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Riding the Waves | Jin’s July 2026
- Aug 10
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 26
July felt like a month of learning how to ride the waves. Some waves came crashing in unexpectedly, some carried me to places I was excited to go, and some reminded me that staying balanced takes a little bit of effort. This month was filled with so many highs - celebrations, spontaneous plans, new experiences, and quality time with the people I love, but it was also a reminder that even the most fun seasons can feel a little exhausting when life moves nonstop. Through it all, I’m learning that the goal isn’t to control every wave that comes my way, but to enjoy the ride, trust the timing, and appreciate how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many moments worth showing up for.
Lifestyle: Travel & Relationships
Friends
Fourth of July
July kicked off with a low-key Fourth of July, and honestly, I loved it. Instead of traveling like I usually do, I stayed local and celebrated with Kelsey's family, who invited us over for a backyard BBQ. We spent the afternoon eating, laughing, and unexpectedly becoming obsessed with a little horse game that quickly turned into the main event.
Later that night, I met up with another group of friends to keep the celebrations going before calling it a night. It was a simple Fourth of July, but a refreshing reminder that sometimes staying home can be just as fun as taking a trip.
Karoke Birthdays
This month was definitely a month of celebrations. I had my usual annual birthday parties on the calendar, but somehow ended up adding two more thanks to mutual friends. Before I knew it, I had celebrated four birthdays in one month and somehow every single one involved karaoke. Safe to say, I did a lot more singing than I expected.
As busy as the birthdays kept me, I genuinely love celebrating the people in my life. Whether it was dressing up, enjoying a The Summer I Turned Pretty-themed party with great food, belting out Glee classics, or just hanging out more casually, each celebration had its own charm. My social battery definitely got a workout, but it was a month full of laughter, good company, and lots of memories.
Girl Dinner
One of my favorite nights this month was "Ball Gown Dinner" with some of the girls in LA. We got dressed up, did our makeup, and enjoyed a fancy dinner together. It felt like one of those nights that perfectly captured girlhood - celebrating friendship, feeling pretty, and making an ordinary evening feel special.
The food was great, Kelsey and I happily sipped on some wine (despite everyone else passing), but the real highlight was our conversations. We somehow ended up debating what our "death meal" would be, and that question became my favorite icebreaker for the rest of the month. In case anyone's wondering, mine would be: a chicken Caesar salad as appetizer, budae jjigae from Boyeong Sikdang in Uijeongbu, wagyu yakiniku from Matsusakagyu Yakiniku in Japan, a 3CAT Barley Wheat Mochi Burst for dessert, and an ice-cold latte to drink. Apparently, my last meal would require a passport.
Game Night
We also got invited to Priss's game night, which was such a nice change because I got to just show up and enjoy myself instead of hosting. We played a mix of new games and familiar favorites like Codenames. I always get a little anxious learning new games or even worse, being the clue giver in Codenames, but everything ended up being so much fun. It was one of those nights that reminded me how much I love getting people together over a few board games and lots of laughs.
Chicago
The biggest highlight of the month was our trip to Chicago for Lollapalooza. I was especially excited to see Charli XCX after having her on repeat for what feels like the entire month, and she absolutely lived up to the hype.
Emily and Laith hosted my boyfriend and me, and they couldn't have been more welcoming. They made the whole weekend so easy and fun, and I loved getting to experience Lolla with them. One of the best parts was also reuniting with some college friends I hadn't seen in about four years. I was a little nervous at first, but within minutes it felt like no time had passed at all.
Since Joseph and I skipped Lollapalooza on Saturday, we took the opportunity to grab brunch with some of his friends before they headed to the festival. It was nice getting to meet more of the people in his life and have a slower start to the day before everyone went their separate ways.
Since it was Joseph's first time in Chicago, we also made time for all the classics, such as seeing The Bean, trying deep-dish pizza, and exploring the city in between festival days. It was the perfect mix of music, friends, and sightseeing, and definitely one of my favorite trips of the year so far.
Love
Surfing
One of the fun things we checked off this month was surfing, which was on my boyfriend's bingo list. We booked a lesson expecting to spend most of the time learning the basics, but apparently the ocean had other plans because after about five minutes of instructions, we were thrown right in and spent the rest of the time trying to catch waves.
It was way more tiring than I expected, but also so much fun. I was so proud that I managed to ride a couple of waves! At first, I absolutely could not figure it out, but once the instructor started explaining it to me using yoga poses (without me even asking, but honestly very on brand), everything finally clicked. Turns out all those yoga classes came in handy after all.
Definitely a highlight of the month and a reminder that trying new things, even if you spend half the time falling into the ocean, is always worth it.
Double Date
We also continued the month with lots of double date dinners, which have quickly become some of my favorite ways to spend time. A lot of these were with people we only get to see every couple of months, but somehow there’s always no shortage of things to catch up on and conversations to yap about.
I also hosted most of these dinners, which made it extra special getting to have everyone over and show them the new apartment. There’s something so fun about sharing your space with friends and creating new memories there. Between good food, long conversations, and everyone settling in comfortably, these nights were a great reminder that the best moments are often just sitting around a table with people you enjoy.
I also got to have a fun little “double date turned third wheel” moment when my friend’s boyfriend couldn’t make it last minute, but she still wanted to join us for church. It ended up being such a lovely day, and afterward we explored the Rose Bowl Flea Market together. There was so much to see, and I loved wandering through all the vintage finds, unique pieces, and hidden gems. I ended up bringing home a few things I really loved, and it was such a fun way to spend the day—especially since it only happens on the second Sunday of every month, making it feel like a little monthly adventure.
OC Fair
We also spontaneously booked a trip to the OC Fair after I realized it was ending soon and I needed a little bit of summer fair magic. We went during the day, which ended up being the perfect move because the crowds, sun, and heat were actually pretty manageable.
Of course, we couldn't leave without playing some games, and somehow we ended up spending around $50 just to win a stuffed animal that probably cost less than $1 to make. Was it financially responsible? Probably not. Was it worth it? Absolutely. We made so many fun memories trying (and failing) to win prizes, walking around, and eating our way through the fair with hot dogs, wings, elote, and all the classic fair foods.
2.5 years
We also celebrated our 2.5-year anniversary in the simplest but sweetest way—just cooking dinner together on a random weekday. We made garlic pasta noodles, Joseph’s famous fried pork belly, garlic bread, homemade DOT cake, and enjoyed some wine together. After dinner, we spent the rest of the night doing LEGO sets and a Cinnamoroll and Kuromi bedazzling kit, which honestly felt very us.
I love that some of my favorite memories aren’t always the big, planned-out dates, but the quiet moments of just being together, making food, trying new little activities, and enjoying each other’s company.
Family
Family was pretty low-key this month, but it was still nice getting some extra time with my brother. Thanks to his Delta internship flight perks, he was flying down to SoCal almost every weekend, although the timing was always funny because I was either traveling or already had plans whenever he came.
Even though we didn't get as much sibling time as I would've liked, I still kept my weekly tradition of grabbing dinner with my dad. I always look forward to those little moments of quality time and catching up with him over a good meal.
Work
We also welcomed a new coworker from Germany this month, and it's been so fun getting to know her. Although I got pulled in to help with some of her projects, it’s been inspiring seeing how quickly she’s jumped in and taken on new challenges. Her energy and willingness to learn have been such a great addition to the team, and I’ve loved hearing about her experiences and getting to know her beyond just work. I’m excited to see her “study abroad” journey here unfold and all the memories she’ll make during her time in the U.S.
We also had a fun Family & Friends Day at work, and I got to invite a couple of friends to come check out where I spend my days. Although some people couldn’t make it since it was during the day on a Friday, it was still such a fun event. This was the second time they hosted it, and I think they really stepped it up with better food, more giveaways, and fun raffles (sadly, still no luck for me). It was so fun showing my friends around, sharing what I do, and giving them a little glimpse into my work life.
The day ended with a bang, literally. We were in the middle of a meeting when the lights suddenly went out, which wasn’t too unusual since we’ve been dealing with some power outage issues. We continued on until we heard someone announce that we needed to evacuate. I quickly ran two floors down to grab my things, only to realize it was much more serious than a regular outage.
Turns out there really was a fire, and the sprinklers had gone off, leaving the first floor basically flooded. It was definitely a wild experience and not something I expected to happen during a normal workday. Thankfully, no one was injured, and we’ve been working from home for the past few days while everything gets sorted out. As crazy as it was, I’m definitely not complaining about getting a few extra WFH days out of it.
Lows & Lessons:
My low this month has probably been that, as much fun as life has been, it has also been nonstop. Between plans, celebrations, traveling, and trying to keep up with everything, it’s been a lot of go-go-go, which can definitely get exhausting.
On top of that, work has been a bit of a challenge lately. It’s been busy but not necessarily in the most inspiring or motivating way, and I’ve been struggling a little to keep myself energized. But I think the biggest reminder I’m taking away is that everything is just a season. Not every chapter is going to feel exciting or fulfilling, but I’m still grateful for the life I get to live and all the memories I’m able to create. Even when work isn’t my favorite part of my day, it continues to provide me the opportunity to experience the moments and adventures I treasure most.
Songs on Repeat:
party 4 u - Charli xcxAin't In LA - ADÉLA360 - Charli xcxMy Pick of the Month: Board Game Night
My pick of the month is definitely board games! I somehow played so many games this month, whether it was game night at Priss’s, a Ticket to Ride night with my ex-roomies, or random late-night rounds of Monopoly Deal with Joseph’s housemates.
I love how board games have this magical way of bringing people together, whether it’s getting competitive, learning something new, or just sitting around laughing over the smallest things. It’s been such a fun way to spend time with people, and I’m definitely keeping the game night agenda going.
As I wrap up July, I think the biggest lesson I’m taking with me is that life will always come in waves. Some will be exciting and full of moments you wish you could pause forever, while others will challenge you and remind you to slow down. But maybe the beauty is in getting to experience all of it - the highs, the wipeouts, and everything in between. I’m learning that I don’t need to have everything figured out or perfectly balanced all the time. Sometimes I just need to keep paddling out, trust the timing, and enjoy the ride. Here’s to continuing to ride whatever waves come next.
Talk to you next month,
-- Jin
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