#11 | january 🌆: still life, getting personal, asian snack recs
my first 2023 update isn’t about goals. i never make resolutions because i’m not a goal-oriented person, as in setting goals has never made me more likely to achieve the things i want. (the way i see it, if something is important to me or if there’s something i want to achieve or learn, i just go for it regardless of whether it’s the new year, and if i don’t follow through then it’s probably not that important right now.) however, i do think the new year is a good time to reflect on the past year and consider what i want for the coming year. but one new year is enough, and the perpetual procrastinator i am, i usually choose the later lunar new year. plus, it’s fifteen days long, which gives me more time.
one thing i am sure i want more of this coming year is something that seems to permeate much of life in taipei—a certain kind of softness, or malleability, or nonchalance. being more flexible, more spontaneous. less concerned if things don’t go according to plan. being okay with not having a plan. maybe it looks like:
going out in the late morning, as the breakfast shops are closing and the lunchtime shops are opening, and letting timing decide whether i get the last steamed taro bun to-go or sit in for a bowl of noodle soup.
ducking into the nearest cafe when it starts raining, instead of heading to my previous destination. savoring a pourover and a cake for an hour, then continuing on my walk when the sun comes out again.
sitting on a park bench to stretch my legs, then staying because i like the way the light filters through the leaves. meandering home and capturing still lifes on sleepy streets as the sky darkens, as i’m not in a rush to go anywhere for dinner.
setting aside expectations for the future—not letting go but rather tabling my thoughts for tomorrow, or next week, or even later today but after a warm bowl of soup—and simply living in the present.
photo series: still life, residential taipei, 5-6pm.
before the markets fully close, before the restaurants open for dinner. the in-between moments where the sidewalks are cast in a soft glow after the rain and where briefly, time stands still.
journal prompt, getting personal
this update is somewhat about reflection, as i’m just now starting to reflect on the past year. a friend posted a journal prompt, and it included one question that seemed easy to answer but led to deeper consideration—i’ll share it here.
what are five or more things you love about yourself? here’s mine:
i have a close relationship with my family;
i actively prioritize the things that are important to me, like exploring and seeking joy;
i am a good partner and friend, but also highly independent;
i pursue a lifestyle that satisfies my curiosity and creativity;
i take the time to engage with my external environment, to pay attention to the different kinds of stimuli and inspiration around me.
i think someone’s answer reflects what they value or appreciate, what they consider important in their life. after reading these over, i can see how my past experiences and my choices regarding my career and lifestyle are all influenced by certain values. i don’t think i’ve changed very much as a person over the past few years—i’ve grown and learned more about what makes me happy, but my values are still the same as the ones i jotted down at a matcha cafe with a friend at nineteen.
this question also made me consider whether i’m living a life that prioritizes those values. i know some of those bullets weren’t true last year (eg. i struggled with #4 after graduating), and i guess i’m in better place today because the things i appreciate about myself now accurately reflect how i want to live my life. and i know decisions that would compromise one of those five would go against not only my abstract values, but also what i value about myself.
from an old notes page
value-aligned things i do now that i was not doing this time last year: living a semi-nomadic lifestyle where i move around frequently but give myself enough time to feel settled into each place. writing this newsletter and taking more frequent photos and videos. circling back to a creative team via my rotation program at work. texting my friends regularly. spending more time with my family. actively working to create a life that i love.
value-aligned things that i am continuing from last year: doing a rotation program at a startup to explore different teams and roles. trying to find a role that feels fulfilling and enriching. taking moments out of my day to relax, to go on long walks and coffeeshops, to enjoy afternoon tea. reading fiction and beautiful magazines. actively reflecting on a regular basis.
what do the things you love/appreciate about yourself tell you about your broader values? if you have a clear understanding of your values, is your answer to this prompt aligned with those?
one more question just for fun:
what’s a wish for the new year/goal you considered but didn’t make? why not? was it because you don’t think it’s that important, because you don’t want to, or because you think you’ll fail?
five things i’m snacking on
at home in taipei. when you have to work at night, snacks are necessary. here are five of my favorite things i’ve been munching on recently—it might be worth mentioning that none of these food items are things i went out and purchased on my own, but rather things family members have introduced me to. how do you primarily discover snacks?
taro chips. crunchy and addictive, need i say more?
dried green mango. i’m obsessed with these and eat them pretty much every day. i love sour foods and these are very tangy since there’s no added sugar. they keep me alert, but for those of you who don’t want something sour enough to bring tears to your eyes, the same shop’s dried pink guava, pineapple, and mango are good too.
salted egg yolk red bean flaky pastry. while my mom’s homemade one is the best, it’s too much effort to make at home so i get them from yoshi bakery, which is also very good.
almond fish. these might sound strange but they taste good. the little fish are usually lightly sweet and salty, and a perfect mindless snack when brainstorming. kind of like popcorn, because they’re crunchy. some types also come with rice crackers for even more textural variation and crunch.
fruits! six wax apples a day is not too much… right??? it’s been a long time since i’ve had them, and crispy white guavas, and sweet fragrant pomelos, and sour juicy starfruit, and tiny taiwanese papayas, and floral japanese apples. out of necessity (or laziness to go buy an apple peeler), i’ve now learned to skin apples with a paring knife the asian mom way.