This delight came right on the heels of posting my first delight.
Continue readingDelight 2: Idioms
Life
Delight 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.
Leaning into Discomfort
So. It may not come as a great surprise that I am an avid reader. As a kid and young adult, I consumed books at an alarming rate – so much so that my mom refused to give me new books purchased for travel time before we were actually on the plane or in the car because I would finish them before we ever went anywhere.
Breathe
My heart is full.
As the year has drawn to a close, I’ve been distracted by school finishing oddly, manically finishing up work, grieving the people who are leaving, grieving opportunities lost, but seeing what my friends are going through back home is compounding that grief and I don’t want to be silent anymore because I am afraid of how I’ll be perceived.
NaPoWrimo Day 24: Morning
NaPoWriMo Day 21: Communication
I don’t like this one. I’m also tired of writing poems. Can you tell they’re not my strong point?
Images taken from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/top-view-photo-of-people-near-wooden-table-3183150/.
NaPoWriMo Day 19: Take and Seal It
NaPoWriMo Day 18: Tether
Just some restless ramblings. 🙂 Continue reading
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