My busy life is getting on my nerves; I’m tired. I’m also ready to minimize distractions, which are a form of madness. So here’s what I’m thinking now: I am a human being, not a human doing. When I first heard this line, part of me screamed out, yessss!!! Even though some people consider this little saying a cliché, it …
Asian mom finds her lost tribe at Afropunk festival
Getting beyond my comfort zone usually leads to great discoveries. Which is why I went to Brooklyn yesterday for a shot of edgy, stylish, Afro-centric inspiration. The 12th annual Afropunk music festival was such a unique, satifying experience! People showed up making the most wildly creative fashion statements. Food trucks and kiosks served deliciousness. Of course, there were terrific bands and …
The challenges of empty nesting & more
Here we go again. Another cycle of reinvention. All my loved ones have flown the nest. Boo-hoo. Poor me. Even though I learned to be alone after my 2001 divorce, this time it’s different. This time, I’m not bleeding emotional wounds from ripping apart a marriage. Instead, I’m facing typical first-world lifestyle transitions: The young adult daughter, living away from …
Inspiration for the week (or longer)
This week, I rediscovered the pleasure in talking less and saying more. So instead of blathering on for hundreds of words, here are barely 300 words — plus a few photos that express exactly how I feel right now. Of course, I still have lots to share. It’s just that I’m in a deliciously quiet mood, thanks to a solid …
Creativity secret from the masters: dare to be unremarkable
Until recently, I looked for inspiration in great work by great writers and artists. Do my best! Unleash my uniqueness! Be a star! But creativity’s flip side might be even more helpful. In reality, geniuses fail to be genius all the time. If anything, they spend most of their lives churning out stuff that’s forgettable. This is true whether we’re …
The night I met Prince, or, the coolest moment of my life
Dear Prince, I am writing my first-ever fan letter, to say “thank you.” Three decades ago, we met in a fleeting New York moment that gave me faith in my nerd self. With your death, I see the memory through fresh eyes. By staying fabulously purple your entire life, you’ve shown me that cool is possible at any age. The …