March Week 1

During the first week of March, I started feeling something different. Maybe it's the warmer weather. Maybe it was the fact that I started reading one of the best mangas of all time (and finished within one week).

It was definitely the week where I started actually thinking and behaving a bit differently according to my core values and philosophical concepts that I found helpful when I use to be addicted to self-help YouTube videos.  Although, I no longer watch them because there comes a certain point where you have heard it all and you don't need to hear it anymore. 

You just need to do it. 

(...or read it in a book so it actually materializes in your consciousness instead of something you listen to so you are slightly distracted while doing something else you find boring (yes, I am guilty)).

Momento Mori.

It essentially means to remember that you will die. It is a concept prominent in Stoicism that I discovered 3 years ago - but never fully internalized. I think this first week of March, I started to internalize it.

I grew up a homebody that always wanted new experiences but was too tired and anxious to go out and experience in the first place. I never quite figured out how to get myself out of that funk until recently.

I have started saying more and more - "If I were to die tomorrow, would I regret not having done this thing?"

You might imagine that most of the time, the answer would be "yes", but that's not quite true. There were things I turned down but also many things I showed up for instead of being cozy in my room. I went out often, had productive moments, and also had my consumption moments (cough Tokyo Ghoul cough). But it was the first time where I felt that it was all worth it. 

I checked my phone the least amount of times the past week and spent a lot of time with friends.

I went climbing with friends.

Had an indoor picnic with friends (because the grass was damp lol).

I even went on a study date with one of my besties in the middle of the week 

...which can be difficult to feel up to when work is super busy. (I have no picture for this, oops).

Then I made spin offs of some unofficial Ghibli recipes based on an unofficial Ghibli cookbook 

…in the midst of doing laundry. The curiosity was killing me on whether the recipes would work out. Would I regret not doing it if I died the next day? Hell yes.

Aaaand I am missing a picture of the ginger chicken soup I made but it was delicious (with a few tweaks outside of the recipe).

Conclusion

Anyways, the past week was the first time I felt like I had a fulfilling week since the beginning of the year and that says a lot. Between studying hard for a required certification for my current job, applying to jobs (because ya girl needs a change), and having to pause yoga teacher training and dance because of my job - I was feeling a little glum. I was almost feeling as if I got the short end of the stick. 

But man I am so grateful and those are some first world problems. I will have ups and downs and the feelings of being behind in my 20s - but I will never give up or sulk for too long. This past week taught me that in the end, each day is what I make of it.

I listened to a podcast that I can’t remember the name of because it was a long time ago. Essentially, the woman said to try to live multiple lives in one day, everyday. It may sound difficult but I think I almost got it last week. I also know how to rationalize a simple thing to make it seem like it counts as another life (kind of sounds like…romanticizing). 

Let's see if I can almost get it this next week (even with a lack of plans. Time for some solo plans?).

Have a lovely day!