Home Is Where Your Heart Is
Sometimes, we’re left with strong impressions from individuals we cross paths with only once. Sometimes, we spend some of our most memorable years with individuals we can’t imagine living without, only to find that we haven’t spoken to them in months, as they become a distant and often bittersweet memory. But sometimes, when we’re lucky, we find those we connect with along the way, and grow with even without continuous contact. These are the relationships that make this life precious, and these are the effortless relationships that become us unknowingly.
The only constant thing in life is change. And the ability to change together is what keeps us together. This is what my dad told me after his divorce with my mother, and that was when I truly started to embrace change. Because when we’re happy with where and what we are in life, all that change that may have seemed for the worse has actually always been for the better.
I can’t count the number of paths I’ve crossed who’ve left lasting impressions, as nearly all do. But I can count on one hand the number who have grown with me, changed with me in this life. Ian Williams is one of them, and despite the geography that sets us apart, or the time that lapses between each meeting, I know we’re bound to meet again and again. And each time we do, we learn a little more about each other, which leads us to finding out a little bit more about ourselves. Thank you for taking the time to come to Beijing (again) to visit, and bringing a bit of home to me.
Me: “Do you want to go to the Great Wall??”
Ian: “No, not really, I’ve seen all the other tourist attractions from last time I was here.”
...Here are pictures from the Great Wall (Mutianyu)
Thank you Liliang for taking the day off to come along, Sigrid for showing us the secret route to the unrestored Great Wall, the rain that caught us inside an old guard tower, and the sun that decided to come back and say hello! 'Twas a spectacular day with wonderful wonderful company :)
Beautiful Sigrid <3
Ian being Ian
“You never can tell with bees.”
Love,
Daze
Some iPhone Photos to Follow! :)
You can actually see the sunrays
Unrestored Great Wall
Finding cover after the storm
My Mother
I think you can really tell when you miss someone by the amount of times they find their way into your mind, or the number of times you seem to mention them on the daily. I find myself telling others all the time that my mother is an artist, she's a painter, she's a dreamer, she's the most thoughtful, the most kind-hearted human being I have ever met. Sometimes we find ourselves trying to explain the complexity of relationships, but it's really that simple. It's love. I love to love, and my friend told me today, that though his father passed away they pass something down to you 身份 “identity" meaning that there are things that you're just born with. I feel as though I'm lucky enough to be born with my mother's dreamer-esque and creative mind, and fortunate enough to be loved by the kindest woman in the world and to love as she loves.
Of course, mothers nag, they try to teach you everything they know, which I will admit has really come in handy many times. But as a mother, the greatest gift she has given me is showing me how to love not just your own, but all people and things. To appreciate all living things, flowers, animals, people, ideas, and to be kind as it's a natural thing for us to be.
I was a difficult teenager, feeling lost at times even through college with what to do--"Follow your passion" my mom always said, and I grew tired of hearing this phrase because it felt like my passions weren't good enough for the "real-world," or there were still so many uncertainties. Everything I did, my mom would try to help and push me to continue to explore these things. And I wouldn't because I thought perhaps I'd fail, and I'd rather not succeed at all, then by trying and then failing. But failure is all just relative after all. There are always going to be different ways of looking at any situation, and knowing how to love and appreciate things however small makes everything a success.
I did those things I loved, that felt natural to me, and eventually they started piecing together. These things included spending time with my grandparents, my family, taking photos whenever I could--not to try and capture the moment, but because I think the most beautiful thing about photographs is the way they bring you back to that moment, to that place, to that feeling. And whether the feeling is sad, nostalgic, elation, uncertainty, or any other things, that feeling is pure. Photographs are pure. They're similar to Harry Potter's Magical Mirror, where even though it looks the same to the naked eye, the feelings that are instilled in each individual is different. Photographs are free for anyone to interpret at their own free will, and for every individual to feel as they please--hopefully discovering something new about yourself. These are my thoughts on photographs, but without her support I am not sure I would have felt as comfortable snapping photos all the time.
My mother (and father) have never once raised her voice or hand to me in my 25 years, even when I was trying to break my bed out of anger (This is when I was a prepubescent youth..and it only happened maybe twice). I still remember that night where she just went downstairs, and brought me a glass of milk, while my dad sat with me watching his rabid daughter try to break out of her cage slash side bed guard since she would frequent falling off the bed in sleep. My mother told me it was okay to be angry and to let it out. (I mean who does that... it's just... so... patient, loving? kind? wtf all the nicest things you can imagine please insert here.) My mother's also quirky, she loves sparkles, sometimes participates in what some may call weird social habits...for example while I was in court getting my first traffic ticket (I've only ever had 2 okay), she spent her time doing a 5 minute sketch of the judge, and before we left, she ran up to the judge and dropped off her picture with a simple "Here you go! thanks so much!" I remember being so embarrassed and infuriated at the time, but looking back on it now I'm filled with so much joy and humour for how sweet and pure of a woman she is. I am so proud of my mother, and so grateful for way she has shown me how wonderful life is being comfortable in your own skin. Thank you mabu. Wishing you all are lucky enough to feel this type of pure love.
Here are some photos from last summer, where she spent hours making the perfect head wreath 24 hours with me before Nika and I ventured off to Paradiso :)
I didn't bring my camera to paradiso so...here's the final product :)
“I’m not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.”
Love,
Daze
El Nido, Palawan Islands, Philippines
Hi All!
It's been a while since I've done a throwback travel post, but the warm weather we've been getting in Beijing is calling me back to the Philippines! Will and I took a trip to El Nido last year to get out of the Beijing smog and to check out if the beaches were actually as blue as they were said to be ... and THEY WERE!!!! When I first met Will, I thought he was the most serious person in the world, which is still kind of true, but over time I've come to realize he's also the most selfless, thoughtful, and kind person I know. These are traits that you can't hide or express with words, but traits seen through actions over time. I know i may be repeating myself, but I can't express my gratitude enough for all the wonderful people in my life. Thank you for taking this wonderful trip and journey with me, and for making the Beijing haze an enjoyable #Beijingdaze.
We had to take a 20 seater plane, which was delayed for a whole day because the sun set too early, and they were skeptical to navigate to the island with the minimal lighting (gettin' real Adventure－like here). We landed at 6am the following morning, and proceeded to trek across the island to our cute red ocean front bungalow. You could see the bottom of the ocean floor 10 meters down from the beach, and it was absolutely marvellous. For those of you who don't know... we are both marine lovers and especially fish lovers. There was a point we saw two squids mating from the dock through the clear waters. Anyway, there isn't much else to say. The trip was lovely, the company was golden, the locals never disappoint with their hospitality and the scenery was so much more than I expected. Here are some snaps from the trip! Enjoy ;)
Pensive & Pregnant
Where the ocean meets the sky :)
“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”
Love,
Daze
A Pacific Northwest-y Father's Day
The grass isn't always greener on the other side, it might just greener in different patches. Every time I go home, I find a bit more of home to love, to appreciate that I seem to have overlooked in my 23 years there. I'm just so thrilled to be able to see and appreciate these things a little more each time. This time home, my sister Iris and I took May and my dad to the Washington State Brewing Festival down at Marymoore Park for Father's Day, which turned out to be SUCH A HIT (because we are awesome daughters, naturally). I hope all your father's are there for you as mine has been for me. I think fathers often shape our lives in the more subtle ways. Traditionally, the father is one at work and the mother is the one working at home, which happened to be quite the case for us. Baba Sun spent more than half his time traveling for work, but even with the lesser time spent together, you've managed to offer me peace in my heart, support with your words, and confidence with your actions as if you were by my side all the time. You’re one of the kindest, humblest, and most honorable people in this world. I don’t need to know every father in the world to know that you’re the best I could ever hope for. For every relationship is different, and life comes with uncertainties, but this I know is the real thing. Happy Father’s Day to one of the greatest.
DeRRPP
I'll take them all.
Hullo.
“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love. ”
Princess Pig--Best Friend & Accountant
Princess Pygmalion
My best friend, Nika, aka Pig/PiggieSmalls/Piglet/sister from dis otha mista graduated with her masters in public accounting last week from the University of Washington. One of my first posts was about Nika’s graduation from the UW Foster School of Business, and I want to take this time to thank her for giving me the push to start this blog, and remind me to do what I love. I love Nika with all my heart, and I can only hope you to find someone this close to you in your lifetimes. Whether it be a spouse, a friend, or family, cultivate that relationship and nurture it. After 18 years of friendship, regardless of distance both geographic and mental, we seem to have grown together at a similar rate, and always manage to connect with such ease. Nika’s honest, hot-tempered at times, but always on your side. When I feel like she’s the best mate someone could already ask for, she’ll surprise me with some more words of wisdom, or a simple observation that reminds me to stay focused and work hard for what you want. If everyone could have a bit more ambition and discipline like Nika, this world would be not only a more organized place, but a fuller one. Her greatest strength is the ability to always try to understand her self, and constantly improve based on what seems to be the right thing to do. Life is short, things are always changing, and we don’t have much time for second-guessing ourselves—so for those of you who have had the fortune of knowing her, I hope you see these traits of hers and learn from them. The best is yet to come, and even though you'll be farther away in flight time, NYC will be easier for us to manage our time difference. You make me so proud, and I miss you so much already.
“I wonder what Piglet is doing,” thought Pooh. “I wish I were there to be doing it, too.”
Love,
Daze (Pooh)