Let's go on a Joy Ride!

(I launched a newsletter.)

Hello, friends! I launched a newsletter because I wanted to give you all some much-needed joy twice a month. I love giving my friends a pep talk when they need it, and what better way than through my new newsletter called Joy Ride.

Here’s what to expect: I’ll send out a pep talk, my latest news, some cool things I’ve read or seen, and what I’m grateful for. That’s it.

Your Pep Talk 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Everything feels 100-times harder right now. The pandemic, wild fires, an impending election, job loss. The world is chaos. The landscape is constantly changing.

BUT! Part of our job as human beings is to adapt, evolve, and grow. A dry cleaner near my house has a sign that they put quotes in. A recent one stuck with me: "Growth and comfort don't live in the same house."

When I get stuck creatively, I spend 5 minutes with a pen and notebook, answering the question: "Why does this story matter to me?" It lights that fire. Today, remember your WHY.

You’ve got this! You are amazing and valuable.

My Latest News 🥳

I sold a personal essay to the New York Freakin’ Times! I pitched it to Roberta Zeff in October 2019 at UPOD Academy. Wrote a draft in November. Got great feedback from my UPOD crew. Then other work came in. And then, the pandemic and tag-teaming childcare! A freelance friend nudged me to finish & send it. I submitted it in July 2020, and now, here it is. Thank you, Juli Fraga, for those gentle reminders.

Check Out This…

• ARTICLE: My friend Jean Trinh wrote a fantastic art-centric story: “Intricate Chess Set Made of Gum Wrapper Figurines Shows Warring Sides of COVID-19 in America.” The artist’s work is stunning and left me awestruck.

• BOOK: You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. This YA Black queer prom rom-com is so much fun. There’s a good reason Reese Witherspoon picked it for her first YA book club selection.

• TV SHOW: The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix. This adaptation has everything from the original books with a fab modern spin. Also, I’m old enough that I would very much would like a real-life BSC to baby-sit my twins with that kid kit.

• NONPROFIT: Heart of Dinner. Girlfriends Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai are feeding 21,000+ NYC Asian elders and inspiring a community to come together with handwritten letters of love.

I’m Grateful For…

YOU. I was nervous to launch this newsletter, but a few good people (hello, Brendan and Melissa!) convinced me to share my words. Thanks for reading!