Writing & Blog
Writing is medicine.
What Is My Purpose in Life?
I often hear it from people, especially those in their late 20s and 30s, who are going through an existential crisis. What is my purpose? What am I supposed to do with my life? These questions can feel overwhelming.
My invitation to you is this: what do you think your life is supposed to look like? And who or where did you get those ideas?
AI and Mental Health
While some features of AI can be helpful, especially for folks of the global majority, relying on AI for advice that could easily come from friends or family may actually contribute to people feeling more isolated.
Life, Social Media, and Hope
How are you? How is your heart?
What a time to be alive. There are so many atrocities happening around the world. And yet, when you pause and allow yourself to notice the goodness that still exists, you’ll also see so much beauty.
In my recent conversations with clients and friends, I’ve been hearing common themes: hints of despair, waves of anger, and at times, a sense of numbness.
Community—look out for your neighbours—especially during the holiday season
It’s especially important to care for your community during the winter months and the holiday season, when many people feel isolated.
Do you know your neighbours? Do you know what they do, or the names of their children?
Why Do I Feel S.A.D. When the Weather Gets Cold?
For me, it doesn’t matter if it’s “cool” or truly cold outside. Once the temperature drops below 10°C, my body begins to protest. My shoulders feel heavy, I reach for anything warm, and my legs turn to lead.
From March through early October, I’m happy. I have energy, I want to go for walks, and I feel lighter and more motivated.
But once mid-October hits and the weather cools, I start to feel like a sloth. November is the hardest — I want to hibernate, and my energy disappears. I feel a little lift in mid-December because I love Christmas, and January 1st always brings a spark of hope. But by the second week of January, I’m right back in hibernation mode until March.
At least that was my pattern for years until I realized I was experiencing Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD).
What I Learned After Stopping Running for 10 Years
I used to be a long-distance runner. I started in high school with cross country and continued into my early 30s. I wasn’t particularly fast, but I had the determination and endurance to run for hours at a time. Looking back, I now realize that running was one of the ways I coped with depression. I didn’t know I was depressed back then—I just knew that running made me feel better.
"Good Daughter" Syndrome: Understanding the Pressure to Please in the Chinese Culture
For daughters who grew up in a Chinese family, many were often taught that our role is to serve the male members in our family, that our needs don’t matter, and our purpose is to do what our fathers, grandfathers, and brothers tell us. Sounds familiar?
Know that when you feel like the pressure of being a good daughter is too much and you want to stop the behaviour, it does not make you a bad daughter.
Owning Your Part: Accountability & Responsibility
Taking accountability doesn’t mean you let others off the hook for their bad behaviours; it means you get to choose how you want to live your life.”
