#358

4.10.23

7:13p

There’s a boy wearing a Naruto headband waltzing around the subway. This will be the last year he does such a thing. He’s waiting for people to pass around him, so he has room to take a running start to see if he can touch the sign hanging from the ceiling. He swings his arms. He gets it. He doesn’t care what anybody is thinking. If I offered a Naruto headband to my friend just to wear for 5 minutes, they would deny it. 5 minutes! Who is going to remember you wearing a Naruto headband?? They care that much about worthless opinions. The boy on the cusp of growing up reminds me of the joys of childhood.

Kiubon

#357

4.1.23

10:52p

My host sister is throwing a party. I walked up to the front door, heard the music, laughter, talk about boys, you could hear lots of them. I didn’t dare go in.

There’s just some things you can’t do. You recognize you’re a scared little wuss, and say, “okay fear I’ll let you have this one.”

So you walk to the park and read on your phone for 45 minutes under the sprinkling rain and cold wind, only to walk right back up, hear them still partying, and walk back down.

But what if you recognized that fear anyways and opened the door? Waltzed right in, owned it, and said, “don’t let me stop the party. I’m just going to be in my room”, that wouldn’t be so hard, would it?

What if you rose to the occasion? Just like they do in the movies. Be brave anyways.

Wouldn’t you make yourself proud?

Kiubon

#356

My host dad’s flight to France got cancelled. He’s supposed to fly this weekend to visit his dad, The dad is probably not doing the best health wise.

There are lots of strikes in France, right now. Metros, planes, busses, trains, whatever. So they put him on the next flight.

It’ll be frustrating to navigate everything. But it”ll be the best money he spends.

My host dad lives in Hong Kong. That’s so far from France. What if his dad dies? It’ll be the best money he’s ever spent.

Kiubon

#355

3.27.23

3:05p

There’s a man gripping the overhead compartment on my flight. As if it’ll save him if the engine fails. His arm will ache soon, even though the flight is only an hour.

Sometimes in life we need to grip tightly. To feel in control. Other times in life we realize when we relax, the flight’s much smoother. What’s better when you grip tightly? What’s worse when you grip tightly?

Kiubon

#354

2.26.23

9:26a

My mom and dad were fighting again. Only this time, it was big. My mom told us to get in the car, so we all did. And we drove nonstop, for what seemed like hours. There’s no way any of the kids would’ve asked how long we were driving for. There was already a mountain of stress and hurt on my mom.

We showed up at some ladies house, and naturally she offered us food.

“Do you want a BLT?”

I’ve never actually had one of those. Are they only for white people? We humbly accepted, not wanting to be a burden since it seemed like we were going to sleep here tonight. So she made it for us, probably sensing our fear, timidness, confusion.

And we ate. And it was so dry. Oh my gosh. It was so dry. I don’t think we finished it. The bread was dry, the lettuce had no water in it. The tomatoes barely helped. Which made the bacon unappetizing.

I don’t remember how long we stayed there. I remember the lady setting up something on the floor for us to sleep. I don’t think we spoke the same language. I don’t know what went through my mom’s mind. How she would entertain us for, God knows how many days, at this lady’s house?

Thank you lady for your hospitably. This makes me think about showing hospitality and kindness to all we meet. Which is hard because what if they’re weird, socially awkward, gross? But what if my mom showed up to that ladies house with kids that were all those things? Weird, awkward, gross. She wouldn’t have had any choice. And I’m glad she let us in.

I also think about my dad, what was going through his head when his wife up and left with all the kids? A lonely home.

I do remember that BLT. Yes it was dry. And yes she was nice, to some kids that were developing their mother and father wounds, in the process of breaking, and making memories they didn’t think they would remember more than 10 years later.

Kiubon

#353

2.22.23

12:50p

Day 3 of a 7 day fast is really hard

Kiubon

#352

12:55p

2.9.23

Wow: I hung out with my local hong kong Spikeball team till 12:30a last night. The banter, jokes, and crew was all off the charts. And entirely in Cantonese! I love seeing my community grow and my heart for them grow. We’re going to Bali in September for the Spikeball Asia Cup! Remember when we played on the beach? Life was so simple then. Took a BlaBlaCar that didn’t get lost, got some food, played on beach, spent time together as new friends, and easy train back. So unglamorous, with hints of mundane, yet one of of the best days of my life. 

Pow: It seems like my equanimity (ability to stay level headed despite good or bad circumstances) has significantly decreased. I’ve been meditating every day since Jan 2020. So why do I find myself fuming under my breath when I can’t find my friend’s apartment in the maze of Hong Kong? I spent 10 days meditating 10 hours a day at a retreat. Shouldn’t I be better at this? Small complaint. 

Holy Cow: I find myself slowly losing desire for worldly things. Who cares about all these swanky women at the Four Seasons Bar? And that advert of Johnny Depp playing the electric guitar selling some cologne. And gossipping about rich families in Hong Kong who have it better than everyone. Shouldn’t your heart yearn for things that are greater? That please you eternally and won’t wither away? I think, “wow maybe I’m actually growing as a Christian.” Then I think, oh shoot am I just self brainwashing myself? Am I just catering my thoughts and behavior so I fit in better with my community? Which cognitive bias am I buying into now? Yeah who cares about cologne, but I’d really love to spend some money on some camera gear… Bleh. This whole faith thing is hard, but it’s cool to see some semblance of growth/learning

Kiubon

#351

2.1.23

2:15p

Sometimes I see middle aged men and think, “where did all their life go?”

They seem lame, overweight, unaccomplished. I’m critical of this because I fear this will happen to me.

What if I go up to them and ask, “What have you done with your life?”

They might tell me, “I’ve been to Japan, Belarus, and even Lesotho when I was young.”

I’d stay there with a bit of awe.

What if they said, “I’ve road tripped all around Eastern Europe while gathering research for my GPS business.”

Okay that’s a little cooler.

Or what if they say, “I’m 25 year veteran in vispausana meditation, ultra marathoner, and foster dad to 10 kids.”

Now that’s different.

These three scenarios change from going, doing, and being.

I’ve gone here. I’ve done this. I am this.

We should be striving to become someone. Because what’s the point in going to Japan if you only get a thinner wallet and Kyoto keychain?

What’s the point in getting research for your GPS company when all you get is a bit more money?

It all points to becoming someone more levelheaded, perseverant, witty, holy, loving, caring, kind.

So where have I gone? Plenty of places. 17 countries in 2022.

What have I done? Hitchhiked all over Western Europe to make a documentary.

And who am I? That’s what I’m trying to figure out.

Filmmaker? Writer? Brother. Son. Storyteller. Creative. Musician?

Beloved. Funny. Curious. Insecure. Figuring things out.

Kiubon

#350

1.28.23

3:57p

Some days you just feel crappier than other days. Did you sleep enough? Did you eat enough greens? Look through your texts and see who irked you.

What can you do right now that will make you feel a little better?
Walk to the store and buy an apple.
Watch a funny youtube video. Just one.
Chug some water.
Hit the gym.
Play your happy playlist and jam out.
Cold shower.
Do something generous for someone.

So many things you can do. If you continue to pout and do nothing, you’re compounding bad habits that will fill you with regret when you’re older.

Kiubon

#349

11:26a

1.27.23

There are men in suits walking around the mall I’m in. They work above in some office with a decent a view.

I wonder if they like their job. I wonder if they must work in finance for now, to set up the rest of their life.

Maybe I’m extrapolating because I’m unsure myself, for my own career in the creative field.

Am I willing to put 10 years in for a moment of glory everybody will forget about but me? So I’m forced to retell the same story with false embellishments so some people care? Not sure dude.

Kiubon

#348

1.21.23

8:35p

You know when you sing along to the radio, you sound pretty dang good. Your voice perfectly matches to the artist’s. You’re grooving. Until you turn off the radio, and now it’s just you singing. You realize you actually sound bad.

That’s the same with everything you do. Or at the very least, a lot of what you do. Your golf swing is actually pretty cooked. If you examine your thoughts about your mother, they’re more deprecating than affirming. You probably found your hand in the cookie jar more than not.

If a camera crew followed literally everybody around, you’d realize everybody just sucks.

Then you realize nobody really cares… Yes everybody sucks. And it doesn’t really matter.

You actually suck at singing, but you’re going to sing anyways. You’re going to keep swinging. You’re going to try and love your mother better.

Anyways, there’s no point turning off the radio!

Kiubon

#347

1.19.23

I’m really identifying with these two verses from this song:

I keep searching for the answers to my doubts
It’s like I’m caught between belief and wanting out
But there’s this promise that my soul just cannot shake
That I am loved despite the struggles of my faith

And now that my eyes are open
I can see that I am stronger broken
You’re the mystery that I put my hope in
The more I seek, the more I find

Socrates said, “I know that I know nothing.”
I’m finding comfort in not having it all figured out. Ask person at any age, we’re all just faking it.

We’re all walking around hoping something will fall from the sky to tell us if we’re doing it right or not.

Good thing we have Jesus! Who did come back from Heaven to tell us! Cheesy I know, but what else won’t fail me? What else will last forever? What else will love me back?
It for sure as hell won’t be the Oscar trophy I dream about that I will leave in my hotel room.

Kiubon

#346

1.18.23

11:27a

A fear mindset is not healthy. You process everything in scarcity, worry, and unease.

If I skateboard down this street, everybody will look at me weird, and I fear the judgement of strangers.

If I text this person again, they might not reply because they’re busy, and I fear their rejection.

I must buy all these snacks because I fear they won’t need me there, so I’m making my contribution.

I must purge food from my body, because I fear people don’t like me, so I must be good looking for them.

I’m learning how to recognize the culture of fear that’s lived in my head for so long, and to say get out.

Kiubon

#344

1.9.23

11:01p

There are no such thing as relationship problems. They are all human problems, according to Mark Manson.

So as I examine why I code switch when talking to certain people, I think, what is wrong with me?

Why am I changing myself? What am I believing about myself that causes me to act this way?

Bleh
Kiubon