What made me happy, as of May 29, 2023

May 30, 2023 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: Hives more than usual, but sleeping a bit better. Zero work on self because my place has been gross. Hoping to do better.

Here are the bright spots:

1. My friend Anna. When I told her about my incredibly irresponsible emotional response to something this week, she showed up for me. I am deeply grateful for my friend, who always knows how to respond. She started planning things with me. She told me about limitations, and gave me real reasons to when she can do and not do things. She gets me. She is sometimes so similar to me, but in a much improved way and has her shit together. She is the first person to call me out on my shit but also the first one to listen when i cry when the shitty decisions lead me to hurt.

2. Safety. There was a super typhoon expected to hit us this weekend. It didn’t. I can’t say i’m not relieved the weather forecast overpredicted it.

3. Finally getting my shelves up and a full length mirror. I have had shelves on my floor for a year and have also wanted a mirror for ages. Now that they’re up, and I have a contact to get other things up, I am excited.

-J

Songs of the week:

You and I by SYML, Charlotte Lawrence

Lovely by Billie Eilish, Khalid

May I Have This Dance by Francis and the Lights, Chance the Rapper

food · Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What made me happy, as of May 22, 2023

May 25, 2023 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: Not exercising as much as I need due to extenuating circumstances, been upping my caffeine, not eating great.

The happy thoughts of the previous week:

1. Getting a little bit of perspective. I have been so out of sorts lately that I forgot about other people. Hearing from others and making sure I have all the pieces helps. I’ve been drowning in my own internal monologue that it helps to hear someone else’s voice.

2. Trying new food. I am a sucker for hotpot. Ever since my first Taiwan trip with the best friend, I’ve been trying to find where else to get hotpot that fun. So far, I found one, but in Southern California, which is less than useless to me because that’s even farther than Taipei. Having tried Jiang Nan this week, it was good, but still not amazing. Here’s to the hotpot hunt!

3. Fun coincidences. I have been talking about a watch with my sister and a friend for the past few months, and last week, at a lunch with a coworker, she showed up wearing one. I took it as a sign to get one myself. Did i go to all the stores in the country that had it and failed miserably? Yes, yes I did. But i’m not giving up. I want to get it from the actual store. Use that escort money (inside joke) for something that actually lasts.

Songs of the week:

Sway My Way by R3HAB, Amy Shark

Lost by Frank Ocean

Upside Down by JVKE

Lovers by Anna of the North

What made you happy lately?

-j

Cheese · Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

What made me happy as of week of May 15, 2023

May 15, 2023 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: Only one hive breakout! But the whole week my brain wouldnt let me sleep. So much to think about, and I need to give myself some space and boundaries. Work in progress.

I had some bright spots. It was a rollercoaster of a week and there were a lot of things on my mind. Good things. Crazy things. Out of bound things. But mostly, good.

1. Having an aha moment with my (adopted) team. Sometimes it’s the big things, sometimes it the small things. This week, it felt like this small moment of collaboration was a good way to get things going. We can all learn from each other, and from what I’ve seen, every single person can contribute. This week, a simple scriptwriting session reminded me of the old days, in the best way. Here’s hoping that bit of momentum keeps us going.

2. Getting by with a little help from my friends. I am a very sentimental person, and I tell my friends all the time that I love them. I don’t know if they are aware of how much they keep me going. In my own quiet spaces, when I feel most alone, I hear them in my head, telling me to go on. When you’re in your head a lot like I am, that counts for so much. This week was definitely something I leaned a lot on them on, and I’m glad they could be here. If not physically, in spirit.

3. Seeing family. We live 3 hours away from cousins on both sides, and aunts and uncles have a lot on their plate. Being able to hang out in an unexpected manner or timing is a blessing. Sharing a meal, talking about random things. I’ve always wanted to move to my mom’s hometown. Maybe I will. Who knows?

Songs of the week:

SNAP by Rosa Linn

The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

Gives You Hell by The All American Rejects

With A Little Help from my Friends by Joe Cocker

-J

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What made me happy, as of May 8, 2023

May 8, 2023 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Staus report: Daily hives and insomnia — I can’t quiet my brain a lot.

What made me happy this past week:

1. Getting to reconnect with a former colleague. My world is apparently quite small in my work life, and my life is mostly work. So when it’s a pleasant interaction that is out of the ordinary, I really enjoy it. I haven’t spoken to this person in five years, and I respect them and can only remember good inreractions with them. I’m grateful to have been able to catch up, even if it was a short one.

2. Rediscovering footage from the past 8 years. This week I found photos from the past 8 years, and it is such a timely reminder of how far I’ve come, and how many things I’ve had to go through. The journey has been littered with broken promises (mostly mine), bruised hearts (still me), and a lot of growth (in the waistline, still me). It has been a quiet adventure, but an adventure still the same.

3. Making new connections. Due to an unexpected twist in circumstances, I made a few new connections at work the past week,m. Also, in an unusual move for me, made plans irl with them. And while I was mostly out of it due to exhaustion, it was a good day. Sometimes you need to stretch, and I took a loooong one that proved quite helpful.

Songs of the week:

Love the Way You Lie by Rihanna and Eminem

(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

Let’s Go Home Together by Ella Henderson, Tom Grennan

-J

Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

What made me happy lately, May 1, 2023 edition

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status update: Insomnia and stress migraines are on the uptick and I haven’t been eating right. It’s a process.

I did have some good moments though:

1. Sharing some good cake with people 11000 miles away. My manager’s birthday needed cake. And because she was in office before the actual day, and it was the last one she had before going OOO, she had to share with the office. Ube cake is classic Filipino, and Goldilocks, one of the most solid chains out there. Birthdays should be celebrations because we’re grateful that this person was born. And hopefully good food is involved. Friends sent photos, and my heart definitely felt a bit more full after a rough day.

2. Daytrips to good places. “Will travel for food” is something we say often, and this Sunday, we drove almost 90 km to have lunch. It was awesome. Not the hangry way I had to park, but the payoff of amazingly simple food. And also being able to ses a friend we haven’t seen in YEARS was a fortuitous plus.

3. Finding new authors. This last week, I started reading Ellen Everett and Whitney Hanson’s poetry. This is also the photo in the post. I admittedly love poetry, but often can’t express it well on my own. The work in the photo is current state, and I am trying to unpack how it gets better. Maybe this time — just acknowledging it will work. For now.

Songs of the week:

I Don’t Know How I Survive by Death Cab for Cutie

All I Ask by Adele

San Francisco by The Mowgli’s

Work Song by Hozier

-J

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Songs to listen to

What made me happy, week of April 24, 2023

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: It’s been a week of barely controllable hive breakouts and random outbursts. I have been self medicating with a lot of sweets, sugary drinks, and acupuncture like ear piercings.

However in this rollercoaster of a week there are a few bright spots:

1. Getting more ear piercings. I have realized that earrings are the jewelry i really respond to. Even when we had a jewelry phase, i bought mostly earrings and rings. In the span of 2 months, I have added 4 (one did not work out) active piercings to one ear. I can’t recommend it enough if you have no fear of needles and like teeny jewelry. Just don’t touch your fresh piercing after carrying fresh shrimp from your car to your place.

2. Feeling like a girl again. It takes so much professionals to keep me looking halfway put together on a regular basis, and every single thing is in a different, specialized place. Nails get done in a different city. Hair is only at the guy who’s done it for at least the past 6 years. Brows only at this brow place in this one branch. And so on and so forth. And I still look like i rolled out of bed. You can’t even imagine what this looks like without help from people who know better that i pay for their expertise.

3. The people that show up. Bar none. It was an exceptionally tough week. I waved the flag. People showed up. They saved my life. I am thankful.

Songs of the week:

I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Under Pressure by Queen

Rescued by The Foo Fighters

Up & Down by The Chainsmokers, 347Aidan

-N