Midnight Vowels

The Asian American community has been hit hard by hate crimes and violent attacks on what feels like a daily basis. Regrettably, this week is yet another instance of xenophobic, racist, and misogynistic behavior, acted out through a white gunman who decided to murder innocent women of predominately Asian descent because he was having "a bad day." There's a lot to unpack about everything that occurred, but I only have the time & energy to touch upon a few quick points. Many Asian Americans are in a collective state of grieving, processing, and overall low morale. Please look out for your Asian-American peers and seek active ways of supporting the Asian community in any way you can (donating, supporting local businesses, calling & writing your govt officials, learning about the model minority myth and the history of racism against Asian Americans in the U.S., etc.)

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

I'm an overthinker. And one thing that I've 'overthought' about in the past has been who to keep as my friends and followers on social media. During high school and college, the more people I could add on Facebook, the better. But with a combination of time passing by, my own privacy preferences, and also just not interacting with a whole lot of people on my friend lists - the question sometimes becomes: should I keep or delete?

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

I'm on my way to completing another trip around the sun. Turning another year older is certainly worth celebrating, but at the same time it can be hard to shake the feelings of anxiousness as I think about the clock ticking and time passing me by. This week I'm reflecting on some positive reminders I'm keeping in mind for myself, and also sharing a song that I often think about when birthday time rolls around.

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

SHINee's back y'all and they don't want you calling them. This week I'm providing commentary on a few Kpop updates - I plan on recording more episodes like this every now and then! I'm a longtime Kpop listener and it's something I get enjoyment out of, whether just listening on my own or discussing with others. I'm not super up-to-date on newer groups though... any recommendations of groups or songs I should check out?

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

Songs mentioned:
SHINee - "Don't Call Me" (also CØDE, Kiss Kiss, Body Rhythm)
GOT7 - "Encore"
Kang Daniel - "Paranoia"
BTS - MTV Unplugged performances: Telepathy, Blue & Grey, Fix You (Coldplay cover), Life Goes On, Dynamite

"It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark." You get the gist of this quote... be prepared! It's sometimes harder than it sounds though. Over the weekend, Oregon experienced a windy snowstorm, followed by icy conditions, followed by widespread power outages. These conditions were yet another reminder of the importance of being prepared and also proof of how under-prepared a lot of us are, myself included. Follow along as I unpack some reasons as to why it's easy to be complacent when it comes to preparing for the worst.

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

Lunar New Year is upon us as we now enter the Year of the Ox. I don't normally do much to celebrate and this year there are no events being held anyways, so I'm basically doing nothing but eating bánh tét (savory sticky rice cake). 

Today's short podcast episode has me contemplating a potential downside of using the more inclusive title of "Lunar New Year" as opposed to Chinese New Year, Tết, Seollal, etc. I also end up skimming through a 2021 horoscope for funsies. What's your prediction - is it going to be a lucky year?

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

This past year of social distancing has forced many of us to come up with creative ways to stay connected to those we care about. It is logical to want to maintain your relationships with close friends and family. However, one segment of friendships that is overlooked are those that are categorized as "weak ties." These include a wide range of people in which we might have fleeting encounters with, or no direct interaction at all. However, they still play an important role in our social health and how we relate to the world around us.

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels 

We got our first dusting of snow this week and though it melted away quickly, the cold weather inspired me to think about things that make me feel warm and happy inside. I kept the list short and included things I think anyone can identify with, but might not immediately recognize as a source of happiness.

I hope you're staying warm and safe! We're heading into February next week already... If you're someone who is motivated by fresh starts, I hope the upcoming week finds you motivated and rejuvenated. 

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

This week I'm reflecting on my own self-esteem and discussing the concept of imposter syndrome. As human beings, we're (arguably) lucky to be self-aware and know how to analyze our own thoughts and emotions. Yet sometimes these thoughts can turn on us as we become overly critical of ourselves for no good reason. I hope this episode serves as a reminder to give yourself a break... from yourself. You're doing great. 

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels

This week I'm joined by my friend Ann as we answer some "Would You Rather" questions. As you listen along, I hope you think about what your response would be and let me know what we might have overlooked in our reasoning! 

Feel free to share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @midnightvowels