Happy New Year everyone!

2025 was the year of the snake, and it sure felt like one. Like snakes shedding their skin, I hope to shed some bad happenings behind and that 2026 is prosperous. From losing a friend to losing a job, 2025 was emotionally, mentally, and physically challenging. I’d say it was the worst year since 2020.

I’m glad to enter 2026 — the year of the horse!

Every year, instead of making “resolutions,” I usually think of a phrase to live by.

2022: “Take a leap of faith.”

2023: “Live in the moment.”

2024: “Believe in yourself.”

2025: “Love yourself.”

I’ve accomplished most of these phrases — especially in 2023 and 2024.

So what’s the phrase for 2026? “Don’t give f*cks and let it be.”

The Social Media Audit

The hard question is, how do you not give f*cks and what makes you conscious of what others think? No doubt, social media is the culprit. So, I audited my Instagram account. I unfollowed people and made them unfollow me. It was liberating to say the least. More than half of the followers/following were people that I’ve met from schools or through pre-professional societies, clubs, and communities. While I enjoyed meeting and getting to know them in the past, our connections and common ground faded away. I think drifting apart is natural as we grow older. But because I want my account to be up close and personal, I decreased the number of colleague-strangers.

Among the list of removed followers/following were some “quiet lurkers,” too. Meaning, they looked at my stories/posts but never engaged with me. Even more reasons to disconnect! Why bother?

This whole auditing activity has reminded me (once again) how toxic social media is. This is why I’ve decided to be more intentional with what I share by blogging.

Funeunice, Funemployment

It’s weird being job-less while everyone around me is busy hustling. To be frankly honest, it’s refreshing to have more spare time and more autonomy of my schedule. I guess this is what retirement feels and tastes like? Also, I’ve realized that a lot of daytime tickets and meals are cheaper. If I had no bills to pay, I would totally sign up for this kind of life — with occasional philanthropic work, board meetings, and a side business. Oh to live as a rich, trophy wife! It’s a full-time job in itself. Well…after all, I am Mark’s wife (if you know, you know).

“Manifest Destiny”

One of my friends invited me to her Vision Board gathering, and it was so much fun! First, she decorated her place all nice and cozy. Second, the ladies who joined the gathering were funny, honest, and supportive. Third, it was therapeutic to see pictures, words, and symbols–and cutting and gluing them on a board. The crafting process to making a vision board made me creative, reflective, and more hopeful.

I won’t go into every details of my vision board but for 2026, I am manifesting new beginnings. New job, new connections, new opportunities, new activities, and new memories.

Early Spring Cleaning

With more time at home, I’ve decided to tackle some major spring cleaning tasks. The first task on the list was to finish archiving family photos that we transported from Atlanta in 2024. There were a lot of photos. From my mother’s elementary school days to most recent polaroids, there were more than 5,000 images that I had to organize by categories and chronologically.

I was a bit stressed cleaning and organizing the family photo collection, but I’ve been doing it for so long that I finished the project in two days! Also, I went down a memory lane as I archived the photos. Some good memories. Some…not so good.

I’ve been also reorganizing some things around the house including the old, forgotten closet. Well, probably not “forgotten” but I’ve collected a lot of junk over the years and it needed a little Marie Kondo spell. Lord and behold, this was the perfect time to tackle the mess. I’m so glad that I did!

Being a cultured Betch

Besides working on job applications every day, I’m taking this time to catch up on shows, films, books, and all things cultural. I finally watched One Battle After Another. My co-workers raved about it during our weekly meeting (this was last year), and my sister saw it in theaters on New Year’s. She was so impressed that she also raved about it and really pushed me to go see it in theaters, too. So I went to Roxy Cinema near Canal Street. The movie did not disappoint and Leonardo DiCaprio (once again) proved why he’s a world renown actor. I highly recommend this movie –especially if you’re into dark humor!

I also got to join Jen to a New Year’s party hosted by a Japanese society in Chelsea. We ate and drank a lot. There’s nothing like drinking a shot of sake on a cold day. We played trivia games and I got to try Shodo/Shuji (calligraphy using brush, ink, and mulberry paper). Fun fact: my grandmother (paternal side) was a professional Korean calligrapher.

Snow, Snow, Snow!

We’ve been getting lots of snow this winter. While fresh snow is pretty to look at, the aftermath of snow is brutal, filthy, and dangerous. If the roads are not paved or properly salted, snow makes everything icy and slippery.

On January 25th, the big snow storm passed by the city. We prepared for the storm by stocking up our fridge and pantry. Thankfully, our pandemic-survival skills came in handy. We knew what to get, what kinds of food to make, and how to stay sane indoors.

Lots of things are happening here on my end. Mentally, it’s been nice chilling at home and not working. Financially… it’s a bit scary but it will be okay. Just thankful that I’m healthy, my family is healthy and nearby, and that I have a roof over my head.

Stay warm and let’s toast to a brighter year ahead of us!

Cheers,