dcscover 019 | Memories
We recently finished watching Twenty-Five Twenty-One, a Netflix k-drama that brilliantly captures the fleeting beauty of youth. Friendship, competitive sports (fencing), first loves. It made me think a lot about my own journey and the moments I would consider highlights.
Years ago, I started jotting down a list of “Top Life Moments”, which is meant to be a record of standout memories, the scenes that feel almost like a dream. A few favorites: dancing around a massive bonfire with friends and strangers to ring in the new year on Jeju Island; climbing to the roof of a building and staring at the Boston skyline with friends late one crisp spring night; getting back to my apartment at 4:30 a.m. after a night out in Beijing one summer and eating ramen in the kitchen while watching the sun come up.
I’ve been meaning to add to that list for a while, but just haven’t taken the time. Writing things down will only take a few minutes but it’s incredibly hard to get to that quiet, reflective headspace amid the endlessness of the day to day. In the process of writing this newsletter, I’ve in a sense forced myself to do a little remembering. And I thought of a few things I would add, like walking in Midtown Manhattan still kind of buzzed after getting to meet (and take a selfie with) Rafael Nadal at a press event; biking, swinging, lounging with no care in the world with friends on Governors Island; taking a yoga class on the top floor of a seven-story building in Chinatown, during a thunderstorm, so I could see hear the thunder and see the lightning during an otherwise serene practice.
When I share my favorite moments on social media, I’m led to see my experiences in the context of other people’s. When I review my top moments in the private pages of a notebook, the foremost thing I feel is gratitude. Hope I can be better about making time for this ritual.
Projects, projects
I recently published the second post on Ode, my newsletter on shopping with intention. The first one was about keeping a wardrobe tracker for almost 10 years and the second one was about the three digital tools I use to plan out my shopping. I’ve got another one coming soon and it will probably be an actual ode to one of my most dependable clothing items. Sign up here to get those posts directly in your inbox.
This month’s finds
Two things on modern branding: the IG account @bestofpackaging and a deep dive into why all advertising looks the same these days.
Stellar OOTDs of an architecture student in Toronto.
A pleasing interactive map of regional Chinese recipes (I haven’t made any of these yet but am planning to look through and pick a few to try).
A John Mayer guitar cover I can’t stop listening to.
The instrumentals playlist I’ve been putting on for rainy spring days.
One more thing
The warmer weather has made it slightly easier to take on my exercise goals. Here are a few Youtube workouts in my rotation lately: 1) After-Work Flow 2) 20-Min Full Body No Jumping Workout 3) “Nourish” Flow. We also went to the track for the first time this season a few weeks ago and I just loved seeing so many different groups of people sharing the space. Track teams, soccer players, field hockey players, random joggers like me. So much life!
Opening scene: Pineapples are cool, huh?