Thirty-Seven Things

It's that time of the year again! You know the drill.

1. SPF sticks for the face are one of the best inventions.

2. I can buy myself flowers, and I buy myself the prettiest pale pink peonies whenever they’re in season.

3. I like nice things.

4. What you suppress in your childhood and adolescent years will come back ten-fold in adulthood. Trauma, lessons, habits, fears etc. Work through those issues. If someone tells you your feelings are too big, respond by letting them know their ego is too big.

5. I love Vietnam. It literally changed my life.

6. I’ve learned to embrace people talking about me behind my back. I can finally be in multiple places at once! Levels unlocked!

7. I don’t accept apologies, only changed behavior.

8. Some will love you but never see your light.

9. Many will do things for ego and pride, question if this is your thing.

10. Be in spaces where you are appreciated, not tolerated.

11. Sometimes the divine removes you from a situation so karma can do its job.

12. Petty people do petty things. Let them be petty. They are petty for a reason if you look at where they are in life.

13. Everything in life is around these two energies: push and pull.

14. You are exactly where you need to be, doing what you’re doing, in divine timing.

15. Kindness is not weakness.

16. Dogs > Humans (prove me wrong).

17. The only constant in life is change.

18. Find your north (I’m still finding mine).

19. I made a new friend this year. Her name is “burn out”. Through her, I met her twin, “rest”.

20. Set boundaries, not walls.

21. Rejection is redirection and protection.

22. Men hitting 40 should really stop acting like they’re 20 and have game. You don’t. #comeatmeicanfight

23. Walk away from ungrateful people. #toxicenergy

24. Recognize patterns.

25. Feldenkrais is life.

26. Normalize naps. Burnt out? Nap. Melt down? Nap. Brain fog? Nap. Mental breakdown? Nap. Passenger princess? Nap.

27. Communication and comprehension are two different things. If you are not seen and/or heard, figure out which of the two you are confusing. But also know when someone is gaslighting you and taking you on a stroll around the park.

28. I will never get behind the cookie croissant trend. It’s just as bad as Crocs and cargo pants.

29. "No" is a complete sentence.

30. Pick your battles, and if you are going to fight that battle, fight with precision.

31. Misogyny is very much alive in 2024.

32. Trust the process. Even if your life goes up in flames. Trust. The. Process.

33. When the body is in pain, it is communicating that something is not right. Whether it be mentally, emotionally, or physically. Listen to it without the advil, and make some decisions.

34. A profession in the arts is a career. It is just as valid as a profession in medicine, law, finance etc. If you disagree, be specific with what you are disagreeing with. Every hard conversation requires a sense of awareness and reflection.

35. We should all practice the art of minding our own business. I don’t want to hear your mouth rolling about other people's business through the grapevine. The only thing I want rolling, is money into my bank account.

36. There is a place and time for everything. Ask yourself if this is the right place and the right time to raise an issue, present a matter, or make a decision.

37. It's never too late to start over.

S.

Photography: Duy Ho Photography

Hair and make up: Urban Beauty Loft