kate + lemonade
This is a letter to my younger self. This is part two; see part one.
The whole reason people are in abusive relationships is that they will put up with practically anything for the sake of the relationship.
What people don’t understand is the fact that you’re willing to “put up with it” is the result of abuse—not a personal failure to stand up for yourself.
This is part one. See part two.
This is, word for word, what I wrote in a journal entry many years ago. I got myself out—this all happened before I started travelling. Still, it is only now that I have become fully aware of what I went through and of the danger I was in at the time.
The Lululemon mantra includes this line: “Successful people replace the words ‘wish’, ‘should’ and ‘try’, with ‘I will’.”
Here are some things I appreciated in Southeast Asia and Japan that I wish we had in Canada.
If you read one book a month, you probably have less than 800 books left to read in your life.
(I’m 26, so assuming I live to 90, that is 64 remaining years x 12 months = 768 books.)
In my first post on this topic, I said how my highest values are benevolence (for the world), reflection (for myself), and sincerity.[1] However, that has changed.
Sometimes you can’t win. When you’re overweight, the only message you get from the world is that you’re ugly and should lose weight.
Once you have lost weight and become more attractive, though, you’re accused of trying too hard. “Relax,” other people start saying, “it’s the holidays. Have a piece of cake. After all, you wouldn’t want to get too thin.”
Hello! So I missed my deadline last time (going more than three weeks without a post), and now I’m missing it AGAIN. Ahh.
I have a good reason, though: I *had to* get out of my previous living situation, so over the past six weeks I have been very scattered and unable to concentrate on anything other than finding somewhere to live.
And now I’ve found somewhere! Yay! I moved into my own apartment three days ago. It presently contains almost zero furniture. (I’m sleeping on a yoga mat on the floor—which isn’t that bad, really. I may never buy a mattress again.)
I hope to be properly settled and able to return to semi-regular blogging in a few weeks. Until then, please enjoy these Pinterest design inspiration photos.
This is my dream decor: some sort of Japanese-Balinese-Thai-inspired, zen-French fusion, wabi-sabi (Japanese shabby-chic), industrial/modern twist on minimalist classics. Not sure what to call that, but let me know if you have any suggestions 😛
I started keeping these Stuff of the Month lists around age 12. (Credit to my sister Gemma for coming up with the idea, which I copied.)
You know how there’s an Employee of the Month? The Stuff of the Month list is a form of bullet-journaling where you name the Food of the Month (as in your favorite food you ate recently or a food that featured prominently in your month), Movie of the Month, etc.
I was going through my old journals and found this page. Not only did it make me laugh, it made me proud that I’ve actually accomplished some of the things on it!
My plans for life (in no particular order)
Written by Kate as an 11 year old 2006
My high school—done.
I did go to McGill! But I switched out of English literature after second year and studied politics and economics instead.
I think this was some sort of publishing program, and I was inspired because my teacher said her friend did it and “walked right into a job in book editing.” However, I no longer feel the need to do this one.
I used to want to be a fashion designer (among other things). My dad discouraged this, and when I asked why, he said because all fashion designers are weird. (Something like they have skewed priorities and don’t know how to relate to normal people.) I have come to agree with him.
I was really into art as a kid. I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to this one.
Or this.
Or this. I still like making jewelry, but not as much as I used to—and that’s okay.
I’ve sold a few pieces of jewelry and miscellaneous hand-sewn items, so I’m going to count this one as done.
Well, that ship has sailed. Lol. #foreveralone
Still possible, and I still want kids… but now I think it’s unlikely to happen exactly as planned 😛
My aunt had a house in the beaches at the time and my sister Gemma and I thought it was the coolest place ever. For now, though, I’d rather keep traveling.
Still working on it.
I’m not as into drawing anymore, but I did learn to draw hands better, so I’m going to consider this one done. Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis was really helpful.
Not done; my sewing is merely adequate. But again, I’ve decided I’d rather pay someone else to do this than put in the time to do it myself.
Curious that I thought to place this in the middle of the list, and not the end, but then I did say “in no particular order.”
Aside from Madrid, I have actually bought clothing items in every one of these places! But I’m not sure why this was so important to me. Maybe because I was obsessed with Trinny and Susannah at the time, and they were always talking about their glamorous shopping spree locations? Anyway, I’m pleased to say that I’ve recovered from my burgeoning shopaholism and now actively avoid “sprees.”
My parents took my siblings and me to Venice when I was a teenager, and now I don’t feel much need to go back. I’ll call that close enough.
Still a priority, obviously—see 3 things I wish existed—but I fear I may never achieve this one.
Working on it.
Somewhat done (I have edited a few books), somewhat no longer concerned (fashion and jewelry design, owning a boutique), mostly still working on it (editing, writing and art). Overall, I’d say pretty close!
Another page from this journal: an early version of ugly clothes with funny captions.
I cut this out of a magazine (I’m pretty sure it was Town and Country) because I was so offended that anyone would consider $128 a “bargain.” I believe I thought an appropriate price for a watch was $15.
Plus, I thought this looked exactly like a bracelet I had made in my elementary school’s after-4 arts-and-crafts program by stringing beads onto safety pins, as in the tutorial below.
