Things from 2019 For Me and For You
Family first. Even your non-blood ride or dies will respect that family (and I'm fortunate to have one who loves me) comes first.
Intuition is usually right. Even if in the moment it feels like gut feelings are wrong, they're probably right. So go for it! Or, check yourself once, twice, and thrice to see if you're making the right decisions. These seem contradictory but you know when you know, and this year there were a few too many times when I knew, but didn’t listen.
Moving home isn't failing. Fuck all the haters who think it is or who give you skeptical looks when you say you moved home for family (see #1.) Moving away let me blossom more than ever. Moving back has given me time, healing, and grounding to slow down and discover even more about myself and the opportunities that exist out there.
If it's meant to be, it'll be. I had this in my 2017 Things as well, but this year it comes with some more growth. Someone had recently pointed out that I tend to make my own opportunities - publishing the magazine, finding my way into SAMASAMA or doing zine workshops in DC, Nha Toi dinners. What most don't realize is that I hold on to these ideas until the right timing allows fruition. Or some of these kind of just fell into my lap and I picked up the opportunity. The past few months, I've forgotten this myself. You can still work hard towards something without trying to force it to happen.
Solo travel is healing and it doesn't have to be far. While living in DC, I went to New York quite a few times this year for work/personal but the best moments were spent holed up reading in a cute window nook of my airbnb with snacks from the corner bodega and no laptop on me. This was 2018 but my two staycations in DC at the LINE and Eaton were also incredibly fun and nourishing as well.
You owe it to yourself to be straightforward and own up to your feelings. Whether they’re good or bad, you deserve to be truthful to yourself. Nothing hurts more than lying to yourself and having it all come crashing down sooner or later. So say no! Or confess! Or reject. Or have that tough conversation to straighten things out. Just be clear and go do it.
Vlogging is a lot of work. So no, I’m not sure when I’ll edit and upload by HK + Taipei vlog. Or Cindy and Rachel’s graduation vlog…
French omelettes ARE easy! Just gotta practice.