Dear Reader, With the pressure of resolutions, setting goals, and fresh beginnings, the inside of my brain around the new year often looks something like this: Illustrations by Kaki Okumura It would be typical of me to start the new year with a million unanswered questions, worries, and concerns about if I was āon the right pathā. But often towards the end of the year, reflecting back, I realize I have come very far in answering many of those concerns and untangling a situation which at the...
about 1 month agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Dear Reader, My annual physical is usually unremarkable (thankfully), but one appointment with a doctor really left an impression on me. She was asking me a few routine questions about my lifestyle habits, and the topic of drinking came up. I told her I didnāt drink much and she was like, good! Less is better. āIf you hear that alcohol is good for your health, itās probably the social aspects of drinking, not the drink itself. Drink with people, but I donāt encourage you to drink with...
about 1 month agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Dear Reader, Ah itās Thanksgiving weekend, which means that Iāve been thinking a lot about gratitude. The people and things Iām grateful for, but also the value of practicing gratitude. It seems like such a simple thing, but it can bring more calm, more peace. Maybe a bit more happiness. Photo from this year's Friendsgiving! Potluck-style ā¤ļø I loved how colorful my plate was this year. Thereās a lot that can be said about gratitude, but today Iād like to talk about how to find freedom from...
about 2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Dear Reader, āI am so busy.ā Depending on the culture you were raised in, you might read that as either a boast or complaint. Maybe both. You donāt need to feel guilty for not being busy I've always felt an immense pressure to be busy, to be "productive". As a student, it was to have a robust social life, good grades, and to perform in extracurriculars. As an adult, it was about working hard at my career and dedicating hours to my profession. Being busy felt like a virtue, while things like...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Dear Reader, The season of gratitude is coming up, so I've been thinking a lot about the things I am grateful for. And in that chain of thought, I discovered something interesting -- it had never occurred to me before, but the Japanese characters for āthank youā are composed of two unlikely words: ę: To have, possess é£: Difficulty, hardship ęé£ć (arigato): Thank you What a strange combination of words to express gratitude. Why the characters for āthank youā is ādifficult to haveā The...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Dear Reader, Many people join my newsletter because they are working towards a health goal. Sometimes it's about having more energy, other times it's about simply wanting to feel at peace in their mind and body. These are great goals, and important goals that I write for and work to support each and every week. Illustrations by Kaki Okumura The thing about our health however is that it is not something that changes overnight. This is not a bad thing, but it takes time ā and in that process,...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Dear Reader, It can feel discouraging to feel like youāre behind all of your peers. The social media posts, the LinkedIn announcements, the school alumni newsletters, and even the occasional news article that reads: āSheās only 26 and is already making millions of dollars!ā. People glorify the young, praise the early retirement success story, and admire those who mark lifeās checkboxes when they should. And as they say, when you are not the subject of these stories, comparison can be the...
3 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Dear Reader, Sometimes I have an easier time looking after others before myself. Maybe it's the values I was raised with, but while looking after others feels like an act of kindness, self-care can feel... well, selfish. Setting boundaries, taking time to do something for myself, etc. these things didn't always come naturally to me. But one idea that's really helped me is thinking of my future self as someone else who also needs my help. Future you deserves your present care. Looking after...
3 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Dear Reader, What do you think my reaction was when I received this marketing email from a telehealth provider? With the fall/winter holidays upon us, I want to take a moment to address the āholiday healthy eating tipsā that we will also inevitably start receiving ā how to limit sugary candy, skip the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie dessert for a healthy alternative, or why you should choose low-fat ice cream instead of your momās homemade one. While probably well-intentioned, these messages that...
3 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
