#2_Heart, Tugged!
dinner with friends, cute old man at park, pasta, food, and some retail links.
Welcome to a heart, tugged! A monthly series where I talk about the things that ー well ー tugged my heart strings. It’s a place to really observe what sparks true pleasures in life.
May has been a slow month for money earning jobs, instead it has been filled with writing. I was able to practice my writing, submit to publications and write my first fiction piece(!). I was able to really think about where I want to take my writing career. I sat down and wrote a mandala chart (more on this in another time) that was beyond helpful to set intentions and calibrate practical ideas to achieve the goal I want to reach. It has also been a month of spontaneity, (what month isn’t really as a Leo)I said yes to a production gig that was really exhausting but ultimately had a good experience being the on-set producer and have a handle on thing. It was also a month of so much eating — some unhealthy, some abundance of veggies — with friends and family. Oh and yes, the ultimate heart, tugged! moment, reuniting with friends and bringing friends together for a nice dinner. June is going to be a busy month with new challenges and I fear that I might not be able to write as frequently as I want, but as my mandara chart says, tenacity is one thing I want to keep in my daily practice. Here are some things (and also, of course some links from things I bought/saw/ate etc) that made my heart, tugged! Enjoy and many arigatos x
“Act normal, that’s already crazy enough” (In Dutch, Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg)
*each month, I thought I will start with a quote that I’ve heard from someone.
“I hope we can meet again because you were so fun to work with”
After a long day of shooting, a sweet young PA I met for the first time on this shoot said a very kind thing to me. He was working with me closely during the shoot, and after we wrapped at 1am on the ride back home, he said “I hope I can meet you again!” It’s one of those reminders, tell people that you want to work with them — that you enjoyed their work. Let them know.
Going to dinner with an old friend and socializing with friends
Once I put my mind to something, I can make it happen. (manifestation baby) When it comes to spontaneous hangouts, I’m a bit shit at it. I like to know what my day is going to be like in advance so I rarely propose it myself. May was ridiculously a social month I would say. I asked an old friend if she wanted to go out for dinner, I organized a dinner with my close dear friends and asked a bookclub friend to teach a class for Astray in June and had lunch. It’s amazing to connect with the old and new. I love the feeling of learning something new. It makes me feel like I’ve gained more knowledge. I recently read a piece in preparation for an interview I have to do next month by this woman who lives in the mountains. She explains that in the city, the more you spend, the more you lose. But in the countryside, the more she spends — whether that is money, resources, time, conversing with people — the more you gain. All these moments spent with friends, I never once felt like I’m losing anything (money or time.) In fact, I gained something by these interactions, which is such a nice feeling.
The cutest old man at the park
In the beginning of May, Sam, our friend and I were sitting at the park having a couple nibbles and a wine. It was a stunning day with the bright sunlight coming through, it wasn’t too hot or too cold — truly just perfect. It rarely happens in Japan for a stranger to just comment on something to you but a well-dressed old man passed by us on his cute little walk and said to us “Ah looks nice huh.” I think he thought that our alcohol in the sun, day drinking and snacking away looked genuinely nice. And I will say, it really was but for a Japanese man telling you that was a rare sight and I loved it.
Pasta tugged my heartstrings this month
Honestly, I had such a great restaurant and food experience this month. I also made my favorite pasta that I can probably now make without looking at the recipe. It’s a Molly Baz one and there’s a step by step on YouTube. If you have a bunch of celery and you have a jar of crunchy peanut butter, this one is for ya.
A curry shop staff guiding her trainees in the softest of ways
You know me(or do you?!), if you read this Substack or any of my writing, I’m always questioning the things we know about Japan and challenging what we think is “it is what it is” kind of stuff. One thing I’ve been observing my whole life is that Japanese people are relatively disinterested in other people. People can be pretty standoffish at times. You wouldn’t think a certain kindness would be seen in a curry shop. I went to Cocoichi, one of Japanese favorite curry chain restaurants, also it being my first time ever! There was a very young boy working as a trainee, it was maybe his first week there or something. A lady was helping him out each step of the way: from how to start making the dish once the order is in, cleaning up the table and saying hello to the customers. He was also such an eager and honest kid that was so willing to receive any advice he could get from her. It’s a sad reality that in Japan, if you present reserved or ‘weak,’ people are not kind to you. Instead, people might find that person as an opportunity to take advantage of you. I can’t assume this boy was ‘weak,’ but he seemed very nervous the whole time. I just felt grateful for how kind the lady was with him, approaching him with patience. And for the boy’s willingness to learn, whatever the job is. Earnesty is such a gift.
Some additional things that’s (mostly) worth your time
per my recent favorite newsletter
, I saw that she also mentioned this swimsuit brand called Left On Friday. I also saw this compilation of swimsuit brands that are good and saw the brand named repeatedly. My choice will probably be this Sunday Top in Aperol and this streamline bottom in sweet chili? I do have to check myself for swimsuit purchases because every summer, I seem to buy a new one then sell my old ones. I need to get out of this bad cycle and maybe just browse this time.I saw it on
and while I’m buying less “unintentional clothing,” this top from LUCINDA was so up my alley that I purchased it thinking that I will wear it often during the summer. The material is amazing, 96% wool and produced from deadstock clothing. The only thing was… it was way too small! I’m usually a Small when it comes to US sizing but since this isn’t stretchy, I needed a Medium. Unfortunately, it is now all sold out (lol) so if anyone is interested in buying the Small off of me, please!A lot of retail so far… but this dress in theory is amazing. I found it on
‘s newsletter, the Carrie Bradshaw dress. But with my body type, I feel like it’s just going to be too revealing or tight or short — But! isn’t it so cute!Oh no big deal but Byline’s RISK issue is in PRINT and I’m in it! If you live in NY, you can snag a copy or you can get it online too x it ships to Japan x
Ok then, this is it for this month’s installment. I’ll see ya in June.