travel blog, minus the bull$hit

Maybe it’s all the yoga or pilates classes I’ve found myself in lately, or the lovely conversations I’ve been having with the older folks at the studio but lately I’ve found myself sitting back and realizing how grateful I am for this wonderfully imperfect life. It’s not always what I imagined, but it’s mine, and it’s filled with things that make me smile. It truly is a privilege to be living the way I do.

I’m thankful for my body and its ability to move, because it’s not always going to be like this. There’s something empowering about feeling strong and pushing myself, knowing my body is capable of more than I ever thought possible. The fact that I am able to diversify the way I move my body from power lifting, aerial yoga, reformer pilates, to climbing— I consider all of these to be a blessing. But it’s not always about the physical results we see (but damn, a 6-pack sure would be nice), it’s about how we can make ourselves feel. We don’t always come out with the change we hoped for, and that’s okay. Life doesn’t always go according to plan, and our bodies, like our paths, sometimes take unexpected turns. What matters is that we keep showing up and doing our best.

The nights filled with laughter, the inside jokes that never get old, and the times I’ve shared tears together with my loved ones and strangers alike are reminders that I’m surrounded by so much light and brightness. I couldn’t imagine this life without the friends who keep me grounded and remind me to have fun and just breathe.

Sometimes I lose sight of all of these during my usual day-to-day activities. Sometimes, I forget about the impact of my own work as I get burnt out by the corporate world. Sometimes, I forget about the purpose of working in drug development. And then sometimes, I remember. It’s not always easy working in a corporate landscape, but it’s incredibly rewarding when you hear the stories of patients directly affected by our new therapies in a positive way. On top of everything else, I’m in grad school pursuing my MBA while balancing the rest of my life. It’s tough and honestly kinda shit, but it’s also such a privilege to be able to keep learning and growing in this way. I’m juggling a lot at pretty much all times of my life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

And then, there are the adventures—those moments when I get to fly away to new places and explore the world. I’ve been lucky enough to see incredible sights, and make new friends along the way that I can touch grass with. Whether I’m sharing those moments with family or friends, every adventure adds a little more beauty to this life I’m living.

Sure, my health isn’t the most optimal at the moment but despite that, I have so much to be thankful for. From the little things to the big moments, I am so privileged to have built a life for myself that I can be proud of even if there is no one left to root for me. We may not always come out of things with the change we hoped for, but I’ve come to realize that’s okay.

Even if that means I can’t hop on that last minute flight to Taiwan on Monday with that crazy 60k point deal for a business flight because I have a procedure 🥲