Updates and Beginnings
I’ve been missing creativity in my life. The last time I blogged was February, 2022 and I was about to start my new job at Plex. Well, here I am - March 2024 - and I’m starting a new job again! I’m going to be joining Crunchyroll as a tvOS Software Engineer. This will be my 3rd job since graduating, and I finally feel like I’m hitting my stride in work. I have grown and learned so much about myself in the past two years and I am proud of myself for it.
Blogging feels very 2000’s to me, which is maybe why I like it so much. When I sit down to write, I feel like I’m writing to no one at all while simultaneously writing to the whole of the internet (theoretically). It feels easy and terrifying all at the same time. So, here I am - updating anyone who’s still here to read these posts!
This year has already held many new beginnings for me. Starting a new job is the obvious one, but I’ve also taken up snowboarding - an incredibly humbling experience. I had maybe the best first day of snowboarding I could possibly hope for. I barely fell, my brother-in-law taught me the basics, and it had snowed the day before, so the terrain was kind of perfect. A few weeks later, I went again in Utah and made it down a blue (intermediate) route and it was so rewarding to have accomplished that. I never thought I would be a snow sports person, but there’s something really peaceful about the quiet atmosphere on top of the mountain when there’s so much snow to muffle sound.
I forgot how nice it is to be a beginner at something, how much it teaches you about yourself and your resilience. I fell many, many times that second day - either because I caught an edge, or because I started going too fast and got scared, or because my muscles gave out, but I always got back up. I learned to not be afraid to make mistakes, to fall, or to look silly when I immediately fell coming off the chairlift exit because I couldn’t get my snowboard under me in time. And when I paused and looked around, I saw so many other beginners. I wiped out one time because I hadn’t quite learned how to turn properly. There was a woman in front of me, so I fell to ensure I didn’t run into her. When I apologized, she laughed and said, “No worries - I just did the same thing!” and I noticed that she was also a beginner, with an instructor in front of her. Snowboarding has also taught me a lot about trust. You have to trust yourself to know how/when to turn, you have to trust that other people on the mountain are being careful and won’t run into you, and you have to trust that you can make it down a blue run, even when you’re a complete beginner. I also now understand all those mic’ed up snowboard videos because I fully talked to myself out loud coming down the mountain, when there was a steep bit I would tell myself, “Okay, go slow, andddd we’re going a little faster but we can slow down again.” I’m really excited to have a new hobby, and something to make chilly winter days a little brighter!
I have also gotten back into reading books. As a child, I used to read so many books - I remember checking out the maximum limit at the library, and going back not even three days later, having finished all of them. Unfortunately, my attention span is not what it used to be, and distractions are abound! But I’m getting better at it, and I finished What You’re Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama at the end of February, which I loved and highly recommend. I will say, it was a little slow at first and I was unsure, but I stuck with it and I loved the message and overall theme by the end. I’m now onto Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (the audiobook version). I’m also going to start sewing again by testing a pattern, which I’m really looking forward to. It’s so easy to fall into a routine, and forget to make time and space for hobbies. Some hobbies are seasonal, and I think sometimes we want to be so productive that we even want our hobbies to be productive, but that’s not really the point of hobbies in my opinion. The point is to have fun and enjoy doing something outside of work and everyday tasks.
I’m linking some of my favorite pieces of music/art/media below because I want to keep track of things I like from month to month. Let me know if any of them speaks to you. Until next time!
favorites
Podcast: BNCMAP - Brooke & Connor Make A Podcast - I routinely laugh so hard at these episodes, obsessed with this young man & woman!
Album: SOS by SZA - I hadn’t actually listened to this entire album, and it truly is amazing!
TV show: Severance - So creepy, so good! It’s such a simple concept but executed so well.
Game: We’re Not Really Strangers - Self Love edition - These have been great journal prompts for me so far.
YouTube: Cozy K - I have been absolutely loving her stardew valley stream and am so sad it’s come to an end! But I also love her cozy vlogs and favorites videos!
