Win of the week: The bubbling excitement of writing

Looking forward to: April beginning!

a week’s worth of shōkakkō

Sunday: The joy of writing, even if it’s just for fun

Published my first ‘personal column’ blog post, Memories of a Kitchen. I simply wanted to practice writing about food. This was heavily inspired by my current read. Even though it was more of a writing practice than anything original, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the process of writing it; watching it change as inspiration led me. It reminded me of what Aristotle said, “It is clear… that the actuality is better and more valuable than the good potentiality.”

Monday: Coming home with a bag full of new library books

I love the library. I love coming home with my new holds, with new borrowed books my kids and I get to read together.

Tuesday: The sweetness and acidity of tomatoes in tomato pasta

I’ve been craving pasta with tomato sauce and that first bite really hit the spot!

Wednesday: Enjoying a cup of tea and writing in my notebook

The first sip of hot black tea. I have my notebook open, pen uncapped, ready to write.

Thursday: The sound of my fingers tapping away on my keyboard

The kids were asleep and I finally had time to spend time on my personal creative endeavours. I love silence and listening to my fingers type away.

Friday: The feeling when an inspiring thought or idea comes to mind

I had a strong wave of inspiration come over me on Tuesday; an idea for a coming-of-age fantasy story. I don’t know if the idea has enough weight to be carried into a full-length novel. But inspiration struck me. I was absolutely elated. And by the end of the week, I felt absolutely crushed and discouraged. This always happens unfortunately. I try my hardest to flesh out any spark of inspiration I get: scene ideas, vibes, setting, characters, themes I want to explore, character sketches etc. After multiple very intense brain dump sessions, I realize I have nothing. I’m stuck. And it’s so frustrating! I yearn to write something. And yet I don’t know what to say. When I look over my notes, all I have are VIBES and some themes I feel deeply about. Usually this is when I give up and move on with my life until the next unshakeable force of inspiration hits me like a freight train. But I don’t want to give up. I want to pursue this to the point of holding an awful, this-must-never-see-the-light-of-day first draft. I want to write it. I want it to exist. But I don’t know what ‘it’ is.

Saturday: A spoonful of comfort food: tomato egg stir-fry with rice

Been really discouraged over my lack of creativity and ability to write this story, so I made comfort food. A childhood favourite: Tomato egg stir-fry with jasmine rice. My problems didn’t go away, but at least I had a nice dinner.

what we did

• The kids and I didn’t attend Divine Liturgy and Pan-Orthodox Vespers because they were sick
• I made gimbap (fillings were tofu with garlic powder and tamari sauce sizzled in sesame oil, rehydrated shiitake mushrooms, spinach, onion, and carrots) for Pan-Orthodox Vespers
• Spent some time soaking in the sunshine
• Wrote my first personal column blog post
• Went to the library
• Had a migraine attack
• Decided to pursue a coming of age story idea (not sure what it will be but so far I have vibes and themes lol)
• Max got a haircut, we got rid of his mullet
• Had my first vestibular therapy appointment; unsure if my vertigo is inner ear-related but it’s worth trying out physio for
• Slow days at home because it’s been very cold and we had snow
• Kids and I watched Kiki’s Delivery Service
• Went for a post-nap walk finally this week after the snow melted and the weather warmed up a bit. The kids had a lot of fun. Max enjoyed playing with the dump trucks and toy shovels. Nigel pretended to be a “moustache troll” who lives under the playground’s slide. Elora had such a thrill being chased and pushed down the slide.
• Lowkey spiraling into despair and despondency 🙂

content consumption

Reading — Books

Paused: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy — I was enjoying this, but realized I needed a palette cleanser before going into this book. It saddens me to drop the book for now, but I’m a mood reader. There’s no point in forcing myself to read a book.

Paused: The Anatomy of Story by John Truby — Started reading this on Monday after borrowing it from the library. It’s not really a book that you can just sit and read and be done with. I want to try using its exercises so I don’t think I’ll be able to finish reading it before I have to return it. May have to purchase the book second-hand if I find it useful!

Reading — Manga

Started: Witch Hat Atelier — Somewhat of a palette cleanser. I’m also reading this to prep myself for the anime adaptation coming out SOON!! So excited. Only downside is I don’t like reading on my phone.

Watching — Films

Started: Hard Boiled (1992) dir. John Woo — Been experiencing homesickness for Hong Kong and Cantonese. I wanted to watch something light (I know there’s a lot of violence, but I don’t want something melancholic like Wong Kar Wai’s stuff) so I’m watching this action film!

Finished: Frances Ha (2012) dir. Noah Baumbach

Finished: Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) dir. Hayao Miyazaki — Watched this with the kids again. Such a good film!

Watching — Anime

Finished: JJK — WHAT A CRAZY EPISODE !! YUTA!!!! I knew he was strong, but I didn’t know he was THAT strong.

words worth remembering

“Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.” – C.S. Lewis

the good and the beautiful

Anything I found beautiful that’s worth mentioning

• Spring Azure butterflies
• Bookstores, and shelves full of books
• Vintage, thrifted home goods
• The kids and I took laundry baskets and made them into cozy reading spots. We put blankets, pillows, and stuffies into the baskets. A pile of books between them. And off to reading!
• My gimbap for Pan Orthodox Vespers: