CHIU STYLE is a small corner where you’re invited to slow down. We share lighthearted stories and everyday observations, keeping you company over a cup of tea as you gently let go of the tension you’ve been carrying.
Imagine this: the day has finally come to an end. You brew a cup of refreshing green tea, prepare a simple homemade treat, and let yourself sink into a few stories that feel warm, curious, and quietly comforting. Before you realize it, everything starts to feel a little lighter.
Today, I want to talk about a feeling many of us carry inside but rarely put into words—why, as we grow older, friendship seems to grow quieter.
Why Does Friendship Somehow Become More Difficult Over Time?
Do you remember how easy it used to be to make friends?
Back in our student days, we ate together, stayed up late together, and complained about the world side by side. Sometimes, simply sitting at the same table was enough for a friendship to form. Friendships back then were face to face—warm, tangible, and full of presence.
Now, the world moves faster. Messages replace phone calls, emojis stand in for long conversations, and some of the people who matter most to us live in different cities, or even different countries.
And yet, something quietly remains. Even so, when you notice someone liking your posts every day, or sending you a meme that feels unmistakably you, that small sense of “someone remembers me” still gently appears.
The tools have changed. The form has changed. But the feeling of being cared about has never truly disappeared.
It’s not that we don’t care—it’s that we’re truly exhausted
Often, when friendships begin to fade, it’s not because the feelings are gone.
It’s because life has drained us dry. Work, responsibilities, family, social obligations, emotional labor—sometimes just taking care of ourselves already uses up everything we have.
Replying to messages starts to require mental preparation. Making plans means checking calendars over and over again. And at times, we even catch ourselves wondering, “Am I bothering them?”
This state actually has a name: friendship burnout. It’s not that we don’t want to care anymore—it’s simply that our emotional energy has run low.
Sometimes, Small Connections Matter More Than You Think
In times like these, maintaining friendships doesn’t always require long, deep conversations.
Sometimes, a simple “I get you” sticker, or a message that says, “This made me laugh—I thought of you first,” is enough to let a relationship continue existing gently, without pressure.
Do you have a friend like that? Someone you hardly talk to on a regular basis, yet when you’re at your lowest, they suddenly send you an absurdly ugly crying emoji—and somehow, you feel a little less alone.
These small interactions are like air. They don’t draw attention to themselves, but they quietly keep relationships from collapsing.
When You Slow the Pace, Start by Taking Care of Yourself
When life starts moving faster and emotions feel a little scattered, there’s no need to figure everything out right away.
Sometimes, simply leaving a small pause for yourself—brewing a cup of tea, sitting down, and letting your breath slow—is already a gentle form of self-care.
In moments like these, I often reach for Zen Green Tea. Its flavor isn’t loud or intense. Instead, it carries a clean tea aroma with a soft, lingering finish, allowing you to drink without thinking too much—just slowly, one sip at a time.
When you allow your pace to slow down, many of the emotions that once felt stuck inside begin to settle on their own, almost without you noticing.
A Healing Dessert You Can Make at Home: Green Tea Mille Crepe Cake
If you’d like to make your slow-down moment feel a little more complete, consider preparing a simple yet ritual-like dessert for yourself—a green tea mille crepe cake.
Layer by layer, thin crepes are stacked with light, refreshing green tea cream in between. Through the process of making it—and the waiting that follows—time seems to slow down along with you.
The full recipe is shared below. Find an uninterrupted afternoon, and let this time belong to you.
Green Tea Mille Crepe Cake (Complete Recipe – Plant-Based Cream Version)
Serves: 6-inch cake ｜ Approx. 18–20 layers
1. Ingredients
A. Green Tea Crepe Batter
- Cake flour: 100 g
- Granulated sugar: 25 g
- Salt: a small pinch
- Eggs: 2 (room temperature)
- Milk: 180 ml
- Green tea infusion: 120 ml
- Unsalted butter: 30 g (melted and cooled)
B. Green Tea Plant-Based Cream Filling
- Plant-based whipping cream (whippable): 400 ml (chilled for at least 12 hours)
- Granulated sugar: 20–25 g
- Green tea infusion: 25 ml (chilled)
2. Instructions (Key Steps)
STEP 1｜Prepare the Crepe Batter
- Sift and combine all dry ingredients
- Add the eggs and whisk until well mixed
- Pour in the milk and green tea infusion; mix until smooth
- Add the melted butter and combine
- Sift the batter once more
- Cover and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes
STEP 2｜Cook the Crepes
- Use low heat and a non-stick pan
- About 45–50 ml batter per crepe
- No need to flip
- Let all crepes cool completely before assembling
STEP 3｜Whip the Green Tea Cream
- Whip the plant-based cream to soft peaks (about 70% whipped)
- Gradually add the chilled green tea infusion in batches
- Stop whipping at medium-firm peaks (spreadable consistency)
STEP 4｜Assemble
- Spread a thin layer of cream between each crepe
- Refrigerate for at least 6 hours (overnight is best)
🎥 Watch the video here
Friendship isn’t a KPI. It doesn’t need to be abundant, and you don’t have to stay in touch every day. Sometimes, simply letting someone feel, “You still have a small place in my heart,” is more than enough.
CHIU STYLE publishes new posts every Wednesday and Friday. If you enjoy this kind of pace, you’re also welcome to visit our YouTube channel and join us in living life a little lighter and a little slower.
See you next time, and don’t forget to occasionally brew a nice cup of tea for yourself.