Life Lately...

A lot has happened since I last posted on my blog. I moved twice, each time further south in California. I started an online Master’s program at SJSU and was laid off from my job at Mills College. Life changed a lot, but I'm thankful for all the different changes over the past few years.

Life is quiet and cozy, and I couldn't ask for anything more right now. What I lack in financial funds, I gain in time—a slow, quiet life, and getting to hang out with Bea every day. I wished for this type of life for years, and I am trying to enjoy every little moment of it. I still struggle with being present in the moment, but over the past year, I've gotten better at it with constant practice. I know I may never have time like this again, so I'm trying to make the best of it every day.

This past month, I spent relaxing and recovering from my spring semester. Phew! Grad school is hard, and I am proud of myself for sticking with it even when I felt like I wasn’t cut out for it or when my struggles with anxiety got in the way of my focus and ability to perform.

One thing that got me through the last few weeks was discovering the author Abby Jimenez and her books. I never read many romance novels before, but now I'm hooked on the genre and understand why they're so fun to read and have such a broad and diverse audience. I loved having a good one to escape into when I was buried in research and complicated assignments. It gave me a much-needed break.

My plans for the rest of the summer include lots of reading, watching movies, daily walks and snuggles with Bea, journaling, and working on a few creative projects I've been thinking about since the end of the semester. One thing about grad school is that it gave me the writing bug again, so I hope to do more writing—either by posting on my blog, writing in my journal, or possibly writing a book. Who knows? I have time, and I am grateful for this summer before my last semester.