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- A fresh start in Houston
You know how when life feels “too good”—almost suspiciously so—and you start bracing yourself for something to go wrong? It could be considered an act of protection, a sense of preparedness for an invisible Big Bad lurking around the corner. Or maybe it’s sabotage, weakening your ability to live in the present and truly enjoy what’s going right.
Our first week in Houston was dreamy. Sure, our bodies were tired and achy from packing and unpacking, but downsizing from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom went smoother than anticipated. Vadym and I quickly fell in love with our new apartment and walkable neighborhood, obsessing over HEB groceries (seriously, their fresh butter tortillas are SO YUMMY) and the easy access to nature, restaurants, and the local arts scene.
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I swear, every single day, I exclaim to Vadym, “I can’t believe we get to live here!!!” He usually chuckles and agrees, feeling the same about this exciting new chapter.
There’s also an unspoken exchange. A hushed “I hope nothing screws this up.”
🎶 Surprise, surprise 🎶 You won’t believe what we woke up to on our first Monday after taking a week off for the move.
Hurricane Beryl. And no electricity. For 32 hours. Another one of the universe’s sick jokes. The kind where you laugh because you don’t want to cry. And considering the damage and tragedy other Houstonians have endured in July, we are fortunate.
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Last week, I met up with my college roommate Rachel (we live close to each other again 😊) for a free outdoor yoga class (it was fantastic). “You survived your first storm,” she said in greeting. “I’m glad you still like it here, even after everything that happened.”
Truthfully, during the initial aftermath of Beryl, I questioned whether we were built to live in Houston. As Rachel pointed out, there have been challenges in our short time here, but the pros outshine the cons.
For you, me, and everyone we know, the last four years have been one unprecedented event after another, right alongside personal life transitions that test us. Still, if we look closely, there are glimmers of hope and joy that we can choose to magnify.
Let the good moments be good. And if something goes wrong, instead of dwelling on it:
Surrender to the moment
Focus on what you can control
Pull from your joy toolkit (a collection of activities, items, and people who make you happy)
In my case, I’ve been focusing on exploration (long walks in nature) and play (my hobbies, socializing) to see a clearer picture of what our life is and can be in Houston. The picture is beautiful.
Before you continue reading this issue, I want to share some quotes from Ryan Holiday's book The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, which has resonated with me lately.
“It’s not just: How can I think this is not so bad? No, it is how to will yourself to see that this must be good— an opportunity to gain a new foothold, move forward, or go in a better direction. Not “be positive,” but learn to be ceaselessly creative and opportunistic. Not: This is not so bad. But: I can make this good.”
“Too often, we react emotionally, get despondent, and lose our perspective. All that does is turn bad things into really bad things. Unhelpful perceptions can invade our minds—that sacred space of reason, action, and will—and throw our compass.”
With joy,
Jenay
How are you feeling? Are you going through something difficult?
Challenge your anxious thoughts and view the obstacle or hardship as a chance to learn, adapt, or discover a new perspective. How can you reframe your approach to this challenge to focus on potential growth or a positive outcome?
It's easy to overlook small sources of happiness during a challenging situation. Take a moment to list a few simple things in your current life that bring you joy or a sense of peace, no matter how small. How can you ensure you don't take these little moments for granted?
📚️ Books
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When in Rome by Sarah Adams
Burnt out from being the princess of pop, Amelia Rose sneaks away for a B&B getaway in a small Kentucky town without telling anyone where she’s going. Too bad her car breaks down at the edge of town in the middle of the night. Lucky for her, she’s stuck outside the house of a grumpy yet kindhearted pie shop owner. How convenient 😏 The romance is so sweet! Usually, I wouldn’t say I like the sunshine/grumpy trope, but I enjoyed the tension in this one.
Honey by Isabel Banta
Amber Young enters the competitive and isolating world of late ‘90s pop stardom as a teenager. It’s everything she’s ever wanted, but also not. For years, she follows the lead of those around her, struggling to dare to want more and be more than a slut-shamed girl with a stunning voice. With themes of power dynamics, sexuality, and female friendship, the writing is sometimes poetic. It’s sexy. It’s sad. Just like Amber. I loved how the book included faux lyrics, quizzes, article clips, and Wiki pages as if ripped from teen magazines of my childhood.
When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman
Following an English family across several decades, this book depicts the complexities of a sibling bond, shared secrets, chosen family, and the unexpected twists fate throws their way. Some parts are dark but not explicit. By the middle of it, even though I was enjoying the writing, I was a little unsure if I’d end up liking the book in its entirety because I had no clue where it was going. But I’m so glad I finished it. I chuckled. I gasped. I cried. It’s certainly a family love story.
🎥 Film
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Inside Out 2
Our favorite crew of emotions is back to help Riley navigate puberty and the new, complex emotions that move in—like my old frenemy, Anxiety. Unsurprisingly, Pixar had me bawling my eyes out. Watching a frenetic animated version of what an anxiety attack feels and looks like was devasting but beautiful.
Hit Man
Inspired by a real Texas Monthly article, this romantic comedy is about a college professor who worked for the police as a fake hitman. It’s fun and a little dark and absurd. I liked it. Glen Powell portrays so many different personas throughout the film that I'm convinced he could play any character, probably because he has a disarming quality about him. No wonder he’s in so many films lately.
📺️ TV
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Tokyo Vice
Based on a memoir, this crime drama follows Jake Adelstein, an American journalist in Tokyo who became a major newspaper's first non-Japanese staff writer. As he tries to keep his position on the crime beat, he becomes dangerously entangled in the dark Tokyo nightlight and complex dynamics of the Yakuza. It’s an incredibly well done and satisfying show. Might be in my top 10 favorites of all time.
My Lady Jane
In this historical fantasy, Lady Jane Grey is a rebel for her time. She’s educated, passionate about helping people with medicinal herbs, unafraid to speak her mind, and absolutely doesn’t want to marry. But her mom doesn’t care what Jane wants, so the poor girl finds herself in a series of unexpected, dangerous events, like being crowned queen and fighting for survival and, yes, even love. I was unaware of the show’s fantasy element before starting, and boy was I delighted when the oddity began.
A nearly 90-year-old has advice for how to be happy (Glamour)
Are you ruminating? It’s time to shut it down (Wondermind)
Use ChatGPT to ease your daily mental load (The Good Trade)
How to create a sensory-balanced bedroom* (Avocado Magazine)
“I’m alone in Tokyo, and I’ve never been happier” (Misako Envela)
*Written by me!
🎶 a nostalgic indie rock cover of Espresso
📖 reading outside with a summer breeze
🥭 mango smoothies
🦎 baby lizards darting around
🐶🐸 these cuties
🧑🍳 early dinners
🥥 operation coconut tree
🧘 shavasana
I can’t say this enough: thank you for reading TYFBH.
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