#9: Food diaries, Chinese New Year, & a new job

Dear reader,

Long time no chat. How are you? No, really… how are you?

It feels hopeful and yet presumptuous to wish you a happy February - January has felt like an entire year already (hence, my little hiatus from Substack). It’s been emotionally exhausting, horrifying, and yet somehow promising and optimistic, all at the same time, in so many ways. I’ve been clinging onto feelings of hope and despair in equal measure.

However, I’m happy to be back, and I hope you’ve been able to keep up a somewhat positive New Year New Me mindset (if general world doom and gloom hasn’t already ground it down to a small but mighty nub, kind of like it has with mine).

Fortunately, in spite of the current atmosphere of the world - there have been several small (but significant) things that have been keeping me going the past two weeks, such as: catch-ups with friends, seeing Juni in a onesie,

and eating my way through San Diego while visiting my mister.

It feels surreal to say that this has been my last week of fun-employment freedom (for now). For anyone who knows me, it’s been quite a long journey of recovering from some health issues, and just getting back to being a healthier and happier me that could even think of working again. I feel weird saying, I MADE IT! So, I’ll just say, I’ve come a long way! 🥹

On Monday, I start a new contract role for Pinterest. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, and I feel super lucky that this role ended up being at one of my dream companies (although I don’t really see any job in the corporate world as a dream come true, Pinterest has particularly been on my list of interest for a long time). I’ll be working as a Content Designer, and I’m excited for everything I’m going to learn.

On that note, happy Chinese new year! 新年快乐! It’s Year of the Snake, a time for shedding negative energy, and taking on wisdom, personal growth, and transformation. I think my shedding and transformation season has begun - I can feel it in the air. I hope you begin to shed everything that doesn’t serve you, and even more importantly, I hope you get rich! 恭喜发财！

Jiayue Li

But, in all seriousness - here’s to more growth, prosperity, good food, good health, and all of the good things in life that keep me and you going.

Take care of yourself this week. ♥️

Reading gems

Words (and ideas) I love from other writers:

Just do whatever you like by

Sherry Ning

For Your Nervous System by

Alexandra Kyle

Requiem for a Tree by

Amy Stewart

The value of care and knowledge by

Rebecca

Words recently written by me:

If you need me, I’ll be in the Hundred Acre Woods

The pleasure of having perspective

A place on the moon