Click HERE.

If you could reflect on one thing, it’s this:

What is one small, beautiful thing you can notice and be grateful for in this very moment?

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this message is for anyone facing loss, uncertainty, or chronic illness—and for those who have supported a loved one through it.

Through tender recognition and reflective gratitude, the writer explores what it means to redefine joy, choose life, and live one day at a time.

Whether confronting the limitations of the body, the dissatisfaction of fame, or the weight of living in the diaspora and homesickness, this letter honors the quiet resilience it takes to keep going.

If you’ve ever delayed a goodbye, wished you had more time, or found strength in small moments, this one’s for you.

This concludes Filipino American History Month 💙❤️💛

Thanks for listening! We hope to read your letter in the upcoming season.

Stay tuned for TFAW Letters: Holiday Edition! 🎊

Got any plans for Friday, November 21st?

Whether you’re a new or long-time listener of TFAW Project, you are invited to our Family Potluck — a FREE networking event thanks to our TFAW PenPals & First Readers.

What to Expect

Think of a professional networking event, but with casual, easy-going Filipino family potluck vibes.

Our tentative agenda:

* Icebreaker: What memory comes to mind when you hear “family potluck?”

* Introductions:

* How long have you been listening to the show?

* Would you like to share anything? (i.e., Promote your business, share the latest book you’ve read, updates on your vision board, a mental health check-in, or just hang out!)

* Socializing: Candid conversations for the remainder of the time.

Open to the Community!

Please select ALL times on Friday, November 21st that work best for you, and we’ll go with the majority vote! Please ONLY vote if you plan to attend, so that I can include you in the calendar invite. 💛

💛 Jen

P.S. First-time attendees of TFAW Project events will receive a special gift. 🎁

Questions? Contact Jen: jen@tfawproject.com