Open-hearted joys 開開心心 70
These light evenings are bringing me so much joy that I could’ve filled up all 10 slots with simply that: evenings that are lighter and longer, a gossamer-thin divide between night and day. But there’s plenty more to be grateful for as well. For one, my sister and I are now almost finished with week five of our Couch to 5k programme and we’re definitely feeling at least a little fitter. And, I feel like my little brain has made so much progress since taking an extended detox from social media.
There’s a lot to be said for appreciating the smaller, not necessarily finer, details of the everyday mundane. Here’s to another list of petite, open-hearted joys, the moments that’ve brought and woven poetry to my days, this fortnight:
一. Picking up my notebook to do some long-form journalling on a Monday lunch break. It’d been more than a week since I last wrote anything, and it was all because I’ve been feeling so happy and content recently that I haven’t wanted to ‘offload’ anything.
二. Smashing our Week 4 runs in Couch to 5k! Those were quite a step up…
三. Taking the time each Sunday evening to prepare homemade healthy-ish snacks for the week ahead. I’m a little bit of a health and wellness kick as I continue to be stuck with the same health conditions I’ve been struggling with since last May. It’s starting to affect me emotionally and mentally now, so every little action helps.
四. Making time for Doctor Slump in the evenings. Sometimes, TV time is good. And I always love a Park Shin-hye drama.
五. Almost reaching the finish line with the Little Free Library I’ve been working on since August 2023! In short, I fundraised and worked with local councillors to build and set up a LFL which I’ll be the steward and ‘librarian’ of. I am so excited, and already have plenty of ideas for it, as well as for other local community projects that I’d like to pitch.
六. Getting through my first big campaign presentation at work. After freelancing for years and then taking non-presenting necessary roles, it felt like a jump, but it went well!
七. The SKIMS dupe bodysuits at F&F. Run, don’t walk.
八. Light evenings! An instant mood-improver.
九. A spontaneous after-gym breakfast date with my boyfriend last Friday at our favourite café.
十. A truly insightful and emotional talk, hosted by my workplace, with a Holocaust survivor. It’s scary to think that we have really few opportunities like this left, and it was a really valuable experience.
