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Close-up of a textured, light-colored surface, possibly fabric or paper.

Silhouette of a plant with leaves growing in front of a large, textured full moon against a dark sky.

Reflections

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Vicky Huangfu 9/3/26 Vicky Huangfu 9/3/26

The Weight of the Suitcase

What happens when the sacrifices of the generations before you become something you feel responsible for repaying?

For many children and grandchildren of immigrants, gratitude can quietly become pressure: to achieve more, earn more, and make every sacrifice “worth it.” The Weight of the Suitcase explores the invisible inheritance of immigrant families—and the healing that comes from realizing you can honor where you came from without carrying its weight forever.

"Other People Have It Worse"

It's a phrase many of us use to dismiss our own struggles, believing we're gaining perspective when we're actually denying ourselves compassion. In this blog, Dr. Vicky Huangfu explores why minimizing your pain is a learned defense, how it disconnects us from healing, and why acknowledging your experience is not self-pity—it's self-honesty.