2022 Reflections:

2022 was pretty extraordinary. A year of phenomenal experiences with intimate moments of mundane sprinkled in.

This year, I pushed really hard in my personal life. I started the year with an intention of connection and while it didn’t quite pan out in my romantic life, I really did get the chance to connect with friends and family members near and far. 

2022 marked a year of constant travel, learning new skills, spending time being the person that I wanted to be.

Highlights:

• Traveling across three continents with notable stops in Iceland, along the west coast, NY, outlying Taiwanese islands, Italy, and France
• Reconnecting with friends that I hadn't seen in YEARS and meeting new like-minded friends
• Meeting the new fur babies, bonding with family over seasonal activities in NY, establishing new traditions with Dad in Taiwan quality time
• Spending time developing skills and creative passions: learning to freedive, creating small pieces of jewelry, learning to play the guitar

Low points:

• Breakup in April
• Feeling lost and misaligned regarding career
• Being exhausted physically and spiritually

Looking back at it, this year was jam packed with activity. Part of that was feeling like I needed to numb out the heartbreak but part of that was also because I made a promise to myself to explore as much as I could this year. 

Intentions For 2023:

Going forward this next year, I'm going to let myself fully savor the little moments rather than being afraid of accidentally opening the emotional floodgates to negative feelings. I want to take more time in each place and fully appreciate what I get to experience. I also want to focus more on my career because that's been taking a backseat to my personal life lately…

I also want to spend more time basking in Taiwan’s beauty. I miss the foggy grey skies, soft yellow greens, and striking cerulean blues. I miss the lush earth and assorted vegetation. I miss the salty spray of the sea and the clear, refreshing rivers. I miss the silence and the safety and intend to spend more healing time there.

2022 In Photographs:

January: Buzzed my hair, Hualien/Taroko trip, Exploring Tainan

February - Surprise hot springs trip, Sending friend off, Planning a special Valentine’s day excursion, The hike, Sunny days in Daan park

March - Impossible beach escape to Yilan, Birthday trip to Taichung, Staying with best friend in Seattle, Iceland, Daily fika, Cherry blossoms in Seattle

April - Portland, Breakup, Meeting new friends and hanging with people I haven’t seen in a while, Bay area, Meeting IG friends, Camping trip with Taiwan friends in CA, Staying with friends and reconnecting in LA, Spontaneous trip to Coachella

May - Returning home to NY, Spending time in nature connecting and healing, Spontaneous beach day, Family time

June - Hosting a clothing swap, Discovering NY as an adult, Reconnecting with high school friends, Strawberry picking, New plants, Fly back to Taiwan, Begin quarantine

July - Quarantine, Penghu, Fireworks for Chinese Valentines

August - Green Island, Lanyu, Making jewelry

September - Sunflower fields, Lotus fields, Houtong Cat Village, Hanging at home, Liuqiu, Kaohsiung

October - Learning to freedive to Liuqiu, Flying back to NY, The Rose concert, Seasonal bonding with family, Friend’s wedding

November - Naples, Pompeii, Hernaculum, Vesuvio, Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Rome, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, Venice, Milan

Dec - Venice, Milan, Annecy, Lyon, Paris, Flying back to Taipei, NYE at Xinyi