Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: Life

  • February | In Retrospect

    February | In Retrospect

    Song of the month: For Forever, Dear Evan Hansen OBC

    After the chaotic mental whirlwind of January we arrive at a pretty quiet month.

    Out of the fog of new year productivity I had a bit of an writing slump. I had too many ideas but nothing seemed to come out right. The whole quality over quantity thing when it comes to blogging is always something I’ve struggled with. I want the stuff I put out to be great. Equally I don’t want it to months until you get a good blog post out of me too. Ya’ feel me? The result was few and far between posts on here (though I did notice you guys enjoyed my love/dating themed bits, so maybe more of that in the future? Let me know in the comments.)

    What this month has turned into is weeks of planning, working on little projects, and just generally catching up on life.

    One little thing I can already announce is that I’ve joined the writing team at Resonate! They’re a fantastic online platform of news, reviews, articles and op-eds all from East Asian writers from around the World. My first article for them on Jamie Chung’s X-Men casting and the lack of Asian superheroines in film and TV is now live, and I’ll hopefully be doing more in the coming months on pop culture and representation. Make sure you’re following them!

    Ria Xx

    This month in blogs:

    On TMM:

    Read, Watch Listen: Black History Month // A close look at my 2017 TBR // What online dating has taught me // Revisiting Spinster // Reworking your January Goals

    On Resonate:
    Jamie Chung & the Silent Asian Superheroines on Screen

  • January | In Retrospect

    January | In Retrospect

    Song of the month: Another Day Of Sun by La La Land OST

    Is it just me or has this January gone on an age?

    Normally I’m still living off some helpless optimism from the new year but I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that whilst 2016 was utter garbage, 2017 doesn’t look like it’s getting any better. The world is dark. The 24/7 news cycle feels so overwhelming at the moment and honestly it’s exhausting to watch.

    When I started this blog I had no idea six years down the line I’d be writing drafting up posts the importance of representation in pop culture, women’s rights and civil liberties. I had no idea when I used to post wishlists of Chanel bags and Marchesa ballgowns that my most read and well-received posts would be on how to support protest marches from afar and telling you all on Twitter to donate to the ACLU. But hey, that’s the World we live in now.

    And that World is exhausting. I am so very tired. I cycle between consistent headaches. Between the Inauguration, Brexit mess and just this past week of Executive Orders alone I haven’t really been sleeping properly either.

    Whilst I do preach the philosophy that activism, especially online activism is not rocket science and a political tweet can take just a second out of your day. I think it’s worth reminding everyone that if you do feel overwhelmed or feel like you’re turning a giant squid of anger, then please do step back. It’s not productive and it’s definitely not healthy. Activism, in part, is shift work, we can take turns and we do need everyone at the top of their game to really make a difference. So, take a break, breathe and come back refreshed and fighting.

    In that vein self-care has been so important in the past few weeks. My own personal routines have included the following:

    • Naps. Lots of them when possible.
    • Re-watching Wonders of the Universe and Blue Planet on Netflix, because sometimes it’s nice to learn about the Oceans and Stardust.
    • Using the Neal’s Yard Pillow Mist spray before bed. The smell of lavender has massively helped calm my brain down.
    • Seeking out good news stories (following @PositiveNews has been great) and generally watching any of the New York protests, because New Yorkers get sh*t done man.
    • Physically writing things down. Whether that be my journal, or writing projects or poetry.
    • Trips to the cinema, going out for dinner, and pub trips out with friends.
    • Listening to the La La Land score. Escapist I know, but gosh this music is a light tonic to the gloom.

    In addition to all these I’ve found planning and having good things to look forward to has also been useful. So I’ve just booked tickets go to watch the talks at TEDxOxford this weekend and I’ve got my Hamilton West End tickets for next year too. I’m also currently planning a trip to India with my housemates this April and the logistical planning is proving to be massively cathartic.

    On that note, this is my plea to make sure you’re all looking after yourselves. It’s very easy to get sucked into the constant cycle of despair but you are not alone. Find your light folks.

    Ria

    This month in blogs:

    On TMM

    Activism bits:

    Welcome to the Resistance: Are you sitting uncomfortably? // Ways To Support The Women’s March From Afar // A Feminist Prayer For A New Year

    Important self-care tip:

    3 Reasons To Start A Personal Journal

    Some lighter toned posts:

    Postcards from Oxford // Non-Fiction For A New Year // Favourite Films Directed by Women // My 2017 Writing Goals // On 6 Years of Blogging

  • 2016 | In Retrospect

    2016 | In Retrospect

    A year of saying ‘yes’

    2016 has come and gone in a bit of a whirlwind. It’s certainly not been a fun one for the human race with a strenuous political climate, hard fought social justice issues and general cloud of doom and gloom shrouding round the World. On a personal level it’s been hit and miss, but as I’ve tried reflecting on my own year one thing that’s come forward as an official theme has been ‘saying yes’.

    I started 2016 with a focus goal, which fell out the window – as resolutions do. What replaced it was a sense of ‘why not?’ to many situations.

    Saying yes for me has manifested in different ways. I’ve been saying yes new job opportunities that will further my career, changing job roles twice in the space of 6 months. I’ve been saying yes to dating and all the mass (or mess) of emotions and situations that places you in. I’ve been saying yes to socialising and spontaneity, with good and bad consequences (mostly on my liver and wallet – resolution for 2017, cut down on the G+Ts). Of course some ‘yes’s have meant other aspects of my life have slid off the radar. Yes isn’t always a positive notion, but it is an active one that I want to try and re-prioritise in the new year.

    These are the more visible ‘yes’s though. The idea of ‘yes’ is more than just ‘doing stuff‘ and there’s a whole host that aren’t so obvious. Like saying yes to feeling more confident in myself and that I’m good considering myself as a constant work in progress. I’ve said yes, to the idea of owning my heritage as a woman of colour, a South-East Asian woman, a Filipina. I’ve been saying yes, to calling myself a writer; yes, to reclaiming my blog and online space and moulding it into something that’s more ‘me’; yes, to growing as an activist and a feminist, to listening to others stories, to challenging my own way of thinking.

    These are the ‘yes’s that feel important to me to carry on doing and always keep in the back of my mind as I gear up to set myself new resolutions for 2017.

    travels to NYC & Dublin ~ turning 24 ~ cocktail evenings (a lot of them) & brunch dates ~a stellar year of geeky pop culture ~ old friends, new friends, work friends, internet friends  ~ a record show year (Waitress, Finding Neverland, Matilda, Miscast Gala) ~ Summer in it’s entirety  

    And finally, I want to end my last post of the year on a lighter note. With the world denouncing 2016 as a pile of trash, it’s important to remember the good stuff.

    See you in the New Year chums!

    Ria Xx