Open-hearted joys 開開心心 94
Happy May and happy Friday, my loves!
After a fortnight or so of properly having to chase my tail, I’ve enjoyed a relaxed week of time with friends, running in the sunshine, and longer reading sprints. All because I’ve finally completed the short course I’d been studying since January. (Although I suppose my day job being a little quieter also helps!) And it feels so good to enjoy the outdoors and soak up the spring weather! I’ve realised that, despite proclaiming I love all seasons, there is something about spring that makes me come alive again. Maybe I too am a tree’s leaves.
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 open-hearted joys, the moments that’ve woven poetry to my days, this week.
一. Time spent with the friends I’ve known for over 20 years (nearly 25!). I simply don’t feel old enough! I am endlessly thankful for them; there’s something about friends that’ve seen you and been with you through many, many big life chapters. We nattered about everything from our current favourite books to dog stories, vented about divorces (theirs; and this is shared with delightful permission!) and shared exciting snippets from wedding planning (mine!), celebrated new jobs (theirs) and new homes (theirs), and made new memories rambling around a lake and trying to identify the local bug species.
二. A quiet evening making our first-ever char siu from scratch!
三. Adding a new mug to the kitchen. Surely the greatest feeling.
四. Feeling inspired by the London Marathon to push myself further than I’ve ever run. It was ‘only’ 12km but I feel so proud of myself. Next milestone: 15km!
五. Catching sunrise and the haziest lilac sunsets.
六. Making proper progress with my manuscript for the first time in weeks.
七. Feeling like I can catch my breath now that I’m completed (and passed!) my Traditional Chinese Medicine short course studies.
八. The ‘fancy’ coffee I make myself after three office days and after Reformer Pilates. It’s my little treat, and a physical (and delicious) way to separate office days from home days.
九. More sunshine days than not, a real treat for us in England!
十. How it feels to spend evenings making mood boards for our wedding vendors. From florists to makeup artists, photography to décor, it’s been unbelievably fun this week!
