Time is so precious, my friends. Time with those we care deeply about, time taken grounded in our bodies and in the space we occupy, time in contribution. We only get one life and we really have no assurances about our tomorrows or those of the people around us. It is a particularly contentious time. […]
Tag: Reflection
A Morning Reflection: On Rest, Wisdom, and Courage
When I am burdened by the day’s troubles, my husband often reminds me that “the morning is wiser.” This morning, I am especially present to the wisdom that comes with rest and from reminders that we are in community. This week has reminded me that when our bodies hold trauma, and that trauma is reactivated […]
Holding Still, Holding Space, Holding On
At the end of a long week and a long month, I am returning to my breath. I am returning to the present moment. I am taking a moment of stillness in a world that has felt frenzied and chaotic, particularly in the last few days. I am reminded of the gratitude I feel to […]
Reflecting & Vision Casting: 2024 –> 2025
What a year it has been. I came into 2024, officially starting my position at the University of Washington, while going back and forth between my family in Southern California and my new position in Seattle. The first six months of 2024 was full of back and forth and felt…unmooring. I not only was traveling […]
A Moment of Calm, a Time of Grace, a Season of Love, Anticipation of Joy: Final Reflection – Fall Quarter 2024
As is tradition on this academic journey, it is the end of a quarter and time for reflection. A Moment of Calm This has been an extremely busy quarter. After a gradual transition into my position at the University of Washington where I did not teach for the winter or spring quarters last year, this […]
Leaning into Rest, Breath, and Community
This was the sunrise this morning from my room. I am not going to lie (because why would I lie on my own blog): yesterday was a lot. Birthdays, death anniversaries, significant days in my own life or those of my children, they are often a lot. Holding space for myself, for others, and getting […]
Making Space for the Fullness of Humanity
Today is the third day of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention (for me, at least). It is my busiest day, with activities related to the Asian/Asian American Caucus (#AsianAmAF) and a presentation with my dear friend, Chanea. Today is also the day that, 86 years ago, my mother was born […]
Sitting with Discomfort
This perhaps will not be a super clear post. I am not gathered and so my thoughts are not either, but I am giving myself permission to be just as I am. [I also want to preface this post with space for however anyone else may be in their humanity in this moment. This isn’t […]
Season Change
It has been a season of many transitions. In the last few days, Seattle has transitioned from clear, sunny skies and 80+ degree temperatures to partly cloudy with rain on the horizon, a lovely, gentle reminder of where I’ve moved to and what’s to come as days continue to get shorter and we move towards […]
Reframing my Relationship to Work
This week and next, in lieu of actual “vacation” time, I have been trying to adopt a “work light” mode. “Work light” in my world is about declining non-essential work meetings, choosing to focus on projects that I haven’t had time for (e.g. my syllabus, unpacking my office) and e-mail for no more than a […]