(1) I was inspired to log onto Tumblr and post this picture taken on a recent Japan/Korea trip because of a confluence of factors. One, I was talking to a friend/college classmate, and she reminded me of how I, instead of listening to class lectures, used to spend that precious time reblogging photos for my *aesthetic* blog (and the vast majority of them were photos taken somewhere in Asia). Two, I was talking to another friend and was reminded that this year marks my *gulp* tenth year since graduating from college. And, three, I was reminiscing about this recent trip and it all dawned on me how ten-year-ago me would have been highly satisfied (more likely overjoyed and astonished) to know that I finally got my *aesthetic* Tumblr photo moment in Japan, beneath the remaining cherry blossom petals softly floating down into a dry river bed.
(2) The aforementioned friend who delights in pointing out my less than diligent habits in some of my college classes conveyed to me her increasingly nihilistic view on working and adulthood. It’s also unsettling to me to think that my entire first third of life was devoted to a rat race that resulted in...a cycle of full-time work to enjoy windows of time that sometime become vacations to spend the rewards of full-time work and will eventually end in permanent vacation to spend the rewards of full-time work. I think it hits my friend particularly hard knowing that she has a creative streak and (had?) a desire to do something meaningful in this life. Now, she works at a start-up doing B2B engagement 💀
(3) Speaking of work, I applied for, and received, a promotion; somehow, I’ve convinced people I’m deserving to be a “senior” attorney. I was reluctant to apply -- mostly out of fear that my current, comfortable work-life balance would be disrupted -- but I’m glad it ended working out okay. In the end, I still do what I did before but with more money (for the aforementioned vacations). The “senior” title, though, doesn’t stop me from bouts of imposter syndrome and the tendency to think I’d be a suitable mentee whenever I see a new mentorship program being advertised.
(4) Back to the trip -- International travel remains, in my mind, one of the best ways to determine compatibility in a relationship. There’s no shortage of obstacles to encounter as a couple: logistics/planning, navigating through unknown locales, reaction to unforeseen events, handling money, deciding on where to eat, etc. 10/10 would recommend.
As for us, we’re doing well (about to sign a second year on our current lease) and, fortunately, I believe this first, extended international trip did more to shore up my confidence in our relationship than to diminish it. I’ve never strived toward perfection in relationships, but I think I used to believe that couples could overcome/change certain of the other’s qualities with time. And, as confirmed by this trip, that belief is short-sighted at best, wrong at worst. Some things just won’t change (or won’t change unless there’s a lot of concerted, deliberate effort). And that’s okay. And we just have to figure out if we can live with that.













