each day i add to my yesterdays, the more i understand how important – no, that’s an understatement – how integral planning is to life. or at least life the way i want to live it. it determines my outlook, my approach, my execution, and my sense of accomplishment. without planning, none of these things exist. if i […]
Read MoreCategory: Life
Four bags
On my flight home from Phoenix, I didn’t hear my group being called and ended up having to store my luggage at the very back. Another woman, about 30ish, also had to pack hers in the back. I noticed she’s beautiful and tall and confident and womanly. You could say I was checking her out […]
Read MoreStanding, falling, standing
Over the lifetime of this blog, many many many many many many many things have changed. Many. Hahaha. One of them is that I began to worry about whether I’m right or wrong, the things I feel and think. I know, that’s very vague. But just know, it’s something else to struggle within, to war between mind and […]
Read MoreMy friend
Life is interesting. My friend, Mauro, and I met at a hostel in Seoul over a weekend. He was there for business and I was there for chillinnnn hahah. Simply, we clicked. We and a couple other hostel friends went out a few times and explored the city and it was good times every time. I […]
Read MoreFriday
Sometimes life is good. You wear jeans to work (lol sounds so elementary but whatever). It only takes you 40 minutes to get to the office instead of the usual 1 hour and 5 minutes. Your dad bought a coffee machine so you have a fighting chance against narcolepsy while on the road. The podcast you selected […]
Read MoreGreek
“I want you to take me to try something I’ve never tried before.” Those were the words of my pops (in Korean) when asked where he wanted to dine in honor of himself this Father’s Day. Nice. He also mentioned this decree was inspired by my adventurous spirit when it comes to trying new (and […]
Read MoreRoses
“Put that thing away and smell the roses!” Referring to the phone in my hand, a man popped up out of nowhere and stepped into stride with me as I walked toward the office in downtown LA. I laughed and turned off the screen. I had been reading one of my favorite bloggers’ recent posts – it […]
Read MorePaths
I spent Monday through Thursday (today) in San Diego at a client. Driving back today, I felt a little overwhelmed with work and alla that stuff. I hadn’t run my 3 miles for the day according to my training plan. I got home around 8pm and wondered, sprawled on my floor in my running clothes, […]
Read MoreThings missed (while in Korea)
This was written a couple days before leaving for the States and published 5/14/16. Not sure why I lagged on posting this but here it is haha! People – Y’all know who you are. And the two that don’t read this, ma and pa. Can’t wait to catch up with people! Mexican food – Jed, […]
Read MoreThings felt
The next train left at 8:25am. I flicked my wrist to check the time: 8:04am. “Halmoni, I have to go.” With that I threw in my clothes and packed my bag. I had spent the night there as I would be leaving Korea soon and it was a courtesy familial visit. She walked me out […]
Read MoreChurch
I grew up in the church. Friday nights and Sunday mornings always found me with the church community in service and events. It was part of my family, part of my culture, life, schedule. I so easily belonged to the church, didn’t have to think about it, work towards fitting in, understanding its ins and […]
Read MoreMouse
I bought two mice – one for my work laptop and another for my personal laptop. My current ones weren’t functioning properly – think schizo-scrolling, silent buttons (that really bothers me for some reason), just plain not clicking what I wanted it to click. Maybe it’s because of the 1oo8378 times I dropped it. Who knows? […]
Read MoreBagel
Yesterday I got to work early and, on a whim, decided to stop by the Starbucks in our building for some decaf goodness. I try not to consume caffeine but can’t stay away from the bitterness of coffee. Anyway, as I enter the food court area, this Asian lady with glasses runs – yes, she runs up to me. […]
Read MoreMorning blurb
In the end, I’m a normal girl. Nothing special, nothing crazy. Just a normal girl with normal abilities and normal ambition. I don’t know exactly what I need to do to get where I want to be. But, I will keep going with what I have, the way I know how, and trust. Trust the […]
Read MoreUnderstanding
Time: 7:00ish Setting: breakfast table with Mom and the brother Somewhere in the conversation, my mom started talking about a documentary she saw about AIDS and how we needed to be careful. Yes, this is her top concern at the moment. This was the third time I’d heard her speak about this in the past two […]
Read MoreThat feeling
You know that feeling? When you’re putting on your shoes, not even to leave for work, just to move the car out of the way so your brother can get a ride to get his education on, and the thought pops in your head: Today is gonna be a great day. Not because you don’t […]
Read MoreForward
A few things I’m looking forward to in 2016, for my own reference. Reading more Writing more Getting certified for work Watching my brother’s dance competitions Watching my brother graduate Travel (other than Korea) Korea Having more money lol Watching that money drain into school loans Taking my parents out Paying for more bills Possibly volunteering […]
Read MoreChristmas card
[Kinda long] My reading for the day: Jed’s Christmas card to me. This past Thanksgiving, my brother and I found ourselves wandering in Marshall’s due to our mom’s staunch determination to do some Black Friday shopping. Fun. After spending about 20 minutes staked out at the drink-ware aisle discussing all the different types of tumblers and mugs we […]
Read MoreThe universe
It’s Christmas and I’ve stumbled upon my gift from the universe on Facebook in bed. This guy, Colin Wright, travels full-time and writes books. He writes books so he can sustain his travelling lifestyle. And I’m sure his world experiences have provided tons of content to create those books. It’s a pretty nice cycle he has […]
Read More6 update
So yesterday was the day. Not gonna lie, I really questioned whether I could do it. I mean, I felt like I could finish the 6 regardless of anything; the question was, would I die trying? Lol. The answer is, a pleasant no. I don’t usually do this but I allowed for accompaniment on this run, a guy […]
Read MoreA real fake thing
I was talking to someone recently and somewhere along the conversation, the topic of fear came up. He asked what fears I have/had, to which I answered, fear of failure and rejection. I told him I felt I was over them but later on in the conversation, I said something that indicated a fear of rejection. He […]
Read MoreA great weight
A great weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I can breathe again and live. I lived in oppression the past few weeks, constantly ruminating and worrying – but no more. My dad wants cash to buy hiking pants. My mom wants a giftcard. Done. A great weight has been lifted off my […]
Read MoreGood day documentation
It’s 1:57am. I just got home, showered, and am now in my pajamas. But instead of crawling into bed, I want to document this day. It was a good day. Correction – a really good day. I did some work in the morning at home until the power went out and since my work laptop has […]
Read MoreUndergrad
My brain is swimming in case studies, definitions, strategies… I’ve got 3.5 hours left until the last final of undergrad. 3.5 hours until the past eight, yes eight years come to a rather anti-climactic close. I won’t be walking (at least not until May 2016), I won’t be having a party, I won’t be doing anything different […]
Read MoreToday
The busier I get, the better I get at getting shit done. It’s a super sweet thing to see. In the same amount of time I would normally get through a paper, I can get through a paper (done properly), write a blog, study half a chapter for class, read a chapter for leisure, and get […]
Read MoreEarphones and people
Torture is forgetting your earphones in the car when going in to work. So close yet so far. Maybe torture is the wrong word. But time takes it extra slow when I don’t have the option to dance in my cubicle. For as long as I live, may I never forget it in my car again. […]
Read MoreRight now
I am not the most well-informed person regarding world or local events and I don’t actively seek out information as much as I would like to. Man. I don’t know why but the stuff I’ve read about Paris this morning… I’m heartbroken. Honestly, I can’t tell you the exact emotions or rationale for the tears […]
Read MoreComing home from my run today (5 miles, according to my “plan“), I was greeted with the usual yelping and begging and whining of my Boba and Loca. Whereas their pleas usually fall on deaf ears, today I felt a little – what’s the word – a little compassion and took them out on their monthly […]
Read MoreBigger
My friend Miller said something very wise today: “You can’t expect people to change. They will change when they want something bigger than themselves.” Preach. Happy Sunday!
Read MoreUnfettered
When you’re going up a hill on an Icelandic pony and you’re about to jump over a little stream, you must completely believe in the horse and fate. Because if you show fear, you’ll spook the horse and the horse may stumble. It’s not being reckless. It’s being unfettered by doubt. That’s my definition of trust. […]
Read MoreEvery day, in the semi-conscious state residing between sleep and awakeful…ness… is that even a word lol. Anyway, in that state of semi-consciousness, I’ve found myself being… grateful somehow, for some reason. Right as I wake up, I feel flooded with gratitude for… life. For everything in its own right. There is no particular reason, nothing particular […]
Read MoreZero
It has been a very interesting past few weeks. A very hard few weeks. Breaking up with someone is never easy. It hurts like a mother and lasts like it will never end. I don’t know where to begin. Except maybe here. I know I tried my best and I know where I messed up […]
Read MoreHi Mom
Anything is possible. I’ve never really seen my mom as a role model. Yeah, I said it. For me, the fact that thought existed in my mind divulges a lot about our relationship, how I view her, how I respect her – or don’t respect her. Which is why what I’m about to say means something. […]
Read MoreNo hay fin
My last day in Barcelona. Also St. Jordi’s Day, the equivalent to US’ Valentine’s Day. Stands are set up all over the city selling roses and books. I wish James were here. Packing last night was a little bit of a struggle. Mentally because I was trying to fit everything I had brought, everything I had […]
Read MoreStudy breaking
I have 5 minutes til my study break is over. I have 3 full days left before I leave for Portugal. I don’t know where the time went, but the program is almost done. I can’t even focus on that right now because I’m 1 exam, 1 paper, and 1 presentation away from reality. I […]
Read MoreToothpaste
I finished an entire tube of toothpaste on my own. An amazing feat, I know, but I want to draw the attention away from the amazingness and point out that when I arrived in Barcelona, this tube was completely full. The rim was still impeccable, the cap opened without stickiness, it was a nice weight in my […]
Read MoreFlorin
It was a beautiful day. I had just finished my one class of the day and – that’s enough for it to be a beautiful day, no? Hahha the cherry on top, it was sunny out, I was feeling good, and I’m in Barcelona. Life is A-OK. On my way down the street, a slightly busy […]
Read MoreIn passing
Where to begin. I walked out of class with nothing on my mind and everything on my mind. I don’t get it either haha. Maybe it was the three classes I had today, the last of which I was 97% checked out, except when he called roll. Maybe it was the thought of planning for […]
Read MoreFantastic
So there’s this guy. Let’s be upfront and honest. I’ve known this guy for… almost two months. We’ve been in the same country for about 2.5 weeks of these two months. I think… we’ve hung out or talked or texted or Skyped every single day since we met. No, I know we have. He’s become a daily […]
Read MoreIstanbul
It must be done. I’ve been dreading blogging about Istanbul. Why? Time. It’s always a painful ordeal to dig into the spiraling recesses of my already forgetful mind about something that passed a few days ago, let alone 2 weekends ago. And my stubbornness won’t allow me to write about the most recent trip (London) until […]
Read MoreExploring Girona
I had an amazing weekend. Our program group went to Girona and Figueres (north of Barcelona) for the day and six of us banded together and stayed in Girona for the night. We stayed at a pretty cool hostel (hot showers and free breakfast!), which I really liked since it was my first time. We paid […]
Read MoreThe second week
Already it is my second week. And only it is my second week. I’m learning. I really need to slow down. I rush everything, like getting ready, walking places, eating – especially eating, talking… I realized this when I peeled and ate an orange standing up within a few minutes and my host dad commented […]
Read MoreRambling
It’s been exactly a week since I arrived at my host home. So crazy. I think an update is necessary before this weekend happens with its tours and trips and whatnot. Before coming here, I told people I didn’t want to go on tours and do the touristy things. I wanted to meet locals and get […]
Read MoreFirst day of classes
What a beautiful day. Today was the first day of classes. I had Negocios Internacionales (International Business in Spanish), International Economics, and International Marketing Strategies. Tomorrow I have one class: International Finance. Fun! Haha. Here’s what the Sant Pau campus looks like: It’s pretty beautiful. The Eixample campus, where I take my other three classes, […]
Read MoreThe first day
First full day in Barcelona. I don’t know where to begin. So let’s begin with home. Home is shared with a family of four: Mom, Dad, and twin girls. I hadn’t expected the twins; I had thought it was just a couple. Here they are: Now y’all know how I feel about kids. But these […]
Read MoreThe more
Sometimes… you live and you learn. Hahah. Insecurities, failures, missed opportunities are a given. And living, real living, is just to simply glean from it, laugh at the/my foolishness of the moment, and walk away smarter, better, stronger. There’s only smarter, better, stronger left to gain. I don’t think we get stupider. Just the stupid stuff […]
Read MoreFact 4
I brush my teeth and use the mouse with my left hand. I am absolutely right-handed but about a year ago I decided to exercise another part of my brain with routine tasks and habits. It’s interesting because I can see a difference in the way I do things, or at least I feel like […]
Read MoreMy Dad and I
I’m a free woman. Or still learning. Last Tuesday I got my nose pierced. This Monday I took it out. What happened after Tuesday was my dad’s reaction. What happened on Monday was my reaction to his. He was extremely displeased. This is very close to being an understatement. But I’ll spare you the details. I […]
Read MoreQuote of the day month year lifetime: “Do you, and do you well.” – Anjelah Johnson (aka Bon Qui Qui) That is all. And also the fact that she is not just a hilarious ghetto lady. She is a super legit woman of faith, substance, and talent. I was very very impressed by her stand-up […]
Read MoreShh.
I realized it takes just as much courage, if not more, to shut my mouth as it takes to open it. It takes a little extra bravery to just let things… be. It doesn’t need my snarky remark, not my snide answer, nor my condescending correction. It just needs to be let go, handled from […]
Read MoreSometimes
I really like this one song by Flume. I liked the sound but then I looked up the lyrics and I like it even more now. These lines are pretty much the only substantial lyrics. You don’t have to be afraid You don’t even have to be brave Living in a gilded cage… Your mind […]
Read MoreWhat I learned this summer
I learned that when I say “I don’t have time to ____________” I’m really lying to myself and to whomever I said it. I learned that when I say “I don’t have time to ____________”, it really just means, “I don’t want it bad (enough).” Why? Because I learned that when you really want to […]
Read MoreMezcla
Having the hardest time writing support letters. On a funner note, went surfing for the second time. Had a BLAST. Saw a seal too!! Caught a couple waves. Almost died trying to catch others. Looking to buy a wetsuit and a board. Craigslist, here I come! On a deeper note, had a beautiful conversation over […]
Read MoreGo
I feel like I’d been standing in a vast forest. I’m standing on one leg with my other leg poised in mid-air. I’m scrutinizing, examining, measuring the best, most right, most perfect place to carefully place my foot and move forward. Everything about it is still, born out of a subtle fear of disappointing… someone. […]
Read MoreMisplaced
Misplaced my watch. Misplaced my math symbol glasses. Misplaced my planner. Misplaced my Bible and notebook. Picked up today. Tis a season of misplacement. I’ve searched high and low for my watch. After a while, I went back to the exact same places because there’s a crazy idea in my mind that it just might […]
Read MoreDory, my muse
Just keep moving, just keep moving, Grace. You don’t have to always understand, know everything. You don’t have to feel like you have it together. You don’t have to feel anything except the desire for more. You don’t have to do anything but give in to the drive that compels you forward. Just keep moving. […]
Read MoreEek.
Barcelona 2015. Kinda nervous. Is this really happening? Got the acceptance letter today. I’m not going to lie. It’s a big deal. Haha. And I’m… ecstatic. To say the least. Started drafting a Gofundme account and page. Will publish it soon. Kinda nervous. Haha. Can’t even write full sentences lol. Anyway. It’s late. What will […]
Read MoreNothing but a number
“I’m young, I still have so much to do! I still have so much I want to do.” Spoken by a woman twice my age. Word.
Read MoreThe 25th 5/30
Feel like I’m starting from scratch. Lol. Happy Birthday, Grace. You have been alive for what already seems like an eternity. It’s just another day, yet it’s not. It’s not anything special, but it is. Enjoy it.
Read MoreDo you know who I am?
You know what really changes people? When they are believed in. When someone else recognizes potential and goodness in them. I think that really changes people. It’s crazy what it does to me. It changes everything. It makes work fun. It makes my talent and ability something to be proud of and maximize. It makes […]
Read MoreThe crazy
Life is crazy, isn’t it? Finding myself walking down alleys I never expected, imagined. Discovering strengths as well as weaknesses in areas I never knew existed. Hoping for things I’d never thought I’d ever want. Running after the wind. Lol. Life is crazy. Never thought I’d be this place. It’s no special place, nothing crazy, […]
Read MoreHow running has shaped me
Running as taught me something valuable. Running has taught me to say hello. It’s so simple. I’ve learned to say hello to every single person I encounter on my runs. My thoughts used to wrestle around the hello. Because you see everyone from a distance you have time to think. And that makes every hello intentional. I used to […]
Read MoreWhale’s bad trip
There is someone I really admire in the Bible at this time: Jonah. I admire his disobedience. I admire that he did what he wanted. He didn’t enter a pensive state of mind, heart, or faith. That fool… did what he did. No meta-cognition. Just movement. He blatantly looked God in the eyes and disobeyed. […]
Read MorePre-study
I crack open the books to study and put on this song: Yeah. 0% productivity. I can never get anything done with my playlist of similar songs and yet I do it every time. I just don’t learn. Maybe I don’t want to. Haha. Today, I had a moment where I felt like I was […]
Read MoreMove
The semester is coming to an end. Very interesting place to be. I used to be that person who brushed off questions like, “What do you want to do with your life?” or “What do you plan to do with this major?” or “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” with a simple, “I’m […]
Read MoreI am amazing.
Sometimes when someone compliments me, I just want to sit that person down, buy him or her a cup of tea and a scone of some sort and ask, “Really?? Tell me more! Tell me more about how great I am, how wonderful you think I am. I’m dying to hear.” Lol. Seriously. Not sure […]
Read MoreDon’t stop
The fear of failure is a compelling argument for ambition. But I don’t want it to be mine, as I recently discovered it to be, at least partly. I want to laugh at the future. I want to stomp all over my plans because I make them, and not the other way around. I want […]
Read MoreFinally
Yesterday was a very interesting day in the life of Grace J. Kim. Work has been interesting. Lots of things going on in my mind. That’s beside the point. Lifepoint’s Friday service was graced with the presence and message spoken by Pastor Sam Song from Hong Kong. He spoke about the difference between justification and sanctification. Here’s […]
Read MoreKnowledge transfer
Piggybacking off my entry two days ago, I realized something that branched off from the thought: assumptions are dangerous and useless. My initial experience was an earthly one. There were certain things from my work that instilled in me the importance of letting things be, working them out through time and communication, rather than shooting […]
Read MoreHere I am
Have you ever felt like everything you knew is falling apart? I feel like such a brat and a child saying it but I’m there right now. I’m frustrated because even this place, this blog has become foreign to me. I feel at odds. How I feel about making public what I want to write […]
Read MoreThat Job
*Edit: “Job” is referring to the Job that is a chapter in the Bible, the one that lost everything haha. Not a job that you work at. I realized it’s easy to misunderstand. Found this chilling in my drafts. ___________________________________________________________________________ The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Job And indeed, he has taken away. […]
Read MoreKeep on keeping on
To hesitate is to perish. Simón Bolívar I want to do more. And not just be. Except I’m so used to being that doing requires an extra step… giving me room for hesitation. And doubt and even fear. I’m out of my element. It’s a strange place but I don’t want to be elsewhere. It wouldn’t make sense. I […]
Read MoreWeek of 2/23
This week in a very big nutshell: – Sometimes, it takes a midterm grade of less than 50% to slap me into reality. Thank the professor, who works really hard to pass all his students and add extra credits for doing homework. I’d been riding the wave of thinking I’m top of my ish. It […]
Read MoreBlurbing
I have so many things on my mind I want to put down on screen and now, at 8:57pm today before studying for a midterm tomorrow, I have decided to break my boundaries and write about all of them in one entry. Haha. Here we go. – My mom received these from a male customer […]
Read MoreHelped
I just met up with a friend who had read my money entry and offered to help me understand and manage my finances. A couple days ago I met up with another friend to talk about my career, internships, future. Earlier that day, I met up with someone I had met two days earlier to […]
Read MoreWhat The
I feel like it’s been “that time of month” for a month. Been roller coastering through laughter, crying, and everything next to, in between, above, below, within, and whatever other prepositions I can’t think of right now. Very interesting. There’s no time to evaluate it. There’s nothing to evaluate. Just… observe. Watch myself fall apart. […]
Read MoreMoneys
I am realizing how horrible I am at managing my finances. I find cash everywhere, in my car, dresser, wallet (duh), jeans, etc. Why? Because I don’t know what to do with it. I don’t know whether it should go toward bills, school, leisure, necessities, brother, parents, etc. What a horrible “situation”. I’m afraid of […]
Read MoreCrier
Sunday was a very interesting day for me. End of service found me a hot mess. Thank the good Lord I had forgotten to put on mascara that morning. As I shared with a friend about why I had cried, the river of salt water continued. I’m not used to this much crying, folks. I’m […]
Read MoreNo Party Here
Fasting is not fun. Thank you, Grace, for that profound observation. You’re welcome. I just had to say it. Not being able to eat whatever… sucks. Hurts, even. It is such a sober event. No celebrating. No dancing. No music. No fun. Like I said. Which is very a good place to get serious about […]
Read MoreOne More
This morning I remembered something I read on the ENTP personality page that I liked and made sense (I like to think): They live in the world of possibilities… I like that. A lot. I like the idea that nothing is impossible, which doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing but… I like the idea that there […]
Read MoreGigantic Lump
I realized why I was so angry. I was a gigantic walking lump of complaining. Yep, I was that girl with dark scribbles hanging over her head. Sometimes, when you’re in the middle of something, engulfed in it, you don’t know what’s really going on. For me, all I knew were my… complaints. I ran […]
Read MoreBase
Feeling broken at the moment. Lots of thoughts and emotions going through my mind. Feeling like he’s calling me, drawing me, yearning for me. Feeling the desire to answer, but not sure… how. Funny ’cause this was, used to be all I knew how to do. But right now, feeling like a little girl, a […]
Read MoreBig Dipper
There’s something strange going on. Ever since my first Arizona mission trip, I became fond of the Big Dipper. I could find it almost immediately. Its handle and scoop part had become familiar to me, almost like a friend. Looking at it made me feel minuscule in a comforting way. Any and every time I […]
Read MoreHere
I didn’t realize I had no vision until last night. It explained so much. It explained why I did things that weren’t… conventionally Christian. Why I didn’t do things that were. This is my blog so continue reading at your risk. I honestly did not and do not give two hoots about another person’s faith. […]
Read More(blank)
I’ve been feeling a little depressed or… empty lately. Not sure why. Or maybe I do. All I know is, I want something to take my breath away. I want to be taken off guard, to get the wind knocked out, even be swept away. I want to feel. Everything is… what it is. Is […]
Read MoreMove
The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you are not going to stay where you are. – J.P. Morgan This quote has been chilling in my drafts since last month. It had no title originally so out of curiosity, I opened it up and found this nugget of wisdom saved for a later […]
Read MoreBack
Just doing my usual semester final review procedure of going through every website that I can think of, scrolling through as many things as I can so I can prolong the pain of actually doing work. Of course, I found myself scrolling my own blog (I am a self-admitted narcissist, btw) and came across this: […]
Read MoreU
I am having the hardest time writing a term paper. It really shouldn’t be that bad. I have 90% of my research down but… no motivation. I blame my professor. Why? I like writing. I like researching. I like organizing and brainstorming and outlining and… writing. So I blame the prof. He is not involved […]
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