0f292cf97cf0ea705036af76d8974243 I’ve always been curious about what people think in the quiet, in-between moments—while biking, cooking, eating, driving,...
Lately, I haven't felt much like blogging. Not because I'm unhappy. Life has just been busy. Between work, travel, kids, and trying to plan Labor Day before summer disappears, there's barely enough time to keep up with my laundry. 😅 Somewhere in the middle of all that, a question popped into my head: Am I happily alone, or am I just too busy to notice I'm lonely? I was with my ex for 12 years,…
This weekend, I went to two stadium events: a Giants game in San Francisco and the Ed Sheeran concert at Levi's Stadium. Both drew huge crowds. Both generated incredible energy. But there was one noticeable difference. At a concert, people usually leave happy. At a sporting event, the mood depends entirely on the outcome. A few years ago, I was in India on a business trip when the 49ers played the…
Another friend announced he's moving out of the Bay Area. My ski buddy's family had just returned from Singapore when he shared the news: he accepted a job in Arizona and will be relocating to Scottsdale by the end of August. I'm sad to see him go, but genuinely happy for him. It sounds like a great opportunity. His move got me thinking about a question I hear more and more often these days: Why…
Where do you want to retire? The question came from a French mom traveling with us as we stood mesmerized by the sunset from our Airbnb in Nanaimo. I’ve been hearing it more often lately, as some of us quietly cross the mid‑century mark. But whenever retirement comes up, two other questions pop into my head: Why do we need to retire? And why wait to do what we want to do until then? Honestly, I…
ADHD—are we naming something innate, or naming our discomfort with certain behaviors? 😅 Day six of traveling with another family. Early on, the mother—clearly worn down—shared that several members of her family have been labeled ADD, ADHD, gifted, and more. As the week went on, I noticed her boys were especially sensitive to emotions, while her daughter, the same age as mine, was constantly in…
Happiness is really a choice—if you want it. Michael Singer’s voice echoed in my ears as I jogged along the Greenway by Arbutus Drive this morning. I found myself nodding along. It’s our last day in Vancouver before heading to Vancouver Island. With six kids total, the trip has been full of joy, laughter, and—unsurprisingly—a fair share of challenges. 😅 This morning, I caught a glimpse of my past…
The moment the plane doors closed, I felt it—that quiet mix of relief, disbelief, and gratitude that comes from realizing you’re no longer surviving… you’re choosing. Happy 4th, America!! And off we go to Vancouver!!! 🥰 The kids and I have been counting down to this trip for months. We’re traveling with one of their former Montessori classmates’ families, and I’m always impressed by how…
Friends, like handbags, come in all colors, sizes—and varying returns on happiness. 🤣 Some come with more maintenance than others, but I’m realizing I often choose them anyway. After sending off my in‑laws, I picked up another family and unofficially turned my house into an unlisted Airbnb. 😅 Summer seems to be the season when Asian families bring their kids to the U.S. for an “exchange”…
I pulled a rather dramatic move at the airport last night. 😱😅 Think General Hospital–level drama (if you’re old enough to remember). I was sending my guests—my ex in‑laws and extended family—off at the airport. We were enjoying a final lobster-and-seafood meal before boarding. My ex was driving their luggage over separately to meet us. And then I was confronted—again—with the mistress. Something…
(What if the life we lived is the one we needed?) I watched Eternity on a business flight home from IAD last week. Somewhere between takeoff and landing, it stirred questions about love, loss, and whether we ever stop wondering about the lives we didn’t choose. The story follows Joan, a recently deceased soul faced with an impossible decision: spend eternity with her first love, who died young, or…