Self-Care

Oftentimes, people use think the term "self-care" means selfishness and narcissism. According to Psychology Today, self-care is "choosing behaviors that balance the effects of emotional and physical stressors: exercising, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, practicing yoga or meditation or relaxation techniques, abstaining from substance abuse, pursuing creative outlets, engaging in psychotherapy. Also essential to self-care is learning to self-soothe or calm our physical and emotional distress."

It's been a pretty rough couple of weeks. I won't go into the details, but basically, it has caused me to re-evaluate where I am today. I've felt the stress of many factors. And, it's my responsibility to truly discover what is truth. But, the pushing and pushing and pushing has really heightened up my anger, frustration, disappointment, and sadness. I knew I needed to incorporate some self care in my life. Just take a step back and calm down. Stop being disturbed by the outside world and start to turn into within to find some peace.

I knew I needed to incorporate some self care. Uniquely self-care means something to different to each person. At first it may seem weird, but I almost compare them to artist's dates and morning pages. These are tools for me to re-balance myself.


How do I know when I need to incorporate some self care?

When I'm feeling exhausted, tired, stressed, and beat down. I usually have problems sleeping, grind my teeth, and speak out in anger. There are usually knots in my shoulders, or I feel hungry because I've been on over-drive and forgotten to eat lunch. I also feel very defeated. There are certain scenarios and triggers that everyone has.

What are ways I can incorporate self-care?

1. Take the day off and don't feel guilty about it.
2. Sleep.
3. Feed yourself good nourishing food.
4. Talk to a good friend, the beau, or a family member who has your best interests in mind.
5. Go to yoga class.
6. Book a reflexology session, chair massage, acupuncture, and/or a real massage.
7. Sip a coffee at your favorite cafe.
8. Read a book.
9. Create boundaries.
10. Get a pedicure.
11. Go for a walk.
12. Watch a movie alone.
13. Take yourself out on a nice date alone.
14. Take pictures of beautiful things like puppies, kids, or anything in everyday life.
15. Come to the realization that every day is different. Accept the feelings you have.
16. Come to the realization that you are not alone. If you are comfortable with Truth, you will get through this rough patch and do great things in the right amount of time.

Things I Heart This July

Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal. I love taking my iPhone out and capturing images. I blame it on my Asian roots. My people love to take photos, sing karaoke, and wear nice clothes. So, I can relate to 2/3. Montreal has a look to it that's very classic, charming, and historic. It's one of those places that has pulled me in. Well at least during the summer months when I need to escape the humidity of the dirty South.



Clean eating! I'm trying to find new creative dishes - constantly. I've purchased the latest issue of Clean Eating magazine. And, I'm excited to try out some new summer recipes. Losing ten pounds is also a good motivator as well. Healthy eating and exercise always makes me feel better.




My drawing class is really opening up my skills and ability to try new things. I really admire the patience and guidance that my art teacher gives me. It's been very empowering and inspiring. I often feel like I missed the boat on my art skill development because I didn't study art until I was in college. But, that's why I'm taking art NOW. So, I can learn and use new techniques. I don't know why I've mentally blocked myself into thinking and am not growing or can't. But, regardless, the more open I am to new lessons the better tools I have to be creative. Do you ever feel too old to do something? It's absolutely silly to think that! I met a man in his 60s, and he told me that I'm definitely not too old. If there are things I want to do like learn French, draw, or vacation in Southern Italy, then I can do those things because there's still time.



I've been dreaming of adorable red skinny jeans. They are sassy, brilliant, and retro. With a cute striped top and ballet flats, I makes me envision the style of Jean Seberg.



Sitting in the ballroom of La Colombe D'Or, sipping on a refreshing beverage, and listening to a jazz trio. The Bastille Day Fete was amazing! I now see why this party gets sold out every year. Delicious brie, tasty wine, and good friends - a great combination.

June Highlights/ July Dreams

I love, love, love this sunflower. Bright, bold, and energizing. I think that's what summers are all about for me. The change in temperature motivates me to put on a gorgeous sundress, find some sandals, and just shine.

June Highlights



Indulging in Art Journaling I've finally completed the Artist's Way, and I've started on my next art journal class, Soul Restoration 2. It's been a great adventure so far. I really enjoy starting my mornings in solitude- reflecting over current dreams and really thinking about what makes me excited and renewed. The above is some awesome paper I picked up in lower Manhattan on vacation. (If you have the chance, check out the artist Jon Burgerman. He designed the crazy monster gift wrap in the photo.)


Delightfully Delicious The summer has really motivated me to experiment with my cooking more. Since it's hot outside, I've tried to indulge in more salads, veggies, and fruits. My salads might have grilled nectarines, strawberries, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, green beans, mozzarella, and goat cheese. I've also done some desserts: chocolate banana freezer pie and raspberry scones. Cooking is something my lovely boyfriend and I enjoy doing. One evening he made a beautiful meal with pork medallions and grilled peaches. Very divine!


Y Freedom Triathlon Hot, challenging, and dare I say fun! I competed in my first triathlon since 2009. I took a year off from intense athletic training when I got sick last summer. So, it was nice to get back into training. I had a 10:05 swim for 300M , 41:41 bike for 11 miles, and a 34:44 run for 3 miles. Not bad for taking a year off... I really do need to get into the pool more often especially if I do an open water competition in the future.


Escape to the Northeast NYC and Montreal was amazing. Taking a week off, indulging in cooler temperatures, and diving into adventure. The train ride along the Hudson River was gorgeous. What a beautiful way to travel getting to see views of upstate NY and watch the sunset over the Montreal skyline (photo above from my train ride). The retreat was relaxing and decadent.

July Dreams
1. Mid-Year Evaluation: Half the year is over with and I'd like to make sure that I'm accomplishing what I set out to do. I've got ideas swirling in my head mostly leaning towards new career challenges, my upcoming art journal class, and other things.

2. Another Trip Already in the Works: My sister will be finishing up her studies at UBC soon, and my family will be vacationing up there in November. There are other locations I must consider as well. There is Africa, Paris and Provence... There's also a yoga retreat in the Hill Country and Chicago has been calling out to me. Not sure where I'll go. I'm still basking in the glow of my most recent trip. I'm really blessed to have these opportunities ahead of me. We'll see what I actually end up doing.... ONE trip at a time, yo!

3. My final month of figure drawing: I really hope that I really take my next few weeks seriously. Drawing the human body is friggin' hard. I think it's actually harder than doing a triathlon. Honestly... it's THAT hard. But, I'll keep trying. Bad art is better than no art. And bad art eventually blossoms into good art.

4. Continued Weight Loss and Health: Blame it on my vacation for the weight loss. Yeah, I attribute this to the 6 yoga classes, walking, running, and biking that I was able to do. I've been trying to keep up with Weight Watchers since mid-April, and I'm almost to my target weight. It should probably take me another two months since I'm doing this slowly and leisurely.

5. Research on New Projects: I'm launching some new programs at my job that I'm so very excited about. And, I'm leading my first art journal workshop in August. I'm really looking forward to seeing how these will blossom.

I hope your summer is going well,too! What are you dreaming about this July? May your days be filled with brilliance, boldness, and inspiration.

Ecouter Lentement

The first duty of love is to listen. –Paul Tillich
One of my yoga instructors challenged us to think about the practice of listening.
- Do I honestly listen to myself?
-Am I actively listening to other people?
- Do I observe what is actually happening or am I inventing stories up to fill in missing information?

Admittedly, I'm a loud person. I say uncouth things and share my personal opinions on things a bit too liberally. It probably takes me 5 sentences to explain something that only needs 1 sentence. I've been shushed (multiple times) for being too loud. Yeah... I'm THAT girl. I don’t have the intention of being THAT obnoxious girl. And it’s the reason why I’m here writing this entry.

Talkers typically have poor listening skills. We are accused of indulging in narcissism, interjecting when it's not even our turn, and steering conversations into a competition or the "all about me" talk festival. And, yes, this is true in a lot of cases. In the defense of talking too much, I think talkers outwardly want to help and share through their personal stories. Perhaps we falsely assume that people actually WANT to hear about our experiences and opinions.

I wasn’t always much of a talker in my youth. I don’t know where the metamorphosis precisely happened, but I do recall one particular English professor who called me out in class for not speaking up more in our discussions. I was a naïve, inexperienced freshman taking an upper-level literature class. The stories we examined dealt with issues I had never experienced and/or I found difficult relating to: homosexuality, drug abuse, human psychology, tragedy, dysfunctional relationships, and death. I eventually learned that if I didn’t actively take part in discussions I would not be earning an A in this class. Also, I recall being so quiet that people would introduce themselves to me multiple times. Often they would forget that they had met me previously.

In sum, I started to learn that talkers get the top grades, make lasting impressions, and are respected more in certain scenarios at school, in social circles, and even in the workplace. So, I've always had this perhaps flawed idea in my head that speaking up garners more respect and attention. Also, I’ve often observed that you don’t even have to be that talented or intelligent or diligent or even kind, if you can charm people with an intoxicating story, many people will respect you and they don’t even really know why.

As a talker, I know that I have a long way to go. I should re-commit to listening more. Stop redirecting the flow of conversations and provide the space that people need to genuinely express themselves.

Finding Your Bliss While Traveling

I just got back from a weeklong vacation to the northeast. And, I am so glad I went. I didn't really have much of an agenda for my trip. I know what I do enjoy doing (art, yoga, walking, biking, eating good food, and relaxing) and I knew where I was staying and when I was going. The rest was just one big blank canvas of possibility.

Here are some of my blissful highlights:



Sunrise yoga: I got a free one week membership to this gorgeous studio down in DUMBO called Abhaya Yoga. It has to be one of the most beautiful places in Brooklyn. The studio overlooks the East River, Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Bridge. Imagine watching the sun rise or sun set over The City while you are doing slow, contemplative sun salutations. The Anusara style of yoga was very different from what I was used to, but it definitely was good to get a new perspective on my practice. It was also a nice way to connect with other people while traveling alone.




Walking: One nice thing about vacationing in NYC and Montreal was the walkability of these places. Imagine escaping the nasty and oppressive Texas heat, and enjoying temperatures in the 70s. It was quite lovely. I really enjoyed my evening stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, and my morning walk through the brownstones in Brooklyn and the people watching along the Brooklyn promenade. Just like Abhaya Yoga, the views were stunning. I also think going for walks can be very meditative. Sometimes I get inspiration from the craziest and random things: ideas for work projects, a new layout for an artpiece, or just a new color scheme to play with. And, all it really takes is an open mind, a pair of running shoes, and time.



Books, books, and books: Is it hard for you to find the time to read books? I have a hard time focusing on just one book. I just love exploring bookstores. I can spend hours doing it. Sometimes, I just like grabbing a stack of magazines and flipping through, and sometimes I just enjoy rummaging through old books. The Housing Works Bookstore was an absolute treat. Think Half Price bookstore with a social conscience. It was nice to know that my small purchase was going to a good cause.


Being Outside: Sitting outside, talking to a friend, and sipping a cold beer. I think that has to be one of the most enjoyable things about the summer. Luckily enough, my friend Ayite and I were in town for Montreal's Jazz Festival. Most of the shows were free, and the jazz music was a great compliment to the beautiful weather up north.

Do you take the time to know what you love doing? Do you know what you'd immediately do if you had some free time to play? What does it mean for you to truly be blissful?

I hope that you take the time to find that bliss wherever you may go. Be it a staycation in town or on your next trip abroad.

Things I Heart This June

Art class is in full swing. Life drawing has been interesting needless to say. You can see more about my latest art projects here. I'll be teaching an art journaling class at Taft Street Coffee in August. Please come out and play if you are interested!



Looking forward to a week of adventure in the northeast, practicing my French, and some time away from the everyday. Can't believe summer vacation is coming up soon.



With summer officially around the corner, it's time for me to start whipping up some new salads. I'm trying to find new recipes from Eating Clean magazine, and I've tasted this one above from Snap Kitchen featuring beets, chicken, feta, and walnuts. You can read more about my food adventures here.


It's been a while -- my last triathlon was September '09. I'm gearing up for a triathlon on June 26th. It has been fun to get back into the swing of things. Nothing clears your head as well as working out does.

What's Your One Song ?

At church last week, my pastor showed us a clip from the movie, "Walk the Line." It's been ages since I've seen that movie. But, I'm glad that he showed it to us because I completely forgot about this part of the film.

Johnny Cash and his band are auditioning for record producer Sam Phillips. Mr. Phillips stops them after they sing a couple of the versus.

Sam Phillips: You know exactly what I'm telling you. We've already heard that song a hundred times. Just like that. Just... like... how... you... sing it.

Johnny Cash: Well you didn't let us bring it home.

Sam Phillips: Bring... bring it home? All right, let's bring it home. If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing ONE song. Huh? One song that people would remember before you're dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin' me that's the song you'd sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it's real, and how you're gonna shout it? Or... would you sing somethin' different. Somethin' real. Somethin' YOU felt. Cause I'm telling you right now, that's the kind of song people want to hear. That's the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain't got nothin to do with believin' in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin' in yourself.

Johnny Cash: [after a pause] I got a couple of songs I wrote in the Air Force. You got anything against the Air Force?

Sam Phillips: No.


Johnny Cash: I do.

For some reason, perhaps it's where I am right now in my life, but that scene really hit me in a way that kinda jolted me. If we're always looking at what other people have, trying to imitate the lives of others, and wanting the talents/lifestyle/material goods of other people, when do we have time to truly know ourselves?

It was a wake-up call to be truly authentic in life. Listen to what God intended me to be, and discover my own unique place in life. What are the gifts and talents that I have that honestly make me authentic? And, once I discover those things, it's not my place to just enjoy them for my own pleasure, it's my calling to serve other people by sharing my gifts and experiences.

Playing small and being fearful of who I am does the world no good. It's amazing to think that there is an original design to you. There are just things that you can only do.

So, how often do we just go on auto-pilot and not fully think about what makes us unique? It's pretty scary to think about. I hope that this wake-up call really sharpens my insight.