“It’s mango season. Can get so many for little!” This explanation accompanied my friend giving me a bag of three ripe mangos.
Continue readingDelight 8: Cultural Exchange of Nom Noms
Author: lastchancetobreathe
Delight 7: A Peanut Sadness
We are fast approaching the end of our school year. We have exactly seven days of school left and the flight to visit home is becoming more real. (I’ll be back, Lord willing, Malaysian friends, just gotta go home this summer and get some well-needed hugs from the fam!).
Continue readingDelight 6: Eight-Legged Goodbyes
I love to crochet.
When I was 11 or 12, one of my babysitters taught me how to do a simple single-stitch – easy enough to duplicate and use to make blankets and scarves. I was hooked (crochet pun for the win!) and over the next few years, I made enough blankets and scarves to drown in.
Continue readingDelight 5: Ouchmouse Lessons
I am super tired today. I think the last time I looked at the clock last night, it was 4:15. Since my alarm went off at 6:30 today, you can imagine my consternation.
Continue readingDelight 4: Dance it out
So…if my grumping in my first delight (what a contradiction that is!) didn’t give it away, Malaysia’s in it’s 3rd lockdown and has just announced tighter restrictions, which, given that we’re only allowed to go to the grocery store and school (with all our students online), I’m not really sure how it could get much tighter (that is not a challenge, Malaysia!).
As a couple of my friends and I debated what this lockdown would be like, we started talking about hobbies we’ve picked up over the course of the lockdowns. I.E. – spots of happiness in some rather tough times.
Continue readingDelight 3: April 23rd
(Pre-Lockdown 3.0 in Malaysia, obviously, but this was the first “delight” I wrote before I knew I was going to make this into a thing).
I’ve run away from my job for the day. I was given permission – a day of rest provided by our school, so I’m not straight up playing hooky.
Continue readingDelight 2: Idioms
This delight came right on the heels of posting my first delight.
Continue readingDelight 1: Burnished Skies and Kitty Paws
It’s been a rough couple of months and I haven’t been wanting to write, but a couple of years ago I read The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay (thanks to my friend, Sarah, for her amazing book recommendations!). I have always wanted to try something similar.
If you’re not familiar with the book, it follow Ross Gay as he tries to write about a “delight” that he finds every day. Not in a toxic positivity, “everything is amazing” way, but rather, what’s something, even if it’s the smallest little thing on the worst day, that delighted him? He covers some amazing topics, including how he finds delight even when he’s experiencing racism or prejudice. He’s deep and you should give him a read.
So, I thought I’d try something similar. Something to lift my spirits and help me not focus so much on the things that are depressing me right now. Something to help me appreciate the little joys and delights a bit more.
It’s not going to be as deep as Ross Gay’s musings. There’s probably not going to be a post every day because I’m struggling to just get work done and finish the school year out as best as I can in a pandemic-ridden world and I know I won’t be able to write every day.
But, if you’re interested, stay tuned. Here’s my first “delight” from a few days ago.
Continue readingWeary
Malaysia’s active COVID cases have increased dramatically over the last week or so and, to no one’s great surprise, schools were forced to close again. Though we’re in a milder lockdown (teachers at least can still work from school and we can go on walks and whatnot), there’s a general sense of disappointment and discouragement going around.
I have both heard and been guilty of having two responses to these struggles, neither of which have been terribly helpful. So, since I am not without sin, I cannot cast the first stone and that’s not what I’m here to do anyway. Instead, I hope to work through these responses and try to find some common, middle ground between the points of view and hopefully provide a small means of encouragement.
Continue readingReconciling with History like a Fire Nation Prince
This is going to be a long one, folks, but I got headings if it helps. 😀 I would also like to insert a little disclaimer here – there’s a LOT of ground to cover and I’m really giving a broad overview of several different topics, so please know that any one of these topics has a lot more to unpack and I’m limited, still ignorant, and definitely unskilled in addressing most of them. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I want to be having these conversations and engaging in discourse, because silence should not and cannot be the answer anymore.
ali oleary 