These couple of days feel overwhelming as many unexpected things are happening.
- Shanghai is almost in lockdown. Two years after the pandemic the city is dealing with the pandemic for the first time. My friends are mostl locked up at home. My mom is still well and can go out for walks but mostly stay at home. I feel surprised and sad for what they are going through.
- I’ve been tasked to lead a new project, something that I had zero knowledge about. I feel empowered and a boost in ego that management trusts me on this. Yet, I’m not sure I’m doing the right things.
- My “adopted” son is leaving for grad school in Australia next week. I’m worried about him although he’s 26 but also super excited that his life is moving forward toward unleashing his potential. I hope to meet him before he leaves as that would be a goodbye for unknown years. I’m surprised by how much I care about him when I know him for less than 3 years. I moved mountains for him without expecting anything in return.
- A colleague that I’m very close to got just diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. I am shaken by the news and can’t process what it means for her and her family. These reminders of life fragility come too often too close.
While I processed all these, I try to calm my mind by looking at simple joys of life: Cookie drinking water from Lizzy’s cup. Lizzy doing homework without me yelling at her. They remind me that no matter what happens in the world/work, what brings me joy could be so simple.
Our New Journey 