The Glossed Over Blog

I hope my junior year is a year of growth – lord knows sophomore year was one of regression. But so far, this year has been great. Yes, it has been stressful and very, very busy, but I don’t feel like I made any progression in myself last year. This year feels very different in that aspect. I have been making continuous efforts to get back to the things that bring me joy and in doing so, I found some new things to add to the list. I hope this inspires you to reflect on what you love as well.

Here are four things I have been loving recently (with no particular order or category):

1. Cooking

The past two years of college, I have always struggled with homesickness since

my school is a six hour drive from home. Not only that, but I go to school in a town where there is not a lot of culture, let alone Asian culture. A big part of my homesickness was that I missed the meals my parents made. I am so blessed to be able to say that my parents are the two best cooks I know which is why I miss Hmong food so dearly when I am at school. However, since I no longer live in a dorm building and instead, live in an on-campus house with a KITCHEN, I cook my own food and I can happily say I make myself Hmong food almost every day. 

I’ve never had to cook at home since I have four older siblings so I was never one to say that “I liked cooking” or even to confidently say, “I know how to cook”. I still won’t say I know how to cook but I certainly like doing it, and I’ve made some pretty tasty things, just ask my roommates. Check out some pictures of my favorite ones:

2. My Planner

Like I said, I’ve been kept busy this year – and we’re only a month in. With my high-demanding major and the positions I hold in multiple on-campus groups, I had to figure out a way to manage my time. If I didn’t, I would be late to everything, not turn in any assignments, and simply crash out. I’ve never been a planner girly, but I sort of had to force myself to be and it has been SO helpful. My planner is honestly my savior at the moment. It definitely helps that I am not so set on making it look aesthetic. It’s just there to help me organize my thoughts. Feeling more organized has helped me in more than just my academics but also within my mental wellness. When I wasn’t keeping track of what I needed to do and where I needed to be, I would just shut down resulting in me not doing anything at all. This helped nobody. Using my planner has saved me from the stress of work overload and bad time management. If you’re having a hard time with keeping up with your life, I highly recommend giving a planner a try. Here’s the link to the planner I use and some pictures on how I use it:

Papier Productivity Planner 9.84″x7.48″ Spiral Plan Typographic, Hard Cover

3. Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

I consider myself an avid reader, however I have not finished a book in years. I always start them but then find myself too busy to read. I did start reading Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley though, and I do like it a lot. I pick it up a few times a week whenever I can’t sleep, typically on the weekends. I don’t know if I’ll finish this one but I certainly am going to try. I’ve always loved Elvis’s music but reading about his life from a perspective that is not his but instead, of how he was perceived by someone who really loved and adored him is so worth the read. Wouldn’t we all wanna read about how we’re perceived by those who love us?

4. Sketching

I’m never going to be the greatest artist in the room but I absolutely love to sketch. I bought some cheap crayola crayons and colored pencils from Target and started drawing in my tiny little sketchbook I got from Five Below. 

Sketching is also something I do if I can’t sleep. It’s a great way for my body to unwind and relax. This started over the summer when the kids from my daycare always asked me to draw them something so that they could color it in. I realized it was actually something I greatly enjoyed. My favorite thing to say is “You don’t have to be an expert in something to enjoy it”. Here are some sketches I drew as a self-proclaimed non-artist:

So, that is what I am doing with my life right now. I spent my summer working long days and if I wasn’t careful, I was going to spend my school year like that too and I just can’t allow myself to do that. I was and still am determined to find the little things I enjoy in life because I lost sight of all of them. Now, I look forward to cooking myself a meal and finding out more about Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s relationship. Similarly, it’s rewarding to watch my crayons shorten as each of them are being continuously used and being able to check off tasks on my to-do lists in my planner. I encourage you to reflect and think about what you have been indulging in that makes you happy and if nothing comes to mind, I encourage you to start. 

Peace & Love,

Krys K