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1% better every day
The title of this blog post comes from James Altucher, but growth mindset has been a buzzword for as long as I can remember, as popularized by Carol Dweck. In doing some research for careers I might be interested in and invest significant time into, I came across the following quote which compelled me in…
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Heart of a champion
I coach badminton twice a week to an age demographic of young children to teens. And after a few years, I begin to understand why some teachers favor some students over others. It’s not a matter of “teacher’s pet.” What makes some kids over others is the personality and fortitude with which they choose to…
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Ownership, possession, and envy
It takes time and careful collation to see what is yours, and what isn’t. Stuck in the vending machine In the realm of belongings and objects, here’s an example of my desire to engulf my surroundings. A friend’s mother gave me rights to a vending machine, through which I could generate revenue without paying her…
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뽀뽀 > 키스
I was at work today and I saw a couple in their mid-twenties. The girl’s height made it so that she could cuddle in his chest while he planted kisses on her forehead. Both were clearly enjoying each other’s company and physical touch. I’m just here to talk about kisses. Forehead kisses, blessing kisses, eskimo…
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Rage against the machine
In my mind, the most important aspect of fighting this degenerative brain disease is to foresee and visualize the worst possible outcomes. In moments where I begin to refuse treatment, my mother encourages me to think a few steps ahead. I would freefall through the mental healthcare system, and even be institutionalized on a state…
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I’m mildly pissed today.
This is not the first time I’ve heard “that’s not you.” When I experimented heavily with my appearance in freshman year of university, my lab mate told me: “Just be yourself.” Who is she to know what kinds of mannerisms are authentic and which are not? The idea of purity, authenticity; the idea that a…
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Surprising beautiful women
2 hospitalizations ago, I was sitting in the common room before the sun came up. One of the dining workers carted in the morning coffee. “And the most graceful woman in the room just walked in,” I pealed. “You’re pulling my leg,” responded the black woman in dining cap and small gold hoops. She tried…
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Snail pancakes
Adapted from Auntie Emily. I recently drove to Crane Beach with a friend to gather snails. It’s been ten years since I last collected this moon snail variety. Kai was terrified at first of eating them. However, once presented in a tastier format, he was quite impressed and took a liking to the food. Make…
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A sweet moment
Today my mother mentioned to me in passing: “I’ll do your hair when you get married.” Me? Given my illness, even claiming to have a future feels perilous. But I look to the future with cautious optimism. Fundamentals: nurturing relationships, remaining busy with meaningful work, prioritizing family and personal health above all. Maybe my life…
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Selling a dream
Somehow my YouTube reintroduced me to a childhood favorite movie of mine: Kung Fu Panda. There are so many lines and scenes to love: but the line that hit hardest came from the antagonist Tai Lung. He accused his master of selling him the fantasy that his future was set as the successor of Kung…
