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I can’t believe the first month of the new year has already passed and we are off into February! As I look back to my phone notes, January 2025 was such an eventful month each week -- trying to find a new sense of normalcy since my move. It’s interesting how I feel both a sense of normalcy as though I’ve been living here forever and when I visit my old home it doesn’t quite feel the same, and at the same time when I look back it truly only has been 2 months. With that being said, unfortunately as I am writing out this reflection post at the start of Feb, I encountered an incident that has really brought down my mood but when I look back at my January notes - it truly was filled with so much goodness that I won’t let my current situation ruin. Let’s get into the recap -- Stephanie
Lifestyle, Lows, Lessons:
I started the first day of the year with a bang, doing all my favorite things - from a morning class at my favorite studio, cafe-ing, boutique-ing, lunch dates, and then ended the night seeing Zhu. This first day of the year was filled with so much things I enjoy, I was and am still filled with hope for what’s ahead this year. What’s more, I got to spend it with Tammie, I feel so lucky that she lives nearby, it has really helped me adjust to my new move and neighborhood.
I then spent the rest of the week with some much appreciated time off - relaxing, journaling, exploring the neighborhood, taking classpass classes, and watching netflix (Squid Games S2 heh) before returning to work the second week of Jan. Writing this out feels so long ago yet not that long ago at the same time. Never enough down time, but I very much appreciate my company for giving me this time.
And so, I went back to work on the second week of Jan. Both excited for the new year, yet tired and stressed picking back up on work lmao. But lots of things have happened professionally. At my current job, my favorite coworker ended up leaving, I am happy for him personally - though will miss his camaraderie. At the same timing, a company I’ve once had my eyes on, reached out to me and I decided to be open minded. Now I am actually still in the interview process - but it has been such a learning lesson (from the many rounds of interviews, practicing telling my stories (I was very rambly and embarrassing lol) to now doing the case study). Beyond brushing up on my interviewing skills and learning more about myself and their product along the way, it has been nice learning more about how others value me too, and how nice it feels to have someone be excited about you and reach out to you first vs in the past, I was the one who was always reaching out to good companies. Younger me would not believe this, and current me is so grateful. Coincidentally, my day job has had a lot of opportunities - from finally (most likely) attending our annual conference in person this year, to a generous raise from my manager. What especially made me feel valued was that she gave me a raise beyond average, without me having to really advocate too much to her. The fact that she thought about me and felt that I was being paid unfairly, and went ahead and advocated for me really touched me. Now that I am on the final rounds of my interviews, it will truly be such a crossroads of decisions if I actually secure another role.
Relationships wise, I was able to see different friends across life stages and spend quality time. The move had gotten me closer to Tammie, and it has been nice doing different classpass classes together as well as introducing her to my fave hot pilates class and instructor. She also invited me to spend Lunar New Year day with her family, which I usually spend with my family but it was a weekday and my parents had work so we had our annual lunar new years dinner together and I spent the daytime with Tammie’s family. I was a little hesitant because it’s been a while since I’ve truly hung out with her family, possibly years, and I didn’t want to intrude. But then with the invite, I decided to be open minded, and it truly felt like a second family - where we got to go do all the new years things, and I got to catch up with her parents and brother, it felt nostalgic as though Tammie and I were pre-teens again and her parents would take us everywhere. I also got to spend a couple dinner nights with Christina S this month, which while I am sad she will be moving to a different part of SF soon - I am thankful that for the time being she’s so nearby my new house - which also helped with the move. Us hosting dinner nights at each other’s places also felt nostalgic, as if I was back in SB again and we would cook each other dinner at our apts. Another highlight was Tiana and her husband visiting my house, and surprising me with sanrio-themed housewarming gifts - and us eating and yapping away the night, and then introducing her to my fave hot pilates (which she genuinely enjoyed heh), brunching, and then pickleball-ing. I am also thankful for my monthly reunions with Christina W, so glad last year we rekindled our friendship because our monthly hangouts are my favorite catch ups. This month we took the Sunday corepower community class, brunched, and long walks + yapped away lol. Lately we’ve been encouraging each other on our driving+parking journey, careers as an introvert, and our dating lives. Which because of our chats - both of us pushed each other to go on a date this month. I decided to be open minded and go back on, the date went well but I didn’t feel anything romantic nor was I intrigued enough to want to get to know this person more. Either way, it was nice learning about someone new, learn more about myself, and be more open minded. I am thankful for all the relationships in my life this month, both old and new, long and short.
Lastly, I really got to rejuvenate my fitness life this month. Last month, I was feeling like a funk because I went from going to pilates regularly, to going on a hiatus due to settling in with my move and trying to find a new studio. After classpass-ing, I just couldn’t find a studio nearby that has the type of workout I enjoy, with the time periods that work with my work schedule. (Though I very much enjoyed being reunited with my first love Corepower). With a new years deal out at my fave instructors studio, I ended up signing up for it so now I am committed for the next 3 months. It is a drive (~20 mins), but it has been well worth the commute as each time I go, I feel so good both physically and mentally. She truly has this special quality that makes you feel welcomed and want to be a better person, I love how she expresses gratitude and encourages everyone to be kind. We need more kindness in this world and we can all start from within. What’s more, while I enjoy seeing her - my favorite instructor at my old studio actually teaches here as well (they’re besties), as well as a friend I made at my old studio visits here occasionally -- while I love that Tammie has also joined me on this fitness journey, there are times I still go alone, and there was this one specific day I went alone - but was welcomed by both of my favorite instructors, as well as caught up with that friend I made in pilates class. It was a warm feeling, as though I’ve truly created a lil community for myself in the short time I’ve been going to this studio. A sense of familiarity, despite being at a place of change.
My pick of the month: Corepower
Even though I didn’t end up committing to a membership at corepower, this month I did get to take a couple of their community classes (shoutout to Jin for the PSA) as well as sculpt. I enjoyed each of the classes I got to take, it reminded me of my first studio love, corepower. The one that started it all with me going to classes alone. (Shout out to Shelby for introducing me to corepower). High school me taking yoga for fun, wouldn’t expect that one day I’d get so committed to taking studio classes, and genuinely enjoying them too. Shout out to corepower for being the first studio I ever fell in love with, and the community classes they’ve been bringing into 2025.
With all that’s been going on this past month -- especially the devastating, unexpected, and unfair wildfires in LA, it really had me express gratitude for my life and home being safe, but also sadness for those who lost their homes or had to relocate. Combined with seeing my og fave instructor (Sam) more frequently and her way of ending class with kindness, it really had me deeply about what’s happening with the world, and while one person can’t solve everything, how powerful it would be if each of us can do something kind, even if it is small.
This month has been so full in all aspects of life, and I have so much to be thankful for as always. Especially this month, with all the opportunities in both my professional, personal, and fitness life. I’ve been quite in the midst of change the past months, and what I’m proud of this past month is that I didn’t let my anxiety (whether it’s finances and mortgage) or parking in my super tight street/driveway (haha @ my write up for next month though) get in the way of creating back the life I love living before the move. While it is important to budget, just because I have a house now - it didn’t mean I’d cut off going out and spending with people I care about. Even though there isn’t a studio nearby, I didn’t let that stop me from commuting. Even though I am anxious about the parking, I still mastered parking (or so I thought haha, I defo learned a lot) to park in my new neighborhood. I didn’t let owning a house stop me from doing the things I enjoy. Here’s to establishing a new sense of normalcy. I’ll end off with something my instructor said at the end of her class - “while the first month of the year is already over, free yourself from the things/goals you didn’t follow through with. It’s been a month, but it’s only 1 month. You still have the rest of the year to go after your goals. So go give it your all and go after what you want. “
I hope everyone has a wonderful, loving, and warm February!
Chat soon in March,
Best,
Stephanie
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