Tag: life

Something on Love*02.2025

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  • Chances are, if a man you’re dating/seeing isn’t mutually cultivating the garden of life with you and bringing it to fruition, he’s more of a liability than an asset. He’s already taking away the most valuable thing in your life, which is your time, attention, and energy, and enjoying your fruits. In the worst-case scenario, he’s emotionally distracting you from growing with his dramas. And the same applies to men. Stay focused.
  • If a man can chat with you at 4am, he is either that obsessed with you or he doesn’t have a job. (Most of the time it’s the latter.)
  • Stop being frustrated or complaining; instead, keep reaffirming what you really desire in the other person and tell that to the divine.
  • Love without sacrifices is just lust.
  • If you want the rose, you need to bear the risk of getting pricked by the thorns. Which rose is worth taming?
  • In 2024, I made a promise: whenever I get emotional or confused about a situation involving relationships, I would turn to learning about investment, finance, the economy, or geopolitics. After a while, don’t get me wrong, I still experience emotions. However, my perspective shifts, perhaps due to age or experience. Things become clearer, and the intensity of emotional upsets diminishes. And you’ll find yourself thrilled and excited by the new knowledge and the endless possibilities it opens up. It’s a powerful reminder that growth and learning can be the best antidotes to emotional confusion, leading to a richer, more fulfilling life.

To be continued…

12.26.2024 End of year

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Reflection or some words/weight that I’d like to offload from my mind- finding them a home then I can revisit them one day –

  1. Empathy without boundaries is absolute self destruction.
  2. A man who loves/likes you doesn’t just double-tap your pictures. He tries hard to stay in the pictures.
  3. Never act like a clown in front of someone who’s obviously blind.
  4. Jealousy is jealousy. Love is love.
  5. Being clear is kind. Being unclear is unkind.
  6. We can’t change people. We can only love them.
  7. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.“
  8. Mercy, Grace, Forgivenuess
  9. Finding ways to say the hard things with gentleness
  10. Attention is the new currency, use it wisely.
  11. Your superpower can be making others feel heard & seen.
  12. “A lot of what I feel are big things are small and lots of what is small is extremely significant.”
  13. Matthew 13:44

Best,

Tiffany ❤

Twenty years in America

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Twenty Years in America

Next month marks two decades since I arrived in the U.S. Witnessing the transformation of America, especially New York, has been remarkable. But the most profound change has been within myself. Assimilation has chipped away at some parts of who I was, yet unearthed unexpected facets I never knew existed. I hope this process of self-discovery continues, to keep finding new pieces of me in the years to come.

Lately, however, a gnawing sense of burnout has settled in. Emptiness lingers, and the search for lasting happiness feels elusive. It’s like filling an empty stomach – it solves one problem, but countless others remain.

Is this a mid-life crisis? Seeking answers, I reached out to friends and teachers. Their responses, filled with empathy, echoed a familiar refrain: “Overthinking, uncertainty, helplessness – that sounds about right.” “But what next? How do we cope?”

Their heartfelt advice hasn’t yet revealed the escape route from this abyss. It seems trial and error is the only path. Perhaps there’s solace in putting pen to paper, solidifying the swirling thoughts within. Each one externalized is a weight lifted from my mind.

To you, dear readers,

While I may not have solutions, I offer solace: you are not alone. These feelings are normal, human. And remember, this too shall pass. 

If I could, I’d hold your heart when it aches. Perhaps, someday, we can hold each other’s hearts, a beacon of shared experience in this journey of life.

(#Resonate)

Story Time 1. 4/18/2024

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Deeply rooted & blossomed.

Yesterday, while I was taking pictures at Washington Park, NYC, someone approached me and said  that I was cute and beautiful. They then asked if we could exchange social media handles.

First of all, whenever strangers, especially men, smile at me or approach me, my first instinct is to think, “He’s going to kidnap me.”

Now, after getting that out of the way, I had a moment to myself. I thanked him for the compliments, but politely declined. He was a gentleman and didn’t pressure me further. We parted ways, and it was a polite encounter.

It was an interesting encounter for me because it made me reflect on myself and the journey I’ve been on. I appreciate people giving me compliments, and while they can still boost my ego sometimes, they don’t thrill me like they used to. I don’t crave outside attention and validation for my self-worth like I used to.  They say insecurity is loud and deep confidence is silent. The more we face challenges or learn from life’s experiences, sometimes the more quiet we become. Outside attention doesn’t make me thrive. It’s the self-acceptance, self-compassion, and radical honesty towards my emotions( both high and low) and my needs, that have deepened my roots as a human being instead of an imaginary/self-constructed inflated persona. 

In this day and age, when swiping, double tapping, or direct messaging is the norm, someone had the courage to approach and ask in person. Even when rejected, they remained composed, poised, and respectful. Such are refreshing and show that kindness and hope still exist.

Some might say to me, “you are naive and overly optimistic,” concluding from only one encounter. Well, that’s me, I still choose to believe in the good in others. Perhaps, that’s what makes the world a better place. A little optimism can go a long way. And We’ll see where it takes me. There’s always something to learn from every encounter.

Best,

Tiffany ❤

One year into my DPD Program

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Juicy Rainbow 100th Street, NYC

A little reflection on this journey of becoming… a register dietitian.

On life –

  1. Always aim high and set ambitious goals. Even if you fail, your attempt will still be more valuable than starting with low expectations.
  2. It’s okay to fail; fail quickly; fail better; anything in life worth doing is worth doing imperfectly. Treat life like a grand experiment, and you will discover so much joy and receive many unexpected outcomes that lead you down paths you never imagined.
  3. Don’t strive for perfection; instead, be a person who takes pride and heart in doing even the smallest tasks well.
  4. Be kind, but also practice setting firm boundaries with others.
  5. You don’t have as many audiences as you think, so liberate yourself, dance, and enjoy life to the fullest, as if no one is watching.
  6. Believe and have faith in yourself and your unknown future. Faith is the sail on a boat; set it correctly, hold it firmly, let it guide you, and navigate you through challenging waters.
  7. You cannot grow if you have an ego and cling to a fixed image of yourself. Keep breaking cycles of habit and a rigid self-image. Growth and change are inevitable; embrace the uncomfortable.
  8. When you pursue a goal, it can often be a lonely journey. Find and surround yourself with a tribe of people who share your vision and are happy about your growth and success. Your journey is hard enough without fighting with unsupportive people.
  9. If you want something you have never had, you must do something you have never done.
  10. Last but not least, remember that even when a situation isn’t working out for you, it’s still working for you in some way. Use it to your advantage.

Now onto food –

  1. The more you delve into people’s perceptions of a healthy diet, the more you’ll encounter a cacophony of recommendations – salads, obscure greens, and dubious fad diets.
  2. Shopping at Whole Foods is a privilege for those who can afford it
  3. With advancing years, our culinary adventures often diminish, replaced by a preference for familiar flavors.
  4. The allure of food porn is undeniable, and it’s easy to fall into a cycle of craving and consumption.
  5. Dietitians are not food police, nor are they obligated to transform every dish into a healthier variation.
  6. Any food can be part of a healthy diet, depending on the quality, quantity, frequency, and timing of consumption.
  7. “Being organic does not guarantee that a food is healthy, just as attending Yale does not guarantee that someone will make good decisions throughout their life.”
  8. The way we present food, especially through carefully crafted online images, transcends mere sustenance and becomes a symbol of social standing, revealing an individual’s access to resources, culinary inclinations, and the broader lifestyle they embrace.
  9. “While McDonald’s meals do provide some nutrients, their nutritional value is generally lower and less bioavailable compared to freshly prepared foods from other sources or restaurants.”
  10. Not all chemicals are carcinogens. The human body is composed of numerous chemicals, including hormones, which play essential roles in its functioning.
  11. When discussing scientific concepts with individuals who have limited prior knowledge, it’s crucial to adopt a patient and approachable approach. Tailoring your explanations to their level of understanding will foster a more productive and engaging dialogue..

To be continued…

10.14.2020

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My brother-in-law woke me at three in the morning. Witnessing my mother’s cremation, watching her transform into ashes, was a brutal blow to reality. Each wave of grief felt like the first, a relentless assault.

It was a suffocating experience – my body trembling, tears streaming uncontrollably. The world felt hostile, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I yearned to lash out, to break things, but all my strength had vanished. I cried until exhaustion finally overtook me, and I drifted back to sleep around five or six.

Given all the data and introspection, can we ever truly control anything in this life? Our birth, our death, the fleeting moments with loved ones – these are largely beyond our grasp.

Ultimately, all that remains are our ashes and the profound relationships and memories we’ve forged. We may believe ourselves to be the drivers of our own destinies, but perhaps we are merely passengers on this journey?

LT. 2020