Note: following this weekend’s tragic shooting in Monterey Park, we included a meditation resource within the Have You Heard? section to support you as you process whatever comes up for you. We opted to keep in the below letter which focuses on joy, in case it reaches any of our readers at a time when they need it. If the timing isn’t right for you, please feel free to save it for when you feel ready to revisit the subject. For those in the Los Angeles area, there will be a candlelight vigil in Monterey Park at 6pm this Wednesday, 1/25.

Dear Subscriber First Name,

Just one month before turning 32 last week, one of my besties, Alice, picked up a new hobby—figure skating!

Turns out, she’d taken and really enjoyed classes as a kid, but had to stop for financial reasons. While ice skating with friends earlier this winter, that original love for the sport resurfaced, and she was inspired to sign up for figure skating classes again.

Alice has always had a bright, inquisitive spirit, but this past month brought out a side that is truly a delight to witness. She’s probably watched every adult figure skating video on the Internet, and diligently spends several hours each weekend practicing skills like forward and backward crossovers, half swizzle pumps, two foot spins, and a bunch more that sound cool and complicated.

Put simply, she’s freaking STOKED, and her energy is contagious!

Makes me wonder, what makes me that excited? What activities spark curiosity, a desire to improve, and make time fly by? One answer that immediately comes to mind is Latin dancing (salsa and bachata). I started learning in college, briefly took lessons in my 20’s, and miss it. I remember when one friend commented how happy I looked while dancing. This year, I plan to try it out again :)

What’s something you used to do, and miss? Is there anything you’re curious to try? Let’s make this the year that we stop waiting for a better time, and give ourselves a chance to find a new source of joy.

To new delights,
Haemee

🧧💔 Communities around the world celebrated Lunar New Year this weekend. In Monterey Park, a predominantly Asian-populated city in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, celebrations were marred by a shooting that killed at least 10 people. Our hearts and prayers are with the victims’ loved ones, and with the Asian community at large as they process what happened during a time normally associated with joyful gathering. As you process, we hope this meditation by Michelle Mijung Kim provides support. big hug.

💖 In case you need a reason to hang out with friends: “For better health, tending to your friendships is as important as getting to bed early or eating well.”

💤 The saying, “catch up on sleep” may be less accurate than we thought. Here’s why it’s hard to catch up on sleep.

❌ If you were waiting for the green light to decline work happy hours and retreats: “In a win for workplace dignity, a French high court recently decreed that businesses cannot force their employees to participate in supposedly enjoyable activities.”

😋 Entrepreneurial inspo: these two friends joined forces to create Chiyo, a meal delivery service to bring traditional Chinese medicine to postpartum women.

🤔 We love this thoughtful collection of 21 questions to ask about your life on the internet, meant to inspire intentional social media use.

Corporate sponsors are also welcome! To donate copies of Lucky Cat to schools and children, please fill out this form.

Reading: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years, and offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. “What would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?”

Watching: Abbott Elementary on HBO - This mockumentary-style comedy is now one of my favorite shows! "A group of dedicated teachers are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed."

Eating: Medicinal Dessert for Period Cramps with Tang Yuan - I really enjoy following practitioners of Chinese medicinal philosophies, like @alicecsun. Her understanding of various ingredients’ beneficial effects on the body, and delicious looking recipes inspire my curiosity to learn more.