3 Lessons Learned in January 2020

Hi guys,

How is your 2020 going for you so far? It's been a bit of a whirlwind over here. Unfortunately my year started out with a couple of sad news. On January 6th, my friend Samantha was killed in a car accident. She was only 30 years old.

Just a couple of days later, on Wednesday January 8th, my grandma passed away. She was 90 years old. I gave a bilingual eulogy in Korean and English at her funeral service. I also shared this video summarizing who she was to me.

Then of course on January 26th, Kobe Bryant's fatal helicopter crash sent shockwaves across the world.

This has been a very discouraging way to start the new year, but in midst of sadness here are three reminders I am taking to heart as we enter a new month:

1. Life is short, so make every day count.

The unexpected death of my friend and also of the nine people (including Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna) who suddenly perished in the helicopter crash shook me to my core. I was once again reminded of how fragile and short life is. My social media feeds have been flooded with images and quotes from the basketball legend. Here is my favorite one:

2. If you have a calling or a passion, don't waste your life compromising.

As you know I revamped this website in an effort to create a safe space for domestic violence survivors and their families. I feel that this has become my calling as storyteller no matter how much I've fought against it. In 2020, I'm hoping to make this my full-time commitment. I've also revamped my Patreon page, so people who value my commitment to this cause can become patrons of my work - giving a little bit each month helps to motivate me and provides me with a revenue stream to continue building on my work. You can also find exclusive blogs, vlogs and resources on Patreon - these are posts that I find a bit too personal to share on free platforms that everyone can see.

3. Take time to appreciate the beauty of life.

In the past I've often been too stressed out to enjoy life's beautiful moments. But ever since I started therapy after domestic violence, I've learned about self-care and how important it is to keep a positive outlook on life. Now, I dedicate a day or two each week to spend quality time with my husband and do activities together that help me to appreciate the beauty of the world in which we live. Traveling vlogging is one way I cherish the simple moments we share, and also enjoy walking at my local beaches and playing golf at one of several public courses in my neighborhood.