easing into the year
I took a break. Clearly.
It wasn’t intentional when the first Sunday came and went, but I think it’s because I’ve spent a lot of this month of the new year taking more time for myself. Writing for myself. Reflecting and setting intentions … for myself. I’ve made time for myself each morning, before diving into work, to commit to setting an intention for the day. Pull a tarot card, reflect on it, and write down an affirmation or an intention of how I will go about my day. Some days I’ll just write one line, others a few. But, it’s been so helpful for me to get into a frame of mind before diving into work. Work—honestly, something I’d rather not be doing.
Early this week I made horchata. I’ve only had it a couple of times before—once with takeout,and once when my friend made it one term, and brought it over to my place to share. I had a daytime cry after having a moment reminiscing. Just thinking back to that time. Of a moment in our friendship history. Horchata. New Year’s Eve. Finding a lost watcard. Reminding myself to be kind and compassionate to your past, younger self (something another friend reminded me of).
I’ve been crying a lot more lately. I’m not usually one to cry, but the tears come at unexpected moments. Most from the overwhelm of thoughts that are mainly: I miss my friends.
Not only my close friends—I don’t get to see them in person anymore. But, we keep in regular contact. We’re still texting, and having regular zoom dates, and maybe we’ll have a distanced walk together. We have regular catch ups, we’re in the know of what’s going on. That connection is still there. It’s the other more casual friendships I miss. The ones I see on occasions. The ones I am familiar with from outings in the city. I miss flitting about a party, catching up with folks while others’ conversations are humming in the background. Work friends, and stepping out together for coffee break, or gelato, or getting lunch together. Book clubs in person. I miss running into a friend while out running errands, or en route to a destination, and doing the quick sidewalk catch up. I do miss saying, “Let’s get coffee sometime” and actually meaning it and doing it.
When will we have that again? We’re all going to be so different once things feel like “before” but we all know that nothing’s going to stay the same, either.
Are we all in a slump with TV? Books?
No, I have not yet started Bridgerton. I know. I feel like I’m saving it? I’m also wanting to finish the books before I continue, because Marina isn’t in the first book (which I read: 🔥🔥) and I’m the type to prefer to read the source material first before an adaptation. Don’t worry, I’ll get there.
Okay, I’m not necessarily in a book slump: I’ve been reading a lot of romance. If you know me, you know by now that it’s my go-to easy read, my escapism, but I wholly just enjoy reading about how these characters get to the inevitable ending. Someone I know said that they always love that squish moment in a romance, where your heart just squishes at a particular point … and wow, yeah. That’s it for me. That feeling you get when you’re reading, and you can feel your heart squeeze and squish.
This has to be why I’m watching more Korean shows on Netflix currently. I finished Start-Up earlier this month, and now I’m working on a couple of shows. It’s funny to be watching a show in Korean, but with the subtitles on. It forces me to actually pay attention to it, as I can’t really look away for fear of missing something … but I definitely can understand a lot of what’s said. For me, having the subtitles just clarify any slang or provide better context to understand Korean. Most of these shows have their own similar kdrama tropes they follow, and it’s refreshing to fall prey to the formula.
I was going to cook more in January, and avoid takeout or delivery as much as possible. Alas, it didn’t fully turn out that way but I definitely started focusing effort in the kitchen again:
veggie scraps and shrimp stock
Watching
Start-Up – Netflix
Lovestruck in the City – Netflix, ongoing
Bling Empire – Netflix
Reply 1988 – Netflix
Articles
The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship – The Atlantic
Chinese American Food Is Its Own Great Cuisine. Time to Love It That Way. – Resy
Why Straight Men Hate Astrology So Much – Vice