(THE NOW SERIES)
Here goes my first full winter outside Canada. Missing the snow, the winter clothes, the white Christmas ~ my constants over the past years.
Strangely, being away from it all feels like I’m living outside my comfort zone yet I’m also thrilled to be home and celebrate the holidays with my family, for the first time in a long while (6 years!).
Well, it’s been a long time coming. Work always got in the way, but not this time.
Let’s face it, we will never have enough time to do everything in this lifetime. We win some, we lose some. The only question is, what are we willing to sacrifice?
The hardest times often reveal what we truly value in life. We realize which things are more important and deserving of our attention.
If there’s one thing I learned during the pandemic ~it’s that family is everything, all the rest comes second.
When I thought the world was going to end in 2020, I remembered asking myself:
If it were to end tomorrow, how would I spend my final hours?
I would fly back home at the drop of a hat and spend time with my parents, my family and loved ones.
If I had more free time, what would I be doing with my life?
Aside from traveling and eating the world’s most delicious foods, I would love to run my own coffee shop.
I’ve always been fond of korean dramas ever since I can remember. And if you’re a fan just like me, you would know k-dramas feature cafés all the time. It is a regular scene in korean dramas ~ a unique reflection of the coffee culture in Korea.
Initially, I was inspired by the classic rom-com series “Coffee Prince” ~one of my favorites to date, which I have rewatched at least 5 times. Another fave but with a different genre ~ “Healer”, where most of the scenes took place at a café called Coffee Bay, owned by Young Shin’s father. And the most recent drama, which somewhat solidified my dream of owning one was “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. Who wouldn’t swoon over Chief Hong and his barista skills?
Anyway, long story short, I ended up doing it after two years. I took my advice and finally opened my own coffee shop.
Photo: Customer
This is probably an age-old advice and may or may not work for you – Do yourself a favor and do what you love. Sometimes our circumstances prevent us from doing things but know that it’s okay. Nothing is ever set in stone, even the future.
If not today, then tomorrow, if not tomorrow then the day after tomorrow or maybe someday.
Invest in something that gives you a sense of purpose. Life itself is an investment, so spend it wisely.
No job or career is worth compromising your health and relationships.
Protect your inner peace. (At all costs! Cut off toxic people if you need to.)
Never let there be any what ifs. Turn it into why nots?
Here’s one of my favorite quotes to inspire you in 2023:
“You are the sky, everything else is just the weather.”
~Pema Chodron
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!
Life Through the Windshield 