~**~ Pinterest Inspirations ~**~

Profile Pic Disclaimer

Before people come fighting me for using someone's artwork, I want to make it clear that I found my profile pic from Pinterest and I don't remember who drew this. So if you know who the artist is and how I can credit them for my profile pic, I will be eternally grateful!

3/3/2025 Day 2

I changed my schedule yesterday and created a new plan. Seems to be working so far!

It feels a little weird to start doing my main task at 3pm, but I feel less pressured to wake up early and speed through my morning routine. Also, I noticed that I don't like checking my phone when I want to focus on my day. I feel slightly guilty for people who text me on a Monday, but seriously, I just want to be in my own head all day and focus on what I want to finish.

Side tangent: My dog was snoring and making growling sounds while he was napping today lol. He makes me feel alive 😂

This looks like my dog but is not my dog. Close enough =P

I woke up around 11am today and felt relieved knowing my doctor's appointment was finally scheduled for tomorrow. I haven't listened to Eric Nam in a long time, and this song spoke to my soul 🩵

What if I have everything right now And I'm missing what it's all about? What if being happy isn't what I thought? Oh What if more is never enough? - lyrics from House on a Hill by Eric Nam

I like this post! It reaffirmed some things I've learned in the past =)

Two things I would modify from the first two bullet points under the first point are:

Be authentic: Don't fake it if you're feeling not OK, sad, or other negative emotions. You don't need to fully explain yourself (it's a privilege for the people who care about you and you trust). But don't hide your true self and put on a mask just because you don't want to scare people away. Life has its ups and downs. The right people for you are going to understand that we have our feelings and it's OK.

Understand what you needs and communicate your needs: I learned this from my therapy training. There are times we want to vent, to scream, to cry, to talk about our problems with someone else. If you have experienced people pulling away because you're talking about your problem or "complaining," it might not be because you shouldn't talk about your problems and just go figure it out yourself. It might be due to the people you talk to do not know what you need and they want to handle your problem based on their own way. They could also have low energy when you share with them and they do not have extra energy to share your pain. If you want to vent, ask the person you want to talk with if they have the time and energy for you to vent about what is going on. And if you cannot find someone to vent to and you know you need someone to give you a safe and non-judgmental space to talk, it is always an option to see a therapist and see if it is what you need.

Have a wonderful day, lovely humans 🩵

how to build bridges and make meaningful connections ❀•°❀

for the girlies who want more than just superficial relationships

1. be the kind of energy that people want to stay around

be light, not draining. bring warmth, humor, and softness where you can. I always try to smile at people when I talk to them or see them, and people notice how I'm happy to hang out with them. just bringing a positive energy immediately draws people towards you.

try not to complain. everybody has struggles, and while venting can feel natural, it can also quietly drain the energy from conversations and people listening. personally, I struggle with this too. but, when we constantly focus on what's wrong, we unknowingly push people away. no one wants to feel like every conversation is a weight to carry.

instead, try adding something lighter or more meaningful. instead of saying, "I'm so stressed," try "this week is super busy, but I'm making time for a break soon." it's not about pretending that life's perfect, but being mindful of the energy you bring to a space.

show up with consistency. make plans for lunch and actually show up. remember small things that they say in conversations. it's always the greatest feeling when someone remembers that I had an important performance or difficult test and then ask me about it afterwards.

2. connect through conversation

make eye contact. it's uncomfortable, I get it. but, when you look someone in the eye while they're talking to you, it makes you look 1) more engaged about what they're saying, and 2) more genuinely appreciative of their presence. practice doing it little by little every day, and soon, it will become like second-nature.

share stories, not just facts. I think that conversations come alive with small stories with details that make moments memorable. for example, instead of just saying “I had a phone as a kid because I was on the soccer team” (fact), i added layers: “I got a phone because I went to soccer matches as a kid! I was terrible at soccer, but I helped the team by tricking opponents into thinking I’d get the ball. basically, I was a glorified decoy” (story). true story, by the way.

3. acknowledge them, even if you are not actively hanging out.

greet them by name. when you see them while walking, make an effort to remember their name and say hi. I feel that greetings come off as much more genuine when I address them personally.

if you don't know their name, still make an effort to smile and wave. I would still appreciate it if someone takes the time to acknowledge me, even for a little moment, because it shows that they care.

4. embrace compliments and connection

take compliments. I'll be the first to admit, I struggle with this too. but, isn't it a bit awkward when you give someone a compliment and they instantly deflect it with "oh but I look so ugly today like my hair is whack and my eyeliner is uneven" (calling myself out...)? instead, I think it's best to thank them genuinely for noticing you, even if you don't fully agree with their compliment. receive it with gratitude, not self-criticism. it's not about actually being perfect, but appreciating the kindness behind their words.

compliment them back, and be observant about it. you could just say, "you look amazing too" (though that's still nice). but, the next step could be noticing something specific, like their earrings or the way they carry themselves. or, share what you actually admire about them, like their kindness or determination. it's about making your compliment feel personal and thoughtful.

if you admire someone, tell them. it only sounds fake if you make it fake.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

remember, real connections are built on authenticity and kindness. it's not about being perfect. it's about being genuine, showing up, and appreciating the people around you. now, you just have a few more tools on how to make these connections and be the friend that you would appreciate in your own life.

thank you for reading all the way through as always. wishing everybody all the good things in the world and a blessed rest of your day <3

sending lots of love, q's playlist

Day 3 End

School days feel like a blur sometimes. Waking up to my alarm while I'm still half asleep; rushing to take my dog out before class; hurrying to class so I'm not late - just speeding through the day until it gets dark outside and I'm still on my laptop by midnight.

I did most of what I planned to accomplish, but somehow I still feel like I should have done more. Probably expressed by the part of me that needs to overachieve.

Tomorrow's a new day, and I have a new goal. Will check back in again for continued progress =)

Middle of Day 1

The day didn't go as bad as I had imagined. Started working on some school assignments on my to-do list after eating a nice breakfast (more like lunch) and watching an episode of A Sign of Affection =)

Here's to the possibility that I will face the more daunting task of continuing to write the literature review part of my thesis. Cross my fingers that I finish the day strong and satisfied!

04/15/2025

Today, I think I tapped into hyperfocus mode because (1) I only slept for 4 hours, and this is what happens sometimes when I'm sleep-deprived, and (2) my period just started, so I'm getting some energy back? I still need more evidence to support this claim haha.

I am very grateful today because even though my follow-up appointment with my doctor was basically unnecessary (I think she Googled my diagnosis and gave me recommendations from online...), I had an overall good day. I was on time for my 9am class (after a few weeks of being late). I attended all my classes. I got food for this week. I tried to get my oil changed, but the shop was busy, and somehow the staff miraculously offered to change my oil for free because they overestimated their workflow (thank you, Universe!!!). I ended up going to do my car inspection today, which worked out. And I was on the phone with my partner for a couple hours while he shopped, and somehow I felt included and valued. It feels good to be loved and supported by the people around me and the Universe 🩵

Completed

✅ School ✅ Doctor's appointment ✅ Part-time job (didn't do my full shift today so I'll have to work more hours tmr...) ✅ Car inspection ✅ Renew car registration ✅ Phone call with partner ✅ Case presentation - part 2 (1.5 hours) ✅ Walk my dog ✅ Dinner ✅ Watch Everyone Loves Me ✅ Case presentation - final (0.5 hours) ✅ Clinic report - result 3 (0.5 hours) ✅ Clinic report - result 4 (0.25 hours) ✅ Clinic report - result 5 (0.25 hours) ✅ Sleep by 12:30am?

To-Dos

I switched out a task and finished 2 small ones instead! 🎉

[End of study: 12:25am] So ready for bed 😴 Can't wait to get my beauty sleep tonight because I so so deserve it 🩵

Journal

I got into a car accident with my friend today... This was my very first one with an actual collision. Crazy enough, I was in shock at first and cried, but then once I realized what was going on, my brain decided to shut out my emotions and be logical about all the things I needed to do and all the people I needed to contact.

I don't know, I feel like I need to be the strong one in this situation. I can see how distressed my friend is and how guilty she is for the accident, and I just can't bring myself to make her feel any worse. There's a lot on my mind now... Are my pain and bruises going to go away soon? Are my travel plans for Spring Break going to work out? Is my dog going to be OK after the accident? Am I actually suffering from internal bleeding? Lol I realize I have a morbid sort of humor as well.

Tbh writing this out makes me feel really sad about my progress with thesis. I was literally started a routine and tracking how I am doing each day, and then "bam!", life hits you in a way you never expected.

I mean, yes, I am grateful I survived (especially my friend and my dog) because someone could have died. And then what? Where do my emotions go? How do I process all of this? How can I express my feelings while not feeling like I'm hurting my friend?

It's going to be OK. That's what I keep telling myself. I truly believe in it. I just don't know how that's going to happen. We shall see...

Day 1 End

I'm so proud of myself!

I actually did some thesis writing tonight. It took me a little bit to start, but I think I have a clearer direction now that I know it is just small blocks that build up my entire paragraph, and then making up a section.

Tracking my progress is nice. Thanks for this space!

03/28/2025

Started the day slow because I need it 😤

Music 🎧: Pop, Rock, Selena Gomez

Completed

✅ Shower

✅ Breakfast

✅ Part-time job

✅ Advocacy meeting

✅ Read and reply to school emails

✅ Write clinic notes

✅ Send clinic emails

✅ Finished A Sign of Affection anime 😭

✅ Review and write group project paper 1

To-Dos

⏹️ Pay bills

⏹️ Review and write group project paper 2

⏹️ Working on thesis (2 hours - it'll go by fast so I can do this!!)

If your semester is ending soon and it is exam season, I wish you all the best! Sending good vibes 🩵

End of day reflection (1:11am): I didn't have time to finish everything, but I am proud of myself for not running away from writing my group project papers. This is my first time doing a group project that involves writing a paper together. It is harder than I had expected, and I'm not a fan of not knowing how the paper will flow until the very end. Anyways, it was a good day today. Looking forward to writing more tomorrow =)