.png)
The Good, The Chaotic & The Growth | Jin’s September 2026
Some months just have a little bit of everything. The kind where you’re laughing one minute, questioning everything the next, and somehow still finding yourself making some of your favorite memories in between. I think this was one of those months where the good felt really good, the chaotic was very chaotic, and the growth came in ways I probably wasn’t expecting. Maybe that’s just life lately, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lifestyle: Travel & Relationships
Travels
Maui Wowie
The month started with a reunion with Stephanie, but this one was extra special because we were celebrating 10 years of friendship in Maui! Things definitely did not go as planned, starting with an unexpected solo trip due to a personal situation, but honestly, I ended up loving the solo time and can officially check “solo trip” off my list. Stephanie eventually joined me, which I was especially grateful for with a hurricane on the way. Luckily, we still got some beautiful sunny days to enjoy Foodland poke, coffee runs, shopping, and of course, our matching YSL bags. It felt so surreal going from broke college girls to hardworking corporate girlies who can now spoil ourselves a little. And technically, they were free because they were gifts to each other, so... girl math.
The hurricane did cancel some of our plans, including our luau and Road to Hana trip, but we made the most of it with happy hours and resort days. Then, because Maui apparently wanted to give us one more plot twist, we woke up to a call from the hotel saying our rental car had been wrecked while parked overnight. Thankfully we had insurance, but it was definitely not how I imagined my first rental car experience going.
Overall, it was a chaotic but very memorable 10-year friendship trip. We ate well, spoiled ourselves, survived the hurricane, and somehow added a destroyed rental car to the memories. Maui wowie for sure.
Crystal in LA
I also had a whole week off from work, which I’ll get into more in the work section, but it was honestly so lovely to just have time to relax and spend time with my friends. From getting massages with Crystal in Orange County to having Crystal come visit me in LA, it was the perfect little staycation.
We had a full LA girl day starting with Caesar wraps from Ggiata, shopping around Century City, and ending with a hot pot night at my apartment with the rest of the girlies. We also got into junk trading, which somehow became way more fun than expected. It was such a simple week, but exactly the kind of break I needed.
Celebrations
This month was also full of celebrations, including one very chaotic day that somehow turned into a full day of drinking. It started with a pink wig party in Venice, which was already a lot of fun, and somehow continued into a pocha drink-off for our friend’s boyfriend’s belated birthday. He started the night by rage-baiting all of us UCSB girls by claiming he could outdrink us, so naturally we had to prove him wrong.
What started as a little competition turned into a whole night of drinking, laughing, and bonding. Definitely chaotic, but honestly one of those nights where everyone got closer and had way too much fun.
Love
First Date
This month also marked 3 years since my first date with my boyfriend, so we decided to recreate it! We started at Amoeba, which was his pick for our very first date, and he immediately went crazy looking through all the records. I ended up getting Olivia Rodrigo’s vinyl since her album had just come out, which felt extra sentimental because I made him listen to the entire album on our drive home from our first date. I don't even own a record player, but at least I’ll have an excuse to listen to it whenever I’m over at his.
Then Joseph surprised me by taking me to the dinner spot from our first date. I somehow never knew the name because apparently I had absolutely no thoughts on our first date, but it was Chi Spacca! I remembered it being pretty bougie and honestly not thinking the food was anything crazy, but I had mentioned wanting to go back one day just for the memories. Of course, he remembered and surprised me with it, and tell me why the food was actually SO delicious this time. Everything was genuinely so good, and now I’m thinking this needs to become our annual tradition.
28th
Then it was time to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday! I wanted to throw him a surprise, but he is very much not a surprise person, so it was more of a “surprise, but I’ll give you hints” situation. One of my friends also accidentally spoiled that we were going to a buffet, but he still had no idea where we were going. I ended up taking him to Sukiya, a place he had actually sent me from Instagram Reels because he wanted to try it.
Little did I know, there was actually so much lore behind this place. It used to be a Hooters, and Joseph had gone there with his best friend who passed away, making it a really special core memory for him. So it made me even happier that I got to take him there for his birthday and make a new memory in the same place. All of his friends showed up, we ate so much sushi, and it ended up being such a special night celebrating him.
Work
This month was a pretty big one career-wise because I officially left my job in the beauty and hair professional industry after almost four years and got to enjoy a week or two of freedom before starting my new job. The break was honestly so lovely and gave me some time to reset before jumping into something completely new.
Now that I’ve started, it’s definitely been an adjustment. Going from working in the office two days a week to four days a week has been a much bigger transition than I expected, especially with earlier meetings, a busier schedule, and a whole new routine. I know I can power through it since I used to work five days a week, but that was almost four years ago! I’m also definitely feeling the bittersweetness of leaving my old team because I was so close with my work friends and genuinely miss them.
At the same time, I can already see how much this new role is going to push me and help me grow. I think part of why it feels uncomfortable is because I’m growing instead of being comfortable, and I know I had gotten a little too comfortable before. So while I’m still adjusting and figuring out my new routine, I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me.
Lows & Lessons:
I think everything this month just became a lot. If you know me, you probably see me as this strong, independent girl, and I am, but I think sometimes I give all my pie away and still somehow feel like I’m not doing enough for anyone. I constantly question if I’m being a good enough girlfriend, daughter, sister, friend, worker, or just person in general. I think everything eventually caught up to me, and I had a pretty big emotional breakdown this month.
As hard as it was, I think it was actually good for me to finally let loose and let myself feel everything instead of trying to hold it all together. My boyfriend reminded me that as much as I like to act tough and independent, he knows how much I actually hold in and that I don’t always have to be strong. Maybe being strong also means allowing yourself to have moments where you aren't okay, and I think that’s something I’m still learning. <3
Songs on Repeat:
Dear my crazy soulmate - IUNicole Kidman - ADÉLAThe Man - Taylor Swift My Pick of the Month: Mr Pa Blind Box
If you needed a hint of my new job, I’ve become very invested in blind boxes. My coworker and I became obsessed with the Mr. Pa blind boxes and somehow ended up getting two each in one day. But then I found the Corporate Edition and obviously had to get one. I got the little guy with the laptop and it is literally perfect for my current life. He’ll be coming with me to my cubicle as my tiny corporate coworker.
Looking back, I think this month really was the good, the chaotic, and the growth all wrapped into one. From celebrating 10 years of friendship in Maui, making new memories with my boyfriend, having the best girl time, and getting a little too invested in blind boxes, to saying goodbye to a job I loved, starting a new chapter, and letting myself finally have a moment where I didn’t have to be the strong one, it was definitely a lot. But maybe that’s what made it feel so real. Not everything went according to plan, but there was still so much to be grateful for, so much to laugh about, and a lot to learn along the way. Here’s to figuring it out as I go, growing through the uncomfortable parts, and still having fun while I’m at it.
Talk to you next month,
-- Jin
Comments