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- Slow down and savor it
Hey! Hello. What’s good?
Below is the original version of this newsletter, but I want to be honest and let this community know that I am feeling distraught and violated this morning. The used car my mom gifted and transferred to us just a little over a week ago was stolen right outside our door, in our gated community. I’m trying to stay hopeful that the police can locate it, but I’m in a really bad head space at the moment. Please enjoy the rest of this newsletter. When I wrote it, I felt the complete opposite of how I feel today.
The summertime makes me feel the most alive, and I’m eager to savor it. As months sprint by, going through the motions is effortless, but I don’t want to get caught up like that. Now that we’re halfway through the year, I’m slowing down to rest, dream, plan, and build consciously. This looks like reflecting on how the first half of this year has gone, revisiting and adjusting goals, and establishing a plan of action.
Admittedly, my goals sometimes take longer than necessary because I spend a lot of time thinking about or working on too many things at once. Inspired by the 12-Week Year method, I want to test a more sustainable approach to achievement. If you’ve tried it, I’d love to hear about how it went and any tips you have!
Although I’m taking on less client work this month, I envision I’ll make up for it when my plans come to fruition. So, sure, my income will take a hit temporarily, but I still feel rich.
I’m rich with quality time, autonomy, love, and a comfortable lifestyle most days. And the room for growth excites me.
In what ways do you feel rich that don’t involve money? I’d love to share your answers in next month’s issue.
Thank you for being here,
Jenay
New songs have been added to the Thank You For Being Here playlist. Not a Spotify user? Here are links to the music videos:
For that “bouncy, groovy, dancey sound,” listen to this Choice Edit playlist. I love it for the carefree, summertime vibes.
An Occasional Social Butterfly
I entered social butterfly mode at the end of April. In one week, I had three social hangs, including first IRL dates with internet friends, and I was connecting in person with people several weekends in a row. That frequency is not the norm for me, but each hang filled my cup! That’s some serious pre-2019 Jenay behavior, and I’m proud of myself for riding the rare wave of feeling social while still feeling like I have enough time to balance the rest of my life.
Have you checked in with yourself and your current social meter lately?
What feels best when making plans with friends?
How many times a week or month do you want to hang out?
What types of activities with them energize you?
Going
I don’t have any big vacations planned for this year, only a few short weekend trips and Christmas travel, since we’re saving to go on an international trip within the next two years. If you’re planning domestic or international travel or want to be more travel savvy, check out On the Fly by Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). I also really love Going’s newsletter and am signed up for the free tier version of its cheap flight alerts.
In May, I read three books, putting me at 20 books into my annual goal of 50. My reading list included books with AAPI pop culture history lessons, thorny mother-daughter relationships, and family secrets.
Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now by Philip Wang, Jeff Yang, and Phil Yu (4.5 stars): I kicked off Asian American and Pacific Islander month with Rise, a walkthrough of how Asian American culture has evolved in film, TV, music, media, art, and politics. I enjoyed the essays, Q&As with icons, illustrations, and comics. Memories from my youth came back into view, and I learned a lot of origin stories.
Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures by Connie Wang (4.25 stars): This book chronicles Connie’s complicated relationship with her mom, starting with their family’s accidental immigrant story and then recounting some of their travels together. It was funny to read how she realized that many of her assumptions about people and specific experiences weren’t accurate.
Why Didn’t You Tell Me by Carmen Rita Wong (3.75 stars): This memoir is heartbreaking. Carmen tells the story of her turbulent upbringing and her immigrant mother's decades-held secrets that topple her understanding of her family, identity, and place in the world. The drama, family secrets, and multiracial experience hooked me, even though I think the memoir could have benefitted from a couple of better editing decisions. Then again, my version is a gifted advanced reader’s copy, so maybe the final print is better.
📌 By purchasing via the above links, you’ll support independent bookstores, and I’ll earn a tiny commission too. Thank you!
My keyboard and brain have been busy! Here is my recently published work:
As I mentioned, I’m currently in reflection and build mode, which includes creating packages for my new website copy services, in addition to the blog and product description writing I do. More on that later!
Movies
Kubo and the Two Strings is a sad and beautiful movie. Created by the stop-motion animation studio Laika, it follows a young boy who embarks on a quest to find a magical suit of armor his late father wore to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past. I love the part where the main character Kubo says happy memories are the most powerful magic.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 made me teary-eyed several times and is an excellent depiction of chosen family and stepping into one’s purpose. Once again, the soundtrack is amusing, and some of the set designs are playfully futuristic.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, an extraordinary film, is pure art. Mesmerized by the animation, I felt like I was racing through an art show featuring different hand-drawn styles. Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to the Miles Morales story and follows his journey meeting more Spider-People in the multiverse, fighting existential threats, and redefining what it means to be a hero. I love how multicultural this one was, and I am giddy over the introduction of Spider-Punk.
Series
Ted Lasso is an impeccable series through the very end. I think the writers tied up (almost) everything in a way that satisfied me. I had happy-ish tears throughout the episode and will miss having new episodes to watch. Maybe we’ll get a spin-off?
Sweet Tooth, set in a post-apocalyptic pandemic world, is back with a second season. It continues the journey of a half-deer, a half-human boy searching for answers and safety for himself and his new friends. This show has heart, despite the division of humankind. There are ideologies like “humanity” first, but not in the positive way you might think of first.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story choked me up a few times, especially in the finale. The show's pacing threw me off sometimes, but I enjoyed the love story. The reality of women relying on men for survival, or the crown’s “experiment” to integrate people of color into high society, was a tough pill to swallow.
How to Get Rich, hosted by Ramit Sethi, is my new obsession. After watching the show, I’m binging Ramit’s I Will Teach You To Be Rich podcast and newsletter. He’s not a get-rich-quick bro. Instead, he teaches people how to focus less on restriction, dream bigger, develop a better money mindset, and design a “rich life,” whatever that means for each individual. I find his approach and implementation of money psychology impactful.
YouTube
The Hollywood Reporter’s Roundtable series is an engaging format for actor chats—shoutout to my close friend Tiffany Taylor. You may have seen her hosting red carpet or press junket interviews for THR. For the Roundtables, she’s part of the team that helps produce them.
🍦 Devouring Häagan Dazs Summer Berry Waffle ice cream bars
🍵 Hanging out in cute cafes
☀️ Looking outside and realizing the sun is still up at 8:15 pm
✋🏽 Holding your grandparent’s hand
🚗 Driving a newer car
🐦 Watching a blue jay land on the balcony’s railing
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